ATM Medium Handling Apparatus with Temporary Storage for Cassette Tallying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium handling apparatuses in ATMs face challenges in performing a tallying task without an empty cassette, making the process inconvenient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A medium handling apparatus that includes a temporary storage unit to temporarily store normal media during deposits, allowing for the confirmation of the number of remaining media in recycling cassettes without the need for an empty cassette.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a supplementary/retrieval cassette is used to perform tallying task, then the tallying task can be performed, but the device complexity increases and requires additional empty cassette installation
Solution Approach 1:
The recycling cassette is designed to serve dual purposes: normal media storage during operation and temporary storage during tallying tasks. This eliminates the need for separate supplementary/retrieval cassettes, reducing device complexity while maintaining tallying functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The temporary storage unit acts as an intermediary between the recycling cassette and the discrimination unit during tallying operations. It temporarily holds media being counted, allowing the recycling cassette to be emptied and reloaded without requiring a separate empty cassette for the process.
2Ease of operation
If an empty cassette is installed to perform tallying task, then the tallying task can be performed, but the time required for tallying increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary separation of media in the deposit/withdrawal unit before media enters the recycling cassette. This pre-separation reduces the volume of media that needs to be manually counted during tallying operations, significantly reducing tallying time.
Solution Approach 2:
The discrimination unit automatically identifies and separates abnormal media during normal operations, reducing the manual intervention required during tallying. The system serves itself by maintaining organized media separation during regular operations, making tallying faster when needed.
3Measurement precision
If media are separated in the medium storage unit, then the number of media can be counted, but the number of remaining media displayed may differ from actual remaining media
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors in the conveyance path to detect and count media as they move between units. This feedback mechanism provides real-time accurate counting, allowing the display to reflect actual media remaining in the recycling cassette rather than relying on potentially inaccurate stored counts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical counting with automated sensor-based detection and counting in the conveyance path. This substitution eliminates human error in counting and ensures the displayed number matches the actual number of media remaining.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a medium handling apparatus and method for, by using a temporary storage unit, performing a tallying task in an automated teller machine. The medium handling apparatus includes a deposit/withdrawal unit configured to separate each individual medium and accumulate the medium, a discrimination unit configured to discriminate whether the media are abnormal and types of the media, a medium storage unit including a plurality of recycling cassettes, a temporary storage unit configured to temporarily store media discriminated as normal media, and a conveyance path configured to convey the media. Media in each of the recycling cassettes are temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit to confirm the number of media remaining in the recycling cassette, and the media in the temporary storage unit are conveyed back to and stored in the recycling cassette when the number of remaining media is sensed.