Banknote Validator Sensing System for Jam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic transaction systems, such as vending machines and ATMs, often jam due to the insertion of non-banknote items like credit cards, which are not designed to handle such items and require operator assistance for removal, leading to operational disruptions and increased rejection rates.
Innovation Solution
A sensing system with start and recognition sensors that sample items at predetermined intervals, track absence counts, and compare them to thresholds to early detect and reject non-banknote items, preventing jamming and allowing for self-assisted removal without operator intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the banknote validator is designed to accept only banknotes, then counterfeit banknotes can be rejected, but non-banknote items get jammed in the passageway
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of non-banknote items at the entrance using sensors before the item fully enters the validation passageway. When a non-banknote item is detected, the system activates a rejection mechanism to eject it before it can jam the passageway, preventing the harmful effect before it occurs.
2Ease of repair
If operators are required to release jammed items, then jammed items can be removed, but system downtime increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic detection and rejection of non-banknote items through integrated sensors and rejection mechanisms. When a non-banknote item is detected, the system automatically ejects it without requiring operator intervention, enabling the system to service itself and eliminate downtime associated with manual jam removal.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sensors are installed to detect non-banknote items, then jamming can be prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential detection function needed to identify non-banknote items using simple sensor elements that detect basic physical properties such as presence, size, or material characteristics. By taking out only the necessary sensing capability rather than implementing a comprehensive analysis system, the solution prevents jamming while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A sensing system is described herein. The sensing system includes a sampling module configured to define a sampling interval. The sensing system also includes a plurality of sensors to sample an inserted item based at least on the sampling interval. The sensing system includes a tracking module configured to obtain start sensor data from the sensors, determine if start sensor data is absent, increment an absence count based at least on the determination, compare the absence count with a threshold absence count, and reject the inserted item based at least on the comparison.