Dual Rib Coin Resistant Gate for Payment Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coin resistant gates in payment interfaces are limited by a single insertion activation rib, vertical orientation, and opaque materials, which can lead to jamming and difficulty in distinguishing the card slot, especially in poor lighting conditions, and do not effectively prevent coins from being inserted into card slots.
Innovation Solution
A dual rib coin resistant gate with angled protruding members on both sides of the card slot, a horizontal orientation, and integrated elastic members to ensure proper card insertion while rejecting coins, along with a design that incorporates glow materials to illuminate the insertion area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single insertion activation rib is used in the coin resistant gate, then the device complexity is reduced, but the card detection robustness deteriorates and jamming occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The single activation rib is segmented into two separate activation ribs positioned at different locations within the card slot. This segmentation allows each rib to independently detect the presence of a card, thereby improving card detection robustness while maintaining relatively simple device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The two activation ribs are positioned asymmetrically at different locations within the card slot to optimize card detection from multiple insertion angles and positions, enhancing reliability without significantly increasing overall device complexity
2Ease of manufacture
If opaque materials are used for the coin resistant gate, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the user guidance and card slot distinguishability deteriorate in poor lighting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The gate structure incorporates materials or coatings that change optical properties, such as photoluminescent or electroluminescent materials, to emit or reflect light in low-light conditions, improving visibility without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The gate is constructed using composite materials that combine the mechanical properties of opaque materials with optical properties that enhance visibility, such as integrating light-reflective or light-emitting layers into the gate structure
3Area of stationary object
If the coin resistant gate is oriented vertically, then the space requirement is reduced, but the card insertion ease and coin rejection effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The gate orientation is changed from vertical to horizontal, utilizing a different spatial dimension to achieve better card insertion ergonomics and more effective coin rejection while maintaining compact overall device footprint through optimized dimensional layout
4Measurement precision
If protruding members are added to interact with payment cards, then the card detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection function is segmented into multiple simple protruding members (activation ribs) rather than one complex detection mechanism, improving detection precision while keeping individual components simple and the overall structure manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding members are designed to automatically detect card presence through their geometric interaction with the card itself, without requiring additional sensors, actuators, or complex electronic detection systems, thereby improving detection precision while minimizing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a coin resistant gate (114) for a payment interface (102). The coin resistant gate comprises a body (502) moveably connected within the payment interface (102), a front surface (804) connected to the body (502), the front surface (804) operable to prevent objects from entering the payment interface (102), and, two or more protruding members (302) connected to the front surface (804), the two or more protruding members (302) for interacting with a payment card (402), wherein, upon an interaction between the two or more protruding members (302) and the payment card (402), the body (502) moves to allow the payment card (402) to pass the front surface (804) of the body (502) of the coin resistant gate (114).