Article dispensing – With lock – latch – or seal for container and/or support
Patent
1989-06-02
1991-12-10
Bollinger, David H.
Article dispensing
With lock, latch, or seal for container and/or support
221197, 221287, 271162, 109 59R, 109 635, B65H 100
Patent
active
050710320
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a sheet store comprising a container having an access opening; a closure member for closing the access opening; and a locking device for locking the closure member in its closed position. Such stores are hereinafter referred to as "of the kind described".
Typical locking devices include key operated locks with the number of keys available for operating the lock being limited to prevent fraudulent access. However, simple key operated locks of this type are not impossible to overcome by a skilled lock picker or by someone who gains unauthorized access to the key.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, in a sheet store of the kind described the locking device comprises an electrically conductive member which is movable between locked and unlocked positions, the member being biased towards one of the positions and movable to the other position in response to the generation of a magnetic field in the vicinity of the member and is characterized in that the electrically conductive member is made of non-ferromagnetic material whereby when the lock member is brought into the vicinity of an AC magnetic field, eddy currents are generated in the member which then moves against the bias due to the interaction of the AC magnetic field and the field generated by the eddy currents.
This invention has the significant advantage that the location of the locking member and the manner in which it is operated cannot be determined from a visual inspection of the store. Furthermore, in a preferred example in which the store further comprises a second, key operated lock for locking the closure member in the closed position, an unauthorized user would not even suspect the presence of the first locking device.
The electrically conductive member may comprise an electrically conductive ring of non-ferromagnetic material mounted on a soft iron core within the sheet store container.
In another example, the locking device may comprise a core member around which is wound a coil electrically connected to a solenoid having a plunger, whereby when a changing magnetic flux is coupled into the core, a current flows in the coil to move the plunger away from a closure member locking position.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, sheet handling apparatus comprises a sheet store housing adapted to receive a sheet store according to the first aspect of the invention, the sheet store housing including actuating means for actuating the locking device upon insertion of the store into the store housing.
For example, where the first locking device includes a member responsive to a magnetic field, the actuating means may comprise magnetic field generating means such as a solenoid.
In one example, the closure member comprises a slidable shutter, the store further comprising control means for moving the closure member between its open and closed positions, the first locking device co-operating with the control means to prevent or permit the control means to operate in accordance with the locking device being in its locked or unlocked position respectively.
For example, the control means may comprise a co-operating rack and pinion, the rack being coupled to the closure device, and the pinion co-operating with the first locking device, the first locking device preventing rotation of the pinion in its locked position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An example of a banknote cassette in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of the cassette, and part of a cassette housing;
FIG. 2A is a plan of the upper shutter;
FIG. 2B illustrates one of the rails along which the upper shutter slides;
FIG. 3 is a cross-section through part of the cassette;
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the tamper-proof control assembly with some parts omitted for clarity;
FIGS. 4B and 4C illustrate part of the tamper-proof assembly in different pos
REFERENCES:
patent: 4447097 (1984-05-01), Lafevers et al.
patent: 4798316 (1989-01-01), Martin et al.
Ford Graham P.
Hosking Steven M.
Martin Harvey G.
Pilling Roger
Thornton Roger
Bollinger David H.
De La Rue Systems Ltd.
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