Passive Ink Dispersion for ATM Valuables Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for protecting banknotes in ATMs are inadequate against explosive attacks, as they either fail to prevent damage or are expensive and complex, particularly when gaseous explosives are used, and existing solutions are not effective in all scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A protection device comprising flexible plastics material bags filled with marking fluid, supported by a shock-absorbing structure with glass fragments that pierce the bags during an explosion, ensuring the ink spills onto the banknotes, rendering them unusable, and is designed to be passive and robust without electronic components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electronic monitoring systems with automated ink release are used, then protection against physical break-ins is improved, but system complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes electronic components and monitoring systems from the protection mechanism, extracting only the essential passive structural elements (container, sachets, ink bottles) that provide protection through their physical design rather than active electronic control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The protection system is designed to activate automatically through passive mechanical response to explosion forces - the container structure itself triggers ink release through deformation and breakage, eliminating the need for external electronic monitoring or control systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If ink bottles are attached inside cassette lids, then protection against solid explosives is improved, but effectiveness against gaseous explosives deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against solid explosivesVSAvoideffectiveness against different explosive types
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent distributes multiple ink bottles throughout the banknote storage area rather than concentrating them in one location, ensuring that gaseous explosives will contact and trigger ink release at multiple points, thereby improving adaptability to different explosive types while maintaining protection against solid explosives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If shock-absorbing materials are used to protect ink containers, then protection during normal handling is improved, but reliability of ink release during explosion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection during handlingVSAvoidink release reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates shock-absorbing materials positioned to protect ink containers during normal handling and transport, while the container design ensures that explosion-level forces overcome this cushioning to trigger ink release, thus resolving the contradiction between protection during handling and reliability during explosion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 solution effectively renders banknotes unusable in the event of an explosive attack by ensuring the marking fluid spills uniformly and extensively onto the banknotes, providing reliable protection without the need for complex electronic systems.

Implementation Method 1

supported by a shock-absorbing structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShock absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 2

glass fragments that pierce the bags during an explosion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFragmentation: Fracture Mechanics

Data Source

PatentEP3543969B1Device and method for the protection of valuables
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 TMD SECURITY NETHERLANDS BV
  • EP3543969B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3543969B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3543969B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a protection device for the protection of valuables inside a container. The protection device has a support supporting a marking fluid container that contains a marking fluid and is provided with apertures allowing the marking fluid to spill onto the valuables upon rupture of the marking fluid container in case of an explosion.