DE102011056605A1 - Container, particularly value container, for retaining and storing objects, such as solid, liquid or gaseous media, has sensor made of surface and fiber composite material that is arranged in area of enveloping body - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has an open enveloping body and a sensor (7) for detection the damage of the enveloping body. The sensor is made of a surface and fiber composite material that is arranged in an area of the enveloping body. A fiber material (8) is provided with individual control fibers (11), where the fiber material is embedded in resin matrix. The control fibers are provided with signal conductive material.

Description

The invention relates to a container, in particular a value container, with the features in the preamble of claim 1.

Containers are used to store and store objects as well as solid, liquid or gaseous media. Its design and the at least outwardly defining enveloping body are matched to the recorded content.

Generally also referred to as a container, the respective wall of the enveloping body may have a self-contained or, for example, open-pore and mesh structure. As a result, the container can be either dense or permeable and partially transparent. In practical use, containers have a limited ability to open, which can be achieved, for example, by unfolding the enveloping body or by means of a corresponding cover.

If the content enclosed within the container is to be protected against unauthorized access in addition to its pure absorption, the respective container, in particular its enveloping body, must fulfill corresponding requirements. In particular, such contents, which represent a specific value, are stored and / or transported in so-called valuable containers. Value containers can serve, for example, for receiving documents, data stored on media, valuables and money. For example, the respective valuable container can be in the form of a briefcase or a briefcase. In the context of financial institutions, special value containers are usually used, which are then referred to, for example, as paper money containers (P containers) or cassettes for ATMs (ATM cassette). Such valuable containers are also used by money and value-transport companies as well as large-scale bank depositors.

In the context of the invention, in addition to containers in general and the aforementioned valuable containers, in particular, also those containers are understood, as they are generally referred to as safes or steel cabinets.

Both the transport and the storage of valuable containers the highest possible security against unauthorized removal of the content is sought out of this. In addition to corresponding structural designs, all of which relate to the shape and the nature of the respective envelope, in particular its wall and the corresponding locking technology, further measures and arrangements are known beyond which serve, for example, the tracking, more precisely, the location of a stolen valuable container. Occasionally, only simple systems are used, which prevent or at least complicate a possible snatching of the valuable container during transport or its entrainment altogether. With one of the simplest options, for example, the connection of the valuable container with its storage location or the authorized carrier offers a detachable connection, for example via a chain. Further measures stipulate that the contents of the valuable container are destroyed or at least impaired in the case of its unauthorized opening, so that its regular use is no longer possible.

From the DE 196 35 784 A1 is a lockable safety transport container with an alarm and a security technology for the transport of money or valuables known. The safety technology itself is arranged inside the container, where it can be activated by certain triggering events. The corresponding events are thereby detected by at least one sensor, via which a corresponding signal can be passed to the security technology. The security technique includes, for example, a color cartridge, the contents of which, when ignited, pour over the contents inside the container, causing it to become marked and unusable for regular use.

The DE 28 07 566 A1 discloses a transport container for securities, banknotes and the like, which has a lockable lid. Within the container, a security technique is also arranged, which triggers a color marking system when unauthorized opening of the container.

In addition, the envelope of the container itself is designed so that the wall detects damage, whereupon the security technology can be activated. Here, the wall is constructed in the form of a sensor, which is composed of an inner wall and an outer wall. These two walls are incorporated in an electrical circuit which is connected to the fuse technology. Between the two walls, an insulating intermediate layer is arranged so that there is no conductive contact between the inner wall and outer wall in normal operation. As soon as the enveloping body is punctured, for example by penetration by means of a drill, the drill itself forms a bridge between the inner wall and the outer wall of the wall, whereupon the electrical circuit is closed and the safety technology can be activated.

In this way, in addition to an unauthorized regular opening of the container and its breakup by damaging the envelope body, more closely to the wall, detectable. Consequently, the security technique is basically activated in case of unauthorized opening of the container.

However, the structure of this thus three-layer wall may require a corresponding effort. In particular, the usually shell-shaped or at least with bends accompanying structure of the envelope body makes corresponding demands on the production of the inner and outer walls in order to then connect them together with the insulating intermediate layer.

In order to make the inner and outer walls preferably formed of metal sufficiently resistant to mechanical damage, they must have a corresponding thickness. This thickness contributes to the container having a high overall weight. Furthermore, it is difficult to rule out that the inner and outer walls already come into contact with each other in an accidental fall or an accidental impact, after which the safety technology is activated for no reason.

Against this background, the design of containers, in particular of valuable containers, still offers room for improvement with regard to their enveloping bodies.

In this case, the present invention has the object to improve a container of the aforementioned type to the effect that in particular its enveloping body has a wall with a comprehensive detection for damage, which has a high resistance to mechanical stress and low weight.

The solution to this problem consists according to the invention in a container according to the features of claim 1.

Hereinafter, a container, in particular a value container, shown, which comprises an openable envelope body. The container has at least one sensor which serves to detect damage to the enveloping body. According to the invention, the sensor is formed from a flat fiber composite material arranged in the region of the enveloping body. Its fiber material embedded in a matrix of resin comprises individual control fibers which have a signal-conducting material. The resin may be, for example, a thermosetting or a thermoplastic resin.

The particular advantage here is the use of the fiber composite material, which has a high strength compared to its low weight. At the same time, individual fibers of the fiber material are used as control fibers in order to detect damage to the enveloping body. The individual control fibers are designed so that a signal can be conducted via them. The signals to be transmitted may be, for example, an electrical signal or a light signal.

At least some of the control fibers may for this purpose at least partially comprise a current-conducting material or be formed from this. Furthermore, at least some of the control fibers may at least partially comprise a light-conducting material or be formed from this. Preferably, at least individual control fibers to a current-conducting material to detect the damage of the enveloping body, closer to the wall.

The sensitivity of the sensor formed from the control fibers within the fiber composite material can be preset via their position relative to one another. In other words, with a small spacing of the individual control fibers relative to one another, a very fine detection of possible damage to the enveloping body is possible, as occurs during the drilling of a hole through the wall, for example, to introduce an explosive medium into the container. In contrast, a greater spacing of the individual control fibers to one another leads to a coarser detection of any damage to the envelope, which usually requires a larger-scale damage to the wall, unless a control fiber is directly affected by the damage.

The fibers of the fiber composite material may, for example, be individual fibers or fiber bundles (rovings). The material of the fibers may be uniform or even different from one another within the fiber composite material. Thus, at least individual fibers may be formed, for example, from glass fibers or carbon fibers. In particular, individual fibers may also be formed as ceramic fibers, aramid fibers or boron fibers and natural fibers or nylon fibers. Of course, for example, yarns or thermoplastic threads can be used as fiber.

Advantageous developments of the basic concept of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims 2 to 10.

The invention provides that the sensor forms at least one wall of the enveloping body. So For example, parts of the enveloping body or of this, as a whole, can be formed of fiber composite material whose necessary fiber material comprises the individual control fibers. The matrix of resin is preferably designed such that the fiber material embedded therein and in particular the individual control fibers are removed from the optical perception. This prevents an unauthorized person recognizing the structure of the sensor already by merely examining the container to selectively penetrate the wall between the individual control fibers.

For this purpose, the resin may for example have a corresponding color. Furthermore, both the fiber material with the control fibers arranged therein and the resin can be color matched to one another such that they are all optically indistinguishable from one another.

At least externally, the enveloping body configured in this way preferably receives a corresponding coating in order to avoid the view of the underlying structure of the fiber composite material and in particular the position of the individual control fibers.

In this context, it is conceivable that an unauthorized opener of the container can also be supplied with incorrect information. In other words, for example, individual fibers of the fiber material may deliberately be color-coded in order to suggest a possible control mechanism. These optically labeled fibers could thus be perceived as control fibers, so that the actual control fibers remain undetected. As a result, a reliable detection of the damage would take place when the wall penetrates in the area between the marked fibers.

In an advantageous manner, the sensor can be arranged at least partially within the enveloping body, closer to a wall of the enveloping body. As an alternative to this, the sensor may also be arranged at least in some areas outside the enveloping body, closer to a wall of the enveloping body.

Of course, the sensor may also be arranged at least in regions inside and outside of the enveloping body on a wall of the enveloping body. Such an embodiment could, for example, be accompanied by a targeted arrangement of the control fibers, wherein, for example, the arrangement of the control fibers of the sensor arranged outside the enveloping body is supplemented by the arrangement of the control fibers of the sensor arranged inside the enveloping body in its structure. In other words, this can be used to set the detection sensitivity, for example, whereby any gaps between the control fibers on one side of the enveloping body are supplemented by control fibers of the other sensor arranged on the opposite side of the enveloping body. In an advantageous manner, a detection of damage to the enveloping body would then also take place, for example, if the sensor arranged outside, more precisely its control fibers, detect no penetration of the enveloping body, but detection takes place at the latest upon reaching the sensor arranged within the enveloping body.

Thus, the wall of the enveloping body can advantageously be of multilayer construction, in that, for example, the inner or outer layer of the wall has a structure different from the fiber composite material or a material which is different. In this case, the inner or outer layer can be formed, for example, from a metal, on which the sensor in the form of the fiber composite material is arranged at least in regions. In this case, the inner or outer layer of the wall of the enveloping body is preferably completely covered with the sensor. In this way, a full-area detection of any damage to the envelope is possible.

In an alternative embodiment, the sensor may be arranged at least in regions within a wall of the enveloping body. In this case, the wall would consist of at least three layers, the middle layer being formed by the sensor in the form of the fiber composite with individual control fibers. The layers surrounding the sensor can be formed from a different structure from the fiber composite of the sensor or a different material. Such a structure may be advantageous in that the actual sensor in the form of the fiber composite material is not recognizable either from inside or outside the container.

As a used fiber material of the fiber composite this may for example be a clutch. The fiber material of the sensor is preferably a fabric which has intersecting warp fibers and weft fibers. In this case, the respective warp fibers form an at least partially parallel structure, between which the individual weft fibers are guided.

At least some of the weft fibers are preferably formed as control fibers. In principle, at least some of the warp fibers may be formed as control fibers. Of course, depending on the requirements, individual warp fibers and weft fibers may also be formed as control fibers. Basically, the control fibers in addition to the already existing fibers the fiber material may be laid on this or incorporated into this.

The advantage of replacing individual fibers of the fiber material by control fibers is to be seen in the fact that it is not necessary to provide corresponding control fibers in addition to the existing fiber material. In particular, the incorporation of the control fibers within the fiber material offers the advantage that the thus planar sensor is easily adaptable to the sometimes sophisticated design of the envelope. In other words, even in topographically demanding progressions of the wall of the container, the planar sensor can be adapted to this, without the course of the control fibers requiring special attention.

Thus, the sensor in the form of the fiber composite material, for example, can be easily introduced into existing containers by at least partially provided with a resin on which the sensor is placed in the form of fiber composite material and embedded with the addition of additional resin in this.

In particular, for the case that the sensor itself forms a wall of the enveloping body, its fiber material may already have an adapted course of its individual fibers. Thus, the individual fibers, in particular the control fibers, at least partially have different distances from each other, for example, to follow a necessary deflection by turns within the wall to be generated easier. Thus, in particular those areas can be better equipped with control fibers, in which the fiber material of the fiber composite material, for example, stretched or compressed or even doubled.

Advantageously, at least some of the control fibers are formed from a single control fiber. In other words, the individual control fibers are each formed by individual sections of a single, contiguous control fiber. In the context of the invention, the control fibers are thus seen as extending between each of the areas of the individual control fiber contiguous with one another, which run between their directional changes and a direction change and the respective end of the individual control fiber.

In this case, individual control fibers form a coherent control fiber which, by means of corresponding deflections, forms individual side by side or one above the other as well as crossing control fibers. The particular advantage here is a simple connection of the control fiber to the security technique, since this is only connected to the endpoints of the control fiber. In contrast, individual, separate control fibers must either be queried individually or summarized first in terms of their signal line to be subsequently connected to the security technology.

Particularly preferably, the individual control fiber has a meandering course. Here, the single control fiber is guided in each case between individual deflection points, between which they form the individual control fibers. The deflection points may be, for example, individual weft threads or warp threads, at which the direction of the individual control fiber changes. For example, the single control fiber can be placed around other fibers so that it loop around the single control fiber. Of course, the individual deflection points can only consist of changing the direction of the individual control fiber, for example, by their curving laying or even buckling.

In this case, the individual control fibers extend in an advantageous manner at least in regions parallel to one another, so that the contiguous control fiber is guided alternately between their respective deflection points. In this case, the individual control fiber from a certain deflection so continue to run that it crosses the already formed individual control fibers or at least cut.

Depending on the configuration of the control fiber, care must be taken that, in particular when cutting or crossing over, it has no conductive contact in the form of a short circuit, which is necessary in particular when using control fibers made of a current-conducting material. Thus, when crossing or cutting the already formed control fibers, the single control fiber may extend in a plane spaced therefrom, thereby not touching. Alternatively, the control fibers may also be crossed with each other in such a way that, although they extend in regions around individual control fibers, they are likewise spaced therefrom.

In the arrangement of the individual control fibers, in particular the contiguous control fiber, it is provided that the mutually parallel control fibers are arranged at a distance from each other. Preferably, the distance between the individual control fibers is a maximum of 10 mm. Particularly preferably, the distance between the individual control fibers from 2.0 mm to 5.0 mm. By the distance of the individual control fibers to each other is the Sensitivity of the sensor thus formed presettable, with a very narrow course of the control fibers each other allows a very fine detection of even the smallest damage to the envelope.

In contrast, the embodiment of the enveloping body can have, for example, individual areas which, due to the design, do not require any fine detection of any damage. In these areas, of course, the distance between the individual control fibers to each other can also be increased and thereby be between 10 mm and 100 mm.

Depending on the embodiment, it is provided that at least some of the control fibers are formed in their cross section of a signal-conducting core. Preferably, this core is provided with a surrounding insulating layer. The insulating layer is designed in such a way that it either shields the current flowing inside the conductive core or the light conducted in it from the environment. The advantage of the insulation layer is that, in particular, when the control fiber and / or the individual control fibers are crossed, they can lie directly on top of one another, without any signals being passed on undesirably beyond their point of contact.

The invention provides that the control fiber, more precisely the individual control fibers, can be connected to a measuring device for resistance measurement. About the measuring device, the resistance caused by the individual control fibers can be measured. Thus, when severing at least one of the control fibers, a change in the resistance within the sensor can be measured, whereby a signal can be triggered. The same also applies when short-circuiting at least two control fibers, as a result of which the resistance formed by the sensor likewise changes.

Alternatively, the control fibers may be coupled to an optical measuring unit. In this case, the severing of the control fiber formed as a light guide would be registered because the light intensity conducted over it is changed or even completely interrupted.

As soon as a severing or short-circuiting of the control fibers is detected, appropriate measures can be taken directly or at least initiated. In this case, the measuring device can preferably be coupled to a protective arrangement, wherein the protective arrangement can be activated by the triggered signal. The protection arrangement can be, for example, an alarm which, in addition to acoustic and optical signals, can also transmit a wireless signal. The signal is used to show the unauthorized opening of the container, more closely the damage of the envelope. Furthermore, the protective arrangement can also be designed in the form of a color marking or comprise these, upon the triggering of which the contents of the container are marked accordingly.

Overall, the present invention provides a very economical way to detect the damage to a container, in particular a valuable container, and to initiate measures taking place. In particular, the use of a planar sensor in the form of a fiber composite material allows an almost unlimited adaptation even to sophisticated shapes. Furthermore, the respective wall of the container can be formed either completely from the sensor in the form of the fiber composite material with individual control fibers. In contrast, the planar sensor can also be arranged without problems on the wall of the enveloping body at least in regions on its inside or outside. In this case, the retrofitting of already existing container by the introduction of the flat sensor is easily possible.

Furthermore, the use of the fiber composite material leads to a significant increase in the resistance of the container to mechanical effects. Thus, advantageously, the advantage of high strength combined with low weight resulting from the use of the fiber composite material can be combined directly with the formation of a sensor by replacing or supplementing individual fibers of the necessary fiber material either with individual control fibers. In this way, a very simple sensor is created in relation to its processing, which at the same time takes over the strength of the container increasing or even forming its enveloping functions.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to some schematically illustrated in the drawings embodiments. Show it:

1 a value container in a form known from the prior art for use in cash dispensers in a perspective representation;

2 a detail of the wall of a container according to the invention in a detail reduced representation;

3 a schematic representation of a portion of the wall 2 in a supervision as well

4 a cross section through the in 3 part shown.

1 shows a container 1 , as it is used in a known manner in the prior art, for example, in a cash dispenser (ATM), not shown. Here, the container is used 1 the issue and / or recording of cash also unspecified, so this is a valuable container in the form of a ATM container.

ATMs usually have several such containers 1 within which the cash is secured by and transported to the respective financial institution. In a triggered by a user of the cash dispenser operation can cash in a manner not shown either to its withdrawal from the container 1 taken or deposited via a deposit in this.

The container 1 has an openable enveloping body defining its exterior shape 2 on, which is a box-shaped container 3 and one the container 3 closing lid 4 composed. For easy transport of the container 1 this side has at least one pivotally mounted handle 5 , which is umgreifbar with one hand.

All areas of the container 3 and the lid 4 composite enveloping body 2 each form a wall 6 of the envelope 2 , which in sum the interior of the container 1 surrounds.

To a surface detection of damage to the envelope 2 , closer to its wall 6 to detect is at least one sensor 7 provided, which is designed as a flat fiber composite material. In the background is the wall 6 even as a sensor 7 running, with the entire wall 6 of the envelope 2 is made in a manner not shown from the fiber composite material.

This sensor 7 is also connected in a manner not shown with a measuring device for measuring resistance, which in the interior of the container 1 is arranged. The measuring device is with a likewise inside the container 1 arranged and thus not shown protective device coupled. The protection arrangement is through a via the sensor 7 triggerable signal can be activated. The protective arrangement can be, for example, an arrangement for color marking which, when triggered, causes the respective contents of the container 1 unusable for ordinary use.

2 represents a section of a fiber material 8th which is embedded in a manner not shown in a matrix of resin. In this combination, the fiber material embedded in the resin forms 8th the wall 6 of the envelope 2 , The fiber material 8th Forms a fabric made of intersecting warp fibers 9 and shot fibers 10 is composed. The warp fibers 9 extend in a direction x, while the weft fibers 10 perpendicular to it in a direction y. Here are the shot fibers 10 through the warp fibers 9 through, whereby they overflowed and undermined alternately from above and below, so that the individual warp fibers 9 alternately above and below at least partially with the shot fibers 10 stay in contact.

Around the area of the wall shown here 6 as a sensor 7 execute, has the fiber material 8th individual control fibers 11 on. The control fibers 11 in this case run in the direction y of the shot fibers 10 , where the control fibers 11 the shot fibers 10 partially replace or supplement. The control fibers themselves have an unspecified signal conductive material. In the present case are the control fibers 11 at least partially formed current conductive, which are connected in a manner not shown with the measuring device.

3 shows a schematically illustrated single control fiber 11a , For better clarity, this is without the remaining fiber material 8th , in particular the other warp fibers 9 as well as shot fibers 10 shown. The single control fiber 11a runs meandering, whereby they are between individual deflection points 12 extends in a straight line. At the deflection points 12 changes the single control fiber 11a their direction, taking them after their deflection in the opposite direction parallel to their other sections between the turning points 12 runs.

The between the respective deflection points 12 located sections of each control fiber 11a in turn form individual control fibers 11 , which thus constitute a coherent control fiber 11a result. The advantage lies in the simplest and thus economic coupling of the control fibers 11 with the measuring device, not shown, since these only over the ends 13 the single control fiber 11a to be connected to the measuring device.

As can be seen, the individual, mutually parallel sections of each control fiber 11a in the form of several control fibers 11 different distances a1, a2 to each other. In the present case, the smaller distance a1 in non-scale representation is 2.0 mm, whereas the larger distance a2 is also not to scale 5.0 mm.

4 illustrates the structure of a control fiber 11 . 11a in a cross section through this. The section shows that the control fiber 11 . 11a a signal conducting core 14 with a surrounding insulating layer 15 has. In particular, by the arrangement of the insulating layer 15 can be the single control fiber 11 . 11a quite a direct peripheral contact with other control fibers 11 . 11a have, as an undesired signal line, moreover, a bridging is not possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

container

2

enveloping body

3

container

4

cover

5

Handle

6

wall

7

sensor

8th

fiber material

9

warp

10

fill fiber

11

control fiber

11a

control fiber

12

turning point

13

The End

14

core

15

insulation layer

a1

distance

a2

distance

x

direction

y

direction

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 19635784 A1 [0007]
• DE 2807566 A1 [0008]

Claims (10)

Container, in particular a valuable container, comprising an openable enveloping body ( 2 ) and at least one sensor ( 7 ) for detecting damage to the enveloping body ( 2 ), characterized in that the sensor ( 7 ) from a flat and in the region of the envelope ( 2 formed fiber composite material, wherein the embedded in a matrix of resin fiber material ( 8th ) individual control fibers ( 11 . 11a ) comprising a signal conducting material. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor ( 7 ) a wall ( 6 ) of the enveloping body ( 2 ). Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor ( 7 ) at least partially within and / or outside of the enveloping body ( 2 ) on a wall ( 6 ) of the enveloping body ( 2 ) is arranged. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor ( 7 ) at least partially in a wall ( 6 ) of the enveloping body ( 2 ) is arranged. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fiber material ( 8th ) is a fabric which comprises intersecting warp fibers ( 9 ) and weft fibers ( 10 ), wherein at least some of the warp fibers ( 9 ) and / or the weft fibers ( 10 ) as control fibers ( 11 . 11a ) are formed. Container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least some of the control fibers ( 11 ) from a single control fiber ( 11a ), wherein the single control fiber ( 11a ) has a meandering course. Container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that parallel control fibers ( 11 . 11a ) are arranged at a distance (a1, a2) to each other, wherein the distance (a1, a2) is at most 10.0 mm, preferably from 2.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Container according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least some of the control fibers ( 11 . 11a ) in its cross-section from a signal-conducting core ( 14 ) with an insulating layer surrounding it ( 15 ) are formed. Container according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control fibers ( 11 . 11a ) are connectable to a measuring device for resistance measurement, via which when severing at least one of the control fibers ( 11 . 11a ) or by short-circuiting at least two control fibers ( 11 . 11a ) a signal is triggered. Container according to claim 9, characterized in that the measuring device can be coupled to a protective arrangement, wherein the protective arrangement can be activated by the triggered signal.

Images