ATM Tray and Throat Structure for Dropped Media Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ATMs face issues with security and limited capacity for simultaneous medium deposit/withdrawal, with existing combinations of pocket and present types being impractical due to complex structures.
Innovation Solution
An automated teller machine design featuring a tray unit that reciprocates between a customer service unit and a deposit/withdrawal unit, equipped with a throat unit and medium detection sensor, allowing for easy detection and handling of dropped media, and a brush for cleaning the sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a pocket type deposit/withdrawal unit is used, then the number of medium that can be deposited/withdrawn at one time is increased, but security deteriorates as users must insert their hand into the machine
Solution Approach 1:
The deposit/withdrawal unit is divided into multiple pockets (first pocket, second pocket, third pocket) that can be independently opened or closed. This segmentation allows the system to control access to different portions of the medium storage, enabling large capacity while maintaining security by only exposing necessary portions during transactions.
2Reliability
If a present type deposit/withdrawal unit is used, then security is improved as users do not need to insert hand into the machine, but the number of medium that can be deposited/withdrawn at one time is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pockets are nested within the deposit/withdrawal unit structure, with each pocket containing capacity for multiple medium items. The nested configuration allows the system to provide secure access (present type) while accumulating large quantities of medium across multiple nested storage spaces.
3Extent of automation
If a tray unit reciprocates between customer service unit and deposit/withdrawal unit, then medium transfer is automated, but complexity of structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tray unit is integrated with the deposit/withdrawal unit as a unified structure, where the tray forms part of the pocket assembly. This merging eliminates the need for completely separate transfer mechanisms, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining automated reciprocating motion for medium transfer.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a medium detection sensor is added to detect dropped medium, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The medium detection sensor automatically detects dropped medium and triggers the controller to initiate retrieval operations. This self-service detection system eliminates the need for manual inspection or complex mechanical detection mechanisms, improving detection capability while adding minimal complexity through a simple sensor-controller interface.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated teller machine includes a main body; a customer service unit; a deposit/withdrawal unit to separate and stack medium; a tray unit for transferring the medium while reciprocating between the deposit/withdrawal unit and the customer service unit; and a throat unit providing a transfer path of the tray unit. The tray unit includes: a tray bottom plate forming a bottom surface of the tray unit, and a tray rib protruded from a lower surface of the tray bottom plate. The throat unit includes a throat bottom plate forming a bottom surface of the throat unit, and a support member protruded from the throat bottom plate. The tray rib and the support member are arranged without interferring with each other, and overlapped with each other in at least parts of the tray rib and the support member when viewed from a side of the ATM.