Patent GB-857658-A (GB)
Title: Ticket purchase system
IPC: G07B15/02
Filed: 1956-04-20
Abstract: 857,658. Checking fares. HALPERN, J. W., and WARD, W. April 18, 1957 [April 20, 1956; July 4, 1956; Jan. 2, 1957], Nos. 12146/56, 20596/56 and 129/57. Class 106 (3). In a ticket system for use in connection with passenger transport vehicles, each ticket includes magnetic material for recording information significant of a monetary value of the ticket, and there is provided first. ticket checking means, operative at a point of passenger entry to a vehicle, for recording on said magnetic material information significant of the point of entry, and second ticket-checking means, operative at a passenger's destination for comparing said first- and second-mentioned information with information produced by said second checking means, significant of the point of exit, and recording on said magnetic material and/or indicating a monetary value equal to said first-mentioned monetary value minus the fare for the journey. The ticket may be of plastic tape with magnetic tracks. At the point of entrance, the ticket is inserted at 2, Fig. 5, and is delivered at 3 by belts 4, 5, which carry it past a plurality of magnetic reading and recording heads. The heads #1 and #2 erase any previous entry signal. The head α1 checks the valve signal frequency by means of a unit 16, and operates an electric entry door-lock, or if the signal is irregular deposits the ticket in a box 21. The heads #3 and #4 impress the entry point signal on the tracks, by means of a pulse generating unit 23 controlled by a switch 24 by the driver, or from the vehicle wheels. The head #1 checks a genuity signal, and the bead #11 erases it. At the point of exit, the ticket is inserted in the apparatus shown in Fig. 6 and carried past a plurality of magnetic heads to be re-issued. The ticket value pulses are read by the head α2 and stored in a unit 34, and passed to an adding unit 35A. The heads #5 and #6 pass to a unit 35 a memory of the entry signal, which is compared in a subtractor unit 37 with the signal in a unit 36 connected to the unit 23. The result of the subtraction is added in the unit 35A to the ticket value, and passed by a unit 38 to a head α4. The unit 38 also controls the exit door. The heads α3, #7 and #8 erase all previous signals, and the head 6 re-records the genuity signal. If the unit 35a registers over the ticket value, a flap 42 is controlled to deliver the ticket into a box 41. For use when a party uses one ticket, a multiplier unit is described whereby the ticket must, at entry and exit, be registered once for each member of the party. The ticket may be of thick brass or plastic, electroplated with magnetic material, all the magnetic tracks being in grooves 76, Fig. 9. For such a grooved ticket, at entry or exit, the apparatus shown in Fig. 12 is used. The ticket, inserted at 70, passes by means of wheels 71, 71a, and rollers 72 engaging the narrow sides 73, to a point 81, whence, after a pause, it is returned by reverse rotation of the rollers, to be re-issued at 70, passing the requisite magnetic heads on the way. On a vehicle having entry and exit points on one platform, the ticket is inserted at 47, Fig. 8, into the entry registration machine and is re-offered at 48. A valid registration releases an electric snap-lock and springs move double bar from the position 49<SP>1</SP> to the position 49. The passenger mounts the platform 54 and returns the bar by a handle 53 to its locked position. A light beam 55 is used for counting passengers. For exit by an hydraulically-operated door 58, the ticket is inserted at 56 into the exit registration machine. When the vehicle stops, the door opens, light-rays 62 are used to count the passengers and when the last passenger registering his exit has passed, the door closes, the ticket being re-offered at 57. A door 61 is similarly operated. Specification 590,728 is referred to.