Device for managing valuables including money

Abstract

A device for managing valuables includes a housing having a service area including a printer, a primary vault attached to the housing and having a primary vault locking system for storing valuables, and a secondary vault mounted in the housing and having control electronics for operating the device. The secondary vault isolates the control electronics from the primary vault and from the service area to inhibit tampering with the control electronics.

Claims

1. A device for managing valuables comprising: a housing having a service area including a printer; a primary vault attached to the housing and having a primary vault locking system for storing valuables; a secondary vault mounted on the primary vault and having control electronics for operating the device, the secondary vault isolates the control electronics from the primary vault and from the service area; the secondary vault sits immediately on top of the primary vault, the primary and secondary vaults define an opening to enable a connecting line to extend through the opening, the opening is sized small enough to inhibit access between vaults; the connecting line includes a detachable interface in the opening including a contact plug with a first coupling part and a second coupling part situated above and below each other in the opening; the first coupling pail and the second coupling part being countersunk within the opening with a snap-fit connection so that detaching or connecting the first coupling part can be accomplished without manipulating the other coupling part, and wherein both the primary vault and secondary vault include control electronics that electrically connect through the connecting line.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the secondary vault is arranged inside of the service area.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the device has a service area door, a primary vault door and a secondary vault door, each of which, has a separate locking system.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the secondary vault is enclosed by the service area door so that access to the secondary vault is only achievable when the service area door is open.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing includes sliding tracks, the printer mounts on the sliding tracks to enable service and maintenance of the printer.

6. A device for managing valuables comprising: a housing having a service area including a printer; a primary vault attached to the housing and having a primary vault locking system for storing valuables; a control unit in the primary vault; a secondary vault mounted on the primary vault and having control electronics including a computer and a power supply for operating the device, the secondary vault isolates the control electronics from the primary vault and from the service area; the secondary vault sits immediately on top of the primary vault defining an opening that extends between the secondary vault and the primary vault; and a connecting line having a detachable interface, including a first coupling part and a second coupling part countersunk in snap-fit connection in the opening between the primary vault and the secondary vault for enabling a detachable electrical connection between the control unit and the control electronics, whereby, pulling the first coupling part from within the primary vault detaches the connecting line without any need for accessing the secondary vault or handling the second coupling part.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the secondary vault is arranged inside of the service area.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the detachable interface is countersunk in the secondary vault to inhibit tampering.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the detachable interface is countersunk in the primary vault to inhibit tampering.

10. A device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the device has a service area door, a primary vault door and a secondary vault door, each of which has a separate locking system.

11. A device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the secondary vault is enclosed by the service area so that access to the secondary vault is only achievable when the service area door is open.

12. A device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the housing includes sliding tracks, the printer mounts on the sliding tracks to enable service and maintenance of the printer.

13. A device capable of managing valuables comprising: a housing having a service area including a printer; a primary vault attached to the housing and having a primary vault locking system for storing valuables; a secondary vault, the secondary vault sits immediately on top of the primary vault defining an opening that extends between the secondary vault and the primary vault; control electronics being mounted in the secondary vault, the control electronics including a computer and a power supply for operating the device; a connecting line extending between the control electronics of the secondary vault into the primary vault, the connecting line including a detachable interface in the opening between the primary vault and the secondary vault; the detachable interface includes a first coupling part and a second coupling part countersunk in a snap-fit in the opening, and wherein, pulling the second coupling part from within the secondary vault detaches the connecting line without any need to access the primary vault or to handle the first coupling part.

14. A device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the detachable interface includes a contact plug within the opening and the first coupling part is counter sunk in the primary vault and a second coupling part is countersunk in the secondary vault.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawings illustrate examples of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention having a primary vault and a secondary vault located above the primary vault.

(3) FIG. 2 is a front view having a cut-away portion showing the primary vault that encloses valuables, and a secondary vault for enclosing electronics.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device 100. The device 100 is shown from a back side. The device 100 manages valuables including money. Managing valuables includes collecting, dispensing and receiving valuables, particularly money. The device 100 has a service area 10 and a primary vault 20. The service area 10 has a housing 15. The housing is constructed as a vault according to the preferred embodiment shown. The service area 10 has a door 13, which opens, as shown. The vault 20 is preferably a certified vault for storing valuables. The primary vault 20 also has a door, which opens, closes and locks. The primary vault 20 and the service area 10 are separately accessible.

(5) The device 100 has a primary vault 20 arranged beneath the service area 10. The primary vault 20 is preferably a certified vault for storing valuables, such as money, tickets, vouchers, coupons and the like.

(6) The device 100 has control units in the service area 10. The control units include a computer 11, a printer 12, receipt paper, and a power supply 16.

(7) The control units may include a hopper for receiving valuables, such money. The vault 20 includes a bank-note magazine device and/or a bank-note collection and/or dispensing unit for receiving valuables from the controlling unit.

(8) According to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown, the service area 10, can be opened for maintenance and service work via the door 13. The printer 12 slidably mounts rails 14 aligned with respect to the door 13 of the service area 10. The rails 14 enable the printer to be pulled out of the device 100 for maintenance and service. Other less frequently serviced components can be mounted further from the door 13.

(9) The control units, including the computer, 11, and possibly also its power supply, 16, are advantageously arranged inside of the said service area, 10, in a secondary vault, 30, which is arranged completely inside of the service area, 10, in the design shown and is only accessible by opening the door, 13, of the service area, 10.

(10) The said secondary vault, 30, can likewise be constructed as a certified vault. In any case, it possesses a high-strength vault housing, 31, the wall of which is constructed to be manipulation-proof and consists of high-strength material of sufficient wall thickness. The secondary vault 30 possesses considerably greater wall- and break-in-security than the housing 15 of the service area 10.

(11) The said secondary vault, 30, possesses a separate locking system, which locks the secondary vault, 30, independently of the primary vault, 20, and separately from the service area, 10. In particular, the vault housing, 31, possesses a vault door, 32, which is accessible after opening the door, 13, of the service area, 10, but is only to be opened separately or remains locked during access only to the printer, 12. Instead of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the said vault door, 32, can also be arranged on a side opposite the door, 13, of the service area, 10, and opened from there, i.e. the vault door, 32, can in particular also be opened from a front side of the device. Accessibility from opposite sides enables maintenance on the control electronics from a separate room, i.e. the service technician need not enter the space in which the bank's employees conduct corresponding service work. In particular, the said vault door, 32, can also be arranged on a side opposite the door of the primary vault, 20. Arrangement of the doors on opposite sides is particularly advantageous when the device is integrated into a building wall or masonry wall so that the door arrangement on opposite sides enables accessibility from various building rooms.

(12) The secondary vault 30, and the primary vault 20 sit advantageously immediately on top of one another so that corresponding vault walls 21 and 33 border one another, see FIG. 2.

(13) The computer 11 is situated of the secondary vault 30 and contains control electronics, which actuates the money-guiding or processing units of the primary vault, 20. For this, the computer, 11, is connected by a connecting line, 17, to the control units of the primary vault, 20, wherein said connecting line 17, is guided through an opening 40, which passes through the walls of the two vaults, 20 and 30, and connects the two vaults 20 and 30 with one another. The opening 40 is constructed to be as small as possible so that it offers no possibility of manipulating one of the vaults from the other.

(14) FIG. 2 shows the connecting line 17 extends from the computer 11 to the primary vault 20 via the opening 40. The connecting line 17 has a detachable interface 18 in the area of the opening 40. The detachable interface 18 enables the connection line 17 to be maintained or replaced during access to the secondary vault 30, without requiring access to the primary vault 20.

(15) The interface 18, is advantageously constructed and/or arranged here in such a way that during work on the line interface in one of the vaults, no access to the cable section in the other vault is necessary and/or possible. In particular, the said interface, 18, can encompass two coupling parts, 18a and 18b, which are detachably connectable to one another. Each is arranged counter sunk in the opening 40, and held in place with a mounting so that detaching or connecting one coupling part requires no manipulation or handling of the other coupling part. For instance, the coupling parts 18a and 18b, can each be fastened countersunk in the opening 40, by a snap connection so that, for instance, the part of the line in the upper vault can be pulled out or inserted in from above without having to hold the lower part of the line in the lower vault.

(16) The mounting for the coupling parts 18a and 18b, can be advantageously constructed here in such a way that detaching the respective coupling part, 18a or 18b, is only possible on the side from which line piece fastened to the respective coupling part, 18a or 18b exits. According to FIG. 2, the upper coupling part 18a, can only be detached from above, while the lower coupling part 18b, can only be detached from below. For instance, this can be achieved by appropriately arranged snap tabs or the like, which are only accessible from one side.

(17) According to the embodiment shown, money or valuables are housed inside of the primary vault 20. The service area 10, the secondary vault 30, and the primary vault, 20 are physically separated in a secure manner.

(18) Both the primary vault 20 and the secondary vault 30 can be separated and replaced singly or mutually, or together with the service area 10, by detaching connections. For instance, this can be made possible by a threaded and/or a screw connection, for example in the form of a screw bolt in vault 20 and/or in vault 30.

(19) Moreover the primary vault 20, the secondary vault 30 and the service area 10 each have distinct locking systems.

(20) The device 100, shown in the figures can be constructed as a free-standing, column-like device. In elaboration of the invention, however, it can also be constructed as a built-in device that, for instance, can be built into a building wall so that essentially only the back side and the front side lying opposite shown in FIG. 1 are accessible from different sides of the wall.