Cash Dispenser Control with Parallel Replenishment Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic change machines in retail stores often require a change replenishment operation after completing a settlement process, leading to delays in starting the next settlement process due to the lack of a timely completion notification, causing customers to wait.
Innovation Solution
A money handling device with a dispense operation unit, preparation operation unit, and completion notification unit that allows for the execution of a dispense operation in response to a request from another control device, with a completion notification sent upon completion of both operations, enabling parallel preparation for the next dispense operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the automatic change machine waits for the change replenishment operation to complete before notifying completion, then the next settlement process can be properly prepared, but the customer wait time increases and service speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The preparation operation is executed in advance during the dispense operation time, rather than waiting for the dispense operation to complete first. This preliminary action ensures that money is replenished before it is needed for the next settlement process, eliminating customer wait time while maintaining reliable operation completion notification
Solution Approach 2:
The preparation operation and dispense operation are executed in parallel simultaneously, rather than sequentially. This continuous overlapping of useful actions maximizes resource utilization and ensures that the money supply is continuously maintained without interruption, preventing customer wait time while ensuring proper operation completion
2Productivity
If the preparation operation is executed in parallel with the dispense operation, then the service speed increases and customer wait time decreases, but the operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The money handling operations are segmented into distinct dispense operation and preparation operation modules that can be independently controlled and executed. This segmentation allows parallel execution while maintaining clear operational boundaries and control logic, managing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses completion notifications as feedback signals to coordinate parallel operations. When the dispense operation completes, a notification triggers the preparation operation, and when preparation completes, another notification ensures proper sequencing. This feedback mechanism manages operational complexity through clear state transitions
Data Source
AI summary
A money handling device according to the present disclosure includes: a dispense operation unit configured to execute a dispense operation in response to an execution request for a process including the dispense operation received from another control device; a preparation operation unit configured to execute a preparation operation of preparing for the next dispense operation after the dispense operation unit has started execution of one dispense operation; and a completion notification unit configured to transmit to the another control device a completion notification indicating completion of execution of the one dispense operation at a time point in case that the one dispense operation and the preparation operation have been completed.