Document Stacker With Inward Projected Surfaces for Deviated Sheet Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bill stackers face challenges in storing decentered documents without a centering device, leading to increased manufacturing costs and compatibility issues with limited outer configurations.

Innovation Solution

A stacker design featuring a pusher mechanism and backup plate system that adjusts to accommodate documents with tolerable deviations, using a pair of inward projected surfaces and a spring-actuated backup plate to align and store decentered documents within a vault.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a centering device is added to align decentered documents, then document alignment is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument alignmentVSAvoidcentering device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stacker uses its own pusher mechanism and backup plate to perform the centering function that would otherwise require a separate centering device. The pusher pushes documents against the backup plate, allowing the stacker's existing components to self-correct decentered documents without external assistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The backup plate serves dual functions: it acts as a support surface for documents during stacking and simultaneously functions as a centering element. By positioning the backup plate at specific locations within the stacking chamber, it provides both structural support and alignment correction in a single component

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

2Manufacturing precision

If a centering device is added to align decentered documents, then document alignment is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument alignmentVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The stacker uses its own pusher mechanism and backup plate to perform the centering function that would otherwise require a separate centering device. The pusher pushes documents against the backup plate, allowing the stacker's existing components to self-correct decentered documents without external assistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The backup plate serves dual functions: it acts as a support surface for documents during stacking and simultaneously functions as a centering element. By positioning the backup plate at specific locations within the stacking chamber, it provides both structural support and alignment correction in a single component

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

3Device complexity

If documents are stored without a centering device, then device complexity is reduced, but document alignment and storage reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestacker structureVSAvoiddocument storage alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stacker uses its own pusher mechanism and backup plate to perform the centering function that would otherwise require a separate centering device. The pusher pushes documents against the backup plate, allowing the stacker's existing components to self-correct decentered documents without external assistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The backup plate serves dual functions: it acts as a support surface for documents during stacking and simultaneously functions as a centering element. By positioning the backup plate at specific locations within the stacking chamber, it provides both structural support and alignment correction in a single component

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

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

Enables safe and efficient storage of documents with tolerable deviations, allowing for easy retrieval without the need for a centering device, reducing manufacturing costs and enhancing compatibility with compact configurations.

Implementation Method 1

a backup plate (9) disposed within vault (30) for parallel movement of backup plate (9) to the moved direction of pusher (11), and a spring (10) disposed in vault (30) for resiliently urging backup plate (9) toward protrusions (6)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3046084B1Paper sheet receiving stacker
Publication Date: 2023.05.24 JAPAN CASH MASCH CO LTD
  • EP3046084B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3046084B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3046084B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The stacker comprises a pair of protrusions 6 prominent from side walls 5 in a spaced relation to each other to form a second opening 7 between protrusions 6, an interim chamber 13 defined by partitions 3 and protrusions 6, and a pair of inner surfaces 8 formed on protrusions 6 prominent into interim chamber 13 from side walls 5 more inward than side surfaces of a holding chamber 12. Largely deviated one of side edges of document D comes into contact to inner surface 8 in interim chamber 13 to push document D inward by projection of inner surface 8 to store document D in a vault 30 with the tolerable deviation upon stowage of a subsequent document D.