Abstract:
A medium handling apparatus for conveying a continuous elongated ticket sheet formed of a plurality of tickets extending along a length of the ticket sheet. Each of the tickets has a given width extending transverse to the length of the ticket sheet and is connected to a contiguous ticket by a line of perforations. The apparatus includes a hopper accommodating the ticket sheet folded along the lines of perforations separating the tickets, feed rollers for conveying the ticket sheet, a feed guide interposed between the hopper and the feed rollers, and a load member attached to the feed guide facing a surface of the ticket sheet. The load member introduces a frictional resistance between the ticket sheet and the load member as the ticket sheet is conveyed to the feed rollers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a medium handling apparatus for issuing a ticket of the type used to identify a person entitled to board a plane, ship or train. More particularly, it relates to a medium handling apparatus having a hopper assembly which includes a hopper for accommodating therein a continuous elongated ticket sheet folded along lines of perforations. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a prior art medium handling apparatus  100  having first and second hoppers  110   a  and  110   b.  Each of these hoppers accommodates therein a continuous medium which may for example be a continuous elongated ticket sheet  200  consisting of a plurality of tickets  210  connected to each other by lines of perforations  220  (FIG.  8 ). Ticket sheet  200  is folded along the lines of perforations  220  and stored in hoppers  110   a  and  110   b . The ticket sheet  200  stored in hopper  110   a  is drawn out of this hopper and, guided by feed guide  120   a , inserted between feed rollers  130   a . The ticket sheet  200  stored in hopper  110   b  is drawn out of this hopper and, guided by feed guide  120   b , inserted between feed rollers  130   b.    
     When the apparatus  100  issues a ticket  210 , a ticket sheet  200  is conveyed from a selected one of the hoppers  110   a  or  110   b  to a cutting roller  150  by either feed rollers  130   a  or  130   b  depending upon whether hopper  110   a  or  110   b  has been selected. The cutting roller  150  cuts the perforation  220  of the ticket sheet  200  after the leading edge of the ticket sheet is detected by either sensor  140   a  or  140   b , again depending upon whether hopper  110   a  or  110   b  has been selected, thereby separating the leading ticket from the ticket sheet  200 . 
     The separated ticket  210  is then conveyed to a magnetic processing unit  160  by feed rollers  130   c  and data describing the ticket, which was previously stored in a magnetic stripe (not shown) of the ticket sheet  200 , is read out by a magnetic reading head  161  of the magnetic processing unit  160 . Next, data relating to the type of ticket to be issued is written into the magnetic stripe by a magnetic writing head  162  and the ticket  210  is convoyed to a printing unit  170 . Additional information is printed on the ticket  210  by a thermal head  171  of the printing part  170  and the ticket  210  discharged to a stacker  180 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a prior art hopper assembly consisting of a hopper  110   a , a feed guide  120   a  and feed rollers  130   a  for use in the medium handling apparatus of FIG.  7 . The hopper assembly consisting of hopper  110   a,  feed guide  120   a  and feed rollers  130   a  has arbitrarily been selected for description although the hopper assembly consisting of hopper  130   b,  feed guide  120   b  and feed rollers  130   b  could have been used in this example. 
     In use, the top and one side of the hopper  110   a  are opened by an operator and a ticket sheet  200  placed in the hopper. The leading edge of the ticket sheet is fed by the operator over the feed guide  120   a  and between feed rollers  130   a.  When instructions to issue a ticket  210  are input to the apparatus  100 , the leading edge of the ticket sheet  200  is conveyed toward the cutting roller  150  by the feed rollers  130   a.    
     Another example of a prior art hopper is shown in FIG. 9, again with reference to hopper  110   a  although the following description would also apply to hopper  110   b . This type of hopper is used when there is a limited amount of space above the hopper due to a need to minimize the size of the apparatus  100 . In this embodiment, a cover  111  having a position restraint portion  112  is provided over the hopper  110   a  The position restraint portion  112  slopes upward toward a feed opening  113  and functions to restrain the ticket sheet  200  from floating out of the hopper  110   a . In use, one of the four sides of the hopper  110   a  is opened by the operator and the ticket sheet  200  installed in the hopper from the opened side. 
     In the initial operation of the hopper assembly of FIG. 9, the leading edge of the ticket sheet is fed over the feed guide  120   a  and between feed rollers  130   a  in the direction of the arrow A. When the leading edge of the ticket sheet  200  reaches the sensor  140   a,  the sensor generates a signal which causes the feed rollers  130   a  to continue to rotate for a predetermined period of time resulting in the leading edge of the ticket sheet reaching the point B downstream from the sensor  140   a  Rotation of the feed rollers  130   a  is then stopped. Next, the feed rollers  130   a  are driven in reverse for another predetermined period of time which conveys the leading edge of the ticket sheet  200  from the location B through the distance L to a location C between the feed rollers  130   a  and the sensor  140   a.  A similar arrangement is used in the prior art hopper assembly shown in FIG. 8 although it is not shown in FIG.  8 . 
     The described feed arrangement is necessary regardless of whether the prior art hopper of FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 is used because the apparatus  100  shown in FIG. 7 selects one of the two hoppers  110   a  and  110   b  according to the kind of ticket selected. Therefore, when the hopper from which the ticket sheet is taken is switched to the other hopper, the leading edge of the ticket sheet  200  located at the cutting roller  150  after the ticket  210  has been issued must be returned to the location C between the feed rollers and the sensor. When instructions to issue a ticket  210  are input to the apparatus  100 , the leading edge of the ticket sheet  200  is conveyed toward the cutting roller  150  by the feed rollers  130   a.    
     A problem encountered with the prior art apparatus, whether the hopper of FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 is used, is that a feed jam may occur if folded tickets  210  of ticket sheet  200  are drawn out of the hopper when they are clinging to each other by the properties of the ink used for printing the tickets and/or by the presence of static electricity. 
     Another problem, which is peculiar to the prior art hopper of FIG. 9, is that when the ticket sheet  200  is conveyed in the reverse direction, that is, in the direction opposed to the direction of arrow A, the ticket sheet  200  collides with the position restraint portion  112  of the cover  111  and is pressed hard against it. As a result, the ticket sheet  200  is sometimes improperly cut along a line of perforations  220 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to prevent a feed jam by providing an apparatus wherein the folded tickets of the ticket sheets do not cling together. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein stress is not applied to the perforations in the ticket sheet when the ticket sheet is conveyed in the reverse direction. 
     The present invention is a medium handling apparatus for conveying a continuous elongated ticket sheet formed of a plurality of tickets extending along a length of the ticket sheet. Each of the tickets has a given width extending transverse to the length of the ticket sheet and is connected to a continuous ticket by a line of perforations. The apparatus includes a hopper accommodating the ticket sheet folded along the lines of perforations separating the tickets, feed rollers for conveying the ticket sheet, a feed guide interposed between the hopper and the feed rollers, and a load member attached to the feed guide facing a surface of the ticket sheet. The load member introduces a frictional resistance between the ticket sheet and the feed guide as the ticket sheet is conveyed in a first direction to the feed rollers. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a sensor spaced in the first direction from the feed rollers is provided. The sensor detects the position of the leading edge of the ticket sheet and drives the feed rollers in either the first direction or a second direction opposite the first direction. A cover assembly is attached to an upper portion of the hopper for producing a curve in the ticket sheet as it is drawn from the hopper to the feed rollers. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is illustrated in the drawings in which: 
     FIGS. 1-1D are partial diagrammatic perspective views of a first embodiment of a hopper assembly of the present invention showing successive stages of withdrawal of a ticket sheet from a hopper; 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 show partial diagramatic perspective views of modifications of the hopper assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the hopper assembly of FIG. 3; 
     FIGS. 5-5E are partial diagrammatic perspective views of a second embodiment of the hopper assembly of the present invention showing successive stages of withdrawal of a ticket sheet from a hopper; 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B are partial diagrammatic perspective views of a modification of the hopper assembly of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a medium handling apparatus of the prior art which is also applicable to the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 are partial diagrammatic perspective views of prior art hopper assemblies used in the medium handling apparatus of FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-1D,  2 - 4 ,  5 - 5 E,  6 A and  6 B depict hopper assemblies of the present invention which are suitable for use in the prior art medium handling apparatus of FIG.  7 . As described above, FIG. 7 shows two hopper assemblies, the first assembly consisting of hopper  110   a , feed guide  120   a  and feed roller  130   a  and the second assembly consisting of hopper  110   b , feed guide  120   b  and feed roller  130   b.  It will be understood that the hoppers illustrated in FIGS. 1-1D,  2 - 4 ;  5 - 5 E,  6 A and  6 B could be either of the two hopper assemblies shown in FIG.  7 . However, for ease of description, the embodiments of this invention will be described only in connection with the first hopper assembly consisting of hopper  110   a , feed guide  120   a  and feed rollers  130   a  Also, in FIGS. 1-1D,  2 - 4 ,  5 - 5 E,  6 A and  6 B corresponding parts are identified by the same numbers. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a hopper assembly of this invention which differs from the prior art hopper of FIG. 8 in that the feed guide  120   a  is provided with a load member or projection  300  having a width which is one-half or greater than the width W of the ticket sheet  200 . As shown in FIG. 1, projection  300  extends into the path of the ticket sheet  200  which causes the sheet to curve outward as it is withdrawn from hopper  110   a  and slid over the projection by feed rollers  130   a.  The projection  300  applies a frictional load to the ticket sheet thereby introducing a resistive force between the ticket sheet  200  and the projection  300  as the ticket sheet rubs along the projection. 
     The effect of the projection  300  is illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1D wherein the leading ticket of the ticket sheet  200  is labeled  210   a,  the next four tickets are labeled  210   b ,  210   c ,  210   d  and  210   e , and the perforations between tickets  210   a  and  210   b  are designated  220   a-b , between tickets  210   b  and  210   c  are designated  220   b-c , between tickets  210   c  and  210   d  are designated  220   c-d , and between tickets  210   d  and  210   e  are designated  220   d-e.    
     As indicated in FIG. 1A, when the leading edge of ticket  210   a  is being conveyed to the cutting roller  150  (FIG.  7 ), the subsequent ticket  210   b  is being slid over the projection  300 , and the following tickets  210   c - 210   e  lie flat in the hopper  110   a.    
     Referring to FIG. 1B, the situation is shown in which, as the ticket sheet  200  is further withdrawn from the hopper  110   a , ticket  210   c  adheres to ticket  210   d  due to an electrostatic charge on the tickets and/or because the ink on the tickets causes them to stick to each other. Consequently, the perforations  220   d-e  separating tickets  210   d  and  210   e  strike the projection  300  thereby restraining the ticket sheet  200  from moving forward in the direction of arrow A, as shown in FIG.  1 C. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1D, ticket  210   c  is separated from ticket  210   d.    
     Therefore, when an instruction is input to the medium handling apparatus  100  to issue a ticket  210  and the leading edge of the ticket sheet  200  is conveyed to the cutting roller  150  (FIG. 7) by the feed rollers  130   a , the ticket sheet  200  drawn out of the hopper  110  is placed in frictional contact with the projection  300 . It has been found that, when the hopper assembly of FIG. 1 is used in the medium handling apparatus of FIG. 7, the tickets  210  of the folded ticket sheet  200  do not cling to each other, the ticket sheet  200  is conveyed smoothly by the feed rollers, and feed jams do not occur. 
     FIG. 2 shows a modification of the hopper assembly of FIG. 1 wherein electrostatic charge removal bars  400  are provided in place of the projection  300 . The bars  400  consist of acrylic plated with copper. As in the case of the projection  300 , the charge removal bars  400  extend into the path of the ticket sheet  200  which causes the sheet to curve outward as it is pulled from hopper  110   a  by feed rollers  130   a . If the tickets  210  of the folded ticket sheet  200  cling to each other as the ticket sheet is withdrawn, the perforations  220  are hooked against the top of the bars  400 . Consequently, the charge removal bars  400  apply a frictional load to the ticket sheet thereby introducing a resistive force between the ticket sheet  200  and the bars  400  as the ticket sheet rubs along the bars. In addition, the bars  400  effectively remove static electricity charges on the ticket sheet  200 . 
     FIG. 3 shows another modification of the hopper assembly of FIG.  1 . In this embodiment, a fibrous material  500 , for example mohair, is employed instead of the projection  300 . The fibrous material  500  is attached to one side of the hopper  110   a  and to the surface of the feed guide  120   a  facing the hopper  110   a . Each fiber  510  (FIG. 4) of the fibrous material  500  is attached to a backing strip  520  and faces the direction opposed to the direction shown by the arrow A in which the ticket sheet is conveyed toward the cutting roller  150 . As in the case of the projection  300  and charge removal bars  400 , the fibrous material  500  extends into the path of the ticket sheet  200  which causes the sheet to curve outward as it is pulled from hopper  110   a  by feed rollers  130   a . If tickets  210  of the folded ticket sheet  200  clings to each other as the ticket sheet is drawn out, the perforations  220  are hooked against the tops of fibers  510 . Therefore, the fibrous material applies a frictional load to the ticket sheet thereby introducing a resistive force between the ticket sheet  200  and the fibrous material  500  as the ticket sheet rubs along the fibers. 
     FIGS.  5  and  5 A- 5 E illustrate a second embodiment of the invention wherein the hopper  110   a  is provided with a cover  111  as in the case of the prior art hopper of FIG.  9 . However, in the invention of FIGS. 5-5E the cover  111  has a U-shaped part  600  which toward its center is concave in a direction facing the hopper  110   a  Consequently, the ticket sheet  200  is curved toward the hopper as it is drawn therefrom by the feed rollers  130   a.  As in the first embodiment of FIGS. 1-1D, a projection  300  is provided on the surface of the feed guide  120   a.    
     The curvature of ticket sheet  200  toward the hopper in combination with the projection  300  introduces a frictional resistance between the ticket sheet  200  and the U-shaped part  600  as the sheet  200  is pulled from the hopper  110   a  along the part  600  by feed rollers  130   a.  The effect of the projection  600  is illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5E wherein the leading ticket of the ticket sheet  200  is labeled  210   a,  the next four tickets are labeled  210   b ,  210   c ,  210   d  and  210   e , and the perforations between tickets  210   a  and  210   b  are designated  220   a-b , between tickets  210   b  and  210   c  are designated  220   b-c , between tickets  210   c  and  210   d  are designated  220   c-d , and between tickets  210   d  and  210   e  are designated  220   d-e.    
     As indicated in FIG. 5A, when the leading edge of ticket  210   a  is being conveyed to the cutting roller  150  (FIG.  7 ), the subsequent ticket  210   b  is being fed along the projection  300 , and the following tickets  210   c-   210   e  lie flat in the hopper  110   a.  Referring to FIG. 5B, the situation is shown in which, as the ticket sheet  200  is further withdrawn from the hopper  110   a , ticket  210   c  adheres to ticket  210   d  due to an electrostatic charge on the tickets and/or because the ink on the tickets causes them to stick to each other. Consequently, the perforations  220   d-e  separating tickets  210   d  and  210   c  strike the projection  300  thereby restraining the ticket sheet  200  from moving forward in the direction of arrow A, as shown in FIG.  5 C. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5D, ticket  210   c  is separated from ticket  210   d  and, as ticket sheet  200  is withdrawn from the hopper  110   a , ticket  210   c  traverses a path which is tangent to U-shaped part  600  and the projection  300 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5E, as the ticket sheet  200  is further withdrawn, the situation in which ticket  210   d  initially adheres to ticket  210   e  is shown. In this case, the ticket  210   c  is warped inward by the U-shaped part  600  causing the leading edge of ticket  210   d  to curl upward thereby separating it from ticket  210   e.    
     FIGS. 6A and 6B show modifications of the hopper assembly of FIGS. 5-5E. The hopper assembly of FIG. 6A differs from the hopper assembly of FIGS. 5-5E in that it employs a roller  700  positioned between a position restraint part  112  (as shown in the prior art hopper assembly of FIG. 9) and the ticket sheet  200  thereby curving the ticket sheet toward the hopper  200 . The hopper assembly of FIG. 6B is similar to the assembly of FIG. 6A except that a bearing  800  is substituted for the roller  700  of FIG.  6 A. Thus, the embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B provide the same advantages as described for the embodiment of FIGS. 5-5E. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5-5E,  6 A and  6 B, the leading edge of the ticket sheet is fed over the feed guide  120   a  and between feed rollers  130   a  in the direction of the arrow A. When the leading edge of the ticket sheet  200  reaches the sensor  140   a , the sensor generates a signal which causes the feed rollers  130   a  to continue to rotate for a predetermined period of time resulting in the leading edge of the ticket sheet reaching the point B downstream from the sensor  140   a.  Rotation of the feed rollers  130   a  is then stopped. Next, the feed rollers  130   a  are driven in reverse for another predetermined period of time which conveys the leading edge of the ticket sheet  200  from the location B through the distance L to a location C between the feed rollers  130   a  and the sensor  140   a.    
     Although the leading edge of the ticket sheet  200  is conveyed to the cutting roller  150  by feed rollers  130   a  when a demand for issuing a ticket  210  is given to the apparatus  100 , the ticket sheet  200  can be conveyed normally without the tickets thereof clinging to each other because a load is applied to the ticket sheet  200  by the projection  300 . Further, in the embodiment of FIGS. 5-5E, when the ticket sheet  200  is conveyed in the direction opposing the arrow A, the ticket sheet  200  touches the U-shaped part  600  and is transformed into a U-shape. Therefore, the ticket sheet  200  is pushed back smoothly and not torn off at a line of perforations  220  because the ticket sheet  200  is conveyed along U-shaped part  600 . 
     This arrangement is necessary regardless of which of the embodiments of this invention is employed because the apparatus  100  shown in FIG. 7 selects one of the two hoppers  110   a  and  110   b  according to the kind of ticket selected. Therefore, when the hopper, from which the ticket sheet is taken is switched to the other hopper, the leading edge of the ticket sheet  200  located at the cutting roller  150  after the ticket  210  has been issued must be returned to the location C between the feed rollers and the sensor. When instructions to issue a ticket  210  are input to the apparatus  100 , the leading edge of the ticket sheet  200  is conveyed toward the cutting roller  150  by the feed rollers  130   a.    
     As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.