Apparatus for issuing a card having a predetermined monetary value
First Claim
1. An apparatus for receiving and dispensing cards capable of having recorded thereon a predetermined monetary value and which are useful in purchasing tickets in automatic ticket gates in commutation systems, said apparatus comprising:
- a. means for receiving and retaining a first card which is presented to said apparatus by a customer, said first card having recorded thereon a first monetary value, said receiving and retaining means including means defining an inlet to said apparatus through which said first card is to be inserted, a receptacle for retaining said first card, and means for conveying said first card from said inlet to said receptacle;
b. first means for reading and storing said first monetary value, said first means being located along said conveying means between said inlet and said receptacle;
c. second means for entering and storing a second monetary value corresponding to the value of money presented to the apparatus by the customer;
d. third means for calculating and storing from said first and said second monetary values a third monetary value;
`e. means for recording said third monetary value on a second card;
f. means for dispensing said second card to the customer, andg. means for invalidating said first card after said first monetary value has been read thereform, said invalidating means being located along said conveying means between said first means and said receptacle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is described for issuing cards having recorded thereon a predetermined monetary value, which cards can be used by a customer to purchase tickets which are usable in automatic ticket gates of a commutation system. The apparatus receives, retains and invalidates a card presented by the customer and dispenses, from a supply of blank cards, a new card on which is recorded a monetary value equal to that of the card which has been presented plus that of any cash that has been presented to the apparatus. This monetary value may be magnetically recorded and may also be visually displayed by means of humanreadable symbols imprinted on the card.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for receiving and dispensing cards capable of having recorded thereon a predetermined monetary value and which are useful in purchasing tickets in automatic ticket gates in commutation systems, said apparatus comprising:
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a. means for receiving and retaining a first card which is presented to said apparatus by a customer, said first card having recorded thereon a first monetary value, said receiving and retaining means including means defining an inlet to said apparatus through which said first card is to be inserted, a receptacle for retaining said first card, and means for conveying said first card from said inlet to said receptacle; b. first means for reading and storing said first monetary value, said first means being located along said conveying means between said inlet and said receptacle; c. second means for entering and storing a second monetary value corresponding to the value of money presented to the apparatus by the customer; d. third means for calculating and storing from said first and said second monetary values a third monetary value;
`e. means for recording said third monetary value on a second card;f. means for dispensing said second card to the customer, and g. means for invalidating said first card after said first monetary value has been read thereform, said invalidating means being located along said conveying means between said first means and said receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for receiving and dispensing cards capable of having recorded thereon a predetermined monetary value and which are useful in purchasing tickets in automatic ticket gates in commutation systems, said apparatus comprising:
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a. means for receiving and retaining a first card which is presented to said apparatus by a customer, said first card having recorded thereon a first monetary value; b. first means for reading and storing said first monetary value; c. second means for entering and storing a second monetary value corresponding to the value of money presented by the customer; d. third means for calculating and storing from said first and said second monetary values a third monetary value; e. means for recording said third monetary value on a second card; f. means for dispensing said second card to the customer, said dispensing means including enabling means for supplying a control signal as said second card is dispensed to the customer; and g. means for invalidating said first card, said invalidating means responsive to said control signal supplied by said enabling means for invalidating said first card only after said second card has been dispensed to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for receiving and dispensing cards capable of having recorded thereon a predetermined monetary value and which are useful in purchasing tickets in automatic ticket gates in commutation systems, said apparatus comprising:
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a. means for receiving and retaining a first card which is presented to said apparatus by a customer, said first card having recorded thereon a first monetary value; b. first means for reading and storing said first monetary value; c. second means for entering and storing a second monetary value corresponding to the value of money presented by the customer; d. third means for calculating and storing from said first and said second monetary values a third monetary value, said third means including means for increasing said second monetary value above the value of the money presented by the customer; e. means for recording said third monetary value on a second card; means for dispensing said second card to the customer, and g. means for invalidating said first card after said first monetary value has been read therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification