FR2685798A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING TICKETS. - Google Patents

Abstract

A ticket issuing device of the type comprising support means (4, 4a) of roll ticket supply material, a path for the ticket supply material for transporting it from the roll (3) past a guillotine station , a magnetic ticket coding station (45), a ticket printing station (60) and an electronic ticket processing circuit controlled by a computer, characterized in that the guillotine stations (12), coding ( 45) and printing (60) comprise separate modules made up of structural elements mounted on baseplate elements (11, 61).

Description

The present invention relates to devices

  issuing or distributing tickets.

  The applicant has invented a ticket issuing device which comprises a plurality of elements and mechanisms as defined below.

  a supply material support assembly-

  rolled up pulling mechanism for ribbon material a guillotine of the rotary type a drive mechanism adapted to a guillotine a ticket drive mechanism a printhead mounting assembly

  a ticket ejector and a stacking mechanism

  age. The elements and mechanisms mentioned above have the following essential characteristics:

  the supply material support assembly

  in roll includes a central hub rotatably mounted

  tion, this hub can be housed in a central boss of the roller, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced rolling elements which can rotate about axes arranged essentially at right angles to the axis of rotation of the central hub, the rolling elements being adapted to be engaged

with one side of the roller used.

  The traction mechanism for a ribbon material comprises a pair of rollers defining a space between them, at least one of these rollers being driven, and at least one of these rollers being under

  form of two sections of roller spaced one from the other

  be. The rotary type guillotine includes a blade

  and a rotating cutting drum mounted parallel-

  ment to the blade, the latter being urged towards the cutting drum by biasing means, the cutting drum defining a cutting edge which makes an angle with the axis of the cutting drum or which is generally arranged helically by relative to this axis, so that the cutting edge comes into contact

  gradually with the fixed blade from one end

  moved from the latter to the other end during the rotation of the cutting drum, this cutting drum further defining a groove adjacent to the cutting edge so that, in a starting position of the cutting drum, a slot is defined between the cutting drum and the blade; an adjustable stop arrangement is provided adjacent to the cutter bar and adapted to act against the biasing means in order to adjust the position of the cutting blade relative to the

cutting drum.

  The drive mechanism adapted to a guillo-

  includes a drive motor, a cam arrangement adapted to be driven by the motor

  and a follower who is trained by the agent

  cement forming a cam which, in turn, operates the guillotine by means of a push rod,

of a lever or the like.

  The ticket driving mechanism for a ticket issuing device comprises means

  defining a track along which must move

  cer the ticket, an endless drive belt comprising a drive section extending along the track, pinching elements associated with the belt and spaced along the drive section of the latter by a distance less than the length of the ticket such that a ticket moving along the track passes between the belt and the gripping elements without being released from at least one gripping element, and means for driving the belt for get a movement of the ticket in front of means of

magnetic coding.

  The printhead mounting assembly includes a pivoting jaw assembly defining front and rear bar arrangements biased toward an open generally V-shaped position, a printhead mounted on the bar arrangement front and adapted during printing to be generally disposed in contact with a pressure roller, the rear bar arrangement being rigidly fixed so that during a printing operation, the material passing between the printing member and the pressure roller is subjected to the action of the force of

means of solicitation.

  The ticket ejector and the stacking mechanism include a driven roller, a nip adjacent to the driven roller and defining therewith

  last, a bottleneck in which tickets come from

  from the ticketing device pass, the

  tickets being pinched between the driven roller and the element

  pinch, and are ejected from the throttle due to the driving action of the driven roller, oscillating arm means being arranged above the driven roller and biased by a spring in a rest position in which they s extend through the constriction in a direction inclined with respect to

  to the direction of movement of a ticket across the

  throttle so that a ticket, when it passes through the throttle, engages the swingarm and is deflected to a position where it is released from a next ticket passing through the throttle, and

  a bin to collect the deflected tickets according to a stack.

  The object of the present invention is to provide

  a method and a device for issuing combined tickets

  using and using the characteristics mentioned above.

  According to the invention, a device for issuing tickets of the type comprising means forming a material for supplying tickets, a path for passing said material for supplying tickets from the roll in front of a guillotine station, a station comprising a magnetic ticket encoder and a ticket printing station, and an electronic ticket processing circuit controlled by a computer, is characterized in that the guillotine, coding and printing stations comprise separate modules composed of component parts mounted on plate elements

basic.

  Also, according to the present invention, the guillotine module comprises guillotine means and

  traction means of the compressed supply roller

  nant a guide roller and a pinch drive roller, and motors to drive the guillotine

and the drive roller.

  The magnetic ticket coding module includes

  takes magnetic coding means,

  dragging of belt tickets comprising a motor for driving them to transport a ticket along a main track passing in front of the coding means and sensor means connected to the circuit

  electronic for controlling the milking operation

  receipt of the ticket by transmission of processing signals

computer audit tickets.

  These means may include a series of sensors spaced along the main track and for detecting the position of a ticket during its movement along the track, these sensors transmitting ticket processing signals according to a method based on the

position of the ticket.

  A magnetic ticket coding module can also further define an auxiliary track attached to the main track to receive an external ticket to be transported in the main track, the coding module comprising drive means for driving this external ticket. along the auxiliary track and a sensor to detect the position of a

  outdoor ticket in the auxiliary track and for

  put an external ticket processing signal.

  Furthermore, according to the invention, the printing module

  sion comprises a printing member and actuating pressure roller means, support elements for a cassette of printing ribbon intended for the printing member, receipt ejection roller means and a motor for each of the pressure rollers

  actuation and ejection of tickets.

  According to yet another characteristic of the in-

  vention, the ticket processing method comprises the step of transporting a ticket supply ribbon mounted on a roller by the traction means in the guillotine module to advance the ribbon towards a first sensor disposed in the module coding, this first sensor detecting the front edge of the ribbon and acting to stop the transport of the ribbon, the front edge of the latter being adjacent to the rear edge of the

  means for driving belt tickets.

  The next step in the process involves operating

  guillotine to cut the ribbon and provide a separate ticket when receiving a ticket request signal from the computer, the operation of the guillotine being followed by the start of the means

  roller ticket drive.

  Other features and advantages of the

  vention will emerge from the following description of a

  exemplary embodiment, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a general schematic view of a device for distributing or issuing tickets according to the invention;

  Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view

  tive of a support material supply assembly

roll;

  Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view

  tive of a traction mechanism for a ribbon material;

  Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view

  tive of a rotary type guillotine;

  Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view

  tive of a drive mechanism adapted to the guillotine of Figure 4; Figure 6 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a ticket drive mechanism for transporting a ticket in front of an encoding device to a print head;

  Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view

  tive of a printhead mounting assembly; and

  Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view

  tive of a ticket ejector and stacking mechanism.

  Referring to the drawings, an emitting device

  Sending or distributing tickets or tickets comprises a box-shaped housing assembly comprising a

  base 1 forming part of a portion 2 of upper casing

  connected by means of hinges 2 a to a portion of

  lower case (not shown).

  The ticket issuing machine includes a

  computer-controlled electronic circuit (not shown

  sensed) housed inside the lower housing portion for actuation according to a predetermined sequence of mounted ticket processing modules

on base 1.

  The ticket issuing device operates by using a material 3 in roll ribbon for supplying tickets supported in rotation about the axis of the roller 3 on arms 4 which comprise sections

  tubular 4 a can rotate around the axes of the arms.

  The continuous ribbon 5 extends from the roller 3 to a guillotine module 10 comprising a base plate 11 on which are mounted elements for pulling the roll material and guiding the ribbon The guillotine 12 is equipped with a motor drive 13 while the traction roller supply means formed by a driven roller 14 and a passive roller 15 comprise a motor 16 connected to the driven roller by means of a toothed belt (not shown) arranged

below base 1.

  The tape 5 passes between the two sides of a sensor 17 above the passive guide roller 18 equipped with a pivoting tape guide, lightly pressed against the tape 5 or the guide roller 18 by means

a compression spring 20.

  The tape 5 carries a magnetic strip extending

  longitudinally and is fed by the rollers of trac-

  tion 14, 15 to a magnetic coding module 30 In order to control the quantity of material for supplying the roll available, a sensor 6 is provided below the roll 3 and this sensor ensures a continuous reading of the reserve of ribbon material of tickets available The sensor 17 detects the end of the material in available ticket tape and intervenes to cut the ticket issuing device when the end of the tape is detected. The magnetic coding module 30 includes a

  base plate 31 on which plates are mounted

  upper and lower supports 32 spaced apart by means of support rods 33 The support plates 32 have longitudinal main grooves 34 facing inwards, vertically opposite, defining together

  a main guide track for the ribbon 5 L'espa-

  cementing of the plates 32 is such that the ribbon is received along its edges between them, its longitudinal edges

  being trapped in the grooves 34.

  The magnetic ticket coding module 30 also comprises a ticket drive belt 35 which extends around pulleys 36 to 40, the pulleys 36 being driven by a motor arranged below

  the base 1, while the pulleys 37 to 40 are passive.

  The pulley 40 is pivotally mounted on a suitable pivot plate (not shown) so that it

  can be placed in a running tension position

  goose. Crazy pinch rollers 42, 43 and 44 are

  mounted on suitable swivel plates (not shown

  stressed) urged to engage the pulleys 36, 37 and 38 respectively, so that the strip 5 is pinched between respective couples formed by a pulley

and a pinch roller.

  A magnetic encoder 45 is arranged on the lower support plate 32 near the main track 34 and the ribbon 5, moving along the track, passes in front of the encoder 45 with its magnetic strip suitably placed against the encoder in view appropriate magnetic storage of information on the tape.

  Support plates 32 also have grooves

  opposite auxiliary res 46 facing vertically

  so as to cooperate with the main grooves.

  They together define an auxiliary guide track 46 opening into the main track 34

  before the location of encoder 45 on the main track.

  An external ticket inserted in the auxiliary guide track

  liaire 46 is pinched between a driven roller 47 and a mad pinch roller 42 which can be tilted by an electromagnet 41 to come into contact either with the pulley 36 or with the driven roller 47 according to the need or to advance the ribbon 5 in the main track 34 is the external ticket in the auxiliary track 46 The ticket coder and the drive module 30 also include sensors 50 to 54 which detect the position of a ticket in the

guide tracks 34 and 46.

  A ticket leaving the magnetic coding module passes to a printing module 60 comprising elements mounted on a base plate 61 These elements include a printing member 62 operating in cooperation with an actuating pressure roller 63 and a cassette 64 printing ribbon A ticket ejector 65 is provided for ejecting the coded tickets and

printed on a stacker 66.

  The ticket processing sequence of the device

  tif issue of tickets is as follows.

  The first sensor 50 of the main track detects the front edge of the tape 5 when it is presented by the actuation of the means 14, 15 for pulling the roll supply material and causes the drive mechanism of the roll to stop. supply roll supply This sensor 50 is adjustable to provide a desired length of potential ticket between the front edge of the ribbon and the guillotine 12 disposed

  on the ribbon path before entering the main runway

blade 34.

  When receiving a print request

  a ticket from a keyboard module (not shown

  being part of the computer equipment associated with the ticket issuing device, the guillotine 12 is triggered by causing the cutting of the ribbon 5 to deliver an unprinted length of ticket between the sensor 50 and the guillotine 12 Then, the belt drive pulley 36 is actuated by advancing the ticket along the main track 34 towards the sensor 51 which detects the front edge of the ticket and triggers the magnetic encoder 45 When the ticket

  passes in front of the magnetic encoder, the relevant data

  prayers are stored magnetically on its magnetic tape and this data is immediately read back by the encoder 60, so that a coding sequence

  error triggers an order to reject the ticket.

  The belt drive 35 advances the ticket until the sensor 52 detects the rear edge of the ticket and triggers the pressure roller 63 for actuating the printing member. This triggering process also starts the roll 14

  traction drive of the supply material

  in roll after an appropriate interval which is established by software, so that the ribbon 5 advances again towards the sensor 50 before the supply

  roll supply material is complete.

  When the ticket passes in front of the sensor 53, its rear edge is detected, the printing device is triggered and the belt drive pulley 36 is stopped After the end of the thermal printing process, the outgoing ticket is placed between the ticket ejector roller 65 and its nip roller 65 A. A short current pulse, also established by software, is applied to the motor of the ejector roller il (not shown) This is used to eject the ticket on

the stacker 66.

  The device is then ready to receive another

  keypad module ticket request signal.

  If it is desired to process an external ticket, the latter can be inserted in the auxiliary track 46 where it is detected by the sensor 54 This sensor produces a signal which actuates the electromagnet 41 causing the pinch roller 42 to tip over and its coming into contact with the drive roller 47 to thus move the outer ticket in the auxiliary track at

  instead of a ticket obtained from the supply roll

  as described above.

  A removable cover (not shown) is provided for the upper housing portion 2. This cover provides an external ticket introduction opening on the front face of the ticket issuing device and also covers the ticket ejector 65 leaving only one exit opening for tickets

treated towards the bac 66.

Claims (16)

  1 Device for issuing type tickets   comprising support means (4,4 a) of support material   provisioning of roll tickets, a path for the material for supplying tickets for transporting the roll (3) in front of a guillotine station, a magnetic ticket coding station (45), a ticket printing station (60) and an electronic circuit   processing of tickets controlled by a computer, charac-   characterized in that the guillotine (12), coding (45) and printing (60) stations include separate modules   made up of structural elements mounted on elements base plate elements (11,61).   2 Device according to claim 1, character-   rised in that the guillotine module (12) comprises guillotine means and traction means (14,15) of the roll supply material, comprising a guide roller (15) and a pinch drive roller (14), and motors (13,16) to drive the   guillotine (12) and the drive roller (14).   3 Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the magnetic ticket coding module (45) comprises magnetic coding means, belt ticket driving means (35) comprising a motor for driving them and for transport a ticket along a main track (34) in front of the coding means (45), and sensor means   (50-54) connected to the electronic circuit for control   der the ticket processing operation by the transmission-   Receipt processing signals to the computer.   4 Device according to claim 3, character-   that the sensor means (50-54) include   a series of sensors spaced along the main track   blade (34) for detecting the position of a ticket during its movement along the track (34), the sensors transmitting ticket processing signals according to a method based on the position of the ticket. Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the magnetic coding module (45) for tickets defines an auxiliary track (46), attached to the main track (34), for receiving an external ticket to be transported in the track main (34), the coding module (45) comprising drive means (42,47) for transporting this external ticket along the auxiliary track and a sensor (54) for detecting the position of a ticket outside in the auxiliary track and to transmit a signal processing of external tickets.   6 Device according to any one of the claims   cations 1 to 5, characterized in that the printing module   sion (60) comprises a printing member (63) and actuating pressure roller means (63),   support elements for a tape cassette (64)   pressure intended for the printing member, means for the receipt ejector roller (65) and a motor for each of the actuating and ejection pressing rollers tickets (65).   7 Ticket processing method comprising the step of implementing the device for issuing   tickets according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   to obtain the transport of a ribbon of material of   viewing of tickets in roll (3) by traction means (14, 15) in the guillotine module (12) for advancing the ribbon (5) towards a first sensor (50) disposed in the coding module, this first sensor (50) detecting the front edge of the ribbon (5) and acting to stop the movement of the ribbon (5), the front edge of this   the latter being adjacent to the rear edge of the means of   dragging of the strap ticket (35).   8 The method of claim 7, comprising the step of actuating the guillotine (12) to cut the ribbon (5) and provide a separate ticket upon receipt of a ticket request signal from the circuit controlled by the computer, the functioning of the guillotine (12) being followed by the activation of   means for driving the strap ticket (35).   9 Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the drive means of the strap ticket (35) advance the ticket along a main track (34) to a sensor (51) which detects the front edge of the   ticket and initializes the magnetic encoder (45).   Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the magnetic encoder (45) controls the magnetic storage of suitable data on a magnetic strip placed on the ticket and performs a re-reading of this data.   11 The method of claim 10, character-   risky that the coding device (45) provides a signal to reject the ticket when the step of   replay detects incorrectly coded data.   12 Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the belt drive device (35) of tickets advances the ticket beyond the magnetic encoder (45) until a sensor (52) detects the rear edge of the ticket, a pressure roller (63) for actuating a printing member of the ticket printing station (60) then being triggered to   moving the ticket through a printing member (62).   13 The method of claim 12, charac-   terized in that when the roller is pressed   printing actuator (63), the means (14,) for pulling the roll supply material are also triggered so that the leading edge of the ribbon is again advanced towards the first   sensor (50) which stops the supply of the supply rolled.   14 Sequence according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, when the printing actuating pressure roller (63) is triggered, the rear edge of the ticket is detected by the sensor (53) and the printing member of the ticket printing station is triggered and the belt drive means (35) are arrested.   15 The method of claim 14, charac-   terized in that after the end of the printing process, the outgoing ticket is housed between a ticket ejecting roller (65) and a pinch roller (65 A) which ejects   the ticket to a stacking bin (66).   16 Method for processing a ticket comprising the phases consisting in supplying the issuing device   ticket according to any of claims 5   and 6, characterized in that the processing of an external ticket comprises the phases of inserting a ticket into an auxiliary track (46) where it is detected by a   sensor (54), this sensor producing a signal which   tion a drive roller (47) placed in the vicinity of the auxiliary track (46), thus driving the external ticket in the main track (34) in place of a ticket cut from the roll supply material by the guillotine station (12).   17 The method of claim 16, charac-   terized in that the signal from the sensor (54) actuates an electromagnet (41) which switches a pinch roller (42) in contact with the drive roller (47) to move the ticket in the track main (34).   18 Ticket processed in accordance with the sequence   according to any one of claims 7 to 17.