SAFETY MEANS FOR BOX FOR VALUABLES, PREFERABLY MONEY

Abstract: A shaft (1) for a cash-box (4) which can assume two positions, one in the upper end of the shaft (1) and one in the bottom of the shaft (1). The cash-box (4) is retained in the upper position by means of withdrawable pins (2 and 3). In the lower position the cash-box (4) is covered by a flap-down wall-section (5). In a second embodiment of the invention, the cash-box (4) is placed on an endless belt (20), driven by an electric motor (19), whereby the cash-box (4) can be raised and lowered by connecting or disconnecting the current to the motor (19).

Description: Safety means for box for valuables, preferably money The present invention relates to a safety means for a box for valuables, preferably money. In most post-offices, for instance, each cashier has a tray for coins and banknotes, which is placed in a compartment in the counter. There is an inclined lid over the compartment, which is pulled down when the cashier leaves the counter. In the event of an attempted robbery, there is no time to pull down the lid and the cashier is obliged to hand over the cash. Of course, some form of mechanism would be possible which would automatically close the lid if an alarm were to be triggered. However, such a mechanism would after all be rather expensive, as well as having the drawback that the cashier's hands might be in the box at the time and might be injured. The present invention relates to a safety means of such boxes for valuables which is so designed that it is moved f om its work place. to a place in¬ accessible to the robber., in such a way that there is never any risk of the cashier's hands being injured. This is achieved according to the invention in that a shaft provided with a bottom is used, in the upper end of which said box can be placed, the box assuming a suitable position for an operator at a counter, for instance. The shaft may be in the form of a tube with various cross-sections. A suitable cross section is rectangular. The box is retained in its upper position by means of one or more blocking members, which members can be brought out of the blocking position so that the box falls down to the bottom of the shaft. A part of the shaft wall can be flapped down to a horizontal position, for instance by means of hinges. The area of said section is such that it substantially corresponds with the cross-section of the shaft. This part thus blocks the lower part of the. shaft and suitably cooperates with a locking device which keeps it in horizontal position. The flap-down wall-section may be influenced by some suitable member, such as a spring, which strives to bring the wall-section into horizontal posi- tion. A member is also provided to control the wall-section so that it can only be flapped down after passage of a box containing valuables. The blocking means to prevent the wall-section from being flapped down may consist of the box itself once it ' assumes its uppermost position. The blocking members which retain the box In its uppermost position are preferably controlled by an alarm system so that when the alarm is trig¬ gered, the blocking function is disengaged and the box falls down to ' the bottom of the shaft. At the same time the lower part of the shaft, containing the box, is closed off by the flap-down wall section. According to the present invention, blocking and locking means operated by electro-magnets are preferred. According to the invention it is advisable to permit the members locking the wall-section in horizontal position, to be brought out of locking poisition by means, which may be a key, located either in a safe-deposit vault or at a police station. In a further development of the invention two endless conveyor belts are arranged in the two short sides of the shaft, driven by a motor, which lift up the cashbox. The motor has a magnetic coupling of a type that discon¬ nects the motor when the current is disconnected and the cashbox falls to the bottom of the shaft due to its own weight. The lowering movement is controlled by the two endless belts. When the cashbox reaches the bottom, a lid is closed over it so that it is in safe keeping. The coupling to the electro-motor is designed to be in on position as long as there is current. A cashier can bring the cashbox to its upper or lower position by means of a separate key. A lid may be provided on the cashbox, giving the arrangement a flat top, a display object possibly being placed on the lid. A photocell is placed in front of the display object and if anyone attempts to remove the object, the motor coupling will receive no current, with the result that the cashbox and its lid fall to the lowermost position. The arrangement according to the present invention is thus designed to protect a cashbox or an object in a display case. Further characteristics of the present invention are revealed in the fol¬ lowing claims. The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to five drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the side wall of a shaft, including the flap-down wall section, Figure 2 shows the same side wall with the section flapped down, Figure 3 shows two shafts with boxes arranged in a service counter and the arrangement of the tripping means, and Figures 4 and 5 show a further development of the invention. In the figures, 1 is a shaft in the form of a reactangular box with a bottom and four side walls. The box may be of any suitable material, preferably plastic or metal, for instance. However, one requirement is that it should be difficult to destroy or enter. As can be seen in Figure 1, the shaft contains a box 4 for valuables such as cheques, banknotes, coins, etc. The box Is retained in its upper position by means of two blocking members 2 and 3- The blocking means preferably comprise two pins providing the armatures for two electro-magnets. The pins are preferably spring- actuated, protruding into the box so that the box rests on the_.pins. The pins are also bevelled so that a box can be moved up to its work position from below, but not in the opposite direction. If both magnets receive current, the pins are drawn in and the box 4 falls to the bottom of the shaft 1. A wall-section 5 is cut out of one side wall In the shaft 1. This section is of such a size that if it is brought into horizontal position inside the shaft It will as closely as possible cover the Inner cross- section of the shaft 1. The flap-down wall is attached to the side wall by means of hinges 6 and 7- Two stops 8 and 9 are arranged on the outside of the shaft 1 to prevent the wall-section 5 falling outwards from the shaft 1. When the flap-down section 5 assumes horizontal position as shown in Figure 2, it is locked by means of a lock 10 which may be either mechanical or electro-magnetic. In the present case It is electro-magnetic. It is no doubt obvious that the blocking members 2 and 3 and the lock 10 may be of any type provided they fulfil the function described above and which will be further described below. The present invention functions as follows: A cashier's tray is imagined placed as shown In Figure 1. In this situation the box rests on the two blocking members 2 and 3. In the event of an attempted robbery, the cashier pushes an alarm button which activates the two blocking members 2 and 3 so that the pins are withdrawn, whereupon the box falls freely to the bottom of the shaft and, after passage of the box, the flap-down wall- section 5 assumes its horizontal position as shown in Figure 2. In the horizontal position, the lock 10 comes into operation and the box with valuables is thus protected against robbery. Neither is it possible to remove the flap-down wall since it is locked in position. The flap-down wall is preferably located so that the box itself prevents it from falling down and it can only fall after the box has passed the flap-down wall 5. The wall 5 may also be provided with members striving to force it towards the inside of the shaft. These members may comprise springs, for instance. Figure 3 shows a service counter 18 having two openings, under each of which is a rectangular shaft 1 containing a cashbox 4. It is assumed that all blocking means 2 and 3 are of electro-magnetic type,- as is also the lock 10. Under the counter are a number of release buttons 11, 12, 13 and 14. If any one of these buttons is activated, all the blocking members are disconnected. This means that all the cashboxes 4 will fall down to the bottom of the shaft 1, after which the flap-down wall-sections 5 will be brought into horizontal position and locked in this position by the electro-magnetically actuated locks 10. The locks 10 communicate with electric wires 15 and 16 which in turn are connected to a member 17 capable of cancelling the locking action. This member is preferably located in a vault or, even better, with the police authorities. The robbers cannot therefore threaten the cashier into trying to cancel the action of the locks 10. The arrangement described above may constitute a bank or post-office counter, for instance. Should there be a robbery attempt at one of the cash-windows, one of the other cashiers need only press the alarm buttons 11-14 and all the cashboxes 4 will fall down and be locked in by the wall- sections 5. All cashboxes 4 will then remain locked in until the member 17 is actuated which, as just mentioned, may be located either with the police or in some other secret place so that the cashier has no way of getting at the cashboxes 4. The principle of the present invention is thus the presence of a shaft where a cashbox can be placed in the upper end with the aid of blocking members, it being possible to disconnect the blocking of said members, whereupon the cashbox falls down to the bottom of the shaft and the shaft above the cashbox blocks this in one way or another. According to the present invention this is effected by the blocking members constituting a section of the shaft wall. Figures 4-5 show a further development of the invention. A container 1 is manufactured in fireproof manner, preferably with a double wall and of incombustible material such as concrete, between the walls. It is designed to be burglar-proof. At the bottom of the container is an electric motor 19 with an electro-magnetic coupling 21 between motor and drive means. The motor drives a belt 20 which lifts a cashbox 4 located on the belt 20. When the cashbox is in raised position, the motor is switched off_by a micro- switch 22. When the cashbox 4 is to be left, a key is turned, whereupon the box is lowered and one or two covers 23 are lowered over the box 4 and locked. An extra cover may also be provided above. In the event of a robbery, a button is pushed, which can be done at various points, e.g. in a bank, the electro-magnetic connection then receives no current and the box - β falls down, and the covers are closed and locked. At the same time an alarm is triggered. Triggering may also be effected in the event of fire, being connected to the sprinkler system. The system is switched on at a central point, which may control a consi¬ derable number of boxes. This central office may be located in a safe place and may require two people simultaneously to start up the system. Figure 5 shows a case 4 for use in a jeweler's, for instance, the case being in its lower position, locked in. Figure 5 also shows how, with the aid of a cover 24 of transparent material, preferably of plexiglass, a storage place can be provided for jewelers', for instance, which is guarded both by a photocell and by a vibration contact 25. When the cover is tampered with, the vibration contact will be released and the case 4 is lowered and locked in. The photocell has light-emitters 26,27 and re¬ ceivers 28,29. When the light ray is broken, the case 4 will be lowered. The system is controlled electronically and by a relay box 30. One advantage with this system is that only magnetic couplings are in¬ volved. There are no stops with magnets, springs and so on which can get caught. The arrangement can be used in various places where money are valuables are handled. Besides banks, it can be used in exhibition halls, jewelers', etc.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Safety means for box (4) for valuables, preferably money in the form of coins, banknotes, cheques and the like, said box being located for example in a recess In the counter of a post-office, bank or super¬ market, characterised in that it consists of a shaft (1) or tube of arbitrary cross section with a bottom, the shaft (1) having a cross- section corresponding to the cross-section of the box (4) and the box (4) being movable from the upper end of the shaft (1) to its bottom, or vice versa, that blocking members (2,3) are provided, which can be brought into and out of operation and which, when functioning, retain the box at the upper end of the shaft (1), and that a part (5) of the shaft wall can be flapped down to horizontal position and is of such a size that the shaft (1) is substantially closed, the flap only being closable after passage of the box (4). 2. Safety means according to claim 1, characterised in that, when in horizontal position, said flap-down wall-section (5) cooperates with a locking member (10). 3. Safety means according to claim 1, characterised in that said flap- down wall-section (5) cooperates with members, such as springs, striving to bring the section into horizontal position. 4. Safety means according to claim 1, characterised in that the block¬ ing and locking members make the use of electro-magnets. 5. Safety means according to claim 1, characterised In that in its upper position the box (4) prevents the wall-section (5) from being flap¬ ped down. 6. Safety means according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the box (4) is placed on endless belts (20), driven by an electric motor (19), whereby the box (4) can be raised and lowered by switching the current to the motor (19) on or off. 7. Safety means according to claim 6, characterised in that an electro¬ magnetic coupling (21) is arranged between motor and drive means. 8. Safety means according to claims ' 6 and 7, characterised in that the box (4) is surrounded by a cover (24) of transparent material, said cover (24) being provided with photocells (26-29) and/or a vibration contact (25). 9. Safety device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the tripping means are connected to a sprink¬ ler system.

Inventors: JACOBSSON AXEL EVERT BIRGER, JACOBSSON, AXEL, EVERT, BIRGER
Applicants: JACOBSSON AXEL E B, JACOBSSON, AXEL, EVERT, BIRGER
Application year: 1982
Main classification: E05G5
IPC codes: E05G5