| INTRODUCTION : |
A newly developed 'under-counter' cash security drawer, designed and manufactured by a Coventry based multi-national company, was poised to superceed existing models. Life testing was the final stage in the product development, before it ' Hit The Shops '. Robotix was commissioned to design two automatic testers to work each cash drawer tirelessly, subjecting the units to several years worth of use within a few days - one duplicating the process used by assistants pushing cash into the drawer, and another unit duplicating the security staff unloading the drawer. Each test station must be capable of subjecting the drawer to the same heavy handed use that it would receive in use over long store opening hours. |
| Complete ' Cash Out ' test station : |
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| SOLUTION : |
Robotix designed and built two fully automatic test stations. Each test station used pneumatic actuators to mimic the operators actions ( including their heavy handedness ). Optical and inductive sensors monitor the functionality of each feature of the cash drawer, continuously checking the operation of the drawer and the test station - sometimes up to one hundred thousand cycles before stopping. Each actuator on the test station is fully adjustable for stroke, position, speed, power and heavy handedness. |
| Inside of ' Cash In ' test station : |
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| Actuators of ' Cash Out ' test station : |
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| Test Station Control Panel : | |
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Despite the simplicity of each test station, the
operators panel incorporates a PLC based controller with an LCD message display. In normal operation, the display provides a counter, indicating the number of successful test cycles completed. Should a fault develop, the display immediately identifies the failure, allowing simple diagnosis of faults. Each test station incorporates a full safety system, including an Emergency Stop push button, together with dual circuit guard safety interlocks. Safety circuits incorporate an emergency stop relay to comply with CE regulations. |
