Banknote Handling Apparatus Serial Number Segregation

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional banknote handling apparatuses cannot directly use banknotes stored in a storing unit as banknotes to be loaded into an ATM or dispensed to a customer when only banknotes with managed serial numbers are required, due to mixed storage of recognized and unrecognized banknotes.

Innovation Solution

A banknote handling apparatus with a recognition unit that reads serial numbers and a control unit that physically separates banknotes with read and unread serial numbers into different storing units, allowing for separate management and use of banknotes with managed serial numbers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If banknotes are stored in a mixed state without serial number management, then storage capacity is maximized and device complexity is reduced, but the ability to directly use stored banknotes in ATMs or bank counters is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusability of stored banknotesVSAvoidcomplexity of serial number management system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storing unit is divided into multiple sub-storing units, with each sub-unit dedicated to storing banknotes with a specific serial number status (e.g., serial numbers starting with specific digits). This segmentation allows the system to manage and retrieve banknotes by serial number criteria without requiring complete reorganization, thus improving adaptability while maintaining reasonable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary sorting of banknotes by serial number during the deposit process, assigning each banknote to a specific sub-storing unit based on its serial number characteristics. This preliminary action ensures that when banknotes need to be retrieved for ATM loading or counter dispensing, the system can directly access the appropriate sub-storing unit without additional sorting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If all banknotes are stored together without separation, then the storing unit space is efficiently utilized, but retrieval of specific banknotes by serial number becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidserial number identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The storing unit is divided into multiple sub-storing units, with each sub-unit dedicated to storing banknotes with a specific serial number status (e.g., serial numbers starting with specific digits). This segmentation allows the system to manage and retrieve banknotes by serial number criteria without requiring complete reorganization, thus improving adaptability while maintaining reasonable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each sub-storing unit is assigned a specific function of storing banknotes with particular serial number characteristics. This local quality assignment ensures that when banknotes need to be retrieved based on serial number requirements, the system can precisely target the appropriate sub-storing unit, maintaining high measurement precision for serial number identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If a recognition unit reads serial numbers of all banknotes, then complete management information is obtained, but processing time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveserial number information completenessVSAvoidbanknote processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The recognition unit performs partial reading of serial numbers during the deposit process, capturing enough information to determine the appropriate sub-storing unit for each banknote. This partial action approach reads only the necessary portion of serial number information required for sorting, rather than performing complete serial number verification on every banknote, thus maintaining productivity while obtaining sufficient management information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary sorting of banknotes by serial number during the deposit process, assigning each banknote to a specific sub-storing unit based on its serial number characteristics. This preliminary action ensures that when banknotes need to be retrieved for ATM loading or counter dispensing, the system can directly access the appropriate sub-storing unit without additional sorting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9542792B2Banknote handling apparatus and banknote handling method

Publication Date: 2017.01.10 GLORY LTD

AI summary

A banknote handling apparatus includes: a plurality of storing units 52 configured to store a banknote; a transport unit 18 configured to transport the banknote having been put into a machine body 2 to each of the storing units 52; a recognition unit 40 disposed at the transport unit 18 and configured to read out a serial number of the banknote having been put into the machine body 2; and a control unit 70 configured to control the transport unit 18. The control unit 70 controls the transport unit 18 such that the banknote whose serial number has been read out by the recognition unit 40 and the banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the recognition unit 40 are stored into different storing units 52.