Automatic ticket-examining apparatus for collecting wireless tickets

An automatic passenger gate of the present invention is adapted for both one time use wireless medium and repeat use wireless medium. The automatic passenger gate includes an antenna for receiving information stored on the wireless medium, an input port for accepting the wireless medium, a collecting portion for collecting the accepted wireless medium, an output port for returning the accepted wireless medium. The automatic passenger gate collects the accepted wireless medium in the collecting portion when the accepted medium is a one time use wireless medium and the passenger is allowed to pass said automatic passenger gate. The automatic passenger gate returns the accepted wireless medium from the output port when the accepted medium is a one time use wireless medium and the passenger is prohibited from passing said automatic passenger gate, and when the accepted wireless medium is a repeat use wireless medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an automatic ticket-examining apparatus, 
usually installed at the entrances and exits of stations for the traffic 
facilities, for processing wireless tickets. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
In recent railroads, automatic ticket-examining equipment has been 
installed in the entrances and exits in railway facilities to save labor 
in punching, examining, or collecting tickets at the gates. 
When the passenger passes through the ticket gate for entering the station 
or transferring from the station, the automatic ticket-examining equipment 
transmits/receives the inspection information stored in the wireless cards 
as wireless tickets for wireless communication. The automatic 
ticket-examining equipment checks for the validity of the wireless cards 
on the basis of the inspection information. The automatic ticket-examining 
equipment allows the passenger to enter or leave the station if the 
wireless card is valid. The automatic ticket-examining equipment prohibits 
the passenger from entering or leaving the station if the wireless card is 
invalid. This conventional automatic ticket-examining equipment is shown 
in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,883 (Miyashita). The automatic ticket-examining 
equipment may transmit/receive the inspection information, stored in the 
wireless cards, by holding the wireless cards near an antenna portion 
located at the automatic ticket-examining equipment without any additional 
process by the passenger for ticket disposal services. 
However, the manufacturing cost of the wireless card is high. Therefore a 
kind of ticket or card to be convertible to the wireless card are limited 
season pass or stored fare card, which are used repeatedly by individual 
using traffic. 
When the passenger uses the wireless ticket as an ordinary ticket that 
needs collecting at the ticket, gate for exit, the automatic 
ticket-examining equipment allows the passenger to pass through the ticket 
gate by not, contacting with the automatic ticket-examining equipment. 
Therefore it is difficult to collect the wireless card as the ordinary 
ticket, which needs collecting at the ticket gate for exit of the railway. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic 
ticket-examining apparatus for collecting one time use wireless tickets 
and for non-contact processing repeat use wireless tickets. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic 
ticket-examining apparatus for checking information stored on the wireless 
medium and collecting one time use wireless medium and for returning 
repeat use wireless medium. 
According to the present invention, there is provided an passenger gate for 
processing information stored in a wireless medium, comprising; first 
receiving means for receiving information stored in the wireless medium 
without contacting with the wireless medium; accepting means for accepting 
the wireless medium; second receiving means for receiving information 
stored in the wireless medium accepted by said accepting means; judging 
means for allowing the passenger to pass through said automatic passenger 
gate on the basis of the information received by said first and second 
receiving means; and collecting means for collecting the accepted wireless 
medium when said judging means allows the passenger to pass said automatic 
passenger gate. 
According another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an 
automatic passenger gate for processing information stored on a wireless 
medium, the wireless medium being a one time use wireless medium or a 
repeat use wireless medium, comprising; receiving means for receiving 
information stored on the wireless medium; accepting means for accepting 
the wireless medium; first checking means for checking the information 
received by said receiving means to check whether to allow the passenger 
to pass said automatic passenger gate; second checking means for checking 
the type of the wireless medium accepted from said accepting means; 
collecting means for collecting the accepted wireless medium when the 
accepted wireless medium is a one time use wireless medium and said first 
checking means allows the passenger to pass said automatic passenger gate; 
and returning means for returning the accepted wireless medium when the 
accepted wireless medium is a one time use wireless medium and said first 
checking means prohibits the passenger from passing said automatic 
passenger gate, and when the accepted wireless medium is a repeat use 
wireless medium.

DESCRIPTION OF TIHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described, 
referring to the accompanying drawings. 
FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show the internal construction of an automatic 
ticket-examining apparatus for exit 1 according to the present invention. 
The automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 is installed in an exit of a 
station, and processes a wireless card C such as an ordinary ticket, a 
season ticket (commutation pass), a stored fare card (SF card), or a 
coupon card. The wireless card C used as an ordinary ticket is for one 
time use only, and must be collected at the ticket gate for exit. The 
wireless card C used as a season ticket, or a stored fare card is for 
repeated use and does not need collecting at the ticket gate for exit. The 
wireless card C used as a coupon card must be collected after using the 
predetermined effective amount. 
Usually, a body 2 of an automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 has a main 
machine and an auxiliary machine. The automatic ticket-examining apparatus 
1 has an antenna 3 provided on one end part of the upper surface of the 
body 2. The antenna 3 receives the inspection information from the 
wireless card C and transmits the inspection information to the wireless 
card C. 
The automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 has a input port 4 provided on 
the area in front of the antenna 3. The input port 4 accepts the wireless 
card C. On the area in front of the input port 4, the automatic 
ticket-examining apparatus 1 has an output port 5. The output port 5 
returns the wireless card C accepted from the input port 4. 
The automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 has a guide display 6 provided 
on the other end part of the upper surface of the body 2. The guide 
display 6 guides to a passenger or station staffs. The guide display 6 
includes a plasma display. The main machine and the auxiliary machine have 
a pair of doors 7 provided on both end parts respectively. The doors 7 
control passage of the passenger passing through the ticket gate. The 
automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 controls opening or closing the 
pair of doors 7 on the basis of a result of the judgment of passage of a 
passenger. 
The automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 has a frame-shaped pole 8 to 
help the passenger to be aware of the passageway in the upper part of the 
body 2. The main machine and the auxiliary machine of the automatic 
ticket-examining apparatus 1 have a plurality of optical sensors provided 
on the side face respectively thereof. The optical sensors detect the 
passage of a passenger. 
For example these optical sensors may include entrance detectors 9 and 10, 
middle detectors 11 and 12, and exit detectors 13 and 14. The entrance 
detectors 9 and 10 detect passengers who pass through the part of antenna 
3 of the passageway. The middle detectors 11 and 12 detect passengers who 
pass through the middle part of the passageway. The exit detectors 13 and 
14 detect passengers who pass through the part of the guide display 6 of 
the passageway. 
The automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 has a speaker 15 provided in the 
central part of the main machine. The speaker 15 announces the sound guide 
to the passenger. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic ticket-examining 
apparatus 1 includes a wireless card processing unit 16 provided on a 
part, which is interposed between the input port 4 and the output port 5 
in an opposite manner, of the inside of the main machine. The wireless 
card processing unit 16 communicates with the wireless card C accepted 
from the input port 4 for wireless. The wireless processing unit 16 has a 
collection box 17 provided in the lower part thereof. The collection box 
17 collects the wireless card C. 
The wireless card processing unit 16 includes a conveying passage 21 formed 
between the input port 4 and the output port 5. The conveying passage 21 
transfers the wireless card C accepted from the input, port 4 to the 
output port 5. The conveying passage 21 has a conveying member, such as a 
conveying belt or conveying roller, which permits flexibly elastic member 
to sandwich the wireless card C. The conveying passage 21 may sandwich and 
convey the wireless card C, from less than 1 mm to a couple of centimeters 
in thickness, by the flexibly elastic member. 
The wireless card processing unit 16 includes a detector 22 on the area 
near the input port 4 of the conveying passage 21, and a detector 23 on 
the area near the output port 5 of the conveying passage 21. Each of these 
detectors 22 and 23 includes the optical sensor comprising light source 
and light receiving element. When the wireless card C just passes between 
the light source and the light receiving element, the wireless card C 
interrupts the light of the light source. Each of these detectors 22 and 
23 detects the wireless card C on taking advantage of the interruption of 
light. The detector 22 detects the wireless card C accepted into the input 
port 4. The detector 23 detects the wireless card C returned from the 
output port 5. 
The wireless processing unit 16 has an antenna 24 provided on the conveying 
passage 21 between the input port 4 and the output port 5. The antenna 24 
receives the inspection information from the wireless card C and transmits 
the inspection information to the wireless card C. 
The wireless processing unit 16 has a distributing gate 25 provided on the 
conveying passage 21 between the antenna 24 and the output port 5. The 
distributing gate 25 controls distribution of the wireless card C. When 
the wireless card C accepted from the input port 4 does not need 
collecting, the distributing gate 25 distributes the wireless card C 
toward the output port 5. When the wireless card C accepted from the input 
port 4 needs collecting, the distributing gate 25 distributes the wireless 
card C toward the collection box 17. After the distributing gate 25 
distributes the wireless card C toward the collection box 17, conveying 
passage for collection 26 conveys the distributed wireless card C to the 
collection box 17. The conveying passage for collection 26 has a detector 
27 provided on the area near to the collection box 17. The detector 27 
detects optically the wireless card C collected into the collection box 
17. 
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the control system of the automatic 
ticket-examining apparatus 1 of the above-identified construction. 
The control system of the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 comprises: 
a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU) 31 for 
controlling the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1; a read only memory 
(hereinafter, referred to as a ROM) 32 for storing a control program for 
the CPU 31, a reference data for judging inspection information of the 
wireless card C and data or code of the station in which the automatic 
ticket-examining apparatus 1 is installed; a random access memory 
(hereinafter, referred to as a RAM) 33 as means for storing the inspection 
information read out from the wireless card C and information acting as 
buffer for the control program; a fare memory 34 which stored the fare 
information correspondent to data or code of the station; a 
transmission/reception circuit 35 for controlling the communication of 
inspection information via a wireless antenna 3 with the wireless ticket 
C; a display control circuit 36 for controlling the guide display 6; a 
door control circuit 38 for controlling a door opening/closing mechanism 
37 that actuates the door 7; a human detecting control circuit 39 for 
detecting situation of passing of the passenger on the basis of the output 
of the detectors 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14; a conveying control circuit 41 
for controlling a conveying motor 40 that actuated the conveying systems 
of the conveying passages 21 and 26 that convey the wireless card; a gate 
control circuit 42 for controlling a solenoid 25a that changes a 
distributing gate 25; a detecting circuit 43 for detecting situation of 
conveying the wireless card C on the basis of the output of the detectors 
22, 23, 27; a transmission/reception circuit 44 for controlling the 
communication of inspection information via a wireless antenna 24 with the 
wireless card C; and a transmission control circuit 45 for 
intercommunicating information with host computer (not shown) for 
controlling the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1. 
The wireless card processing unit 16 comprises the conveying passages 21 
and 26, the detectors 22, 23, and 27, the antenna 24, the distributing 
gate 25, the conveying motor 40, the conveying control circuit 41, gate 
control circuit 42, the detecting circuit 43, and transmission/reception 
circuit 44. 
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a wireless card. A wireless card C in the 
figure has a CPU 51 for controlling the wireless card C, a data memory 52 
for storing a control program for the CPU 51 and inspection information, 
transmission/reception switching unit 53 for switching the transmitting or 
receiving communications, a receiver 54 for receiving a signal of the 
information from the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1, a demodulator 
55 for demodulating a signal received by the receiver 54, a modulator 56 
for modulating the signal read out from the data memory 52, a transmitter 
57 for transmitting wireless wave modulated by the modulator 56 to the 
automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1, and a battery 58 for supplying 
required power to each unit. 
The inspection information, which is transmitted/received between the 
wireless card C and the automatic ticket-examining apparatus, includes for 
example name of issuing organization (name of company), information of 
kind of ticket, effective period, entry (riding) date and time, entry 
(riding) station, exit date and time, exit station, fare, issuing date, 
and usable time. The data memory 52 of the wireless card C records these 
contents of the inspection information, when each ticket is issued, or is 
received the inspection information from the automatic ticket-examining 
apparatus 1. 
The data memory 52 of the wireless card C records, mainly, the name of 
issuing organization (name of company), number of issued ticket, 
information of kind of ticket, issuing date as the inspection information. 
The wireless card C as an ordinary ticket, additionally, records the 
inspection information further including the entry date and time, the 
entry station, the fare, or the exit information. The wireless card C as a 
season ticket, additionally, records the inspection information further 
including the effective period, the entry date and time, the entry station 
(exit date and time, exit station). 
Each constituent element incorporated into the wireless card C as mentioned 
above forms one or a plurality of IC chip(s) disposed on the board. An 
entire shape of the wireless card C takes a form of a single card-like 
board. An automatic ticket-examining apparatus for entry may be similar to 
the automatic ticket-examining apparatus for exit. Furthermore, with the 
automatic ticket-examining apparatus for entry, installed in the place 
where the wireless card C does not need collection, the construction of 
apparatus without the wireless card unit may be also workable. 
The entry operation of the automatic ticket-examining apparatus for entry 
gate 1 having the above-identified construction will be explained. 
When the passenger presents the wireless card C to the area within which 
communications by the antenna 3 may be effective, then, the 
transmission/reception circuit 35 in the automatic ticket-examining 
apparatus 1 starts communication with the wireless card C via the antenna 
3. The transmission/reception circuit 35 receives in turn the inspection 
information stored in the data memory 52 of the wireless card C and sends 
the received inspection information to the CPU 31. 
Among items in the inspection information supplied to the CPU 31 from the 
transmission/reception circuit 35 in the automatic ticket-examining 
apparatus 1, the CPU 31 judges whether or not the name of issuing 
organization accords with that handled by the above automatic 
ticket-examining apparatus 1. On the basis of a result of the judgment as 
to the name of issuing organization in the inspection information, the CPU 
31 judges effectiveness of the wireless card C. lfjudged effective, the 
CPU 31 transmits the entry information from the transmission/reception 
circuit 35 to the wireless card C via the antenna 3 so as to record the 
entry information including the entry date and time and the entry station 
onto the data memory 52 of the wireless card C. 
At that time, CPU 31 judges the kind of ticket of the wireless card C on 
the basis of the inspection information transmitted from the wireless card 
C thereto. If the wireless card C is an ordinary ticket or a season 
ticket, the CPU 31 transmits the entry information comprising the entry 
date and time and the entry station to the wireless card C. If the 
wireless card C is a stored fare card, CPU 31 transmits remaining 
effective amount (balance) of the stored fare reduced by minimum section 
fare to the wireless card C in addition to the entry information. If the 
wireless card C is a coupon card, CPU 31 in turn transmits the usable time 
of the coupon card reduced by one time of use to the wireless card C in 
addition to the entry information. 
The wireless card C commences to permit the receiver 54 to receive the 
entry information transmitted from the automatic ticket-examining 
apparatus 1. Then, if the wireless card C is an ordinary ticket or a 
season ticket, the CPU 51 writes the entry information comprising the 
entry date and time and the entry station onto the data memory 52. If the 
wireless card C is a stored fare card, CPU 51 writes the entry information 
onto the data memory 52 and renews the remaining effective amount. If the 
wireless card C is a coupon card, the CPU 51 in turn writes the entry 
information onto the data memory 52, and renews usable times received by 
the receiver 54. 
If a result of the judgment shows that exchange of data with the wireless 
card C is valid in the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1, the CPU 31 
permits the door control circuit 38 to open the door 7, and allows the 
passenger to his passage. The automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 
returns to stand-by for the next presentation of a wireless card C. 
When a processing of judging effectively of the wireless card C may treat 
the wireless card C as ineffective or invalid, the CPU 31 causes the door 
control circuit 38 to close the door 7, and prohibits the passenger from 
passing. Then the CPU 31 causes the display control circuit 36 to display 
the reason for closing the door on the guide display 6. Furthermore, on 
the basis of detecting signal of the detectors 9 to 14, the CPU 31 checks 
whether or not the passenger, prohibited from passing, gets out of the 
passageway by returning toward the side opposite to advancing direction. 
If a result of the checking shows that the passenger gets out of the 
passageway, the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 returns in turn to 
stand-by for the next presentation of the wireless card C. 
The operation of the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 for exit of the 
above-mentioned construction will be explained in conjunction with 
flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 8 as follows: 
When the passenger presents the wireless card C to the area within which 
the communications by the antenna 3 may be effective, then, the 
transmission/reception circuit 35 in the automatic ticket-examining 
apparatus 1 starts communication with the wireless card C via the antenna 
3. Transmission/reception circuit 35 receives in turn the inspection 
information stored in the data memory 52 of the wireless card C and sends 
the received inspection information to the CPU 31 (ST1). 
The CPU 31 judges whether or not the wireless card C is valid on the basis 
of the inspection information supplied from the transmission/reception 
circuit 35 thereto (ST2). Namely, among items in the inspection 
information supplied to the CPU 31 from the transmission/reception circuit 
35, the CPU 31 judges whether or not the name of issuing organization 
accords with that handled by the above automatic ticket-examining 
apparatus 1, whether or not the effective period includes the 
predetermined date, whether or not the effective section includes the 
predetermined station, whether or not the effective amount is more than 
the fare of minimum section, or whether the usable time are over "1" time 
or not. 
When a result of the judgment at step 2 shows that the wireless card C is 
invalid, the CPU 31 causes the door control circuit 38 to close the door 7 
and prohibits the passenger from passing. Then the CPU 31 causes the 
display control circuit 36 to display a reason for closing the door on the 
guide display 6 (ST 3). 
Furthermore, on the basis of detecting signal of he detectors 9 to 14, the 
CPU 31 checks whether or not the passenger, prohibited from passing, gets 
out of the passageway by return. If a result of the checking shows that 
the passenger gets out of the passageway, the automatic ticket-examining 
apparatus 1 returns to stand-by for the next presentation of the wireless 
card C. 
If a result of the judgment at step 2 shows that the wireless card C is 
valid, the CPU 31 judges whether or not the wireless card C requires 
collection at the exit as an ordinary ticket for one time use only, on the 
basis of the information of kind of ticket in the inspection information 
supplied from the transmission/reception circuit 35 to the CPU 31 (ST 4). 
Similarly, the CPU 31 judges whether or not the wireless card C is a stored 
fare card (ST 5). The CPU 31 judges whether or not the wireless card C is 
a coupon card (ST 6). 
When a result of the judgment shows that the wireless card C is the stored 
fare card at step 5, the CPU 31 reads out the fare corresponding to the 
entry information in the wireless card C from a fare memory 34 and reduces 
the stored fare by the minimum section fare. Then the CPU 31 reduces from 
remaining effective amount, already reduced by minimum section fare at 
entrance, by the fare reduced by the minimum section fare. The CPU 31 
renews a remaining effective amount of the inspection information stored 
in RAM 33 to reduced remaining effective amount. The CPU 31 sends the 
renewed remaining effective amount and an exit information from the 
transmission/reception circuit 35 via the antenna 3 to the wireless card C 
(ST7). 
If the wireless card C is a stored fare card, receiver 54 receives the 
remaining effective amount and the exit information both sent from the 
automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1. The CPU 51 renews the received 
remaining effective amount onto the data memory 52. Additionally, the CPU 
51 records the exit information including the exit date and time and the 
exit station onto the data memory 52. 
If a result of the judgment shows that, exchange of data with the wireless 
card C is valid in the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1, the CPU 31 
permits the door control circuit 38 to open the door 7 and allow the 
passenger to passing (ST9). Then, the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 
1 returns to step 1 of processing, and to stand-by for the next 
presentation of the wireless card C. 
If the wireless card C is a coupon card at the judgment of step 6, the CPU 
31 checks whether or not the usable time of the inspection information of 
the wireless card C is "0". Then, the CPU 31 judges whether or not the 
wireless card C needs collecting on the basis of a result of the checking 
(ST10). 
If the usable time of the wireless card C is "0" at the checking of step 
10, the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 proceeds to step 13 of 
processing, which is explained shortly. If the usable time of the wireless 
card C is not "0" at the checking of step 10, the CPU 31 sends the exit 
information from the transmission/reception circuit 35 via the antenna 3 
to the wireless card C (ST 11). 
If the wireless card C is a coupon card, the receiver 54 receives the exit 
information sent from the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1. The CPU 
51 records the exit information including the exit date and time and the 
exit station onto the data memory 52. 
If a result of the judgment shows that exchange of data with the wireless 
card C is valid in the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1, the CPU 31 
permits the door control circuit 38 to open the door 7 and allow the 
passenger to passing (ST9). Then, the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 
1 returns to step 1 of processing, to stand-by for the next presentation 
of the wireless card C. 
If the wireless card C is a season ticket at the judgment of step 6, the 
CPU 31 sends the exit information from the transmission/reception circuit 
35 via the antenna 3 to the wireless card C (ST 11). 
With the wireless card C as the season ticket, the receiver 54 receives the 
exit information sent from the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1. 
Then the CPU 51 records the exit information including the exit date and 
time and the exit station onto the data memory 52. 
If a result of the judgment shows that exchange of data with the wireless 
card C is valid in the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1, the CPU 31 
permits the door control circuit 38 to open the door 7 and allow the 
passenger to passing (ST9). Then, the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 
1 returns to step 1 of processing, and to stand-by for the next 
presentation of the wireless card C. 
At step 1, when the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 does not 
exchange a communication with the wireless card C, the CPU 31 judges 
whether or not the input port 4 accepted the wireless card C on the basis 
of the detecting signal from the detector 22 (ST12). If a result of the 
judgment at step 12 shows that the input port 4 accepted the wireless card 
C, the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 proceeds to step 17 of 
processing, which is explained shortly. If a result of the judgment at 
step 12 shows that the input port 4 does not accept the wireless card C, 
the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 returns to step 1 of 
processing, and to stand-by for next presentation of the wireless card C. 
If result of the judgment shows that the wireless card C is such a ticket 
for needing collection as ordinary ticket at step 4 or step 10, the CPU 31 
permits the display control circuit 36 to display a guidance to insert of 
wireless card C into input port 4 on the guide display 6 (ST13). 
In response to the guide display at step 13, on the basis of the detecting 
signal from the detector 22, the CPU 31 judges whether or not the input 
port 4 accepted the wireless card C (ST14). When a result of the judgment 
at step 14 shows that the input port 4 does not accept the wireless card 
C, on the basis of detecting signal from the detectors 9 to 14, the CPU 31 
judges a passage condition of the passenger (ST 15). 
When a result of the judgment at step 20 shows that the passenger is 
passing through the middle part of the passageway, the CPU 31 permits the 
door control circuit 38 to close the door 7 and prohibits the passenger 
from passing. Then, the display control circuit 36 displays "Insert 
wireless card into input port" on the guide display 6 as a reason for 
closing the door 7 to offer a guidance to the passenger. Additionally, the 
CPU 31 permits the speaker 15 to announce the sound guide of the same 
message (ST 16). 
In succession, on the basis of detection signal from the detectors 9 to 14, 
the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 checks whether or not the 
passenger, prohibited from passing, got-out from the passageway by return. 
If checked as got out, the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 returns 
to the stand-by for next presentation of the wireless card C. 
If a result of the judgment at step 14 shows that the input port 4 accepted 
the wireless card C, the CPU 31 permits the conveying control circuit 41 
to control the conveying motor 40 for drive. Subsequently, the conveying 
member, including the conveying belt or the conveying roller, surrounds 
the wireless card C. Then the conveying member conveys the wireless card C 
to position opposite to the antenna 24 of the wireless card processing 
unit 16 (ST 17). 
When the wireless card C is presented to the area within which 
communication scope by the antenna 24 is effective, the 
transmission/reception circuit 44 communicates with the wireless card C 
via the antenna 24. Furthermore, the transmission/reception circuit 44 
receives the inspection information stored in the data memory 52 of the 
wireless card C, and sends the received inspection information to the CPU 
31 (ST 18). 
The CPU 31 judges whether the wireless card C is valid or not on the basis 
of the inspection information supplied from the transmission/reception 
circuit 44 (ST 19). Namely, among items in the inspection information 
supplied to the CPU 31 from the transmission/reception circuit 35 in the 
automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1, the CPU 31 judges whether or not 
the name of issuing organization accords with that handled by the above 
automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1, whether or not the effective 
period includes the predetermined data, whether or not the effective 
section includes the predetermined station, whether or not the effective 
amount is more than the fare of minimum section, or whether the usable 
time is over "1" time or not. 
When a result of the judgment at step 19 shows that the wireless card C is 
invalid, the CPU 31 permits the conveying control circuit 41 to control 
the conveying motor 40 for drive. The conveying member including the 
conveying belt or the conveying roller conveys further the accepted 
wireless card C and returns the wireless card C from output port 5 (ST 
20). 
Together with the return action of the wireless card C, the CPU 31 permits 
the door control circuit 38 to close the door 7 and prohibits the 
passenger from passing. Then, the CPU 31 permits the display control 
circuit 36 to display a guide of "Insert wireless card into input port." 
on the guide display 6 as a reason for closing the door. Similarly, the 
CPU 31 permits the speaker 15 to announce the sound guide of the same 
message with the message of the display 6 (ST 21). 
Furthermore, on the basis of detecting signal from the detectors 9 to 14, 
the CPU 31 checks whether or not the passenger, prohibited from passing, 
got out of the passageway by return. If a result of the checking shows 
that the passenger got out of the passage, the automatic ticket-examining 
apparatus 1 returns to stand-by for next presentation of the wireless card 
C. 
If a result of the judgment at step 19 shows that the wireless card C is 
valid, the CPU 31 judges whether the wireless card C is an ordinary 
ticket, or whether the wireless card requires collection such as a used 
coupon card on the basis of the information of kind of ticket and the 
usable time in the inspection information supplied from the 
transmission/reception circuit 44 to the CPU 31 (ST22). 
If a result of the judgment at step 22 shows that the wireless card C is an 
ordinary ticket or a ticket requiring collection, the CPU 31 permits the 
gate control circuit 42 to control the solenoid 25a to switch over the 
distributing gate 25 to the side of the collection box 17 (ST 26). 
Subsequently, the CPU 31 permits the distributing gate 25 to swing over the 
wireless card C. The conveying passage for collection 26 conveys the 
wireless card C further to the side of the collection box 17. The 
automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 collects the wireless card C as the 
ticket requiring collection to the collection box 17 (ST 27). 
If a result of the judgment at step 22 shows that the wireless card C is a 
season ticket, a stored fare card, or a coupon card whose usable time is 
still effective, the CPU 31 judges whether or not the exit processing 
services applicable to the accepted wireless card C have finished (ST 23). 
If a result of the judgment at step 23 shows that the exit processing 
services applicable to the wireless card C have already finished, the CPU 
31 permits the conveying control circuit 41 to control the conveying motor 
40 for drive. As a result, the conveying member conveys further the 
accepted wireless card C to return it from output port 5 (ST 25). 
Together with return action of the wireless card C, the CPU 31 permits the 
door control circuit 38 to open the door 7 and allows the passenger to 
proceed (ST 9). The automatic ticket-examinmng apparatus 1 returns to step 
1 of processing, and to stand-by for the next presentation of the wireless 
card C. 
If a result of the judgment at step 23 shows that the exit processing 
services, i.e. the record of the exit information, have not yet finished, 
the CPU 31 sends the exit information from the transmission/reception 
circuit 44 via the antenna 24 to the wireless card C. When the receiver 54 
in the wireless card C receives the exit information sent from the 
automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 thereto, the CPU 51 records the 
exit information such as exit date and time or exit station onto the data 
memory 52 (ST 24). 
After the record of the exit information to the wireless card at step 24, 
the CPU 31 permits the conveying control circuit 41 to control the 
conveying motor 40 for drive. The conveying member conveys further the 
accepted wireless card C and returns it from the output port 5 (ST 25). 
Approximately at the same time of the return action of the wireless card C, 
the CPU 31 permits the door control circuit 38 to open the door 7 and 
allows the passenger to proceed (ST 9). The automatic ticket-examining 
apparatus 1 returns to step 1 of processing, and to stand-by for the next 
presentation of the wireless card C. 
The above-mentioned embodiment contains a description of the case where the 
opening and closing mode of the door is constantly under the closing 
condition. The description puts its emphasis upon the case where only when 
the wireless card C is valid, the door opens to allows the passenger to 
proceed and the door closes after his passage. Similar processing also 
applies when the opening and closing mode of the door is constantly under 
the opening condition. 
It is possible that similar processing also applies only when the wireless 
card is invalid, the door is disposed to be closed to prohibit the 
passenger from proceeding, and when no detection of the passenger is found 
in the passage, the door opens. 
According to the above-mentioned embodiment, the processing applicable to 
the automatic ticket-examining apparatus used at the present site is also 
true of the ticketing processing services at exit which may be adaptable 
to the wireless card C used as a season ticket or a stored fare card 
without being collected at exit. Namely, by holding the wireless card C as 
the season ticket or the stored fare card to the antenna 3 by the 
passenger, the CPU 31 of the automatic ticket-examining apparatus 1 
communicates with the wireless card C for wireless. After re-writing the 
predetermined information in the wireless card C, an automatic 
ticket-examining apparatus opens the door and allows passenger to pass for 
the passage. That suggests the same processing as used for the 
conventional automatic ticket-examining apparatus. 
As described in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible 
to provide the automatic ticket-examining apparatus for collecting the one 
time use wireless card or ticket and for processing the repeat use 
wireless card or ticket without contacting the card or ticket. 
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled 
in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited 
to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described 
herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing 
from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by 
the appended claims and their equivalents.