BE1007051A3 - DEVICE FOR ELECTRONIC CONTROL OF A MULTIPLE OF LOCKS. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for controlling a plurality of locks, which device comprises computer-controlled lock drive means. The controlled locks can be provided for locking access doors of safe deposit boxes, separate bicycle safety devices in a bicycle shed, blocking means for closing vehicle parking spaces, apartment entrance doors, etc. The invention aims at improving the known devices and / or expanding the applications thereof . For this purpose, the computer is connected to a code recorder and the computer unlocks at least one selected lock when issuing a relevant code to the code recorder.

Description

DEVICE FOR ELECTRONIC CONTROL OF A MULTIPLE OF LOCKS

The invention relates to a device for controlling a plurality of locks, which device comprises computer-controlled lock drive means. The controlled locks may be provided for locking access doors to safe deposit boxes, separate bicycle securing devices, for example in a bicycle shed, blocking means for closing vehicle parking spaces, access doors to apartments, etc.

The object of the invention is to improve the known devices and / or to expand the applications thereof.

For this purpose, the computer is connected to a code recorder and the computer unlocks at least one selected lock when the relevant code recorder is delivered to the code recorder.

The mentioned and other features according to the invention will be explained in the following description with reference to drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the device for controlling and monitoring locks of doors of safe deposit boxes in which the invention is applied;

Figure 2 is a flow chart of the program of the control panel of the device of Figure 1 for the electronic control and monitoring of a number of locks?

Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the device of figure 1.

Figure 4 is a broken away perspective view in the inside of a safe deposit box of the device of figure 1; and

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of detail V of figure 4 in disassembled state.

Figure 3 shows the flowchart for programming the microprocessor-controlled central unit, which is composed of blocks 1 to 11.

For example, in the blocks of the flowchart, the following activities in conjunction with the keyboard and information display are performed as follows. Block 1: This is a waiting state. The display shows the start question that each user should answer first. Text: "Do you want to open a new box?"

Block 2: If the answer to the above question is positive, the information display shows the order with the text: "Pay the deposit of Hfl. 10, -" or another amount, for example Hfl. 5 or Hfl. 20, - which deposit is so high that a user is prevented from taking a lock out of further use without using it himself. The system examines the actual insertion of coins and / or notes.

Block 3: When the payment has been paid, the text will appear: "Insert 1 guilder as usage fee" (depending on the time-dependent rate, if applicable). The system examines the actual insertion of an acceptable coin. Block 4: The payment condition for a safe lock is now fulfilled and the user can enter a code of his choice on the keyboard. For example, the following text appears on the information display: "Enter a code now".

Block 5: Within this block, it is checked whether a correct, complete code has been entered. The following text appears on the information display: "Is your code complete?". If the result is negative, a jump is made to block 4, so that a code can be entered again. If the result is positive, the system proceeds to block 6.

Block 6: The entered code is now accepted. The information display shows the text: "You now have cabinet no. Xxx. Have you read your cabinet number?" If the user confirms this by pressing the confirmation key, the text will appear: "Box no. Xxx now opens for you". The microprocessor determines the box to be used according to a specific search routine, so that the electromagnetic locks are subject to a mechanical load in proportion and any defective or malfunctioning boxes (safe deposit boxes) can be temporarily out of use.

Block 7: Coming from block 1 with the negative answer, the situation has arisen, that the user wishes to have his property (s) back. The information display shows the text: "Enter your code".

Block 8: The same type of check is performed as in block 4, and the same type of question appears on the information display. In case a user has a clear code card of his own, which can be entered, the system can go directly to block 12.

Block 9: Theoretically, it is possible that two safe deposit boxes from two different users have been given the same code. Therefore, the system goes to block 10.

Block 10: The information display shows the following text: "What is your safe number?"

Block 11: After typing the safe number, it is checked whether the code entered belongs to the safe number and if the result is negative, the system jumps back to block 1, after which the user of a safe deposit box can try again to open a safe deposit box or become the administrator. warned to assist him. With an appropriate combination of code and safe number, the system goes to block 12.

Block 12: Checks whether the user has exceeded the time limit associated with the paid usage rate. If not, the system goes to block 14. If yes, the system goes to block 13.

Block 13: The display shows "Pay at least at f xxx". After payment is made, the system goes to block 14. Otherwise, to block 1.

Block 14: In order to refund the deposit, the display will ask "Is this your last use?". In case of negative answer, the system goes to block 17 and in case of positive answer to block 15.

Block 15; In order to make the user aware of the seriousness of erasing the code, the question is asked: "Do you really empty your counter?". In case of a positive answer, the system goes to block 16 and in the case of negative answer to block 17.

Block 16: The deposit is issued and the display shows: "Your deposit is in the return box". The code is cleared and then the system goes to block 17.

Block 17: The display shows: "Box no. Xxx now opens for you".

After blocks 6 and 17, the system jumps back to starting block 1, but it is always checked whether safe deposit boxes are open and whether locking has already taken place with closed doors, because the locks of empty safe deposit boxes are also locked after closing the doors .

Figure 3 shows the cooperation of the microprocessor 26 with information display combined with keyboard 27 and lock control and monitoring 28.

In Figure 1, the microprocessor-controlled central unit is located in the box-like construction 12. Around the box-like construction 12, the safe-deposit boxes 13 are grouped. The whole is attached at a suitable height (also for growing children) to a vertical wall 14. The device is approached, for example, via the path 15. In the front door 16 of the box-shaped construction 12, the information display 17, the keyboard 18 and the coin lock 19.

The potential user can answer questions step-by-step with the keyboard via the information display, after which the lock of a safe deposit box is unlocked. The place where the six-digit code appears, however, is so immersed in the information display behind the impact-resistant plastic window that this code is only visible to the user who is directly in front of the exchange. So other persons watching cannot observe the code.

Buttons 20 are arranged on the doors of the safe deposit boxes 13 for operation. Numbers 21 are affixed to the doors of safe deposit boxes 13. The cupboard doors can be colored in groups, while the groups are each provided with a letter with a number, for example a red cupboard door R15 and a yellow cupboard door G7. The safe deposit boxes 13 can be located in a housing 22 and underneath that a conduit trough 23 can run for wires to control and operate the locks from the central unit. A plurality of exchanges can be connected by telephone lines to a central exchange, whereby the operation of the plurality of devices can be controlled and / or controlled for the introduction of new rates, summer times and the like.

Furthermore, the doors of the safe deposit boxes will preferably close automatically in the rest state, either by gravity, by spring force or by a pressure cylinder. A door will only be open, but otherwise always locked when a user brings something in or takes it out of the safe deposit box. The appearance of the device is therefore always neat and the chance of destroying it is kept as small as possible.

A micro-switch integrated in the lock gives the microprocessor the signal whether a door is open or closed. This provides protection against unwanted breaking open, whereby various alarm options can be applied, and any defective doors are also immediately signaled.

The entire mechanical and electronic system can be designed in such a way that complete modules can be exchanged in the event of malfunctions, so that maintenance can take place quickly and thus inexpensively.

The device can be designed in such a way that the large door of an entire cabinet unit, of, for example, 25 cabinets, can be opened by means of two special locks. It contains all movable parts of the electromagnetic lock, which are quickly and easily accessible when the respective door is open. This large door is also monitored by a micro switch in connection with the microprocessor.

A service program can be included in the system, so that the maintenance engineer or the administrator can quickly get an impression of the state of the installation in collaboration with the microprocessor and the information display.

Furthermore, an emergency power supply will preferably be present, so that in the event of a power failure, the monitoring of the properties is still maintained and the code register is retained.

According to the invention, the device can also be used for controlling and monitoring locks of objects other than safe deposit boxes. In this context, there may be mentioned, for example, bicycle sheds, wardrobes in swimming pools, large companies, sports halls, etc., lockers on campsites, lockers and the like.

In fact, the device according to the invention can be applied in all conceivable situations where two states can occur, such as on / off, open / closed, light / no light, moving / standing still, etc., with one state being desired by the user and possibly for a fee, while the other state is a state of rest.

A further elaboration of the invention consists in that an administrator of the microprocessor-controlled central unit can open any desired lock by means of a special code and / or inserting an administrator key in a central unit when this is necessary.

The advantage of this is that an administrator can open any lock if a user of the lock has forgotten or lost his code or is no longer able to open a lock via the control panel or if it is necessary to open the cabinet for bomb threats. or other calamities.

The invention has further been elaborated in that the programming of the microprocessor-controlled central unit is such that an adjustable number of seconds after closing of the lock occurs when it locks.

The advantage of this is that operating the locks becomes more user-friendly. In the event that the locks are mounted in the doors of safe deposit boxes, approximately 10 seconds is taken for this locking time.

Furthermore, a further elaboration of an embodiment of the invention in the form of central-controlled locks at the entrance doors of a number of safe-deposit boxes is such that a window of impact-resistant plastic is arranged in front of the information display in the front door of the central unit with the control panel and, if necessary, the devices provided with locks, of a wall at a suitable operating height, that the locks are located at entrance doors of safe deposit boxes, which are arranged near the box-shaped construction with the control center and that on the access doors of the safe deposit boxes engraved vault numbers are provided.

The advantages of this are that the operation, use and safety of an embodiment according to the invention have been made as optimal as possible, as a result of which the practicality and popularity among the public will be greatly increased in practice.

According to the invention, one or more of the following improvements are made with the above-described device.

The keyboard contains, for example, 10 keys which in addition to the numbers 0-9 each also carry at least one letter or preferably several letters, so that the entire alphabet is printed on; these keys are present. Therefore, the user who can remember a code word better than a code number can remember his code better.

Preferably, the user can determine the number of the keys to be pressed, so that he can choose a short code of four characters to a long code of 10 characters.

Preferably, the unlocking time (allocation time) is registered each time a lock is unlocked.

With safe deposit boxes, but especially also with wardrobes in sports halls and the like, it is possible to program the device in such a way that after a lock has been assigned, the user has full access to the lock for a certain period of time, for example a number of hours or a day, without additional payment. so that the user can unlock the lock several times to refill or empty a cupboard.

Preferably, all actions and attempted actions are recorded in a register with time-dot entry.

The computer can be connected to a printer or a screen, for example LCD, which is arranged by a manager, so that the manager can be provided with all kinds of information about the status of the various locks, for example about whether or not the device functions correctly, the extent of the use of locks, the occupancy rate of locks, incorrect conditions of locks and / or code cracking attempts.

In particular, the program is arranged to signal a predetermined number of erroneous unlock attempts per unit time, which is indicative of the work of a code cracker. If a certain number of incorrect unlock attempts per time unit is exceeded, an alarm is issued, audible and / or silent at the administrator's place.

If a user has forgotten both his cabinet number and his code, an administrator can help the user by checking in the register which cabinet was controlled at the relevant unlock time. If a closet or parking lot has been in use longer than normal after an allocation, this is also ignored by the computer to the administrator.

The user can be given the choice of a lock from a number of series of locks, for example the choice of locks for: large or small cabinets; for high or low cabinets; for cool or deep-cooled cabinets; for bicycle clamp or car parking spaces; for large or small parking spaces.

Preferably, the computer itself chooses the lock to be unlocked from normally closed cabinets, either ad random or sequentially.

The administrator can optionally unlock a group of locks or even all locks at the same time by entering his administrator code, for example for cleaning or checking the condition of cabinets or for changing used clothing by clean ones. staff clothing.

Also, a special user, for example a teacher for his class or a team captain with a general code, can open a group of locks, for example, from wardrobes.

Payment for the use of the device can be made, inter alia, with coins, money bills, bank cards, credit cards, membership cards, chip cards. In the case of company wardrobes, an employee may use a barcode or magnet code staff card to unlock the lock of his closet. If the device is pre-programmed, such that the locker of the employee in question can only be unlocked just before the start and shortly after his working time has ended, cracking his locker becomes even more difficult. This device; ting can function as a time clock by registering the opening of the locks and register the working hours of the employees concerned.

The device according to the invention can also be used in prisons, in particular for closing cell doors, but also for closing department doors, such that the unlocking of locks in series behind one another to form a lock cannot be unlocked at the same time. The authorized persons may have the necessary codes, for example, only chief guards have general codes and / or general codes for special doors in the event of calamities and / or special circumstances.

Figure 4 shows an example of a lock 30, comprising a bolt box 35 screwed to the inside of a door 31 of a safe, in which an electromagnet 36 with a soft iron core 37 is arranged vertically. A bolt 38 is attached to the soft iron core 37 on the underside, which falls into the eye-shaped bolt catch 33 in the closed position of the door 31.

In case the bolt 38 has already been lowered up to the stop 40, the inclined ramp 39 first pushes the bolt 38 upwards, after which it falls into the bolt catcher 33.

The bolt catcher 33 is made of sturdy material, for example of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic. An inclined plane 42 cooperates with an electrical switch, such as microswitch 43, attached to the bolt box 35. Since the bolt catcher 33 has vertical slotted holes 45 for receiving fastening screws 32, the catcher is level-adjustable in order to switch the microswitch depending on the closing condition of the door. The switching condition can be adjusted, for example, so that when a slight relative displacement of the bolt catch 33 with respect to the micro switch 43 occurs during an attempt to force the door, it already switches and then still in the locking position of this lock 30 sends an acoustic signal and / or reports the cracking attempt only to the manager.

These locks 30 can be fitted to already existing cabinets with the addition of a central unit with computer and connection via lines 49, which are well covered, for instance with metal sleeves 50.

To prevent the bolt 38 from falling down despite its own gravity when the coil 36 is de-energized, for example in case it would be glued with chewing gum or otherwise to frustrate proper operation, an additional microswitch 51 is provided .

In the locking condition of the lock, this microswitch 51 signals the incorrect position of the bolt 38, so that the user and the operator are also warned with an alarm signal when the door 31, which is determined by the microswitch 43, is closed.

In the event that the dancer arm 80 of the microswitch 43 is interrupted as an attempt to tamper with the door 31 open, when closing this door 31 this closing will not be signaled by the microswitch 43, so that after a predetermined time it gives an alarm that the door 31 remains open . This lock will no longer be issued to a subsequent user before a tamper destruction is restored.

If the microswitch 43 is locked in the switched-on position as an attempt to tamper, this fact is signaled by the fact that the microswitch 51 is turned on by the bolt 38 pushed upwards while the door 31 is closed, while the microswitch 43i indicates an already closed door position. This illogical state is recognized as alarming and signaled to the manager, while the exchange no longer makes this lock available to a subsequent user.

Tampering with the microswitch 51 is likewise signaled by the bolt 38 going up and down once when the door is closed, thereby forcing both the on and off position of this switch. If these two switching facts do not occur in the predetermined period, this alarming fact is signaled and reported to the manager. Again, this lock is not made available to a subsequent user until after repair.

The bolt box 35 is arranged in such a way that the electromagnet 36 with bolt 38 and the associated micro-switches 43 and 51 can be mounted therein at two mounting locations, namely for an arrangement on a left or right side wall 34. The doors 31 have, for example a horizontal hinge 41 on their top side and / or are preferably provided with springs, for example in the form of an air cylinder, which push them into the closed position or a centrally controlled hydraulic cylinder.

After the computer determines that the required conditions for unlocking a lock 30 are met, the unlocking control signal is preferably delivered with some delay, which delay depends on the length of time that the user takes from the central operating position to to enter the designated slot 30. This time can be chosen longer for a remote lock 30 than for nearby locks. The time of unlocking the lock 30 can also be limited to a certain value. For example, for a safe at a station where travelers are in a hurry, it is recommended to keep the unlocking time short. When a user requires more time to fill the safe, the door 31 can still be closed, because the bolt 38 is then lifted by the bolt catcher 33. The user is then already informed by means of a light signal that the locking operation has taken place, but the door 31 is not closed, which can also occur, for example, if an object is too long in the safe.

It should be noted that the invention is of course not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawing and described above, but that modifications can be made without departing from the inventive idea.

Claims (28)

Device for controlling a plurality of locks (30), which device comprises computer controlled lock drive means (36), characterized in that the computer is connected to a code recorder (18) and at least one selected lock (30) unlocks when giving a code to the code sensor (18). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a code can be entered into the code recorder (18), the number of which, for example 4-10, characters can be determined by the user. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the code sensor (18) consists of a keyboard, the keys of which bear letters as characters. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that numerical keys each, besides a digit, also carry at least one, but preferably a plurality of letters. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a computer-controlled lock (30) is unlocked only after an opening delay time, which is dependent, for example, on the distance from the computer to the relevant lock (30). is adjustable. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the unlocking delay time of at least two locks (30) is different. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lock (30) is provided with at least one switch (43, 51), for example a micro switch, for recording a lock condition, for example the closing position of a bolt catch (33) and / or a closing position of a bolt (38). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lock (30) is locked after a, preferably adjustable, determined release time, if the lock (30) is not opened during that release time. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lock (30) is locked after a, preferably adjustable, hold-open time. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locks (30) are arranged on cooling compartments. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lock (30) is lockable, such that a user of a certain lock (30) cannot control this lock (30), for example during a particular, for example adjustable, duration. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one group of locks (30) is lockable. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of locks (30) can be controlled jointly with a group code. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of individually operable locks (30), for example all locks (30), can also be controlled jointly with a group code. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the times of control of the various locks (30) are registered in a register. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lock (30) is provided with a switch (43) which interacts with a stop surface (39) of a lock element (33), for example a bolt catch, which is inclined on the mounting surface of this lock element (33), while the mounting position of this lock element (33) is adjustable. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bolt (38) can be arranged in at least two different places in its bolt box (35), such that the lock can be used for left and right doors. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bolt (38) comprises a soft iron core of an electromagnet (36) and falls into the closed position when the electromagnet (36) is not energized. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locks (30) are arranged on prison doors, in particular on cell doors. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises a payment device and that when a certain amount is paid, at least one lock (30) can be unlocked several times during a certain period, for example a day. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computer allocates and unlocks a lock (30) randomly or sequentially when a user requests a lock (30). 22. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computer registers the input of an incorrect code and emits an alarm signal after a certain number of incorrect code registrations per unit time. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the code recorder (18) is provided with a circuit for recording the user's preference for assigning a preference for a lock (30) from a certain series. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bolt catch (33) of a lock (30) is attached to the inside of a door (31), while a bolt box (35) is mounted on a cabinet wall. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the time of unlocking a lock (30) is registered and that after a certain time, for example a week, is exceeded, a new unlocking and this lock is not performed (30), a corresponding signal is output. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that every use of the device is registered and that a signal is issued to the manager when all locks (30) or almost all locks (30) are in use. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the status of the locks is registered. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by deposit payment means and deposit return means.