Coin Replenishment Routing for Multi-Register Deposit Handling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional money depositing systems face issues with coin storage capacity reaching full, leading to ineffective use of collected coins, as clerks must manually manage and redistribute coins across multiple apparatuses without efficient notification or management.

Innovation Solution

A money handling system with a depositing apparatus that includes replenishment containers for specific denominations, managed by a central management apparatus, which notifies clerks when storage thresholds are reached, allowing for automated redistribution of coins to other apparatuses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the storage area for coins is arranged inside the coin exchange device, then the device can receive and store deposited coins, but the storage area has limited capacity and cannot accommodate large quantities of coins saved in bottles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of coinsVSAvoidstorage area capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the storage system into multiple components: a first storage area inside the coin exchange device for change coins, and a second storage area outside the device for bulk coins. This segmentation allows the system to handle both small change coins and large quantities of bulk coins without being constrained by the limited internal storage space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a container as an intermediary element to hold bulk coins outside the coin exchange device. The container serves as a mediator between the customer's bulk coin deposit and the device's limited storage capacity, allowing the device to receive and process coins without being constrained by its internal storage volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the clerk manually collects and redistributes coins when storage is full, then the device can be replenished, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereplenishment efficiencyVSAvoidtime for manual collection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements an indicator that provides visual feedback when the storage area is full or nearly full. This feedback mechanism alerts the clerk to perform replenishment only when necessary, reducing unnecessary manual intervention and optimizing the timing of coin collection and redistribution operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows the device to store coins in advance in the first storage area before the bulk coin collection is complete. By pre-storing change coins that can be immediately used for transactions, the system reduces the urgency and time required for manual replenishment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the device stores all deposited coins in a single storage area, then the structure is simple, but the coins cannot be effectively reused across multiple apparatuses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoin reuse capabilityVSAvoidstorage structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the storage function into two distinct areas: a first storage area for change coins that can be immediately dispensed, and a second storage area for bulk coins that can be redistributed. This segmentation enables the system to adapt coins for different purposes and across multiple apparatuses while maintaining relatively simple storage structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a multi-functional storage system where the first storage area serves immediate transaction needs, while the second storage area provides a reservoir for future replenishment. This universal design allows the same deposited coins to be reused across multiple apparatuses and time periods, enhancing adaptability without requiring complex restructuring.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4693238A1Currency depositing device, currency processing system, and currency processing method
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 GLORY LTD
  • EP4693238A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4693238A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4693238A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

In order to provide a money handling system to divert money among plural apparatuses, the money handling system is provided with: a money handling apparatus configured to perform a dispensing process of discharging money stored in a storage unit to outside the apparatus; a depositing apparatus configured to receive deposited money, store money of predetermined denominations for which a quantity of money of each denomination is set in advance for replenishing the money handling apparatus in a replenishment container, and store money other than the predetermined money for replenishing the money handling apparatus in a normal container; and a management apparatus configured to notify information on replenishment work for replenishing the money handling apparatus with money in the replenishment container.