EP1499787B1

EP1499787B1 - Spoiling agent delivery system

Info

Publication number: EP1499787B1
Application number: EP03722752A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrew Searle
Original assignee: Spinnaker International Ltd
Current assignee: Secure Innovation Ltd
Priority date: 2002-04-26
Filing date: 2003-04-22
Publication date: 2005-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2023-04-22
Also published as: ATE305559T1; EP1499787A1; AU2003229915A1; DK1499787T3; ES2250890T3; WO2003091525A1; DE60301732T2; DE60301732D1; GB0209588D0

Abstract

A system (4) for delivering a spoiling agent onto a plurality of media such as bank notes, wherein the media are contained in small bundles within individual plastic packages (3) inside a cash box (1). The system comprises one or more probes (9) attached to an actuator (8). When security of the box is compromised, pressurised gas from a container (6) pressurises the spoiling agent held within a reservoir (7). The spoiling agent enters the actuator such that the probes move against the packages and penetrate them. The spoiling agent then enters the packages through the probes.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for delivering a spoiling agent, such as ink, in security systems.

There is a continuing and considerable need to transport money between banks, shops and the like. In practice, a cash-in-transit vehicle visits a number of establishments at various predetermined times of the day or week, either to deliver or collect cash. Whilst the cash is within the security vehicle itself, it is relatively safe from attack and/or theft. However, it is often necessary, due to the location of an establishment to which a delivery or a collection of cash is to be made, for one or more security personnel to transfer the cash from the security vehicle to the bank or building society, or vice versa, by hand. To facilitate this transfer, the cash is normally placed in secure, locked containers which are then carried by the security personnel from the security vehicle to the bank or building society.

The security containers act to define a protected region into which valuables such as cash or cash cassettes for an automatic teller machine are placed. Often, a canister of compressed gas is provided in association with a reservoir of ink, such that on release of the gas into the reservoir, ink is ejected from the reservoir under pressure and is delivered to the protected region. The release of the compressed gas is initiated by a controller in the event that an attempt is made to steal the security container or its contents. Similar ink based spoiling systems are included in other secured regions, such as vaults, cash drawers, dispensing machines and automatic teller machines, and cash delivery vehicles (see for example document FR-A-2 583 455).

Further, for additional security, bank notes are preferably transported in sealed plastic packages which are tamper-evident, so that it is necessary to breach the package in order to apply ink to the notes to spoil them. This can be achieved using pyrotechnic or explosive devices to melt or cut or otherwise breach the package, but these devices can represent a hazard to security personnel.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for delivering a spoiling agent inside a sealed package.

According to a first aspect, the invention provides a spoiling agent dispensing system for the protection of goods within a sealed package, characterised in that the spoiling agent dispensing system has a dispensing device mounted on an actuator adapted to move the dispensing device from a position in which the dispensing device does not penetrate the package to a position in which the dispensing device penetrates the package in the event that it is desired to admit a spoiling agent and to dispense a spoiling agent into the package so as to spoil the goods.

Thus it is possible to provide a spoiling agent dispensing system capable of penetrating a sealed package containing goods in order to spoil the goods, without using dangerous pyrotechnic means to breach the package.

Preferably, the spoiling agent flows through the dispensing device once the device has penetrated the package.

Preferably, the dispensing device is mounted on a fluid controlled actuator so that when fluid enters the actuator, the dispensing device is moved against the package such that it penetrates the package. Preferably the fluid is the spoiling agent. Advantageously, when the actuator has been extended so that the dispensing device has penetrated the package, the spoiling agent flows through an aperture in a wall of the actuator into the dispensing device, and subsequently into the package so as to spoil the goods.

Advantageously the end of the dispensing device which first penetrates the package is sharpened to ease penetration of the package.

Preferably the spoiling agent is contained within a reservoir before being dispensed. Advantageously when the dispenser is triggered, the spoiling agent is pressurised so that it is forced out of the reservoir. This is preferably achieved by operation of a pressurised gas supply which is connected to the reservoir when the system is triggered, so as to pressurise the spoiling agent.

Preferably a controller is provided with the dispensing system which monitors security conditions surrounding the package, and activates the dispensing system if it appears to the controller that security has been compromised.

Preferably the dispensing system comprises a plurality of dispensing devices, so that a plurality of sealed packages can be protected by the system.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a storage container characterised by comprising a spoiling agent dispenser according to the first aspect of the present invention.

Preferably the container is a cash box.

Advantageously the container is used for both storage and transport of the goods.

According to a third aspect, the invention provides a method of protecting goods within a sealed package, characterised by comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication that a security of the sealed package has been compromised;

moving a dispensing device mounted on an actuator from a position where it does not penetrate the package to a position where it penetrates the package; and

dispensing a spoiling agent via the dispensing device so as to spoil the goods.

It will be appreciated that the invention, in all of its aspects, makes use of the containment effect of the package to assist the effect of the spoiling agent in contacting the goods as extensively as possible once dispensed within the package. Any attempt to open or remove the package subsequently, then disturbs the spoiling agent and goods so as to bring them into further contact, and thereby increases the spoiling effect. The invention does not therefore require a major tearing or rupturing of the package, and therefore avoids the need for pyrotechnic or explosive devices.

Furthermore, because the invention maximises the effect of the spoiling agent, it can reduce the quantity of spoiling agent that needs to be used.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of a security container incorporating a spoiling agent dispenser according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic drawing of the spoiling agent dispenser of Figure 1 in its inactive state;

Figure 3 shows a schematic drawing of the spoiling agent dispenser of Figure 1 in its activated state.

The security container 1 illustrated in Figure 1 may take the form of a container used to transport bank notes, which are themselves formed into packages 2 which are wrapped in plastic tamper-evident sealed bags 3. Figure 1 shows three packages of banknotes each contained in a separate bag 3. The container 1 also incorporates an ink dispensing system 4 which operates under the control of a controller 5 to dispense ink to spoil the bank notes in the event of an attempted robbery as detected by the controller or which causes the controller to be triggered.

The ink dispensing system 4 is shown in more detail in Figures 2 and 3 and comprises a pressurised gas supply 6, an ink reservoir 7, a fluid operated actuator 8 and a probe 9 with a sharpened end which is adapted to penetrate a bag 3 when the actuator 8 is operated. As shown in Figure 1, a separate actuator 8 and probe 9 is provided adjacent each of separate packages of bank notes 2 so that each is penetrated and injected with ink by a corresponding probe. However, multiple actuators and probes may be provided to penetrate each package if required in order to ensure thorough spoiling of the bank notes by ink. Two or more probes may be provided on a single actuator, and each actuator may be provided with its own separate ink reservoir and gas supply, or two or more actuators may share the same ink supply and the same gas supply.

The method of operation of each actuator 8 is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The actuator consists of a fixed piston rod 10 which is hollow and has a central space 11 which is connected to the ink reservoir 7 through a tube 12 at one end, and which is fitted with an external sleeve 13 as a sliding fit. The sleeve 13 has a closed end 14 so as to define an inner space 15 which communicates with the interior of the piston rod 10. The probe 9 is fitted to the exterior of the sleeve 13 so as to project forwards from the closed end of the sleeve towards the package of bank notes, and the end of the probe 9 is sharpened so as to facilitate penetration of a bag 3 containing the bank notes. The probe 9 takes the form of a pipe with a closed rear end 16 and an opening 17 in its side wall near the rear end, which communicates with an opening 18 through the side wall of the sleeve 13.

As shown in Figure 1, when the actuator 8 is in its inactive state, the sleeve 13 is fully retracted on the piston rod 10, and the opening 18 in the side wall of the sleeve 13 is closed by the side wall of the piston rod 10. When operation of the actuator 8 is triggered by the controller 5, the gas supply is connected to the reservoir 7 to pressurise the ink, which is then forced through the tube 12 and through the piston rod 10 to apply pressure to the end wall 14 of the sleeve 13. The fluid pressure causes the sleeve 13 and attached probe 9 to extend forwards from the piston rod 10 with a force determined by the pressure of the gas supply, which is sufficient to cause the sharpened end of the probe 9 to penetrate the bag 3. At the point of full extension corresponding to an operating position, the passage 18 in the side wall of the sleeve 13 is uncovered by the piston rod so that ink can then flow through the aperture 18 into the probe and along its length into the bag 3 under the pressure of the gas supply 6. The gas supply therefore provides the energy to both operate the actuator 8 and to inject ink through the probe 9 into the bag 3, and the design of the actuator is such as to separate the actuation and ink injection operations into successive controlled steps.

A burst disc (not shown) is provided at the outlet of the ink reservoir 7, and is intact before the dispensing system 4 is triggered. A pyrotechnic device is provided to connect the gas supply 6 to the reservoir 7 when required. This causes the pressure in the reservoir to rise to a point where it ruptures the burst disc, thereby allowing the ink to escape. Before it is burst, the burst disc serves to stop ink leaking from the reservoir.

The controller 5 is employed to trigger the dispensing system 4 as necessary. The controller 5 monitors the security status of one or more of the packages 3 and triggers the system 4 to dispense ink when security is compromised. The controller may monitor for example the environmental conditions inside the container 1, the status of a lid of the container or the integrity of the walls of the container. One or more conditions may be monitored. The controller 5 may include sensors (not shown) for the purpose of monitoring the integrity of or environment around the container. A power source such as a battery is typically provided within the container 1 to ensure continuous monitoring of security. The controller may also monitor the time to deliver the container or, using GPS, the position of the container.

Although the invention has been illustrated in use in a security container which is portable, it will be appreciated that the invention is equally applicable to non-portable installations such as safes and secure rooms in banks and shops.

Claims

A spoiling agent dispensing system for the protection of goods (2) within a sealed package (3), characterised in that the spoiling agent dispensing system (4) has a dispensing device (9) mounted on an actuator (8) adapted to move the dispensing device from a position in which the dispensing device does not penetrate the package to a position in which the dispensing device penetrates the package in the event that it is desired to admit a spoiling agent and to dispense a spoiling agent into the package so as to spoil the goods.
A spoiling agent dispensing system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the dispensing device (9) is hollow to allow the spoiling agent to flow through the device so as to spoil the goods (2).
A spoiling agent dispensing system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the actuator (8) is actuated by pressurised spoiling agent, the dispensing device (9) is hollow, and the spoiling agent is delivered via the dispensing device after the actuator has moved the dispensing device to an operating position.
A spoiling agent dispensing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an end of the dispensing device (9) is sharpened so as to facilitate penetration of the sealed package (3).
A spoiling agent dispensing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spoiling agent is stored within a reservoir (7).
A spoiling agent dispensing system as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that in order to dispense the spoiling agent, the reservoir (7) is pressurised so as to force the spoiling agent from the reservoir.
A spoiling agent dispensing system as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the reservoir (7) is pressurised by connecting a supply of pressurised gas (6) to the reservoir.
A spoiling agent dispensing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spoiling agent dispensing system (4) further includes a controller (5) which monitors a security status of the sealed package (3), and if the security is compromised dispenses the spoiling agent so as to spoil the goods (2).
A spoiling agent dispensing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the dispensing system (4) further comprises at least one additional dispensing device (9) adapted to penetrate at least one further sealed package (3) containing further goods (2) and to dispense the spoiling agent so as to spoil the further goods.
A spoiling agent dispensing system for the protection of goods (2) within a plurality of sealed packages (3), characterised by comprising a plurality of spoiling agent dispensing systems (4) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.
A storage container (1) characterised by comprising a spoiling agent dispenser (4) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
A storage container as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the storage container (1) is a cash box.
A storage container as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the storage container (1) is used to store and/or transport the goods (2).
A method of protecting goods (2) within a sealed package (3), characterised by comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication that a security of the sealed package has been compromised;

moving a dispensing device mounted on an actuator (8) from a position where it does not penetrate the package to a position where it penetrates the package; and

dispensing a spoiling agent via the dispensing device so as to spoil the goods.
A method as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the dispensing device (9) is hollow, and when the security is compromised, the spoiling agent is forced into the actuator (8) which moves the dispensing device such that the device penetrates the package (3), and the spoiling agent flows from the actuator through an opening (18) in a wall (13) of the actuator and through the dispensing device, so as to spoil the goods (2).
A method as claimed in claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the indication is received from a controller (5) which monitors the security of the sealed package (3) using sensors around the package and/or on a container enclosing the package, and produces the indication when the sensors indicate that the security is compromised.