Batch ticket reader

Abstract

Ticket reading apparatus is disclosed having a moving grooved belt for transporting tickets fed singly thereto by separator rollers controlled by a clutch and brake in relation to information recording speed. Reading is accomplished by at least two detectors spaced to read information along the length of the ticket regardless of end-for-end orientation. Each detector comprises a light source and photocell detector having a narrow rhombic aperture for optimum reading of tickets oriented longitudinally on the belt or only slightly skewed. There is also provided a ticket routing gate assembly operated by a switch enabled by the information recorder to divert tickets to one of two routes and to stack tickets which have not been properly read.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. Batch ticket processing apparatus, comprising in combination: A. a reading station having means for reading information encoded on tickets to be processed.Iadd., said reading station being provided with at least two light sources and two detectors in adjacent positions and laterally spaced apart relationship, each of said detectors being positioned along an axis normal to said path to read ticket encoded information for each possible end-for-end orientation of a ticket, whereby ticket information may be read regardless of end-for-end ticket orientation; .Iaddend.   B. feed means for moving tickets singly in a path adjacent said reading station, 1. including guide means for substantially aligning the ticket before it passes said reading station;     C. recording and control means electrically connected to said reading means;   D. switch means positioned adjacent said feed path for actuation by a ticket, 1. said switch means spaced downstream from said reading station along said feed path,   2. said switch means being electrically connected to said recording and control means and selectively enabled thereby;     E. ticket routing gate means interposed in said feed path and spaced downstream from said switch means for diverting tickets to one of two routes, 1. said gate means being electrically energized through said switch means upon the coincidence of enablement by said recording and control means and actuation by a ticket, whereby a ticket is diverted to one of said two routes depending upon whether or not information is accurately read therefrom as determined and controlled by said recording and control means.     
     
     
       2. Ticket processing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said reading station comprises at least two light sources and at least two photocell pickup devices for receiving reflected light from a ticket passing by said light sources, each photocell device being associated with one of the light sources, said light sources and their respective photocell devices being separated by a light shield member mounted on said reading station and closely spaced to said ticket path. 
     
     
       3. Ticket processing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said reading station comprises at least one light source and photocell detector device as detector means for determining the configuration of light reflected from a ticket, including an aperture between the ticket and said photocell detector device, said aperture being of a rhombic configuration. 
     
     
       4. .[.Ticket processing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said feed means comprises.]. .Iadd.Batch ticket processing apparatus, comprising in combination: A. a reading station having means for reading information encoded on tickets to be processed;   B. feed means for moving tickets singly in a path adjacent said reading station, 1. including guide means for substantially aligning the ticket before it passes said reading station;   2. .Iaddend.separator roller means for feeding tickets one at a time from a stack, said separator roller means being driven by a shaft having a clutch and brake assembly connected thereto, .[.and wherein there is provided.]. .Iadd.     C. recording and control means electrically connected to said reading means;   D. .Iaddend.control means comprising a ticket detector adjacent said spearator roller means and electrically connected to said recording and control means to signal the beginning and end of a ticket, said clutch and brake assembly being electrically connected to and operable by said recording and control means in response to signals from said ticket detector.Iadd.;   E. switch means positioned adjacent said feed path for actuation by a ticket, 1. said clutch means spaced downstream from said reading station along said feed path,   2. said switch means being electrically connected to said recording and control means and selectively enabled thereby;     F. ticket routing gate means interposed in said feed path and spaced downstream from said switch means for diverting tickets to one of two routes, 1. said gate means being electrically energized through said switch means upon the coincidence of enablement by said recording and control means and actuation by a ticket,     whereby a ticket is diverted to one of said routes depending upon whether or not information is accurately read therefrom as determined and controlled by said recording and control means. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       5. Ticket processing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said feed means includes a ticket carrying belt having at least one groove in the direction of belt travel on the ticket carrying side thereof and said ticket routing gate means comprises a pivotable member having at least one extended portion normally positioned in said belt groove. .[.6. Ticket processing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said reading station is provided with at least two light sources and two detectors in adjacent positions and spaced apart in relation to information positioned on the tickets, each detector being adapted for separate detection of information, whereby ticket information may be read regardless of 
     
     
        end-for-end ticket orientation..]. 7. Ticket processing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said ticket routing gate means comprises a pivotable ticket gate member normally held closely adjacent to the feed path of said feed means, solenoid means connected to said gate member for pivotably moving said gate member away from the feed path, said solenoid means being electrically connected to and operable by said switch means, and ticket stacking means adjacent said gate member for stacking tickets 
     
     
        in the same orientation as the tickets were moved by said feed means. 8. Batch ticket processing apparatus comprising in combination: A. a reading station having at least two detectors in adjacent relation for separate detection of information on tickets to be processed;   B. feed means for moving tickets singly in a path adjacent said reading station, including 1. a continuous moving belt having at least one groove in its ticket carrying surface in the direction of belt travel, and   2. guides along said belt to urge the tickets into a substantially longitudinal orientation on said belt;     C. recording and control means electrically connected to said reading station;   D. switch means having an actuator arm extending into said groove of said belt, 1. said switch means being spaced downstream from said reading station along said feed path, and   2. said switch means being electrically connected to and enabled by said recording and control means, and     E. a ticket routing gate assembly interposed in said feed path and spaced downstream from said switch means for diverting tickets to one of two routes, comprising, 1. gate member having guide extensions, a. one of said guide extensions protruding into the groove of said belt,       
     
     
       2.  a solenoid assembly connected to said gate member for moving said gate member toward and away from said belt, a. said solenoid being connected to and actuated by said switch means, whereby information on a ticket may be detected by either of said detectors regardless of its end-for-end orientation and said switch means is enabled by information recorded from the ticket at said recording and control means and said switch is operated by the ticket to actuate said   
     
     
        gate solenoid assembly to route the ticket. 9. Ticket processing apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said reading station comprises at least two light sources and photocell detectors, said light sources and detectors being positioned to reflect light from the ticket and there are provided apertures through which the reflected light is passed to said detectors, said apertures being of a narrow rhombic configuration, the shortest transverse dimension thereof being about the width of bar information on 
     
     
        the ticket to be read. 10. Ticket processing apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein there is further provided a lens between the ticket and each 
     
     
        detector for magnification of the reflected image from the ticket. 11. Ticket processing apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein there is provided ticket stacking means adjacent said gate member, comprising rotating stacking wheel means for receiving tickets when said gate member is not moved away from said belt by said solenoid, and a ticket stack guideway whereby tickets not properly read at said reading station will be 
     
     
        routed to and stacked by said stacking means. 12. Ticket processing apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said feed means includes a separator roller for initiating the single feeding of tickets onto said belt, said separator roller being driven through a brake and clutch assembly, said brake and clutch assembly being controlled by electrical connection to said recording and control means, whereby tickets are fed to said belt at a rate in response to the rate of information recorded by said recording and control means. .Iadd. 13. Batch ticket processing apparatus, comprising in combination: A. means for holding a stack of tickets to be read;   B. a first hopper for holding tickets which have been read;   C. a second hopper for receiving rejected tickets;   D. endless feed means for moving tickets singly along a path from the stack holding means to a selected one of the first and second hoppers, the endless feed means including; 1. guide means for guiding the tickets along the path, and   2. means for stacking rejected tickets in the second hopper;     E. a reading station having detectors disposed adjacent the path in laterally spaced relation, each of said detectors being positioned along an axis normal to the ticket path to read ticket encoded information for each possible end-for-end orientation of a ticket;   F. recording and control means electrically connected to said reading station; and   G. a ticket routing gate assembly including,   
     
     
       1.  a gate member disposed downstream of the detectors but upstream of the stacking means and 2. said recording and control means effecting movement of the gate member to divert tickets into a selected one of the first and second hoppers;   whereby information on the tickets can be read by one of the detectors regardless of the end-to-end orientation of the tickets. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. Batch ticket processing apparatus comprising in combination:   A. means for holding a stack of tickets to be read;   B. a first hopper for holding tickets which have been read;   C. a second hopper for receiving rejected tickets;   D. an endless feed means for moving tickets singly along a path from the stack holding means to a selected one of the first and second hoppers, the endless feed means including, 1. a groove extending in the direction of said path;     
     
     
       2.  guide means for guiding the tickets along said path, and 3. means for stacking rejected tickets in the second hopper;    E. a reading station having detectors disposed adjacent the path in laterally spaced relation, each of said detectors being positioned along an axis normal to the ticket path to read ticket encoded information for each possible end-for-end orientation of a ticket;   F. recording and control means electrically connected to said reading station; and   G. a ticket routing gate assemby interposed in said path for diverting tickets to one of said hoppers comprising, 1. a gate member having a guide extension protruding into said groove of said endless feed means,   2. said recording and control means effecting movement of said gate member toward and away from said groove;     whereby information on tickets can be detected by one of said detectors regardless of the end-for-end orientation of the tickets. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. Ticket processing apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said reading station comprises a plurality of light sources and a plurality of photocell detectors, said light sources and detectors being positioned to reflect light from the ticket and there are provided apertures through which the reflected light is passed to said detectors. .Iaddend.