Abstract:
A system for connecting a reservoir and a container comprising, at the container level, a container opening; container closing means; and container locking means arranged to lock the container closing means in the closed position and comprising, at the reservoir level, a reservoir opening; reservoir closing means; actuation means arranged to actuate the container locking means when the container is connected to the reservoir to release the container closing means; and reservoir locking means arranged to lock said actuation means and arranged to be actuated by additional actuation means to release said actuation means connected to the reservoir, the reservoir locking means and/or said actuation means being arranged to lock the reservoir closing means in a closed position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a locking/unlocking system enabling the attachment of a reservoir to a container to transfer the content of the container into the reservoir. The present invention will be described hereafter, as an example, for the transfer of coins from a container to a reservoir.  
         [0003]     2. Discussion of the Related Art  
         [0004]     A device capable of dispensing coins, for example, a transportation ticket dispenser, a bill changer, a slot machine, etc. generally comprises a coin store connected to a coin dispenser. The coin store must be regularly refilled with new coins to ensure the proper operation of the device.  
         [0005]     The coin store may be a removable store. The store is then detached from the dispenser to be filled with coins in a secure room, then brought back to the dispenser and attached thereto.  
         [0006]     The coin store may be an enclosure which is fixed with respect to the dispenser. It is then generally manually filled by means of coin refill containers, for example, bags of coins. In this case, it is necessary to make the coin transfer from the container to the dispenser store as secure as possible by especially avoiding for someone to be able to take advantage of the transfer to take coins from the container or from the store.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     To achieve this object, the present invention aims at obtaining a system of connection between a store and a container enabling transferring items between the store and the container while preventing access to the items during the transfer.  
         [0008]     According to another object, the present invention provides a store and a container which are of simple design and use.  
         [0009]     For this purpose, it provides a reservoir comprising a reservoir opening for the accessing the contents of the reservoir; reservoir closing means movable between a closed position of the reservoir opening and an open position of the reservoir opening; actuation means connected to the reservoir arranged to actuate locking means distinct from the reservoir; and reservoir locking means arranged to lock the actuation means connected to the reservoir and arranged to be actuated by additional actuation means distinct from the reservoir to release the actuation means connected to the reservoir. One at least of the reservoir locking means and of the actuation means connected to the reservoir is arranged to lock the reservoir closing means in the closed position.  
         [0010]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the reservoir is arranged to be temporarily connected to a container for the transfer of items between the container and the reservoir, the container comprising a container opening; container closing means movable between a closed position of the container opening and an open position of the container opening; and container locking means arranged to lock the container closing means in the closed position. The reservoir opening is arranged opposite to the container opening when the container is connected to the reservoir and the actuation means connected to the reservoir are arranged to actuate the container locking means when the container is connected to the reservoir to release the container closing means.  
         [0011]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the actuation means connected to the reservoir comprise a key and the reservoir locking means comprise a lock cylinder.  
         [0012]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the reservoir further comprises a sensor arranged to detect whether the reservoir closing means is in the open position.  
         [0013]     The present invention also provides a system for connecting a reservoir and a container for the transfer of items between the container and the reservoir. The system comprises at the container level a container opening; container closing means movable between a container opening closing position and an open position of the container opening; and container locking means arranged to lock the container closing means in the closed position. The system comprises at the reservoir level a reservoir opening, the container opening being arranged opposite to the reservoir opening when the container is connected to the reservoir; reservoir closing means movable between a reservoir opening closing position and an open position of the reservoir opening; actuation means connected to the reservoir arranged to actuate the container locking means when the container is connected to the reservoir to release the container closing means; and reservoir locking means arranged to lock the actuation means connected to the reservoir and arranged to be actuated by additional actuation means distinct from the reservoir to release the actuation means connected to the reservoir. One at least of the reservoir locking means and of the actuation means connected to the reservoir is arranged to lock the reservoir closing means in the closed position.  
         [0014]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the container comprises the additional actuation means.  
         [0015]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the additional actuation means is distinct from the container.  
         [0016]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the actuation means connected to the reservoir comprise a first key, the container locking means comprising a lock cylinder complementary to the first key. Further, the additional actuation means comprise a second key, the reservoir locking means comprising a lock cylinder complementary to the second key.  
         [0017]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the system comprises means of connection between the reservoir closing means and the container closing means arranged, on displacement of closing means from among the reservoir closing means or the container closing means, to bring the displacement of the other closing means from among the reservoir closing means and the container closing means.  
         [0018]     The present invention also provides a method of connection between a reservoir and a container for the transfer of items between the container and the reservoir. The container comprises a container opening; container closing means movable between a container opening closing position and an open position of the container opening; and container locking means arranged to lock the container closing means in the closed position. The reservoir comprises a reservoir opening; reservoir closing means movable between a reservoir opening closing position and an open position of the reservoir opening; actuation means connected to the reservoir arranged to actuate the container locking means when the container is connected to the reservoir to release the container closing means; and reservoir locking means arranged to lock the actuation means connected to the reservoir. One at least of the reservoir locking means and of the actuation means connected to the reservoir is arranged to lock the reservoir closing means in the closed position. The method comprises the steps of placing the container at the reservoir level so that the container opening is arranged opposite to the reservoir opening; actuating the reservoir closing means by additional actuation means distinct from the reservoir to release the actuation means connected to the reservoir; actuating the actuation means connected to the reservoir to release the reservoir locking means; and displacing the reservoir and container closing means to respectively the open position of the reservoir opening and the open position of the container opening.  
         [0019]     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be discussed in detail in the following non-limiting description of specific embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  schematically shows a coin store and a coin container according to a first example of embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a more detailed cross-section view of a portion of the container and of the store according to the first example of embodiment; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a more detailed cross-section view of a portion of the container and of the store according to a second example of embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]     For clarity, same elements have been designated with same reference numerals in the different drawings.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a coin store  10  of a device, not entirely shown, capable of dispensing coins to a user. It is for example a ticket dispenser, a bill exchanger, a slot machine, etc. Store  10  comprises an enclosure  12  topped with a base  14  comprising an opening, not visible in  FIG. 1 , enabling access to the content of enclosure  12  and closable by a drawer  15 .  
         [0025]     To refill store  12  with coins, a coin refill  16  comprising a bag  18 , or a rigid box, containing the coins, open at one end at the level of an access system  20  is used. Access system  20  comprises an opening, not visible in  FIG. 1 , enabling access to the content of bag  18  and that can be closed by a drawer  21 .  
         [0026]     Base  14  comprises a recess  22  arranged to receive a portion of access system  20 . When base  14  receives access system  20 , the opening of access system  20  is placed opposite to the opening of base  14 . According to the first embodiment of the present invention, base  14  comprises two protrusions  24 ,  26  arranged to cooperate with corresponding recesses  28 ,  30  at the level of access system  20 . When access system  20  is at a distance from base  14 , each drawer  15 ,  21  is in closed position, preventing access to the content, respectively, of enclosure  12  and of bag  18 .  
         [0027]     On arranging of access system  20  at the level of base  14 , protrusions  24 ,  26  are introduced into recesses  28 ,  30 . As will be described in further detail hereafter, the user can then lock access system  20  on base  14 . Only when access system  20  is locked on base  14  can drawers  15 ,  21  be actuated, enabling communication between the content of bag  18  and the content of reservoir  12  for the coin transfer from bag  18  into enclosure  12 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of access system  20  and of base  14  according to the first example of embodiment. Access system  20  comprises a key  36  that can be actuated by a user via a thumb wheel  38  and comprising an end  39 , emerging into recess  28  and supporting, for example, a bit or notches. Recess  28  enables protecting the end of key  36 . Protrusion  24  of base  14  corresponds to a lock cylinder arranged to cooperate with the end  39  of key  36 . When end  39  of key  36  is not introduced into lock cylinder  24 , lock cylinder  24  is blocked in a so-called closed position. When end  39  of key  36  is introduced into lock cylinder  24 , lock cylinder  24  can be rotated by key  36  from the closed position to a so-called open position. When lock cylinder  24  is in open position, key  36  cannot be taken out of lock cylinder  24 .  
         [0029]     Base  14  comprises a key  40  that can be actuated by the user via a thumb wheel  42  and comprising an end  46  comprising, for example, a bit or notches. Protrusion  26  has a hollow cylindrical shape surrounding end  46  of key  40  to protect it. A lock cylinder  50  is placed in recess  30  and is arranged to cooperate with end  46  of key  40 . When end  46  of key  40  is not introduced into lock cylinder  50 , lock cylinder  50  is blocked in a so-called closed position. When end  46  of key  40  is introduced into lock cylinder  50 , lock cylinder  50  can be rotated by key  40  from the closed position to a so-called open position. When lock cylinder  50  is in open position, key  40  can no longer be taken out of lock cylinder  50 .  
         [0030]     Lock cylinder  24  of base  14  is capable of driving a transmission mechanism  52  which, when lock cylinder  24  is in closed position, blocks key  40  in rotation and prevents the sliding of drawer  15 , drawer  15  then being in the position preventing the access to the content of enclosure  12 . When lock cylinder  24  is rotated to the open position, it actuates transmission system  52  which then no longer prevents the rotation of key  40  and the sliding of drawer  15 . When drawer  15  is in a position enabling access to the content of enclosure  12 , lock cylinder  24  cannot be brought back from the open position to the closed position. Lock cylinder  50  of access system  20  is capable of actuating a transmission system  54  which, when lock cylinder  50  is in closed position, prevents the sliding of drawer  21 , drawer  21  then being in the position preventing access to the content of bag  18 . When lock cylinder  50  is rotated to the open position, it actuates transmission system  54  which then no longer prevents the sliding of drawer  21 . When drawer  21  is in a position enabling access to the content of bag  18 , lock cylinder  50  cannot be brought back from the open position to the closed position. Transmission systems  52 ,  54  are for example formed of an assembly of cams, levers, and pivots and will not be described in further detail hereafter.  
         [0031]     The transfer of coins from bag  18  into enclosure  12  according to the first example of embodiment is obtained by placing access system  20  at the level of base  14 , which causes the introduction of end  39  of key  36  into lock cylinder  24 , then in closed position, and the introduction of end  46  of key  40  into lock cylinder  50 , also in closed position. Key  36  is then actuated via thumb wheel  38  rotating lock cylinder  24  from the closed position to the open position, which then actuates transmission system  52 , thus freeing the sliding of drawer  15  and the rotation of key  40 . Key  36  cooperating with lock cylinder  24  in open position, it is then not possible to withdraw access system  20  from base  14 . Key  40  is then actuated via thumb wheel  42  rotating lock cylinder  50  from the closed position to the open position, which then actuates transmission system  54 , thus freeing the sliding of drawer  21 . The user can then slide drawers  15 ,  21  enabling transfer of coins from bag  18  into enclosure  12 .  
         [0032]     The withdrawal of access system  20  from base  14  is performed by closing back drawers  21 ,  15 . Key  40  is then actuated to bring lock cylinder  50  from the open position to the closed position. Drawer  21  is then blocked by transmission system  54 . Key  36  is then actuated to bring lock cylinder  24  back from the open position to the closed position and thus prevent the sliding of drawer  15  and the rotation of key  40 . Lock cylinders  24  and  50  both being in closed position, access system  20  can then be taken out of base  14 . Further, both drawers  15 ,  21  being blocked in the position closing the access, respectively, to bag  18  and to enclosure  12 , a user does not have access to the coins present in bag  18  or in enclosure  12 .  
         [0033]     Recess  28  and protrusion  26  are arranged on the one hand to mechanically protect against shocks, respectively, ends  39 ,  46  of keys  36 ,  40  and, on the other hand, to hide each end  39 ,  46  of keys  36 ,  40  to limit copying attempts. Ends  39 ,  46  of keys  36 ,  40  may easily be replaced in a workshop after disassembling of base  14  and of access system  20  to enable replacement of worn keys or change of key number in case of a fraud or of a change in the park of coin stores  10 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows a second more detailed example of embodiment of access system  20  and of base  14 .  
         [0035]     Conversely to the first example of embodiment, access system  20  comprises no key. The user has a separate key  60  capable of cooperating with lock cylinder  24  of base  14 . Lock cylinder  24  of base  14  is capable of driving a main transmission system  61  which, when lock cylinder  24  is in closed position, blocks key  40  in rotation. When lock cylinder  24  is rotated to the open position, it actuates main transmission system  61  to enable rotation of key  40 . Key  40  is connected to drawer  15  by a secondary transmission system  62  so that, when key  40  is blocked in rotation by main transmission system  61 , the sliding of drawer  15  is prevented by secondary transmission system  62 , drawer  15  then being in the position preventing access to the content of enclosure  12 . When drawer  15  is in the position enabling access to the content of enclosure  12 , key  40  can no longer be actuated. Lock cylinder  50  of access system  20  is connected to drawer  21  by transmission system  54 , similarly to what has been previously described in relation with the first example of embodiment. When drawer  21  is in a position enabling access to the content of bag  18 , lock cylinder  50  can no longer be brought from the open position to the closed position. Drawer  21  comprises a pin  64  and drawer  15  comprises a movable pin  66  of complementary shape that can be displaced between an engagement position at which pin  66  cooperates with pin  64  and a non-engagement position in which pin  66  does not cooperate with pin  64 . The displacement of pin  66  is performed via secondary transmission system  62  so that pin  66  is in a non-engagement position when secondary transmission system  62  blocks the sliding of drawer  15  and in engagement position when secondary transmission system  62  does not block the sliding of drawer  15 . When pins  64 ,  66  cooperate, the sliding of one of pins  15 ,  21  causes the sliding of the other drawer.  
         [0036]     According to a variation of the second example of embodiment, main and secondary transmission systems  61  and  62  are replaced by transmission system  52  of the first example of embodiment which, when lock cylinder  24  is in closed position, simultaneously prevents the rotation of key  40 , the sliding of drawer  15 , and maintains pin  66  in non-engagement position.  
         [0037]     The transfer of coins from bag  18  into enclosure  12  according to the second example of embodiment is obtained by placing access system  20  on base  14 , key  40  penetrating into lock cylinder  50 . Lock cylinders  24 ,  50  then are in closed position. However, at this time, the rotation of key  40  is prevented by transmission system  61 . The user then introduces key  60  into lock cylinder  24  and rotates lock cylinder  24  from the closed position to the open position. This motion frees the rotation of key  40 . The user can then actuate key  40 , which frees the sliding of drawer  15  and causes the displacement of pin  66  from the non-engagement position to the engagement position. Pin  66  then cooperates with pin  64 . The rotation of lock cylinder  50  frees the sliding of drawer  21 . The user can then slide drawer  21 , which causes the sliding of drawer  15 , enabling transfer of coins from bag  18  into enclosure  12 .  
         [0038]     The withdrawal of access system  20  from base  14  is performed by closing one of drawers  15 ,  21 , which closes the other drawer, and by actuating key  40  to bring lock cylinder  50  back from the open position to the closed position. Drawer  21  is then blocked by transmission system  54  and drawer  15  is blocked by secondary transmission system  62 . Lock cylinder  50  being in closed position, access system  20  can be withdrawn from base  14 . Key  60  is then actuated to bring lock cylinder  24  back from the open position to the closed position and thus block the rotation of key  40 . Key  60  is then taken out. Lock cylinder  24  being in closed position, the rotation of key  40  is blocked and drawer  15  is maintained in blocked position.  
         [0039]     As for the first example of embodiment, the opening of drawer  21  is only possible when access system  20  is placed on base  14 , which prevents any access to the content of bag  18  when access system  20  is not placed at the level of base  14 . However, when access system  20  is not placed at the level of base  14 , a user can introduce key  60  into lock cylinder  24  to free the rotation of key  40 , the actuation of which enables sliding drawer  15 . A user could thus, by sliding drawer  15 , have access to the content of enclosure  12 . To avoid any fraudulent access to the content of enclosure  12 , a detector may be provided at the level of base  14  to determine whether drawer  15  is in open or closed position. Access system  20  cannot be placed on base  14  when drawer  15  is open, since key  40  which has been actuated to free the sliding of drawer  15  cannot be introduced into lock cylinder  50  in closed position. Thereby, if an operator having key  60  tried to fraudulently access to the content of enclosure  12  in a coin store refill operation, he should slide drawer  15  twice, a first time to refill enclosure  12  with coins and a second time to fraudulently have access to the content of enclosure  12 . The abnormal number of openings of drawer  15  would then be detected. Since an enclosure refill operation is generally preceded by a step of identification of the operator in charge of the refill via a man/machine interface provided at the dispenser level, the operator having performed the fraudulent operation would then be known.  
         [0040]     The second example of embodiment of the present invention has the advantage of an easier, less expensive forming of access system  20 .  
         [0041]     Of course, the present invention is likely to have various alterations, modifications, and improvements which will readily occur to those skilled in the art. In particular, the shown transmission systems are mechanical. However, electromechanical transmission systems comprising, for example, for base  14 , a sensor adapted to determining the position of lock cylinder  24  and of controlling an electrovalve which, according to the detected position of the lock cylinder, prevents or not the rotation of key  40 , may be used.  
         [0042]     Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting. The present invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.