Coin Recycling Machine With Path Selector For Self-Service Refill
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coin management machines require frequent refilling and manual intervention by specialized workers due to the need for sorting and accounting of mixed denomination coins, leading to inefficiencies and potential machine shutdowns from coin shortages or excesses.
Innovation Solution
A machine with a coin sorting and recognition system, internal hoppers for storage, and a coin processing mechanism that allows for the temporary housing of a till for dispensing coins, featuring a coin path selector that can convey coins to either an internal collection container or for external dispensing, enabling secure storage and reuse of mixed denomination coins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If coins are stored in internal hoppers sorted by denomination, then coin dispensing can be performed efficiently, but the hoppers must be frequently refilled by specialized workers when coin shortages occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically managing coin inventory through the control unit that monitors hopper levels and triggers refilling operations from the overflow container when coins are low, eliminating the need for specialized workers to manually refill hoppers and reducing downtime
Solution Approach 2:
The overflow container pre-stores excess coins of various denominations before they are needed, allowing the system to quickly refill hoppers from this pre-prepared reserve rather than waiting for external refilling operations, thus maintaining continuous operation
2Quantity of substance
If excess coins are sent to an overflow container, then hopper capacity constraints are resolved, but the mixed denomination coins require periodic emptying and sorting by specialized workers
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically manages the overflow container by monitoring hopper levels and initiating refilling operations when needed, eliminating the need for specialized workers to periodically empty and sort mixed coins from the overflow container
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control where the control unit continuously monitors coin levels in hoppers and automatically triggers refilling from the overflow container when thresholds are reached, creating a self-regulating system that reduces manual intervention
3Adaptability or versatility
If a coin path selector is added to convey coins to higher zones, then coins can be dispensed outside the machine or collected in internal containers, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coin conveying mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions: it can convey coins to different heights, direct coins to external dispensing points, or collect coins in internal containers, allowing a single mechanism to serve multiple operational modes and reducing the need for separate systems for each function
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for depositing and dispensing coins includes a first portion containing devices for reception of the deposited coins and for recognition and sorting of the coins based on the denomination thereof, a second portion containing a plurality of internal hoppers configured to selectively contain the coins sorted by denomination and a third portion containing coin processing means for processing the coins in the dispensing step, a seat being present in the third portion for the temporary housing of a till configured to be filled with predetermined compositions of coins of the various denominations coming from the internal hoppers, the machine further including coin conveying means adapted to receive, at the seat, coins coming from the internal hoppers or from the recognition and sorting devices and to convey them to a higher zone of the machine, where a coin path selector is disposed at the end of the coin conveying means to the higher zone of the machine, the coin path selector being movable between a first position where it enables the conveyance of the coins into an internal collection container and a second position where it enables the dispensing of the coins outside the machine.