Angled Card Slot Support for Robotic Payment Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing card payment systems require reliable and consistent testing to ensure customer satisfaction and sales completion, but current methods lack efficient and precise robotic testing solutions for repeated and accurate testing.

Innovation Solution

A robotic multiple-slot test card support system with a test robot system, featuring a robotic arm and end-effector, and a card support apparatus with angled shelf supports and lateral supports, allowing precise positioning and repeated retrieval of test cards for extended and repeated testing of card payment systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual testing methods are used for card payment systems, then testing can be performed, but testing consistency and reliability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting reliabilityVSAvoidautomation level

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical testing operations with an automated robotic system. The robotic arm with end effector automatically performs card insertion, withdrawal, and positioning operations, eliminating human variability and improving testing reliability through consistent automated execution of test procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The card support apparatus is designed with self-aligning features where cards automatically position themselves in the correct orientation and location within the card slots. The angled shelf supports and lateral supports create a self-service positioning mechanism that ensures consistent card placement without requiring manual adjustment, thereby improving testing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If repeated testing of card payment systems is performed, then testing thoroughness is improved, but testing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting consistencyVSAvoidtesting duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The card support apparatus pre-positions multiple test cards in advance within easily accessible card slots. The robotic system retrieves pre-positioned cards rather than handling individual cards sequentially, which reduces the time required for repeated testing while maintaining consistency through automated retrieval operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The robotic testing system performs continuous automated testing operations without interruption. The system maintains continuous motion between card retrieval, insertion, testing, and withdrawal operations, eliminating idle time between test cycles. Multiple cards are tested in continuous sequence, improving both consistency and efficiency of the testing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If precise positioning of test cards is achieved, then retrieval accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecard positioning precisionVSAvoidsupport structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The card support apparatus is divided into modular card slots, each with independent lateral supports and angled shelf supports. This segmentation allows each slot to be optimized for precise card positioning while keeping individual components simple and manageable. The modular structure achieves high positioning precision without requiring a complex monolithic design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The angled shelf supports act as intermediary elements between the card and the lateral supports. These intermediaries guide the card into the correct position and maintain precise alignment during retrieval operations. The intermediary supports simplify the overall structure by providing a mechanical guidance system that achieves precision without complex positioning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10733392B2Systems, apparatuses and methods of supporting payment test cards and robotically testing card payment systems

Publication Date: 2020.08.04 WALMART APOLLO LLC

AI summary

Some embodiments provide robotic multiple-slot test card support systems comprising: a test robot system comprising a robotic arm and an end-effector; and a first card support apparatus comprising: a plurality of lateral supports; a plurality of angled shelf supports each extending between a pair of the plurality of lateral supports defining an array of angled card slots, wherein the shelf supports along the columns are vertically separated and each comprises: a guide exterior surface and an interior surface configured to support a payment test card with at least a portion of a face of the test card being flush with the interior surface; wherein each card slot repeatedly positions the respective test card at substantially the same position within the card slot each time the test card is released by the end-effector enabling repeated accurate retrieval by the end-effector.