Abstract: A Universal Ticket Transport (UTT) 10, 150 may be configured to read from and write to many types of magnetically encoded tickets 20 currently used in fare collection systems. The UTT 10, 150 includes a mechanical insertion interface and automated movement along a transport path 18 for tickets 20 of varying thicknesses that are presented at a range of different angles 40, 42 into and exiting from the UTT 10, 150. The UTT 10, 150 includes a mechanical assembly 156, 158 which may be rotated, and the belts 22, 24, 152, 154 and rollers 30, 32, 34, 36 reconfigured, to accommodate tickets 20 having top-face or bottom face magnetic stripes. The belt subassemblies A, C and the magnetic head subassembly B are configurable across a width W of the UTT 10, 150 to process tickets 20 having magnetic stripes which are offset from a center line 86.

Abstract: An add value terminal provides an automatic fare collection environment with a compact, easy to use, and easy to install device that re-values and issues transit fare smart cards exclusively utilizing credit and debit functions. The add value terminal alleviates long lines often associated with automatic vending machines that allow bill and coin transactions. The add value terminal also can be configured to sell tickets in out-of-station environments including malls, grocery stores, post offices, and airports.

Abstract: A Universal Ticket Transport (UTT) 10, 150 may be configured to read from and write to many types of magnetically encoded tickets 20 currently used in fare collection systems. The UTT 10, 150 includes a mechanical insertion interface and automated movement along a transport path 18 for tickets 20 of varying thicknesses that are presented at a range of different angles 40, 42 into and exiting from the UTT 10, 150. The UTT 10, 150 includes a mechanical assembly 156, 158 which may be rotated, and the belts 22, 24, 152, 154 and rollers 30, 32, 34, 36 reconfigured, to accommodate tickets 20 having top-face or bottom face magnetic stripes. The belt subassemblies A, C and the magnetic head subassembly B are configurable across a width W of the UTT 10, 150 to process tickets 20 having magnetic stripes which are offset from a center line 86.

Abstract: A Universal Ticket Transport (UTT) 10, 150 may be configured to read from and write to many types of magnetically encoded tickets 20 currently used in fare collection systems. The UTT 10, 150 includes a mechanical insertion interface and automated movement along a transport path 18 for tickets 20 of varying thicknesses that are presented at a range of different angles 40, 42 into and exiting from the UTT 10, 150. The UTT 10, 150 includes a mechanical assembly 156, 158 which may be rotated, and the belts 22, 24, 152, 154 and rollers 30, 32, 34, 36 reconfigured, to accommodate tickets 20 having top-face or bottom face magnetic stripes. The belt subassemblies A, C and the magnetic head subassembly B are configurable across a width W of the UTT 10, 150 to process tickets 20 having magnetic stripes which are offset from a center line 86.

Abstract: A ticket transport machine accepts fare media cards of various types and dimensions through an input bezel. The card is then fed through entry rollers where it is transported onto a rotating transport carrier and passed under a reader/writer antenna. The reader/writer antenna reads information encoded onto the card and based upon this information, the machine determines if the card can be re-circulated for later use. The card is then deposited into a storage stacker magazine where it can be retrieved at a later date for reissue to another user.

Abstract: An add value terminal provides an automatic fare collection environment with a compact, easy to use, and easy to install device that re-values and issues transit fare smart cards exclusively utilizing credit and debit functions. The add value terminal alleviates long lines often associated with automatic vending machines that allow bill and coin transactions. The add value terminal also provides a means to sell tickets in out-of-station environments including malls, grocery stores, post offices, and airports.

Abstract: An add value terminal provides an automatic fare collection environment with a compact, easy to use, and easy to install device that re-values and issues transit fare cards exclusively utilizing credit and debit functions. The add value terminal alleviates long lines often associated with automatic vending machines that allow bill and coin transactions. The add value terminal also can sell tickets in out-of-station environments including malls, grocery stores, post offices, and airports.

Abstract: A Universal Ticket Transport (UTT) 10, 150 may be configured to read from and write to many types of magnetically encoded tickets 20 currently used in fare collection systems. The UTT 10, 150 includes a mechanical insertion interface and automated movement along a transport path 18 for tickets 20 of varying thicknesses that are presented at a range of different angles 40, 42 into and exiting from the UTT 10, 150. The UTT 10, 150 includes a mechanical assembly 156, 158 which may be rotated, and the belts 22, 24, 152, 154 and rollers 30, 32, 34, 36 reconfigured, to accommodate tickets 20 having top-face or bottom face magnetic stripes. The belt subassemblies A, C and the magnetic head subassembly B are configurable across a width W of the UTT 10, 150 to process tickets 20 having magnetic stripes which are offset from a center line 86.

Abstract: A ticket transport machine accepts fare media cards of various types and dimensions through an input bezel. The card is then fed through entry rollers where it is transported onto a rotating transport carrier and passed under a reader/writer antenna. The reader/writer antenna reads information encoded onto the card and based upon this information, the machine determines if the card can be re-circulated for later use. The card is then deposited into a storage stacker magazine where it can be retrieved at a later date for reissue to another user.

Abstract: An apparatus automatically analyzes and culls-out defective contactless smart cards. Analysis of smart cards may include RF ranging for both near and far ranges, card type decoding for sorting or encoding using a multi-protocol reader, full memory reading and writing, concave and convex card flexing, optical graphics verification of both sides of card, reading and verifying printed serial numbers, and matching encoded serial numbers with printed serial number. The apparatus also provides high speed encoding and initializing of contactless smart cards. Contactless cards moved through machine serially without belts and rollers. The testing and encoding sequence includes bending and flexing the smart cards followed by RF testing. Self-positioning capability provides accurate card positioning over RF antennas.

Abstract: A device for communicating data with a contactless smart card in which a user initiates such communication by at least partially inserting the smart card through an entrance to a cavity of the device. The electromagnetic field produced by the device is largely confined to the cavity and largely oriented in a vertical direction. This structure prevents unintended communication with a smart card carried in a person's shirt pocket and minimizes potential health risks from exposure to the field. It also discourages users from moving the card too quickly into and out of the field for a transaction to complete.

Abstract: A continuous strip of ticket stock from which individual tickets can be separated includes an elongated strip of a ticket stock material and, at each preselected ticket-separation location, a collinear transversely extending perforation, bursting slot, and slit at each end of the bursting slot. A ticket dispenser for dispensing individual tickets from such a strip of stock includes a drive mechanism that drives the strip of ticket stock in both a forward direction and a reverse direction through a bursting station. The bursting station includes a burst barb, and a guide that permits the strip of ticket stock to move past the burst barb when the strip of ticket stock is driven in the forward direction, and to engage the burst barb to the bursting slot when the strip of ticket stock is driven in the reverse direction. The burst barb propagates a separation from the bursting slot outwardly through the perforation to separate the individual ticket cleanly from the strip.

Abstract: In an optical detection system for detecting a feature located at a predetermined lateral position on a banknote, for example, the banknote is moved along a flow path and a series of light receivers are arranged transversely across that portion of the flow path which the feature is expected to occupy, so that different ones of the light receivers will respond to the feature in the banknote depending on the lateral offset of the banknote at that portion of the flow path. The margins of the note are utilized in the detection system to gate the said light receivers so that for any position of lateral offset of the banknote only that light receiver which responds to the said feature of the banknote will produce an effective output signal. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, two sets of fibre optics are used to effect this gating, one set having its first ends (S1 to S5) opposite a light source at one margin of the sheet and its other ends (F1 to F5) adjacent the above mentioned light receivers (F1' to F5').

Abstract: A method of detecting the condition of a rectangular sheet (8), comprising feeding the sheet, e.g. by belts (2, 4), through a checking station (adjacent to II--II), the direction of feeding (6) being along the length or the width of the sheet; deflecting, e.g.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for determining the degree of stiffness of a sheet, for example a banknote, the stiffness being indicative of the condition of the banknote. The banknote (4) is drawn around a bobbin-shaped drum (1) by means of a pair of belts (2, 3) which grip a central portion of the banknote. The inner belt (2) drives or is driven by the central portion of the drum (1). The concave shape of the drum (1) imparts a curvature to the banknote in an axial plane, while the banknote is simultaneously curved in an orthogonal plane as it is wrapped around the drum. As the banknote passes around the drum it emits an audible noise which is picked up by a microphone (5). The amplitude of the microphone signal (7) is proportional to the crispness of the banknote and is indicative of the age of the banknote.

Abstract: The invention relates to cassettes adapted to contain stacks of banknotes particularly for use with banknote handling apparatus.An object of the invention is to provide a cassette which has identification means to enable the apparatus to recognize a particular denomination of banknotes contained in the cassette.In the drawing (FIG. 1) the cassette has a device 9 on the side of the casing panel 3 to identify the denomination of the banknotes contained in the cassette. The device 9 is encoded to enable an associated sensing means mounted on the handling machine to interpret the encoded information. The encoding device may be for example, magnetic or mechanical, or it may be electromechanical. The specification describes a number of different examples of coding devices including binary devices using magnets, LED devices etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cassette particularly for bank notes. The object of the invention is to provide a cassette which will give an indication if it is tampered with.The cassette has a shutter which can be opened to remove the contents and mechanism to move the shutter from a first position to a second position when actuated by an external actuator means. When the external actuator is removed the mechanism automatically returns the shutter to the first position. Means are provided to prevent further movement of the shutter after it has returned to the first position.In the drawings (FIG. 5), shutter 12 is actuated by rods 30 acting against the tension of spring 26.The shutter is held against movement by latch 44 engaging bar 24. When key 57 is turned through 180.degree., end 51 of bar 50 lifts latch 44 against spring pressure to allow shutter 12 to be opened by rods 30.