Single Tape Escrow Module for Self-Service Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional escrow modules with multiple tape spools are prone to fragility and jamming issues, leading to costly repairs and significant downtime in self-service terminals due to the difficulty in removing jammed media.
Innovation Solution
An escrow module design utilizing a single spool of tape wrapped around a drum with a belt acting as an outer layer, allowing media to be driven onto and off the drum using a belt drive, reducing complexity and part numbers, and employing a bi-directional clutch for tension maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional escrow modules use multiple tape spools, then media storage capacity is improved, but device complexity and fragility increase leading to more jamming issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple tape spools into a single spool configuration where one continuous tape wraps around the drum multiple times to create multiple layers. This merging approach maintains the media storage capacity while reducing the number of individual spool components, thereby decreasing device complexity and eliminating jamming issues between multiple tapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The single tape serves multiple functions by wrapping around the drum in multiple layers, effectively replacing what would traditionally require multiple separate tapes and spools. This multi-functional design allows one tape to perform the storage capacity function of multiple tapes while simplifying the overall device structure.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional escrow modules use multiple tape spools, then media storage capacity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to fragility and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple tape spools into a single spool with one continuous tape, the patent eliminates the fragility and jamming issues associated with multiple separate tapes. The single tape design removes potential failure points between multiple tapes while maintaining the necessary media storage capacity through multiple wraps around the drum.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional escrow modules use multiple tape spools, then media storage capacity is improved, but ease of repair worsens due to difficulty in removing jammed media
Solution Approach 1:
The single tape design simplifies repair operations by eliminating the complex interactions between multiple tapes. When media jamming occurs, the single continuous tape structure allows for easier identification and removal of problematic media without the need to navigate between multiple separate tape layers, thereby improving ease of repair.
4Device complexity
If a single spool of tape is used, then device complexity is reduced, but media drive capability must be improved to ensure proper wrapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a belt as an intermediary element that works in conjunction with the single tape. The belt assists in driving media onto the drum and ensures proper wrapping by providing additional contact and control surfaces. This intermediary mechanism compensates for the reduced complexity of the single spool design while maintaining effective media drive capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an escrow module. The escrow module may include a drum, a first belt and a tape. The drum may have a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion. The first belt may partially encircle the drum. The tape may have a first end attached to the drum and a second end attached to a spool. Upon rotation of the drum in a first direction, a first side of a media object may contact the tape and a second side of the media object may contact the first belt.