Device for reading and collecting media which can be read without contact

• US 6,796,493 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Harlow, Peter, Delmer, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US10/311,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20040026505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 235/378-382, 235/375, 235/449, 235/487, 235/492-493, 235/475, 235/440-441, 705/13, 902/15, 902/23-25
• US Class Current: 235/379
• 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 which can be read without contact, comprising:

an entrance allowing a medium to be inserted into the reading and collecting device;

a reader remotely located from the entrance including a radio transmitting-receiving circuit for reading a medium;

means for collecting the media which are recognized as valid by the reading means;

wherein the radio transmitting-receiving circuit is placed so that it can read a medium in an area upstream of the entrance of the device, such that a medium can be read before it is inserted into the entrance; and

wherein the collection means comprise means for preventing a medium being inserted into the entrance of the reading and collecting device when this medium is not recognized as valid by the reading means.

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

a flap blocking the inlet of the entrance;

and an actuator 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, further comprising means for immobilizing a medium in the device, in a position where it can be written to;

and in that these means for immobilizing a medium are coupled to the means for preventing the insertion of a medium, such that the same operation again closes the entrance of the device and releases a medium which was immobilized in the position where it can be written to.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the immobilizing means are located below the entrance such that the medium moves by gravity from the entrance to the immobilizing means.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for indicating to the user that the medium that the user is preparing to insert is not valid, when this medium is not recognized as valid by the reading means.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for detecting the presence of a medium in front of the entrance, and then for triggering an operation of reading the medium for the purpose of determining whether it is valid.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for detecting the presence of a medium downstream of the entrance, and then for triggering an operation of writing to the medium.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for detecting the effective collection of a medium.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medium is a token.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medium is a ticket.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the entrance faces upwardly and the entrance has a chute.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising reinitialization means to reinitialize the value of the medium in order to constitute a new ticket.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wall separates the radio-transmitting circuit from the medium.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the wall is a transparent plastic.

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

an entrance into which a medium can be inserted;

a reader remotely located from the entrance including a radio transmitting-receiving circuit for reading a medium;

a control unit which determines that a medium read by the radio-transmitting means is valid;

a flap located beneath the entrance which is moved by an actuator controlled by the control unit from a normally closed position not allowing the medium to enter the device and an open position when the control unit has determined that the medium is valid; and

a collection unit for collecting the valid mediums which enter the device.

16. The device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a first optical position sensor in front of the entrance;

a second position sensor where writing is carried out on the medium; and

a third optical sensor where the medium drops after writing.

17. The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the medium is a token.

18. The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the medium is a ticket.

19. The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the entrance faces upwardly and the entrance has a chute.

20. The device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising means for detecting the presence of a medium in front of the entrance and then for triggering an operation of reading the medium for the purpose of determining whether it is valid.