Patent ID: 7322521
Filing Date: 2008-01-29
Classification: G06K,G07B

Abstract:
1. A ticket reader/writer for processing a plurality of tickets in an automatic fare collection device, each of the plurality of tickets having at least one magnetic stripe located on at least one of a ticket top surface or a ticket bottom surface, the ticket reader/writer comprising: an upper entrance roller and a lower entrance roller being adapted to accept a ticket of the plurality of tickets at a predetermined entry angle; an upper exit roller and a lower exit roller of a plurality of rollers, adapted to eject the ticket at a predetermined exit angle; an upper belt stretched around the upper entrance roller and the upper exit roller; and a lower belt stretched around the lower entrance roller and the lower exit roller, wherein the upper belt and the lower belt form a transport path therebetween for the ticket; a drive mechanism for rotating at least one of the plurality of rollers in a forward direction to move the ticket though the transport path; and at least one magnetic head for reading from and writing to the ticket, at least one magnetic head positioned along a width of the ticket reader/writer corresponding to a placement of the at least one magnetic stripe of the ticket, the at least one magnetic head comprising: a first magnetic head for reading from and writing to the ticket, wherein the drive mechanism moves the ticket over the first magnetic head to complete a read process, rotates at least one of the plurality of rollers in a reverse direction to move the ticket back over the first magnetic head after the read process, then moves the ticket in the forward direction to initiate a write process using the first magnetic head; and a second verify-only magnetic head for performing a verify process of the ticket.