JP4291180B2 - Ticketing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ticket issuing machine.

  Conventionally, in ticket machines that issue tickets, reservation tickets, seat reservation tickets, commuter passes, airline tickets for boarding aircraft, etc., installed at railway stations, airports, travel agencies, etc. After reading the information of the ticket inserted from, write new information to the information, erase the information, rewrite the information, and then exchange it for a new ticket and issue it (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In this case, the ticket issuing machine has a temporary stacker for temporarily storing the ticket, and the inserted ticket is accumulated and stored in the temporary stacker. In addition, when the inserted ticket is to be discharged, the ticket is once collected in the temporary stacker and then taken out from the temporary stacker and transported. It is designed to discharge from the exit. For this purpose, the temporary stacker is provided with a separation mechanism for separating the tickets to be taken out from other stacked tickets.

  The ticket issuing machine also has a hopper that stores newly issued tickets, a collection hopper that stores tickets that have become errors or are no longer needed after processing. Further, a magnetic encoder unit for reading and writing the magnetic data of the ticket is disposed on the ticket transport path, and recorded on a recording unit such as a magnetic stripe attached to the back surface of the ticket. Magnetic data can be read and written. Further, a printing unit is disposed in the ticket conveyance path, and a ticket on which necessary information is printed on the surface of the ticket by the printing unit is discharged from the discharge port and issued.

  By the way, double feeding of tickets may occur in the transport path. The multi-feed is a state in which a plurality of tickets are stacked and conveyed. For example, when taking out a ticket from the temporary stacker, the tickets are taken out without being properly separated. appear. When double feeding occurs, a paper jam occurs in which the ticket is jammed in the middle of the conveyance path, or the ticket is damaged in the middle of conveyance. Therefore, a double feed detection sensor is arranged in the transport path, and when the occurrence of double feed is detected, an alarm is notified to the operator of the ticket issuing machine and the operation of the transport device for transporting the ticket is stopped. It is like that. Thereby, the operator can remove the ticket in which the double feed has occurred.

  Here, an operation when an operator inserts an air ticket into a ticketing machine and performs processing at an airport will be described as an example. First, when boarding a plurality of passengers, the operator inserts a plurality of air tickets one by one from the insertion slot of the ticket issuing machine. Then, the ticket issuing machine reads the magnetic data of the inserted airline ticket by the magnetic encoder unit and executes a suction process for storing it in the temporary stacker. When the first air ticket inhalation process is completed, the second and subsequent air ticket inhalation processes are executed in the same manner as the first sheet. When all the airline tickets are inhaled, the ticket issuing machine separates and discharges the airline tickets one by one from the temporary stacker, records magnetic data with the magnetic encoder unit, and performs predetermined printing with the printing unit. Then, it is transported to the discharge port. The boarding procedure is complete when all inserted tickets have been discharged.

In this case, the double feed detection sensor disposed in the transport path in the middle of transporting the air ticket taken out from the temporary stacker to the magnetic encoder unit monitors the occurrence of double feed. Then, when the double feed detection sensor detects the occurrence of double feed, the ticket issuing machine stops the air ticket at the position of the magnetic encoder unit and reports an alarm to the operator as a “double feed error”. Then, the operator discharges or removes the air ticket that has been double-fed by manual work, transports a new medium from the hopper, and issues a reissue ticket. In addition, when a double feed occurs when a magnetic medium is recorded on a new medium taken out from the hopper and is printed, and a ticket is issued, the operator similarly applies a double-feed air ticket. Is discharged or removed, and a new medium is conveyed from the hopper so that a reissue ticket is issued.
JP-A 64-1090

  However, in the conventional ticket issuing machine, the operation is stopped when the double feed is detected, and the operation is resumed after the operator discharges or removes the double-feeded ticket manually. , It takes time to complete the ticketing. For this reason, the user is kept waiting for a long time until the ticketing is completed, and the service for the user is deteriorated. In addition, the throughput of the ticket issuing machine is reduced. Furthermore, since the multi-fed ticket is discharged or removed, and a new medium is taken out from the hopper and issued, the ticket discharged or removed is wasted and the running cost of the ticket issuing machine is increased.

  The present invention solves the problems of the conventional ticket-issuing machine, returns a ticket that has been double-fed to a stacker having a separation mechanism, separates the ticket using the separation mechanism, and carries it out of the stacker. In this way, even if multiple feeds occur, ticketing can be completed in a short time without stopping for a long time, service to users is not degraded, throughput is improved, and tickets are wasted An object of the present invention is to provide a ticketing machine that can reduce running costs without having to.

Therefore, in the ticketing machine of the present invention, there is provided a ticket issuing machine for issuing a new ticket, a conveying path for conveying the ticket is connected to the conveying path, a hopper for accommodating the ticket, the transport A stacker that is connected to a path and separates and transports the ticket; a stacker that temporarily stores the ticket; and a sensor that is disposed in the transport path and detects occurrence of double feeding of the ticket. And when a multi-feed occurs in the ticket unloaded from the hopper, the ticket is returned to the stacker, and the ticket is separated and unloaded by the separation mechanism.

Another ticketing machine of the present invention further includes a collection stacker connected to the conveyance path, and after issuing a new ticket, the ticket remaining on the stacker is conveyed and stored in the collection stacker.

  In still another ticket issuing machine of the present invention, the ticket issuing machine further includes a writing device that is arranged in the middle of the conveyance path and writes information on a ticket that is unloaded from the hopper and issued.

  According to the present invention, a ticket in which double feeding has occurred is returned to a stacker having a separation mechanism, and the separation mechanism is used to separate the ticket and carry it out of the stacker. Therefore, even if multiple feeds occur, ticketing can be completed in a short time without stopping for a long time, service to customers is not degraded, throughput is improved, and tickets are wasted The running cost can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the ticket issuing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the temporary stacker according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, 10 is a ticket issuing machine. Here, the ticket issuing machine 10 is installed in a railway station, airport, travel agency, etc., and is used for railway tickets, reservation tickets, seat reservation tickets, regular tickets, airline tickets for boarding airplanes, and the like. Although it is a device that issues a ticket, it may be a device that issues any type of ticket, or may be a device disposed at any place. In the present embodiment, a case where the ticket issuing machine 10 issues an air ticket will be described. The air ticket has a recording part such as a magnetic stripe on the back surface, and information such as reservation contents is recorded as magnetic data in the recording part. In addition, information such as reservation contents is printed on the surface of the air ticket.

  Then, the ticket issuing machine 10 reads the information of the air ticket as a ticket inserted through the insertion slot 15 and inhaled, and adds new information to the information, deletes the information, or rewrites the information. And then issue a ticket from the outlet 16. Therefore, in the middle of the air ticket transport path 11 arranged in the ticket issuing machine 10, the departure date, flight name, departure time, departure place, arrival place, etc., which are flight information on the surface of the air ticket, etc. A printing section 14 for printing information such as reservation contents is provided. Further, a magnetic encoder unit 13 as a reading / writing device for reading and writing information recorded on the air ticket is disposed in the middle of the transport path 11, and a magnetic stripe affixed to the back surface of the air ticket. The information recorded as magnetic data in a recording unit such as is read or written. The transport path 11 has a transport device (not shown) composed of a plurality of transport rollers and a transport belt disposed along the transport path 11. The transport device includes a transport motor including an electric motor, and the driving force of the transport motor is transmitted to the transport roller and the transport belt through a power transmission mechanism including a belt, a pulley, a gear, and the like, and is rotated. Thereby, the said air ticket is conveyed along the conveyance path 11 in the state pinched | interposed by the conveyance roller and conveyance belt which oppose. In addition, the rotation direction of the said conveyance roller or a conveyance belt can be changed suitably, and it conveys the air ticket suck | inhaled from the insertion port 15 toward the back | inner side of the ticketing machine 10, or from the back | inner side of the ticketing machine 10 It can be conveyed toward the discharge port 16.

  The ticket issuing machine 10 includes hoppers 12a, 12b, and 12c that are connected to the transport path 11 and store new media used for issuing new air tickets. Each of the hoppers 12a, 12b, and 12c includes a separation unit for separating and carrying out the media stacked and stored inside one by one. In the present embodiment, when the hoppers 12a, 12b and 12c are described in an integrated manner, the hopper 12 will be described. Further, the ticket issuing machine 10 has a collection stacker 18 for collecting error tickets and air tickets that are no longer necessary after processing. The transport path 11 in front of the collection stacker 18 has a blade 19 for switching the transport route of the air ticket, and switches between the main transport path and the transport path to the collection stacker 18. Furthermore, a double feed detection sensor 20 as a sensor for detecting the occurrence of double feed of an air ticket is disposed in the middle of the transport path 11 below the magnetic encoder unit 13. The double feed detection sensor 20 is, for example, an optical sensor, but may be any type of sensor as long as it can detect a state in which a plurality of air tickets are conveyed in a stacked manner.

  Further, the ticket issuing machine 10 has a temporary stacker 17 as a stacker which is connected to the transport path 11 and temporarily stores an air ticket, and the air ticket inserted through the insertion port 15 is temporarily stored. The stacker 17 is accumulated and stored. When discharging the air ticket inserted from the insertion port 15, the air ticket is once accumulated in the temporary stacker 17, taken out from the temporary stacker 17, and transported in the transport path 11. 16 is discharged. For this purpose, the temporary stacker 17 is provided with a separation mechanism for separating and carrying out the air tickets to be taken out and carried out separately from other accumulated air tickets.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the temporary stacker 17 includes a separation roller 21, a reverse roller 22, a pickup roller 23, and a stage 24 as a separation mechanism. The separation roller 21 can rotate in both directions, and when the air ticket is carried into the temporary stacker 17, it rotates counterclockwise in FIG. Further, when carrying out the air ticket from the temporary stacker 17, it rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. The reverse roller 22 facing the separation roller 21 rotates only when the air ticket is carried out from the temporary stacker 17. In this case, it rotates counterclockwise.

  The pickup roller 23 rotates in the clockwise direction only when the air ticket is carried out of the temporary stacker 17, picks up the air ticket located at the uppermost position in the temporary stacker 17, and the separation roller 21 and It feeds in the direction of the reverse roller 22. The pickup roller 23 is urged downward by a spring 25 for generating a force for picking up an air ticket, as shown in FIG. When the air ticket is stored, the stage 24 is retracted downward and is in a position as shown in FIG. 3. When the stored air ticket is separated, the stage 24 is driven by an electric motor (not shown). Driven by the source, it rises in the direction indicated by arrow A. As a result, the air ticket located at the top of the air tickets accumulated on the stage 24 is pressed against the pickup roller 23 from below to be picked up and separated from other tickets.

  Next, the operation of the ticket issuing machine 10 having the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation after double feed detection of the ticket issuing machine in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, when the ticket issuing machine 10 returns the inhaled air ticket and issues it, the recovery when a double feed occurs when issuing the air ticket stored in the temporary stacker 17 is issued. The operation will be described. Here, an operation when the ticketing machine 10 is arranged at an airport and an operator inserts an air ticket into the ticketing machine 10 and performs processing will be described as an example.

  First, when boarding a plurality of passengers, the operator inserts a plurality of air tickets one by one from the insertion slot 15 of the ticket issuing machine 10 one by one. Then, the inserted air ticket is sucked into the ticket issuing machine 10 and conveyed toward the back side along the conveyance path 11, and the inhalation process by the ticket issuing machine 10 is executed. When the air ticket passes through the magnetic encoder unit 13, information recorded as magnetic data in a recording unit such as a magnetic stripe attached to the back surface is read by the magnetic encoder unit 13, and then temporarily stacked. 17 is accommodated. Thereby, the inhalation process of the first air ticket is completed. When the first air ticket inhalation process is completed, the second and subsequent air ticket inhalation processes are executed in the same manner as the first sheet.

  Subsequently, when all the airline tickets have been inhaled, the ticket issuing machine 10 separates and discharges the airfare tickets one by one from the temporary stacker 17 by the separation mechanism. In this case, the stage 24 is raised, and the air ticket located at the top of the air tickets accumulated on the stage 24 is pressed against the pickup roller 23 from below to be picked up, separated from other tickets, and separated. It is sent in the direction of the roller 21 and the reverse roller 22. Here, since the separation roller 21 is rotated in the direction of carrying out the air ticket from the temporary stacker 17 and the reverse roller 22 is rotated in the direction of carrying in the air ticket into the temporary stacker 17, the air ticket located at the uppermost position is used. Even when other air tickets are attached, the other air tickets are not carried out of the temporary stacker 17. The air ticket transported from the temporary stacker 17 is transported toward the discharge port 16 along the transport path 11. That is, the air ticket is issued from the temporary stacker 17.

  Subsequently, when the air ticket passes through the double feed detection sensor 20, the ticket issuing machine 10 determines whether or not double feed has occurred based on the detection signal of the double feed detection sensor 20. Here, when the double feed detection sensor 20 does not detect the occurrence of double feed, the ticket issuing machine 10 determines that double feed has not occurred and directs the air ticket to the discharge port 16 along the transport path 11. Transport. Then, when the air ticket passes through the magnetic encoder unit 13, the magnetic encoder unit 13 records predetermined information as magnetic data in a recording unit such as a magnetic stripe attached to the back surface, and magnetic recording is performed. Further, when the air ticket passes through the printing unit 14, predetermined information is printed on the surface by the printing unit 14, and after the printing process is performed, the ticket is discharged from the discharge port 16 and issued. Thereby, the process ends.

  When the double feed detection sensor 20 detects the occurrence of double feed, the ticket issuing machine 10 determines whether the number of retries is equal to or less than the upper limit value. Here, “retry” means that a plurality of stacked air tickets, that is, a multi-fed medium is returned to the temporary stacker 17, and the air tickets are separated from the temporary stacker 17 one by one by the separation mechanism and carried out again. It is an operation to do. An upper limit value of the number of times to retry when a double feed is detected is set in advance. That is, the retry is performed only up to a predetermined number of times. If the number of retries exceeds the upper limit value, the ticket issuing machine 10 stops the operation as a “double feed error”, stops the air ticket at the position of the magnetic encoder unit 13, and issues an alarm to the operator. report. As a result, the operator manually discharges or removes the air ticket that has been double-fed and causes a new medium to be carried out from the hopper 12 so that a reissue ticket is issued.

  On the other hand, when the number of retries is less than or equal to the upper limit value, the ticket issuing machine 10 stops the transport motor of the transport device. Subsequently, the ticket issuing machine 10 turns on the transport motor of the transport device to operate the transport device. In this case, the rotation direction of the transport motor is the direction during the suction process, that is, the suction direction. As a result, the multi-feed medium is returned to the original position along the transport path 11 and is transported and stored in the temporary stacker 17. Subsequently, the ticket issuing machine 10 again separates and discharges the air tickets one by one from the temporary stacker 17 by the separation mechanism. That is, temporary stacker re-separation is performed. Then, the air ticket carried out from the temporary stacker 17 is conveyed again toward the discharge port 16 along the conveyance path 11, and the ticket issuing machine 10 repeats the above-described operation. In this way, when all the inserted airline tickets have been discharged, the boarding procedure process is completed for all passengers.

Next, a flowchart will be described.
Step S1 An air ticket is issued from the temporary stacker 17.
Step S2: It is determined whether or not double feeding has occurred. If double feed has occurred, the process proceeds to step S3. If double feed has not occurred, the process proceeds to step S8.
Step S3: It is determined whether the number of retries is less than or equal to the upper limit value. If the number of retries is less than or equal to the upper limit value, the process proceeds to step S4. If the number of retries exceeds the upper limit value, the process is terminated as a “double feed error”.
Step S4: The transport motor of the transport device is stopped.
Step S5: The transport motor of the transport device is turned on to operate the transport device. In this case, the rotation direction of the transport motor is the suction direction.
Step S6 The double feeding medium is conveyed and stored in the temporary stacker 17.
Step S7 Temporary stacker re-separation is performed.
Step S8 Magnetic recording is performed.
Step S9 Print processing is performed.
Step S10: The air ticket is discharged and the process is terminated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the occurrence of double feeding is detected when the ticket is issued from the temporary stacker 17, the double feeding medium is returned to the temporary stacker 17, and again by the separation mechanism, The air tickets are separated from the stacker 17 and carried out one by one. Therefore, even if double feeding occurs, the ticket issuing machine 10 does not stop for a long time, and the ticketing of the air ticket can be completed in a short time. Further, since a reissue ticket for carrying out a new medium from the hopper 12 becomes unnecessary, the air ticket can be saved.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the thing which has the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted by providing the same code | symbol. The description of the same operation and the same effect as those of the first embodiment is also omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the ticket issuing machine 10 is connected to a host device (not shown). The host device is a computer that includes a calculation unit such as a CPU and an MPU, a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory and a magnetic disk, a display unit such as a CRT and a liquid crystal display, an input unit such as a keyboard and a mouse, a communication interface, and the like. . The configuration of other points is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, operation | movement of the ticket issuing machine 10 in this Embodiment is demonstrated.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation after the double feed detection of the ticket issuing machine in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, a recovery operation when the ticket issuing machine 10 issues a new air ticket and a double feed occurs when issuing a ticket from the hopper 12 will be described. In this case, the magnetic encoder unit 13 functions as a writing device that writes information on a ticket that is unloaded from the hopper 12 and issued. Here, the operation when a user newly purchases an air ticket will be described as an example.

  When a user newly purchases an air ticket, the ticket issuing machine 10 receives a ticket issuing instruction from the host device and issues a new air ticket according to the ticket issuing instruction. In this case, the ticket issuing machine 10 separates and discharges a new medium one by one from one of the hoppers 12a, 12b, and 12c that stores the ticket by a separation mechanism. Then, the air ticket as a new medium carried out from the hopper 12 is transported toward the discharge port 16 along the transport path 11. That is, the air ticket is issued by a hopper.

  Subsequently, when the air ticket passes through the double feed detection sensor 20, the ticket issuing machine 10 determines whether or not double feed has occurred based on the detection signal of the double feed detection sensor 20. Here, when the double feed detection sensor 20 does not detect the occurrence of double feed, the ticket issuing machine 10 determines that double feed has not occurred and directs the air ticket to the discharge port 16 along the transport path 11. Transport. When the air ticket passes through the magnetic encoder unit 13, the magnetic encoder unit 13 provides predetermined information, that is, flight information, such as departure date, flight name, departure time, departure place, arrival place, etc. Magnetic data is recorded as magnetic data in a recording unit such as a magnetic stripe attached to the back surface. Further, when the air ticket passes through the printing unit 14, predetermined information is printed on the surface by the printing unit 14, and after the printing process is performed, the ticket is discharged from the discharge port 16 and issued. Thereby, the process ends.

  When the double feed detection sensor 20 detects the occurrence of double feed, the ticket issuing machine 10 stops the transport motor of the transport device. Subsequently, the ticket issuing machine 10 turns on the transport motor of the transport device to operate the transport device. In this case, the rotation direction of the transport motor is the direction during the suction process, that is, the suction direction. As a result, the multi-feed medium is returned to the original position along the transport path 11 and is transported and stored in the temporary stacker 17. Subsequently, the ticket issuing machine 10 again separates and discharges the air tickets one by one from the temporary stacker 17 by the separation mechanism. That is, temporary stacker re-separation is performed. Then, the air ticket transported from the temporary stacker 17 is transported toward the discharge port 16 along the transport path 11 again.

  Then, when the air ticket passes through the magnetic encoder unit 13, the magnetic encoder unit 13 records predetermined information as magnetic data in a recording unit such as a magnetic stripe attached to the back surface, and magnetic recording is performed. Further, when the air ticket passes through the printing unit 14, predetermined information is printed on the surface by the printing unit 14, and after the printing process is performed, the ticket is discharged from the discharge port 16 and issued.

  Subsequently, the ticket-issuing machine 10 returns the air ticket that has been returned from the transport path 11 as a multi-feed medium and is stored in the temporary stacker 17 from the temporary stacker 17. Separate and transport one by one. That is, temporary stacker ticketing is performed. The ticket issuing machine 10 transports the air ticket that has been issued a temporary stacker and stores it in the collection stacker 18. That is, the collection stacker is conveyed. Then, when all the air tickets remaining in the temporary stacker 17 are stored in the collection stacker 18, the processing is terminated.

Next, a flowchart will be described.
Step S11 An air ticket is issued from a hopper.
Step S12: It is determined whether double feeding has occurred. If double feeding has occurred, the process proceeds to step S13, and if double feeding has not occurred, the process proceeds to step 22.
Step S13: The transport motor of the transport device is stopped.
Step S14: The transport motor of the transport device is turned on to operate the transport device. In this case, the rotation direction of the transport motor is the suction direction.
Step S15 The double feeding medium is transported and stored in the temporary stacker 17.
Step S16 Temporary stacker re-separation is performed.
Step S17 Magnetic recording is performed.
Step S18 Print processing is performed.
Step S19 The air ticket is discharged.
Step S20: Temporary stacker issuance step S21: Collection stacker conveyance is performed, and the process is terminated.
Step S22 Magnetic recording is performed.
Step S23 Print processing is performed.
Step S24: The air ticket is discharged and the process is terminated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the occurrence of double feeding is detected when a ticket is issued from the hopper 12, the double feeding medium is returned to the temporary stacker 17, and again by the separation mechanism, the temporary stacker is returned. A single air ticket is separated from 17 and issued, and other air tickets are stored in the collection stacker 18. Therefore, even when double feeding occurs, the ticket issuing machine 10 does not stop for a long time, and a new air ticket can be issued in a short time.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, the case where the operator operates the ticketing machine 10 has been described. However, the ticketing machine 10 is an automatic check-in machine or the like that is operated by the user himself / herself. An automatic machine may be used. In this case, even if double feeding occurs, the ticket issuing machine 10 is not stopped for a long time, and the effect that a new air ticket can be issued in a short time is larger than the device operated by the operator. It becomes.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change variously based on the meaning of this invention, and does not exclude them from the scope of the present invention.

It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement after the double feed detection of the ticket issuing machine in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the internal structure of the ticket issuing machine in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the temporary stacker in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement after the double feed detection of the ticket issuing machine in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ticket issuing machine 11 Conveyance path 12, 12a, 12b, 12c Hopper 13 Magnetic encoder part 17 Temporary stacker 18 Recovery stacker 20 Double feed detection sensor 21 Separation roller 22 Reverse roller 23 Pickup roller 24 Stage

Claims (3)

(A) a ticketing machine that issues a new ticket,
(B) a transport path for transporting the ticket;
(C) a hopper connected to the transport path for storing the ticket;
(D) a stacker that is connected to the transport path and includes a separation mechanism that separates and transports the ticket, and temporarily stores the ticket;
(E) having a sensor disposed in the conveyance path and detecting occurrence of double feeding of the ticket;
(F) When a multi-feed occurs in a ticket carried out from the hopper, the ticket is returned to the stacker, and the ticket is separated and carried out by the separation mechanism. (A) having a collection stacker connected to the transport path;
(B) after issuing a new ticket, ticketing machine according to claim 1 for accommodating and conveying the ticket remaining in the stacker to the recovery stacker. The ticket issuing machine according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a writing device that is disposed in the middle of the conveyance path and writes information on a ticket that is unloaded from the hopper and issued.

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