Patent ID: 6814256
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
A module for accessing small items, such as a key or token stored in a secure manner in a cartridge residing in said monitor, for controlled access thereto, which module comprises:a housing having spaced top and bottom walls, and spaced sidewalls, normal thereto, a series of spaced separator walls define a plurality of cartridge slots, adapted to each receive one cartridge, said top and bottom walls each having elongated aligned recesses to receive its respective separator walls to define the plurality of cartridge slots, each being open in the front and closed off in part from the top wall downwardly a finite distance by a rear wall, said rear wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and having an ejection spring disposed within each cartridge slot on the inner surface of the rear wall; a solenoid mount plate having a series of aligned openings each opening adapted to receive a portion of a solenoid there through, said solenoid mount plate being attached to the outer surface of the rear wall; a series of solenoids corresponding one each to the respective cartridge slots, all of said solenoids being attached to said rear wall, and disposed though a respective opening in said solenoid mount plate, pivotal latching means, one per cartridge slot pivotally mounted to said bottom wall and expending beneath said rear wall into a respective cartridge slot for engagement with the cartridge of the respective cartridge slot, means to selectively energize each solenoid, a series of cartridges each sized to be received by a slot within the housing, and each cartridge being open at the top and having a latch receiver at the rear thereof, each latch receiver adapted to engage a latching means, whereby when a solenoid is energized, the solenoid impacts the respective latching means to disengage the latch receiver from the latching means, and said cartridge is urged out of said slot by the ejection spring associated with said slot by the spring moving from a tensed position to an at rest position.