Deskew Module Angled Drive Ejection for Deformed Media

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional deskew modules in currency recyclers and depositories often damage documents that crumple or fold, leading to jams and fatal faults, as they attempt to align and process these deformed media, resulting in further damage and increased jamming issues during ejection attempts.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of angled drives within the deskew module to lift a jammed corner off the track base, followed by activation of straight drives in a reverse direction to eject the item, reducing drag and preventing further damage, thereby improving the ejection process and reducing fatal faults.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional deskew modules attempt to align and process deformed media, then the document alignment against the track base is improved, but the document crumples, folds and becomes damaged/deformed leading to jams

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument alignmentVSAvoiddocument damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of jammed documents using sensors before attempting ejection. The controller detects the presence of a jammed document and determines its location, then activates the ejection mechanism only after confirmation, preventing unnecessary mechanical stress on documents that are not actually jammed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The ejection mechanism introduces an intermediary force system consisting of angled and straight drives that work in sequence. The angled drives first lift the jammed document off the track base, creating separation between the document and the harmful friction surface, then the straight drives complete the ejection motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the jammed document is attempted to be ejected by moving it backward or forward, then the ejection function is performed, but further damage/deformation occurs as it drags against the deskew track base

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveejection functionVSAvoiddocument deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of jammed documents using sensors before attempting ejection. The controller detects the presence of a jammed document and determines its location, then activates the ejection mechanism only after confirmation, preventing unnecessary mechanical stress on documents that are not actually jammed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of attempting to move the jammed document in the original processing direction (which causes it to drag against the track base), the system inverts the approach by using angled drives to lift the document upward and away from the track base first, then using straight drives to eject it in a reversed or perpendicular direction, eliminating the harmful dragging motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If the further damaged/deformed document is processed during subsequent attempts, then the deskew module continues operation, but it jams worse resulting in a fatal fault requiring manual service call

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidfatal fault rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates sensor feedback that continuously monitors the track base for the presence of documents. When a jammed document is detected, the controller receives feedback signal, determines the document location, and activates the ejection mechanism. After ejection, the sensors confirm the document has been successfully removed, providing feedback that the system is ready for normal operation again, preventing subsequent jams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The ejection mechanism enables the deskew module to self-correct jam conditions without requiring manual intervention. The automated detection and ejection system allows the device to clear its own obstructions, maintaining continuous operation and preventing fatal faults that would otherwise require service calls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3263495B1Ejecting damaged /deformed media
Publication Date: 2020.10.07 NCR VOYIX CORP
  • EP3263495B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3263495B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3263495B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A deskew module (104) of a valuable media depository (100) is selectively controlled ejection processing. Upon detection of a jammed item of media within the deskew module (104), angled drives (104C) are activated to lift a jammed corner of the item off a track base of the deskew module (100) and free the item's jammed corner. Next, straight drives (104D) are activated to eject the item from the deskew module (104).