Reading and collecting device for contact-free readable media

• US 20040026505A1
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Harlow, Peter, Delmer, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 6,796,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/435
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/08 Feeding or discharging cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0875 the arrangement comprising a shutter for blocking at least part of the card insertion slot
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0881 the shutter arranged to open only if the record carrier has been authenticated to enter the insertion slot
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/047 the record carrier being shaped as a coin or a gambling token
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer

Abstract

This device comprises:

an entrance 3) allowing a token (1) to be inserted into the reading and collecting device;

a radio transmitting-receiving circuit (5) placed so that it can read a token (1) in an area (2) upstream of the entrance (3) of the device, such that a token (1) can be read before it is inserted into the entrance (3);

a flap (11c) for preventing a token being inserted into the entrance (3) of the reading and collecting device when this medium is not recognized as valid on reading;

a container (7) for collecting the tokens which are recognized as valid by the reading means (5, 6).

Claims

1. A device for reading and collecting media (1) which can be read without contact, comprising:

an entrance (3) allowing a medium (1) to be inserted into the reading and collecting device;

reading means (5, 6) comprising a radio transmitting-receiving circuit (5) for reading a medium (1);

means (6 to 11) for collecting the media which are recognized as valid by the reading means (5, 6);

characterized in that the radio transmitting-receiving circuit (5, 6) is placed so that it can read a medium (1) in an area (2) upstream of the entrance (3) of the device, such that a medium (1) can be read before it is inserted into the entrance (3);

and in that the collection means (6 to 11) comprise means (11c) for preventing a medium being inserted into the entrance (3) of the reading and collecting device when this medium is not recognized as valid by the reading means (5, 6).

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means for preventing the insertion of a medium comprise:

a flap (11c) blocking the inlet of the entrance (3);

and an actuator (10) controlled by the reading means, in order to open the flap only if a medium is recognized as valid.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises means (11b) for immobilizing a medium (1′

) in the device, in a position where it can be written to; and

in that these means (11b) for immobilizing a medium are coupled to the means (11c) for preventing the insertion of a medium, such that the same operation again closes the entrance (3) of the device and releases a medium (1′

) which was immobilized in the position where it can be written to.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means (6, 12) for indicating to the user that the medium that he is preparing to insert is not valid, when this medium is not recognized as valid by the reading means (5, 6).

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means (C1, 6) for detecting the presence of a medium (1) in front of the entrance (3), and then for triggering an operation of reading the medium for the purpose of determining whether it is valid.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means (C2, 6) for detecting the presence of a medium (1′

) downstream of the entrance, and then for triggering an operation of writing to the medium.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means (C3, 6) for detecting the effective collection of a medium.