Dynamic Counterweight POS Terminal Stand Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic point-of-sale (POS) terminals become unstable and prone to falling when positioned beyond 15 degrees from the completely upright position, exceeding compliance standards, due to inadequate counterbalancing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A stand with a dynamic counterweight system that automatically adjusts its position within the base plate using an actuator means, such as a linkage bar assembly or processor-controlled motor, to maintain the terminal's center of mass stable, allowing the display to be positioned further forward or rearward without falling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the display is positioned beyond 15 degrees from the completely upright position to improve customer interaction efficiency, then the terminal becomes unstable and prone to falling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a counterweight mechanism that automatically adjusts its position within the base plate to compensate for the display's forward or rearward movement. When the display is positioned beyond the standard 15 degrees, the counterweight shifts to maintain the terminal's center of mass within a stable range, preventing the terminal from falling while enabling greater flexibility in terminal placement for improved customer interaction
2Device complexity
If a fixed counterweight is used in the base plate, then the terminal structure is simple, but the terminal cannot maintain stability when the display is moved beyond standard position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static counterweight into a dynamic system that can automatically adjust its position in response to display movement. The counterweight is coupled to the display through a linkage mechanism that enables it to shift forward or rearward within the base plate, allowing the terminal to maintain stability across a wider range of display positions without requiring complex external support structures
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 dynamic counterweight system ensures the POS terminal remains stable on a surface even when the display is positioned beyond the standard 15 degrees upright, enabling customers to interact more efficiently by allowing greater flexibility in terminal placement without risking instability or falling.
Implementation Method 1
a moveable counterweight inside the base plate, and moveably coupled to the moveable hinge, to move from a first counterweight position inside the base plate when the moveable arm is in the forward cantilevered position to a second counterweight position inside the base plate when the moveable arm is in the rearward cantilevered position
Data Source
AI summary
A stand for an electronic point-of-sale terminal can include a moveable arm including a mounting plate at an upper end thereof and a moveable hinge at a lower end thereof, the moveable arm configured to move from a forward cantilevered position to a rearward cantilevered position over a check-out area associated with an electronic point-of-sale terminal, the mounting plate configured to moveably couple the moveable arm to an electronic display of the electronic point-of-sale terminal, the moveable hinge configured to rotate responsive to movement of the moveable arm, a base plate configured to maintain the electronic point-of-sale terminal in an upright position when the electronic display is moved between the forward cantilevered position and the rearward cantilevered position, and a moveable counterweight inside the base plate, and moveably coupled to the moveable hinge, to move from a first counterweight position inside the base plate when the moveable arm is in the forward cantilevered position to a second counterweight position inside the base plate when the moveable arm is in the rearward cantilevered position.