Movable ATM Head Unit for Secure Cash Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ATM systems require frequent and costly transportation of cash between financial institutions and ATMs, involving high security measures due to the need for intermediate storage and redistribution, which complicates the circulation of documents of value.

Innovation Solution

An ATM design with a movable head unit and multiple input/output interfaces allows for the temporary storage of documents of value within the ATM, enabling direct transfer between the ATM and the financial institution, reducing transportation routes and enhancing security through physical separation of value document circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cash is transported frequently between financial institutions and ATMs, then security risk per transport is reduced, but transportation cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidtransportation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the financial institution's cash storage function with the ATM by allowing the ATM's security container to serve as an intermediate cash reservoir. This eliminates separate transportation steps between financial institutions and ATMs, reducing transportation complexity while maintaining security through the ATM's secure container that becomes the property of the financial institution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If cash is stored in intermediate locations away from financial institutions, then customer access is improved, but security risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomer accessVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic ownership transfer based on the head unit's position. When the head unit is retracted, cash in the security container remains under financial institution control. When the head unit is extended for transactions, cash becomes temporarily accessible to customers. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction by providing customer access only when needed while maintaining security through controlled ownership transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple input/output interfaces are provided in the ATM, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the head unit universal by enabling it to serve multiple functions: it can interface with both the security container for cash storage/retention and with external input/output interfaces for customer transactions. This single movable component performs the work of multiple separate interfaces, improving functionality while reducing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the head unit is made linearly displaceable to multiple positions, then operational flexibility is improved, but mechanical complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidmechanical structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic head unit that can be linearly displaced between a retracted position (for secure storage) and an extended position (for transactions). This single degree of freedom provides operational flexibility for different transaction types while keeping the mechanical structure relatively simple compared to systems with multiple movable components or complex positioning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3379503B1Device, assembly and method of entering and/or dispensing one or more valuable documents
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 DIEBOLD NIXDORF SYST GMBH
  • EP3379503B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3379503B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3379503B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

According to various embodiments, a device (100a, 200a, 300a, 400, 600, 700, 800, 950) for inputting and/or outputting one or more valuable documents may include: a security container (102) for holding one or more valuable documents; a first input/output interface (106a) and a second input/output interface (106b);a head unit (104) which is mounted to be displaceable in several positions relative to the security container (102), wherein the head unit (104) is configured to transfer one or more valuable documents into or out of the device (100a, 200a, 300a, 400, 600, 700, 800, 950) in a first position (104a) of the several positions by means of the first input/output interface (106a), to transfer them into or out of the device (100a, 200a, 300a, 400, 600, 700, 800, 950) in a second position (104b) of the several positions by means of the second input/output interface (106b), and to transfer them between the head unit (104) and the security container (102) in a third position (104c) of the several positions. transfer;