Self-Service POS Cash Deposit Limits to Prevent Coin Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-service POS terminals face issues with increased checkout times and operational failures due to the unrestricted depositing of large amounts of coins, leading to potential clogging and increased labor and time for money collection.
Innovation Solution
A money depositing and dispensing apparatus that limits the number of coins or bills deposited by customers through an identification unit, storage unit, and operator determination unit, returning excess amounts and allowing store clerks to bypass this limit for efficient operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of pieces of money that can be deposited is not limited, then customers can deposit large amounts of coins, but checkout time increases and operational failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the deposit limit parameter based on the operator type. For customer operations, the system sets a predetermined limit on the number of coin pieces that can be deposited, while for store clerk operations, this limit is removed or increased. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by allowing high deposit capacity when needed (by clerks) while preventing excessive checkout times (for customers).
2Quantity of substance
If a large amount of coins are deposited, then the deposit capacity increases, but operational failures such as clogging occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters by detecting whether the operator is a customer or store clerk and adjusting the deposit acceptance parameters accordingly. When a customer operates the system, the parameter for maximum coin pieces is set to a predetermined limit, preventing clogging and maintaining reliability. When a store clerk operates, the parameter is adjusted to allow larger quantities, maintaining both reliability and deposit capacity through context-aware parameter adjustment.
3Quantity of substance
If the quantity of money deposited increases, then the deposit capacity is improved, but labor and time for collecting money increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes based on operator identity to optimize money collection efficiency. By limiting the number of coin pieces that can be deposited by customers to a predetermined threshold, the system prevents excessive accumulation of coins that would require frequent and time-consuming collection operations. Store clerks, who are trained for money handling, can exceed this limit when necessary, thus balancing productivity requirements with operational efficiency.
4Ease of operation
If the number of pieces of money deposited is not limited, then customers can make payments, but the system becomes less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies parameter changes by setting a predetermined limit on the number of coin pieces that can be deposited during customer operations. This parameter ensures that customers can easily make payments (ease of operation) while preventing excessive deposits that would reduce checkout efficiency. The parameter is dynamically adjusted based on operator detection, allowing store clerks to bypass the limit when performing money management tasks, thus maintaining both ease of operation and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-service POS terminal (a money depositing and dispensing apparatus) is capable of performing at least cash settlement and includes a denomination identification unit (an identification unit) configured to identify a denomination of money deposited to a coin depositing port (a depositing port) or a bill depositing port (a depositing port), a deposited money information storage unit (a storage unit) configured to store denominations, numbers, and depositing order of pieces of money deposited during one checkout, an operator determination unit configured to determine whether the self-service POS terminal is being operated by a customer or being operated by a store clerk, and a money return unit configured to, on condition that it is determined that the self-service POS terminal is being operated by the customer, if pieces of money exceeding a predetermined value in number were deposited, return the money deposited in excess of the predetermined number.