Coin Storage LED Illumination for Jam Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coin storage devices face difficulties in efficiently addressing coin jams due to dark interiors, leading to poor workability and increased costs when imaging units are installed for monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A money storage device equipped with a reception counting unit, calculating unit, dispensing counting unit, and illumination control unit that illuminates the inside of the storing unit when a lid is opened, allowing for easy visual inspection and jam removal without significant cost increases, using LEDs installed for each coin lane to illuminate only the jammed area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If an imaging unit such as a camera is installed on the inside of the coin storage device to image and monitor the state of the inside, then the visibility of the inside is improved, but the structure of the device becomes complicated and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the imaging function from the storage device itself and places it in an external terminal device (smartphone, tablet, etc.). The storage device only retains the essential illumination function via LED lights, while the complex imaging, processing, and storage functions are moved to the external device, thereby simplifying the storage device structure while maintaining imaging capability
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device is utilized for multiple purposes: it serves as both an imaging device and a storage device. The terminal device's existing camera and storage capabilities are leveraged, eliminating the need for dedicated imaging and storage components within the coin storage device itself
2Illumination intensity
If an LED light is installed on the inside of the coin storage device to capture a clear image, then the visibility is improved, but the structure becomes complicated and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination function is segmented into multiple individual LED lights, each corresponding to a specific storage compartment. This allows selective illumination of only the relevant area when a compartment is accessed, improving visibility where needed while keeping the overall system simple and cost-effective
Solution Approach 2:
The LED lights are automatically controlled to turn on when their corresponding storage compartment lid is opened and turn off when closed. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex control systems while ensuring illumination is provided exactly when and where it is needed
3Ease of operation
If the lid of the coin storage device is opened to remove a coin jam, then the jam can be accessed, but the dark interior makes it hard to check the state of the jam and workability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The LED lights are pre-positioned inside each storage compartment and are automatically activated when the compartment lid is opened. This preliminary preparation ensures that illumination is immediately available as soon as the user needs to access the compartment, allowing immediate visual inspection of the jammed coins without delay
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective elimination of coin jams with improved visibility and reduced power consumption by illuminating only the relevant coin lane, maintaining cost efficiency and enhancing maintenance visibility when necessary.
Implementation Method 1
an LED illumination device that illuminates an inside of the storing unit
Data Source
AI summary
A coin change machine includes a reception counting unit to count types and the numbers of received coins, a storage state calculating unit to accumulate a counting result of the reception counting unit to thereby calculate types and the numbers of stored coins, a dispensing counting unit to count types and the numbers of dispensed or collected coins and an illumination control unit to turn on LEDs, which illuminate the inside of a storing unit, on condition that a lid covering the storing unit for coins is opened, if the types and the numbers of the coins calculated by the storage state calculating unit and the types and the numbers of the coins counted by the dispensing counting unit if the coins are collected or instructed dispensing content and the types and the number of the coins counted by the dispensing counting unit, are inconsistent.