Device for dispensing a sheetlike object from a stack

A device for dispensing a sheetlike object, especially a card with magnetic strip, from a stack has a storage compartment for the stack and an object removal unit on a lower side of the storage compartment. The object removal unit has a conveying element movable back and forth under control perpendicular to the stack, i.e., in dispensing direction (x). According to the invention, the conveying element has a supporting surface concave in dispensing direction (x) and/or convex in a transverse direction (y) which is orthogonal to dispensing direction (x). With an element thus shaped, cards already used and bent in various ways can be reused for automatic card dispensing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Technical Area 
The invention relates to a device for dispensing a sheetlike object from a 
stack, with a storage compartment for the stack and an object removal unit 
on a lower side of the storage compartment having a flat element movable 
under control perpendicular to the stack, that is, in the dispensing 
direction. 
2. Prior Art 
Automatic ticket devices are known in which unprinted tickets are stored in 
a stack and automatically removed, printed, and dispensed when a key is 
pressed. 
Automatic gate systems operating with tickets having magnetic strips are 
used with increasing frequency in subway systems. Since the magnetic 
strips can be repeatedly overwritten, it would be expedient to use the 
tickets several times rather than just once. 
The problem encountered in reuse of used tickets is that the tickets are 
easily deformed in use, since they understandably must be made as thin and 
as cheaply as possible. 
It has now been found that it is not possible to stock the prior-art 
automatic devices suitable for dispensing new tickets directly with used 
and recycled tickets. Old tickets, which are for the most part bent along 
their longitudinal or transverse axis, cannot be gripped properly for 
dispensing by the dispensing mechanism, and in addition may jam this 
mechanism. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the invention is now to indicate a device of the 
initially-mentioned type, which is suitable for dispensing both new and 
old cards. 
According to the invention, the achievement of the object consists in the 
fact that the element has a concave supporting surface and/or a convex 
supporting surface perpendicular to the direction of dispensing for the 
object to be dispensed. 
This measure makes certain that the middle of the rear side and the middle 
of the front side of the object (e.g., a card) assume a precisely defined 
position relative to the dispensing direction at the beginning of the 
conveying process, even if the card is slightly curved around its 
longitudinal or transverse axis. The middle of the rear side is the point 
of engagement of the conveying mechanism. Knowledge of the position of the 
middle of the front side of the card makes possible trouble-free 
conveyance through a dispensing slot in the device. It is advantageous for 
convex and concave bending to be executed simultaneously. 
A raised impact edge corresponding in thickness to that of the sheetlike 
object is preferably provided on the supporting surface of the element, on 
a back end relative to the direction of dispensing. It is to be noted that 
the card can be pulled away both on the basis of the impact edge referred 
to and by use of the more or less flat contact between the card to be 
dispensed and the conveying element under the stack. The relatively large 
supporting surface reduces the load and accordingly wear of the edge of 
the card (the rear edge relative to the direction of dispensing). 
The degree of convexity of the supporting surface of the element from front 
to rear (relative to the direction of dispensing) is preferably small. The 
rearmost area of the supporting surface, in particular, is completely 
flat. A clear-cut horizontal orientation of the back end of the card, and 
thus stabilization of the entire stack, can be achieved in this way. 
The convexity of the supporting surface transversely to the direction of 
dispensing is achieved preferably by three lamellar flat areas tilted 
toward each other. The adjoining, individually flat areas form an angle, 
for example, of 0.5 to 5.degree.. The angle may be varied in the direction 
of dispensing, i.e., the angle set in the forward area may be different 
from that set in the rearward area of the supporting surface. 
To permit the shortest possible method of construction in the direction of 
dispensing, the supporting surface of the element (or the shuttling 
element as a whole) may be shorter in the direction of dispensing than the 
object to be dispensed. It is possible in principle for the lowest object 
to project, e.g., by 20 to 40% of its dimension, below the stack, so that 
it can then be engaged by a conveying mechanism with rollers and 
transported further under control. The length of the supporting surface 
should in any event be greater than one-half the length of the object in 
the direction of dispensing, so that the center of gravity of the stack 
will always be above the supporting surface. 
The element moves preferably in a rack having several support rods arranged 
parallel to the direction of dispensing to support the stack when an 
object is dispensed. The rods narrow initially from the rear to the center 
and then become wider again from the center forward, conforming to the 
concave surface in the direction of dispensing. The element grips through 
the rods from below to form the supporting surface according to the 
invention or parts of this surface. 
The storage compartment for the stack is enclosed by a wall which, in 
alignment with the supporting surface of the shuttling element, has a 
dispensing slot whose smallest width is in the center and which widens 
symmetrically outward in conformity with the convexity of the supporting 
surface. Since the center of the object (the front edge of the center 
relative to the direction of dispensing) is always placed in the same 
position by the supporting surface according to the invention 
independently of the curvature in any circumstances, the card can be 
reliably dispensed. The greater width in the vicinity of the exterior of 
the slot creates the passage required for cards bent upward or downward 
crosswise to the direction of dispensing. 
The storage compartment is formed, e.g., by a shaft open on the 
longitudinal side. The shaft has, e.g., a C-shaped profile. The open side 
permits introduction or removal of a stack weighting or securing device. 
According to an especially preferable embodiment, a removable stack holder 
is provided which can move downward in the shaft as the height of the 
stack decreases but cannot spontaneously move upward. The stack holder 
permits conveyance of devices filled with cards. This is necessary because 
the devices according to the invention are retrievably introduced into an 
automatic card dispensing machine and are moved for the purpose of filling 
to a central position from which they are conveyed in the filled state to 
the automatic machines and are introduced into the latter. 
The shaft has on its interior a ribbed structure for the stack holder which 
can be engaged by a locking mechanism of the stack holder. 
The locking mechanism has two levers forced outward into the ribbed 
structure by spring tension, these levers being designed and arranged so 
that the stack holder can spontaneously move only downward, not upward, in 
the shaft. The stack holder may be removed manually for filling the shaft. 
Other advantageous embodiments and combinations of features follow from the 
detailed description and the patent claims in their entirety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 illustrates the principle of the invention. A conveying element 1, 
which is to extract the lowest card of a stack (resting on the card), has 
a supporting surface 2 for the card which is concave in dispensing 
direction x and convex in transverse direction y perpendicular to it. 
Supporting surface 2 in the present case has three lamellar partial 
surfaces 2.1, 2.2, 2.3. As front edges 3.1, 3.2, 3.2. illustrate, three 
partial surfaces 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 are flat by section in direction y. Angle 
.beta. between the flat sections falls within the range of 0.5 to 
5.degree., preferably at around 2.degree.. The radius of curvature in the 
longitudinal direction is of the order of magnitude of 0.5 to 2 m, 
preferably at around 1 m. 
Stops 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 are formed at the back ends of partial surfaces 2.1, 
2.2., 2.3, which are of more or less the same width. What are involved are 
steps whose height corresponds approximately to the thickness of a card. 
The effect of arched supporting surface 2 according to the invention is as 
follows, depending on the curvature of the card resting on it: 
1. If the longitudinal edges of the supported card are curved upward around 
an axis parallel to direction x, the card rests mostly at edge 3.2 and 
stop 4.2 and otherwise curves laterally upward. 
2. If the longitudinal edges of the supported card are curved downward 
around an axis parallel to direction x, it additionally rests against 
edges 3.1 and 3.3 and against stops 4.1 and 4.3. Although there is mostly 
no contact between card and supporting surface 2 in the direction of the x 
axis, contact at the important support points (3.2 and 4.2) is ensured. 
3. If the card is curved downward from its center around an axis parallel 
to direction y, it rests more or less on entire partial surface 2.2. Even 
if there is no contact in partial surfaces 2.1, 2.3, at least the 
positioning at edge 3.2 and at stop 4.2 is ensured. 
4. If the card is curved upward from its center around an axis parallel to 
direction y, positioning at edge 3.2 and at stop 4.2 is ensured even 
though the flat support is relatively small. 
It is important to note that in all situations, the lead card in dispensing 
direction x assumes a clearly defined position during conveyance 
independently of the curvature of the card, so that accurate insertion 
into a dispensing slot is assured. The fact that the card rests against 
central stop 4.2, again independently of card curvature, ensures 
directionally stable conveyance of the card, since the application of 
force takes place centrally rather than eccentrically. In most cases, card 
conveyance is promoted by support over a large area. 
FIG. 2 illustrates a conveying element 5 by which a card to be dispensed 
can be moved through a slot 9. A supporting surface 6 concave in direction 
x and convex in direction y is provided here as well. In contrast to FIG. 
1, curved partial surfaces 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, positioned at an angle to each 
other, end in a common straight rear edge 7. As a result, supporting 
surface 6 has in the area of rear edge 7 a horizontal and more or less 
completely flat supporting surface for the card stack. This serves the 
purpose of stabilizing the stack. 
Corresponding to FIG. 1, front edges 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 are positioned at an 
angle &gt;0 to one another. They form a curve corresponding to the curvature 
of a lower plate 11 adjacent to slot 9. Conveying element 5 is guided by 
suitable means so that it can be moved in direction x to slot 9 and back 
again. 
Slot 9 is narrower at its center 10.1 than at its outer ends 10.2 and 10.3. 
Plate 12 shaped as a mirror image of plate 11 can accordingly effect a 
clear-cut discrimination of the cards to be retained in the stack from 
those to be dispensed. The greater slot width at ends 10.2 and 10.3 of 
slot 9 leave room for any sides of cards whose outer edges may project 
upward or downward. 
An especially preferred embodiment of the invention will now be explained 
based on FIG. 3 to 6. 
FIG. 3a shows a cross section through a shaftlike storage compartment 13 
for a stack of cards. The inner cross section of storage compartment 13 
corresponds more or less to the length and width of an individual card. 
Storage compartment 13 is bounded by two narrow front walls 15.1, 15.2, two 
side walls 15.3, 15.4, and a rear wall 15.5. Front walls 15.1, 15.2 
delimit laterally an opening 14 extending over the entire height of the 
shaft. As is clearly to be seen from FIG. 3a, the shaft has a rectangular 
C-shaped profile in cross section. 
A regular ribbed structure 16.1, 16.2 extending over the entire height of 
storage compartment 13 is molded into the center of side walls 15.3, 15.4. 
As FIG. 3b shows, striplike ribbed structure 16.1 has a plurality of 
similar spaced recesses 17. 
At the very bottom of the shaft is a dispensing unit according to the 
invention. When required it conveys the bottom card in the stack through a 
(horizontal) slot in side wall 15.3 to the exterior, where the card is 
gripped by a conveying mechanism with rollers so as to be fully extracted 
from the shaft. Hence electromagnetic inscription of a magnetic strip 
integrated into the card takes place outside the shaft. 
FIG. 4 shows a top view of a dispensing device according to the invention, 
one which, as has already been mentioned, is built into the lowest part of 
the shaft. A table-like conveying element 18 whose length is somewhat 
greater than one-half the cross-sectional length of the shaft can be moved 
back and forth in dispensing direction x by drive means not shown in 
detail. (An example of drive means is an electric motor arranged below 
conveying element 18. By way of reduction gear this motor drives a cam 
which rotates through 360.degree., driving conveying element 18 once 
forward and once back.) 
According to an especially preferred embodiment, conveying element 18 runs 
between a rack formed by four rods 20.1, . . . , 20.4. For rods 20.1, . . 
. , 20.4, the conveying element has on its surface four groove-shaped 
recesses 19.1, . . . , 19.4 extending over the entire length of the 
element. Viewed in cross section, they are seen to be just deep enough so 
that rods 20.1, . . . , 20.4 do not project from them. The actual partial 
supporting surfaces are situated between recesses 19.1, . . . , 19.4. They 
are part of the total surface, which is curved according to FIG. 1 or 2. 
A narrow table 21 forming a supporting surface from three partial surfaces 
22.1, 22.2, 22.3 is mounted immediately in front of the dispensing slot 
(not shown). The supporting surface is curved perpendicular to dispensing 
direction x in the same way as is conveying element 18. 
Rods 20.1, . . . , 20.4 extend from wall 15.4 up to table 21. They support 
the stack when the lowest card is dispensed. To correspond to the concave 
curvature of the supporting surface of conveying element 18, their cross 
section narrows visibly from wall 15.4 toward the middle of the rod and 
then widens again. Hence rods 20.1, . . . , 20.4 form double cones rather 
than being cylindrical. 
On the lower side, the conveying element 18 has one or two guide bushings 
23 for a guide rod (not shown). The guide rod is, of course, mounted 
parallel to rods 20.1, . . . , 20.4. FIG. 5 shows a conveying element in 
cross-section along the transverse direction (y) while FIG. 7 shows such 
conveying element in cross-section along the dispensing direction (x). 
A so-called stack holder is provided so that it will be possible for a 
shaft filled with a stack of cards to be conveyed without the danger that 
the cards could fall out. The holder is represented essentially by a 
weighting plate with a locking mechanism which engages ribbed structures 
16.1, 16.2 so that while the stack can move downward, it cannot now move 
upward. 
FIG. 6a-c show an embodiment of such a stack holder. Holding devices 27.1, 
27.2, on each of which an articulated lever 25.1, 25.2 is mounted 
rotatably around an axis 26.1, 26.2, are fastened in the center of the 
short side on a weighting plate 24 rectangular (or similar in shape to a 
rectangle) in outline which fits into storage compartment 13. An arm 29.1, 
29.2 of articulated lever 25.1, 25.2 projects inward (i.e., toward the 
center of the plate) from axis 26.1, 26.2 more or less horizontally to the 
weighting plate. Between arm 29.1, 29.2 and plate 24, there is a spring 
28.1, 28.2 forcing arm 29.1, 29.2 upward and consequently the other end 
(arm 29.3, 29.4) of articulated lever 25.1, 25.2 outward into the ribbed 
structure 16.6, 16.2 (not shown in FIG. 6a-c). 
Bracing 36 is provided in the center of the longitudinal side of weighting 
plate 24; a holding plate 32 is mounted rotatably around an axis 33 
parallel to weighting plate 24 on bracing 36. Holding plate 32 extends 
over the entire width of weighting plate 24 to the opposite longitudinal 
side. A rod 30 is mounted in the center of holding plate 32. It is 
retained parallel to weighting plate 24. This rod extends to arms 29.1, 
29.2 of articulated levers 25.1, 25.2. Arms 29.1, 29.2 in question are 
forced from below by spring 28.1 or 28.2 against rod 30. In addition, rod 
30 is guided through two guides 31.1, 31.2 mounted respectively between 
the end of arm 29.1 or 29.2 and holding plate 32. Guides 31.1, 31.2 have 
two longitudinal apertures which define both the uppermost and the lowest 
(horizontal) position of rod 30. 
As can be seen from FIG. 6c, holding plate 32 is forced upward by a spring 
34. Consequently, rod 30 is normally positioned at the upper stop of 
guides 31.1, 31.2 (uppermost position). 
At a certain distance from upper holding plate 32, there is a rigidly 
mounted second holding plate 35 (see FIG. 6c). The locking mechanism can 
be released by application of holding plates 32 and 35 to each other, as 
is to be explained below in detail. 
Weighting plate 24 is positioned at the very top of the stack in storage 
compartment 13 (cf. FIG. 3a). Arms 29.3, 29.4 of articulated levers 25.1, 
25.2 project laterally outward into recesses 17 in ribbed structures 16.1, 
16.2. Since the outward projecting arms of articulated levers 25.1, 25.2 
extend upward, e.g., approximately at an angle of 60.degree. (relative to 
weighting plate 24), the device can move downward in conformity with the 
diminishing height of the stack in direction z, the ends of arms 29.3, 
29.4 snapping into the immediately lower stage of the ribbed structure. In 
the process of movement from one recess into the next, articulated levers 
25.1, 25.2 rotate slightly inward against the force of springs 28.1, 28,2 
and then outward again when they snap into the next recess. 
On the other hand, the device can no longer be displaced upward, i.e., in 
the direction opposite direction z, since articulated levers 25.1, 25.2 
then block its path. 
Two holding plates 32 and 35 are grasped by the fingers and forced against 
each other for the purpose of filling the shaft. Arms 29.1, 29.2 are 
forced downward by rod 30 and the outer ends of articulated levers 25.1, 
25.2 are thereby extracted from the ribbed structure. Consequently, the 
device can be extracted from the shaft at the top. (Access is made 
possible through opening 14 according to FIG. 3a). 
The invention is not, of course, restricted to the embodiment described. 
Specifically, the stack can be secured by another method, i.e., with 
another "one-way mechanism." 
If necessary, it is also possible to dispense with the surface structure 
involving rods 20.1, . . . , 20.4. The embodiments shown afford the great 
advantage that they are very compact in design and accordingly can be 
fully integrated into the lower section of the shaft. If more space is 
available, the stack can be supported by other means during dispensing of 
a card (e.g., by a longer shuttle table). 
In summary, it may be stated that the invention makes it possible to 
recycle used tickets and the like in automatic card dispensing machines at 
low additional technological cost.