Cash box and device for handling notes of value with mechanical coding

Abstract

A cash box (18) is provided along with a device (12) for handling notes of value, in which such a cash box (18) is receivable. The cash box (18) has a receiving area (30) for receiving a value note stack and a housing (32) with at least one mechanical coding unit (50) for optional assignment of the cash box (18) to first or second receiving compartments (16) of the device (12). The coding unit (50) has a coding element (60) that is adjustable between first and second positions. The coding element (60) is designed so that the cash box (18) is feedable only to the first receiving compartment (16) when the coding element (60) is in the first position, and only to the second receiving compartment (16) when the coding element (60) is in the second position.

Claims

1. A cash box comprising: a housing having opposite front and rear ends spaced apart along an inserting direction of the cash box into a selected one of plural receiving compartments of a device, the housing further having opposite side walls extending between the front and rear ends, a bottom and an open or openable top opposite the bottom, the top and the bottom being spaced apart along a height direction; a receiving area configured to receive a value note stack, and a mechanical coding unit including a coding element that is mounted to the housing in a first position along the height direction on at least one of the side walls of the housing or at least a second position along the height direction on at least one of the side walls of the housing, and the coding element being designed so that the cash box is only feedable to a first of the receiving compartments when the coding element is in the first position, and so that the cash box is only feedable to a second of the receiving compartments when the coding element is in the second position.

2. The cash box of claim 1, wherein the coding element, in the first position, mechanically prevents insertion of the cash box into any of the receiving compartments other than the first receiving compartment.

3. The cash box of claim 2, wherein the coding element in the second position mechanically prevents an insertion of the cash box into any of the plural receiving compartments other than the second receiving compartment.

4. The cash box of claim 1, wherein the housing of the cash box has at least one recess disposed and configured for receiving at least one rail of the receiving compartment so that engagement of the rail in the recesses achieves a predetermined relative positioning of the cash box in the respective receiving compartment.

5. The cash box of claim 1, wherein the coding element comprises at least one pin, and the housing of the cash box has a first receiving element for receiving the pin and a second receiving element for receiving the pin, wherein in the first position the pin is inserted into the first receiving element and partly projects therefrom and in the second position the pin is inserted into the second receiving element and partly projects therefrom.

6. The cash box of claim 5, wherein that the housing further has a third and a fourth receiving element for receiving the pin, the pin is arranged in a third position when the pin is inserted into the third receiving element, the pin is arranged in a fourth position when the pin is inserted into the fourth receiving element, that the cash box is only feedable to a third receiving compartment of the device when the pin in the third position and the cash box is only feedable to a fourth receiving compartment of the device when the pin is in the fourth position.

7. The cash box of claim 6, wherein the pin is a first pin, the coding element further comprising a second pin, the second pin is inserted into the second receiving element in the first position, into the third receiving element in the second position, into the fourth receiving element in the third position and into the first receiving element in the fourth position, and in a fifth position the first pin is inserted into the first receiving element and the second pin is inserted into the third receiving element and in a sixth position the first pin is inserted into the second receiving element and the second pin is inserted into the fourth receiving element.

8. The cash box of claim 6, wherein the first receiving element, the second receiving element, the third receiving element and/or the fourth receiving element are through holes in the at least one side wall such that an end portion of the pin projects into an interior of the cash box when the pin is inserted into the respective through hole.

9. The cash box of claim 8, further comprising a locking element, at the end portion of the pin or the pins projecting into the interior, the locking element being configured to prevent a removal of the pin from the receiving element without access to the interior in an assembled state.

10. The cash box of claim 9, wherein a groove is formed in the end portion of the first pin and/or the end portion of the second pin and a locking ring is arranged in the groove to define the locking element.

11. The cash box of claim 5, wherein each of the receiving elements is a through hole, the first pin and/or the second pin each have a first section with a first diameter and a second section with a second diameter, the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter, the second section is at least in part arranged in the through hole, the first diameter is larger than the diameter of the through hole, and at least part of the first section projects out from the side wall of the housing.

12. The cash box of claim 1, wherein the coding unit is a first coding unit, and the cash box further comprising at least a second coding unit that is constructed substantially identically to the first coding unit and/or is arranged at an opposite side of the housing.

13. A device for handling notes of value, comprising: first and second receiving compartments provided respectively with first and second stops, first and second cashboxes provided respectively with first and second housings configured to be inserted into either of the first or second receiving compartments, a first coding element mounted along the height direction on at least one of the side walls of the first housing in one of at least first and second positions and being configured to hit against the first stop in an attempt of inserting the first cash box into the first receiving compartment when the first coding element is arranged in the first housing in a position other than the first position so that the first cash box cannot be inserted into the first receiving compartment when the first coding element is arranged in a position other than the first position, and a second coding element mounted along the height direction on at least one of the side walls of the second housing in one of at least first and second positions and being configured to hit against the second stop in an attempt of inserting the second cash box into the second receiving compartment when the second coding element is arranged in a position other than the second position so that the second cash box cannot be inserted into the second receiving compartment when the second coding element is arranged in a position other than the second position.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first stop and the second stop each comprise an element projecting into the receiving area of the respective receiving compartment, that the first stop has a first recess and the second stop has a second recess, that the first recess is designed so that either of the cash boxes is insertable into the first receiving compartment when the respective coding element is in the first position, the respective coding element is movable through the first recess of the first stop when the respective cash box is inserted into the first receiving compartment and that the second recess is designed so that either of the cash boxes is insertable into the second receiving compartment when the respective coding element is arranged in the second position, the respective coding element being movable through the second recess of the second stop when the cash box is inserted into the second receiving compartment.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the first stop and/or the second stop each comprise at least a first sheet that is bent to project into the respective receiving compartment.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the first stop and/or the second stop each further comprise at least a second sheet that is bent to project into the respective receiving compartment.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein at least one wall of the first receiving compartment and/or the second receiving compartment each has a recess and that the respective first sheet and/or the respective second sheet is mounted to the wall at a side thereof facing away from the receiving compartment and projects into the respective receiving compartment through the recess.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the sheets are screwed and/or riveted to the wall.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the wall of each receiving compartment has a predetermined number of holes via which the sheets can be mounted at different predetermined positions.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein eight holes per receiving area are provided by which four positions are defined.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the number of different predetermined positions for mounting the sheets per receiving area is equal to the number of receiving elements for receiving the pins per cash box.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the positions for mounting the sheets and the receiving elements are unambiguously assigned to each other.

23. The device of claim 13, wherein the first stop is mounted to a wall of the first receiving compartment and/or the second stop is mounted to a wall of the second receiving compartment, and wherein a seal is provided at the first stop and the wall of the first receiving compartment and/or at the second stop and the wall of the second receiving compartment so that a change of the position of the first stop relative to the wall of the first receiving compartment and/or a change of the position of the second stop relative to the wall of the second receiving compartment is determinable.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the seal comprises a lead seal, an adhesive label, and/or a plastic cable.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the seal has at least one predetermined breaking point.

26. The device of claim 13, wherein the first stop and/or the second stop each are made of a metal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an arrangement with a device for handling notes of value and four cash boxes.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a detail of the arrangement according to FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a further detail of the arrangement according to FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a cash box.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a detail of the cash box according to FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the cash box according to FIGS. 4 and 5.

(7) FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a detail of a receiving compartment of a device for handling notes of value according to a first embodiment.

(8) FIG. 8 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a detail of a receiving compartment according to a second embodiment.

(9) FIG. 9 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a detail of a receiving compartment according to a third embodiment.

(10) FIG. 10 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a detail of a receiving compartment according to a fourth embodiment.

(11) FIG. 11 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a detail of a receiving compartment according to a fifth embodiment.

(12) FIG. 12 shows a detail of an arrangement of a device for handling notes of value and two cash boxes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) In FIG. 1, a schematic illustration of an arrangement 10 comprised of a device for handling notes of value and four cash boxes 18 is illustrated. The device 12 is in particular an automated teller machine, an automatic cash register system and/or an automatic cash safe.

(14) The device 12 comprises a box receiving area 14 in which four receiving compartments 16 for receiving one cash box 18 each are provided. Each receiving compartment 16 comprises a rack 20 by means of which the cash box 18 is held in the respective receiving compartment 16. In addition, a separating and/or stacking module 21 by means of which notes of value can be fed to and/or removed from the respective cash box 18 is provided in each receiving compartment 16. The notes of value are transported along a transport path 22 between an input and/or output compartment 24 for the input and/or output of notes of value and the separating and/or stacking modules 21.

(15) In FIG. 2, a schematic illustration of a detail of the arrangement 10 according to FIG. 1 is illustrated, only the two upper receiving compartments 16 being shown. FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a further detail of the arrangement 10 according to FIG. 1, merely the uppermost receiving compartment 16 and the cash box 18 received therein being shown. FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective illustration of the cash box 18, a cover of the cash box 18 not being illustrated for a better visibility of the inner component parts. The cash box 18 comprises a receiving area 30 for receiving a value note stack and a housing 32. At both sides of the housing 32, recesses 34 are provided in which complementary projections 36 of the rack 20 of the respective receiving compartment 16 are received when the cash box 18 is inserted into the corresponding receiving compartment. In this way, the cash box 18 is held in the receiving compartment 16 and a relative predetermined positioning between the cash box 18 and the receiving compartment 16 is achieved.

(16) So that the cash box 18 can only be received in the receiving compartment 16 of the device 12 for which it is intended, two mechanical coding units 50 are provided on the cash box 18, in FIG. 4 only one of these two mechanical coding units 50 being visible. The second coding unit 50 is in particular arranged at the opposite side of the housing and is constructed identically to the first coding unit 50 so that hereinafter only the first coding unit 50 is described in more detail.

(17) In FIG. 5, a detail of the cash box 18 is illustrated, the area of the coding unit 50 being drawn to a larger scale here. FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the cash box 18, the section line running centrally through the coding unit 50 so that its structure is well visible.

(18) The coding unit 50 comprises four receiving elements 52 to 58 and a pin 60 which can optionally be inserted into one of these four receiving elements 52 to 58. The receiving elements 52 to 58 are in particular designed in the form of a stepped through hole.

(19) The pin 60 comprises a first section 62 and a second section 64, the diameter of the first section 62 being larger than the diameter of the second section 64 and the diameter of the second section 64 in particular corresponds to the smaller part of the through hole. For assembly, the pin 60 is inserted into the corresponding receiving element 52 to 58 from outside so that the shoulder between the first section 62 and the second section 64 rests against the wall. The second section 64 is designed such that it projects at least in part into the interior of the cash box 18.

(20) A groove 66 in which a locking ring 68 can be arranged is provided in the end portion of the second section 64 of the pin 60 projecting into the interior. When mounting the pin 60 in the respective receiving element 52 to 58, this locking ring 68 is mounted from the inside of the cash box 18 so that the pin 60 cannot be removed again from the respective receiving element 52 to 58 by an unauthorized person having no access to the interior of the cash box 18. Thus, the coding of the cash box 18, i.e. the assignment of the cash box 18 to one of the receiving compartments 16, is accomplished during the configuration of the cash box 18, for example in a cash center.

(21) On the other hand, however, such a locking ring 68 also makes it possible that the position of the pin 60 can be changed by an authorized person, i.e. a person having access to the interior of the cash box 18 so that the cash box 18, depending on the required situation, can be adapted to the corresponding receiving compartment 16 in which it is to be received.

(22) The first section 62 is designed such that it projects outwardly at least in part from the wall of the cash box 18. In the receiving compartments 16, one stop 80 each is provided on both sides of the receiving compartment 16, these stops 80 being designed such that each time only one cash box which is intended for this receiving compartment 16 by means of the corresponding mechanical coding can be inserted into the receiving compartment 16, and cash boxes 18 the pins 60 of which are not arranged in the corresponding position are mechanically prevented from being inserted.

(23) In FIG. 7, a first embodiment of such a stop 80 is illustrated, in FIG. 8 a second embodiment is illustrated and in FIG. 9 a third embodiment is illustrated.

(24) The stop 80 is in particular mounted to the wall 82 of the respective receiving compartment 16 and has a projecting element 84 which projects into the receiving area of the receiving compartment 16 in which the cash box 18 is arranged. This projecting element 84 is designed differently each time with respect to the stops 80 of the respective receiving compartments 16. The projecting elements 84 of the first receiving compartment 16 are designed such that only cash boxes 18 in which the pin 60 is arranged in the first receiving element 52, such as shown in FIG. 4, can be inserted into the first receiving compartment. When the pin 60 is arranged in the first receiving compartment 52, the pin 60 is moved above the projecting element 84 when the cash box 18 is inserted, as this is shown in FIG. 2. When the pin 60 is, on the other hand, arranged in one of the other receiving elements 54 to 58, it would hit against the projecting element 84 in an attempt of inserting the cash box into the first receiving compartment 16 and thus would prevent an insertion into this receiving compartment 16.

(25) The projecting element 84 of the second receiving compartment 16, on the other hand, is designed such that only a cash box 18 in which the pin 60 is arranged in the second receiving element 54, as shown in FIG. 2, can be inserted into this receiving compartment 16. In this case, the pin 60 is moved through the recess of the projecting element 84. When, on the other hand, the pin is arranged in one of the other receiving elements 52, 56, 58, the pin 60 hits against the projecting element 84 in an attempt of inserting the cash box 18 into the second receiving compartment 16 so that an insertion is mechanically prevented.

(26) Accordingly, also the stops of the third receiving compartment 16 and of the fourth receiving compartment 16 are designed such that a cash box 18 can only be inserted into the third receiving compartment 16 when the pin 60 is arranged in the third receiving element 56, and can only be inserted into the fourth receiving compartment 16 when the pin 60 is inserted into the fourth receiving element 58.

(27) Thus, a simple mechanical coding of the cash box 18 is accomplished and thus a simple reliable assignment to the respective receiving compartments 16. In particular, thus manual errors are prevented since an insertion is only possible into the respective intended receiving compartment 16 and an attempt of inserting the cash box into one of the other receiving compartments 16 is mechanically prevented.

(28) In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a plastic cable 86 is provided by means of which the stop 80 is connected to the wall 82 and which is designed such that it is irreversibly destructed when the position of the stop 80 relative to the wall 82 is changed. Thus, a change of the position can be traced in an easy manner so that manipulation attempts are prevented.

(29) In the third embodiment according to FIG. 9, instead of the plastic cable 86 an adhesive label 88 is provided which is adhered to the stop 80 and the wall 82 and which would likewise be destructed when the position between the stop 80 and the wall 82 is changed. For this, the adhesive label 88 in particular comprises a predetermined breaking point.

(30) Alternatively, also forms of a sealing other than a cable 86 or an adhesive label 88 can be used.

(31) In FIG. 10, a schematic perspective illustration of a detail of a receiving compartment 16 according to a fourth embodiment is illustrated. In this embodiment, not a single element is used as a stop 80, the form of which, i.e. in particular its projections and recesses, are adapted to the respective receiving compartment 16 but two sheets 92 are used as a stop 80.

(32) In the wall 82 of the receiving compartment 16 a recess 90 is provided for this. Further, the wall 82 has eight holes, one of which being exemplarily identified with the reference sign 94. Here, each time four of the holes 98 are arranged opposite to each other on opposite sides of the recess 30. By means of these holes 94, each of the sheets 92 can be arranged at four different positions. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the two sheets 92 are arranged in the two lowest positions.

(33) The sheets 92 are each time bent such that a portion thereof projects through the recess 90 into the receiving compartment 16 and thus forms a projection against which a pin 60 would hit when a cash box 18 is inserted, provided that the coding of this cash box 18 is not adapted to the receiving compartment 16, i.e. that one of the pins 16 is arranged in one of those receiving elements 52 to 58 that corresponds to a position in which one of the sheets 92 is arranged.

(34) Here, the cash boxes 18 and the receiving compartments 16 are adapted to each other such that during the insertion of a cash box 18 by means of the lateral rails each time one of the receiving elements 52 to 58 is guided in the area of one of the positions for the sheets 92 predetermined by means of the holes 94. Depending on in which of the four positions the sheets 92 are arranged, six different coding possibilities can be set. In this way, it is defined in which receiving element 52 to 58 the pins 60 have to be arranged so that the cash box 18 can be inserted.

(35) The sheets 92 are in particular mounted to the wall 82 by means of mounting elements 96 which project through the corresponding holes 94 and the corresponding sheet 92. In particular rivets which ensure a permanent connection can be used as mounting elements 96. Alternatively, also screws can be used as mounting elements 96, which has the advantage that these can again be disconnected non-destructively and the position of the sheets 92 can be changed depending on the configuration of the automated teller machine 12.

(36) Compared to the use of integrally formed stops according to the embodiments 1 to 3, the use of sheets 92 as stops 80 has the advantage that in the receiving compartments 16 no different elements have to be used but that the same elements, i.e. the same sheets 92, just have to be arranged at different positions, similar to the pins 60 in the receiving elements 52 to 58 of the cash box 18.

(37) In addition, the use of metal sheets 92 has the advantage that these are designed very robustly and thus sufficient resistance is offered also when a cash box 16 is inserted with high force and the respective stop 80 is not destructed.

(38) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the two sheets 92 are sealed by means of a common plastic cable 86. For this, slots 98 through which the cable 86 is passed are provided in the wall 82 and in the sheets 92. Here too, it is achieved by means of this plastic cable 86 that it can be detected when a manipulation has been performed, i.e. when the position of at least one sheet 92 has been changed.

(39) In FIG. 11, a schematic perspective illustration of a detail of a receiving compartment 12 according to a fifth embodiment is illustrated. As in the fourth embodiment according to FIG. 10, here sheets 92 are used as stops 80. However, the fifth embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment in that the sealing is accomplished by means of perforated adhesive labels 88. Here, for each sheet 92 an own adhesive label 88 is provided. Alternatively, the sealing can also be accomplished by means of one common adhesive label 88, which adheres on a portion of both sheets 92.

(40) In FIG. 12, a schematic illustration of a detail of an arrangement 10 comprised of a device 12 for handling notes of value and two cash boxes 18 which are inserted into receiving compartments 16 of the device 12 is shown. Here, for coding the receiving compartments 16 the fifth embodiment according to FIG. 11 is used.

(41) In the upper receiving compartment 16 the two sheets 92, as in FIG. 11, are arranged in the lowest positions. The pins 60 are arranged in the two upper receiving elements 52, 54 accordingly so that the cash box 18 can be inserted into the upper receiving compartment 16.

(42) In the lower receiving compartment, on the other hand, one of the sheets 92 is arranged in the uppermost position and the other sheet 92 is arranged in the lowest position. The pins 60 are correspondingly arranged in the two medium receiving elements 54, 56 in the case of the inserted cash box 18.

(43) If one were to try to insert the lower cash box 18 into the upper receiving compartment 16 or, vice versa, the upper cash box 18 into the lower receiving compartment 16, then this would not work since the pins 60 would hit against the sheets 52 so that an insertion would be prevented.

(44) Alternatively, it is also possible in all embodiments that more or less than four receiving elements 52 to 58 are provided so that correspondingly more or less than four different positions of the pin 60 can be set and thus an unambiguous coding is also possible in the case of devices 12 having more or less than four receiving compartments 16.

(45) Further, in an alternative embodiment also two pins 60 or more than two pins 60, for example three pins 60, can be used. By using two pins 60 in the case of four receiving elements 52 to 58 six different codings can be achieved. When using more than four receiving elements 52 to 58, the number of possible codings can be increased further.

(46) Here, it is not inevitably necessary that for each receiving compartment 16 of an automated teller machine a different coding is used. In particular, to each denomination a different coding is assigned, i.e. that when in an automated teller machine several cash boxes 18 of the same denomination are inserted, the coding elements 60 of these cash boxes 18 are arranged in the same position since in this case it does not matter which cash box 18 is inserted into which of the receiving compartments 16 of the automated teller machine 18 provided for the reception of the corresponding denomination. Accordingly, also the stops 80 in the receiving compartments 16 in which the same denomination is to be inserted are designed identically.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(47) 10 arrangement 12 device 14 box receiving area 16 receiving compartment 18 cash box 20 rack 21 separating and/or stacking module 22 transport path 24 input and/or output compartment 30 receiving area 32 housing 34 recess 36 projection 50 coding unit 52, 54, 56, 58 receiving element 60 pin 62, 64 section 66 groove 68 locking element 80 stop 82 wall 84 projecting element 86 plastic cable 88 adhesive label 90 recess 92 sheet 94 hole 96 mounting element 98 slot