Switching arrangement for recording a value-balance

• US 4,278,879 A
• Filed: 06/22/1979
• Issued: 07/14/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nagler Metallbau GmbH An Der BAHN 30 8481 Luhe-Wildenau
• Original Assignee: Tele-Alarm Nachrichtentechntehe Gerate GmbH
• Inventors: Hofmann, Otto, Nagler, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Daryl W.
• Application Number:
  US06/051,062
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 235/477, 235/449, 235/384, 235/493, 235/419, 235/488, 235/380, 235/475, 235/423, 340/149 A, 360/2
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3437 the counter having non-monetary units, e.g. trips
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices

Abstract

A switching arrangement for the recording of value balance information on a magnetic track disposed on a charge card. The arrangement is characterized in that a balancing circuit is connected to a reading-writing device with reading and writing heads and to a debiting circuit as well as to a balance recording device.

Claims

1. A switching arrangement for the recording of value balance information on a magnetic track disposed on a charge card, the arrangement comprising:

a reader-writer device having reader and writer heads;

a debiting circuit;

a balance recording device;

a balancing circuit connected to the reader-writer device to the debiting circuit and to the balance recording device;

a reversible driving motor, the reader-writer device being coupled to the reversible driving motor and including a pair of reversing rolls;

a guide support, the reader and writer heads being inserted into the guide support;

a conveyor belt guided revolvingly on the reversing rolls and having an active segment slidably disposed on the guide support, the active segment having a forward beginning and a rear end; and

a pair of format fork couplers disposed in front of the active segment of the conveyer belt and separated in the direction of the active segment of the conveyer belt by a distance (C) less than the length (K) of the charge card measured in the direction of the magnetic track of the charge card.

2. The switching arrangement recited in claim 1 wherein the guide support has a moisture-free, smooth surface and the conveyer belt has a rough outside surface of fixed length independent of temperature.

3. The switching arrangement recited in claim 2 wherein the reader and writer heads are disposed in the area of the active segment of the conveyer belt and project through the guide support and fit against the active segment of the conveyer belt.

4. The switching arrangement recited in claim 1 wherein the distance (L) between the forward beginning of the active segment and the writer head is at least as great as the length (K) of the magnetic track of the charge card;

and the distance (L) between the reader head and the rear end of the active segment is at least as great as the length (K) of the magnetic track of the charge card.

5. The switching arrangement recited in claim 1 wherein the writer head is disposed in front of the reader head in the direction of the forward beginning of the active segment.

6. The switching arrangement recited in claim 1 wherein a return control fork coupler is disposed behind the rear end of the active segment of the conveyer belt at a distance (C) less than the length (K) of the charge card measured in the direction of the magnetic track of the charge card.

7. The switching arrangement recited in claim 6 including a reversing circuit having a release input series-connected to the return control fork coupler;

a return guarantee key connected to the balancing circuit; and

a coin return unit connected to the balancing circuit and to the reversing circuit.

8. The switching arrangement recited in claim 6 wherein the driving motor has an issuing control input;

and including a reversing logic unit connected to the issuing control input, the return control fork coupler being connected to the reversing logic unit;

a selector switch connected to the reversing logic unit; and

a writer circuit connected between the balancing circuit and the writer head.

9. The switching arrangement recited in claim 8 including a collecting unit having a release input series connected to the return control fork coupler and wherein the balancing circuit and the reversing logic unit are series connected to the collecting unit.

10. The switching arrangement recited in claim 9 including a requisitioning switch;

and a card dispenser series-connected to the requisitioning switch.

11. The switching arrangement recited in claim 10 including a mechanical guide for a charge card;

and wherein the card dispenser is connected by means of the mechanical guide to the reader-writer device; and

the debiting circuit and the requisitioning switch are connected to the collecting unit.

12. The switching arrangement recited in claim 8 wherein the selector switch has a release input series connected to the return control fork coupler;

and the debiting circuit is connected between the balancing circuit and the selector switch.

13. The switching arrangement recited in claim 8 including a release circuit connected to one of the pair of format fork couplers and to the writer circuit;

and a release mechanism series-connected to the release circuit.

14. The switching arrangement recited in claim 13 wherein the debiting circuit and the release mechanism are each series connected to the selector switch.

15. The switching arrangement recited in claim 8 including:

a limit balance recorder;

a signal generator; and

a balance comparing circuit having a balance input series connected with the balancing circuit, a comparing input series connected with the limit balance recorder, and a limit value output series connected with the signal generator.

16. The switching arrangement recited in claim 15 including a picture screen device having a symbol presentation circuit series-connected to the balancing circuit and to the balance comparing circuit.

17. The switching arrangement recited in claim 15 including a blocking switch connected to the limit value output of the balance comparing circuit;

and wherein the writer circuit has a locking input connected to the blocking switch; and

the reversing logic unit is connected to the limit value output of the balance comparing circuit.

18. The switching arrangement recited in claim 7 wherein the driving motor has a drawing-in control input;

and including a reversing logic unit connected to the drawing-in control input;

an AND gate having an output connected to the reversing logic unit and a pair of inputs respectively connected to the format fork couplers;

a reader circuit connected to the reader head; and

a balancing circuit connected to the reader circuit.

19. The switching arrangement recited in claim 1 wherein the guide support has a substantially moisture-free, smooth surface.

20. The switching arrangement recited in claim 19 wherein said conveyor belt has a rough outside surface.

21. The switching arrangement recited in claim 1, wherein the reader and writer heads are disposed in the area of the active segment of the conveyer belt and project through the guide support and fit against the active segment of the conveyor belt.