Gas Spring Stopper Mechanism for Automatic Transaction Covers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing cover opening-and-closing support mechanisms for automatic transaction machines, the strong spring force can cause the stopper portion to contact the rod section of the gas spring, leading to damage.
Innovation Solution
A gas spring stopper with a rotatable stopper portion and a release handle portion is designed, where the stopper portion contacts the cylinder section before the rod section, and the release handle portion's weight causes the stopper to swing away, eliminating the need for a biasing member and preventing contact with the rod.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a strong spring is provided to bias the gas spring stopper towards the rod section, then the gas spring can be reliably locked, but the stopper portion may contact the rod section and cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a limiter portion as an intermediary element between the stopper portion and the rod section. The limiter portion makes contact with the rod section first, preventing the stopper portion from directly contacting and damaging the rod section. This mediator absorbs the impact and protects the critical rod section while still enabling reliable locking through the stopper portion's interaction with the cylinder section.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas spring stopper is segmented into distinct functional portions: a stopper portion for locking, a limiter portion for protection, and a release handle portion for operation. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function independently - the stopper portion provides reliable locking, the limiter portion prevents damage, and the release handle portion enables easy release without interference between functions.
2Reliability
If a biasing spring is provided to ensure stopper contact with the gas spring, then locking is reliable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release handle portion is designed to utilize its own weight as the biasing force, eliminating the need for an external spring or other biasing mechanism. When the release handle portion is positioned to engage the cylinder section, its weight automatically provides the necessary force to maintain contact and ensure reliable locking. This self-service approach reduces component count while maintaining locking reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The limiter portion serves as a mediator that enables reliable locking without requiring additional biasing springs. By positioning the limiter portion to contact the rod section first, it creates a mechanical advantage that ensures the stopper portion maintains proper contact with the cylinder section through the inherent structure and weight distribution of the stopper assembly itself.
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 mechanism reliably locks the gas spring without damaging the rod section and prevents unintentional sagging or closure of the cover.
Implementation Method 1
a gas spring 91 assists raising of the opening-and-closing cover 101
Implementation Method 2
The spring 93 is a biasing member for biasing the gas spring stopper 92 towards the gas spring 91
Implementation Method 3
such that the gas spring stopper swings towards substantially the opposite side to the stopper portion due to a weight of the release handle portion
Data Source
AI summary
A cover opening-and-closing support mechanism is provided that reliably locks a gas spring, and in which a rod section of a gas spring is not damaged by a stopper portion. The cover opening-and-closing support mechanism includes: a gas spring equipped with pivot points at both end portions and including a cylinder section and a rod section; a stopper portion rotatably provided at the pivot point at a first of the end portions, the stopper portion making contact with the cylinder section when the gas spring has been extended so as to lock the gas spring; a gas spring stopper including a limiter portion that makes contact with the cylinder section before the stopper portion makes contact with the rod section; and a release handle portion for releasing the locking, provided at the gas spring stopper on substantially an opposite side to the stopper portion, such that the gas spring stopper swings towards substantially the opposite side to the stopper portion due to a weight of the release handle portion.