JPH07120446B2 - Automatic ticket gate - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an automatic ticket gate apparatus for ticket processing of tickets such as airline tickets.

(B) Conventional Technology Conventionally, as an automatic ticket gate apparatus having a printing function, for example, there is a structure in which a thermal printing device is arranged in a transport path. Since the structure is such that it passes through the thermal head portion of the printing apparatus, there is a problem that not only it takes time to process the ticket, but also the wear rate of the thermal head increases.

In order to solve such a problem, there is an apparatus that controls the above-mentioned thermal head to move upward from the transportation path when a ticket that does not need to be printed is transported.

However, since the above-mentioned thermal head is several kilograms in weight, there is a problem that the movable part is worn and deformed due to the opening of the thermal head, and the print quality is deteriorated.

Further, as another conventional example, a bypass path for returning from the rear side to the front side of the main conveyance path in which a magnetic head for reading and writing the information of the ticket is arranged is formed in the main conveyance path, and A print head is arranged in the main conveyance path, and the ticket whose ticket information has been read by the magnetic head of the main conveyance path is guided to a bypass path below the conveyance path, and the print head in the bypass path prints it, and This is a device for supplying magnetic power to the upper part of the magnetic head in the main transport path for magnetic processing (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-96653).

In the case of such a conventional device, since one ticket passes the magnetic head a plurality of times through the bypass path, wear of the magnetic head
There is a problem that the damage is severe and the frequency of maintenance such as head adjustment increases.

(C) Problem to be Solved by the Invention The present invention improves the processing speed and printing quality of ticket gates by a unique configuration in which the printing means is arranged in a bypass path that bypasses the transport path from the upper order to the lower order. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic ticket gate apparatus that can be designed and can prevent an increase in maintenance.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end,
An automatic ticket gate device having a transport path for transporting a ticket through the input port and the exit port, which is arranged in front of the transport route and which reads information of the ticket, and the information reading means. A bypass route is provided in the rear transport route, and the bypass rear end is arranged in the bypass route where it joins with the subsequent transport route, and the information is printed in a predetermined print area of the ticket. A printing unit, a sorting unit disposed at the bypass start end of the bypass route for sorting the transported ticket into one of the bypass route and the transport route, and the necessity of printing is determined based on the output of the information reading unit. The automatic ticket gate device is provided with a determining means for controlling the sorting means and a control means for sorting and controlling the sorting means so as to guide the ticket to the bypass route based on the determination output of the above-mentioned determination means.

(E) Effect of the Invention According to the present invention, the above-mentioned determination means determines whether or not printing is required based on the output of the information reading means, and when printing is required, the ticket is placed in the bypass path and the printing is performed. When there is no need, the tickets can be distributed to the transportation paths and controlled for transportation, and the printing means can print only the tickets that need to be printed on the bypass path.

As a result, it is not necessary to pass all the tickets through the location where the printing means is provided, which has the effect of improving the processing speed of the ticket gates.

Further, since the above-mentioned printing means does not need to be controlled to separate from the transport path unlike the conventional example, it is possible to prevent wear and deformation of the movable part as much as possible, and thus it is possible to improve the print quality. There is.

Furthermore, since the ticket for which the printing process has been completed does not pass through the information reading means again, it is possible to prevent abrasion and damage due to the transient use of the information reading means, and to perform maintenance by the transient use of the information reading means. The increase does not occur, the operating time increases correspondingly, and the ticket gate processing improves.

(F) Embodiment of the Invention One embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The drawing shows an automatic ticket gate. In FIG. 1, the automatic ticket gate has an entrance 3 for a ticket A at a front end 2 of a housing 1 and an outlet 5 that opens obliquely upward at a rear end 4.
And the above-mentioned inlet 3 and outlet 5 are formed respectively.
A first transport path 6, a second transport path 7, and a third transport path 8 that connect the respective entrances and exits 5 and 3 are formed between and.

The above-described first transport path 6 is the first stretched between the rollers 9.
A belt 10 and a second belt 12 stretched between rollers 11 are provided. The first sensor S1 is provided on the feed start end side of the first transport path 6 in the vicinity of the inlet 3 and the ticket gate is provided in the middle portion. A magnetic head 13 which reads the magnetic information of A and outputs a forward / reverse signal of a ticket insertion direction and a signal indicating whether or not printing is required, and a clamper 14 which clamps the rear end of the ticket ticket A in the insertion direction are provided at the sending end portions. is doing.

Further, the above-described second transport path 7 includes the third belt 16 stretched between the rollers 15 and 15 and the fourth belt 18 stretched between the rollers 17 and 17, and the feed of the second transport path 7 is performed. A second sensor S2 is provided at the start end side, and a front stopper 19 and a rear stopper 20 are provided at an intermediate portion so as to be spaced apart from each other.

Further, a cutting device 21 for cutting the cutting portion of the ticket voucher A is arranged between the second transport path 7 and the first transport path 6 described above.

Furthermore, the above-described third conveyance path 8 includes the fifth belt 23 stretched between the rollers 22 and the sixth belt stretched between the rollers 24.
A belt 25 is provided, and a third sensor S3 is disposed on the feed end side of the third transport path 8 in the vicinity of the outlet 5.

On the other hand, a fourth conveyance path 27 is stretched in an inclined manner between the above-mentioned feed end of the second conveyance path 7 and the stacker 26 for storing the recovered tickets after cutting.

The fourth conveyance path 27 includes a seventh belt 29 stretched between the rollers 17, 28 and 28 and an eighth belt 31 stretched between the rollers 30 and 30.
And a fourth sensor in the middle of the fourth transport path 27.
S4 is installed.

Further, the tickets after cutting from the second transport path 7 are sorted and transported to one of the transport paths 27 and 8 at the feed start end portions of the fourth transport path 27 and the third transport path 8 described above. A recovery flapper F1 is provided.

Further, a bypass path 32 that bypasses the transfer path 8 is formed in the third transfer path 8 described above, and the bypass path 32 is provided.
In addition, for example, a printing device 35 including a platen roller 33 and a thermal head 34 is arranged.

Then, a print flapper F2 for distributing and transporting the ticket after cutting from the second transport route 7 to one of these routes 32 and 8 at the feed start end portion of the bypass route 32 and the third transport route 8 described above. Are installed.

Further, in the above-mentioned housing 1, a first motor M1 for driving the first to fourth transport paths 6, 7, 8, 27 and a second motor M2 for transporting a ticket during printing are provided. There is.

FIG. 2 shows a ticket gate A, which has a cutting portion a at a longitudinally asymmetrical position, one side of this cutting portion a is set as a return ticket B, and the other side is set as a recovery ticket C. At the same time, a print area D is formed on the return ticket B, and a magnetic stripe E is formed on the back surface of the ticket gate A.

FIG. 3 shows a control circuit of the automatic ticket gate, and the CPU 40, based on the inputs from the magnetic head 13 and the first to fourth sensors S1 to S4, according to the program stored in the ROM 38,
The clamper 14, the front and rear stoppers 19 and 20, the cutting device 21, the printing device 35, the recovery flapper F1, the printing flapper F2, and the first and second motors M1 and M2 are drive-controlled, and the RAM 39 is a ticket insertion direction correct. Necessary data such as reverse signal data and permission / prohibition signal data requiring printing is stored.

Further, the CPU 40 determines the inserting direction of the ticket A, variably controls the stop position of the ticket A with respect to the cutting device 21 based on the determination result, and determines whether or not printing is required based on the output of the magnetic head 13. Is determined, and the ticket ticket A is distributed and controlled to either one of the third transportation route 8 and the bypass route 32 based on this determination.

The operation of the automatic ticket gate constructed in this way will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 6.

Now, when the ticket A is inserted into the slot 3, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the first sensor S1 is turned on in the first step 41, and when the first sensor S1 is turned on. The process proceeds to the next second step 42.

In the second step 42, the CPU 40 drives the first motor M1 to drive the first to fourth transfer paths 6, 7, 8, 27 in the predetermined direction.

Next, in a third step 43, the CPU 40 reads the magnetic recording information of the magnetic stripe E on the ticket A from the magnetic head 13, so-called ticket data (forward / reverse signal data of ticket insertion direction, signal data of necessity of printing), and the required data. Is stored in RAM39.

Next, in a fourth step 44, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the recovery ticket C of FIG. 2 has been inserted forward. Second ticket gate A
When the card is inserted in the normal direction in the figure, the recovery ticket C faces forward, so the process proceeds to the next fifth step 45, and in this fifth step 45, the CPU 40 turns on the rear stopper 20. That is, after this, the tip of the ticket A is controlled to stop at the stopper 20 position.

When the ticket A is inserted in the reverse direction of FIG. 2 contrary to the above, the process shifts from the above-mentioned fourth step 44 to sixth step 46, and at this sixth step 46, the CPU 40 causes the front stopper. 19
Is turned on, and control is performed to stop the leading edge of the ticket gate A at the front stopper 19 position.

As described above, in the above-mentioned fourth step 44, the insertion direction of the ticket gate A is determined, and the CPU 40 determines the ticket ticket A based on the determination result.
Since the stop position for the cutting device 21 is variably controlled, the cutting portion a of the ticket A can be made to correspond to the cutting device 21 regardless of whether the ticket A is inserted in the normal direction or the reverse direction.

Next, in a seventh step 47, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the second sensor S2 is turned on, and the front end of the ticket A is brought into contact with the rear stopper 20 or the front stopper 19 so that the sensor S2 is turned on and the ticket gate is turned on. If ticket A stops running, the next eighth step 48
Move to.

In the eighth step 48, the CPU 40 turns on the clamper 14 and clamps the rear part of the ticket voucher A with the clamper 14 from above and below.

Next, in a ninth step 49, the CPU 40 operates the cutting device 21, cuts the cutting portion a of the ticket A with the cutting blade, and then
In step 50, the CPU 40 starts the disconnect timer (CPU built-in timer) to check the disconnect time.

Next, in the eleventh step 51, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the coupon ticket C is inserted forward based on the data stored in advance in the RAM 39, in other words, the ticket gate A is inserted in the forward direction of FIG. It is determined whether or not.

When the CPU 40 determines that the ticket gate A has been inserted in the forward direction, the process proceeds to the next twelfth step 52.

In the twelfth step 52, the CPU 40 turns on the recovery flapper F1 to connect the second transport path 7 and the fourth transport path 27.

Next, in a thirteenth step 53, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the aforementioned disconnection timer has timed out, and when the time has expired, the CPU40 proceeds to the next fourteenth step 54.

In the fourteenth step 54, the CPU 40 turns off the cutting device 21, and in the next fifteenth step 55, the CPU 40 turns on the stopper 20 after turning it on in the fifth step 45.

After this, when the stopper 20 is turned off, the recovered ticket C as one half of the cut ticket is recovered from the second transport path 7 by the recovery flapper F1.
It is conveyed to the fourth conveyance path 27 through the lower side of the.

The return ticket B as the other stub after cutting is held by the clamper 14.

Next, in a sixteenth step 56, the CPU 40 determines that the above-mentioned collected ticket C is the fourth one.
Whether or not the sensor S4 has been passed through the fourth sensor,
It is determined by the signal input from S4, and if it is passed, the process moves to the 17th step 57.

In this 17th step 57, the CPU 40 turns off the recovery flapper F1, and in the next 18th step 58, the CPU 40 reads the data from the RAM 39, determines whether or not printing is necessary, and printing is necessary. In that case, the process proceeds to the following 19th step 59.

In the 19th step 59, the CPU 40 turns on the print flapper F2 to connect the second transport path 7 and the bypass path 32.

Next, in a twentieth step 60, the CPU 40 drives the second motor M2 which conveys the ticket during printing.

Next, in the 21st step 61, the CPU 40 turns off the clamper 14,
The return ticket B held by the clamper 14 is conveyed.

The return ticket B is conveyed from the second conveyance path 7 to the bypass 32 through the upper sides of the collection flapper F1 and the print flapper F2.

Next, in a 22nd step 62, the CPU 40 drives the printing device 35,
Required items are printed in the print area D of the return ticket B.

The return ticket B after printing is completed from the bypass 32 to the third
The sheet is received on the conveying path 8 and is conveyed in the direction of the outlet 5.

Next, in a 23rd step 63, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the third sensor S3 is turned on, and the above-mentioned return ticket B is conveyed to the exit 5, and when the third sensor S3 is turned on, the next Go to 24th step 64.

In the 24th step 64, the CPU 40 turns off the second motor M2, and in the next 25th step 65, the CPU 40 turns off the print flapper F2.
Set to FF and set this print flapper F2 to the original position.

Next, in a 26th step 66, the CPU 40 turns off the first motor M1 to stop driving the first to fourth transport paths 6, 7, 8, 27, and then in a 27th step 67, CPU40 is the third sensor S3
When the return ticket B at the exit 5 is pulled out by the passenger and the third sensor S3 is turned off,
A series of processes for the printed return ticket B is completed.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned 18th step 58, when the CPU 40 determines that printing is not necessary, the process proceeds to the next 28th step 68, and in this 28th step 68, the CPU 40 turns off the clamper 14,
The return ticket B held by the clamper 14 is conveyed.

The return ticket B is received from the second transport path 7 through the upper side of the collection flapper F1 and the lower side of the print flapper F2 to the third transport path 8, and then the return ticket B is taken out at the third transport path 8.
Is conveyed in the direction.

Next, in a 29th step 69, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the third sensor S3 is turned ON, and when the above-mentioned return ticket B is conveyed to the takeout port 5 and the third sensor S3 is turned ON, The process proceeds to the 26th step 66 described above, and the same process as described above is performed in the step 66 and the following 27th step 67 to finish the process of returning the unprinted return ticket B.

By the way, in the eleventh step 52 shown in FIG. 4, when the recovery ticket C is inserted backward, that is, when the CPU 40 determines that the ticket gate A is inserted in the opposite direction of FIG.
Go to step 30 70 in the figure.

In this third step 70, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the disconnection timer has timed out, and when the time is up, the next 31st
Go to step 71.

In the 31st step 71, the CPU 40 turns off the cutting device 21, and in the next 32nd step 72, the CPU 40 reads the data from the RAM 39, determines whether or not the printing is necessary, and the printing is required. If there is, the process moves to the next 33rd step 73.

In the 33rd step 73, the CPU 40 turns on the print flapper F2 to connect the second transport path 7 and the bypass path 32.

Next, in a 34th step 74, the CPU 40 drives the second motor M2 which conveys the ticket during printing.

Next, in a thirty-fifth step 75, the CPU 40 turns off the front stopper 19 which was already turned on in the sixth step 46.

When the front stopper 19 is turned off, the cut-off return ticket B, which has been stopped and controlled by the stopper 19, is conveyed from the second conveyance path 7 to the bypass path 32 through the upper side of each of the collection flapper F1 and the print flapper F2. To be done.

The recovered coupon C after cutting is held by the clamper 14 at this point.

Next, in a 36th step 76, the CPU 40 drives the printing device 35,
Required items are printed in the print area D of the return ticket B.

The return ticket B after printing is completed from the bypass 32 to the third
The sheet is received on the conveying path 8 and is conveyed in the direction of the outlet 5.

Next, in a 37th step 77, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the third sensor S3 is turned ON, and when the above-mentioned return ticket B is conveyed to the takeout port 5 and the third sensor S3 is turned ON, Next 38th
Go to step 78.

At the 38th step 78, the CPU 40 turns off the second motor M2, and at the next 39th step 79, the CPU 40 causes the print flapper F to operate.
Turn OFF 2 to return the print flapper F2 to its original position.

On the other hand, if the CPU 40 determines in the above-mentioned 32nd step 72 that printing is not necessary, the process moves to the next 40th step 80.

In the 40th step 80, the CPU 40 turns off the front stopper 19.

When the front stopper 19 is turned off, the cut-off return ticket B, which has been stopped and controlled by the stopper 19, passes from the second transport path 7 to the upper side of the collection flapper F1, the lower side of the print flapper F2, and the third transport path 8. It is conveyed through in the direction of the outlet 5.

The fact that the recovered coupon C after cutting is held by the clamper 14 is the same as in the 35th step 75 described above.

Next, in a forty-first step 81, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the third sensor S3 is turned on, and when the above-mentioned return ticket B is conveyed to the take-out port 5 and the third sensor S3 is turned on, Next 42nd
Go to step 82.

That is, it is determined in the above-described 32nd step 72 whether or not printing is necessary, and if printing is necessary, the return ticket B is bypassed to the bypass 32.
On the other hand, when the return ticket B is conveyed to the outlet 5 through the second conveying path 7 and the third conveying path 8 in this order, the return ticket B is processed. 42nd step 82 of.

In the 42nd step 82, the CPU 40 turns on the recovery flapper F1 to connect the second transport path 7 and the fourth transport path 27.

Next, in the 43rd step 83, the CPU 40 turns off the clamper 14,
The recovery ticket C held by the clamper 14 is conveyed from the above-mentioned second conveyance path 7 to the fourth conveyance path 27 through the lower side of the collection flapper F1 which is turned ON.

Next, in a forty-fourth step 84, the CPU 40 determines that the above-mentioned collected ticket C is the fourth one.
Whether or not the sensor S4 has been passed through the fourth sensor,
It is determined by the signal input from S4, and if it is passed, the process proceeds to the forty-fifth step 85. The above-mentioned fourth sensor S4
The collection ticket C that has passed through the arrangement portion is stored in the stacker 26.

In the 45th step 85 described above, the CPU 40 turns off the collection flapper F1.
Then, the recovery flapper F1 is returned to the original position.

Next, in a forty-sixth step 86, the CPU 40 turns off the first motor M1 and stops the driving of the first to fourth conveyance paths 6, 7, 8, 27.

Next, in a forty-seventh step 87, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the third sensor S3 is turned off, and when the return ticket B at the exit 5 is taken out by the passenger and the third sensor S3 is turned off, a series of processing is performed. To finish.

In short, the above CP based on the output of the magnetic head 13
The U40 determines whether printing is required in the 18th step 58 and the 32nd step 72, and returns the return ticket B to the bypass 32 when the printing is necessary, and returns the return ticket B when the printing is not necessary. Can be distributed to the third transport path 8 and controlled to be transported, and can be printed by the printing device 35 only on the return ticket B which needs to be printed on the bypass 32.

As a result, it is not necessary to pass all the return tickets B through the location where the printing device 35 is provided, so that the processing speed of the ticket gate A can be improved.

Further, unlike the conventional example, the above-described printing device 35 does not need to be separated from the third transport path 8, the gap between the platen roller 33 and the thermal head 34 is stable, and wear and deformation of the movable part can be prevented. Therefore, there is an effect that the print quality can be improved.

Furthermore, since the ticket wicket A, which has completed the printing process, does not pass through the magnetic head 13 again, the magnetic head 13 is not worn or damaged unnecessarily.
Eliminates the need for maintenance based on the use of 13 transients.

In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the printing means of the present invention corresponds to the printing device 35 of the embodiment, and hereinafter, similarly, the ticket corresponds to the ticket gate A, and the information reading means corresponds to Corresponding to the magnetic head 13, the determination means corresponds to the configuration of the CPU 40 that executes the processing of the 18th step 58 and the 32nd step 72, and the control means corresponds to the CPU 40. The configuration is not limited to the example configuration.

Further, as the ticket gate A, an air ticket for boarding is illustrated, but it goes without saying that it may be a ticket ticket for station service, ship embarkation and others.

[Brief description of drawings]

 The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an internal side view of an automatic ticket gate, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a ticket gate, FIG. 3 is a control circuit block diagram, FIG. 4 is a flow chart, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart. 3 ... Input port, 5 ... Ejection port 6 ... First transport path, 7 ... Second transport path 8 ... Third transport path, 13 ... Magnetic head 32 ... Bypass path, 35 ... Printing device 40 …… CPU, A …… Ticket ticket B …… Return ticket, D …… Printing area

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An inlet is formed at one end and an outlet is formed at the other end,
An automatic ticket gate apparatus having a transport path for transporting a ticket through the slot and the exit, and an information reading means for locating information of the ticket, which is arranged in front of the transport path. A bypass path having a bypass start end on the trailing transport path and a bypass trailing end that merges with the trailing transport path is arranged in the bypass path to print information on a predetermined printing area of a ticket. Printing means, sorting means arranged at the bypass start end of the bypass path to sort the conveyed ticket into one of the bypass path and the transport path, and the necessity of printing is determined based on the output of the information reading means. An automatic ticket gate apparatus comprising: a determining unit for controlling the sorting of the ticket so as to guide the ticket to the bypass route based on the determination output of the above-mentioned determining unit that printing is required.