Patent US3641931A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3641931A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Analyzing, orienting and printing means in ticket handling mechanism
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1970-03-31
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Granted: 1972-02-15
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Expires: 1990-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A ticket-handling mechanism for processing commutation tickets which includes a drive means for carrying the ticket in a circular path past a magnetic transducer for reading and updating machine readable fare information. A tumbling station removes those tickets which cannot be read and returns them in a flippedover condition to said drive means. A print station prints fare information on the ticket in a consistent manner regardless of the orientation of the ticket. The ticket-handling mechanism is adapted for use in a commutation entry gate, exit gate, or ticket vendor.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A Hickox
- 👤 Gordon H May
- 👤 Joseph E Shepard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/07; B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/58; B65H2404/00; B65H2404/40; B65H2404/60; B65H2404/63; B65H2404/632
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for handling tickets having a magnetic strip on one side thereof comprising: a housing having an opening into which said ticket may be inserted with said stripe extending longitudinally; drive means for carrying said ticket in a circular path in one direction; sensing means for reading the data encoded in said magnetic stripe as said ticket is being carried by said drive means; reversing means for flipping over said ticket on said drive means; and control means responsive to a failure of said sensing means to read said data for rendering effective said reversing means; whereby said magnetic ticket mAy be inserted in any orientation and be read while carried on a constantly rotating drive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for handling tickets having a magnetic strip on one side thereof comprising: a housing having an opening into which said ticket may be inserted with said stripe extending longitudinally; drive means for carrying said ticket in a circular path in one direction; sensing means for reading the data encoded in said magnetic stripe as said ticket is being carried by said drive means; reversing means for flipping over said ticket on said drive means; and control means responsive to a failure of said sensing means to read said data for rendering effective said reversing means; whereby said magnetic ticket mAy be inserted in any orientation and be read while carried on a constantly rotating drive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
The apparatus of claim 1 characterized in that said reversing means comprises: rotating means for driving said card in a first direction away from said drive means and in a second direction toward said drive means, first and second capstan means engaging spaced peripheral points on said rotating means for engaging said card against said rotating means, gate means for receiving said card as it passes said first capstan means and for moving said card to engage said second capstan means, with the trailing edge of said card as it is driven past said first capstan means in said first direction being the leading edge as it is driven past said second capstan means in said second direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said reversing means further comprises: spring means deflected by said card as it is driven in said first direction for moving said card in said second direction into engagement with said second capstan means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for handling tickets having a magnetic stripe on one side thereof comprising: a housing having an opening into which said ticket may be inserted with said stripe extending longitudinally; drive means for carrying said ticket in a path in one direction; sensing means for reading the data encoded in said magnetic stripe as said ticket is being carried by said drive means; reversing means for flipping over said ticket on said drive means; control means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said reversing means when said sensing means is unable to read the magnetic information in said ticket as originally inserted; writing means for updating the data in said magnetic stripe; printing means for printing human readable characters on said ticket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for handling tickets having a magnetic stripe on one side thereof comprising: a housing having an opening into which said ticket may be inserted with said stripe extending longitudinally; drive means for carrying said ticket in a path in one direction; sensing means for reading the data encoded in said magnetic stripe as said ticket is being carried by said drive means; reversing means for flipping over said ticket on said drive means; control means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said reversing means when said sensing means is unable to read the magnetic information in said ticket as originally inserted; writing means for updating the data in said magnetic stripe; printing means for printing human readable characters on said ticket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for handling tickets having machine readable information on one side thereof comprising: a housing having an opening into which said ticket may be inserted with said information extending longitudinally; drive means for carrying said ticket in a closed path; sensing means for reading said information while said ticket is in said path; reversing means for removing said ticket from said path and returning it in a flipped over condition, control means responsive to a failure of said sensing means to read said information for rendering effective said reversing means to present said ticket to said sensing means in the proper orientation; whereby a ticket inserted in any orientation may be readout without stopping or reversing the drive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for handling tickets having machine readable information on one side thereof comprising: a housing having an opening into which said ticket may be inserted with said information extending longitudinally; drive means for carrying said ticket in a closed path; sensing means for reading said information while said ticket is in said path; reversing means for removing said ticket from said path and returning it in a flipped over condition, control means responsive to a failure of said sensing means to read said information for rendering effective said reversing means to present said ticket to said sensing means in the proper orientation; whereby a ticket inserted in any orientation may be readout without stopping or reversing the drive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further including write means for updating said information and print means for printing human readable characters, said write and print means being disposed adjacent said closed path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said write and/or print means are disposed adjacent a card path extending between said closed path and an output opening in said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-14 | 1975-08-16 | 1976-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-14 | 1979-08-16 | 1980-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-14 | 1983-08-16 | 1984-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |