 |
Claims  |
|
|
What is claimed is:
1. An automatic ticket vending machine comprising:
display means adapted to present human-readable messages to a customer;
one or more ticket printing means arranged and adapted to automatically
inscribe ticket-validating indicia on prescribed unit tickets and present
these to a printer-output station in response to "ticket order signals"
t-o;
customer input means arranged and adapted to supply "select signals" SS
indicating events to be ticketed, said input means including customer
select means and valid billing indicating means;
automatic data processing means DP adapted to receive and store said select
signals SS and to process them and responsively issue said ticket-order
signals t-o along with associated display messages to said display means,
whereby the customer may see, and verify, the associated print commands
and ticketed events, price, etc.;
selectably-accessible port means including closure means adapted to be
manually translated by a customer upon machine command to allow access to
a prescribed ticket-removal station within the machine;
"discarded-ticket" storage means;
ticket receiving pocket means linked to said closure means and disposed
operatively adjacent said printer output station(s) and adapted to receive
printed tickets there from said respective printer means and to transport
these to said ticket-removal station; said ticket receiving means also
being selectively operable to "dump" its contents into said
"discard-ticket" storage means; said translating of the port closure means
being arranged and adapted to so transport said pocket means and present
the tickets said pocket means and present the tickets at the
ticket-removal station.
2. The machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said ticket receiving means
TR comprises a receptacle adapted to be automatically shifted on machine
command from "ticket receiving" condition to "ticket removal" condition
whereat access can be had from said "ticket removal" station, receiving
means TR being arranged and manipulated so that its ticket contents may be
removed by the customer at the "ticket removal" station upon machine
command.
3. The combination as recited in claim 2, wherein said port means includes
transparent closure means adapted to be manually operated by the customer,
upon machine command, to "open" the machine and give him access to said
"ticket removal" station and the contents, of said ticket receiving
receptacle TR, TR being mechanically linked to said closure means so that
customer translation of the closure means will automatically effect said
shift of said receptacle to be operatively adjacent said ticket removal
station with its contents accessible to the customer, while also
compressing said contents to create a compact package.
4. The combination as recited in claim 2, wherein said receptacle comprises
a bin with an open top arranged and disposed to be pivoted by operation of
said closure means from a relatively vertical ticket-receiving condition
toward said port closure means and said ticket removal station.
5. The combination as recited in claim 2, wherein said ticket receiving
receptacle includes automatic ticket compression means adapted and
arranged to resiliently and gradually compress the ticket contents in said
receptacle into a neat pack as the receptacle is shifted, being
automatically actuable into, and out of, this compression mode via
mechanical linkage to said closure means.
6. A machine for automatically preparing and dispensing unit records to a
subject person and including:
record preparation means adapted to prepare one or several unit records in
a set responsive to prescribed preparation commands and to further eject
the records serially to a preparation-output station; said machine being
secured against unauthorized access and arranged to allow operator access
by opening of a closure means over a predetermined delivery port only upon
prescribed access signals; and
record receiving pocket means disposed operatively adjacent said
preparation-output station and adapted to receive printed reocrds there
from said preparation means and to be shifted to present these records to
be accessible to the subject person from said delivery port, said record
receiving means also being selectively operable to automatically "dump"
its contents into associated "discard-record" storage means upon
occurrence of any one of several prescribed "anomalous" conditions;
the manual operation of the closure means being arranged and adapted, via
mechanical linkage, to so shift said pocket means.
7. The combination as recited in claim 6, wherein said receptacle pocket
means comprises a wedge-shaped bin with an open top, the bin being
arranged and disposed to be pivoted by manipulation of said closure means
so the bin is shifted from a relatively vertical "record-receiving"
condition toward said port closure means and said record removal station
to a record-dispensing condition; and wherein said closure means comprises
a slidable door linked to said receptacle bin so that manual-sliding of
the door pivots the bin to present its contents for outside human access;
and wherein said receptacle means also includes associated counter-weight
means coupled between said bin and said door and adapted to so pivot the
bin, the closure door and associated linkage requiring relatively minimal
effort and involving relatively symmetrical translation forces in opening
and closing the door.
8. An automatic ticket vending machine comprising:
a ticket-dispensing port means A made selectively accessible to a customer
upon machine command;
display means B adapted to present human-readable messages to a customer
upon machine command;
customer-select means C operable in association with said display means
subject to machine command, whereby a customer may select one or more
tickets to be vended;
credit indication-verification means D operable under machine command;
one or more ticket printing means E operable subject to machine command;
automatic data processing means F operably coupled to all the foregoing
port means A, display means B, select means C, vertification means D and
print means E in signal-receiving/signal-issuing relation therewith,
whereby upon receipt of appropriate customer signals and authorized
credit-indicating signals, said display means may be caused to issue
successive messages to guide the customer to select one or more events at
sect-means C, these to be ticketed and billed whereupon one or more of
said printing means F will be activated to issue valid tickets converting
the events;
said machine also including modem means connecting it to a remote control
station where-from controls of said data processing means may be modified
remotely; and
also includes automatic ticket-delivery pocket means linked to the port
means and arranged and adapted to collect and transport all in a series of
tickets for a given customer from the printer means to said port means
under the control of said data processing means, the opening of the port
means serving to so transport the tickets for customer access.
9. The machine as recited in claim 8, wherein said port means comprises
manually-operated closure means adapted to be manually operated by the
customer, upon machine command, to "open" the machine and give him access
to said "ticket removal" station and the contents of said ticket receiving
receptacle TR, and wherein said ticket receiving receptacle is
mechanically linked to said closure means os that customer translation of
the closure means will automatically effect said shift of said receptacle
to be operatively adjacent said ticket removal station with its contents
accessible to the customer.
10. The machine as recited in claim 8, wherein access to said port is
controlled by port closure means, unlocked by said data processing means
and opened manually by the customer; and wherein said receiving pocket
means comprises a cuneiform bin normally disposed in an
upwardly-divergent, open, ticket-receiving position and adapted to be
automatically pivoted toward said port for customer access via mechanical
linkage with said closure means, being so-pivoted gradually as the closure
means is opened by the customer.
11. The machine as recited in claim 10, wherein said bin also includes a
ticket-bunching compression plate means which is mechanically linked with
said closure means to be driven thereby, whereby to be automatically
thrust toward the ticket contents of said bin when the closure means is
opened and thrust in the opposite direction when the closure means is
closed.
12. The combination as recited in claim 6, wherein the preparation means
includes printing means, wherein the delivery port includes
manually-translatable closure means operable under machine command; and
wherein said record receiving means comprises a receptacle adapted to
receive records from the printing means in a first position and to be
automatically shifted to a second record-dispensing position where
customer access may be had, this shift being effected via mechanical
linkage with the closure means, so that translating the closure means so
shifts the receptacle conjunctively therewith.
13. An automatic ticket vending machine comprising:
display means adapted to present human-readable messages to a customer;
one or more ticket printing means arranged and adapted to automatically
inscribe ticket-validating indicia on prescribed unit tickets and present
these to a printer-output station in response to "ticket order signals"
to-o;
customer input means arranged and adapted to supply "select signals" SS
indicating events to be ticketed, said input means including customer
select means and valid billing indicating means;
automatic data processing means DP adapted to receive and store said select
signals SS and to process them and responsively issue said ticket-order
signals t-o along with associated display messages to said display means,
whereby the customer may see, and vertify, the associated print commands
and ticketed events, price, etc.;
selectably-accessible port means adapted to be opened by a customer upon
machine command to allow access to a prescribed ticket-removable station
within the machine, said port means including closure means adapted to be
manually operated by the customer, upon machine command, to "open" the
machine and give him access to said "ticket removal" station and the
contents of said ticket receiving receptacle TR;
"discarded-ticket" storage means;
ticket receiving means disposed operatively adjacent said printer output
station(s) and adapted to receive printed tickets there from said
respective printer means and to transport these to said ticket-removal
station; said ticket receiving means also being selectively operable to
"dump" its contents into said "discard-ticket" storage means;
said ticket receiving means TR comprising a receptacle adapted to be
automatically shifted on machine command from "ticket receiving" condition
to "ticket removal" condition whereat access can be had from said "ticket
removal" station, means TR being arranged and manipulated so that its
ticket contents may be removed by the customer at the "ticket removal"
station upon machine command, this ticket receiving receptacle TR being
mechanically linked to said closure means so that customer translation of
the closure means will automatically effect said shift of said receptacle
to be operatively adjacent said ticket removal station with its contents
accessible to the customer;
this ticket receiving receptacle further including automatic ticket
compression means adapted and arranged to resiliently and gradually
compress the ticket contents in said receptacle into a neat pack as the
receptacle is shifted, being automatically actuable into, and out of, this
compression mode via mechanical linkage to said closure means.
14. The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving means
also includes record compression means adapted to be automatically thrust
against the records in said receiving means when the closure means is
opened, and to be thrust oppositely when the closure means is closed.
15. The combination as recited in claim 6, wherein this pocket means also
includes record compression means adapted to be automatically thrust
against the records in said bin when the closure means is opened and to be
thrust oppositely when the closure means is closed.
16. The combination as recited in claim 8, wherein this pocket means also
includes record compression means adapted to be automatically thrust
against the records in said bin when the closure means is opened, and to
be thrust oppositely when the closure means is closed. |
|
 |
|
 |
Claims |
|
|
|
Description |
|
|
The following relates to systems and mechanisms for automatically preparing
and dispensing tickets and like unit records. More particularly, it
relates to such systems and mechanisms as adapted for vending such records
automatically in an unattended machine.
BACKGROUND, INVENTION FEATURES
Workers in the art of handling sheets and like unit records are aware of
the need for systems and automatic machinery for handling such records,
such as in an unattended, user-accessible ticket vending station. For
instance, airline ticket handling mechanisms are of interest, such as
those which can receive about one to nine tickets from a printer, bunch
them together and move them to an access window, where a customer can
receive them. Such systems and mechanisms are particularly needed for
handling perforated tickets which tend to problematically fold and spread
and are generally not particularly easy to handle. Such mechanisms are
needed which can handle perforated tickets without bending, distorting or
ripping at the perforations, yet will also insure security of the tickets
by allowing customer access only when a transaction (e.g., purchase of
several ticket pieces) and printing and bunching of the tickets is
completed and which will also safeguard and secure incompletely executed
or forgotten tickets in a machine.
The subject invention is directed toward such objects and the solution of
such problems.
EMBODIMENT INTRODUCTION
A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises an
automatic ticket handling machine AT adapted for use as an unattended
user-accessible, user-operated ticket vending station. Machine AT is shown
inset into the surface of a wall which, for instance, may be a
high-traffic hallway or room in an airport terminal. The facing portion of
machine AT comprises a front panel FP presenting a display screen D, a
telephone receiver-speaker unit TEL and a credit card reader unit CR
across the upper portion of the machine, these being positioned for
convenient access by customers.
The rest of the facing portion comprises a front door panel FD (see FIG. 2
also), including an upper framework surrounding panel FP and with an
outwardly projected overhang Oh (e.g., for mounting lamps, speaker, etc.)
and presenting an outwardly cantilevered shelf portion S (at about waist
height for the customer). Door panel FD also presents a sloped panel
portion SP above shelf S and extending in toward front panel FP to
terminate in a skirt portion SK parallel to panel FP and nearly abutting
it. Below shelf S is a lower vertical skirt LS in which a door-lock
mechanism DL is mounted. Below skirt LS, there is preferably provided a
storage cavity for convenient temporary reception of a customer's luggage,
etc., while he is using machine AT.
FIG. 2 shows machine AT with door FD swung open to expose the inner
mechanism including a ticket printer TP and a log printer LP discussed
below.
Door FD, itself, mounts a ticket handling mechanism HM adapted to
automatically feed tickets ejected by printer TP (e.g., see ticket TK,
FIGS. 2, 2A) and present them to the customer at a port or ticket window P
as detailed below. As also described below, mechanism HM includes a
"cuneiform" (wedge-shaped) bin B, the lower portion of which is adapted to
be selectively opened at times to dump bin contents into a receiving
pocket RP according to one feature hereof.
Workers will better appreciate the problems addressed by machine AT by
consideration of FIG. 2A showing in plan view and in actual dimensir'n an
exemplary ticket TK, preferably of thin, light-colored, somewhat rigid
paper stock. A series of unprinted tickets TK can be loaded in the printer
TP in one continuous "fan-fold" array, apt to be folded at a perforation
f-p. Ticket TK is assumed to be severed by ticket printer TP--before
ejecting it to the handling mechanism; e.g., along trailing-edge te--which
also defines the leading-edge l-e of the succeeding tickets; tickets TK
assumed driven in direction of arrows to be ejected from printer TP, as
suggested in FIG. 2. Thus, one ticket may emerge from TP somewhat "bent"
and folded along f-p in one direction, while the next ticket is likely
"bent" oppositely. A hole h-i is typically present to signal "severing
means". The ticket is adapted for use by the carrier and by the customer,
e.g., major portion TK-1 typically given to a flight attendant or
ticket-taker upon boarding an aircraft, with minor portion TK-2 kept by
the passenger to identify his flight seat, baggage, etc. and essentially
duplicating the information printed on portion TK-1. Sheet TK may
typically be of semi-rigid paper stock (like a computer punched card),
about 3-4" wide and about 8-9" long, with stub TK-2 about 21/2" long and
"leading portion" TK-3 about 1/2" long, leaving TK-1 about 5" long.
Typical operation
Workers may appreciate the following as generalizing an exemplary mode of
operation. Machine AT may be communicated-with via a touch-screen TS,
including matrix of IR-beams and associated receptors surrounding the CRT
screen of display D, as known in the art, so that presentation of a finger
on a particular site on the screen can generate a place-encoded signal to
machine AT, e.g., representing selection of a certain menu-offering, of a
certain flight, date, price, etc.
Thus, an instruction-display (on display D or elsewhere--or via audio
advice on telephone receiver TEL) may direct a customer to initiate a
ticketing sequence by inserting an approved credit card into card reader
CR. The machine may then verify card validity (or do so via line to remote
central data base) and then invite the customer to make his flight
selection (according to routines presented on display D, but not detailed
here). For example, a customer might select a sequence of (2) two flights
from Los Angeles to Minneapolis via Denver, and return, at first class,
with special meals, etc.--calling for (4) four tickets to be printed.
Display D could show the ordered flights, etc., and call for the customer
to verify, while checking his available credit.
Then, the printer would advance and separate four tickets successively,
printing the necessary indicia on each and ejecting it to be advanced by
mechanism HM into a holding bin B. Once the printing is finished
(successfully), display D can direct the customer to remove the four
tickets from bin B (and indicate that he has done so, and that the tickets
are as expected, via the touch-screen). According to a security feature
hereof, ticket access is preferably via a port P covered by a window P-W
which is unlocked for this, while bin B is manipulated to present the four
tickets, with machine AT, thereafter, requiring that window P-W be
fully-closed and machine-locked before a succeeding transaction can be
initiated [as detailed below--note locking pin lp and switch ms in FIG.
4A].
According to another feature hereof, the customer's translation of window
P-W causes bin B to pivot and present its contents at port P, the bin
being self-returned upon release of window P-W (self-closing). According
to a related feature, this pivoting of bin B also causes a pressure plate
to press the packet of tickets together for easier handling by the
customer.
According to a further related feature, bin B is provided with a
ticket-sensor and a "trap-door" panel which may be opened to "dump" bin
contents into receiving pocket RP (e.g., when ticket-sensor indicates one
or several tickets are left in bin B; or when something malfunctions in
the course of printing the ordered series of tickets--in the latter case,
one may visualize a malfunction like running out of ticket-stock after
printing two of the four tickets ordered here; this would be problematic
if the two printed had already been dispensed to the customer, or had to
be later, since he might not want less than the set of four; also
partial-billing is not easily implemented in such a case). Workers will
perceive that bin B, with locked window P-W, offers an unexpectedly
advantageous way of "short-circuiting" dispensing of tickets before
printing is complete--something the art is in need of. In like fashion,
bin B may be ordered to "dump" should anything else interrupt the
transaction--e.g., the customer changes his mind, calls for a different
itinerary, power goes "down", before printing and billing are complete,
etc. Machines which dispense tickets in a set, as printed, lack this
protection--as do machines which collect the set at an access station
which will necessarily open up for customer access.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be
appreciated by workers as they become better understood by reference to
the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiments
which should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference symbols denote like elements:
FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an automatic ticket vending machine
embodiment AT, while FIG. 2 is a like view with the front door FD thereof
swung-open; FIG. 2A shows an associated sample perforated ticket;
FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic showing correlating the port window PW',
bin B' and pinch roll PR which are preferably provided for transporting
tickets TK from ticket printer TP and advancing them into bin B' according
to another feature hereof, with FIG. 4A showing the window in operative
association with associated lock means and closing-switch means;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the handling mechanism HM shown in FIG. 2,
and FIG. 6A is a perspective of bin B thereof;
FIG. 7 is a rather schematic, sectional, enlarged side view of bin B
disposed in "ticket-receiving" condition (also seen in FIG. 6A, in
perspective); also shown is associated inclined panel SP and the part and
window parts associated therewith; FIGS. 7A,, 7B showing a "trap-door"
portion of bin B in front elevation and side elevation respectively, with
FIGS. 7C, 7D showing an associated actuator inkage schematically;
FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7 with bin B shown rotated into
"ticket-presenting" condition, the bin having been so rotated in
conjunction with the raising of window PW (to open port P and enable
customer access therethrough to the tickets or other contents in bin B).
FIGS. 9A, 9B are a respective schematic front view and side view of a press
plate mechanism fp shown mounted for selective rotation inside bin B as
described hereinafter, while FIG. 9C is a like view of a cam-follower
linkage therefor;
FIG. 10 is a schematic side sectional view of the pinch rolls PR, PR' along
with associated guides shown in schematic operating relation with a sample
segment of a ticket TK;
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of functional elements of machine AT shown
operatively associated with the data processor PC therefor and related
signals.
FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of machine AT (in phantom except for front
door) with concrete enclosure; and
FIG. 3, FIG. 5 are enlarged plan views of the hinge means for the front
door, in "closed" and "open" condition, respectively.
The invention will be better appreciated by workers upon consideration of
the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
General description, background
The following illustrates an automatic ticket vending machine example
according to principles of this invention.
This, and other means discussed herein, will generally be understood as
selected, formulated, and operating as presently known in the art, except
where otherwise specified. And, except as otherwise specified, all
materials, methods, and devices and apparatus herein will be understood as
implemented by known best expedients according to present good practice.
HANDLING MECHANISM
According to one salient feature hereof, handling mechanism HM is adapted
for surprising and unexpectedly advantageous handling of tickets TK,
transporting them from ticket printer TP (see sample ticket TK projecting
therefrom in FIG. 2) to be stored in wedge-shaped bin B and presented at
an appropriate selected time to the customer at port P. Until then, no
customer-access to tickets is allowed.
FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic showing correlating the port window PW',
bin B' and pinch roll PR which is preferably provided for transporting
tickets TK from ticket printer TP and advancing them into bin B' according
to another feature hereof.
The port P, or access opening (e.g., about 2.8" by 4.5") is preferably
covered by a transparent closure-window PW' (e.g., shown "closed" here, as
in FIG. 7) or like movable closure (see FIG. 4A too). Window PW' will be
seen to include a handle portion Ph' projected toward the customer and
adapted so the customer may slide window PW' upward and hold it open to
get access to the contents of bin B'--but, according to this feature, he
may do so only when allowed by the controls of machine AT. That is, in its
normal "down" ("closed") position, window PW' will be apt to be locked by
suitable means, such as with a removable locking pin LP adapted, under the
control of the program of machine AT (discussed below), to be inserted in
place and prevent opening of window PW'. When the machine controls enable
it, this pin LP may be withdrawn by solenoid means "SOL-P" (FIGS. 4A, 7),
or the like, as known in the art.
FIG. 4A shows a like window pw with such a locking means (see latching-hook
pw-h adapted to receive locking pin Lp to hold window down until solenoid
SOL-P moves Lp away--and note return spring and suitable connector linkage
Lp-L coupling Lp to SOL-P, as known in the art). Also shown is an
exemplary "window-closed" detector means, i.e., a microswitch ms adapted
to be activated (e.g., contacts "made", generate signal s-2, FIG. 11) upon
full-down closure of window PW, as known in the art.
Window PW' will be seen as slidably fit between a pair of flanking left and
right guide-channel means PC, PC' (e.g., see FIGS. 4, 4A especially; note
window-detents pw-d adapted to be received for sliding in such guide
channel means). Bin B will be seen (FIGS. 6-8 also) to be formed between a
pair of front and rear segments B-1, B-2, respectively, with a trap door
portion Td and a solenoid that pivots Td "open" (see phantom view in FIG.
7). These segments B-1, B-2 are joined by a pair of opposed left and right
cuneiform side-walls B-S, B-S'. The entire bin structure is preferably
formed of sheet metal, as known in the art. For instance, as seen in FIG.
6A four sides may be formed from a single piece of sheet metal [see B-S,
B-1, B-S' and projections B-2, B-2', joined by a plate B-3, riveted to
B-2, B-2', as known in the art--preferably plate B-3 also includes a pair
of flanking hangar-tabs B-3h, B-3h' with a hole for receiving an axle f-a
as noted below]. Preferably, a shield-extension B-sh, or lip, is also
provided along the top bin edge nearest port P (see FIG. 6A) to block
access to other than bin B and give a "clean look" to the customer.
According to a feature hereof, bin B is preferably pivotable from the
"receiving" position shown in FIG. 7 to the "dispensing" position shown in
FIG. 8, being mounted on a suitable axle therefor B-a via a projecting
hangar means B-h, or block cut out to journal axle B-a which is affixed
rotatably in the machine frame. Flanking either side B-S, B-S', of bin B
are a pair of counter-weighted arms CTW, CTW', each attached to hangar B-h
and adapted to rotate on axle B-a. Counter-weight arms CTW, CTW' are each
rotatably attached to the end of a respective window-linkage P-L, P-L' via
a respective pin B-b, B-b', so that raising window PW will rotate the
distal end of each arm CTW, CTW' (see arrow FIG. 7) toward port P; also
so-rotating bin B. Arms CTW, CTW' extend rather symmetrically about common
axle B-a (on machine AT) on which they are rotatably mounted to afford
easy counter-weighting (e.g., see weight wt FIG. 7). Thus, each
counter-weight arm is rotated about common axle B-a and adapted to project
an arm of sufficient length (and weight) opposite bin B as to render the
manual pivoting of bin B relatively easy and slightly weighted in the
closing direction (for this purpose a weight wt may be attached at a
selectable position along the indicated slot of the lever-arm, as workers
may desire). The counter-weight means CTW, CTW' are provided to assure
smooth, controlled, low-force, self-return of bin B from its "access"
position in FIG. 8 to the "receiving" position in FIG. 7, as known in the
art.
According to a related feature the preferred way of so manipulating bin B
is to couple it to window PW so that when a customer slides PW from the
"closed" to the "fully-open" position, he will also rotate bin B to the
"dispensing" position--and without need for other motive means. To do this
a pair of coupling arms PL, PL' are mounted rotatably between a respective
side of window PW and a respective end of a counter-weight arm CTW, CTW',
these dimensioned so that, at the "full-up" position of window PW (e.g.,
shown "fully-open" in FIG. 8--note handle P-H at the extreme upward
position), bin B will be pivoted to "dispensing" position. Bin B is thus
suitably rotated to dispense its contents to the customer--who presumably
is holding-up window PW with one hand and can access bin B with his other
hand.
As another feature, workers will note that bin B is so coupled to be moved
with window PW without piercing of bin sides [similarly re mounting of
trap-door and pressure plate]; yet PW will "self-close" unless held open.
Of course, other like ways are contemplated whereby opening of the access
port serves to automatically thrust a ticket-storage-bin, or like
receptacle, into "access condition", adjacent the port. Thus, for
instance, workers will perceive that a window like pw may, instead, be
opened by the customer pulling it toward himself (as "opening a drawer")
and thereby draw bin B into "access condition".
The masses of the window PW, bin B with attachments, counter-weights CTW,
CTW', linkages, etc. may cause this inter-coupled structure to tend to
noisily "crash" against adjacent members. To eliminate or attenuate this,
we provide suitable dashpot means or the like, e.g., see dashpot Dp in
FLG. 6 mounted on machine frame and coupled, via a linkage to bin B
(dashpot in FIG. 4 is otherwise placed). The window PW is hung to be
"self-closing" (will slowly drop to "fully-closed" position, under drag of
dashput)--unless the operator holds it open. To monitor window-closed"
condition, a microswitch ms, or like means, is disposed to be activated
(e.g., "closed" when the window is closed--see FIG. 4A).
According to a related feature, bin B is made selectively "purgible"; that
is, responsive to a machine signal, the contents of the bin may be
automatically dumped, released and removed from customer-access. Here,
this is preferably effected by solenoid pivoting of a trap door plate Td,
extending the lower portion of back wall B-2 to front wall B-1 as seen in
FIG. 7. This releases the contents of bin B to drop, under gravity, into
receiving pocket RP positioned below--whence they may be recovered by
service personnel, etc. This can prevent tickets from being "abandoned" in
bin B by one customer and left there available for unauthorized access by
a succeeding customer. As mentioned above, bin B and such a "dump"
facility also afford a way of preventing tickets from being dispensed when
ERROR conditions arise, e.g., misprinting or incomplete printing, "power
down" in the middle of a transaction, etc.
According to a machine program (not discussed here), such a dumping
operation is invoked following erroneous printing operations leading to an
"error-ticket" which, instead of being presented to a subject customer,
is dumped into pocket RP (this control loop may be invoked upon any such
"error event", thus preventing "error-tickets" from being dispensed).
Trap Door
As mentioned above, and shown, for instance, in FIGS. 7, 7A, 7B, 7D, bin
plate B-2 terminates well short of convergence with opposing plate B-1,
this gap being bridged by the trap door plate Td, which is normally
"closed" into convergent abutment with wall B-1. But, during a "dump"
sequence, door Td is selectively thrust-away from B-1 (indicated in
phantom in FIG. 7), at least sufficient to release the maximum contents
that bin B might contain. FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7D show door Td in front, side
and perspective schematic views respectively, while FIGS. 7C, 7D show,
very schematically, a solenoid arrangement SOL-A for rotating axle f-a to
which the door Td is affixed.
More particularly, door Td comprises a relatively rectangular plate Td-L
nearly as wide as bin B (e.g., about 3" by 2") and having an array of
curved-tip prongs t-p regularly spaced along its lower edge for reception
into conforming slots along the lower edge of plate B-1. Door plate Td-L
is preferably made of relatively light, resilient material (e.g., 15 mil
beryllium copper with non-reflective black matte finish) and preferably
includes a pair of upwardly projecting legs Td-e (i.e., return-spring
extensions). Plate Td-L is rigidly, non-rotatably affixed to shaft f-a
(e.g., preferably welded along roll-portion as indicated) to be rotated
therewith and is fixed in position (as indicated, for instance, in FIG.
7B) so that the legs Td-e are thrown into firm spring-contact with the
back wall B-2, B-3 of the bin B (preferably a slight radius is placed on
the distal end of each leg Td-e to facilitate this spring contact). Legs
Td-e should be long and narrow, lightweight, yet stable and resilient,
offering minimum mass for the solenoid actuator to drive.
Lower edge Td-LL of door plate Td-L is provided with an array of like,
curved-tip "detents" or prongs t-p adapted to be seated in conforming
notches of plate B-1 and bar exit of a ticket, etc. when a slight,
"accidental" gap between Td and B-1 might exist. The upper ends Td-L of
legs Td-e (FIG. 7B) are curved away from plate B-2 so as to avoid scraping
contact.
As indicated, somewhat schematically, in FIGS. 7C, 7D a solenoid SOL-A (or
like selectively-operable linear actuator means) is mounted on bin B,
being coupled to rotate axle f-a, and, with it, door Td on a "dump
command". This is automatically invoked by machine controls after
occurrence of certain "error conditions", like erroneous or incomplete
printing as mentioned. It is also automatically invoked if a customer
fails to remove (all of) his tickets from bin B. Thus, machine AT is
preferably fitted with a suitable ticket detector on bin B, and following
a suitable delay (e.g., two minutes) after opening-up the port (e.g.,
allows for customer also forgetting to relock the window pw), or after
locking window pw--given the detection, then, of tickets left in bin B
(one or more).
For this purpose, we preferably provide a ticket-detector D-1 on bin B (on
back-wall B-2 thereof, see FIGS. 6, 7, 7A, 9A disposed between legs Td-e,
FIG. 7A, and between legs fp-L, FIG. 9A). Detector D-1 may comprise an IR
cell, or the like, of known construction adapted to project a radiation
beam toward opposing bin wall B-1 whose associated inner surface may be
treated (black, matte) to make it "low reflectivity", while tickets TK are
relatively "light" and exhibit high reflectivity. Unit D-1 also senses the
so-reflected beam and applies a detect-signal output (S-3, FIG. 11) as
known in the art, to machine controls, indicating "tickets-in-bin". Thus,
when at least one ticket TK intercepts the detect-beam the associated
photo-sensor output will be driven "high" (S-3) to present a
"bin-not-empty" signal to machine AT, triggering a "dump" command.
FIGS. 7, 7C illustrate an appropriate linkage for this dumping of Td (see
solenoid arm SL-1 adapted to be actuated linearly, as per the arrow) by
SOL-A. Arm SL-1 is rotatably coupled to an extension arm SL-2 which is
firmly affixed to (a flat on) shaft f-a--to rotate f-a upon actuation of
solenoid SOL-A as known in the art. This actuation-excursion will result
in sufficient opening of the "trap door" to allow maximum-width contents
to be dumped from bin B down into receiving pocket RP as understood from
the prior discussion--e.g., for the projected maximum bin-load here (up to
nine tickets TK), it is found that an excursion of about 10.degree. for
the lower edge TD-LL of plate TD-L is satisfactory, giving an opening on
the order of 0.38" (the ticket stock is about 7 mils thick so a full load
of nine cards would present a thickness of about 0.063, if the pack were
nicely compressed).
"Bunching"
According to another feature hereof, the tickets or like contents in bin B
may be automatically pressed together resiliently and "bunched" for
better, more aesthetic and effective presentation to the customer, this
preferably being done automatically in conjunction with the manual
rotation of bin B described above. Surprisingly, we found that without
such "pack-compression" means, the perforate tickets TK tend to stack in
unruly fashion and are difficult to grasp, with a "fanning-out" effect
thrusting tickets against the bin plates at times. This pack-pressing
means also presents a neat package to the customer, one that is
attractively "bound". This action is preferably implemented by a
window-coupling arrangement (see FIG. 9C), whereby rotation of bin B from
the "receiving" position (FIG. 7) to the "access position" (FIG. 8) will
automatically rotate resilient press plate fp from "open position" (FIGS.
7, 9C) to "thrust position" (FIG. 8).
This may be effected in various ways. One preferred method is to mount
plate fp rotatably on an axle coupled to window PW via a cam-follower
arrangement to so rotate the plate fp in conjunction with raising of
window PW. Such an arrangement is shown in FIGS. 7-9 wherein press-plate
fp will be understood as rotatably attached to axle f-a (on which the trap
door Td is fixedly mounted as noted above) with the cam-follower
arrangement coupled to rotate plate fp as bin B is rotated, rotating it
sufficient to drive plate fp from the "open" to the "thrust" position as
indicated in FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 9C is a schematic side view, along the
lines of FIG. 7, ut on the opposite side of bin B with the cam-follower
and associated arm fp-A, etc. shown (perspective reversed for drafting
convenience; the opposite side B-S' of bin B is really involved, as
workers will appreciate--note, vs. FIG. 7 counter-weight arm, etc. are
removed for clarity of illustration). Here, an arm P-L (connecting window
PW and the end of a counter-weight arm at B-h) is extended to form a
follower-extension PL-C with a cam-slot SL of prescribed size and
conformation, so as to receive an associated cam projection cm on the end
of arm fp-A. Thus, as window PW is raised (arrow pw) and arm PL rotated
about pin B-b (arrows), follower-extension PL-C and slot SL are rotated
toward bin B, driving cam cm with them to end up at a prescribed point
(cm' in phantom, corresponding to the thrust-forward position for press
plate fp shown in phantom--cam cm thrusting its arm fp-A, and plate fp
thusly).
Press-plate
Thus, bin B preferably also includes an automatically-actuated resilient
press-plate fp adapted to be thrust against the ticket-load in the bin,
compressing the tickets together when the bin and its ticket-load are
presented to the customer. FIGS. 9A and 9B indibate a preferred form of
plate fp in front and side view respectively. Preferably the plate
assembly includes an upper, relatively rectangular plate fp-m for
thrusting the upper part of tickets TK, being almost as wide as bin B and
about one-half its height (e.g., about 4" wide by about 2" high here),
with a pair of narrow side legs fp-L projected downwardly therefrom for
rotatable attachment on axle f-a. For this, each leg fp-L terminates in a
respective orthogonal extension fp-e which is projected outboard of the
plate to, itself, terminate in an orthogonal up-projected bracket member
fp-b, fp-b' respectively. Brackets fp-b, fp-b' are apertured and arranged
to be rotatably mounted on axle f-a (see also phantom view in FIG. 7A
discussed above).
Plate fp-m is cut-out to admit the detect beam from D-1 and to leave
flanking legs fp-L so as to minimize its weight as well as to enhance its
resiliency when pressed against the upper portion of the pack of tickets
(as workers in the art will understand, e.g., about 21/2" long by about
1/4 to 1/3" wide, the entire plate may be made of | | |
