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 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 means 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 thermal printing system in which printing speed is maximized by electronically controlling the temperature of the print elements in accordance with the varying dot pattern being printed. The system includes a thermal printer module and a printer circuit which are specially adapted to be utilized in a modularized device such as a ticket vending machine. The printer circuit includes a microprocessor which demodulates serial data commands and stores the demodulated data in an input buffer. The microprocessor decodes the information in the input buffer and sets up an output buffer containing character data to be printed on the ticket. The microprocessor causes the character data stored in the output buffer to be printed on the ticket using software timing loops to selectively control the temperature of the individual print elements.

Abstract: A ticket handling system for use in a ticket processing system that includes a transducer for reading an encoded ticket entered by a patron and for providing a read signal in response thereto and apparatus for subsequently passing the ticket to an exit position where the ticket is accessible for return to the patron. The ticket handling system includes a transport module including the transducer for reading the encoded ticket and for providing a read signal in response thereto; an entry module coupled to the transport module for entering the ticket into the transport module; and a third module mechanically interfaced with the transport module and including structure defining a return passage for passing the ticket from the transport module to an exit position where the ticket is accessible for return to the patron.

Abstract: A system for reproducing a recorded binary signal from a recording medium that may be read at varying speeds is disclosed. The recording medium in a magnetic recording medium in which the binary signal was recorded by effecting predetermined alternating flux changes in the recording medium, and in which the distance of separation between consecutively effected predetermined flux changes does not exceed a first predetermined distance and is not less than a second predetermined distance.

Abstract: In the disclosed method, pre-recorded bit markers are read from a magnetic medium as it is moved by hand at a highly variable speed past a magnetic read head. Pulses of a fixed frequency are counted between the reading of adjacent ones of the bit markers. Magnetic flux is written in one direction on the medium upon the reading of the bit markers; and magnetic flux is written in an opposite direction after a time period equal to a fraction of the number of pulses counted between bit markers times the reciprocal of the fixed frequency. Also disclosed is apparatus for performing the steps of the disclosed method.