Cash storage unit

Abstract

 A cash storage unit 2 has a housing 4 and a lid 6. The housing 4 is sub-divided into two compartments. The upper compartment comprises an opening 18 which provides access to the lower cash receiving compartment 22. This opening 18 comprises a closure flap 30 which substantially closes the opening 18 between the two compartments when the lid 6 of the cash storage unit 2 is open and opens the opening 18 when the lid 6 of the cash storage unit 2 is closed, thus permitting monies stored in the first compartment to drop into the second compartment 22 upon closure of the lid 6.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cash storage unit for containing coins, bank notes, card transaction slips, coupons, etc. For convenience, such items are hereinafter referred to collectively as cash.

[0002] Retail checkout systems are commonly of a modular design, having, typically, a scanning unit, a price input, recording and display unit and a cash storage unit. Commonly the cash storage unit has a flip-top lid which may be opened manually by an operator or, more usually, in response to a signal from the price recording unit.

[0003] The cash storage unit normally has a number of internal compartments for receiving coins, notes and so on. These compartments are frequently formed in an insert which can be removed from the cash storage unit at the end of a shift for safe storage. However, it is quite likely that during the course of business a cash storage unit may become quite full of notes and thus be a potential target for theft. To counteract this risk, it is common for the contents of the unit to emptied throughout the working day into, for example, an adjacent high security box. However, such an arrangement requires the operator to manually feed the notes etc into the secure box, which is sometimes difficult and which also introduces a further risk of theft.

[0004] The present invention seeks to overcome or at least alleviate the above problem and from a first aspect provides a cash storage unit comprising:

a housing having a first compartment for receiving cash;

said housing having a lid which is moveable between a closed position in which it closes the housing and an open position in which it allows access to the contents of the housing;

said first compartment further comprising an opening giving access to a second cash receiving compartment located below the first compartment;

said unit further comprising a closure for said opening, said closure being configured and arranged such that it substantially closes the opening when the lid is in its open position, but opens the opening when the lid is in, or moving towards, its closed position.

[0005] With such an arrangement, therefore, when the lid of the cash unit is opened the opening will be closed by the closure so that, superficially, the cash unit will look conventional. However, when the lid is closed after a transaction, the closure opens the openings to allow any cash placed in the first compartment to fall into the second compartment. Cash is thus stored in a remote compartment which is not as vulnerable to theft as the first compartment.

[0006] The closure preferably comprises a closure member which moves relative to the opening. In a first embodiment it may translate back and forwards across the opening as the lid opens and closes. In the preferred embodiment, however, it comprises a pivoting closure member, most preferably pivotally attached to one edge of the opening.

[0007] Preferably the unit comprises a linkage mechanism which links the closure and the lid or the opening mechanism for the lid such that opening or closing the lid moves the closure between its open and closed positions.

[0008] Preferably linkage means are provided between the closure member and the housing lid or between the closure member and the opening mechanism for the lid.

[0009] In a first embodiment, the linkage may comprise a cam mechanism which cams the closure member towards and away from the opening. In the preferred embodiment, however, the linkage comprises a linkage member, for example a linkage arm, which is attached at one end to the closure member and in the other end to the lid or to a part of the opening mechanism for the lid.

[0010] Preferably the linkage member is pivotally attached to the closure member and/or to the lid or the opening mechanism for the lid.

[0011] In order to allow for tolerances, the linkage member may be resilient or compliant such that closure of the closure means does not prevent full opening of the lid. This may be provided in a simple embodiment by providing an oversized mounting location at one or both ends of the linkage member.

[0012] Alternatively, the linkage member may be made from an elastic or compliant material.

[0013] The closure member may be sprung towards its closed position and opened against the force of the spring by suitable means.

[0014] Preferably a chute is arranged beneath the opening to guide cash from the opening into the second compartment.

[0015] Preferably the chute is inclined such that notes, vouchers, etc hitting the chute wall are turned into an orientation whereby they are more likely to lie horizontally in the second cash receiving compartment.

[0016] Preferably the opening is greater than 30mm deep and more preferably greater than 60mm deep such that notes which may be standing vertically upon the closure member when the lid is opened do not become wedged in the opening when the lid is closed and the closure member opens the opening.

[0017] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a cash storage unit in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows the unit of Figure 1 partly cut away to illustrate better the components of the invention;

Figure 3 shows a view similar to Figure 2 but with further components removed, and with the lid lifted away from its opening mechanism for clarity;

Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the unit of Figure 1 in an open condition;

Figure 5 shows the unit of Figure 1 in a semi closed position; and

Figure 6 shows the unit of Figure 6 in a closed condition.

[0018] With reference to Figure 1, a cash storage unit 2 in accordance with the invention comprises a housing 4 having a flip-top lid 6 hingedly connected to the housing along a hinge line 8.

[0019] A removable cash insert 10 is provided within the housing 4, the insert 10 having compartments 12 for receiving bank notes, sales vouchers, tokens and so on and compartments 14 for receiving coins. The rearmost compartment or compartments 12' of the insert 10 are open bottomed.

[0020] The lid 6 is opened either manually or upon receipt of a suitable control signal by an opening mechanism 16 which will be described further below.

[0021] As described so far, this cash storage unit is conventional, apart from the bottomless compartments 12'. However, in accordance with the invention the housing 4 is provided with an opening 18 in the rear part of its base 20, the opening permitting access to a cash receiving compartment 22 arranged below the base of the housing 4. The opening 18 has a depth D of at least 30mm and more preferably 60mm. The opening 18 is aligned with the open bottomed compartments 12' of the insert 10.

[0022] The cash receiving compartment 20 is provided within a secure housing 24 which extends from the base 20 of the housing 4. When installed, the housing 24 will be hidden from view, for example behind a door 25 shown schematically by doted lines in Figure 4.

[0023] The housing 24 comprises a chute 26 which is provided with a lockable door 27 can be pivoted about a hinge 28 to allow access to the compartment 22 to remove its contents.

[0024] The opening 18 in the bottom of the housing 4 is closed by a closure flap 30 which is hingedly connected to the housing base 20 along hinge line 32. The closure flap 30 has a raised flange 34 extending along its edge adjacent the side of the housing 4, that flange 34 having a hole 36 to pivotally receive one end of an L-shaped linkage arm 38. The other end of the linkage arm 38 is pivotally received in an opening 40 in an arm 42 of the lid opening mechanism 16.

[0025] The lid opening mechanism 16 is a standard mechanism. The arm 42 rotates about an axis 44. One end of the arm 42 is provided with a hook 46 which pushes against the underside of the lid 6 and which engages with a catch 48 provided on the lid when the lid is opened, as shown in Figure 4, to limit the opening of the lid. The other end of the arm 42 is attached to a tension spring 50 which is suitably mounted to the drawer 4 at a location 52.

[0026] The lid 6 is provided with a hook 54 which engages within a catch 56 provided on the housing 4, the catch 6 being coupled to a solenoid such that upon an operating command it will release the hook 54. This will allow the lid to open under the force of the arm 42 which is pivoted in an anticlockwise direction by the force of the spring 48.

[0027] The linkage arm 38 is arranged such that when the lid 6 is in its open position, shown in Figure 4, the closure flap 30 does not quite completely close the opening 18, but leaves a gap G of about 1 or 2 mm. This is to prevent the closure flap 30 engaging the distal end of the opening, thereby possibly preventing full opening of the lid 6. This can achieved by making one or other of the holes 36, 40 slightly oversized so that there will be a certain amount of play at one or both ends of the linkage arm 38.

[0028] Turning now to the operation of the unit in accordance with the invention, as can be seen from Figure 4, when the cash unit 6 is opened, the flap 30 closes the opening 18 so that notes, vouchers, etc placed in the open bottomed rear most compartment(s) 12' of the insert 10, will rest on the upper surface of the flap 30. In this condition the unit looks completely conventional.

[0029] However, as can be seen in Figure 5, as the lid 6 is closed, the arm 42 pivots in a clockwise direction about its axis 44 against the force of the coil spring 50. This movement pushes downwardly on the link arm 38 which causes the flap member 30 to move downwardly away from the opening 18. As the lid 6 is moved into its fully closed position as shown in Figure 6, the flap 30 is moved to its fully open position. In this position, notes, vouchers, etc contained within the compartment(s) 12' can easily fall through the opening 18 into the receiving compartment 22.

[0030] It is significant that the chute 26 is inclined since notes falling through the opening 18 vertically may hit the inclined surface of the chute 26 and thereby be turned towards a more horizontal position which improves stacking within the receiving compartment 22. This avoids notes "backing up" into the chute 26.

[0031] Thus, once the lid 6 is completely closed notes may fall unhindered from the unit into the receiving compartment 22.

[0032] When the lid 6 is opened once more, as described above, the anticlockwise movement of the arm 42 lifts the link arm 38 so as to close the opening 18 as shown in Figure 4.

[0033] Notes may be removed from the compartment 22 through the door 27 in the chute 26 as required.

[0034] It will be apparent that many variations may be made to the embodiment disclosed without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the opening mechanism for the lid 6 may, as is known, comprise a torsion spring having an arm for opening the lid 6. In this embodiment, a link arm may be provided directly between the lid 6 and the flap 30 rather than between the opening mechanism and the flap.

[0035] In another embodiment, the flap 30 may be sprung towards its closed position and pushed open by a suitable mechanism, for example a cam mechanism or pushing arm suitably coupled to the lid or lid opening mechanism.

[0036] Also, while embodiments have been described above using a mechanical linkage between the lid and the closure flap, an electromechanical system could also be used. Thus, for example, in response to a signal indicating that the lid is opening, an actuator, for example a solenoid, may move the closure flap to its closed position and in response to a lid closing signal, the actuator may return the flap to its open position.

[0037] The housing 4 and lid 6 may be made from any suitable material, such as a metal or plastics material.

Claims

1. A cash storage unit comprising:

a housing having a first compartment for receiving cash;

said housing having a lid which is moveable between a closed position in which it closes the housing and an open position in which it allows access to the contents of the housing;

said first compartment further comprising an opening giving access to a second cash receiving compartment located below the first compartment;

said unit further comprising a closure for said opening, said closure being configured and arranged such that it substantially closes the opening when the lid is in its open position, but opens the opening when the lid is in, or moving towards, its closed position.

2. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the closure comprises a closure member which moves relative to the opening.

3. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the closure member translates backwards and forwards across the opening as the lid opens and closes.

4. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the closure member comprises a pivoting closure member.

5. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the closure member is pivotally attached to one edge of the opening.

6. A cash storage unit as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a linkage mechanism which links the closure and the lid or the opening mechanism for the lid such that opening or closing the lid moves the closure between its open and closed positions.

7. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein linkage means are provided between the closure member and the housing lid or between the closure member and the opening mechanism for the lid.

8. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 7 wherein the linkage means comprises a cam mechanism which cams the closure member towards and away from the opening.

9. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 7 wherein the linkage means comprises a linkage member, for example a linkage arm, which is attached at one end to the closure member and in the other end to the lid or to a part of the opening mechanism for the lid.

10. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the linkage member is pivotally attached to the closure member and/or to the lid or the opening mechanism for the lid.

11. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the linkage member is resilient or compliant.

12. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11 wherein an oversized mounting location at one or both ends of the linkage member.

13. A cash storage unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a chute is arranged beneath the opening to guide cash from the opening into the second compartment.

14. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 13 wherein the chute is inclined.

15. A cash storage unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the opening is greater than 30mm deep and more preferably greater than 60mm deep.

16. A cash storage unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 comprising an electromechanical linkage between the lid and the closure member.

17. A cash storage unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the closure is sprung towards its closed position.

Drawing