GB2141569A

GB2141569A - Ticket issuing machines

Info

Publication number: GB2141569A
Application number: GB08309824A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Stephenson; John Arthur Raymond Mitton
Original assignee: FKI Electricals PLC
Current assignee: Brush Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1983-04-12
Filing date: 1983-04-12
Publication date: 1984-12-19
Also published as: GB8309824D0

Abstract

A ticket issuing machine has means arrangeable to print not only information relating to a user of the machine but also information relating to the Authority providing the machine. The information may not only be printed but also displayed, for example on display 19. The machine may have a speech unit 28 to provide audible information. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ticket issuing machines The invention relates to ticket issuing machines, and particularly to machines for issuing tickets in connection with the parking of vehicles, for example machines of the kind known as "pay and display" machines. With such machines a user purchases a ticket entitling the user to a period of parking time appropriate to the payment that he has made and the user then displays this ticket within his vehicle.

Such ticket issuing machines are well known, but they are usually only capable of printing on to the ticket the variable information associated with the user, for example the amount paid by the user, the amount of parking time purchased by the user, and the time of issue of the ticket.

Other information, for example the name of the Authority issuing the ticket, and the VAT number of the Authority, must be preprinted on the tickets.

The invention provides a ticket issuing machine having means arrangeable to print not only information relating to a user of the machine but also information relating to the Authority providing the machine.

Preferably the ticket issuing machine has a printer controlled by a microprocessor.

Preferably the information relating to the Authority providing the machine is stored in a read only memory of the microprocessor.

Preferably the read only memory is a programmable read only memory so that the information relating to the Authority may be changed as desired or may initially be selected to meet the requirements of the Authority which is to provide a given machine.

Preferably the read only memory is removable for programming purposes.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a ticket issuing machine arranged to provide tickets related to vehicle parking, the machine also being arranged to provide audible information via a speech unit.

By way of example, a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a diagrammatic representation of the principal components of a ticket issuing machine according to an embodiment of the invention.

The components illustrated in the Figure will be housed within a conventional housing which is not shown. The machine has a central microprocessor 10 which not only has an integral random access memory but also has a non-volatile real time clock 11, and a removable programmable read only memory 12.

The microprocessor is arranged to be permanently connected to a mains supply via a power supply unit 1 3. Connected between the supply unit 1 3 and the microprocessor 10 is a non-volatile memory 14. The non-volatile memory 14 is intended to store information which may be required for audit purposes.

The power supply unit 1 3 also incorporates a "watchdog" unit which monitors the activities of the microprocessor 1 0. If the microprocessor 10 behaves erratically, for example because of interference, for example from CB radios, or because of power fluctuations, the "Watchdog" unit resets the microprocessor.

During such periods of disturbance, the "watchdog" unit also, via a line 15, inhibits the non-voiatile memory 14 from receiving signals from the microprocessor via a line 1 6.

This ensures that any erratic signals from the microprocessor 10 do not disturb the contents of the non-volatile memory 14.

Also connected to the microprocessor 10 is a coin receiving device 1 7 which accepts coins inserted by a user and transmits information concerning the coin inputs to the microprocessor.

The microprocessor 10 is also connected to a display unit 1 8 which comprises an actual display 1 9 and the associated control circuitry 20. The display gives an indication of the time, whether it is a.m. or p.m., the date, and the day of the week. This information is derived from the real time clock 11.

Also connected to the microprocessor via an appropriate interface 21 is a printer 22. Also connected to the microprocessor 10 via a drive unit 23 are counters 24 and a guillotine 25. The counters give a visual indication of the number of tickets issued, and the number of coins of each relevant denomination that have been inserted into the machine.

A print button 26 is connected to the microprocessor 10 and a reject button 27 is connected to the power supply unit 1 3.

Finally, a speech unit 28 is connected to the microprocessor.

In day to day use the machine operates as follows.

A user approaching the machine has a visual indication of the time, date and day of the week. He decides how much parking time he requires and inserts appropriate coinage into the unit 1 7. The microprocessor, based upon the information received from the coin input 1 7 and the information contained in its read only memory 1 2 computes the amount of time that the user has purchased and displays this on the display unit 1 9. If this information corresponds to the user's expectations, the user presses the print button 26, If however the user has made a mistake, or wishes to cancel the transaction for some other reason, he presses the reject button 27.

This causes the power supply unit 1 3 to reset the microprocessor and the inserted coins are returned.

Assuming however that the print button is pressed, the microprocessor causes the printer 22 to print a ticket displaying information derived from the real time clock 11, the read only memory 12, and the coin input 1 7. The microprocessor then causes the guillotine 25 to cut off the ticket, powered by the drive unit 23. The drive unit 23 also causes the counters 24 to indicate that a ticket has been issued and to indicate the number and denomination of coins received.

The ticket is printed with information relating to the user. It may for example be printed with the date and time of issue, the period of time for which the user may park, the total sum represented by the coinage inserted, and the date and time at which the user must leave the parking area. It is however also printed with information relating to the Authority providing the machine, for example the name of a Local Authority, City Council, or the like, together with any other desired information, for example the VAT number of the ticket issuing Authority.

The read only memory 1 2 can be arranged to provide a considerable amount of information for use by the microprocessor. Firstly of course it is provided with the information relating to the ticket issuing Authority. There is no need for this information to be preprinted on the tickets. Secondly it can be provided with information relating to time zones. For example it is unusual for parking regulations to be uniform throughout a twenty-four hour period or throughout a year.

There may be different regulations for weekdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holidays. There may be different regulations for different time zones during a twenty-four hour period. During any given time zone during a twenty-four hour period there may be minimum charges, maximum charges, free periods, flat rate charges, and periods during which parking is prohibited altogether. This information can all be pre-programmed into the programmable read only memory 1 2 so that the microprocessor 10 will select the appropriate information dependent upon the time zone involved. The time zone involved can of course be calculated from the information provided by the real time clock 11.

The read only memory 1 2 can also be provided with the necessary information to be provided to the speech unit 28. The speech unit 28 may for example give the user of the device an indication of the time at which the ticket has been issued and the time at which he must leave the parking area.

The read only memory 1 2 is provided with the necessary information by removing it from the microprocessor, and coupling it to a programming unit which is connected to a minicomputer. The necessary information can then be fed into the programming unit from the mini-computer by appropriate operation of the computer keyboard and once the information has been stored in the read only memory, the memory can be reinserted in the microprocessor.

The use of this removable programmable read only memory means that machines can be sold to various different Authorities containing the identical equipment but which will produce tickets complying with the individual Authority's requirements. Not only can the machines initially be provided with information and functions tailored to suit the requirements of a particular Authority but the requirements can readily be changed later by reprogramming of the read only memory should the customer require it.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example the speech unit may be omitted if desired.

Instead of accepting coins via the coin input 1 7 the ticket issuing machine may be provided with a unit which will read information contained on a credit card or some other machine-readable card, for example a ticket purchased in advance.

Claims

1. A ticket issuing machine having means arrangeable to print not only information relating to a user of the machine but also information relating to the Authority providing the machine.

2. A ticket issuing machine as claimed in claim 1, having a printer controlled by a microprocessor.

3. A ticket issuing machine as claimed in claim 2, in which information relating to the Authority is stored in a read only memory of the microprocessor.

4. A ticket issuing machine as claimed in claim 3, in which the read only memory is a programmable read only memory so that the information relating to the Authority may be changed as desired or may initially be selected to meet the requirements of the Authority which' is to provide a given machine.

5. A ticket issuing machine as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the read only memory is removable for programming purposes.

6. A ticket issuing machine arranged to provide tickets related to vehicle parking, the machine also being arranged to provide audible information via a speech unit.

7. A ticket issuing machine constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.