Ticket collection method and apparatus

Claim 3

Fare collection mechanism comprising: a. card receiving means defining a multiple keyway slot having a plurality of longitudinal grooves therein for slidably receiving a card having at least one longitudinal ridge thereon, the card ridges being positioned and configured to mate with particular slot grooves, and mechanical gating means including at least one element controllably movable into and out of at least one groove of said slot to close and open same for establishing the configuration of card insertable in the slot, b. a solenoid-operated cutter movable transversely across said slot for cutting a portion from a card inserted in said slot, c. electrical switching means connected to energize said solenoid-operated cutter and having actuating means extending into said slot on the opposite side of said cutter from said slot entrance for operation by a leading edge of a card inserted in said slot whereby a portion of a card inserted in the slot is cut from the card, and d. means indicating said cutting as a fare collection.

Claim 4

Fare collection mechanism comprising: a. card receiving means defining a multiple keyway slot having a plurality of longitudinal grooves therein for slidably receiving a card having at least one longitudinal ridge thereon, the card ridges being positioned and configured to mate with particular slot grooves, and mechanical gating means including at least one element controllably movable into and out of at least one groove of said slot to close and open same for establishing the configuration of card insertable in the slot, b. a solenoid-operated cutter movable transversely across said slot for cutting a portion from a card inserted in said slot, c. electrical switching means connected to energize said solenoid-operated cutter and having actuating means extending into said slot on the opposite side of said cutter from said slot entrance for operation by a leading edge of a card inserted in said slot whereby a portion of a card inserted in the slot is cut from the card, and d. means indicating said cutting as a fare collection.

Claim 5

Fare collection mechanism comprising: a. means defining a multiple keyway slot having at least one longitudinal groove therein for slidably receiving a card having at least one longitudinal ridge thereon, the card ridges being positioned and configured to mate with slot grooves, b. a solenoid-operated cutter including a cutter head reciprocally mounted for movement transversely through said slot, a first solenoid having a movable core carrying said cutter head for moving the head across said slot upon solenoid energization, a second solenoid having a movable core connected to the core of said first solenoid for retracting said cutter head from said slot upon second solenoid energization, and a third locking solenoid having a spring loaded plunger retractable by solenoid energization and normally extending into engagement with means connected to said cutter for locking said cutter in a retracted position out of said keyway, c. electrical switching means connected to said solenoids of (b) and having actuating means extending it to said slot on the opposite side of said cutter from said slot entrance for operation by a leading edge of a card inserted in said slot to energize said first and third solenoid and deenergize said second solenoid whereby a portion of a card inserted in the slot is cut from the card, and d. means indicating said cutting as a fare collection.

Claim 6

Fare collection mechanism comprising: a. means defining a multiple keyway slot having at least one longitudinal groove therein for slidably receiving a card having at least one longitudinal ridge thereon, the card ridges being positioned and configured to mate with slot grooves, b. a solenoid-operated cutter including a cutter head reciprocally mounted for movement transversely through said slot, a first solenoid having a movable core carrying said cutter head for moving the head across said slot upon solenoid energization, a second solenoid having a movable core connected to the core of said first solenoid for retracting said cutter head from said slot upon second solenoid energization, and a third locking solenoid having a spring loaded plunger retractable by solenoid energization and normally extending into engagement with means connected to said cutter for locking said cutter in a retracted position out of said keyway, c. electrical switching means connected to said solenoids of (b) and having actuating means extending it to said slot on the opposite side of said cutter from said slot entrance for operation by a leading edge of a card inserted in said slot to energize said first and third solenoid and deenergize said second solenoid whereby a portion of a card inserted in the slot is cut from the card, and d. means indicating said cutting as a fare collection.

Claim 7

Fare collection mechanism comprising: a. means defining a multiple keyway slot having at least one longitudinal groove therein for slidably receiving a card having at least one longitudinal ridge thereon, the card ridges being positioned and configured to mate with slot grooves, b. a solenoid-operated cutter movable transversely across said slot for cutting a portion from a card inserted therein and comprising a reciprocally mounted cutter head connected to the plunger of a first cutter solenoid and a second retracting solenoid having the plunger thereof connected to the first solenoid plunger, c. electrical switching means connected to energize the solenoids of said cutter and having actuating means extending into said slot on the opposite side of said cutter from said slot entrance for operation by a leading edge of a card inserted in said slot, said switching meaNs comprising a first switch having a movable contact operated by first actuating means and including fixed contacts, said movable contact being moved by said first actuating means to disconnect said second solenoid and close a power supply connected to said first solenoid, and second switching means having a separate actuator in position for engagement with a fare portion of a card and connected between said power supply connection and said first solenoid for completing an energizing circuit through said first solenoid whereby said cutter head is moved forcibly across said slot to remove a predetermined segment of said card, and d. means indicating said cutting as a fare collection.

Claim 8

Fare collection mechanism comprising: a. means defining a multiple keyway slot having at least one longitudinal groove therein for slidably receiving a card having at least one longitudinal ridge thereon, the card ridges being positioned and configured to mate with slot grooves, b. a solenoid-operated cutter movable transversely across said slot for cutting a portion from a card inserted therein and comprising a reciprocally mounted cutter head connected to the plunger of a first cutter solenoid and a second retracting solenoid having the plunger thereof connected to the first solenoid plunger, c. electrical switching means connected to energize the solenoids of said cutter and having actuating means extending into said slot on the opposite side of said cutter from said slot entrance for operation by a leading edge of a card inserted in said slot, said switching meaNs comprising a first switch having a movable contact operated by first actuating means and including fixed contacts, said movable contact being moved by said first actuating means to disconnect said second solenoid and close a power supply connected to said first solenoid, and second switching means having a separate actuator in position for engagement with a fare portion of a card and connected between said power supply connection and said first solenoid for completing an energizing circuit through said first solenoid whereby said cutter head is moved forcibly across said slot to remove a predetermined segment of said card, and d. means indicating said cutting as a fare collection.

Claim 9

The fare collection mechanism of claim 4 further defined by a third locking solenoid having a spring-loaded plunger normally extended to prevent movement of said cutter head from retracted position, and said second switch having a pair of fixed contacts and a movable contact successively contacting said fixed contacts in numbered order by said second actuator, said second switch having the first fixed contact and movable contact in circuit with power supply means and said locking solenoid to retract the plunger of the latter and said second fixed contact and movable contact in circuit with power supply means and said first cutter solenoid.