Abstract: A fare box has two separate chambers connected together by a connecting opening, with a fare receiving module in one of the chambers for receiving deposited fares and transporting them to the connecting opening, and a cashbox in the other chamber for receiving fares deposited in the connecting opening. A locking device is associated with the fare receiving module for releasably retaining it in the first chamber, and a security shutter in the housing is moveable between a first position blocking the connecting opening and a second position in which the opening is unblocked. The security shutter and locking device are linked together so that the connecting opening is blocked whenever the fare receiving module is released.

Abstract: A fare collection ticket transport mechanism transports tickets along an open longitudinal slot with a portion of the ticket projecting sideways out of the slot so that a patron depositing the ticket in the mechanism can see it while it is being transported and can grasp the projecting portion to release it if it becomes jammed. The portion of the ticket within the slot passes over read, write and verify components of the mechanism. The slot has a side wall or guide projecting out of the slot for guiding the projecting portion of the ticket. The guide has spaced notches to permit a patron to grasp a ticket and vertical ridges or lips at the outer edge of the guide act as stops for the outer edge of the projecting portion of a ticket to prevent the ticket from moving transversely out of the slot.

Abstract: A handling apparatus for guiding paper money or other strip-like media into a storage area or cashbox includes a drive mechanism for driving the central longitudinal area of a strip-like element to follow a first curved path, and an opposing guide for simultaneously urging the outer longitudinal areas of the bill in directions transverse to the first path so that they follow curved paths which are different to the first path. This tends to pull or stretch the element simultaneously both along its central axis and transverse to that axis, which will tend to remove any previous deformation applied to the element prior to stacking. A guide surface guides the bill from the drive mechanism into the storage area, and is preferably movable when a bill is detected projecting out of the storage area to urge the bill into the storage area and to compress the stack of bills.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a mobile safe having at least one loading door for depositing valuables such as cash within the safe and at least one unloading door for emptying the safe includes an actuating mechanism for moving the loading door between its open and closed positions. The actuating mechansim extends out of the safe for engagement with a vault door locking mechanism when the safe is placed within an outer vault for secure deposit of cash into the safe. The engagement is such that the actuating mechanism operates to open the loading door as the vault door is locked. A locking device associated with the actuating mechanism automatically locks the safe door in its closed position and can only be released by subsequent unlocking or opening of the unloading door by a person having the required key.

Abstract: A modularized roller assembly for holding a flexible, magnetically encoded card moving in a feeding direction through a channel against a curved transducer surface.

Abstract: A fare collection ticket transport that moves fare tickets through a closed alignment entry into an open longitudinal slot with a portion of the ticket projecting from the slot, and the portion of the ticket in the slot having the information processed by read, write, and verify components, so that the patron rider has to release the fare ticket, and the transport mechanism moves the fare ticket in the slot in a manner that the patron rider sees the fare ticket moving through the slot and can grab it at anytime he wants, with the transport mechanism moving the ticket at a determined speed and with the open longitudinal slot having protection against vertical entry.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled currency note validator includes a transport for propelling an inserted note longitudinally past an optical scanning station. Infrared and visible color reflectance readings and opacity readings are taken along several longitudinally extending tracks on the note. The microprocessor normalizes the reflectance readings to accommodate for variations in soiling and compares the normalized reflectance readings and the opacity readings against stored acceptance band data, correcting for pattern registration variations if necessary. The length of the note is also checked and a validation signal is provided if the note passes the optical tests and the length test. During the idle cycle, the microprocessor automatically adjusts the optical circuitry to compensate for component drift and dirt buildup. The microprocessor also provides a visual display of any detected malfunctions.

Abstract: A ticket diverter for use in conjunction with a ticket processing apparatus. The diverter has an entry passage through which a ticket enters and an exit passage through which the ticket is expelled. A stationary diverter ramp deflects the ticket from the entry passage to the exit passage. The ticket is propelled in the exit passage by a reversible exit drive roller toward either a dispensing outlet or a capture outlet.

Abstract: A ticket handling system for use in a ticket preparation system that includes a signal processor for providing print signals to indicate information to be printed on the tickets and write signals to indicate information to be encoded on the tickets; a printer for printing information on ticket stock in response to the print signals; and a transducer for encoding information on the ticket stock in response to the write signals. The ticket handling system includes a feeder module including a feed system for feeding a strip of ticket stock; a cutter module; a cutting device for cutting ticket blanks of a given length from the fed end of the strip; a printer module including the printer for printing ticket information on the ticket blanks in response to the print signals; and a transport module including the transducer for encoding ticket information on the ticket blanks in response to the write signals.

Abstract: A read/write head for reading and writing data on a magnetic card or ticket with drive means for driving the ticket back and forth in opposite directions past the head includes a ticket pressure biasing unit in the form of a pair of brushes disposed adjacent head and inclined slightly toward one another in a direction toward the head for applying a uniform pressure on a ticket moving past the head in either direction of the ticket.

Abstract: A digital input signal is fed through an interface to a logic phase control which decodes the signal to provide a plurality of phase signals in a predetermined relationship for driving a sychronous DC stepper motor. The phase signals are fed to corresponding phase drivers which amplify the pulses of the phase signals before they are applied to the corresponding phase windings of the stepper motor. Each phase driver includes an operational amplifier and a power transistor connected in a closed loop to provide a current pulse having a constant predetermined peak amplitude to the corresponding phase winding during acceleration of the motor. The inductive time constant of the motor phase windings is thus overcome so that an applied mechanical load can be rapidly accelerated without stalling and the absence of dropping resistors minimizes power dissipation and heat generation.

Abstract: An automated system for vending airline tickets to credit card purchasers based upon reservation data stored in a central host computer, without the intervention of any ticket agents. A plurality of remote ticket terminals each include a credit card reader, video monitor, ticket printer, local computer, and an interface for permitting communication with the host computer. The local computer of each terminal reads data from an inserted credit card and causes the video monitor to display alphanumeric and graphic inquiries to the purchaser regarding the passenger's reservation. The CRT of the video monitor is provided with touch input mechanisms for enabling the passenger to respond to the inquiries by placing a finger on a visual response target. The local computer interrogates the host computer to determine the purchaser's reservation data and displays the reservation data on the CRT for confirmation by the purchaser.