Media Deposition Unit Pivoting Mechanism for Service Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In media depositories, such as ATMs, units like rebuncher units often become jammed, and accessing their internal workings for servicing is difficult due to space constraints and inaccessibility of release doors, which complicates maintenance and troubleshooting.
Innovation Solution
A unit design that allows for pivotal attachment to support members, enabling the unit to be slidably moved and pivoted away from its working position to a service position, where the release door becomes accessible, facilitating easier maintenance and troubleshooting by allowing the unit to be pivoted away from its normal working position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If units are grouped closely together in the depository, then space utilization is improved, but accessibility for servicing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The unit is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to be moved from a working position (closely grouped for space efficiency) to a service position (accessible for maintenance). The slidable and pivotable mechanisms enable the unit to transition between these states, resolving the contradiction between compact arrangement and service accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The unit can be pivoted out of its original plane of operation, moving from a two-dimensional compact arrangement into a third dimension. This pivoting action allows the release door and internal components to become accessible without requiring additional horizontal space, thus maintaining compact footprint while improving serviceability.
2Area of stationary object
If the release door is positioned underneath the unit for compact design, then space efficiency is improved, but accessibility for maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The release door is integrated with the movable and pivotable mechanisms, transforming from a static inaccessible component to a dynamically accessible one. When the unit is slid out and pivoted to the service position, the release door automatically moves into an accessible location, allowing maintenance personnel to service the unit without disassembling surrounding components.
Solution Approach 2:
The combination of slidable and pivotable mechanisms acts as an intermediary system that mediates between the compact design requirement and maintenance accessibility requirement. By actuating these mechanisms, the release door is indirectly moved from its concealed position underneath the unit to an accessible position, solving the accessibility problem without compromising compact design.
3Area of stationary object
If adjacent units or hardware must be removed to access the release door, then compact arrangement is maintained, but servicing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The depository system is segmented into independently movable units, each with its own release door and servicing mechanism. This segmentation allows individual units to be accessed and serviced without requiring the removal of adjacent units or hardware, significantly reducing servicing time while maintaining the compact overall arrangement of the depository.
Solution Approach 2:
The unit is pre-equipped with slidable and pivotable mechanisms that enable quick access to the release door. These mechanisms are designed to be activated rapidly, allowing maintenance personnel to access the internal workings of the unit without time-consuming disassembly of surrounding components, thus minimizing servicing time while preserving compact arrangement.
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
This design enhances maintenance accessibility, reducing the effort required to service or release jammed media by providing a convenient pivot mechanism that allows operators to access previously inaccessible areas, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing downtime.
Implementation Method 1
a first hinge member adapted to be movably mounted on the at least one support member; and a second hinge member attached to or integral with the body; wherein, as the body is moved from the working position to the pivot position, the first and second hinge members engage such that the first hinge member is forced by the second hinge member to move with the body to the pivot position at which the first and second hinge members form a pivoting mechanism
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A unit (2) of a media depository (1) is described. The unit (2) comprises: a body (10) adapted to be supported by at least one support member (12,14) of the depository (1) in a working position and further adapted to be slidably moveable on the at least one support member (12,14) between the working position and a pivot position; a first hinge member (48) adapted to be movably mounted on the at least one support member (12,14); and, a second hinge member (60) attached to or integral with the body (10). When the body (10) is moved from the working position to the pivot position, the first and second hinge members (48,60) engage such that the first hinge member (48) is forced by the second hinge member (60) to move with the body (10) to the pivot position at which the first and second hinge members (48,60) form a pivoting mechanism by which the body (10) is pivotally attached to the at least one support member (12,14).