05. Concept Evaluation and Project Architecture - Z-div-Engg-exploration-2026-27-odd/Repo-3 GitHub Wiki

Concept 1: DC geared motor + rollers + spring-loaded clamp + scissor cutter + gravity chute + LED & buzzer + Arduino UNO

Concept 2: Stepper motor + rollers + fixed clamp + guillotine cutter + chute + display + Arduino

Concept 3: Servo + rollers + pair of rollers + rotary cutter + chute + LED + Arduino

Concept 4: DC motor + friction wheel + lever clamp + sliding blade + conveyor + buzzer + Arduino

Concept 5: DC motor + rollers + spring clamp + sliding blade + sliding flap + LED & buzzer + Arduino

Criteria Weightage C1 Datum C2 C3 C4 C5
Low cost 9 0 −− −− 0 +
Simple mechanism 9 0 − −− 0 +
Easy paper feeding 6 0 + 0 0 +
Accurate paper length 9 0 ++ + 0 ++
Simple cutting 6 0 + −− + +
Easy dispensing 6 0 0 0 − 0
Low weight 3 0 − 0 − +
Easy Arduino control 6 0 0 0 0 0
Easy maintenance 3 0 − −− 0 +
Safety 3 0 + −− 0 +
Number of ++   0 1 0 0 1
Number of +   0 3 1 1 7
Number of 0 (=)   10 2 4 8 2
Number of −   0 3 0 1 0
Number of −−   0 1 5 0 0
Total Score   0 0 −9 −1 +9
Weighted Total Score   0 0 −51 −3 +57

5.1 Justifications for Score Given

Sl. No. Criterion Weightage (1–10) Reason
1 Low cost 9 The total project cost must be below ₹3500.
2 Simple mechanism 9 Important because this is a first-year project.
3 Easy paper feeding 6 Paper should move smoothly without jamming.
4 Accurate paper length 9 Important to dispense one token at a time.
5 Simple cutting 6 Cutting should be easy to construct and operate.
6 Easy dispensing 6 The token should reach the user easily.
7 Low weight 3 The machine should be below 2 kg.
8 Easy Arduino control 6 The system should be easy to control using Arduino.
9 Easy maintenance 3 Components should be easy to adjust or replace.
10 Safety 3 The cutting mechanism should be reasonably safe.
Design No. Objective Score Allocated Justification for the Score
1 Low Cost 0 Datum design; used as the reference for cost comparison.
Simple Mechanism 0 Datum design; used as the reference for simplicity.
Easy Paper Feeding 0 Datum design; used as the reference for paper feeding.
Accurate Paper Length 0 Datum design; used as the reference for paper length control.
Simple Cutting 0 Datum design; used as the reference for cutting.
Easy Dispensing 0 Datum design; used as the reference for dispensing.
Low Weight 0 Datum design; used as the reference for weight.
Easy Arduino Control 0 Datum design; used as the reference for control.
Easy Maintenance 0 Datum design; used as the reference for maintenance.
Safety 0 Datum design; used as the reference for safety.
2 Low Cost −18 Stepper motor, guillotine mechanism and display can increase the overall cost.
Simple Mechanism −9 The stepper motor and guillotine mechanism make the design more complicated.
Easy Paper Feeding +6 Stepper motor with rollers provides controlled paper movement.
Accurate Paper Length +18 Stepper motor allows better control of the amount of paper fed.
Simple Cutting +6 Guillotine cutting gives a straight and clear cut.
Easy Dispensing 0 The chute provides a similar dispensing method as the datum.
Low Weight −3 Extra components such as the stepper motor and display add some weight.
Easy Arduino Control 0 Arduino can control the stepper motor using a suitable driver.
Easy Maintenance −3 More components make adjustment and maintenance slightly difficult.
Safety +3 The fixed guillotine cutting path gives controlled cutting movement.
3 Low Cost −18 Servo motor, rotary cutter and related parts can increase the cost.
Simple Mechanism −18 Rotary cutting and servo-based feeding make the mechanism more complicated.
Easy Paper Feeding 0 Rollers can feed the paper properly, similar to the datum.
Accurate Paper Length +9 Servo motor provides controlled movement of the paper.
Simple Cutting −12 Rotary cutter requires additional rotating parts and careful alignment.
Easy Dispensing 0 The gravity chute provides simple token dispensing.
Low Weight 0 The overall mechanism can have a weight similar to the datum.
Easy Arduino Control 0 Servo and sensors can be controlled using Arduino.
Easy Maintenance −6 Rotary cutting parts require more care and adjustment.
Safety −6 The rotating cutter requires additional safety precautions.
4 Low Cost 0 The components are commonly available and cost is comparable to the datum.
Simple Mechanism 0 The mechanism is reasonably simple but has an additional friction wheel/conveyor arrangement.
Easy Paper Feeding 0 The friction wheel can feed paper properly when adjusted correctly.
Accurate Paper Length 0 Paper length can be controlled, but it is not significantly better than the datum.
Simple Cutting +6 The sliding blade provides a simple linear cutting action.
Easy Dispensing −6 The small conveyor adds an extra mechanism for dispensing the token.
Low Weight −3 The conveyor and additional parts can increase the machine weight.
Easy Arduino Control 0 The motor and indicator can be controlled using Arduino.
Easy Maintenance 0 The mechanism can be maintained without major difficulty.
Safety 0 The sliding blade has controlled movement similar to the datum cutting system.
5 Low Cost +9 DC geared motor, rollers, sliding blade and simple indicators are relatively economical.
Simple Mechanism +9 The mechanism uses simple and easily understandable parts.
Easy Paper Feeding +6 DC geared motor and rollers provide simple and smooth paper feeding.
Accurate Paper Length +18 The mark sensor can detect the required position and help provide one token length.
Simple Cutting +6 The sliding blade gives a simple linear cutting mechanism.
Easy Dispensing 0 The sliding flap provides simple dispensing but is not significantly better than the datum.
Low Weight +3 The design avoids heavy mechanisms such as a conveyor or large rotary cutter.
Easy Arduino Control 0 Arduino can control the sensor, motor and indicators without major difficulty.
Easy Maintenance +3 The components are simple and can be easily adjusted or replaced.
Safety +3 The sliding blade has a controlled cutting movement and can be covered easily.

5.2 Selected Design

Concept 5: DC motor + rollers + spring clamp + sliding blade + sliding flap + LED & buzzer + Arduino

Sl. No. Subfunction Selected Means
1 Detect user IR sensor
2 Feed paper DC geared motor + rollers
3 Control paper length Mark sensor on paper
4 Hold paper Spring-loaded clamp
5 Cutting mechanism Single sliding blade
6 Dispense token/slip Sliding flap
7 Indicate completion LED + buzzer
8 Control system Arduino UNO

5.3 Product Architecture

Sl. No. Subsystem Components / Functions
1 User Detection Unit IR sensor to detect the presence of a person.
2 Paper Handling Unit Paper roll, DC geared motor, rollers, mark sensor and spring-loaded clamp.
3 Cutting Unit Single sliding blade to cut one token/slip.
4 Token Dispensing Unit Sliding flap to deliver the cut token to the user.
5 Control Unit Arduino UNO to control the sensor, motor, cutting sequence and dispensing process.
6 Interface Unit LED and buzzer to indicate that the token is ready.
7 Supporting Structure Base, holders and supports to keep the components in position.

Product architecture Diagram

Working of the Product Architecture

  1. The IR sensor detects the presence of a person.
  2. Arduino UNO receives the sensor signal and starts the dispensing process.
  3. The DC geared motor and rollers feed the paper from the roll.
  4. The mark sensor detects the required token length.
  5. The spring-loaded clamp holds the paper in position.
  6. The sliding blade cuts the paper into one token.
  7. The sliding flap releases the token to the user.
  8. The LED and buzzer indicate that the token is ready.

5.4 Function Clustering

5.5 Interaction between Subsystems

Sl. No. Subsystem 1 Subsystem 2 Interaction
1 User Detection Unit Control Unit The IR sensor detects a person and sends a signal to the Arduino UNO.
2 Control Unit Paper Handling Unit The Arduino controls the DC geared motor to feed the paper.
3 Paper Handling Unit Control Unit The mark sensor detects the required paper length and sends a signal to the Arduino.
4 Control Unit Paper Handling Unit The Arduino controls the paper-feeding process and stops the motor at the required position.
5 Paper Handling Unit Cutting Unit The spring-loaded clamp holds the paper in position for cutting by the sliding blade.
6 Control Unit Cutting Unit The control sequence initiates cutting after the paper reaches the required length and is held securely.
7 Cutting Unit Token Dispensing Unit After cutting, the separated token is released towards the sliding flap.
8 Control Unit Token Dispensing Unit The Arduino coordinates the dispensing sequence so the cut token can be delivered to the user.
9 Control Unit Interface Unit The Arduino activates the LED and buzzer to indicate that the token is ready.
10 Token Dispensing Unit User The sliding flap allows the user to collect the dispensed token.
11 Supporting Structure All Subsystems The supporting structure holds the components in position and maintains their alignment.