Gate with coin or token (jeton) operation

This section should be read in conjunction with the section passive gate or turnstile which describes the general technology, application and benefit / cautions of gates and turnstiles. This section only considers the specific aspects associated with use of coins or tokens with gates and turnstiles.

These gates or turnstiles are fitted with a unit that accepts and checks the coins or tokens. For coins, there are two modes of operation.

The simple mode is where the tariff is set at a specific coin denomination so that just one coin of the correct denomination needs to be inserted. The coin acceptor may be set to the size of the coin, and may have the capability to assess the coin (e.g. metallic signature). Once the coin is inserted and accepted, the gate or turnstile mechanism is released.
The coin acceptor can accept multiple coins, and determines both the number and denomination of the coins inserted. Once sufficient value has been inserted, the gate or turnstile mechanism is released.

Jetons are prepaid tokens that are pre-purchased (often in bulk) from a booking office, kiosk or other vendor. In general, jetons are used in flat fare systems and the unit price is set so that one jeton is required for entry to the system. That price can vary over time without affecting the validity of the token or requiring any change in its acceptor, both of which present advantages over coins in an inflationary environment.

Jetons come in a number of formats:

Simple plastic token whose shape and width is correct for insertion into the aperture, and once inserted the gate or turnstile is released.
Metal token whose metallic signature and/or weight allows the jeton acceptor to determine whether the unit is valid.
Plastic or metal token with electronic signature (e.g. embedded chip or coil) which allows the acceptor to determine whether the jeton is genuine.

The coin or jeton acceptor is normally embedded in the gate / turnstile, in a location that is ergonomically optimized for insertion and passage. There may be a mechanism to eject jetons that are not accepted, although in many cases they are kept to avoid reuse. There needs to be a secure vault for the coins or jetons, and an access hatch.

There needs to be a connection between the acceptor and the gate / turnstile release mechanism, which can be a simple electronic pulse or solenoid, or can be a data stream with intelligent interface. These gates would normally have a register of the number of coins or jetons inserted, or else they pass the data on to an intelligent device.

Gates with coins and jeton acceptors are normally used in flat fare systems, where the customer pays to enter he controlled transit area. This may be a single boarding on a bus, boarding to a bus with transfers permitted in a controlled area, or rail/tram systems where transfer between lines takes place in a station or other controlled area and no further payment is needed.

Benefits of gates and turnstiles with coin or jeton acceptors (relative to passive gates or turnstiles) are:

Simplicity for the customer.
When correctly used, can facilitate very rapid customer throughput.
For jetons, allows advance purchase away from the immediate point of use.
Jetons do not have direct cash value, which can improve security and reduce opportunities for fraud by transit personnel.
The price of jetons can be adjusted without having to change the technology. The jetons purchased before the price change can still be used without any action being required by either the customer or the transit agency.

Cautions with regard to gates and turnstiles with coin or jeton acceptors (relative to passive gates or turnstiles) are:

Additional components must be purchased, integrated and installed.
Additional maintenance requirements.
Coin acceptors which check the validity coins can be problematic, whereas simpler mechanisms are easily fooled by wrong coins (e.g. foreign coins of similar shape but low value) or by other metal objects.
In case of coins, the tariff may become stuck at the value of a specific denomination either because there is not a suitable higher denomination, or the next value would require a very high increase in the tariff.