A SECURITY APPARATUS FOR A SECURITY CONTAINER CASSETTE FOR VALUES SUCH AS BANKNOTES

Abstract

 The present disclosure relates to security systems for container cassettes containing values such as banknotes, such as container cassettes which are suitable for automated teller machines (ATM). More specifically, the present disclosure relates to security systems which involve the neutralization of the values contained in such cassettes when a theft attempt occurs. The present disclosure refers to the improvement of a mechanically solution in which a rail of cutting and/or piercing elements is able to rupture a neutralization container comprising a neutralization agent, upon the application of one or more forces resulting from a theft attempt at an ATM.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] The present disclosure relates to security systems for container cassettes containing values such as banknotes, such as container cassettes which are suitable for automated teller machines (ATM). More specifically, the present disclosure relates to security systems which involve the neutralization of the values contained in such cassettes when a theft attempt occurs. The present disclosure refers to the improvement of a mechanically solution.

PRIOR ART

[0002] In case of a theft attempt to an ATM, theft related forces or accelerations are applied to the ATM container cassette, such as the sudden crushing, deformation forces, or any other related sudden acceleration.

[0003] There may be solutions known in the art which mechanically provide for the neutralization of values in a container cassette, without the resort to intelligent control means, including sensors and/or actuators.

[0004] Still, the solutions disclosed herein innovatively improve the knowledge of the art, by enabling that the said theft related forces are used to cause the neutralization agent to be actuated and that the neutralization agent is effectively released towards the values, particularly that an area containing values within the cassette is indeed impacted by the neutralization agent and that an area not containing values within the cassette is not, thereby avoiding the release of neutralization agent in empty cassettes and reducing the spilling of neutralization agent to areas without values, compromising its absorbing abilities.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0005] The present disclosure refers to a security apparatus for a security container cassette for values such as banknotes. The apparatus comprises

a container enclosure, the container enclosure being suitable for a neutralization container to be provided within it, and having a lower surface and an upper surface, the lower surface being opposite to the upper surface, the lower surface having a section of cut aligned along a cut direction,

a plurality of cutting and/or piercing elements aligned along a cut direction, the cutting and/or piercing elements being such that are able to rupture a neutralization container provided within the container enclosure and thereby release a neutralization agent from the inside of the neutralization container,

wherein the section of cut is aligned with the cutting and/or piercing elements and configured such that, upon the application of one or more forces resulting from a theft attempt at an ATM, the cutting and/or piercing elements cross the section of cut into the container enclosure and rupture a neutralization container provided within the container enclosure, thereby releasing the neutralization agent from the inside of the neutralization container, and

the cutting and/or piercing elements are coupled to each other in a solidary form, forming a rail of cutting and/or piercing elements.

[0006] The present disclosure further refers to a security container cassette for values such as banknotes for an automated teller machine (ATM) comprising at least one values container suitable for containing values such as banknotes and the apparatus of the present disclosure, the apparatus being arranged in relation to the values container such that, upon the release of the neutralization agent from the inside of the neutralization container, the neutralization agent is released towards values contained in the values container, thereby neutralizing such values.

[0007] The present disclosure further comprises a protected automated teller machine (ATM) comprising a vault and the security container cassette of the present disclosure, the security container cassette being provided in the vault.

[0008] The present disclosure further comprises the use of the apparatus of the present disclosure for the neutralization of values such as banknotes, wherein upon the application of one or more forces resulting from a theft attempt at an ATM in which the apparatus is provided, the values pressure the rail of cutting and/or piercing elements thereby causing a release of the neutralization agent from the inside of the neutralization container, the neutralization agent being released towards values contained in the values container, thereby neutralizing such values which pressure the rail of cutting and/or piercing elements.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] 

Figure 1 - exploded view representation of an apparatus (10) according to the present disclosure, the apparatus (10) comprising a top enclosure (13), in which a container enclosure (11) is to be provided. The container enclosure (11) has two sections in which neutralization containers may be provided. Neutralization containers may be provided into the container enclosure (11) through an upper surface (11b) of the container enclosure (11). Each of such sections of the container enclosure (11) have a lower surface (11a) which is opposed to the upper surface (11b), the lower surface (11a) comprising sections of cut and ejection openings.

The apparatus (10) further comprises two rails (12) of cutting and/or piercing elements, which are aligned with the sections of cut of the container enclosure (11).

Figure 2 - exploded view representation of an apparatus (10) as of Figure 1, now further comprising two neutralization containers (14). Each neutralization container is provided in one of the said sections of the container enclosure (11). The container enclosure (11) comprises spacers between the lower surface (11a) and the rails (12). The top enclosure comprises pads (13a).

Figure 3 - side view representation of a rail (12) according to the present disclosure, comprising a plurality of aligned cutting and/or piercing elements (12a), which are coupled to each other, a stopper (12b) being provided.

Figure 4 - detail side view representation of an apparatus (10) according to the present disclosure, where the cutting and/or piercing elements (12a) of a rail (12) are aligned with a section of cut (11d) of the lower surface of the container enclosure. The neutralization container (14) is provided adjacently.

Figure 5 - side view representation of an apparatus (10) according to the present disclosure, showing the rail (12), container enclosure (11), neutralization container (14) and top enclosure (13).

Figure 6 - side view representation of a security apparatus (10) according to the present disclosure together with values (22) which are provided within a values container (not shown).

The values (22) are provided along the extension of the whole values container and of the rail (12) of the apparatus (10) and, thus, the values (22) cause the cutting and/or piercing elements of the rail (12) to be pressed, thereby rupturing the neutralization container (14) and causing the neutralization agent, such as liquid ink, to be ejected through the ejection openings onto the values (22).

Figure 7 - side view representation of a security apparatus (10) according to the present disclosure and as of Figure 6, together with values (22) which are provided within a values container (not shown). Differently from Figure 6, the values (22) are provided along only part of the extension of the whole values container and of the rail (12) of the apparatus (10) and, thus, the values (22) cause only the cutting and/or piercing elements of the corresponding part of the rail (12) to be pressed, thereby rupturing the neutralization container (14) only partly, and causing the neutralization agent, such as liquid ink, to be ejected through the corresponding part of the ejection openings onto the values (22). Thus, the right-side part of the values container in which the values are provided does not receive an ejection of neutralization agent.

Figure 8 - bottom view representation of an apparatus (10) according to the present disclosure, showing rails (12), container enclosure (11), ejection openings (15) and top enclosure (13). Oen of the rails (12) is only partly represented (top rail in the figure), in order for the ejection openings (15) to be clearly viewed.

Figure 9 - side view representation of a security container cassette (20) according to the present disclosure, comprising a security apparatus (10) and a values container (21).

Figure 10 - side view representation of another security container cassette (20) according to the present disclosure, comprising a security apparatus (10) and another values container (21), as regards the representation of Figure 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0010] The present disclosure refers to a security apparatus for a security container cassette for values such as banknotes.

[0011] The fact that cutting and/or piercing are pressed as a consequence of the said theft related forces or accelerations allows that those forces are the element that leads to the pressing of the neutralization container by the cutting edges.

[0012] Upon the application of one or more such forces, resulting from a theft attempt at an ATM in which the apparatus is provided, values adjacently provided pressure the rail of cutting and/or piercing elements thereby causing the cutting and/or piercing elements to cross the section of cut and cut/pierce the neutralization container, which is thereby ruptured. This leads to a release of the neutralization agent from the inside of the neutralization container, the neutralization agent being released towards values contained in the values container, thereby neutralizing such values which pressure the rail of cutting and/or piercing elements.

[0013] By being coupled in a rail, the cutting and/or piercing elements uniformly cut/pierce a section of the neutralization container as a consequence of the pressure in a corresponding section of the rail.

[0014] Thus, several advantages are obtained. The said theft related forces or forces resulting from a theft attempt are used to cause the neutralization agent to be actuated. The neutralization agent is effectively released towards the values, in particular a section containing values within the cassette is indeed impacted by the neutralization agent and that a section not containing values within the cassette is not, thereby avoiding the release of neutralization agent in empty cassettes and reducing the spilling of neutralization agent to sections without values, (not) compromising its absorbing abilities. This advantage is represented in Figures 6 and 7. In the case of Figure 6, the values are provided along the extension of the whole values container and of the rail of the apparatus and, thus, the values cause all or nearly all the cutting and/or piercing elements of the rail to be pressed, thereby rupturing all or nearly all the neutralization container and causing the neutralization agent, such as liquid ink, to be ejected through the ejection openings onto the values. Differently, in the situation of Figure 7 the values are provided along only part of the extension of the whole values container and of the rail of the apparatus and, thus, the values cause only the cutting and/or piercing elements of the corresponding part of the rail to be pressed, thereby rupturing the neutralization container only partly, and causing the neutralization agent, such as liquid ink, to be ejected through the corresponding part of the ejection openings onto the values. Thus, the right-side part of the values container in which the values are provided does not receive an ejection of neutralization agent.

[0015] The apparatus may comprise at least one neutralization container, the neutralization container containing a neutralization agent for values such as banknotes and being provided within the container section of the container enclosure.

[0016] The rail of cutting and/or piercing elements may comprise at least two lines of adjacently provided cutting and/or piercing elements and the container enclosure correspondingly may comprise two sections of cut, to each section of cut corresponding a plurality of cutting and/or piercing elements, as a form to distribute the cutting and/or piercing of the neutralization container.

[0017] The container enclosure may further comprise a plurality of ejection openings, the ejection openings being provided between two sections of cut and suitable for a liquid neutralization agent released from the neutralization container upon rupture to be ejected from the container enclosure, thereby allowing that the neutralization agent is ejected through the ejection openings, which are arranged such that the ejection of neutralization agent is provided towards the values. To each two cutting and/or piercing elements may correspond an ejection opening, as provided in Figure 1.

[0018] Each two cutting and/or piercing elements and a corresponding ejection opening may be aligned along a second direction, different from the cut direction, as provided in Figure 1.

[0019] The second direction may be perpendicular to the cut direction, as provided in Figure 2.

[0020] The apparatus may further comprise flexible spacers. The flexible spacers may be provided between a portion of the rail of cutting and/or piercing elements and the lower surface such that, when no force or forces resulting from a theft attempt at an ATM are applied, the cutting and/or piercing elements do not cross the section of cut into the container and, when a one or more forces resulting from a theft attempt at an ATM are applied, the flexible spacers are deformed and the cutting and/or piercing elements cross the section of cut into the container and rupture the neutralization container, thereby releasing the neutralization agent from the inside of the neutralization container.

[0021] The section of cut may consist of a single slit or of a plurality of openings respectively aligned with cutting and/or piercing elements.

[0022] The single slit or plurality of openings may be

open, such as ventilation holes, or

covered by one or more membranes which are cuttable and/or pierceable by the cutting and/or piercing elements.

[0023] The cutting and/or piercing may consist of piercing edges.

[0024] The rail may comprise a stopper associated with each set of cutting and/or piercing elements aligned along a cut direction, the stopper preventing the cutting and/or piercing elements from penetrating into the section of cut no more than a predefined extension.

[0025] The neutralization agent is fluid, preferably liquid.

[0026] The apparatus may further comprise a top enclosure, the top enclosure covering at least the upper surface of the container enclosure, and the top enclosure comprising a plurality of pads which extend from the top enclosure in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper surface. The pads allow the top enclosure to be provided against a surface, such as a surface of a security container cassette.

[0027] The top enclosure is coupled in solidary form to the container enclosure, in the upper and/or bottom surface. The neutralization container is thereby firmly fit into the container enclosure.

[0028] The neutralization container may have a substantially parallelepipedal form, with a larger side of a rectangular base having a dimension of 25-40 cm and a smaller side of the rectangular base having a dimension of 10-15 cm.

[0029] The apparatus may comprise two neutralization containers and two respective rails of cutting and/or piercing elements. In such case, it may be that it contains a single container enclosure, which is suitable for each of the neutralization containers to be provided within. Such container enclosure thereby has two sections of cut, one for each rail, such that both neutralization containers are able to be ruptured, each by the respective rail, as provided in Figure 1. In such case, a coupler - which is substantially formed by a flat section - couples the two areas in which the neutralization containers are provided. The remaining particulars of the apparatus are correspondingly applicable. Alternatively, it may be that it contains two containers, each being suitable for each of the neutralization containers to be provided within. Each container enclosure thereby has a section of cut, each of the rails being associated with one container enclosure, such that both neutralization containers are able to be ruptured, each by the respective rail.

[0030] As will be clear to one skilled in the art, the present disclosure should not be limited to the particulars described herein, and a number of changes are possible while remaining within the terms of the present disclosure and appended claims.

[0031] Of course, the particulars disclosed herein are combinable, in the different possible forms, being avoided the repetition of all such combinations.

Claims

1. A security apparatus for a security container cassette for values such as banknotes, comprising

a container enclosure, the container enclosure being suitable for a neutralization container to be provided within it, and having a lower surface and an upper surface, the lower surface being opposite to the upper surface, the lower surface having a section of cut aligned along a cut direction,

a plurality of cutting and/or piercing elements aligned along a cut direction, the cutting and/or piercing elements being such that are able to rupture a neutralization container provided within the container enclosure and thereby release a neutralization agent from the inside of the neutralization container,

wherein the section of cut is aligned with the cutting and/or piercing elements and configured such that, upon the application of one or more forces resulting from a theft attempt at an ATM, the cutting and/or piercing elements cross the section of cut into the container enclosure and rupture a neutralization container provided within the container enclosure, thereby releasing the neutralization agent from the inside of the neutralization container, and

the cutting and/or piercing elements are coupled to each other in a solidary form, forming a rail of cutting and/or piercing elements.

2. An apparatus according to the previous claim further comprising at least one neutralization container, the neutralization container containing a neutralization agent for values such as banknotes and being provided within the container section of the container enclosure.

3. An apparatus according to the previous claim wherein the rail of cutting and/or piercing elements comprises at least two lines of adjacently provided cutting and/or piercing elements and the container enclosure correspondingly comprises two sections of cut, to each section of section of cut corresponding a plurality of cutting and/or piercing elements.

4. An apparatus according to the previous claim wherein the container enclosure further comprises a plurality of ejection openings, the ejection openings being provided between two sections of cut and suitable for a liquid neutralization agent released from the neutralization container upon rupture to be ejected from the container enclosure.

5. An apparatus according to the previous claim wherein to each two cutting and/or piercing elements corresponds an ejection opening.

6. An apparatus according to the previous claim wherein each two cutting and/or piercing elements and a corresponding ejection opening are aligned along a second direction, different from the cut direction.

7. An apparatus according to the previous claim wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the cut direction.

8. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein it further comprises flexible spacers, the flexible spacers being provided between a portion of the rail of cutting and/or piercing elements and the lower surface such that, when no force or forces resulting from a theft attempt at an ATM are applied, the cutting and/or piercing elements do not cross the section of cut into the container and, when a one or more forces resulting from a theft attempt at an ATM are applied, the flexible spacers are deformed and the cutting and/or piercing elements cross the section of cut into the container and rupture the neutralization container, thereby releasing the neutralization agent from the inside of the neutralization container.

9. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the section of cut consists of a single slit or of a plurality of openings respectively aligned with cutting and/or piercing elements and, optionally, the single slit or plurality of openings are

open, or

covered by one or more membranes which are cuttable and/or pierceable by the cutting and/or piercing elements.

10. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the rail comprises a stopper associated with each set of cutting and/or piercing elements aligned along a cut direction, the stopper preventing the cutting and/or piercing elements from penetrating into the section of cut no more than a predefined extension.

11. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the neutralization agent is fluid, preferably liquid.

12. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein it further comprises a top enclosure, the top enclosure covering at least the upper surface of the container enclosure, and the top enclosure comprising a plurality of pads which extend from the top enclosure in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper surface.

13. A security container cassette for values such as banknotes for an automated teller machine (ATM) comprising at least one values container suitable for containing values such as banknotes and the apparatus of any of the preceding claims, the apparatus being arranged in relation to the values container such that, upon the release of the neutralization agent from the inside of the neutralization container, the neutralization agent is released towards values contained in the values container, thereby neutralizing such values.

14. A protected automated teller machine (ATM) comprising a vault and the security container cassette of claim 13, the security container cassette being provided in the vault.

15. Use of the apparatus of any of the claims 1-12 for the neutralization of values such as banknotes, wherein upon the application of one or more forces resulting from a theft attempt at an ATM in which the apparatus is provided, the values pressure the rail of cutting and/or piercing elements thereby causing a release of the neutralization agent from the inside of the neutralization container, the neutralization agent being released towards values contained in the values container, thereby neutralizing such values which pressure the rail of cutting and/or piercing elements.

Drawing