GB2100490A - Ticket dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A ticket dispensing apparatus comprises a camera 1, 2, 7, 9, 15, 16, 18 for simultaneously photographing a person 19 to whom a pass is to be issued and two displays 10 located in the field of the camera. The first display indicates the date and/or time of issue whereas the second display indicates the date and/or time or expiry. A token receiving and identification device is connected to a processing circuit which modifies the expiry date and/or time according to the value of the inserted token. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ticket dispenser The present invention relates to a ticket dispenser and is particularly but not exclusively applicable for dispensing a pass for a ski resort.

According to the invention there is provided a ticket dispensing apparatus comprising a camera for photographing a person to whom a pass is to be issued and first and second data displays within the field of the camera, the first display indicating the time and/or date of issue and the second display indicating the time and/or date of expiry, the first and second displays being recorded by the camera on a photographic record simultaneously with the image of the person to whom the pass is to be issued, the apparatus further comprising a token receiving and identification device connected to a processing circuit arranged to modify the current time and/or date information by an amount dependent on the value of an inserted token in order to set the value of the time and/or date indicating the expiry time and/or date.

Preferably, the tokens are in the form of a card with a magnetic band recorded thereon, the magnetically recorded data being indicative of the value of the token.

Conveniently, the token receiving device is operative to read the magnetically recorded data and, after reading to erase the information and/or destroy the token thereby to prevent further use of used tokens.

It will be appreciated that any token or card, the value of which can be read magnetically can be forged by any device capable of recording the read data. In order to prevent counterfeit tokens from being re-produced, it is possible to employ as the magnetic layer one which has a pre-set magnetization which is not capable of being erased. This is analogous to the use of paper marked with a water mark in the production of currency. If a magnetically unerasable code is incorporated in each token, then re-reading of the token after erasing has taken place will indicate whether a token is genuine or counterfeit. Such counterfeit protection may readily be incorporated by using two magnetic heads separated by, for example, an erasing permanent magnet.

The apparatus for taking a photograph of the person to be issued with a pass may be similar two a conventional photographic booth and need not therefore be described in detail within the context of this Application. It is however, preferred to employ a fast photographic process in order to reduce the time taken to dispense a pass. Conveniently, therefore, the camera may be designed to use an instant development film such as the SX70 Polaroid dry film.

The design of the apparatus of the invention enables a person taking a skiing holiday to buy in advance a token valid for a given period of skiing.

The token will remain indefinitely valid and the period which has been purchased can be made to commence at any desired time by inserting the token into the pass dispenser described above. As of that time, the token will be replaced by a pass identifying the person for whom the pass is valid and also indicating both the issue and the expiry date.

In addition to the photograph and the times and/or date indicating the period of validity, the pass may include a fixed field of data indicating, for example, conditions of use of the pass. Of course, the pass need not necessarily be for skiing but may be used for an activity, for example, as a bus pass.

The invention will be further described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows schematically part of a ticket dispensing apparatus constituting a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The part of the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawing comprises a camera and three data displays. The camera comprises a film spool 1 carrying a roll of unexposed photographic film. The film is guided and moved by means (not shown) along an image plane indicated at 2 through an information exposure region 3 and a subject exposure region 4.

A guillotine 5 is provided at the end of the subject exposure region and cooperates with the drive means to cut off each length of previously exposed film, which then passes through a chute 6 to a film processing arrangement (not shown) for developing the film, for instance by a fast process using either wet or dry techniques.

The camera includes a first lens7 having an optical axis 8 and arranged to form an image in the information exposure region 3 of the image plane 2. A beam splitter 9 is arranged in front of the first lens 7 and combines light from the three displays and directs this through the lens 7.

The first and second displays comprise a decoded light emitting diode display 10 disposed along an axis 11 extending perpendicularly to the optical axis 8 of the first lens 7 so that light from the light em itting display is reflected by the beam splitter9 into the first lens 10. The first and second displays comprise numerals indicating the time and/or date of issue and of expiry, respectively, of a ticket to be issued by the apparatus. The first and second displays are connected to a processing circuit (not shown) which is connected to a token receiving and identification device (not shown).

The beam splitter9 permits transmission along the optical axis 8 of light from a static display 12. The static display 12 is black-illuminated by means of a mirror 13 and a source of illumination 14. In particular, the dispaly comprises opaque and transparent or translucent regions representing information which is to be present on every ticket issued. Such information may, for instance, include details of the rules of issue of the ticket. The beam splitter 9, the first and second displays 10 and the third display 12 are arranged so that the first lens 7 forms an image of the various displays in a desired juxta position on the film at the information exposure region 3.

The camera further comprises a shutter 15 in front of which is located a second lens 16 having an optical axis 17. A reversing mirror 18 is located in front of the second lens 16 and a subject 19 to be photographed is located in front of the mirror 18. In particular, the camera and other parts of the ticket dispensing apparatus are located within a kiosk or booth provided with a window in front of which a subject to be issued with the ticket stands so that the subject 19 is outside the kiosk The kiosk includes a light-tight enclosure for the three displays and associated optical devises.

In use, an unexposed region of the film is moved from the spool 1 into the image plane 2 to occupy the information and subject exposure regions 3 and 4.

When a ticket is to be issued, the subject inserts a token which has previously been bought and which carries data concerning its value into the token receiving an identification device, which reads the information from the token. The information normally comprises a representation of the value of the token, possibly with other information to permit identification and validation of the token. For instance, the information may be stored magnetically in a magnetic strip on the token which is read by one or more magnetic heads in the token receiving and identification device. The information may be recorded in un-erasable form on the token and the token receiving and identification device may be provided with two magnetic reading heads separated by magnetic erasing means, such as a permanent magnet.Thus, the magnetically encoded information from the token will only be read by both magnetic heads provided the information is recorded in unerasable form. This greatly increases the security of the apparatus against attempts to present counterfeit tokens.

When an authentic token has been presented, information derived from the token receiving and identification device is passed to the processing cir cuit, which decodes the information concerning the value of the token. This information is processed and the second display of the light emitting diode display 10 is arranged to indicate the date and/or time at which the ticket is to expire by adding the amount of time bought by the token to the date and/or time of issue, which the first display is arranged to indicate.

The apparatus is then arranged to inform the subject to stand in the correct position in front of the second lens 16 and the reversing mirror 18 and, after an appropriate delay, the shutter 15 is actuated so as to expose the subject exposure region 4 of the film with an image of the subject 19. Simultaneously with actuation of the shutter 15, the light-emitting diode display 10 is illuminated and the means of illumination 14 is operated so that the information exposure region 3 is simultaneously exposed with images of the three displays.

After exposure of the film, the film is advanced so that the exposed region lies immediately below the level of the guillotine 5 with a fresh un-exposed part of the film lying in the regions 3 and 4. The guillotine 5 is then operated to cut off the exposed portion of the film, which passes through the chute 6 to the developing and/or printing process. As mentioned previously,this is normally a fast photographic process in orderto reduce the time taken to dispense the ticket. Once tt e process has been completed, the ticket is dispense l via a further chute (not shown) to the subject.

Claims (7)

1. A ticket dispensing apparatus comprising a camera for photographing a person to whom a pass is to be issued and first and second data displays within the field of the camera, the first display indicating the time and/or date of expiry, the first and second displays being recorded by the camera on a photographic record simultaneously with the image of the person to whom the pass is to be issued, the apparatus further comprising a token receiving and identification < ievice connected to a processing circuit arranged to mod ify the current time and/or date information by an amount dependent on the value of an inserted token in order to set the value of the time and/or date indicating the expiry time and/or date.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the token receiving and identification device is arranged to read tokens in the form of cards, each having data indicative of the value of the token magnetically recorded in a magnetic b band on the card.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the token receiving and identification device is arranged to read the magnetically recorded data and, after reading, to erase the information and/or destroythe token so as to prevent further use of used tokens.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the data indicative of the value of the token is recorded in a magnetic layer of pre-set magnetization which is not capable of being erased, and the token receiving and identification device is arranged to perform an erasing operation followed by a rereading operation in order to check the authenticity of the token.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the token receiving and identification device includes two magnetic reading heads separated by an erasing permanent magnet.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a third data display carrying fixed data is located within the field of the camera.

7. Aticket dispensing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.