A DEVICE FOR PARKING ARRANGEMENTS

Abstract: A device for parking arrangements comprises an entrance station (1) and an exit station (2). The entrance station comprises a ticket apparatus (3), which comprises a bar code printer adapted to provide the ticket intended for delivery to the customer with time information in bar code. Furthermore, the entrance station comprises an entrance controlling arrangement (4) controlled by the ticket apparatus. The exit station comprises a payment receiving apparatus (8) with a bar code reader adapted to read the bar code of the ticket when the ticket is located in a reading position relative to the apparatus and a processing unit adapted to calculate sums to be paid on basis of time information on the ticket read by the bar code reader, actual time and current parking tariff. The exit station comprises also an exit controlling arrangement (9) for allowing only authorized exit.

Description: A device for parking arrangements FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART This invention is related to a device for parking arrangements in accordance with the preamble of enclosed claim 1. In a known device of another kind than this the customer obtains in the entrance station a ticket provided with iden¬ tification information. In the ticket apparatus, this iden¬ tification information is co-ordinated with time information and these pieces of information are stored in a memory. When the custormer is about to leave the parking arrangement, he introduces the ticket into a payment receiving apparatus comprising a decoder. On basis of said identification informa¬ tion, time information and actual time the apparatus calculates the amount to be paid and indicates the same to the customer. The customer may, if he so desires, obtain a receipt regarding the payment but the ticket obtained in the entrance station is seized by the payment receiving apparatus. Identification information may for instance be provided on the ticket in the form of a hole pattern. An important disadvantage with this prior art is that disturbances concerning memory storing of information regarding entrance time cause calculation of amounts to be paid to be impossible. In case of defects on the device so that for instance a too high amount is indicated to be due for payment, the customer has no possibility to certify correct entrance time, which may cause inconvenient differences of opinion. Conversely, neither the owner of the parking arrange¬ ment has any satisfactory basis for asserting that a customer is mistaken as to the entrance time. Furthermore, the known apparatus necessitates advanced communication between the ticket apparatus and the payment receiving apparatus since information concerning entrance time and identity must be transferred between these apparatuses. In another known device (US, A, 3 775 593) corresponding to the contents of the preamble of claim 1, preprinted tickets are instead used, time information of which may occur in bar code, and these tickets are sorted in the ticket apparatus in a plurality of compartments in such a way that all tickets in a certain compartment correspond to a certain piece of time information. The compartments are arranged on a movable car¬ rier, which is time controlled sa that tickets with adequate time information always are delivered to the customers. How¬ ever, the use of preprinted tickets involves an extensive sorting work. Furthermore, the device becomes extremely com¬ plicated if reasonable time accuracy is desired, since then a very large number of compartments is required. The tickets are also in this known device seized by the payment receiving apparatus since the tickets otherwise could be reused. Despite this safety measure there is an obvious risk for tickets going astray and being unauthorizedly used. The disadvantage occurs also here that the customer does not have any possibility to subsequently certify correct entrance time since the ticket is taken away from him. In view of the fact that it can hardly be avoided that tickets sometimes are sorted in the wrong com¬ partment in the ticket apparatus, this disadvantage is of considerable importance. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to devise ways to reduce the problems and disadvantages discussed hereinabove. This object is according to the invention obtained by providing the device with the features appearing from the enclosed claims, and then primarily the features of the characterizing portion of claim 1. Since the printer in the ticket apparatus is adapted to provide the ticket in the entrance station with time information, the customer will physically be accompanied by a certificate on correct entrance time and this certificate may be retained by the customer after payment in the payment receiving apparatus. In case of electrical disturbances or other defects of the device causing erroneous charging, the customer will accor¬ dingly be in a position to certify his statements by means of the ticket. If the customer would be mistaken, he may be convinced thereof by means of the ticket. Furthermore, un¬ authorized reuse of the tickets is counteracted by information storage in the memory. The device in its entirety may also be much simpler since there is no requirement for information transfer between the ticket apparatus and the payment receving apparatus. The use of printer and reader respectively, which preferably operate by means of bar code, is a relatively nonexpensive solution in this regard, since such equipment, in particular for bar code, is well established and is available at a reasonable price as standard products. Other advantageous and alternative embodiments are subject of the dependant claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to the enclosed drawings, a more specific disclosure of embodiment examples of the invention follows hereinbelow. In the drawings: Fig 1 is a diagrammatical perspective view illustrating the device according to the invention,* fig 2 is a perspective view illustrating an entrance ticket apparatus; fig 3 is a block diagram illustrating operation of the ticket apparatus; fig 4 is a diagram illustrating operation at the entrance station of the device; fig 5 is a perspective view illustrating a payment receiving apparatus; fig 6 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of the payment receiving apparatus; fig 7 is a diagram illustrating operation at the exit station; fig 8 is a diagram illustrating operation at a separate payment station; and fig 9 is a diagram illustrating operation at a separate exit station for use in combination with the separate payment station according to fig 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The parking arrangement illustrated in fig 1 comprises an entrance station 1 and an exit station 2. The entrance station 1 comprises a ticket apparatus 3 arranged to deliver to the customer a ticket provided with information and an entrance controlling arrangement 4 controlled by the ticket apparatus. The arrangement 4 may in practice comprise a gate 5 and a suitable operating device therefor, the function being such that gate 5 is opened for entrance when a customer has received a ticket from apparatus 3. Station 1 comprises suitable sensing devices 6, 7 for sensing if a vehicle is present on the res¬ pective device. Apparatus 3 may for instance be co-ordinated with a sensing device 6 so that operation of the apparatus is intitiated when a vehicle is present on said device 6. The other sensing device 7 prevents closing of gate 5 if a vehicle would be present thereon. The exit station 2 comprises a payment receving apparatus 8, which calculates the amount to be paid with the aid of infor¬ mation on the ticket, and an exit controlling arrangement 9, which may comprise a gate 10 controllable by an operating device. Also at the exit station, there are sensing devices 11 and 12, the device 11 of which senses when a vehicle is located in front of the payment receiving apparatus 8 whereas the other 12 senses if a vehicle is located opposite to gate 10. Sensing devices 6, 7 and 11, 12 may be of arbitrary type, e.g. com¬ prising magnet loops in the drive way in question. Ticket apparatus 3 (figs 2 and 3) comprises a bar code printer 13 adapted to provide the ticket 14 (fig 4) to be delivered to the customer with bar code information 15, comprising time information and suitably also identification information characteristic for the ticket apparatus 3 in question. In addition, the ticket may comprise, in non-coded writing, information 16 as to the owner of the parking arrangement and information 17, e.g. "SAVE THE TICKET, PAY ON EXIT". Apparatus 3 comprises preferably a display 18 for information to the customer and the apparatus may also comprise a button 19, on which pressing is required for ticket delivery if the apparatus is not arranged to automatically discharge a ticket as soon as a vehicle is sensed by device 6. Finally, the appratus comprises an opening 20 for ticket delivery. An example on the construction of apparatus 3 is illustrated in fig 3. The apparatus may comprise a processor or computer 21. To this are connected a timer or clock 22, sensing devices 6 and 7, ticket button 19, display 18, printer 13 and operating device 23 for gate 5. The operation at entrance station 1 is as follows (see also fig 4). In a rest position indicated at 24, apparatus 3 may be arranged to indicate, on the display 18, e.g. the following text 18a: WELCOME 17 NOV 1987, TUE 11:30. When a vehicle 25 is registered by sensing device 6, processor 21 controls display 18 to illustrate e.g. the additional text at 18b: PRESS FOR TICKET. When the customer presses on ticket button 19 the text: WAIT FOR TICKET may be given on the display apart from time information as indicated at 18c. The customer may then take out the delivered ticket in opening 20 and then gate 5 is opened as indicated in fig 4. When the customer's vehicle moves into the parking arrangement and leaves sensing device 7, gate 5 is returned to closed position. If, as indicated in fig 4 at 26, a preceding vehicle would come onto sensing device 7 by moving backwardly, processor 21 may suitably be arranged to control display 18 to indicate at 18d a waiting order to the customer in the first mentioned vehicle 25. When the customer has left the entrance station and the gate has been closed the apparatus 3 returns to the rest position indicated at 24. The payment receiving apparatus 8 (figs 5 and 6) comprises a bar code reader 27 adapted to read the bar code of ticket 14 when the ticket is located in a reading position, which is accessible through a slot 28, relative to the apparatus. Furthermore, apparatus 8 comprises a computer or processor 29 adapted to calculate the sum to be paid on basis of time information on the ticket read by reader 27, actual time, which is obtained from a timer or clock 30, and the current parking tariff, which may be programmed into processor 29 in a manner known per se. This sum is indicated in a display 31. Further¬ more, the apparatus comprises a button 32, which on pressing thereon causes delivery of a receipt in an opening 33. Finally, the apparatus comprises an opening 34 for receiving payment means in the form of coins, notes, payment cards, credit cards or other arbitrary payment means and an opening 35 for delivery of exchange money in case of cash payment. In fig 6 it is diagrammatically illustrated that there is connected to processor 29 of apparatus 8 the clock or timer 30, sensing device 11, sensing device 12, operating device 36 for gate 10, receipt button 32, a receipt printer 37, display 31, reader 27, a payment receiving device 38 arranged in connection with opening 34 and finally a device 39 for money return on excessive payment. Apparatus 8 is adapted to allow the customer to take back his ticket after reading by means of bar code reader 27. Apparatus 8 is adapted to store in a memory bar code informa¬ tion of the ticket. On basis of such memory information, the apparatus is adapted to check that bar code information on a ticket read by apparatus 8 means that the ticket is valid, i.e. that the ticket has not been read before, and that identifi¬ cation information thereon concerning ticket apparatus 3 is correct. The operation at the exit station 2 is as follows (see also fig 7). The rest position of the apparatus is indicated at 40 and the display may then assume the state 31a, in which it e.g. gives information: EXIT 17 NOV 87, TUE 12:00. When a vehicle 25 moves up on sensing device 11, processor 29 controls the display to give e.g. the following text: PLACE THE TICKET IN READER, which occurs at 31b. At 41 it is indicated how reader 27 reads the bar code on the ticket. If the ticket would be invalid, information thereabout is shown on display, which is indicated at 31c. If the ticket is found to be acceptable, i.e. that the ticket has not been read before and that identifi¬ cation information concerning apparatus 3 is correct, processor 29 controls the display to show e.g. the text: TICKET ACCEPTED, REMOVE TICKET, which is indicated at 3Id. The processor then calculates the sum to be paid on basis of time information read, actual time and parking tariff and this sum is indicated at 31e. If the customer would desire a receipt, he should press button 32 before payment. The payment operation is indicated at 42. If the customer would like to have a receipt, processor may be adapted, as indicated at 3If, to give information: AWAIT RECEIPT. On completed payment processor 29 controls the display to illustrate this as at 31g, e.g. by the text: THANKS FOR THE VISIT, WELCOME BACK. Thereafter gate 5 is opened and the vehicle may drive out of the arrangement, whereafter apparatus 8 returns to rest position 40. The device may also here be such that the display at 31h may give a waiting order if a preceding vehicle would form a hindrance, which is sensed by the device 12. The receipt illustrated at 43 in fig 7 comprises suitably statements about the owner of the arrangement, actual time and paid sum in non-coded text. It is indicated in figs 4 and 7 by means of the lines 44 and 45 that apparatuses 3 and 8 may be so designed that customers having particular authorization, e.g. in the form of cards for long time renting of parking places, obtain bypass of certain functional steps. More specifically, the ticket delivery step in apparatus 3 is bypassed and in fig 7 at least the payment step. As indicated in fig 7 with the line 46, apparatus 8 is furthermore so arranged that a customer who within a certain time period after entrance, e.g. five or ten minutes, would like to exit need not make any payment. The reason for such rapid exit may namely be that the parking arrangement is fully occupied. The term bar code is understood to mean such code which is formed by bars or lines with varying thickness and/or inter¬ spaces. The bar code denoted "interleaved 2- of 5" may be used with preference. This type means that the thicknesses of the bars or lines as well as the interspaces are information carrying. Laser readers capable of reading bar codes at a distance are preferably used as bar code readers. Such a reader may for instance carry out reading 40-50 times per second, for what reason a very rapid operation is obtained. It appears from the description hereinabove that no transfer of data concerning an individual customer is made between the entrance station and exit station other than by means of the ticket 14. This gives a very simple embodiment. However, if so desired a relatively simple connection could be made between the entrance station and the exit station in so far that the number of exiting vehicles could be subtracted from the number of entering vehicles so that thereby information about the number of vehicles present in the arrangement may be obtained and this information may, when the arrangement is fully occu¬ pied, be used for making it impossible for additional vehicles to move into the arrangement and furthermore, a sign concerning such full occupation may be activated. Possible defects on this communication between the entrance station and the exit station do not cause, however, calculation and charging of parking fees to be disturbed. DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT In particular in larger parking arrangements it may be con¬ venient to have separate payment and exit stations. The payment operation is namely the most time consuming of the operations to occur on exit. Due to this two or more payment stations may be required in a certain parking arrangement even if only one exit station is used. If several exit stations are present, two or more payment stations may be arranged for each of these exit stations. The operation in such a case will be clarified with the aid of figs 8 and 9. The operation at such a payment station is illustrated in fig 8. The payment receiving apparatus is generally speaking of the same design as the one described with the aid of figs 5-7. The difference consists in that the payment receiving apparatus used according to fig 8 comprises a bar code printer and is arranged to deliver to the customer after payment a receipt in the form of a ticket or a quittance 47. This quittance carries the same text as the quittance 43 in fig 7 but has in addition in bar code 48 information as to payment time and besides also identification information characteristic for the payment receiving apparatus. A rest position for the apparatus is indicated at 49 in fig 8. The payment receiving apparatus may be so designed that the customer is expected to move to the same walking but also vehicle movement past the apparatus is well possible. The apparatus may in its rest position show e.g. the following message at its display at 50a: WELCOME, PLACE THE TICKET IN READER. Then the bar code reader reads, possibly after the customer having pressed a button for initiating the reader, the bar code on the ticket as indicated at 51. If the ticket would be invalid, this is communicated to the customer on the display at 50b. If the ticket is accepted, following information may be given to the customer at 50c: TICKET ACCEPTED, REMOVE TICKET. Prior to that, the apparatus has checked that the ticket has not been read before by comparing with memory stored information about previously read tickets and in addition it has been established that identification information on the ticket is related to a ticket apparatus belonging to the arrangement. Subsequently, the customer obtains on the display at 50d a statement as to the amount to be paid and payment occurs at point 52. When payment has been made, the display may as indicated at 50e give the message: AWAIT RECEIPT. The apparatus then delivers the receipt 47 to the customer and the apparatus returns to rest position 49. The receipt 47 does not only form a quittance as to paid sum but also an exit ticket due to bar code information 48. In fig 9 a separate exit station for use with the separate payment station, the operation of which has been illustrated in fig 8, is shown. This exit station comprises an exit apparatus, which comprises a bar code reader adapted to read the bar code of the receipt or the exit ticket 47 when the same has been placed in a read position relative to the exit apparatus and which is arranged to control an exit controlling arrangement similar to the one illustrated in fig 1 at 9 and also contained in the exit station to allow exit within a certain time period after the time information in bar code on exit ticket 47. Also this exit apparatus is adapted to allow the customer to take back his exit ticket after reading by means of the bar code reader so that the customer then has the enctrance ticket as well as the exit ticket in his possession. The exit apparatus is perferably adapted to store in a memory the bar code information of the exit ticket. On basis of such stored information, the exit apparatus is adapted to check that bar code information on a read exit ticket means that the same is valid, i.e. that the time period between actual time and the time information present on exit ticket 47 in bar code 48 does not exceed a predetermined amount, e.g. 5 or 10 minutes. Furthermore, the exit apparatus is adapted to check that identification information in bar code on exit ticket 47 concerns a payment receiving apparatus belonging to the device. The operation in exit station is more specifically the fol¬ lowing (fig 9). In a rest position indicated at 53, the exit apparatus indicates at its display e.g. EXIT and the actual time at 54a. When a vehicle 25 moves up onto a sensing device 55 in front of the exit apparatus, the text: PLACE TICKET IN READER is given on its display. The bar code reader in the apparatus reads at 56 the bar code on exit ticket 47. If the ticket would be invalid, this is communicated to the customer at the display of the apparatus at 54c. If the ticket is accepted, this is communicated to the customer on the display at 54d, e.g. by the text: REMOVE TICKET, THANKS FOR VISIT, WELCOME BACK. Thereafter the exit apparatus controls the exit gate to be opened as indicated at 57 and the exit apparatus returns to rest position 53. As in the previous embodiment a request for waiting may be indicated on the display of the exit apparatus as illustrated at 54e if e.g. a car moving backwardly would be present on a sensing device opposite to the gate. Otherwise the gate returns to closed position after the vehicle 25 having passed out through the exit station. Also here there is as indicated by line 58 a bypass connection for customers who rent on long time conditions parking places and have suitable certificates thereon, e.g. cards which on introduction into the exit apparatus cause the bypass and accordingly direct gate opening. POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS The device described may of course be modified in several ways within the scope of the invention. It would for instance be conceivable to design the device so that information concerning vehicles driven in through the entrance station is stored and such information is transferable to the payment receiving apparatus and, if there is an exit station separate from the payment station, to an exit apparatus comprised therein. In this way information concerning acceptable tickets is accor¬ dingly stored and after comparison such information may be successively erased. Besides, the payment receving apparatus could be designed so that it applies a quittance concerning the paid sum and possible additional information for exit, if there is a separate exit station, directly on the entrance ticket, on which in such a case space must be reserved for such additional text. The ticket apparatus 3 could be arranged to print on the ticket 14 the entrance time in such writing which-- is directly readable by the customer, which would, however, simplify unauthorized use of dropped tickets. Another alternative to enable the customer to check himself that the correct entrance time has been noted consists in designing the payment receiving apparatus so that it on its display with figures and/or letters indicates the entrance time applied on the ticket in code when payment is to be made. Finally, it is to be understood that the memory or memories defined in claim 1 and/or claim 6 should be of sufficient capacity to store information corresponding to at least the number of vehicles which may be parked in the arrange¬ ment.

Claims: Claims 1. A device for parking arrangements comprising at least one entrance station (1) and at least one exit station (2), said device comprising for the entrance station a ticket apparatus (3), which is adapted to deliver to the customer a ticket provided with time information (15) and suitably also with identification information characteristic for the ticket apparatus, and an entrance controlling arrangement (4) con¬ trolled by the ticket apparatus, said device comprising at least one payment receiving apparatus (8), which comprises a reader (27) adapted to read information of the ticket when the ticket is located in a reading position relative to the appa¬ ratus and a processing unit (21) adapted to calculate sums to be paid on basis of time information on the ticket (14) read by the reader (27), actual time and current parking tariff, and an exit controlling arrangement (9) comprised in the exit station for allowing only authorized exit, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the ticket apparatus (3) comprises a printer (13) adapted to provide the ticket (14) intended for delivery to the customer at the entrance station with time information (15), that the payment receiving apparatus (8) is adapted to allow the customer to take back his ticket after completed reading by means of the reader (27) and that it is adapted to store in a memory information (15) of the ticket to check on basis of such memorized information that information on a ticket read by the payment receiving apparatus means that the ticket is valid and has not been read before. 2. A device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the payment receiving apparatus (8) is adapted to check that identification information on the ticket concerns a ticket apparatus (3) belonging to the device. 3. A device according to any of claims l or 2, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the payment receiving apparatus (8) is comprised in the exit station (2) and that the exit controlling arrangement (9) is controlled by the payment receiving appa¬ ratus to allow exit after payment. 4. A device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the payment receiving apparatus is separated from the exit station, that the payment receiving apparatus comprises a printer and is adapted to deliver to the customer after payment a receipt with information about actual time and suitably also identification information characteristic for the payment receiving apparatus, and that the exit station comprises an exit apparatus, which comprises a reader adapted to read information of the receipt when the receipt is located in a reading position relative to the apparatus and which is adapted to control the exit controlling arrangement to allow exit within a certain time period after time information on the receipt. 5. A device according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the exit apparatus is adapted to allow the customer to take back his receipt after reading by means of the reader. 6. A device according to claim 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that it is adapted to store in a memory informa¬ tion of the receipt. 7. A device according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the exit apparatus is adapted to check that information on a read receipt (47) means that the receipt is valid. 8. A device according to claim 6 or 7, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that the exit apparatus is adapted to check that identification information on the receipt concerns a payment receiving apparatus belonging to the device. 9. A device according to any of claims 4-8, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that the receipt is formed as a separate exit ticket or alternatively has the character of text printed on the ticket delivered by the ticket apparatus. 10. A device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the printer (13) of the ticket apparatus (3) is adapted to provide the ticket (14) with information in coded form, in particular in bar code. 11. A device according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the printer of the payment receiving apparatus is adapted to deliver the receipt with information in coded form, in particular in bar code.

Inventors: FARKAS BELA, FARKAS, BELA
Applicants: CALE IND AB, AB CALE-INDUSTRI
Application year: 1988
Main classification: G07C1
IPC codes: G07B15, G07F17