Patent Grant
10472860
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for receiving notes of value, in particular a safe bag module that comprises a receiving area for receiving notes of value. Further, the device has a shaft with a first end that has a first hook and a second end that has a second hook. The hooks are engaged with engagement elements of the device for handling notes of value when the device is inserted in a compartment of a device for handling notes of value, in particular an automated teller machine, provided that the hooks are arranged in a locking position. If, on the other hand, the hooks are arranged in an unlocked position, there is no engagement between the hooks and the engagement elements of the compartment. By rotating the shaft, the hooks can be moved between the locking position and the unlocked position. Further, a handle is arranged on the shaft and comprises a first end with a first hole and a second end with a second hole. The shaft runs through both the first and the second holes.
2. Description of the Related Art
So-called safe bag modules are used in automatic teller machines and receive safe bags that are filled with notes of value by the automated teller machine. Such safe bag modules can be removed from the automated teller machine, in particular for the removal of a filled safe bag and for the insertion of an empty safe bag. Here, the safe bag module is receivable in a specific compartment of the automated teller machine. So that the safe bag module remains in the desired position within the automated teller machine, a locking mechanism is provided and holds the safe bag module in the compartment.
In known automated teller machines, this locking mechanism is designed such that two engagement elements, in particular short pins, are provided on opposite sides in the compartment of the automated teller machine. The safe bag module has a shaft, at the ends of which one hook each is provided. By rotation of the shaft, the hooks, which are connected to the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner, can be moved between a locking position in which they are engaged with the engagement elements and an unlocked position in which there is no engagement between the hooks and the engagement elements. Here, the rotation of the shaft takes place manually by means of a handle, the two ends of which are connected to the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. The handle in particular also serves to carry the removed safe bag module. An active locking unit is provided on one side of the compartment. In a first operating state the active locking unit prevents movement of the first hook from the locking position into the unlocked position and in a second operating state the active locking unit enables movement of the first hook from the locking position into the unlocked position. This locking unit in particular comprises a lever that is rotatable by means of a drive unit and in a first operating state is arranged such that a movement of the first hook from the locking position into the unlocked position is prevented by means of the contact with the lever.
The problem with such known safe bag modules is that by way of the only one-sidedly active locking via the locking unit of the automated teller machine, it may happen that on the other side the engagement between the second hook and the associated engagement element is disengaged unintentionally. This is in particular the case when a user pulls the handle of the safe bag module without a previous unlocking of the unlocking unit, i.e. without a change from the first into the second operating state, and in doing so the shaft is twisted so far that the second hook loses its engagement with the engagement element. As a result, it may happen that the safe bag module is no longer arranged exactly in the desired position and thus errors in the storage of the notes of value may occur.
Therefore, it is the object of the invention to specify a device for receiving notes of value, by means of which an unintended one-sided unlocking is prevented when the device is inserted into an automated teller machine or the like.
According to the invention, the first hole is formed at the first end of the handle such that upon rotation of the handle at least within a predetermined range of rotation a torque is transmitted to the shaft via an engagement between the shaft and the first end of the handle. The second hole is, however, formed such that upon rotation of the handle no torque is transmitted to the shaft via the second end. As a result, it is guaranteed that the torque transmission to the shaft takes place only on one side of the handle, namely on the side of the first end region. When the device for receiving notes of value is inserted in a device for handling notes of value, in particular an automated teller machine, it is arranged such that the first hook is arranged on that side on which the locking unit for the active locking is provided. Owing to the fact that the torque is now no longer transmitted on both sides of the handle when pulling the handle but only at that end which is closer to the first hook and thus closer to the active locking unit of the compartment of the automated teller machine, the shaft will be less twisted on the side of the second hook, i.e. that side on which no active locking unit for holding the second hook in the locking position is provided in the compartment, as a result whereof it is prevented that, when pulling the handle despite an active locking via the locking unit of the compartment, the second hook does not lose its engagement with the corresponding engagement element of the compartment. If, on the other hand, the active locking unit of the compartment is in the second operating state so that it does not prevent the movement of the first hook from the locking position into the unlocked position, then the shaft can be rotated as usual via the torque transmission at the first end, wherein on both sides an unlocking takes place, i.e. that both hooks are moved from the locking position into the unlocked position via the rotation of the shaft.
In one embodiment of the invention, the second hole has a circular cross-section, wherein the diameter of the second hole is greater than the maximum width of the shaft so that the shaft can rotate in the second hole without a transmission of a torque. In particular, the diameter of the second hole is only slightly smaller than the maximum width of the shaft so that when carrying the safe bag module the weight force is transmitted via both ends of the handle from the shaft to the handle and the safe bag module, as in the case of known safe bag modules, can easily be handled.
The shaft may have a rectangular basic body, by means of which upon rotation of the handle an engagement with the first end of the handle can easily be established so that a torque transmission takes place and the shaft can be rotated reliably and easily.
In another embodiment of the invention, on a first side of the basic body and on a second side of the basic body opposite to the first side one projection each is provided which has a circular-segment-shaped cross-section. These projections extend at least in those areas in which the shaft is passed through the first and the second hole, preferably along almost the entire length of the shaft apart from its end regions at which the hooks are arranged on the shaft. The surfaces of the circular-segment shaped cross-sections preferably have about the same curvature as the inner curvature of the second hole. Preferably, in particular the maximum dimension of the cross-section of the shaft, which in particular extends from the apex to the apex of the two projections, approximately corresponds to the diameter of the second hole. By means of these two projections, it is achieved that when carrying the safe bag module the weight force of the safe bag module can easily be transmitted to the handle also via the second end of the handle. In particular, the two projections are arranged on that side of the basic body on which the force transmission takes place when the handle is rotated by 90° relative to the surface at which it is mounted, wherein this corresponds to the position in which the handle is arranged when carrying the safe bag module.
When the safe bag module is arranged in the compartment of the automated teller machine, the handle is arranged in particular in a zero position, wherein in this zero position it bears against the housing of the module. When the handle is arranged in the zero position, the shaft is rotated such that the hooks are arranged in the locking position. For removing the safe bag module and for disengaging the engagement between the hooks and the engagement elements of the compartment, the lever is moved out of the zero position and thus rotated away from the housing. When carrying the safe bag module, the handle is in particular moved out of the zero position approximately by an angle of 90°.
The first hole is in particular formed such that is has a circular cross-section, into which at least one projection projects. In particular, two projections which are arranged offset by 180° project into the circular cross-section.
The diameter of the circular cross-section may correspond to the diameter of the second hole. Upon rotation of the handle the engagement between the first end region of the handle and the shaft is established by means of the projection or the projections so that via this engagement a torque can be transmitted from the handle onto the shaft for rotation of the shaft and in particular for unlocking the locking.
The handle may comprise a basic body and a reinforcing element in the area of the first end of the handle, wherein a first portion of the first hole extends through the basic body and a second portion of the first hole extends through the reinforcing element, i.e. is delimited by the reinforcing element and the basic body, respectively.
In one embodiment, the first portion has a circular cross-section and the second portion has a circular cross-section into which a projection, preferably two projections project. Thus, the engagement between the first end of the handle and the shaft is exclusively established via the reinforcing element. As a result, a particularly simple production is achieved since in the basic body only two holes, the first and the second hole, have to be provided which have the simple, identical, circular cross-section.
The basic body may be made of plastic, the reinforcing element is made of metal. By providing a reinforcing element made of metal a sufficient torque can be transmitted also via the only one-sided torque transmission.
The reinforcing element may be formed in a disk-shaped manner and may be arranged laterally on the side of the basic body where the first end is located. Thus, a particularly simple production and assembly is achieved. The disk-shaped engagement element is in particular pressed into the plastic basic body.
Further, it is advantageous when the reinforcing element has at least one recess into which a rib of the basic body projects. In this way, a better and more uniform force transmission from the reinforcing element to the basic body is achieved. Preferably, still further recesses can be provided through which pins extend, via which likewise a force transmission takes place and via which the reinforcing element is held on the basic body.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the projection is formed within the first hole such that starting out from the zero position of the handle, the shaft is not engaged with the projection upon a rotation within a first angular range so that there is no transmission of a torque from the handle to the shaft so that the shaft, independent of whether the locking unit of the compartment permits a rotation of the hook from the locking position into the unlocking position, is not rotated as well. When the handle is rotated within a second angular range following the first angular range, which thus corresponds to the afore-mentioned predetermined area, there is an engagement between the projection and the shaft so that the transmission of the torque from the handle to the shaft takes place and a rotation of the shaft and thus an unlocking of the safe bag module can take place.
By means of this free lift in the first angular range it is achieved that a person can rotate the handle bearing against the housing in the zero position at first so far away from the housing that he/she can fully grasp the handle, wherein then, upon a further rotation of the handle, the torque transmission between the handle and the shaft takes place.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first hook is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner at the first end of the shaft, i.e. there is no play between the hook and the shaft and upon a rotation of the shaft the hook is each time rotated as well or, provided that a rotation of the hook is prevented externally, a corresponding force transmission from the handle to the shaft immediately takes place. The second hook, on the other hand, is mounted on the shaft with a predetermined play so that the shaft can be rotated within the angular range predetermined by the play without the hook being rotated as well or without there being a force or torque transmission from the shaft to the second hook.
By means of this play, too, just like by means of the play between the shaft and the second hole of the handle, a one-sided unlocking is prevented. When by means of the locking unit of the compartment the first hook is prevented from being moved from the locking position into the unlocked position and nevertheless the handle is pulled so that a torque is exerted on the shaft, it may indeed happen that the shaft is slightly twisted. However, by means of the play between the shaft and the second hook it is achieved that within the predetermined play no transmission of the torque to the second hook takes place and the latter is not rotated as well when the shaft is twisted so that the engagement with the engagement element remains. Thus, by means of this play the safety against an unintended one-sided unlocking is increased further since, even when by means of an extremely high force exerted on the handle a residual twisting of the shaft is caused, a rotation of the second hook is nevertheless prevented by means of the play.
The play may be between 3° and 7°, preferably is about 5°. Thus, the play is chosen sufficiently large that even in the case of high forces transmitted to the shaft and a correspondingly high twisting of the shaft there is still an engagement between the second hook and the corresponding engagement element.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the shaft has a rectangular cross-section at its two ends, at which no projections are provided, as in the central area of the shaft.
The first hook has a recess into which the first end of the shaft engages. The recess of the first hook has the same cross-section as the first end of the shaft so that the shaft is press-fit into the cross-section and the first hook is thus mounted on the shaft without play. The second hook, too, has a recess into which the second end of the shaft engages. The recess of the second hook likewise has a rectangular cross-section, this one however being larger than the cross-section of the shaft at the second end. In particular, both side lengths of the rectangular cross-section of the recess are each time larger than the corresponding side length of the cross-section of the second end of the shaft. Hereby, the above-mentioned play is achieved.
The recess of the second hook may be formed such that the cross-section results from two rectangles twisted by 5°, preferably with an edge length of 5 mm×8 mm, with the center of rotation in the center of the shaft, i.e. more or less projections, as already described in the case of the handle, which permit a torque introduction in one range of rotation and do not permit it in the other.
Further, it is advantageous when the second hook is biased on the shaft by an elastic element, in particular a spring, opposite to the direction of rotation in which the shaft has to be rotated for unlocking. Thus, it is guaranteed that upon rotation of the shaft within the angular range permitted by the play the second hook is reliably held in the locking position.
The device for receiving notes of value is in particular a safe bag module in which a safe bag is receivable in the receiving area, in which safe bag in turn the notes of value are receivable as a value note stack. Alternatively, the device for receiving notes of value can also be a cash box in which the notes of value are stacked without a safe bag. Also any other device for receiving notes of value which is carried by means of a handle and in which a locking in the automated teller machine, that is unlockable by the handle, is accomplished, can be protected against a one-sided unlocking by means of the inventive handle and the further afore-mentioned features.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a device for receiving notes of value which comprises a receiving area for receiving notes of value and a shaft, wherein at a first end of the shaft a first hook and at a second end of the shaft a second hook are arranged. When the device is inserted in a compartment of a device for handling notes of value, in particular an automated teller machine, the hooks are engaged with engagement elements of the compartment of the device for handling notes of value, provided that the hooks are arranged in a locking position. If, on the other hand, the hooks are arranged in an unlocked position, there is no engagement with the engagement elements. The hooks are movable between the locking position and the unlocked position by rotation of the shaft. The first hook is mounted on the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner without play, whereas the second hook is mounted on the second end of the shaft with a predetermined play.
As a result, it is achieved that when the handle is pulled and when the first hook is held in the locking position by an active locking unit arranged in the compartment of the device for handling notes of value certainly a twisting of the shaft is caused but owing to the play the second hook is not rotated as well so that the engagement between the second hook and the corresponding engagement element of the compartment remains. Thus, an unintended one-sided unlocking is prevented.
The mounting of the second hook on the shaft can take place as previously described in the first embodiment.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a device for handling notes of value, which in particular can be an automated teller machine, an automatic cash register system or a cash safe. The device has a compartment for receiving a device for receiving notes of value of the afore-described type, in particular a safe bag module. An afore-described device for receiving notes of value is received in the compartment, wherein on a first side of the compartment a first engagement element and on a second side of the compartment opposite to the first side a second engagement element is arranged and wherein in the locking position the first hook is engaged with the first engagement element and the second hook is engaged with the second engagement element.
In one embodiment of the invention, a locking unit is arranged on the first side of the compartment, which locking unit prevents a movement of the first hook from the locking position into the unlocked position in a first operating state and permits a movement of the hook from the locking position into the unlocked position in the second operating state.
The locking unit may comprise a lever rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation and an adjustment unit with which the lever can be rotated between a first position and a second position, wherein the lever in the first position in which it is arranged in the first operating state prevents a movement of the hook by means of a contact with the hook and in a second position in which it is arranged in the second operating state, has no contact with the first hook so that it can be moved from the locking position into the unlocked position. The adjustment unit is in particular a lifting magnet.
Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description which explains the invention in more detail on the basis of embodiments in connection with the enclosed Figures.
In
The device 100 has a compartment 102 in which a safe bag module 10 can be received. On a first side 104 of the compartment 102, a first engagement element 108 and on a second side 106 a second engagement element 110 is provided, which, by means of the engagement with elements of the safe bag module 10 which will be described in more detail later on, hold the safe bag module in a predetermined position within the compartment 102, wherein this position is predetermined such that by means of a feeding and stacking module of the device 100 notes of value can be fed to the safe bag arranged in the safe bag module 10.
On the first side 104, further an active locking unit 112 is provided by which an active locking can be implemented. By active locking it is understood that via this locking unit 112 a disengagement of the engagement between the engagement element 108 and the corresponding complementary element 26 of the safe bag module 10 is prevented when the locking unit 112 is in a first operating state.
In
The safe bag module 10 has a receiving area 12 in which a safe bag is arranged in a manner stretched over non-illustrated elements. The notes of value are fed to the safe bag in the direction of the arrow P1.
On the side of the safe bag module 10 opposite to the feeding side, a handle 14 is arranged, by means of which the safe bag module 10 can be removed from the compartment 102 and carried. The handle 14 is mounted on a shaft 20 via a first end 16 and a second end 18. At a first end 22 of the shaft 20, a first hook 26 and at a second end 24 opposite to the first end a second hook 28 is arranged. The hook 26 has a recess 30 and the hook 28 has a recess 32, via which the engagement with the engagements elements 108, 110 can be established when the safe bag module 10 is inserted in the compartment 102 and the hooks 26, 28 are arranged in the locking position shown in
By moving the handle 14 in the direction of the arrow P4 and a rotation of the shaft 20 caused thereby, the hooks 26, 28 can be moved in accordance with the arrow P2 from the locking position into the unlocked position in which the engagement elements 108, 110 are no longer arranged in the recesses 30, 32 and thus an engagement between the hooks 26, 28 and the engagement elements 108, 110 no longer exists.
In
The locking unit 112 comprises a lever 114 which is arranged pivotably about an axis 116. At a first end 118 of the lever 114, an adjusting unit designed as a lifting magnet 122 is provided, by means of which the pivoting about the axis 116 can be performed. In a first operating state, which is shown in
By means of the lifting magnet 122, the lever 114 can be moved in accordance with the arrow P3 from the first operating state into a second operating state, in which the second end 120 no longer contacts the first hook 26 so that it can be moved in the direction of the arrow P2 by rotation of the shaft 20 and thus from the locking position into the unlocked position.
In
The handle 14 comprises a basic body 38 which is shown in
The shaft 20 has a basic body 56 with a rectangular cross-section, wherein on a first side of the basic body 56 a first projection 58 and on a second side of the basic body 56 opposite to the first side a second projection, not visible in
The first hole 34 through which the shaft 20 is passed comprises a first portion 59 which is surrounded by the basic body 38 and a second portion 60 which is delimited by the reinforcing element 40.
The first portion 59 of the first hole 34 and the second hole 36 have a circular cross-section, wherein their diameters are identical and each time larger than the maximum width and the maximum height of the shaft 20. In particular, the diameter is slightly larger than the maximum dimension of the shaft 20, i.e. the distance between the two apexes of the projections 58 of the shaft 20. In particular, the projections 58 have approximately the same curvature as the second hole 36 and the first portion 59 of the first hole 34.
By means of this shape of the shaft 20 and of the second hole 36, it is achieved that when rotating the lever 14 no torque transmission takes place between the second end 18 of the lever 14 and the shaft 20. Likewise, there is no torque transmission between the first portion 59 of the first hole 34 and the shaft 20.
The second portion 60 of the first hole 34, on the other hand, is formed such that the cross-section is formed as a circle into which two projections 62, 64 project.
When the handle 14 is in a zero position shown in
When the handle 14 is rotated so far that the flat sides of the shaft 20 bear against the edges 70, 72 of the projections 62, 64, then via this contact a torque is transmitted to the shaft 20.
Provided that the locking unit 112 is in the second operating state, i.e. does not prevent a movement of the first hook 26, both the first hook 26 and the second hook 28 are correspondingly moved from the locking position to the unlocked position by means of the rotation of the shaft 20 so that the safe bag module 10 can be removed.
If, however, the locking unit 112 is in the first operating state, then a downward movement of the first hook 26, i.e. in the direction of the arrow P2 is prevented. The torque transmitted to the shaft 20 via the first end 16 by pulling the lever 14 results in a twisting of the shaft 20.
Since in the case of the handle 14 shown in
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the shaft 20 and/or the holes 34, 36 can also be formed differently. It is only important that the torque transmission exclusively takes place via the first end 16 and not via the second end 18.
In addition, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the lever 14 can also be formed in one piece, i.e. that there is no division into the basic body 38 and the reinforcing element 40.
Moreover, it is alternatively also possible that the entire first hole 34 is formed such as previously described for the second portion 60 only.
In addition, it is likewise possible that the second portion 60 or the entire first hole 34 are designed such that the engagement with the shaft 20 always exists and not such that at first there is a certain play at the beginning when rotating the handle 14 out of the zero position.
When carrying the safe bag module 10, the handle 14 is rotated relative to the zero position by 90° in the direction of the arrow P4. By means of the circular-sector-shaped projections 58 it is achieved that when carrying the safe bag module 10 no or only a very little play exists between the shaft 20 and the handle 14 so that there is a uniform transmission of the weight force of the safe bag module 10 via both ends 16, 18.
In
Further, a spring 76 is provided which is illustrated only schematically in the Figures. By means of this spring 76, the hook 28 is biased in the locking position. Only when the shaft 20 has been rotated further than the predetermined play, the hook 28 is moved against the spring force of the spring 76 from the locking position in the direction of the unlocked position.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the one-sided torque transmission can also only be realized via the handle 14, and the hook 28 can be mounted on the shaft 20 without play in a rotationally fixed manner, as this is generally the case for the first hook 26.
In an alternative embodiment, it is likewise possible that the handle 14 is designed such that the torque transmission 26 is accomplished via both ends 16, 18, but the play between the shaft 20 and the second hook 28 is provided.
In both afore-mentioned alternative embodiments, each time the risk of a one-sided unlocking when pulling the lever 14 despite the locking unit 112 being arranged in the first operating mode is reduced. By the combination of both principles, a particularly high safety is achieved.
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