BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cash container according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 2A-2C are elevation views of a cash container according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 3A-3E are views of an ink marking system of a cash container according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 4A-4C are views of a cash container within a bag according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 5-11 and 19-25 are views of a cash container within a bag, according to embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 12-18 are views of a cash container within a bag where an apparatus (e.g., an elastic material, a rope material, etc.) holds the bag in place, according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 26-32 are views of the ink marking system, according to an embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 33-39 are views of the cash container with the ink marking system, according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 40 is a view of the ink marking system when it is taken apart, according to an embodiment. FIG. 41 is a view of the ink marking system and the cash container when they are taken apart, according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 42 is a view of a locking system, according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS
Money depositing machines or cash machines may provide many financial services to users. Included among these financial services may be the ability to accept cash deposits into a user's bank account. Cash may be deposited into the machine by a user, and the deposited cash may fall into a bag or other container for future collection. Once collected, the cash in the bag may be sorted and counted, and this sorting and counting may be performed manually by CIT companies (Cash in transit companies). The cash containers described herein may receive and store the deposited cash in an orderly fashion, so that it may be more easily sorted and counted after collection, thus saving up to 70% labor in the counting process in some embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cash container 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 2A-2C are elevation views of the cash container 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The cash container 100 may comprise a box with an opening 110 on one side. For example, the box may be substantially rectangular as shown. The rectangular shape may correspond to the shape of a cash note, so that the cash deposited into the box orients itself according to the shape of the box. Other shapes (e.g., cylindrical) may be possible. The box may be sized to fit within a money depositing machine, such as the Cash Connect TPD1000 which holds 12,000 cash notes, for example. The opening 110 may be on a top side of the box as shown. The opening 110 and box may be sized so that cash will fall into the opening and orient itself within the box to form a substantially compact stack of bills. The box also may have a lower opening 120 and may be inserted within a bag, as described in greater detail below, so that the box forms a mold for orienting cash within the bag. Thus, when the mold and bag are removed from the money depositing machine, the cash will have fallen in a pre-stacked fashion, which may enable orderly sorting and counting and make the sorting and counting operations easy for someone performing them. The size of the box may also be determined at least in part by the money depositing machine in which it is to be installed. For example, a box sized to fit within a TPD 1000 machine may have the approximate dimensions shown in FIGS. 2A-2C (example dimensions are in millimeters). Note that, of course, any other dimensions are also possible. The cash container may be made of any suitable material, such as aluminum, steel, or stainless steel, for example. The cash container may be constructed in any suitable fashion. For example, sheet metal parts may be joined with screws or welding to form the box and/or a lid including the opening described above.
FIGS. 3A-3E are views of an ink marking system of a cash container 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the example of FIGS. 3A-3E, the lid 305 comprises three layers of 3/16 inch thick aluminum that are connected (e.g., screwed) together. The box may include one or more rails 330, which may interlock with corresponding structures in the cash machine to secure the box in place. For example, the rails 330 may be formed in the lid 305.
The middle layer may include channels 310 through which ink may flow from tubes 320 that run down the box, for example at the four corners of the box as shown. The cash machine may supply ink for marking the bills that are inserted into the box, for example via ink supply units 350. The ink supply units 350 may be configured to connect to ink reservoirs (not shown) in the cash machine in some embodiments. The tubes 320 may be perforated so that ink can be sprayed onto the bills along the length of the tubes 320. For example, an ink marking system such as the intelligent cash protection systems supplied by Oberthur Cash Protection may be used. The ink marking system may be configured to mark the bills with ink in response to unauthorized tampering with the cash machine, thereby marking the bills as stolen.
FIGS. 4A-4C are views of a cash container 100 within a bag 400 according to an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, the cash container 100 may be configured to fit within a bag 400, such as a standard CIT cash collection bag. Thus, the entire bag 400 including the cash box 100 may be installed within a money counting machine. The cash container 100 may also include a strap 340 as shown in FIGS. 3D and 3E. This strap may be used to secure the cash container 100 to the bag 400. In some embodiments, the strap 340 may be an elastic shock cord. The cash box may function as a mold within the bag, and may therefore have an open bottom. Thus, when the bag is opened, the cash box may be removed, leaving an orderly stack of bills 410 which may be easily sorted and/or counted.
FIGS. 5-11 and 19-25 are views of a cash container 100 within a bag 400, according to embodiments of the invention. In these views, the bag 400 hangs below the cash container 100. FIGS. 12-18 are views of a cash container 100 within a bag 400 (e.g., a bag to hold money or other items) where an apparatus 1205 (e.g., an elastic material, a rope material, etc.) holds the bag 400 in place. FIGS. 26-32 are views of the ink marking system, according to an embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 33-39 are views of the cash container 100 with the ink marking system, according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 40 is a view of the ink marking system when it is taken apart, according to an embodiment. FIG. 41 is a view of the ink marking system and the cash container 100 when they are taken apart, according to an embodiment. FIG. 42 is a view of a motorized locking system, according to an embodiment.
While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope. In fact, after reading the above description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement alternative embodiments. Thus, the present embodiments should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments
In addition, it should be understood that any figures which highlight the functionality and advantages are presented for example purposes only. The disclosed methodology and system are each sufficiently flexible and configurable such that they may be utilized in ways other than that shown.
Although the term “at least one” may often be used in the specification, claims and drawings, the terms “a”, “an”, “the”, “said”, etc. also signify “at least one” or “the at least one” in the specification, claims and drawings.
Finally, it is the applicant's intent that only claims that include the express language “means for” or “step for” be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112, paragraph 6. Claims that do not expressly include the phrase “means for” or “step for” are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112, paragraph 6.
Patent Application
20170004668
