FR2781069A1 - Outlet module for an automatic ticket dispenser, especially transport tickets, which are preprinted and then dispensed to the user via an outlet, where the outlet has an additional stopper to make the tickets easier to pick up - Google Patents

Abstract

Device has a ticket outlet (12) with a ramp (15) inclined to the horizontal (PH) so that it defines an outlet direction for the tickets (15). A stopper (18) is positioned so that it holds a ticket (16a) on the ramp. The stopper (18) is arranged close to the ramp and is adapted so that it is elastic in all directions around its fixed end (18').

Description

i

  OUTPUT MODULE FOR A PROCESSING DEVICE

AND DELIVERY OF A TICKET,

IN PARTICULAR TRANSPORTATION TICKET

  The present invention relates to an output module for a device for preparing and issuing a ticket,

including transport ticket.

  There are known from the state of the art devices for preparing and issuing transport tickets comprising means for transcribing information such as the destination, the chosen class, the prices, etc. This information is transcribed, for example, by thermal printing and / or by coded recording of a magnetic stripe. Drive means bring the tickets thus prepared at the end of the journey to said output module, which forms a receptacle allowing the collection of tickets and

their manual entry.

  The problem which arises with the output modules of such ticket preparation and delivery devices is that they do not always allow easy gripping of the tickets, in particular when the latter rest on their entire surface on a flat receptacle. . It is well understood in fact that it is not easy to grasp a flat ticket placed on an equally flat surface. The object of the present invention is to remedy this drawback which, if it is occasional for a user, for example a traveler, is nonetheless repetitive daily for an attendant for issuing such tickets, who must pay attention on the operation of gripping and delivering the ticket, when it should in fact respond to a

mechanical gesture.

  To this end, according to the invention, an output module for a device for preparing and issuing a ticket, in particular a transport ticket, said device comprising means for transcribing information and means for driving said ticket. towards said exit module, is notably remarkable in that the exit module comprises, on the one hand, an exit ramp, inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, defining an exit direction for said ticket, and, on the other hand , a ticket retaining stop on the exit ramp, disposed substantially opposite said ramp, said stop being elastically flexible around one end at

  less in the direction of exit of said ticket.

  Thus, as will be seen in detail below, the entry of the ticket is facilitated due to the retractable nature of the retaining stop whose function is, at the same time, to retain the ticket on the exit ramp against gravity and disappear when entering, in a natural movement that can

  be performed blind, without encountering any rigid obstacle.

  According to a first embodiment of the invention, said retaining stop is disposed at a distance from the outlet ramp suitable for defining, between the stop and the ramp, a space for gripping the ticket. The entry of the ticket is then done by pinching between two fingers, one being introduced into said

gripping space.

  According to a second embodiment of the invention, the outlet ramp has a narrowed end with a width less than the width of the ticket, said retaining stop being disposed near said outlet ramp. In this case, the edges of the ticket being cleared, entry is made by taking the

ticket by the sides.

  The present invention also relates to

  characteristics which will emerge during the description which

  will follow, and which should be considered in isolation or according to

  all their possible technical combinations.

  This description given by way of nonlimiting example,

  will make it easier to understand how the invention can be implemented with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a partial plan view of a device for producing and issuing a ticket, comprising a

output module according to the invention.

  - Figure 2 is a sectional view of the output module la

figure 1.

  - Figure 3 is a top view of the output module la

figure 2.

  - Figure 4 is a front view of a variant of

  realization of the output module according to the invention.

  - Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along the

line V-V in Figure 4.

  - Figure 6 is a top view in section along the line

VI-VI of figure 4.

  In FIG. 1 is partially shown a magnetic printing and recording module, generally designated under the reference 1, intended to be incorporated into a device for producing and issuing a ticket 16, in

especially a transport ticket.

  This device notably comprises cutting means 2 making it possible to obtain a ticket by cutting a continuous strip (not shown) provided with a magnetic track. The ticket 16 is then routed by drive means to information transcription means which, in the embodiment of Figure 1, are magnetic recording means 4, means 6 for checking the recorded information and printing means 5 such as a thermal printer. These means are managed by a set of electrical and electronic circuits (not shown) as a function of information delivered by means of detecting the presence of the strip or the ticket, placed

  at different points along their route.

  The ticket drive means comprise a drum 7 controlled in rotation by a motor 8, the movement of which is transmitted by means of a flexible endless belt 9 supporting the ticket 16 by pinching

  between the peripheral surface of the drum 7 and the belt 9.

  Said drive means end with routing means, here a drive wheel 10, which direct the coded and printed ticket 16 to the output module 12, object of

the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the output module 12 comprises an output ramp 15 inclined relative to the horizontal plane PH and defining an output direction d for

  the ticket 16, merged with the median axis xx 'of the ramp 15.

  Of course, the width 1 ′ of the ramp 15 is at least equal to the width 1 of the ticket 16. On the other hand, a stop 18,18A for retaining the ticket 16 on the outlet ramp 15 is disposed substantially opposite said ramp 15, said stop 18, 18A being elastically flexible in all directions around an end 18 ', 18'A. The retaining stop 18, 18A may consist of an elongated core made of a deformable elastic material, overmolded with a sheath of relatively rigid material. Of course, other means could also be imagined to make

  said retractable stop when gripping the ticket.

  At the output of the processing and delivery device, the ticket 16, subjected to its own weight, descends the exit ramp 15 until it is stopped in its travel by the retaining stop 18, 18A. In this way, it is possible to grasp the ticket 16 by releasing it from the outlet ramp 15 in a movement carried out against the stop 18.18A, which then naturally retracts due to its flexibility and then returns elastically to its initial position after gripping

from ticket 16.

  As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the total height H2 of said stopper 18 is greater than the height H separating the edge of the ramp 15 from the lower plane 17 of the output module 12, so that the difference D = H2-H corresponds to a capacity for receiving a predetermined number of tickets stacking one on the other on the exit ramp 15 in

  the issue of a ticket book.

  According to the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3, the retaining stop 18 is disposed at a distance H1 from the outlet ramp 15, suitable for clearing, between the stop 18 and the ramp 15, a space 13 allowing gripping of the ticket 16 by unimpeded insertion of at least one finger under a free end portion 16a of the ticket 16. The entry is then made by pinching the ticket between two fingers, then withdrawal, possibly at

  against the flexible stop 18.

  It can be seen in Figures 1 and 2 that in this embodiment the ticket 16 rests on the exit ramp 15 over a distance of about half its length, so that it is just kept in balance . In order to prevent the ticket 16 from falling to the bottom of the outlet module 12, provision is made for the retaining stop 18 to include means for supporting the ticket 16, here produced by a projecting shoulder 19,

formed on the stopper 18.

  In the embodiment of Figures 4, 5 and 6, the outlet ramp 15 has a narrowed end 20 whose width 1 "is less than the width 1 of the ticket 16. This allows the gripping of the ticket 16 using two fingers on each side of the ticket. In this case, the retaining stop 18A can be arranged near the ramp 15. The ticket 16 then resting on the outlet ramp 15 over practically its entire length, it is not necessary to provide support means

  such as the shoulder of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

  In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the outlet ramp 15 defines a plane P in which the normal n to the direction of exit d is horizontal, the plane P intercepting substantially the axis of the stop 18 of restraint. In order to center the stop 18 relative to the outgoing ticket 16, it is advantageous for the latter to be situated substantially on the median axis xx 'of the outlet ramp 15. FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show a variant according to which the normal n to the direction of exit in the plane P of the exit ramp 15 forms with the horizontal plane PH an angle ca of slope capable of initiating the reversal of the ticket 16 when it comes upside down, magnetic strip above, this in order to facilitate the gesture of gripping and complete turning. In this case, the retaining stop 18A is offset laterally relative to the central axis xx 'of the ramp 15 towards the lower side 15a of the ramp, in order to remain substantially in the axis of the ticket 16, which is also located offset laterally by gravity to the lowest side 15a of the ramp 15 due to its width 1 narrower than the width 1 'of the

ramp 15.

Claims (5)

  1 - Output module (12) for a device for producing and issuing a ticket (16), in particular a transport ticket, said device comprising means for transcribing information and means for driving said ticket to said output module (12), characterized in that the output module (12) comprises, on the one hand, an output ramp (15), inclined relative to the horizontal plane (PH), defining a direction (d) of outlet for said ticket (16), and, on the other hand, an i0 stop (18, 18A) for retaining the ticket (16) on the outlet ramp (15), disposed substantially opposite said ramp (5), said stop (18, 18A) being elastically flexible in all   directions around one end (18 ', 18'A).   2 - output module of claim 1, characterized in that said stop (18) for retaining is disposed at a distance (H 1) from the ramp (15) proper output to define, between the stop (18) and the ramp (15), a space (13) for gripping the ticket (16). 3 - output module according to claim 2, characterized in that the stop (18) retaining comprises means (19) of support of said ticket (16).   4 - output module according to claim 3, characterized in that said ticket support means (16) consist of a protruding shoulder (19) formed on said retaining stop (18).   - Exit module according to claim 1, characterized in that the exit ramp (15) has a narrowed end (20) of width (1 ") less than the width (1) of the ticket (16), said stop (18A ) of retaining being arranged near said exit ramp (15).   6 - Output module according to any one of   Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the ramp (15) of   exit defines a plane (P) in which the normal (n) to the direction (d) of exit is horizontal, the retaining stop (18, 18A) being   located substantially on the median axis (xx 'of said ramp (15).   7 - Output module according to any one of   Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the ramp (15) of   o exit defines a plane (P) in which the normal (n) to the direction (d) of exit forms with the horizontal plane (PH) an angle (a) of cant, the retaining stop (18, 18A) being offset laterally with respect to the median axis (xx) of said ramp (15) in the   direction of the lower edge (1 Sa) of the ramp (15).