Dispensing apparatus for dispensing card-shaped data carriers

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus for dispensing card-shaped data carriers, includes at least one coding unit configured to encode a data carrier with at least one data set, and at least one detection unit configured to detect the functionality of the encoded data carrier. The dispensing apparatus further includes at least one sorting unit having at least one drive means configured to forward the data carrier, wherein the drive means is configured such that the data carrier is forwarded with a first speed upon detection of an error-free data carrier, and the data carrier is forwarded with a second speed upon detection of a defective data carrier, the first speed being different from the second speed.

Claims

1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing card-shaped data carriers, comprising: at least one coding unit configured to encode a data carrier with at least one data set; at least one detection unit configured to detect the functionality of the encoded data carrier; and at least one sorting unit, including at least one drive means configured to forward the data carrier along a transport path to an output, wherein the drive means is configured such that the data carrier is forwarded along the transport path with a first speed to the output upon detection of an error-free data carrier, and wherein the drive means is configured such that the data carrier is forwarded along the transport path with a second speed to the output upon detection of a defective data carrier, and wherein the first speed is different from the second speed.

2. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one first receptacle and at least one second receptacle, wherein the second receptacle is separated from the first receptacle by a separation module, and the first receptacle and the second receptacle are arranged such that the error-free data carrier is forwarded into the first receptacle and the defective data carrier is forwarded into the second receptacle.

3. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising at least one transport path, wherein the drive means is configured to convey the data carrier along the transport path in an output direction, and wherein in the output direction the second receptacle connects to the transport path and the first receptacle connects to the second receptacle.

4. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the distance between an end of the transport path and the separation module in the output direction is smaller than the length of the data carrier.

5. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first speed is predetermined such that the error-free data carrier is conveyed beyond the separation module into the first receptacle, and/or the second speed is predetermined such that the defective data carrier is not conveyed beyond the separation module.

6. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second speed is predetermined such that the defective data carrier is conveyed in the output direction to a conveying endpoint, in which the length portion of the data carrier in the output direction on the side of the second receptacle is at least greater than the length portion of the data carrier on the side of the first receptacle.

7. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the drive means is configured to transport the data carrier in the output direction and opposite to the output direction; and the drive means is configured, upon detection of an error-free data carrier, in such a way that the data carrier is initially conveyed opposite to the output direction to a starting position and is then accelerated to the first speed in the output direction.

8. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a feed unit configured to provide the data carrier, wherein the feed unit comprises a separating means configured to separate the data carriers stackable in a housing of the feed unit.

9. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising at least one transport path, and wherein the separating means comprises at least one motor for driving a separating element, wherein the motor for driving the separating element is configured such that a data carrier is forwarded onto the transport path.

10. A dispensing device, according to claim 1 wherein the card-shaped data carriers comprise tickets.

11. A method for operating a dispensing apparatus, comprising: providing a plurality of card-shaped data carriers; encoding each of the provided data carriers with at least one data set; detecting the functionality of each of the encoded data carriers; upon detection of an error-free data carrier, forwarding the error-free data carrier along a transport path at a first speed to an output; and upon detection of a defective data carrier, forwarding the defective data carrier along the transport path at a second speed to the output, wherein the first speed is different from the second speed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The figures present:

(2) FIG. 1 a schematic view of an embodiment of a dispensing apparatus in accordance with the present application,

(3) FIG. 2 a schematic view of another embodiment of a dispensing apparatus in accordance with the present application,

(4) FIG. 3 a schematic view of another embodiment of a dispensing apparatus in accordance with the present application,

(5) FIG. 4 a schematic view of an embodiment of a separating element in accordance with the present application,

(6) FIG. 5 a schematic view of an embodiment of a separating element in accordance with the present application, and

(7) FIG. 6 a diagram of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

(8) In the following, the same reference signs are used for the same elements.

(9) The term “card”, which is used in the following examples for linguistic simplification, is synonymous with the “card-shaped data carrier” described above.

(10) In the figures a right-angled, three-dimensional coordinate system is used, the axes of which have the following meanings: X The dispensing apparatus transports the cards in the x-direction, whereby the output direction is in the positive x-direction. In the following, the “length” of an object means its expansion in the x-direction. Locations that are described as “front”, “front . . . ” or the like have a larger x-value within the coordinate system than locations that are described as “back”, “behind . . . ” or the like. Movements called “ahead”, “forwards” or the like, run in the direction of increasing x-values. Movements called “back”, “backwards” or the like move in the direction of decreasing x-values. y The y-axis is perpendicular to the output direction and perpendicular to the direction of gravity. In the following, the “width” of an object means its expansion in the y-direction. Z The z-axis extends in the direction of gravity. Gravity acts in the negative z-direction. In the following, the “height” or “thickness” of an object means its expansion in the z-direction. Locations which are described as “up”, “above” or similar have a larger z-value within the coordinate system than places which are described as “under”, “below” or similar. Movements called “up”, “upward”, “to the top” or the like move in the direction of increasing z-values. Movements that are called “down”, “downwards”, “to the bottom”, “falling” or the like move in the direction of declining z-values.

(11) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a dispensing apparatus 100 in accordance with the present application. The dispensing apparatus 100 may, for example, be part of a dispensing device (e.g. a ticket vending machine).

(12) The dispensing apparatus 100 comprises at least one coding unit 122 and at least one detection unit 102. The coding unit 122 is formed by a coding module 104 and a contactless interface 106 in the form of an antenna 106. The detection unit 102 is formed by a detection module 124 and the antenna 106. In other words, the antenna 106 can be used for a coding process and a detection process. It shall be understood that, according to other variants of the application, two separate interfaces and/or other types of interfaces may also be provided. All what is required is that at least one interface can be used to code and/or read a card 114 to be dispensed.

(13) Further, the dispensing apparatus 100 comprises a sorting unit 107 comprising at least one drive means 108. In particular, the sorting unit 107 is formed by the drive means 108. The drive means 108 comprises at least one controllable motor 110 (for instance an electrically operated stepper motor or direct current motor) and two roller or conveyor modules 112.1, 112.2 which can be driven by the motor 110.

(14) The drive means 108 is configured to transport or forward a card 114. The card 114 is transported or forwarded along the x-axis of the drawn coordinate system. The drive means 108 may be operated at least at a first speed level and a second speed level. If the drive means 108 is operated at the first speed level, the card 114 is forwarded with a corresponding first speed. When the drive means 108 is operated at the second speed level, the card 114 is forwarded with a corresponding second speed.

(15) The card 114 can comprise at least one (not shown) memory module and one (not shown) interface (e.g. an antenna). The interface of the card 114 corresponds in particular to the interface 106. In other words, a communication link can be established between said interfaces, e.g. to write data to the card (e.g. to the memory module of card 114) or to read data from the card (e.g. from the memory module of the card 114).

(16) The coding unit 122 can first encode or write at least one data set to a provided card 114 at the shown coding position of the card 114. For example, based on a provided data set, the coding module 104 can generate a coding signal and cause its transmission by the antenna 106. The transmitted data set can be received by the antenna of the card 114 and extracted and stored by a (not shown) data processing device on the card 114.

(17) Furthermore, the detection unit 122 can detect the functionality of an encoded card 114 in a detection position of the card 114. The detection position can be the same as the coding position. In particular, the detection unit 122 may perform at least one functional test to detect the functionality of the card 114.

(18) For example, the detection unit 122 can detect whether data can be read from the card 114. In addition, in particular, the detection module 124 can check the correctness of the data read by comparing the data previously written to the card 114 with the data read back from the card 114. It shall be understood that according to other variants of the application, other detection processes can be performed to detect the functionality of the card 114. The detection process can, in particular, be controlled by the detection module 124.

(19) The drive means 108 may include a control element (not shown). The detection result (e.g. error-free card 114 or defective card 114) can be provided to the control element of the drive means 108 via a communication link. Upon detection of an error-free card 114, the drive means 108 is configured such that the card 114 is forwarded with a first speed. Upon detection of a defective card 114, the drive means 108 is configured such that the card 114 is forwarded with a second speed. In particular, the control element can control the at least one motor 110 accordingly. This makes it easy to sort cards 114. Switch mechanisms or the like are not required.

(20) In other variants of the application, the dispensing apparatus may comprise at least one control unit configured to control at least part of the components (e.g. the coding unit, the detection unit and/or the drive means) of the dispensing apparatus. For example, a control unit may comprise a processor, memory, interfaces, software with instructions etc.

(21) FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a dispensing apparatus 200 in accordance with the present application. In order to avoid repetitions, only the differences to the example in FIG. 1 are described below. For the other components of the dispensing apparatus 200, please refer, in particular, to the explanations above.

(22) The dispensing apparatus 200 comprises a transport path 226 with a beginning 211 and an end 213. A card 214 to be dispensed can be provided at the beginning 211 and, for example, be transported along the transport path 226 by a (previously described) drive means 208. The arrow with the reference sign 228 indicates the output direction 228 for cards 214 to be output; in the drawn coordinate system the output direction 228 corresponds to the positive x-direction. For example, the provided card 214 may first be conveyed to the coding position described above.

(23) In addition, the dispensing apparatus 200 comprises a first receptacle 232 and a second receptacle 230. A receptacle 230, 232 is formed as a compartment or container with a circumferential side wall, a base and a receptacle opening. The first receptacle 232 is separated from the second receptacle 230 by a separation module 234 in the form of a separation wall 234. In addition, the second receptacle 230 is open at the base, so that a card 214, which is fed into the second receptacle 230, falls through the opening to be provided for a next machining step. For example, below the second receptacle 230 there may be a (non-shown) dispensing tray of a vending machine from which a customer can manually remove the card 214, or the card 214 may be fed to a further machine processing step.

(24) Seen in output direction 228, the second receptacle 230 is located directly at the end 213 of the transport path 226. The second receptacle 230 is directly connected to the first receptacle 232.

(25) The second speed is, in particular, adjusted to the arrangement of the first receptacle 232 and the second receptacle 230. Furthermore, the first speed is, in particular, adjusted to the arrangement of the first receptacle 232 and the second receptacle 230. This means, in particular, that an error-free card 214 is transported, in particular, ejected, only into the first receptacle 232 (and not into the second receptacle 230) by operating the drive means 208 at a first speed level, and a defective card 214 is transported, in particular, ejected, only into the second receptacle 230 (and not into the first receptacle 232), in particular, by operating the drive means 208 at a second speed level.

(26) In this embodiment, the first speed can be greater than the second speed to forward a card 214 beyond the separation wall 234 along a trajectory parabola to the first receptacle 232, in particular, to eject it. The second speed may be predetermined such that the card 214 is not conveyed beyond the separation wall 234 to pass the card 214 to the second receptacle 230. A sorting of cards 214 can be carried out in a simple and reliable way.

(27) FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a dispensing apparatus 300 according to the present application. In order to avoid repetitions, only the differences to the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2 are described below. For the other components of the dispensing apparatus 300, please refer in particular to the explanations above.

(28) In the embodiment shown, the dispensing apparatus 300 comprises a feed unit 346 configured to provide cards 314 at a beginning 311 of the transport path 326. In a housing 358 of the feed unit 346, a plurality of cards 314 can be stacked on top of each other in the z-direction, thus under the influence of gravity.

(29) To always provide exactly one card 314 from the plurality of stacked cards 314, the feed unit 346 comprises at least one separating means 348. The separating means 348 may comprise at least one motor 350 and at least one separating element 352. For example, the at least one separating element 352 is a cam element 352 arranged on a rotation shaft and driven by the motor 350.

(30) The present cam mechanism 352 is, in particular, configured to carry out a separation of the stacked cards 314 in cooperation with a stop surface 376, which is preferably formed in steps, and to provide exactly one separated card 314. The height 374 of the exit gap of the feed unit 346 at the beginning of the transport section 326 can correspond to the thickness of the cards 314. In particular, the height of the output gap can be greater than the thickness of one data carrier and smaller than the thickness of two data carriers.

(31) For a defined forwarding of the cards 314, a plurality of guide modules 370 is arranged in this embodiment. In particular, a guide module 370 may comprise a groove or a gap to guide a card 314. In particular, the arrangement of the guide modules 370 and the conveyor modules 312 ensures that a card 314 to be output receives a defined output direction.

(32) Further, two position sensors 360 are presently provided. Preferably, optical sensors 360, for example light barriers 360, can be provided. In particular, the position of a transported card 314 can be detected with the light barriers 360. The position data can be used to control the motor 350 and/or the motor 310.

(33) To safely dispense a card 314, it is advantageous if a driven conveyor module 312.1 is the last element along the transport path 326 that carries a card to be output. This is particularly advantageous if the card 314 is to be pushed out at the (low) second speed: if the last guide element is actively driven, it can be safely assumed that the card 314 has actually left the transport path 326 and is on its way to fall into the desired first receptacle 330 or the desired second receptacle 332.

(34) To safely dispense a card 314, in particular, to safely drop it into the second receptacle 330, it is advantageous that the top edge 367 of the rearmost sidewall in the x-direction is left behind the line of the foremost extension 312.1.1. of the conveyor module 312.1. This arrangement ensures that there is no step between the end 313 of the transport path 326 and the rear wall of the second receptacle 330, on which a card 314, which is to fall into the second receptacle 330, could get stuck.

(35) As has already been written, a (central) control unit can be provided according to other variants of the application in order to control the components (e.g. motor 350, drive means 308, coding device 302, detection device 322 etc.). This can be done, for example, depending on captured position data and/or detection results.

(36) In addition, a first receptacle 332 and a second receptacle 330 are provided, which will be connected to the end of 313 of the transport path 326. The distance 366 between the end 313 of the transport path 326 and the separation module 334 is preferably less than the length 362 of the card 314. The distance 366 corresponds, in particular, to the length of the receptacle opening of the second receptacle 330.

(37) Furthermore, a height difference 364 is provided between the end 313 of the transport path 326 and the upper end 333 of the separation module 334, preferably a separation wall 334. This makes it possible to improve the reliability of forwarding, in particular, ejecting an error-free card 314 into the first receptacle 332 beyond the separation module 334. The height difference 364 is preferably between 25% and 30% of the length of a card 314.

(38) In order to provide reliable routing of an error-free card 314 hitting the front sub sidewall 336 into the first receptacle 332, this sidewall 336 is formed arched in the upper end area 342. In particular, a bending of the upper (free) end 344 of the side wall 336 opposite to the output direction 328 is provided. In particular, this can prevent an undesired rebound of a card 314.

(39) The diagonal 369 of the second receptacle 330 can correspond at least to the length of the cards 314 in order to be able to collect several defective cards 314 in the second receptacle 330 without changing the function-determining geometry of the dispensing apparatus 300, in particular, the distance 364, by collecting cards.

(40) It shall be understood that the width of the entire dispensing apparatus 300 shown and of all the units used in it (i.e. their respective extension in the Y direction) is suitable for the width of the cards 314. In particular, the housing 358 of the feed unit, the stop surface 376, the position sensors 360, the guide modules 370 and the transport path 326 may have a usable width at least equal to the width of the cards 314, preferably exactly equal to the width of the cards 314. The width of the first receptacle 332 and the second receptacle 330 may be at least equal to the width of the cards 314.

(41) FIGS. 4 and 5 show schematic top views of embodiments of separation elements 480, 580 according to the application.

(42) FIG. 4 shows a disc-shaped separating element 480 with a driver 482. The separating element 480 can be installed at the level of the card transport in the rear end of the feed unit 346. The separating element can be rotated around the z-axis. For the removal of exactly one (namely the lowest) card 314 from the card stack in the feed unit 346, the separating element rotates exactly one rotation, and the driver 482 pushes the lowest card 314 from the card stack to the beginning of the transport path 326 by positive locking. The driver 482 can, in particular, be fastened on the upper side of the disc-shaped separating element 480, for example glued, soldered, welded, screwed or inserted.

(43) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a separation element 580. With this separating element 580 at least one cam 586 is arranged on a shaft 584, wherein it is understood that two or more cams can also be arranged on the shaft 584. The separating element 580 corresponds to the separating element 352 in FIG. 3. The separating element 580 is arranged below the plane of the card transport and can be rotated around the Y-axis. In particular, the separating element 580 is arranged in such a way that the at least one cam 586 contacts the lowest card 314 of the card stack in the feed unit 346 during one rotation of the separating element 580 and, by frictional engagement between cam 586 and card 314, moves at least the lowest card 314 of the card stack in the direction of the beginning of the transport path 326. Due to further friction between the lowest card 314 and the cards above it, it may happen that more than one card 314 is initially moved in the direction of the beginning of the transport path 326 during one rotation of the shaft 584. However, the stop surface 376 allows exactly one card 314 (namely the lowest card) to pass in the direction of the transport path 326.

(44) FIG. 6 shows a diagram of an embodiment of a method according to the present application to operate a dispensing apparatus. The method is explained in more detail below using the embodiment in FIG. 3 as an example. It goes without saying that the method can also be transferred to other output device variants of the present application.

(45) In a first step 601, a card 314 is provided. Preferably the feed unit 346 provides exactly one card 314 at the beginning 311 of the transport path 326 by the separating means 348 conveying exactly one (in particular, only the lowest) card 314 in output direction 328. In particular, a provided card 314 can be transported to a coding position by the two motors 350, 310 and by the separating element 352 and the roller modules 312.1, 312.2, respectively. The reaching of the coding position by a card 314 can be detected, in particular, by the light barriers 360. When reaching the coding position, the motors 350, 310 can be stopped, for example.

(46) In a next step 602, the provided card 314 is encoded with at least one data set. The at least one data set may include data required for the intended use of the card 314 or test data.

(47) For example, the coding module 324 of a coding device 322 can generate a coding signal based on a provided data set and cause it to be transmitted by the antenna 306. The coding signal can be received by an interface of the card 314. For example, the coding signal may include instructions that cause the transmitted data set to be at least partially extracted from the coding signal and, in particular, stored in a memory module of the card 314.

(48) After the coding process has been completed, a detection process can be performed in step 603. Since the same antenna 306 is preferably used for the detection process, it is not necessary to reposition the card 314 after the coding process.

(49) During the detection process, the detection device 302 can check the functionality of the encoded card 314. For example, a functional test can be initiated and, in particular, controlled by the detection module 304. It is preferred to check whether at least some of the data stored on the card 314 can be identically read.

(50) In a next step 604, the sorting process is carried out depending on the detection result. In particular, if a defective card 314 is detected, the method is continued with step 605 and if an error-free card 314 is detected, the method is continued with step 606.

(51) In step 605, the motor 310 is started and, in particular, operated at a second speed level. At this speed level, the drive means 308 causes the card 314 to accelerate in the output direction 328 and to forward the card 314 with a second speed such that the card 314 can be conveyed (only) to the second receptacle 330.

(52) In particular, the second speed may be predetermined such that a defective card 314 is conveyed to a second conveying endpoint at which, for example, approximately ⅔ of the length of the card 314 is over the second receptacle 330. At this moment the card 314 can be located on the end 333 of the separation module 334. The gravity then causes the card 314 to fall into the second receptacle 330.

(53) In particular, step 605 can be configured so that the motor 310 (and thus the conveyor module 312.1) continues to run for the duration of a second run-on time after the last position sensor 360 has reported that the card 314 has left the transport path 326. If the card 314 is to be pushed into the second receptacle with the (small) second speed, this second run-on time can be between 0.2 and 0.6 seconds, preferably 0.4 seconds. After the second run-on time, the motor 310 can be switched off.

(54) After forwarding a defective card 314 to the second receptacle 330, the next card 314 can be provided in step 601. Defective cards 314 can be temporarily collected in the second receptacle 330. When the receptacle capacity of the second receptacle 330 is reached and/or a certain period of time has elapsed, the second receptacle 330 can be emptied.

(55) In particular, the second receptacle 330 may be equipped with a (non-shown) first sensor which measures the level of the second receptacle 330 and causes a signal to be emitted to a user and/or maintenance technician when the receptacle capacity of the second receptacle 330 is reached.

(56) Alternatively, the dispensing apparatus 300 or a (non-shown) drive of the dispensing apparatus 300 may be configured to count the defective cards 314 forwarded into the second receptacle 330 and to notify a user and/or maintenance technician when the receptacle capacity of the second receptacle 330 is reached. For this purpose, the dispensing apparatus 300 may be equipped with a (not shown) second sensor which detects the removal of the second receptacle 330 for emptying and causes the counter reading to be reset when the receptacle 330 is removed.

(57) Upon detection of an error-free card 314, in step 606 the drive means 308 can be operated at a first speed level such that the card 314 is forwarded to the first receptacle, in particular, ejected with a first speed. According to an example, the motor 310 can be operated as follows:

(58) First, the motor 310 can be operated in a reverse direction at a third speed. In other words, the card 314 can first be returned against the output direction 328. This allows the available distance of acceleration to be extended in order to reach the first speed. The card 314 can be moved backwards by the drive means 308 in opposite output direction 328 up to a preset start position.

(59) The reaching of the starting position can be detected by means of the light barriers 360. Upon detection of reaching the start position, the motor 310 can be set to the first speed level to accelerate the error-free card 314 in output direction 328 and forward it with a first speed greater than the second speed. By forwarding the card 314 with the first speed, the card 314 is conveyed, in particular, ejected beyond the separation module 334 into the first receptacle 332.

(60) In particular, step 606 can be configured such that the motor 310 (and thus the conveyor module 312.1) continues to run for a first run-on time after the last position sensor 360 has reported that the card 314 has left the transport path 326. If the card 314 is to be forwarded to the first receptacle 332 with the (higher) first speed, in particular, ejected, this first run-on time can be between 0.05 and 0.2 seconds, preferably 0.1 seconds. After the first run-on time, the motor 310 can be switched off.

(61) The error-free card 314 can then be made available for the next handling step.

(62) For example, if a request to output another card 314 is entered by a user or a machine process, step 601 can be continued.