FR2812742A1 - USER / MACHINE INTERFACE DEVICE FOR ASSOCIATED WITH A TITLE PROCESSING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FLAT AND FLEXIBLE TITLES COMPRISING A MAGNETIC TRACK, IN ORDER TO DELIVER ERGONOMICALLY ONE OR MORE TITLES ... - Google Patents

Abstract

The interface device comprises first and second belt drive means (C1, C2, C3, C4) arranged at the output of the processing device (DTM) in order to drive the titles one by one bidirectionally. Some rollers (G2, G3, G7 and G9) wound around the belts (C1, C2, C3, C4) are arranged relative to each other to form a passage and stacking corridor (CO). A removable shutter (OB), disposed at the exit of the corridor (CO), and having a wall perpendicular (14) to the surface of the tickets, serves as a reference bearing face for one side of the tickets. Control means (UC) control the first and second drive means (C1, C2, C3 and C4) as well as the shutter (OB) in order to stack at least one ticket (T1) in said lane and to deliver said ticket thus stacked so as to present to the user at least part of the surface of said ticket, said ticket surface thus presented being greater than that of the side of said ticket.

Description

User / machine interface device intended to be associated with a

  ticket processing device, in particular flat and flexible tickets comprising a magnetic track, in order to ergonomically deliver one or more tickets to a user. The present invention relates to a user / machine interface device intended to be associated with a ticket processing device, in particular flat and flexible tickets

  comprising a magnetic strip, in order to deliver ergonomic

  one or more titles to a user.

  It finds a general application in the processing of securities, and more particularly in the field of flat and flexible securities, made of paper or plastic

  and comprising a magnetic track extending longitudinally-

  on one side of the titles, such as titles

  used in air or rail transport.

  In a known manner, the magnetic strip is processed by a magnetic writing / reading device. The ticket can also be processed by a thermal printing device, as in the patent issued under the number FR-8800734 or in the international application filed under the number

PCT / FR99 / 01465.

  User interface / ma-

  china associated with such securities processing devices.

  In some interface devices, the titles fall by gravity into a bowl equipped with a flap that the user must fold down to access the titles. The ergonomics of such an interface device is therefore not satisfactory. In addition, the titles are delivered in bulk in the bowl, which harms

  the quality of the delivery of titles.

  In other interface devices, the titles are not delivered in bulk but conveyed from bottom to top, leaving only the edge of the title (s) visible to the user when the latter leans towards the bowl.

to withdraw his titles.

  Due to this lack of visibility, the user has a certain reluctance to withdraw his titles, which harms there

  also to the ergonomics of the user interface device / ma-

China.

  The present invention overcomes these problems.

  It relates to a user / machine interface device intended to be associated with a ticket processing device, in particular flat and flexible tickets comprising a magnetic track, in order to deliver one or more tickets to

an user.

  According to a general definition of the invention, the user / machine interface device comprises: - first ticket drive means arranged at the

  output from the processing device according to the direction of deli-

  delivery of the tickets in order to drive the tickets from the ticket processing device one by one, said first drive means comprising at least one transport belt wound in a closed circuit around rollers, at least one of which is a motor, - second ticket drive means comprising at least one transport belt wound in a closed circuit around rollers, at least one of which is motor, at least certain rollers of the first and second drive means being arranged in relation to one another to the others to form a passage and stacking corridor for the securities, - a removable shutter, disposed at the exit of the corridor in the direction of issuance of the securities, having a wall substantially perpendicular to the surface of the securities and suitable for serving as reference support face for one side of the tickets, and - control means suitable for controlling the first and second drive means as well as the opening / closing ture of the shutter, in order to stack at least one ticket in said corridor and to deliver said ticket thus stacked so as to present to the eyes of the user at least part of the surface of said ticket, said ticket surface thus presented

  being greater than that on the side of said title.

  Thus, the user / machine interface device according to the invention makes it possible to present to the eyes of the user at least a substantial part of the surface of the tickets, which visually encourages him to remove them. This results in better ergonomics with respect to the interface devices of

the prior art.

  In practice, the first and second drive means

are bidirectional.

  Preferably, the title or titles which are issued and thus presented to the eyes of the user according to the invention are

  still engaged with the first and second means of training

  so that in the event that the tickets are not withdrawn after a selected delay, the control means are

  suitable for controlling the first and second drive means

  in order to route the said security or securities in the opposite direction to the delivery in a receivership station located

  inside the interface device.

  Thus, thanks to the invention, the titles not taken up by the user are swallowed by the interface device, which avoids any jamming that is usually encountered in the devices of the prior art working by gravity and also guarantees emptying the stacking corridor according to the invention to allow its reuse

for the next transaction.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control means are suitable for controlling the first and

  second drive means to drive superimposed

  tion and in synchronism with the shutter, a title already stacked in the lane and the unstacked title that follows it, which avoids friction between two consecutive titles during stacking, and thus allows a delivery of said consecutive titles in an ordered bundle and arranged with at least part of the surface of the upper title of the visible bundle

in the eyes of the user.

  Advantageously, the user interface device / ma-

  china further comprises a device forming a guide, with elastic return, comprising an arm substantially parallel to the surface of the tickets, and arranged parallel to the lower part of the corridor, in order to facilitate the formation of

bundle of titles in the hallway.

  According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the user / machine interface device further comprises a straightening plate, with elastic return, arranged parallel to the upper part of the corridor and suitable for straightening a ticket engaged with the first and second drive means in order to place it parallel to the axis

longitudinal of the corridor.

  Preferably, the user / machine interface device further comprises guide means with rotary arms, arranged at the entrance to the upper part of the corridor, diametrically opposite the shutter, and capable of moving in rotation on command. around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the corridor and to the shutter in order to

  dynamically straighten a title by its sequestration.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear on examining the detailed description below,

  and attached drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the user / machine interface device according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of stacking a title according to the invention; - Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for issuing one or more titles according to the invention; FIG. 4 schematically represents the user / machine interface device of FIG. 1, in the position for issuing a ticket according to the invention; - Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for

  sequestration of one or more titles according to the invention

  tion; - Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the stacking of

  two consecutive titles without synchronization according to the invention

  tion; and - Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the stacking of

  two consecutive titles with synchronization according to the invention

  tion. The annexed drawings include in many respects

  elements of a certain character. They will therefore not only-

  serve to clarify the description below, but also

  contribute to the definition of the invention, if applicable.

  Referring to Figure 1, there is shown the user / machine interface device IUM according to the invention, substantially on a 2/3 scale. The IUM interface device is intended to be associated with a DTM ticket processing device. For example, the DTM ticket processing device is equipped with a magnetic writing / reading station. In certain applications, the processing device is also equipped with a thermal printing station, as in the patent issued under N FR / 8800734 or in the international application filed under N PCT / FR

99/01465.

  In practice, the tickets are flat and flexible, made of paper or plastic and include a magnetic track extending longitudinally on one of the faces of the tickets. The titles are for example in IATA, credit card, EDMONSON, or similar format. FIG. 1 illustrates by way of example an interface device suitable for titles

in IATA format.

  Preferably, the user interface / machine IUM according to

  the invention comprises forward paths CA and return paths CR dis-

  tincts. The outward path CA comprises an entry E which is used for the introduction of the tickets into the processing device DTM. This outward path CA can consist of a simple introduction corridor. As a variant, this outward path CA may include means for verifying the integrity of the track.

  magnetic 1, means for filtering the thickness of the

  very 3, and blocking means 5, as described in detail in the request filed by the plaintiff on the same day as the present request under the title "User / machine interface device intended to be associated with a processing device to control the introduction of flat and flexible titles comprising a magnetic track ". For all intents and purposes, this Request is an integral part of

this Application.

  In the return path CR, the titles coming from the DTM title processing device are intended to be

  routed to output S of the user interface device

  IUM maker / machine via a stacking mechanism which will be described

in more detail below.

  For example, the tickets to be issued come from the INTS output of the DTM ticket processing device described in the

  international application filed under N PCT / FR99 / 01465.

  A switching device AG makes it possible to switch the titles coming from the output INTS towards the return path CR of the interface device according to the invention. A sensor 2 is provided for detecting the passage of a ticket in the return path CR of the interface device according to the invention. Sensor 2 is called an "input sensor". For example,

reflection type.

  The return path CR comprises a guide channel 4 oriented obliquely to the vertical plane. For example, the angle of inclination of the guide channel is of the order of

  with respect to the vertical plane.

  A conveyor belt C1 is wound in a closed circuit around rollers to drive the securities coming from the guide channel 4. For example, the closed circuit of the belt C1 comprises seven rollers GO to G6, one of which is motor. For example, the drive roller G1 is wound on the drive shaft of an engine M1. A UC control unit controls the M1 motor and thus the belt drive

  C1. The belt C1 forms here the first means of driving

bidirectional titles.

  Next to the roller G1 is provided a mad pressure roller with

elastic return 6.

  At the outlet of the pressure roller 6, the guide channel 4

  comprises a rear part 8 which forms a sensitive angle

  roughly 90 in relation to the guide channel 4 disposed upstream of the pressure roller 6. At the end of the channel

  guide 8 is provided a roller 10 driven by the motor M1.

  At a chosen distance from the roller G1, (for example 60 mm-

  very in the case of titles in IATA format), there is a

  roller G2 around which the belt C1 is wound. Line-

  the rollers G1 and G2 also make an angle of the order

  45 from the vertical plane.

  Another roller G3 is provided at a chosen distance from the roller G2, (for example 60 millimeters in the case of tickets with

  IATA format). The alignment of the rollers G2 and G3 is sensitive-

parallel to the horizontal plane.

  The other rollers G4 to G6 are advantageously used for driving

  titles in the corridor go CA.

  Next to the roller G2 and under elastic pressure therewith is provided a roller G7. A conveyor belt C2 is wrapped around the roller G7. The C2 belt is in a closed loop. It is also wrapped around a G8 roller. This

  G8 roller is wound on the motor shaft of an M2 motor.

  The control unit UC, of micro-controller type, also controls the motor M2 and thus the drive of the belt C2. Next to the roller G3 and under elastic pressure therewith is provided a roller G9. A conveyor belt C3 is wrapped around the roller G9. This C3 belt is looped

  closed, it is also wrapped around the G8 roller.

  Opposite the roller 10 and under elastic pressure therewith, a roller G10 is provided. A conveyor belt C4 is wrapped around the roller G10. This belt C4 is also wound around the roller G8. The roller G8 is therefore common to the belts C2, C3 and C4. These C2, C3 and

  C4 constitute the second bidirectional drive means

  nel of titles. By construction, the couples G2 / C2, G3 / C3 and

  10 / C4 are not arranged on the same plane.

  The rollers G2, G3 and G7 and G9 constitute a CO corridor for the passage and stacking of tickets. This CO corridor is completed in its lower part by a guide 18 and in its upper part by a straightening plate 16 followed by

  if necessary by a movable guide 22.

  An output sensor 12 is provided at the output of the roller G3. At a certain distance from the rollers G3 and G9 (for example of the order of 25 millimeters in the case of titles in IATA format) an OB shutter is provided. The opening / closing of

  the OB shutter is controlled by the control unit UC.

  The obturator OB comprises a wall 14 substantially perpendicular to

  to the longitudinal axis of the CO corridor, i.e. to the

title area.

  In the upper part of the CO corridor, a substantially horizontal straightening plate 16 is provided. The

  function of this straightening plate is taught above

after in detail.

  In the lower part of the CO corridor there is a guide

  substantially horizontal 18 which opens on the diametric side

  opposite the OB shutter. This guide 18 is supported by arms 30 and 32. It is spring-loaded to form a

  binder with the upper part of the corridor. An electro-

  magnet 20 controls the spacing of the entrance to the corridor formed by the cut G2 / G7 in order to facilitate the introduction of a ticket into the corridor even in the presence of damaged tickets. A guide with two rotatably mounted arms 22 is disposed at the upper entrance to the corridor CO, diametrically opposite to the obturator OB. The arms of this rotary guide 22 are able to move in rotation on command about an axis

  perpendicular to the corridor and the shutter in order to

  dynamically serve a ticket parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lane when driving tickets in the negative direction. This adjustment is useful during the sequestration in order to pass the titles possibly

deformed between the rollers G10 / 10.

  It should be noted that a free space ES is provided between the guide channel 8, the belt C1 and the guide 18 to allow the straightening of the tickets under the effect of the

straightening plate 16.

  A sensor 24 is provided to detect the straightening

  number of titles and therefore their stacking.

  Referring to Figure 1, the rotary guide 22 in the horizontal position is shown in dashed lines, while it is

  shown in solid lines in the raised position.

  The straightening plate 16 is also spring-loaded.

  than. It is controlled by an electromagnet 26.

  A sensor 28 is provided upstream of the roller G3 in the positive direction (delivery) of the drive of the belt C1. The sensor 28 is used to synchronize the stacking sequences as well as to detect the presence of one or more titles in the

corridor.

  In practice, the belts C2, C3 and C4 are housed respectively.

  vement in arms 30, 32 and 34. These arms are spring return. Advantageously, the guide 18 is integral with the

arms 30 and 32.

  A sequestration or waste station 36 is also provided to recover the titles via the rollers 10 and G10 in the direction

  negative, as described in more detail below.

  We will now describe the operation of the device

  user / machine interface according to the invention.

  In Figure 2, there is shown the flowchart of the procedure for stacking a title T1 using the device

  user / machine interface according to the invention.

  According to step 1, a ticket T1, coming from the processing device DTM, is routed in the return path CR by

  the AG referral device (positive direction).

  In accordance with step 2, the passage of title T1 in the

  return path CR is detected by the input sensor 2.

  it According to step 3, in response to detection by the input sensor, the control unit UC controls the motor M1 in order to drive the roller G1 in the positive direction (delivery). The

  title T1 is driven by the belt C1 towards the roller G2.

  According to step 4, the title T1 is in engagement with the rollers G2 and G7. The belts Cl, C2, C3 and C4 are driven in the positive direction, in order to convey the title in the corridor CO

  to the OB shutter, via the G3 / G9 rollers.

  According to step 5, the title T1 is adjusted by the plate

  straightening 16 along the longitudinal axis of the corridor.

  In accordance with step 6, when the output sensor 12 detects the passage of the ticket Tl, the control unit UC stops the drive of the ticket. At the end of step 6, the T1 title

  is in the CO corridor in abutment with the OB shutter.

  In software, it can be routed according to the sequestration procedure in accordance with step 7 (Figure 5) that

  will be described in more detail below.

  As a variant, the ticket T1 is logically intended to be issued to the outside, according to step 9 (FIGS. 3 and 4), or else it can wait for the arrival of a ticket following T2, in order to be processed in a bundle, in accordance with step 8

(Figures 6 and 7).

  In Figure 3, there is shown the flowchart illustrating the

  procedure for issuing the title or titles according to the invention.

  In accordance with step 91 (which follows step 9 described with reference to FIG. 2), the first and second drive means (belts C1, C2 and C3) drive the ticket (s) stacked in the lane in the direction negative over a chosen distance, for example 5 mm, in order to eliminate any

constraint on the shutter.

  In accordance with step 92, the control unit UC sends

  the OB shutter opening order (Figure 4).

  Then, in accordance with step 93, the belts C1, C2, C3 and C4 are controlled in the positive direction, in order to drive the title or titles T1 substantially horizontally outward (FIG. 45), so that at least a large part of the area of T1 titles is presented to the user (in the case of titles in IATA format,

  at least 2/3 of the title is presented to the eyes of the user

  sateur). The titles are still in engagement with the rollers G3 / G9 until the user withdraws them, if not after a certain delay, they are conveyed in escrow in accordance

  in step 7 described in more detail below.

  In Figure 5, there is shown the setting procedure

sequestration or scrapping.

  In accordance with step 71 (which follows step 7 described with reference to FIG. 2, or else step 93 described with reference to FIG. 3), the titles are adjusted by the action of the rotary guide 22 in order to pass them between

the rollers 10 and G10.

  In accordance with step 72, the belts C1, C2, C3 and C4 are moved in the negative direction, in order to drive the track or tracks engaged with the rollers G2 / G7 and G3 / G9 towards the station

waste 40 via the rollers G10 / 10.

  In practice, the sequestration procedure is activated after a certain delay at the end of the issuing step 93 described with reference to FIG. 3, which makes it possible to swallow the titles not taken up by the user and guarantees thus emptying the corridor to allow its

  reuse for the next transaction.

  In Figure 6, the stacking procedure is shown

  successive T1 and T2 titles without synchronization, i.e.

  say by sliding the title T2 onto the title T1 (step 81).

  In accordance with step 811, the ticket T1 is stacked in the corridor, the bundler 18 is in the open position and the

  belts C1, and C2, C3 and C4 are not in motion.

  At this time, there is therefore no advance or decline in the T1 security.

  According to step 812, the title T2 is conveyed in the positive direction by the belt C1 via the rollers G1, G2 and G3. The

  belts C2, C3 and C4 are stopped.

  According to step 813, the title T2 is straightened by the straightening plate. According to step 814, the first drive means are stopped in response to the detection of the recovery of the T2 ticket

by sensor 24.

  In accordance with step 815, the T2 ticket is stacked in the

  corridor by sliding on the T1 title.

  At the end of step 815, the titles T1 and T2 thus stacked by sliding one over the other are delivered or put in

  escrow as taught above.

  In FIG. 7, the procedure for stacking titles T1 and T2 is shown with synchronization, that is to say without relative sliding of the title T2 onto the title T1. This operating mode is preferred when there is a risk of friction or snagging between the titles (used titles,

titles with precut).

  In accordance with step 821, the title T1 is trained in the

  negative direction using the first and second means of

  drag C1, and C2, C3 and C4. The T1 title moves back (negative direction) so in the corridor until its front end (relative to the positive direction) is substantially in

taken with the G2 / G7 rollers.

  In accordance with step 822, the ticket T2 is driven by the first drive means C1 in the positive direction up to the roller G2. In response to the detection of the titer T2 at the entry sensor 2, the belt Cl is rotated and the electromagnet 20 controls the spacing of the passage CO, which avoids entrainment of the titer T1 by the

G2 roller.

  In accordance with step 823, a step of synchronizing the position of the ticket T2 with respect to the ticket T1 is provided, which consists in aligning the ticket T2 at the level of the roller G2

  on the T1 title to allow their training in superpo-

sition.

  In accordance with step 824, the titles T1 and T2 are entrained

  born in superposition and in synchronism by the first and second drive means C1 and C2, C3 and C4 in the corridor, the electromagnet 20 is in the working position to allow the elastic pressure of the rollers G2 / G7 and G3 / G9 on

the titles.

  In accordance with step 825, the T2 title is adjusted by the

straightening plate.

  In accordance with step 826, the drive means C1 and C2, C3 and C4 are stopped in response to the indication of the output sensor relating to the contact of tickets T1 and T2

with the shutter.

  At the end of step 826, the titles T1 and T2 thus stacked in superposition without friction are delivered or put in

  escrow as taught above.

  The user / machine interface device has many advantages, in particular with respect to the devices of the

prior art.

  Firstly, the interface device according to the invention makes it possible to present to the user at least part

  substantial area of the titles in the eyes of the user

  which constitutes a good visual incentive for the withdrawal of titles. In addition, it makes it possible to present several titles in an orderly and perfectly arranged bundle, also by presenting the

substantial part of the titles.

  Similarly, using static (plate) and dynamic (rotating arms) straightening means, it makes it possible to treat

  titles even if they are damaged.

  Then, it guarantees the reuse of the corridor

  even in case of non-withdrawal of titles by the user.

  Finally, thanks to the absence of swelling of the titles caused by the constant pinching of the bundle, the outlet orifice can be of low height, which constitutes an element of

  additional security for the user.

Claims (9)

claims   1. User / machine interface device intended to be associated with a ticket processing device (DTM), in particular flat and flexible tickets comprising a magnetic strip, in order to deliver one or more tickets to a user, characterized in that '' it includes: - first ticket drive means (C1) arranged   at the output of the processing device (DTM) in order to drive   ner one by one the titles from the device   securities processing (DTM), said first means of driving   ment comprising at least one belt (Cl) wound in a closed circuit around rollers (GO to G6) one of which is motor, - second track drive means (C2, C3 and C4) comprising at least one belt ( C2, C3 and C4) wound in a closed circuit around rollers (G7 to G10) one of which is a motor, at least certain rollers (G2, G3, G7 and G9) of the first and second drive means (C1, C2 , C3, C4) being arranged with respect to each other to form a passage and stacking corridor (CO), - a removable shutter (OB), disposed at the exit of the corridor (CO), and having a perpendicular wall (14) at the ticket surface and suitable for serving as a reference support face for one side of the tickets, and - control means (UC) suitable for controlling the first and second drive means (C1, C2, C3 and C4) as well as the shutter (OB) in order to stack at least one ticket (T1) in said lane and to deliver said ticket thus stacked so as to p in the eyes of the user, at least part of the surface of said ticket, said ticket surface thus presented being greater than that of the side of said ticket. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that   that the first drive means (Cl) are bidirectional-   tional. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second drive means (C2, C3 and C4) are bidirectional.   4. Device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in   that the title or titles issued and presented to the eyes of the user are still engaged with the first and second drive means (C1, C2, C3 and C4), so that in the event of non-withdrawal of the titles after a selected time delay, the control means (UC) are suitable for controlling said first and second drive means in order to route in the opposite direction to delivery, the pull or pulls in a sequestration station (36) located at   inside the interface device.   5. Device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized   in that the control means (UC) are suitable for controlling   der the first and second drive means (C1, C2, C3 and C4) in order to drive in superposition and in synchronism towards the shutter (OB) a ticket (T1) already stacked in the lane and the ticket (T2) not stacked which follows it, which avoids friction between two titles (T1 and T2) which follow each other during stacking, and thus allows delivery of said titles (T1 and T2) in an ordered bundle and stored with at least one part the surface of the upper title (T2) of the package visible to the user.   6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a straightening plate (16),   elastic return, arranged parallel to the upper part   of the corridor and suitable for straightening a ticket engaged with the first and second drive means (C1, C2,   C3 and C4) in order to place it parallel to the longitudi- nal of the corridor.   7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second drive means comprise an upstream belt (C4) wound in a closed circuit around rollers (G8 and G10) one of which is motor (G8), a downstream belt wound in a closed circuit around rollers (G8 and G9), one of which (G8) is motor, and an intermediate belt (C2) wound in a closed circuit around rollers (G7 and G8), one of which (G8) is motor , the upstream (C4), intermediate belts   (C2) and downstream (C3) having a common drive roller (G8).   8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a device forming a guide (18), with elastic return, comprising an arm substantially parallel to the surface of the tickets and arranged parallel to the lower part of the corridor, so to facilitate the training of   bundle of consecutive titles thus stacked in the corridor.   9. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises means forming a guide with rotary arms (22), arranged at the upper entrance to the corridor, diametrically opposite the shutter, and able to move in rotation on command about an axis perpendicular to the corridor and the shutter to dynamically straighten a title for its sequestration.