VALUABLES

The present invention concerns a deposit system for bags containing money or other values and which being deposited into said deposit system for being collected into a container.

Prior deposit system includes bags containing money (primarily notes) deposited by retail shop owners into deposit systems (Night safes/service box/safe bag) normally owned and operated by banks or CIT companies, security

companies. Presently the bags are retrieved from the deposit systems by the CIT Company and opened and counted at the CIT company' s cash center and subsequently the deposited amount is credited to the retailer's bank account. (In case of crediting after counting) . Presently the bags are collected by CIT employees from the deposit system and put into a transport case equipped with NDS (Note degradation system, most commonly ink) and transported to the CIT Cash center.

Told mentioned prior known deposit system includes a procedure which is both costly and which has some weaknesses when it comes to security.

EP 0692599 Al concerns a system for secure transportation of, e.g., banknotes and cheques between

different locations for deposition and delivery, respectively, of banknotes etc. By means of a larger container (20), the banknotes, having been fed into the same, are transported from a smaller cassette (38) by means of a stationary docking station (18). The larger transport container (20) is portable by means of a handle and is provided with destruction means for the contents in case of danger. Between deposition stations (10) and the depot (12), there are detection systems (22) that detect the docking station (18) at the deposition station (10) and the depot (12) as well as the status of the container (20) during transportation, by means of, among other things, computers (16) and other control means (90, 96, 104) .

There is closing device (42, 44) to close and open the container (20) . In that connection, a cassette (38) that is inserted into the docking station (18) is emptied and the contents from the cassette (38) are emptied down into the security container (20) . Then it concerns separate banknotes, etc., that are fed via the docking station (18) from the cassette (38) into the security container (20) .

When the container (20) is removed from the docking station, the cover (50) thereof is closed and locked automatically by means of a motor-driven mechanism in the container.

A said container is not intended to be applied as reception container for money bags at safe deposit boxes and as transport container for such, but works as money transition box upon emptying of cashboxes (38) for transportation of the contents thereof in the container (20) .

EP 1703475 Al concerns a security device to receive, store and transport, e.g., banknotes.

A container for the money is insertable into a casing. There is a cover (34), which is arranged on the container (6) when the same is not entirely inserted into the casing (4) and which entirely seals the opening when the container (6) is not in place inserted entirely into the casing, respectively. The device (2) may be utilized at, e.g., a cash-counter in order to transport stored money to another safer room in the shop.

Also other areas for the application of the device (2) are possible, such as, e.g., casinos, boxes for valuables, etc. The cover (34) is turned automatically toward closed position by the action of a portion above the opening (8) that presses down the cover (34) and a roll (26) then presses down an elevated portion (40) of the cover (26) upon continued retraction of the container (6). This is made manually.

Neither is a said container intended to be applied as reception container for money bags at deposit boxes and as transport container for such.

The present invention will make a much more safe deposit system which allows for an end to end system with greater collection efficiency as well as vastly improved security in the collection procedure.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is primarily to solve said problems in a simple, efficient and economically satisfactory way.

Said object is attained by means of a deposit system according to the present invention that substantially is characterized in that said container have wheels and functions both as a collecting and a transporting container, in that said container includes a closable secured inlet, in that said container is closable by a looking cover, in that said container includes a note degradation system, for example ink, in that said secured inlet can be opened by motorized opening, in that said

container being inserted and locked into a dock-in station of the deposit system with said inlet open, in that said container being removable from a said dock-in station of the deposit system with said inlet closed and armed against burglary, in that means including a lid automatically close the secured inlet of the container when the container being moved from the inside of the said dock-in station, in that the system includes one or many sensors to register and/or identify the deposited bags, and in that the system includes communication to CIT of registering the fill rate of the container, for example 70% to communicate that a pick up should be done soon, e.g. 90% to communicate that the container is full and will stop the deposit head from accepting any further deposits and/or

overflow that does not allow a proper closing of the container.

The invention is described below in the form of a number of preferred embodiment examples, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig 1 shows a schematic view of a dock-in station in an open position,

Fig 2 shows a container,

Fig 3 shows also a view of a dock-in station in an open position,

Figs 4-5 show top views of the container according to the invention and a lid brought into different positions,

Fig 6 shows the dock-in station more clearly and,

Figs 7-10 show functional diagrams of the actuation of the dock-in station with the mechanism according to the invention in a closed position and an opening position, respectively.

The Invention

Deposited bags containing money:

• Being automatically inserted into a transport container

(Transport container, TC) equipped with a note degradation system NDS

• Being stored in the Transport container, TC until collection

• Being collected without being further manipulated from the deposit system by the retraction of the container, TC from the deposit system.

After collection/retraction of the container, TC, a new empty container TC is inserted into the deposit system, so as to receive and store deposited bags until the next collection.

With this solution/system, neither the

deposited bags nor their content, can be accessible for manipulation, until the TC is opened for verification and counting of the money contained in the deposit bags at the appropriate cash center.

Insert unit:

In the deposit system an appliance is used to allow the passage of the deposited bag from the deposit head to the transport case container (TC) .

• Solution to insert the deposit bags into the container TC via:

- free fall through gravitation force or

- steered by mechanical force

• Solution adapted to different deposit heads in the deposit systems as retrofit unit of original equipment

• Mechanism applied to the container TC

- that provides a secure lock of the aperture in the

container TC (for the insert of the bags) when the container TC is not in the deposit system

- that opens the aperture in the container TC, when the container TC is placed in the deposit system

- that closes the aperture when the container TC is

retracted from the deposit systems

- that does now allow any possibility to gain access to the contents of the container TC manually, during its stay in the container TC or its transport to and in a CIT vehicle, a security vehicle.

Sensors : • System to register and or identify the deposited bags (such as a light barrier, a barcode reader or an RF-id reader) :

- in the deposit head and/or

- when the bag enters the container TC.

• Providing the possibility to give the depositor a receipt of deposit

• Providing information that a bag (regardless of its

identity) has been deposited and has fallen into the

container TC

• Providing information that the sensed deposit has not

produced a proper registration of the identity of the bag

• registering the fill rate of the container TC

- E.g. 70% to communicate that a pick up should be done soon

- E.g. 90% to communicate that the container TC is full and will stop the deposit head from accepting any further deposits

- overflow that does not allow a proper closing of the container TC. Communication:

• To a CIT of the number of deposit bags contained at any

given moment

• To CIT to alert of fill rates

Technical status of the deposit system and container TC. Events, like opening, exchanging the containers, value of container TC (in some cases) , bag numbers per

container TC (collection lists) . The deposit unit is only functioning when the container TC is correctly installed and ready for accepting bags.

The function of the invention will be clear from what will be described below and shown in the drawings. Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are feasible, particularly as for the nature of the different parts or by the use of equivalent technique, without deviating from the protection area of the invention, such as this is defined in the claims.

In a deposit system 1 for bags containing money or other value and which being deposited into said deposit system 1 for being collected into a container 2, said container 2 functions both as a collecting and a transporting container. Said container 2 includes a closable secured inlet 3, which is closable by a locking cover 4. Said container 2 also includes a note degradation system, for example ink. Said container 2 being inserted and locked into a dock-in station 5 of the deposit system 1 with said inlet 3 open and said container 2 being removable from a said dock-in station 5 of the deposit system 1 with said inlet 3 closed and armed against burglary.

Said secured inlet 3 includes a closable inlet 6 going to the inside of the container 2 and/or the dock-in station 5 by closable means 7, 8.

Said closable means 7, 8 for the container and the dock-in station 5 is any of a flap, a hatch, a door, a shutter, rotating or sliding to be automatically closable when the container 2 being pulled out of the dock-in station 5.

Said container 2 being connectable to said deposit system 1 for mutual authentication, physical

(mechanical, electrical correspondence) and or digital by wire or wireless communication and for encrypted procedure, for opening after authentication by motorized or mechanical

opening. The container 2 out of the dock-in station 5 has the a) secured inlet 3 closed and locked

b) the security of the container is activated when the

container is inserted and locked into the dock-in station 5, the secured inlet 3 is open and bags can fall into the

container 2.

The inlet 3 of said container 2 is open when the container 2 being inserted and locked into the dock-in station 5 and armed against burglary. Means for attempt of burglary closes the inlet 3 of the container 2 automatically and arms a note degradation system inside said container 2.

Means including a lid 4 automatically close the secured inlet 3 of the container 2 when the container 2 being moved from the inside of the said dock-in station 5.

Said container 2 have wheels 9 and can have a handle 10 and make it easy to move on the ground 11.

In a deposit system 1 according to the present invention, deposited bags containing money being automatically inserted into a said container 2 equipped with NDS. The bags being stored in the container 2 until collection of the bags being finished without being further manipulated from the deposit system 1 by the retraction of the container 2 from the deposit system 1. After collection/retraction of the container 2 a new empty container 2 is inserted into the deposit system 1 so as to receive and store deposited bags 20 until the next collection and the received bags can be accessible when the container 2 is opened for verification and counting of the money contained inside the bags at a appropriate cash center CIT.

A passage 12 of the deposited bags from a deposit head 13 in the dock-in station 5 for a told container 2 to a transport case includes free fall through gravitation force or steered by mechanical force.

The mechanism applied to told container 2 has means : • that provides a secure lock of the aperture in the container 2 for the insert of the bags when the container 2 is not in the deposit system 1,

• that opens the aperture in the container 2, when the

container 2 is placed in the deposit system 1,

• that closes the aperture when the container 2 is retracted from the deposit system 1, and

• that prohibits access to the contents of the container 2

manually, during its stay in the container 2 or its

transport to and in a CIT vehicle.

The system 1 includes also one or many sensors to register and/or identify the deposited bags, such as for example a light barrier, a barcode reader or an RF-id reader in a deposit head and/or when the bag enters the container 2, and/or providing the possibility to give the depositor a receipt of deposit, and/or providing information that a bag, regardless of its identity, has been deposited and has fallen into the container 2, and/or registration of the identity of the bag and/or registering of the fill rate of the container 2, for example 70% to communicate that a pick up should be done soon, e.g. 90% to communicate that the container 2 is full and will stop the deposit head from accepting any further deposits and/or overflow that does not allow a proper closing of the container 2.

Finally, the system 1 includes communication to the CIT of the number of told deposit bags container 2 at any given moment, to the CIT to alert of fill rates, the technical status of the deposit system 1 and container, events, like opening, exchanging the container 2, value of container 2 (in some cases), bag numbers per container 2 (collection lists), and that the deposit unit is only functioning when the

container 2 is correctly installed and ready for accepting bags in a room 15 inside the told dock-in station 5 and the lid 16 for said room 15 has been closed and alarmed.

Instructions how the system functions:

1. To insert the container:

- Push the container into the dock-in station of the deposit system

- Once inserted, the container shall be connected (wire or wireless communication) to the deposit system for mutual authentication (encrypted procedure) .

Once authenticated, the secured inlet can be opened by any means (motorized opening or mechanical opening with a handle) .

II. Once inserted and locked into the dock-in station the secured inlet is open and armed against burglary: any attempt of burglary will close the inlet of the container automatically and will arm the Note degradation system. Note: the deposit system is in function only when the container is correctly inserted, authenticated, and secured inlet open.

III. To remove the container:

- Pull the container out of the dock-in station.

The secured inlet will close automatically.

IV. To empty the container: Connect the container to the station. The security of the container is then released. The container can be opened.

V. Secured inlet:

The secured inlet is a means to close the container in such a way that any attempt to access the inside of the container in a not authorized way is detected. It can be a flap, a hatch, a door, a shutter, rotating or sliding or any other way to control the access to the inside of the container.