Corrugating Rollers for Media Bin Jam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-service terminals experience input jams and reduced bin capacity due to deformed or non-uniform media items, necessitating frequent service visits.
Innovation Solution
A set of paired corrugating rollers with specific geometries and materials is used to crease media items, forming longitudinal creases that stabilize and straighten them, reducing deformities and preventing jams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If deformed media items are allowed to be deposited without correction, then the terminal accepts all media items, but the bin capacity is significantly reduced and jams occur frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The corrugating rollers perform preliminary action by creasing and stabilizing media items at the point of deposition, before they enter the storage bin. This pre-treatment prevents deformation during stacking, thereby maximizing bin capacity utilization and preventing input jams before they can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of media items by applying controlled creases through the corrugating rollers. This parameter change (from flat to creased) stabilizes the media items, preventing them from deforming during storage and thereby improving both bin capacity utilization and jam prevention.
2Productivity
If media items are creased to prevent deformation, then bin capacity is maximized, but the complexity of the deposition system increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to flatten the entire media item, the invention applies local quality by creating specific creases at strategic locations using the corrugating rollers. This localized intervention is sufficient to prevent deformation during stacking, achieving bin capacity maximization with a relatively simple mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The corrugating rollers use a rounded-V profile with a specific angle and radius to create controlled creases. This curved geometry allows the rollers to apply pressure effectively without requiring complex flattening mechanisms, thereby maximizing bin capacity while maintaining system simplicity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If uniform media items are assumed for deposition, then stacking is neat and capacity is maximized, but non-uniform items cause deformation and jams
Solution Approach 1:
The corrugating rollers enable media items to self-stabilize through controlled creasing. Each item is individually treated at the point of deposition, creating a stable configuration that prevents deformation during stacking. This self-service approach ensures uniform stacking behavior regardless of the initial state of the media items, reducing service visit frequency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If deformed media items are stacked, then all items can be accepted, but more frequent service visits are required to empty the bin
Solution Approach 1:
The corrugating rollers perform preliminary stabilization of media items at deposition, ensuring they maintain their creased configuration during stacking. This allows the terminal to accept all media items (including deformed ones) while preventing the deformation that would otherwise require frequent service visits to clear jams and re-stack items.
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
The corrugating rollers effectively stabilize media items, allowing them to stack neatly, maximizing bin capacity and minimizing service calls by preventing premature filling and jams.
Implementation Method 1
a set of paired corrugating drive rollers... each of the first corrugating rollers having an outwardly facing rounded-V profile... to crease media items, forming longitudinal creases that stabilize and straighten them
Implementation Method 2
a set of paired corrugating drive rollers mounted in a pathway for conveying a received media item to a storage bin
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~5B
AI summary
A self-service terminal, an apparatus, and a method for corrugating received media items is disclosed. A bin is provided for storing media items. A pathway selectively conveys a received media item to the bin. The apparatus, including a set of paired corrugating drive rollers, is mounted in the pathway for creasing the received media item as it is conveyed to the bin. The set of paired corrugating drive rollers has a plurality of first corrugating rollers mounted in a spaced apart fashion on a common shaft, each of the first corrugating rollers having an outwardly facing rounded-V profile, and a plurality of second corrugating rollers mounted in a spaced apart fashion on a common shaft, each of the second corrugating rollers having an inwardly facing slot. Each of the plurality of first corrugating rollers is positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the plurality of second corrugating rollers.