WO2000021791A1

WO2000021791A1 - Secure handling system

Info

Publication number: WO2000021791A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/003321
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fraser Crisfield Henderson
Original assignee: Air Tube Conveyors Limited
Priority date: 1998-10-15
Filing date: 1999-10-15
Publication date: 2000-04-20
Also published as: AU6113599A; GB9822513D0

Abstract

A secure handling system for valuables, characterised by including a pneumatic conveyor (14) linking a first terminal station (12) in a secure location (11) with a second terminal station (13) positioned in a cabinet (15) in an open area accessible in use to a security vehicle (16) and remote from the first terminal station (12), and, signalling means associated with the security vehicle for signalling that the security vehicle has achieved a predetermined proximity to the second terminal station (13) so that operation of the pneumatic conveyor system (14) can be initiated.

Description

SECURE HANDLING SYSTEM

This invention relates to a secure handling system primarily for delivering valuables, notably cash, from a secure building to a secure vehicle.

It is known to transfer cash and other valuables from a secure building, for example a cash office, to a secure vehicle, for example an armoured van, by manoeuvring the vehicle into very close proximity to a delivery window provided in the wall of the building, the valuables being passed through the window into the vehicle, or being carried from the window to the vehicle by security personnel. Such known arrangements are frequently frustrated by the inability of the security vehicle to park sufficiently closely to the delivery window. For example, where the building is the cash office of a supermarket or bank, it is often the case that customers of the supermarket or bank will park very close to the building for their own convenience, or for their own security.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a secure handling system wherein the above disadvantage is minimised.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a secure handling system including a pneumatic conveyor linking a first terminal station in a secure location with a second terminal station positioned in an open area accessible to a security vehicle and remote from the first terminal station, and, signalling means associated with the security vehicle for signalling that the security vehicle has achieved a predetermined proximity to the second terminal station so that operation of the pneumatic conveyor system can be initiated. Preferably said second terminal station is located in a weatherproof cabinet access to the interior of which is restricted to approved personnel. Conveniently access to the interior of the cabinet is controlled from the security vehicle in use.

Alternatively access to the interior of the cabinet is controlled from said secure location in use.

Preferably the vehicle carries a transponder which communicates with a receiver in a predetermined location relative to the second terminal station to signal that the vehicle has achieved a predetermined location relative to the second terminal station.

Conveniently said signalling means associated with said vehicle includes a keypad at or closely adjacent said second terminal station whereby security vehicle personnel can supply a code to the secure location to indicate that the vehicle has achieved a predetermined location relative to the second terminal station.

Preferably the second terminal station includes a telescopic tube arrangement which can be extended into the security vehicle to deliver or receive articles transported by the pneumatic conveyor.

Conveniently the motive means of the pneumatic conveyor is carried by or is powered from the secure vehicle.

Preferably articles are transported by the pneumatic conveyor in packages which carry a unique identification and the arrangement includes a reader for reading and storing the identification of a transported package. One example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: -

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a secure handling system; and

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of three stages in the extension of a telescopic tube arrangement of a terminal station.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 11 denotes a supermarket having a secure cash office therein. A pneumatic conveyor system has a first terminal station 12 within the cash office and a second terminal station 13 which is remote from the supermarket 11 , conveniently in an open area of the car park of the supermarket. The conveying tube 14 of the conveyor extends between the stations 12, 13 and is, for convenience, buried beneath the surface of the car park. It is to be understood however that in some circumstances it may be preferred to route the tube 14 well above ground level between the stations 12, 13.

The station 13 is housed within a cabinet or bollard construction 15 standing in an area of the car park which is remote from the building 11 , and which is open so that security personnel in an armoured van 16 or the like can, when parked in close proximity to the cabinet 15, survey the whole of the surrounding area to determine whether or not any security threat exists.

Conveniently the cabinet 15 is both weatherproof and vandalproof, and has security doors capable of being opened only by authorised personnel, for example security personnel in the van 16. The doors can have a key operated lock, or a combination type lock, both of which require security personnel to leave the van 16. As an alternative, the doors of the cabinet 15 could be capable of remote operation either by means of a controller within the van 16, or more preferably by means of a controller in the cash office of the supermarket 11. A radio communication between the van 16 and the cash office would permit the operatives in the cash office to release the doors of the cabinet 15. It is to be understood however that since the cabinet 15 does not contain any valuables, its security need not be particularly high, the primary objective being to prevent access to vandals, and animals.

Desirably the station 13, within the cabinet 15, includes a telescopic tube arrangement of the kind illustrated in Figure 2. It can be seen that the tube arrangement can be extended from a fully retracted position illustrated in the upper part of Figure 2, to a fully extended condition as shown in the lower part of Figure 2.

The tube 14 linking the station 13 with the station 12 enters the cabinet 15 and extends through an internal wall 15a of the cabinet. A length of a slightly smaller diameter tube 17 is slidably received within the end region of the tube 14 and carries an anchorage disc 18 adjacent its outermost end. A radially outwardly extending abutment 19 is provided at the outermost end of the tube 14 and a two-part sliding, telescopic protective shroud 21 is disposed around the end region of the tube 14. The shroud 21 includes an inner tubular element 22 and an outer tubular element 23 slidable on the element 22. One end of the element 23 is anchored to the disc 18 and the opposite end of the element 22 has an abutment 24 which can engage the abutment 19 on the tube 14.

In order to extend the telescopic arrangement from its fully retracted position to its fully expanded position the disc 18 attached to the tube 17 is pulled forwardly to increase its spacing from the cabinet wall 15a. This movement slides the tube 17 within the tube 14 to increase the extent of the tube 17 projecting from the tube 14. At the same time the shroud 21 moves bodily, until the abutment 24 engages the abutment 19 whereafter continued movement of the disc 18 and tube 17 slides the element 23 over the element 22, the element 22 remaining in position by virtue of the engagement of the abutments 19, 24. At the fully extended position of the tube 17 the shroud 21 is fully extended so as to protect that portion of the tube 17 projecting from the cabinet 15.

During retraction of the tube 17 into the tube 14 the fully extended shroud 21 moves inwardly with the tube 17 until the abutment 24 engages the wall 15a of the cabinet, or engages an abutment positioned close to the wall 15a whereupon the element 22 is arrested, and the element 23 slides back over the element 22.

It is to be understood that the shroud 21 could be replaced by other forms of extensible shroud, for example a bellows-type arrangement. It is to be understood also that the extension and retraction of the tube 17 relative to the tube 14 could be automated, so that it is not necessary for a security person from the van 16 to physically extend the tube 17 after opening the doors of the cabinet. It is anticipated that an hydraulic or pneumatic arrangement could be provided for extending and retracting the tube 17, and such operation could be under the remote control of the personnel in the van 16 and/or the personnel in the cash office of the supermarket 11.

It will be recognised that as the cabinet 15 is in a "wide-open" area of the supermarket car park then it is much more likely that parking restrictions in the region of the cabinet 15 will be obeyed by customers of the supermarket. In operation it is intended that the van 16 shall park in close proximity to the cabinet 15 and because the security personnel in the van 16 can see the whole of the area around the cabinet 15 they can ensure that there is no security threat prior to opening the doors of the van 16. Thereafter the doors of the cabinet 15 can be opened and the station 13 can be extended as shown in Figure 2 into the interior of the van 16 without the need for security personnel from the van to ever leave the van. Cash or valuables can then be delivered from the station 13 through the tube 14 and the station 13 directly into the van 16. Similarly, if desired cash and valuables can be transferred from the van 16 through the station 13 and the tube 14 to the station 12, and where particular forms of carrier are utilized to transfer valuables through the tube 14 to the van 16, empty carriers can be dispatched back through the tube 14 to the station 12.

In order that security can be maintained it will be arranged that a signal is supplied from the van 16 to the cash office 12 when the van 16 is safely in a predetermined location relative to the cabinet 15. The supply of this "security" signal could be achieved in many different ways. In its simplest form, an operative in the van 16 could use a radio link, or cellular telephone link, to supply a predetermined code word or message to personnel in the supermarket 11 upon receipt of which the personnel in the supermarket 11 would permit operation of the pneumatic conveyor to transfer valuables from the station 12 to the station 13. Similarly if desired the cabinet 15 could contain a keypad or the like whereby personnel from the van can input a predetermine password or code to initiate automatic operation of the pneumatic conveyor. As a further alternative the van 16 can be equipped with a transponder, the location and operation of which is not known to the security personnel in the van, and which supplies a signal to a sensor, or reader, positioned at a predetermined location relative to the cabinet 15. The range of the transponder will be such that the van 16 must be in a predetermined location relative to the cabinet 15 before the sensor or reader picks up the signal from the transponder. Naturally if desired the transponder can be a passive transponder energized by the sensor, when the sensor and transponder are in a predetermined juxtaposition.

In place of, or more preferably in addition to, any of the security arrangements mentioned above, the van 16 can, if desired, contain the blower arrangement for generating the air flow within the tube 14. Thus in the absence of a blower in the van 16 with a predetermined fitting for connection to the tube 17, it will not be possible to generate the air flow in the tube 14 and thus carry the carriers containing valuables along the tube 14.

It will be recognised that within the van 16 the way in which valuables are handled is a matter of choice. For example, carriers containing valuables delivered along the tube 14 may be emptied by personnel in the van 16 so that the carriers can then be sent back through the tube 14 to the cash office. Alternatively the carriers can be stored with their content untouched. If desired, the carriers passing along the tube 14 may be delivered directly into a safe within the van 16 so as to be inaccessible to personnel in the van.

Desirably each carrier will have a unique identification, for example by a bar code or magnetic code or the like and a sensor within the station 13 will read the code of each carrier so that a computer record can be kept of each carrier which is delivered to the van 16. The record can of course include the identification of the van 16 and details of the content of the carrier provided that this is input into the system by operatives in the supermarket. In this way a full audit trail can be kept. It will be recognised that if desired carriers from the station 12 can be held in an intermediate store location, provided that the store location is secure, so that they can be delivered automatically from the store location to the station 13 upon receipt of signals from an appropriate van 16. In this way valuables can be handled out of normal working hours, for example when there are no personnel in the supermarket 11.

It would be recognised that the invention is not restricted to the positioning of a cabinet 15 in the car park of a supermarket. For example, the building 11 could be a bank, and the location of the cabinet 15 could be in any other open area, not necessarily an associated car park.

In one possible application, each, or selected, shops in a shopping mall can have terminal stations 12 each supplying carriers to a single station 13. The unique identification of each carrier will allow valuables to be identified as coming from a particular shop or store, and thus a single security van 16 could handle cash or other valuables from a series of physically proximate, but financially independent shops and stores. Moreover, the tube system 14 can be arranged to deliver carriers to the individual stores from the station 13 if desired.

As described hereinbefore, the security van 16 may be provided with a transponder arranged to supply a signal to a sensor indicative of the presence of the van. As an alternative, a short range radio frequency transmission may be used to indicate the presence of the van. The signal may include an identification code permitting identification of the van. Upon detection of the signal, operation pneumatic conveyor may be automatically initiated. Further, the system may be arranged such that if the van is moved, the movement of the vehicle is sensed by the signal no longer being present and the conveyor shut down, conveniently after ensuring that any valuables being conveyed have been transferred to a safe location.

It will be appreciated that providing a system whereby the conveyor is automatically shut down upon movement of the van is advantageous in that, should the van come under attack or the personnel consider that there is a high risk of attack, the van can be driven away from the cabinet quickly. The cabinet is conveniently designed in such a manner as not to significantly inhibit such movement of the van 16. If unexpected movement of the van 16 occurs, then conveniently upon detecting that the van 16 has been moved, warning alarms or the like may be sounded or activated automatically.

Claims

1. A secure handling system for valuables, characterised by including a pneumatic conveyor (14) linking a first terminal station (12) in a secure location (11) with a second terminal station (13) positioned in an open area accessible in use to a security vehicle and remote from the first terminal station (12), and, signalling means associated with the security vehicle for signalling that the security vehicle has achieved a predetermined proximity to the second terminal station (13) so that operation of the pneumatic conveyor system (14) can be initiated.

2. A secure handling system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that said second terminal station (13) is located in a weatherproof cabinet (15) access to the interior of which is restricted to approved personnel.

3. A secure handling system as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that access to the interior of the cabinet (15) is controlled from the security vehicle in use.

4. A secure handling system as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that access to the interior of the cabinet (15) is controlled from said secure location (11) in use.

5. A secure handling system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised by a transponder, carried by the security vehicle in use, which communicates with a receiver in a predetermined location relative to the second terminal station (13) to signal that the vehicle has achieved a predetermined location relative to the second terminal station (13).

6. A secure handling system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said signalling means associated with said vehicle includes a keypad at or closely adjacent said second terminal station (13) whereby security vehicle personnel can supply a code to the secure location (11) to indicate that the vehicle has achieved a predetermined location relative to the second terminal station (13).

7. A secure handling system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second terminal station (13) includes a telescopic tube arrangement (17 - 21) which can be extended in use into the security vehicle to deliver or receive articles transported by the pneumatic conveyor (14).

8. A secure handling system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the motive means of the conveyor (14) is carried by or is powered from the secure vehicle (16).

9. A secure handling system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that articles are transported by the pneumatic conveyor (14) in packages which carry a unique identification and the arrangement includes a reader for reading and storing the identification of a transported package.