Coin Recycle Device Overflow Storage and Segregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional coin recycle devices face limitations in efficiently storing overflow coins without enlarging the device, and struggle with distinguishing and processing fake, old, or contaminated coins, often returning them to the return slot or pausing the withdrawal process.

Innovation Solution

A coin recycle device with an integrated overflow coin slot and guiding tube allows for separate storage of overflow coins, enabling simultaneous processing and storage without device enlargement, and includes a system for identifying and segregating fake, old, or contaminated coins using a collecting coin signal and dedicated storage units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If overflow coins are stored in a conventional overflow box juxtaposed to the storing and drawing device, then the device structure is simple, but the storage capacity is limited and the device must be enlarged to ensure sufficient coin storage amount

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverflow coin storage amountVSAvoiddevice volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the spatial arrangement by extending the overflow coin storing unit in the width direction rather than increasing volume through height or length. The storing unit is positioned to overlap with the denomination storing and dispensing device in the width direction, utilizing unused lateral space to increase storage capacity without enlarging the overall device footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The overflow coin storing unit is nested within the housing structure, with its front surface positioned at the same level as the front surface of the denomination storing and dispensing device. This nested arrangement allows the overflow storage to be integrated into the existing device envelope, maximizing space utilization without external expansion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Quantity of substance

If the overflow box is enlarged to ensure sufficient coin storage amount, then the storage capacity increases, but the device size enlarges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverflow coin storage amountVSAvoiddevice area
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the width direction dimension to increase storage capacity. The overflow coin storing unit extends in the width direction and overlaps with the denomination storing and dispensing device, converting a vertical stacking problem into a lateral arrangement that increases capacity without increasing the device's front-facing area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If fake, old, or contaminated coins are returned to the return slot, then the withdrawal process can continue, but these coins may be misused and require additional processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewithdrawal process continuityVSAvoidcoin authenticity and cleanliness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the coin return process by introducing a separate collecting slot distinct from the regular return slot. Coins identified as fake, old, or contaminated are routed to this separate collecting slot, while genuine coins continue to the return slot. This segmentation allows continuous withdrawal operations while isolating problematic coins for separate handling and verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts problematic coins (fake, old, contaminated) from the main coin flow by routing them to a separate collecting slot. This extraction removes potential security risks from the circulation path while maintaining the continuity of the withdrawal process for genuine coins. The collected coins can then be processed separately through verification or disposal procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3451302B1Coin recycle device
Publication Date: 2022.10.26 ASAHI SEIKO CO LTD
  • EP3451302B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3451302B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3451302B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin recycle device in which a processing of an overflow coin and a withdrawing or depositing process can be executed simultaneously, and in which a storage amount of the overflow coin can be sufficiently ensured without enlarging. A coin (C) input to a deposit opening (106) is determined a denomination by a coin identifying device (116), and is allocated and held in a denomination storing and dispensing device (122) in a course of being transported to a coin transporting and distributing device (118). The coin (C) of a specified denomination is sent from the denomination storing and dispensing device (122) based on a pay-out command (PO), and paid out to a pay-out opening (126) by a pay out transporting device (128). When the holding amount of the denomination storing and dispensing device (122) becomes full, the coin is not allocated to the denomination storing and dispensing device (122) by the coin transporting and distributing device (118), but is dropped to an overflow coin slot (198), guided to an overflow coin guiding tube (298) juxtaposed to the denomination storing and dispensing device (122) and held in an overflow coin storing unit (132) arranged on the lower side of the denomination storing and dispensing device (122).