Automatic ticket checking apparatus

• US 7,025,264 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsutani, Yasuhir, Imazuka, Katsuo, Ishigame, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/705,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20040106374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 235/384, 235/375, 235/383, 235/440, 235/441, 235/382, 235/449, 235/493
• US Class Current: 235/449
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 11/00 Apparatus for validating or cancelling issued tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/10 Movable barriers with registering means

Abstract

An automatic ticket checking apparatus of the present invention is arranged along a passage and has a first conveying mechanism which conveys a magnetic ticket in a first direction along the passage and a second conveying mechanism which is arranged facing in the passage direction against the first conveying mechanism. This automatic ticket checking apparatus reads the information recorded on magnetic tickets and wireless tickets and executes the checking process for user who are advancing in the first direction along the passage and further, reads the information recorded on magnetic tickets and wireless tickets carried by users who are advancing in the second direction along the passage and executes the checking process for users who are advancing in the second direction.

Claims

1. An automatic ticket checking apparatus comprising:

a main body which defines a first passage to one side thereof and a second passage to another side thereof;

first receiving means provided at one end of the main body for receiving a first magnetic ticket;

a first conveying mechanism for conveying the first magnetic ticket in a first direction from the first receiving means to about a center of the apparatus along the first passage;

first ticket checking means for reading information recorded on the first magnetic ticket and a first wireless ticket and judging whether or not the information read by the first checking means is valid;

first eject means provided at about the center of the main body for ejecting the first magnetic ticket conveyed by the first conveying mechanism to about the center of the main body;

second receiving means provided near the other end of the main body for receiving a second magnetic ticket;

a second conveying mechanism arranged opposite side of the first conveying mechanism in the main body for conveying the second magnetic ticket in a second direction opposite to the first direction from the second receiving means to about the center of the main body along the second passage;

second ticket checking means for reading information recorded on the second magnetic ticket and a second wireless ticket and judging whether or not the information read by the second checking means is valid; and

second eject means provided at about the center of the main body for ejecting the second magnetic ticket conveyed by the second conveying mechanism to about the center of the main body.

2. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first conveying mechanism is provided at the first passage side of the main body, and

the second conveying mechanism is provided at the second passage side of the main body.

3. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first cover configured to cover the first conveying mechanism from its one end to about the center along the passage; and

a second cover, which is separated from the first cover, configured to cover the second conveying mechanism from its other end to about the center along the passage.

4. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

control means for controlling the first and second conveying mechanism to be maintained collectively; and

switching means for switching a maintenance object by the control means to the first ticket checking means when the first cover is opened, and switching a maintenance object by the control means to the second ticket checking means when the second cover is opened.

5. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

designating means for accepting the selection and designation of a maintenance object by the control means.

6. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the first cover is provided to open/close freely without obstructing a user to pass the second passage in the second direction, and

the second cover is provided to open/close freely without obstructing a user to pass the first passage in the first direction.

7. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

collecting means for collecting the first and second magnetic tickets conveyed by the first and second conveying mechanism collectively.

8. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the collecting means is configured to be able to take out the collected magnetic tickets from either the first or the second passage side.

9. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

first holding means for temporarily holding the magnetic tickets to be collected in the collecting means out of the magnetic tickets conveyed by the first conveying mechanism while the magnetic tickets accommodated in the collecting means are taken out of the second passage side; and

second holding means for temporarily holding the magnetic tickets to be collected in the collecting means out of the magnetic ticket conveyed by the second conveying mechanism while the magnetic tickets accommodated in the collecting means are taken out of the first passage side.

10. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

first prohibiting means for prohibiting the receipt by the first receiving means when the magnetic ticket holding capacity of the first holding means reaches the saturated state; and

second prohibiting means for prohibiting the receipt by the second receiving means when the magnetic ticket holding capacity of the second holding means reaches the saturated state.

11. The automatic ticket checking means according to claim 1, further comprising:

common display means for displaying a guidance relative to the process by the first and second ticket checking means.

12. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the common display means includes:

a first display to display a guidance relative to the process by the first ticket checking means; and

a second display to display a guidance relative to the process by the second ticket checking means;

wherein the first display is given with directivity so that the guidance displayed on the first display is not visible from a user who is going in the second direction, and the second display is given with directivity so that the guidance displayed on the second display is not visible from a user who is going in the first direction.

13. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a first shading plate arranged at the first display so as to give prescribed directivity to the first display; and

a second shading plate arranged at the second display so as to give prescribed directivity to the second display.

14. An automatic ticket checking apparatus comprising:

a main body which defines a first passage to one side thereof and a second passage to another side thereof;

first receiving means provided to the main body for receiving using data from a first wireless ticket which is carried by a first user who is passing the first passage in a first direction and recording the using data;

first judging means for judging a passing propriety of the first user based on the using data received by the first receiving means;

approving means for approving the passing of the first user when the passing is judged to be approved by the first judging means;

second receiving means provided to the main body for receiving using data from a second wireless ticket which is carried by a second user passing the second passage in a second direction opposite to the first direction and recording the using data;

second judging means for judging a passing property of the second user based on the using data received by the second receiving means;

third judging means for Judging whether the second wireless ticket is the same as the first wireless ticket that is carried by the first user who was approved to pass by the approving means based on the using data received by the second receiving means;

prohibiting means for prohibiting the execution of judging the passing property of the second user by the second judging means when the second wireless ticket is judged to be the same as the first wireless ticket by the third judging means; and

control means for executing the judging a passing property of the second user by the second judging means when the second wireless ticket is judged differing from the first wireless ticket by the third judging means.

15. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

means for receiving identification data inherent to each ticket recorded on the wireless ticket therefrom; and

storage means for storing the identification data of the received wireless ticket;

wherein the third judging means judges whether the second wireless ticket is the same as the first wireless ticket based on the identification data stored in the storage means.

16. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

erasing means for erasing the identification data from the storage means when a prescribed time passed after storing the identification data stored in the storage means.

17. An automatic ticket checking apparatus comprising:

a main body which defines a first passage to one side thereof and a second passage to another side thereof;

first wireless communication means provided at one end of the main body into which a first user enters the passage in a first direction for wireless communicating with a first wireless ticket carried by the first user;

first judging means for judging a passing propriety of the first user based on the result of the wireless communication with the first wireless ticket by the first communication means;

approving means for approving the passing of the first user when the passing is judged to be approved by the first judging means;

second wireless communication means provided at the other end of the main body into which a second user enters the second passage in a second direction opposite to the first direction for wireless communicating with a second wireless ticket carried by the second user;

second judging means for judging whether the wireless ticket which is wireless communicated is the same as the first wireless ticket carried by the first user whose passing is approved by the approving means based on the wireless communication by the second wireless communication means;

third judging means for judging a passing propriety of the second user based on the result of the wireless communication with the second wireless ticket by the second wireless communication means when the second wireless ticket is not the same as the first wireless ticket by the second judging means; and

prohibiting means for prohibiting the judgment of the third judging means when the second wireless ticket is judged to be the same as the first wireless ticket by the second judging means.

18. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

canceling means for canceling the prohibition of judgment of passing by the prohibiting means;

passing propriety judging means for judging a passing propriety of a user based on the result of wireless communication which was made again with the second wireless ticket that was judged to be the same as the first wireless ticket-by the second wireless communicating means after canceling the prohibition of passage by the canceling means; and

passing approving means for approving the passing of the second user when the passing is judged to be approved by the passing propriety judging means.

19. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

means for receiving identification data inherent to every ticket stored in the wireless ticket therefrom; and

storage means for storing the received identification data of the wireless ticket;

wherein the second judging means judges whether the wireless ticket with which communicated wirelessly is the first wireless ticket based on the identification data stored in the storage means.

20. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

erasing means for erasing an identification data from the storage means when a prescribed time passed after the identification data stored in the storage means was stored therein.

21. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

canceling means for canceling the prohibition of judgment of passing propriety by the prohibiting means when the identification data is erased by the erasing means;

passing propriety judging means for judging a passing propriety of a user based on the result of wireless communication that was made again with the second ticket judged to be the same as the first wireless ticket by the second wireless communication means after canceling by the canceling means; and

passing approving means for approving the passing of the second user when the passing is to be approved by the passing propriety judging means.

22. The automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

the second judging means further judges whether it is within a prescribed time from the wireless communication with the first wireless ticket by the first wireless communication means;

and

the prohibiting means prohibits a user carrying the wireless ticket to pass to the passage in the direction differing from the prescribed passage when judged to be within the prescribed time from the wireless communication with the first wireless ticket by the first wireless communication means.

23. An automatic ticket checking apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

canceling means for canceling the prohibition of the passing by judgment of passing by the prohibiting means after a prescribed time; and

second approving means for approving the passing of a user preferentially to the cancellation of the passing prohibition by the canceling means when judged the passing is to be approved by the third judging means.

24. An automatic ticket checking apparatus comprising:

a main body which defines a first passage to one side thereof and a second passage to another side thereof;

first wireless communicating means provided to the main body for wireless communicating with a first wireless ticket carried by a first user who is passing the first passage in a first direction;

first judging means for judging a passing propriety of the first user based on the result of wireless communication with the first wireless ticket by the first wireless communication means;

second wireless communicating means provided to the main body for wireless communicating with a second wireless ticket carried by a second user who is passing the second passage in a second direction opposite to the first direction;

approving means for approving the passing of the first user when the passing is judged to be approved by the first judging means;

storage means for storing data shown the first wireless ticket carried by the first user who is approved to pass by the approving means;

second judging means for judging whether the second wireless ticket with which wirelessly communicated is the same as the first wireless ticket stored in the storage means based on the wireless communication by the second wireless communication means;

prohibiting means for prohibiting a user to pass the second passage when the wireless ticket with which wirelessly communicated by the second wireless communicating means is judged to be the first wireless ticket by the second judging means; and

control means for prohibiting the storing of the storage means when the second wireless communicating means is not making the wireless communication with a 5 wireless ticket.

25. An automatic ticket checking apparatus comprising:

a main body which defines a first passage to one side thereof and a second passage to another side thereof;

a first insert port provided at one side of the main body, into which a magnetic ticket is inserted by a user who is passing the first passage in a first direction;

first insert prohibiting means for prohibiting the insert of the magnetic ticket into the first insert port;

first wireless communication means provided at one side of the main body likewise the first insert port for wireless communicating with a wireless ticket carried by a user passing the first passage in the first direction;

second insert port provided at the other side of the main body, into which a magnetic ticket is inserted by a user who is passing the second passage in a second direction opposite to the first direction;

second insert prohibiting means for prohibiting the insert of the magnetic ticket into the second insert port;

second wireless communication means provided at the other side of the main body likewise the second insert port for wireless communicating with a wireless ticket carried by a user who is passing the second passage in the second direction;

approving means for approving the passing of a user who is carrying a magnetic ticket or a wireless ticket based on using data recorded on the magnetic ticket inserted into the first or second insert port or the wireless ticket with which wireless communicated by the first or second wireless communication means;

control means for prohibiting the insert of a magnetic ticket into the second insert port by driving the second insert prohibiting means and the wireless communication with a wireless ticket by the second wireless communication means when the magnetic ticket is inserted into the first insert port or the wireless ticket is wireless communicated by the second wireless communication means; and

cancellation means for canceling the prohibition of wireless communication of the second wireless communication means which was prohibited to make the wireless communication by the control means and after this cancellation, to cancel the prohibition of the insert of a magnetic ticket into the second insert port by driving the second insert prohibiting means when the passing of a user is approved by the;

approving means based on the using data of the magnetic ticket inserted into the first insert port or a wireless ticket with the wireless communicated by the first wireless communication means.

26. A ticket checking method of an automatic ticket checking apparatus including a main body defining a first passage to one side thereof and a second passage to another side thereof with a first insert port and first wireless communicating means provided at one side of the main body and a second insert port and a second communicating means at the other side of the main body, comprising:

prohibiting the insert of a magnetic ticket into the second insert port by a user who is passing the second passage and prohibiting the wireless communication with a wireless ticket carried by a user who is passing second passage by the second wireless communicating means when a magnetic ticket is inserted into the first insert port by a user who is passing along the first or a wireless ticket carried by a user who is passing the first passage by the first wireless communication means;

reading using data recorded on the magnetic ticket inserted into the first insert port or the wireless ticket with which wireless communicated by the first wireless communication means;

approving the passing of users who are carrying respective tickets based on the read using data;

canceling the prohibition of the wireless communication by the second wireless communicating means which was prohibited to make the wireless communication after approving the passing of a user carrying a ticket; and

canceling the prohibition of the insert of a magnetic ticket into the second insert port after canceling the wireless communication.

27. A ticket checking method of an automatic checking apparatus including a main body which defines a first passage to one side thereof and a second passage to another side thereof, a first receiving means provided to the main body for receiving using data from a first wireless ticket which is carried by a first user who is passing the first passage in a first direction and recording the using data, first judging means for judging a passing propriety of the first user based on the using data received by the first receiving means, approving means for approving the passing of the first user when the passing is judged to be approved by the first judging means, second receiving means provided to the main body for receiving using data from a second wireless ticket which is carried by a second user passing the second passage in a second direction opposite to the first direction and recording the using data, second judging means for judging a passing property of the second user based on the using data received by the second receiving means, the method comprising:

judging whether the second wireless ticket is the same as the first wireless ticket that is carried by the first user who has approved to pass by the approving means based on the using data received by the second receiving means;

prohibiting the execution of judging the passing property of the second user by the second judging means when the second wireless ticket is judged to be the same as the first wireless ticket by the third judging means; and

executing the judging a passing property of the second user by the second judging means when the second wireless ticket is judged differing from the first wireless ticket by the third judging means.