Smartcard Cleaning and Sorting Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smartcard cleaning and sorting systems face challenges in efficiently cleaning and sorting smartcards with machine-readable identifiers, particularly when these identifiers are obscured by dirt or damage, leading to inefficiencies in redeployment for decryption and other security functions.

Innovation Solution

A smartcard cleaning and sorting apparatus that includes an intake magazine, an identifier scanner, a cleaning assembly with brushes and liquid sprayers, and a sorting assembly, which cleans the smartcards regardless of identifier readability and sorts them based on successful scanning, ensuring proper functionality for redeployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the identifier scanner attempts to read the machine-readable identifier before cleaning, then the sorting can be performed, but the identifier may be obscured by dirt or damage leading to failed readings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentifier reading accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning assembly performs preliminary cleaning of the smartcard contacts and surfaces before the identifier scanner attempts to read the machine-readable identifier. This preliminary action removes dirt and damage that would otherwise obscure the identifier, ensuring accurate reading while maintaining efficient processing by avoiding repeated scan attempts on dirty cards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the system cleans all smartcards regardless of identifier readability, then all cards are properly maintained, but processing efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmartcard functionalityVSAvoidprocessing throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning assembly performs preliminary cleaning of all smartcards before identifier scanning, ensuring that all cards are properly maintained and ready for reuse. This preliminary cleaning action prevents subsequent cleaning needs and ensures reliable functionality across all processed cards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically determines whether cleaning was necessary by checking if the identifier scan succeeded or failed, and only performs additional processing on cards that required cleaning. This self-service approach maintains reliability while optimizing processing throughput by avoiding unnecessary operations on already-clean cards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the identifier scanner is positioned before the cleaning assembly, then sorting can be performed quickly, but obscured identifiers lead to sorting errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesorting speedVSAvoididentifier reading accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system inverts the conventional sequence by positioning the cleaning assembly before the identifier scanner. This inversion ensures that the identifier is cleaned and made readable before the scanning operation, eliminating sorting errors caused by obscured identifiers while maintaining efficient processing through automated flow control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the identifier scan results to control the sorting assembly. When the scanner successfully reads the identifier, the card is sorted to the appropriate output. When scanning fails (indicating the identifier was obscured), the card is routed for cleaning and reprocessing, ensuring accurate sorting while maintaining productivity through automated feedback-driven decision making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 apparatus effectively cleans and sorts smartcards, ensuring they are in optimal condition for reuse, regardless of initial identifier readability, thereby enhancing security and efficiency in redeployment for decryption and other applications.

Implementation Method 1

a cleaning assembly, coupled with the housing, comprising a plurality of brushes and a plurality of liquid sprayers that cleans a plurality of external metallic contacts of each smartcard

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquid spray cleaning: Fluid Spray

Implementation Method 2

The device may include an identifier scanner attached with the housing that attempts to read a machine-readable identifier of each smartcard

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical scanning: Light

Data Source

PatentUS10695801B2Smartcard cleaning and sorting systems and methods

Publication Date: 2020.06.30 DISH NETWORK LLC

AI summary

Various arrangements are presented for cleaning and sorting transaction cards. A transaction card may be dispensed from an intake magazine that houses a plurality of smartcards. The transaction card may be moved along a cleaning assembly. After cleaning the transaction card, the transaction card may be sorted and output into an output magazine. A card sensor may be used to determine when a next transaction card should be dispensed.