Cash Box Inventory Tracking via Note Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining the stock of notes in a cash box, especially after multiple deductions, are complex, time-consuming, and require additional sensors or significant storage space, making secure inventory management challenging, especially with mixed storage and worn notes.

Innovation Solution

Determining the orientation of notes before and after they are fed into a device, storing these orientations, and comparing them to determine the stock, using existing sensors like image recording units and authenticity checking units within automated teller machines or cash registers, without the need for additional sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual counting of notes is performed after multiple deductions to determine stock, then accurate inventory information is obtained, but the process becomes very complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinventory accuracyVSAvoidtime for inventory determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by recording the orientation of each note before it is fed into the cash box during the deposit process. This pre-recording of orientation data eliminates the need for manual counting or complex inventory procedures later, as the stock can be quickly determined by comparing recorded orientations with current orientations of notes removed from the box.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If serial numbers of notes are recorded to track inventory after multiple deductions, then stock determination is possible, but storage space requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinventory tracking capabilityVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter used for identification from serial numbers (which require extensive storage) to orientation data (which requires minimal storage). By recording only the orientation of each note rather than its full serial number, the system achieves effective inventory tracking while consuming significantly less memory space in the cash box.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If additional sensor units are installed to determine note count after multiple deductions, then stock determination becomes easier, but device complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinventory determination simplicityVSAvoidsensor unit requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by using existing sensors in the device (such as image recording units or authenticity checking units) for a dual purpose: their primary function and the additional function of determining note orientation for inventory management. This eliminates the need for dedicated additional sensor units, reducing device complexity and costs while maintaining ease of inventory determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Measurement precision

If notes are removed and counted manually to determine stock after multiple deductions, then accurate inventory is obtained, but the process requires significant human intervention and time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestock accuracyVSAvoidinventory management efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically determine its own inventory status using pre-recorded orientation data. When multiple deductions occur, the system can automatically compare the recorded orientations with the current orientations of notes removed from the box, calculating the stock without requiring human intervention for counting or data collection, thus maintaining accuracy while dramatically improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2804155B1Method for determining the contents of a money box on the basis of the orientation of the inserted banknotes
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 WINCOR NIXDORF INT GMBH
  • EP2804155B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2804155B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2804155B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining the number of securities held in a device (12) for receiving securities, in which the orientation of a security is determined before it is fed into the device (12) and the sequence in which the securities are received in the device (12) is stored. For at least some of the received securities, their respective orientation is uniquely assigned to the respective security and stored. To determine the number of securities held, the orientation of each of a predetermined number of consecutively removed securities is determined. These determined orientations are compared with the stored orientations, and the number of securities held in the device (12) is determined based on the result of the comparison.