Banknote Storage Container with Pivotable Bascule Anti-Fraud Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional banknote storage containers are vulnerable to fraudulent activities such as 'strimming' and the use of frangible banknotes, where fraudsters attach retrieval means to modified banknotes with a frangible center line and reinforced edges, allowing them to split and retrieve the banknotes during the stacking process, thereby obtaining credits without depositing the full banknote.

Innovation Solution

A banknote storage container with pivotable bascule members that obstruct the ingress opening when a modified banknote attempts to split, preventing rearward movement of the banknote halves and any retrieval means, ensuring that the banknote is fully deposited and stacked before allowing further banknotes to be added.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a slotted drum is used to prevent banknote reversal, then the pathway is occluded after banknote passage, but the drum rotation mechanism adds device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of banknote reversalVSAvoiddrum rotation mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the anti-reversal function from a complex rotating drum mechanism and implements it through simple pivotable bascule members that obstruct the pathway when triggered. This eliminates the need for continuous drum rotation while maintaining the prevention of banknote reversal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a rotating drum that actively blocks the pathway through rotation, the invention uses stationary bascule members that pivot into position to obstruct the pathway. The mechanism works in reverse of the conventional approach by using gravitational force and simple pivoting rather than active rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If resilient transport rollers with strong bias are used to grip the banknote, then rearward pulling action is prevented, but the gripping force may damage the banknote

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of rearward pullingVSAvoidbanknote integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the resilient gripping rollers that exert continuous strong bias on the banknote. Instead, it uses pivotable bascule members that only obstruct the pathway when triggered by frangible banknote attempts, eliminating continuous gripping force that could damage the banknote.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If a cutting device is employed to sever the attached string, then the string is cut, but the cutting mechanism adds device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesevering of attachment stringVSAvoidcutting device mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful frangible center line feature into a beneficial security mechanism. When a frangible banknote is inserted, the center line breaks during stacking, which triggers the bascule members to pivot and obstruct the pathway, preventing retrieval. This eliminates the need for separate cutting devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Adaptability or versatility

If frangible banknotes with reinforced edges are used, then the banknote can split during stacking, but the reinforced edges prevent proper stacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebanknote modification for fraudVSAvoidstacking operation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the fraudulent modification of banknotes (frangible center line with reinforced edges) into a detection mechanism. The reinforced edges and frangible center line cause the banknote to break during stacking, which triggers the bascule members to pivot and obstruct the pathway, preventing the fraudster from retrieving the banknote.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS12020527B2Banknote storage container

Publication Date: 2024.06.25 INNOVATIVE TECH LTD

AI summary

A banknote storage container (1) comprising a housing (2) enclosing an internal banknote receiving compartment (8), said housing (2) including a banknote input aperture (3) in communication with a banknote receiving compartment ingress opening (3′); the banknote receiving compartment (8) includes a pair of pivotable bascule members (4, 5), said bascule members (4, 5) disposed in opposing lateral positions within the banknote receiving compartment, and each of said pair of bascule members (4, 5) includes a gate element (16) disposed at an end of the bascule member proximal to the ingress opening (3′) and a banknote contact portion (15) at an end of the bascule member distal from the ingress opening (3′); and the banknote contact portion (15) of each of said bascule members (4, 5) protrudes into the banknote receiving compartment (8) such that when a leading edge of a banknote received into said banknote receiving compartment (8) simultaneously comes into contact with the banknote contact portion (15) of each of said bascule members (4, 5), the bascule members pivot from an ingress opening open position to an ingress opening closed position where the gate element (16) of each of said bascule members obstructs the ingress opening (3′) to prevent ingress of a subsequent banknote or retrieval of the received banknote from without the banknote storage container.