EP0158577B1 - Entrance-checking lock for strongrooms - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Access-monitoring lock chambrer for strongrooms, consisting of an armour-plated rotary drum (1) equipped with an opening passage (2) and mounted in an armour-plated framework (3) rigidly connected to the entrance to the strongroom (4) inside the latter, of a mechanism (8) for driving the drum (1) and of a device (10) for the manual unlocking of the drum (1), which lock chamber is characterized in that it further comprises devices for checking identity (5) and for monitoring the load and measuring the weight (6) of the drum, which devices are connected to an electronic circuit (9) for managing the whole, disposed in a strong-box (7) fixed to the framework (3) and controlling the drive mechanism (8) likewise disposed in the strong-box (7), the unlocking device (10) having three stop position, namely a position of rest corresponding to entry into the lock chamber from the outside of the strongroom, through the opening passage (2), an intermediate position for checking identity and verifying the weight in which the opening passage (2) is closed by the armour-plated framework (3) and a position of access to the strongroom through the opening passage (2).

Description

The present invention relates to the field of access control in particular to vaults of banks and has for its object a control airlock intended for this purpose and making it possible to individually control and select the persons wishing to enter a vault.

Currently, a new type of assault with a gun, called a “vault daytime attack,” is appearing more and more frequently. These attacks generally have catastrophic results for bankers, since the amounts of thefts often exceed the amount of one million francs. To this end, aggression techniques consist of entering an agency, controlling staff and customers, then opening the compartments of the vault, which is open during the day and whose alarm system is disconnected. Typically, an informed attacker takes barely ten seconds to open a compartment, so the losses from such thefts are often very large, and effective protection against such thefts is a major problem.

BE-A-748 780 discloses a special device for capturing an aggressor reporting a circular airlock with two walls placed in a circular enclosure, having a number of openings or passages, all or failing these main parts and the movable wall being of anti-bullet material. This device therefore only allows the capture of an aggressor wanting to leave the interior of the building where he has just committed a heist, for example, only under the conditions that he leaves the building again by this airlock and that the 'one of the people inside the building has the presence of mind to actuate the lock control of the airlock drum drive motor at the very moment when the airlock is in the fully closed position. In addition, it does not in any way prevent the attacker from entering the bank and committing the heist.

Furthermore, US-A-3 844 232 describes a cashier's cabin provided with a device for controlling the weight and size of a person, the electric current remaining cut off and the box remaining closed when the quantities measured (weight and size) do not correspond to those stored by a person authorized to use the cash register. Such a device does nothing to control access to a vault.

Finally, DE-A-2 803 765 describes a revolving door provided with an identity control device, the door remaining locked when an unauthorized person manipulates a first signal transmitting station and the door locking when a person unauthorized attempts to enter simultaneously with an authorized person using a second signal transmitter. This device allows only to control the passage through a door, of people with or without a magnetic card. It therefore does not have sufficient reliability and security and is absolutely not designed to control access to a vault.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks of known devices.

Its purpose is, in effect, an access control airlock for vaults, constituted by an armored rotary drum provided with a passage opening, and mounted in an armored frame secured to the inlet opening of the vault inside the latter, by a drum drive mechanism and by a manual drum unlocking device, airlock characterized in that it further comprises identity and load control devices and measurement of the weight of the drum connected to an electronic circuit for managing the assembly, arranged in a safe fixed to the frame and controlling the drive mechanism also arranged in the safe, the unlocking device having three stop positions, namely a rest position corresponding to penetration into the airlock from the outside of the vault, through the passage opening, an intermediate position for identity control and verification of the weight in which it the passage opening is closed by the armored frame and a position of access to the vault by the passage opening.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un sas conforme à l'invention à partir de l'intérieur d'une chambre forte ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en élévation et en coupe du sas suivant la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en plan et en coupe du sas ;
• la figure 4 représente, en vue en plan et en coupe, le sas en positions de repos (A), de contrôle d'identité (B), et d'accès à la chambre forte (C) ;
• la figure 5a à j explique schématiquement le fonctionnement du sas pour l'accès à la chambre forte, et
• la figure 6a à j explique schématiquement le fonctionnement du sas pour la sortie de la chambre forte.

The invention will be better understood thanks to the description below, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an airlock according to the invention from the interior of a vault;
• Figure 2 is an elevational and sectional view of the airlock according to Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a plan view in section of the airlock;
• Figure 4 shows, in plan view and in section, the airlock in rest positions (A), identity control (B), and access to the vault (C);
• FIG. 5a to j schematically explains the operation of the airlock for access to the vault, and
• Figure 6a to j schematically explains the operation of the airlock for the exit of the vault.

According to the invention, and as shown more particularly, by way of example, Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, the access control airlock for vaults is provided with identity control devices 5 and load and measurement control of the weight 6 of the drum 1, which is rotated by means of a drive mechanism 8 controlled by an electronic management circuit 9 of the assembly connected to the control devices 5 and 6. The mechanism 8 and the electronic management circuit 9 are placed in a safe 7 fixed on the frame 3. A device 10 for manual unlocking of the drum 1 is provided outside of said drum 1 and the vault 4, preferably near the entry opening of the latter on the frame 3, this device being actuated by means of two safety keys 11 or combination locking devices, which serve simultaneously with opening the safe 7.

As shown in particular in FIGS. 3 and 4, the whole of the airlock is disposed behind the strong door 12 of the strong room 4 in the closed position of said door 12.

The identity control device 5 is advantageously constituted by a magnetic card reader advantageously supplemented by a code keyboard, these two devices comparing a card code and a code established by means of the keyboard with codes stored in the electronic circuit management 9.

The load control and weight measurement device 6 of the drum 1 is produced in the form of a weight sensor connected to the electronic management circuit 9 and placed under the covering 13 of the floor of the drum 1, this device also triggering, a first rotation of the drum 1 towards its intermediate identity control position in which the passage opening 2 is closed by the armored frame 3. The drum 1 is provided on its internal vertical wall, as well as on the ceiling, d '' a sensitive coating 14, the sensors of which are connected to the electronic management circuit 9, an information notice 15 for the users being, moreover, fixed on this internal wall, preferably near the identity control device 5 Thus, each user of the airlock will be able to read the operations to be carried out as well as the instructions to be followed to cross the airlock, and the necessary and sufficient conditions to block it.

The electronic management circuit 9 is connected to a delator (not shown) blocking the control of the drum 1, and which is actuated at each anomaly signaled by the identity control devices 5 or load control and weight measurement 6 , or again by the sensors of the sensitive coating 14, this delator being able to be actuated, moreover, manually by means of a button or lever of a control box 16 mounted on the armored frame 3 in the vault 4.

The control box 16 further comprises a call control of the drum 1 in the position of communication of its opening 2 with the interior of the vault 4 (FIG. 4 C) and a weight selector enabling the device to be tared load control and weight measurement 6 in three positions, namely small, medium and large depending on the stature of the customer using the airlock, the drum 1 being returned, empty, automatically to its rest position.

The frame 3 is also provided, near the control box 16, with an armored peephole 16 'making it possible to see inside the drum 1 when the latter is in the intermediate position of identity check and weight check. (Figure 4 B) so that a blockage of the drum 1 can be caused by means of the box 16, in the event of an anomaly.

The drum 1 is mounted at its lower part on an axis of rotation 17 guided in a bearing secured to the floor of the vault 4, and is provided at its upper part with a toothed ring 18, on which a pinion 19 d engages 'A geared motor forming the drive mechanism 8, and, on either side of its opening 2, the drum 1 is provided with safety seals 20, similar seals 21 also being provided at the opening of the armored frame 3 in the vault 4.

On the ceiling, the drum 1 is provided with a lamp 22 intended to provide interior lighting during its transport journey and during identity verification.

According to another characteristic of the invention, microphones 23, connected, are provided on at least one wall of the safe 7, as well as in other discrete places of the framework 3 or of the walls of the strong room 4. by means of the electronic management circuit 9 at the informer, the circuit 9 triggering the latter as soon as a noise or a suspect noise level is detected.

The electronic management circuit 9 is equipped with a security circuit for the passage of the vault manager, this circuit being initialized for fixed durations, periodically, at precise times, and taking in memory the code of a specific magnetic card. assigned to said manager as well as the precise weight of the latter, and authorizing a passage through the airlock only after prior passage by the manager.

This circuit 9 further comprises a programmable clock for operating the airlock according to fixed time bands and days, as well as for controlling the duration of the presence of the vault manager and of a client in the vault, and triggering the informer after exceeding a predetermined length of stay.

• Chaque client locataire d'un compartiment de la chambre forte 4 est muni d'une carte magnétique portant un code mis en mémoire dans le circuit électronique de gestion 9, et la banque possède une carte magnétique pour le responsable de la chambre forte, dont le code est également mis en mémoire. Le nombre de cartes clients est strictement égal au nombre de compartiments et leur code est tenu secret. Après initialisation du circuit de sécurité du circuit de gestion 9 avec les données concernant le responsable de la chambre forte désigné par passage de ce dernier au moyen de la carte correspondante dans le sas, ledit sas peut être mis à la disposition des clients. Cette initialisation peut avantageusement être effectuée dans une tranche horaire et à une périodicité prédéterminée, à savoir, parexem- ple, tous les jours pendant le quart d'heure précédant l'ouverture de la banque.

The airlock according to the invention operates as follows:

• Each tenant customer of a vault compartment 4 is provided with a magnetic card carrying a code stored in the electronic management circuit 9, and the bank has a magnetic card for the person responsible for the vault, the code is also stored. The number of customer cards is strictly equal to the number of compartments and their code is kept secret. After initialization of the security circuit of the management circuit 9 with the data concerning the person responsible for the vault designated by passage of the latter by means of the corresponding card in the airlock, said airlock can be made available to customers. This initialization can advantageously be carried out in a time slot and at a predetermined periodicity, namely, for example, every day during the quarter of an hour preceding the opening of the bank.

When a client 24 requests access to his compartment, he is taken in charge by the manager of the vault 25, who requests his magnetic card for verification, and who brings him before the airlock in the rest position (FIG. 4A) . The manager 25 then enters the drum 1 (FIG. 5a), which is rotated towards its intermediate identity control position (FIGS. 4B and 5b), in which the manager 25 inserts his magnetic card into the control device 5 , and the circuit 9 checks in its safety circuit the correspondence of the data of the manager 25, namely its weight measured by the device 6 and the code number of the card. In the event of a positive verification, the drum 1 rotates in its position of access to the vault 4 (FIGS. 4C and 5c), and the manager 25 enters said chamber 4. At this time, the drum 1 automatically returns to the intermediate position , then at rest, provided that it is empty (FIG. 5d) but the drum 1 can be locked in position by triggering the informer by the manager 25 by means of the control box 16. As soon as the drum 1 is accessible to the client 24 (FIG. 5e), the latter enters it (FIG. 5f) and its weight, detected by the device 6 causes the rotation of the drum 1, with a view to identity check by means of the device 5 (FIG. 5g). In this position, the electronic circuit 9 simultaneously checks whether the weight recorded by the device 6 corresponds to that of the range displayed by the manager 25 on the control box 16, the manager 25 checking, moreover, by means of the peephole 16 ′, the identity of the client 24 he has just left.

After satisfaction with all the checks, the drum 1 rotates in its position of access to the chamber 4 and the client 24 can enter it (FIG. 5h). The drum 1 then automatically returns to the rest position (FIGS. 5i and 5j), provided that it is empty.

After opening the customer compartment 24, the manager 25 leaves the vault 4 through the airlock by calling the drum 1 (FIGS. 6a to c) by means of the control box 16. The electronic circuit 9 verifies for this purpose that the drum 1 is empty, that is to say that no sensor is actuated. At the entry of the manager 25, the reverse process to that described above takes place (FIGS. 6c to e).

If the length of time the client 24 stays in the vault is detected by the clock of circuit 9, the latter triggers the informer and blocks the drum 1 in the rest position. The same is true if suspicious noises are detected by means of microphones 23.

When the client 24 wishes to leave the room 4, he proceeds in the same way as the manager 25 (FIGS. 6f to j).

The design of the whole airlock and its shape allow obtaining a homogeneous and continuous shielding whatever the position of the drum 1.

Maintenance, after-sales service or restart operations after a blockage controlled by the informer are carried out after entering the vault 4 using keys 11 actuating the unlocking device 10 and then used to open the safe 7.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

Claims (12)

1. Access-monitoring lock chamber for stron- grooms, consisting of an armour-plated rotary drum (1) equipped with an opening passage (2) and mounted in an armour-plated framework (3) rigidly connected to the entrance to the strongroom (4) inside the latter, of a mechanism (8) for driving the drum (1) and of a device (10) for the manual unlocking of the drum (1), which lock chamber is characterised in that it further comprises devices for checking identity (5) and for monitoring the load and measuring the weight (6) of the drum, which devices are connected to an electronic circuit (9) for managing the whole, disposed in a strong-box (7) fixed to the framework (3) and controlling the drive mechanism (8) likewise disposed in the strong-box (7), the unlocking device (10) having three stop positions, namely a position of rest corresponding to entry into the lock chamber from the outside of the strongroom, through the opening passage (2), an intermediate position for checking identity and verifying the weight in which the opening passage (2) is closed by the armour-plated framework (3) and a position of access to the strongroom through the opening passage (2).

2. Lock chamber, according to claim 1, characterised in that the manual unlocking device (10) for the drum (1) is provided outside said drum (1) and the strongroom (4), preferably close to the entrance to the latter on the framework (3), this device being actuated by means of two security keys (11) or combination locking devices, which simultaneously serve to open the strong-box (7).

3. Lock chamber, according to claim 1, characterised in that the device for checking identity (5) preferably consists of a magnetic card reader. preferably completed by a code keyboard, these two devices comparing a card code and a code compiled by means of the keyboard with codes stored in the electronic management circuit (9).

4. Lock chamber, according to claim 1, characterised in that the device for monitoring the load and for measuring the weight (6) of the drum (1) is constructed in the form of a weight-sensor connected to the electronic management circuit (9) and disposed below the covering (13) of the floor of the drum (1.), this device also setting in motion a first rotation of the drum (1) into its intermediate position.

5. Lock chamber, according to claim 1, characterised in that the drum (1) is provided, on its internal vertical wall, as well as on the ceiling, with a sensitive covering (14), the sensors of which are connected to the electronic management circuit (9), an information notice (15) for the users being, in addition, fixed to this internal wall, preferably close to the device for checking identity. (5).

6. Lock chamber, according to claim 1, characterised in that the electronic management circuit (9) is connected to a detector which locks the control of the drum (1), and which is actuated on each anomaly signalled by the devices for checking identity (5) or for monitoring the load and measuring the weight (6), or again by the sensors of the sensitive covering (14), this detector being able to be actuated, in addition, manually by means of a button or lever of a control box (16) mounted on the armour-plate framework (3) in the strongroom (4).

7. Lock chamber, according to claim 6, characterised in that the control box (16) comprises, in addition, a control for bringing the drum (1) into the position in which its opening (2) is in communication with the interior of the strongroom (4) and a weight selector enabling the device for monitoring the load and measuring the weight (6) to be adjusted to three positions, namely small, medium and large depending on the stature of the client using the lock chamber, the drum (1) being automatically restored, when empty, to its position of rest.

8. Lock chamber, according to any one of claims 1, 6 and 7, characterised in that the framework (3) is likewise provided, close to the control box (16), with an armoured spy-hole (16') making it possible to see inside the drum (1) when the latter is in the intermediate position for checking identity and verifying the weight, in such a manner that locking of the drum (1) can be caused by means of the box (16) in case of anomaly.

9. Lock chamber, according to claim 1, characterised in that the drum (1) is mounted at its lower portion on a pivot (17) guided in a bearing rigidly connected to the floor of the strongroom (4), and is equipped at its upper portion with a crown wheel (18), in which there meshes a pinion (19) of a geared motor forming the drive mechanism (8), and, on both sides of its opening (2), the drum (1) is equipped with security seals (20), similar seals (21) being likewise provided at the level of the opening of the armour-plated framework (3) into the strongroom (4).

10. Lock chamber, according to claim 1, characterised in that, provided on at least one wall of the strongbox (7), as well as at other discrete points of the framework (3) or the walls of the strongroom (4) are microphones (23), connected, by means of the electronic management circuit (9) to the detector, the circuit (9) triggering the latter as soon as a suspicious noise or level of noise is detected.

11. Lock chamber, according to any one of claims 1, 3 to 6 and 10, characterised in that the electronic management circuit (9) is equipped with a security circuit for the passage of the person responsible for the strongroom, this circuit being started for specific periods, periodically, at precise moments and storing the code of a specific magnetic card allocated to said responsible person as well as the precise weight of the latter and only authorising passage through the lock chamber after previous passage of the responsible person.

12. Lock chamber, according to any one of claims 1, 3 to 6, 10 and 11, characterised in that the circuit (9) comprises, in addition, a programmable clock for operation of the lock chamber at specific times and on specific days, as well as to check the duration of the presence of the person responsible for the strongroom and of a client in the strongroom, and triggering the detector after a predetermined duration of stay has been exceeded.

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