Dual magazine recirculating transport
First Claim
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1. A ticket transport machine for re-circulating cards, the machine comprisinga transport and rotator, said transport and rotator comprising:
- an input bezel for receiving a card from a user; and
a rotating transport carrier, coupled to said input bezel, for directing said card under a reader/writer antenna for determining the status of said card; and
a storage area, coupled to said transport and rotator, for storing and re-circulating said card, the status of said card determines where said card will be stored said storage area comprising;
a first bin;
a second bin, coupled to said first bin, said card input by said user through the input bezel stored in said first or second bin a first stacker, coupled to said second bin and a second stacker, coupled to said first stacker, wherein said first stacker and said second stacker having first and second feeder mechanisms separate a top card from a card stack and move said top card through a guide channel into said transport and rotator.
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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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A ticket transport machine for re-circulating cards, the machine comprising
a transport and rotator, said transport and rotator comprising: -
an input bezel for receiving a card from a user; and
a rotating transport carrier, coupled to said input bezel, for directing said card under a reader/writer antenna for determining the status of said card; and
a storage area, coupled to said transport and rotator, for storing and re-circulating said card, the status of said card determines where said card will be stored said storage area comprising;
a first bin;
a second bin, coupled to said first bin, said card input by said user through the input bezel stored in said first or second bin a first stacker, coupled to said second bin and a second stacker, coupled to said first stacker, wherein said first stacker and said second stacker having first and second feeder mechanisms separate a top card from a card stack and move said top card through a guide channel into said transport and rotator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
a host computer, coupled to said transport and rotator, for processing information retrieved from said card; and
a micro controller board, coupled to said host computer, for receiving the status of said card from said reader/writer antenna.
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4. The ticket transport machine of claim 3, further comprising:
a reader/writer control, coupled to said reader/writer antenna, for instructing said reader/writer antenna whether to encode or read information from said card.
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5. The ticket transport machine of claim 4, wherein said user determines where said card will be dispensed from said machine.
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6. The ticket transport machine of claim 5, wherein said first stacker comprises a first drive mechanism for raising and lowering said card stack located in said first stacker.
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7. The ticket transport machine of claim 6, wherein said first drive mechanism comprises a first controller and a first elevator for raising and lowering said card stack.
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8. The ticket transport machine of claim 5, wherein said second stacker includes a second drive mechanism for raising and lowering said card stack located in said second stacker.
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9. The ticket transport machine of claim 8, wherein said second drive mechanism includes a second controller and a second elevator for raising and lowering said card stack.
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10. The ticket transport machine of claim 1, wherein said card is selected from a group consisting of smart cards, magnetic cards and security passes.
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11. The machine of claim 1, wherein said top card is separated from said card stack if said user requests a new card from the machine.
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14. The ticket transport machine of claim 1, wherein if said card is damaged or is unable to communicate with said reader/writer antenna, said card is transported into said first bin.
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15. The ticket transport machine of claim 14, further comprising:
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a host computer, coupled to said transport and rotator, for processing information retrieved from said card; and
a micro controller board, coupled to said host computer, for receiving the status of said card from said reader/writer antenna.
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16. The ticket transport machine of claim 15, further comprising:
a reader/writer control, coupled to said reader/writer antenna, for instructing said reader/writer antenna whether to encode or read information from said card.
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17. The ticket transport machine of claim 16, wherein said user determines where said card will be dispensed from said machine.
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18. The ticket transport machine of claim 17, wherein said first stacker comprises a first drive mechanism for raising and lowering said card stack located in said first stacker.
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19. The ticket transport machine of claim 18, wherein said first drive mechanism comprises a first controller and a first elevator for raising and lowering said card stack.
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20. The ticket transport machine of claim 17, wherein said second stacker includes a second drive mechanism for raising and lowering said card located in said second stacker.
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21. The ticket transport machine of claim 20, wherein said second drive mechanism includes a second controller and a second elevator for raising and lowering said card stack.
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12. A ticket transport machine for re-circulating cards, the machine comprising:
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a transport and rotator, said transport and rotator comprising;
an input bezel for receiving a card from a user, and a reader/writer antenna, coupled to the input bezel, for determining the status of said card; and
a storage area, coupled to said transport and rotator, for storing and re-circulating said card, the status of said card determines where said card will be stored, said storage area comprising;
a first bin;
a second bin, coupled to said first bin, said card input by said user through the input bezel stored in said first or second bin;
a first stacker, coupled to said second bin; and
a second stacker, coupled to said first stacker, wherein said first stacker and said second stacker having first and second feeder mechanisms separate a top card from a card stack and move said top card through a guide channel into said transport and rotator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 22, 23)
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24. A ticket transport machine, comprising:
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a transport and rotator, the transport and rotator, comprising;
an input bezel for receiving a card from a user; and
a pivotable transport carrier, coupled to the input bezel, for directing an inserted card adjacent to a reader/writer antenna for determining the status of the card; and
a storage area, coupled to the transport and rotator, for storing or re-circulating the card, with the status of the card determining where the card will be stored, a storage area comprising;
at least one stacker coupled to at least one bin, the stacker and the bin having feeder mechanisms to separate a card from a card stack and to move the card through a guide channel into the transport and rotator for dispensing the card from the ticket transport machine.
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Specification