Automated ticket/boarding pass printer

An apparatus for processing a ticket includes a circular ticket guide (12) having a drive apparatus (14) for driving a ticket in the circular ticket guide (12), an arcuate ticket guide (200) having a ticket drive apparatus (204) for driving a ticket in the arcuate ticket guide (200), a ticket transfer guide (80) extending tangentially between the circular and arcuate ticket guides (12, 200) for transferring a ticket between the circular and arcuate ticket guides (12, 200), at least one ticket input guide (52) extending tangentially into the circular ticket guide (12) for inputting a ticket onto the circular ticket guide (12) from an associated ticket input area, a ticket output guide for outputting a ticket from the arcuate ticket guide (200) to an associated ticket output area (230), ticket writing and reading mechanisms (60, 70) for writing and reading information on a ticket and a ticket printer (210) for printing information on a ticket.