Banknote Inspection Belt Deflection for Full-Area Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bank note processing machines face challenges in reliably guiding sheet material, especially of poor quality, through testing devices without congestion, while enabling full-area testing of both surfaces in transmission, as conventional conveyor belts hinder measurement and illumination processes.

Innovation Solution

A device with a transport path and conveyor belt system that uses deflection elements to divert parts of the belt away from the testing area, allowing for partial or complete removal of the belt to enable thorough testing and data-driven evaluation of belt-free areas, ensuring safe transport and comprehensive testing of sheet material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conveyor belt is used to guide and press the sheet material during transport, then the sheet material is reliably transported through the testing device, but the conveyor belt hinders full-area measurement and illumination of the sheet material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport reliabilityVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor belt is divided into multiple segments or sections, allowing certain segments to be temporarily removed or repositioned from the testing area. This segmentation enables the belt to be present during transport phases and absent during measurement phases, resolving the contradiction between reliable transport and accurate measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyor belt system is made dynamic by allowing it to be moved in and out of the testing area as needed. The belt can be dynamically repositioned to clear the measurement path during testing while returning to its guiding position during transport, enabling both reliable transport and accurate measurement at different times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the conveyor belt is completely removed from the testing area to enable full-area measurement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but sheet material of poor quality experiences transport disruptions and congestion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidtransport stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of completely removing the conveyor belt, only specific segments are temporarily removed or repositioned from the critical measurement area. This partial segmentation maintains sufficient belt presence to support poor-quality sheet material during transport while clearing enough space for accurate measurement of the remaining areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyor belt configuration is optimized locally - fully present in areas requiring transport support and partially absent in areas requiring measurement. This local differentiation allows the system to provide maximum transport reliability where needed while enabling measurement accuracy where required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If multiple narrow belts are used instead of a single wide belt to reduce interference, then measurement is partially improved, but dark longitudinal stripes appear during evaluation and full-area measurement is still not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement coverageVSAvoidmeasurement data completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor belt segments are preemptively removed or repositioned from the testing area before measurement begins. This preliminary action eliminates the interference of belt structures during the entire measurement process, preventing dark stripes and enabling complete full-area measurement without information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3297940B1Device for processing sheet material
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 GIESECKE & DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
  • EP3297940B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3297940B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Disclosed is a banknote processing machine in which banknotes (100) are directed through two components (41, 42) of an inspection device (40) by means of a belt conveyor (2). The conveyor belt is at least partially guided away from the inspection device by means of guide rollers in order to allow a better inspection of the banknotes and a trouble-free transport of the banknotes.