JPH02302892A - Processor for ticket having magnetic track, especially for air transport ticket - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily process an air transportation ticket by sending a partial piece of the ticket toward an issue station or an additional output part based on contents of information read from this partial piece. CONSTITUTION: Ticket insertion stations G1 and G2, a magnetic ticket read/write station 19, ticket issue stations G3 and G4, and a means C1 which drives the ticket along an internal passage extended from insertion stations G1 and G2 to issue stations G3 and G4 are provided. The ticket is magnetically read/written before the partial piece of the ticket is separated, and a cut station is provided between a read/write station 19 and a drum T, and the cut partial piece of the ticket is sent to issue stations G3 and G4 or the additional output part. Thus, the transportation ticket consisting of a flight coupon with a magnetic track and passenger ticket is easily processed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a processing device for tickets, especially air transport tickets, having a magnetic track.

[Conventional technology]

Previously known transportation ticket processing devices with magnetic tracks include a ticket insertion station, a magnetic ticket reading/writing station, and a ticket issuing station. The ticket is driven by drive means along an internal path extending from the insertion station to the issuing station.

The drive means, or at least a part thereof, is defined by a belt wrapped in a closed loop around the rollers, one of which is the drive roller.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Generally, transportation tickets with magnetic tracks processed by such devices have transportation-related magnetic information on a single piece.

However, today, international air transport organizations require transportation tickets to be tickets consisting of at least two separable parts, the first part (called a flight coupon) of which The second part (called the boarding pass) holds the boarding information of the passenger.

The problem is to provide a device for processing tickets containing magnetic tracks, in particular transport tickets consisting of flight coupons and boarding passes as described above.

[A means to solve problems]

The present invention is an apparatus for processing tickets, particularly air transportation tickets, having a magnetic track, including a ticket insertion station, a magnetic ticket reading/writing station, a ticket issuing station, and a ticket issuing station along an internal path extending from the insertion station to the issuing station. A means for driving,
This drive means, or at least a part of which is defined by a belt wound in a closed path around rollers, one of which is the drive roller, comprises a ticket processing device with a magnetic track. It is something.

A first aspect of the features of the invention provides that the ticket has a line of weakness in accordance with the cutting and separation format of the ticket segments, and a closed loop belt passes through a read/write station and extends to a drum in which the ticket is cut and separated. At least one other ticket output is associated with the issuing station for magnetically reading/writing the ticket pieces before they are separated, and a cutting station is provided between the reading/writing station and the drum for cutting. The issued ticket segment is arranged to be sent either to the issuing station or to an additional output, depending on the content of the magnetic information read from the ticket segment.

an additional output unit is associated with at least one ticket storage container, and the transportation ticket comprises at least a first part and a second part, namely a boarding pass;
The first part, which holds the passenger's boarding information and is to be sent to the issuing station, is called a flight coupon;
Preferably, it holds information on the commercial and financial aspects of the transport service and consists of a second piece that is to be sent to a storage container.

Advantageously, the ticket storage container is divided into two parts, each part containing a respective ticket part separately on the basis of reading the information carried by the ticket part.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rectangular transportation ticket has a longitudinally extending magnetic track at a predetermined distance from one end of the ticket.

In another aspect of the features of the invention, the magnetic read/write station is comprised of a magnetic read/write head on one side and a roller on the other side, the magnetic read/write head being connected to the inner passageway of the ticket. It is mounted on supports arranged transversely to the This support is fixed to a reference plate that is fastened parallel to the ticket path. The long edge of the ticket at a predetermined distance from the magnetic track is applied to the reference plate, and the read head is positioned at the predetermined distance from the reference plate to accurately read the magnetic track. The rollers on the other side face the read/write head and are mounted loosely, cooperating with said head by friction from a return spring to ensure that the ticket is pressed against the head. There is.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the magnetic read/write station has an additional magnetic read/write head on one side and an additional roller on the other side. This additional head is mounted on a flexible frame arranged parallel to the inner passageway of the ticket, which frame is fixed to a flap mounted parallel to the reference plate and in a floating manner. The long edge of the ticket is located a predetermined distance from the magnetic track and rests against the flap, while the additional head is located at a distance from the flap by the predetermined length so that it is in the direction of insertion of the ticket. It is now possible to read magnetic tracks accurately regardless. The additional roller faces the additional read/write head and is mounted loosely so that the friction caused by the return spring causes
In cooperation with the additional head, it is ensured that the ticket is pressed against the additional head.

In practice, the ticket length was between 52 mm and 250 mm, and the rollers were spaced approximately 50 mm apart to drive tickets of that length.

In another aspect of the invention, the cutting station includes an electromagnetic guillotine coupled to and controlled by a detector for detecting ticket fragments, the electromagnetic guillotine having a bracket and a cutting station for cutting the guillotine. The processing apparatus of the invention comprises an electromagnet with a plunger supporting the piece, the bracket being rotatably mounted by a spring about an axis, which allows the cutting station to extend horizontally; It is considered to be compact.

In implementation, the ticket segment detector detected the location of the line of weakness on the ticket.

Another feature of the invention is that each of the ticket segments is directed to a respective output by controlled switching means coupled to the magnetic read/write station.

It is advantageous to drive the belt with a single stamping type motor, thereby making the device of the invention compact.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

〔Example〕

The device shown schematically in FIG. 1 is particularly intended for processing air transport tickets with magnetic tracks. The processing includes magnetic reading and/or writing and then separating the precut ticket into portions based on the reading of information that the ticket portions carry.

In practice, as shown in FIG. 2, the air transport ticket lO is generally rectangular in shape, extending longitudinally on the ticket and located at a predetermined distance from one long edge 14 of the ticket. The magnetic track 12 is configured to have a magnetic track 12.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ticket is cut and separated into a partial piece 18 called a boarding pass and a partial piece 21 called a flight coupon.
6.

Part 18 holds the passenger's boarding information.

After processing, this piece 18 is sent to the issuing station described below and handed over to the passenger.

The passenger retains it for later ticket inspection.

Part 21 holds commercial and financial information of the transport service. This piece 21 serves as a payment coupon and, after processing, is located in a storage container (
(described below) for storage and then collection by the airline involved in that service.

The width of the precut ticket 10 is, for example, 82 mm, and the length is, for example, 187 mm or 203 mm.

If the length is 187 mm, for example, piece 18
The length of the piece 21 is 55 mm, and the length of the partial piece 21 is 132 mm.
In millimeters. In that case, the allowable absolute error is 0.1
The order is 3 mm IJ meters.

Of course, the ticket sizes and number of pieces listed herein are for illustrative purposes only, and not for limiting purposes.

In carrying out the invention, it is possible for the precut ticket to have a different size and number of pieces. Furthermore, the device of the invention can also process transportation tickets that do not have any pre-cut pieces. It is also possible to process only boarding pass pieces. This way, you can use your ticket a second time if necessary (for example, if there is a bomb warning and passengers are removed from the aircraft before their destination and then reboard the aircraft). You can do it like this.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the ticket is passed internally within the device between a ticket insertion input defined by two rollers G1, G2 and an issue output defined by two rollers G3, G4. Move through the passage.

The ticket is driven through the internal passage by a closed belt C1. After passing over a roller G5 driven by a stepping motor M, the belt CI passes between rollers G1 and G2. The rollers G1 and G2 are slightly offset relative to each other to ensure ticket capture.

Belt C1 then passes over rollers G6, C7 and C8, which are spaced approximately 50 millimeters apart from each other to drive tickets of the above length. It is said that This belt then passes through a magnetic read/write device 19, described below, under tension between rollers G8 and C9.

Another belt C2 wrapped in a closed loop around rollers G10 and Gll drives the ticket in cooperation with a magnetic read/write head, which will be described in more detail below.

Roller G10 is mounted for pivoting between two positions by return spring R1. The first position is called the low position, in which the roller G10 cooperates by friction with the head of the read/write station, making it possible to read/write the ticket. On the other hand, the second position, which will be referred to as the high position, is where the roller G
10 does not cooperate with a magnetic read/write head, and belt C1 drives tickets processed thereon to a cutting station described below.

In this way, C2, G
A corresponding mechanical assembly consisting of 10, Gll ensures that the ticket is pressed against each of the heads.

As another embodiment of the invention, each mechanical assembly!
Instead of JCL G20, C11, each one is mounted for rotation with one suppression roller, the roller presses the ticket against the read/write head corresponding to the roller in the first position, and the roller presses the ticket against the read/write head corresponding to the roller in the second position. It is also possible that the read/write head does not cooperate with the read/write head.

The belt C1 can be driven in several back and forth movements in front of the reading station.

Belt C1 is then deflected by rollers G12 and G13 so that cutting station 20 enters therein.

The cutting station 20 with an electromagnetic guillotine includes an electromagnet EM with a plunger P with a bracket E, the plunger P supporting a cutting piece 22 of the guillotine. The cutting piece 22 has a blunt blade that cooperates with the support 124. The receiver base 24 has a central slit, and the cut piece 22 is fixed in the center slit. A return spring R2 is mounted between the electromagnet EM and the bracket E, which rotates the bracket E to return the cutting piece 22 to its normal raised position (see FIG. 1). cutting piece 22 is shown in the cutting position).

The blunt edge of the cutting piece 22 cuts each ticket segment along its respective line of weakness.

So, the cutting, or more properly speaking the separation, of the pieces is here accomplished.

The read/write device and the cutting station are equipped with a detector (not shown) adapted to read the position of the line of weakness on the ticket segment.

An electronic control unit (not shown) can process the signals from the detector and control the stepper motor M.

Once the cutting of the current ticket segments has been completed, they are guided to the output section described below and a new ticket is inserted into the device of the invention.

On the downstream side of the cutting station 20, a belt CI is wrapped around a changeover A1 with a fork F1 pivoting between two forks.

In the first position, the fork F1 directs one piece of the ticket, namely the boarding pass, towards the issuing station 30.

The switch A1 cooperates with a belt C3, which is wound in a closed loop around loosely mounted rollers G14 and G3. The guide path and the rollers G3 and G4 cooperate to guide the ticket pieces to the outside.

In its second position, the fork F1 directs the other partial piece of the ticket, namely the flight coupon, to an additional output. The switch A1 cooperates with a drum T, around which a belt C1 is wound, conveying the flight coupon to an assigned output according to the content of the information read from the flight coupon. Next, belt C1 passes through rollers G15 and G16 and drive roller G.
Pass over 5.

There are several possibilities for outputting flight coupons. an additional output 40 to the outside; an output to a first storage container S1 located inside the device;
and an output to a second storage container S2 located inside the device.

The transfer of the flight coupon to the additional output, storage container S1 or storage container S2, is realized by the cooperation of the drum T and the switch A2, which is wound around the roller G17 and the fork F2. It has a closed belt C4. Fork-F2 is rotatably mounted to assume two positions. That is, in the first position, the ticket part is directed towards the output section 40, and in the second position, the ticket part is directed into the storage container s1 or S2.

The third switching device A3 comprises a long fork F3 pivotably mounted to assume two positions, ensuring that the ticket segment is directed into the storage container S1 or into the storage container S2. .

The switches A1, A2 and A3 are controlled by an electronic control unit depending on the signals sent by the detectors and depending on the content of the information read from the ticket pieces.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which shows in detail the magnetic read/write head of the read/write station.

The magnetic read/write head Tl is attached to a support P1 arranged transversely to the internal passageway of the ticket. This support P1 is fixed to a reference plate 52, which is parallel to the internal passage.
The device is secured to a stand (not shown).

The long edge 14 of the ticket is located at a distance d from the magnetic track of the ticket, and this long edge abuts the reference plate and guides the ticket just in front of the reading head T1. Furthermore, the read head T1 is placed at a distance d from the reference plate, so as to be able to read the magnetic track accurately. Arrow F
indicates the direction of movement of the ticket passing in front of the head T1.

If the magnetic track extends longitudinally asymmetrically on the ticket, and if the ticket is inserted in the wrong orientation, i.e. with the long edge 14 not touching the reference plate 52, the read head T1 Magnetic tracks cannot be read accurately.

To solve this problem, another magnetic reader/
A writing head T2 is mounted on a flexible frame 54 arranged parallel to the internal passageway of the ticket. The flexure frame 54 consists of two flexure vanes, which are fixed to another support P2, which is arranged across the internal passageway of the ticket and fixed to the reference plate 52. The flexible frame 54 is further fixed by a support P3 to a flap 56 mounted in a floating manner parallel to the reference plate 52. The head T2 is arranged on a flexible frame 54 at a distance d from a flap 56 which is floatingly attached to the stand of the device of the invention by means of a return spring R3.

The flap 56 serves as a platform for the long edge 14 of the ticket to reliably guide the ticket. This flap 56 thus allows the magnetic track to be read accurately even when the ticket is inserted in the opposite direction and regardless of the width of the ticket.

Thanks to the flexibility of the flexible frame 54 to which the head T2 is attached, precise control of the head T2 relative to the edge 14 of the ticket is possible. This control is necessary whenever the ticket width tolerance (±0.13 mm) is greater than the magnetic read/write tolerance (±0,1 mm).

The device of the invention thus has two reading assemblies, which are arranged in the ticket aisle and can be used in either direction of ticket insertion, i.e. whether the magnetic track is on the right or on the left. can process magnetic information held in magnetic tracks.

Furthermore, since the transportation ticket cannot be accessed from outside the device of the present invention, safety is ensured when using the device of the present invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the processing device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an embodiment of an air transportation ticket processed by the processing device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the processing device of the present invention. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the position of the write head; FIG. 10...Ticket, 12...Magnetic track, 14.
... Long edge, 16... Line of weakness, 18... Partial piece (boarding pass), 19... Magnetic reading/writing device, 20... Cutting station, 21...
... Partial piece (flight coupon), 22 ... Cutting piece, 24 ... Receiver is stand, A1, A2, A3 ... Switching device,
C1, C2...Belt, E...Bracket, EM・
...Electromagnet, G1, G2, G3, G4...Roller, M
...Motor, R1, R2...Return spring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A ticket processing device, especially an air transport ticket, having a magnetic track, comprising: a ticket insertion station (G1, G2), a magnetic ticket reading/writing station (19), a ticket issuing station (G3, G4) and drive means for driving said ticket along an internal path extending from said ticket insertion station to said ticket issuing station, at least a portion of said drive means comprising a plurality of rollers, one of which is a drive roller. having drive means defined as a belt (C1) wound in a closed path around the ticket, said ticket having a weakening line (16) corresponding to the cutting and separation format of the partial pieces of said ticket; The stretched belt (C1) passes through the magnetic ticket reading/writing station (19) and extends to a drum (T), where the ticket issuing station (G3, G4) and at least one additional ticket output are arranged. Relevant in said drum (T), magnetic reading/writing takes place before separation of said partial pieces of said ticket, said magnetic ticket reading/writing station (1
9) and the drum (T) is a cutting station (2).
0) for forwarding the cut ticket to the issuing station (30) or to the additional output, depending on the content of information that can be read from the partial pieces of the ticket. A processing device for tickets, especially air transport tickets, having a magnetic track. 2. said additional output section comprises at least one storage container (
S1, S2), said ticket being combined with at least a first part (18), called a boarding pass and sent to said issuing station (30), and a first part (18), called a flight coupon, said storage container (S1, S2) a second part (21) that is sent to the 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it stores information regarding aspects of . 3. Claim 2, characterized in that the storage containers (S1, S2) of the tickets are arranged inside the device.
The device described. 4. The storage container (S1, S2) is divided into two parts (S1
, S2), each of which accommodates a partial piece according to the content of information that can be read from the partial piece of the ticket.
Alternatively, the device according to any one of 3. 5. The ticket according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said ticket is substantially square and has said magnetic track extending longitudinally on said ticket at a predetermined distance (d) from the long edge (14) of said ticket. 2. The device according to any one of 2. 6. The magnetic ticket read/write station (19) has a magnetic read/write head (T1) mounted on one side on a support (P1) arranged transversely to the internal passageway of the ticket. ), and on the other side the magnetic read/write head (T
1) roller (G10) installed in an idle state facing
), the support (P1) is fixed to a fixed reference plate (52) parallel to the internal passage, and the long edge (14) of the ticket is placed against the reference plate (52). , the magnetic track is located at the predetermined distance (d) from the long edge (14), and the magnetic read/write head (T1) is located at the predetermined distance (d) from the reference plate (52). to enable accurate reading of the magnetic track, and the roller (G10) has a return spring (R1).
5. Claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the friction caused by the magnetic read/write head (T1) ensures that the ticket is pressed against the magnetic read/write head (T1). The device according to any one of the above. 7. The magnetic ticket reading/writing station (19) is provided with an additional magnetic reading/writing head (19) mounted on one side on a flexible frame (54) arranged parallel to the internal passageway of the ticket. T2)
, on the other side has an additional roller idly mounted facing the additional magnetic read/write head (T2), and the flexure frame (54) is connected to the reference plate (52). said long edge (1) of said ticket located at said predetermined distance (d) from said magnetic track;
4) is applied to said flap (56) and an additional magnetic read/write head (T2) is applied to said flap (56).
located at a predetermined distance (d) from , so that the magnetic track can be read accurately regardless of the direction of insertion of the ticket; cooperating with a magnetic read/write head such that the ticket reads the additional magnetic read/write head;
7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the writing head (T2) is positively pressed. 8. The length of the ticket is from 52mm to 250mm
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the rollers for driving tickets are located approximately 50 millimeters apart from each other and are adapted to drive tickets of said length. 9. The cutting station (20) has an electromagnetic guillotine controlled in conjunction with a detector of the partial piece of the ticket, the electromagnetic guillotine comprising a bracket (E), and the cutting station (20) of the electromagnetic guillotine It has an electromagnet (EM) with a plunger (P) supporting (22), and the bracket is rotatably mounted around an axis by a spring, thereby making it compact. , an apparatus according to claims 1 to 8. 10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the detector of the ticket section detects the position of a line of weakness (16) on the ticket. 11. Switching means (A1, A2, A3) associated with the outputs (30, 40, 51, 52) are coupled to the magnetic ticket reading/writing station (19) to respectively write the partial pieces of the ticket. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is directed to a corresponding output. 12. Claim 1, characterized in that the belt (C1) is driven by one stepping motor (M).
12. The device according to any one of items 1 to 11.