EP2765560B1 - Self-testing cash box - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cashbox comprising a receiving area for receiving notes of value, a cancellation unit for irreversibly canceling the bank notes arranged in the receiving area, a sensor unit having at least one sensor for detecting manipulation attempts and a control unit. In an activated operating state, the control unit triggers the devaluation unit when the sensor unit detects a manipulation attempt. In a deactivated operating state, however, the control unit does not trigger the invalidation unit in the presence of a manipulation attempt.

A widely used method for securing banknotes taken in cash cassettes is to install in the cashbox a devaluation unit, in particular a so-called ink kit, with which the bank notes can be canceled during manipulation attempts. In this way, the cashbox is particularly protected when it is in an unsafe environment, for example, during transport between a cash center and the ATM, the automatic cash register system and / or the automatic cash deposit into which it is to be used. Upon triggering the ink kit recorded in the recording area of the cash box notes of value are irreversibly dyed with dye, so that they can not be brought into circulation by the potential thief and thus worthless for this.

The cash boxes are equipped with a variety of sensors, with the help of the presence of a manipulation attempt, ie the existence of an unauthorized access to the bank notes, to be determined. Detects at least one of these sensors such a manipulation attempt, the ink kit is triggered and the recorded notes are canceled. By triggering the ink kit is a considerable damage, since not only the notes themselves are devalued, but also the cashbox and possibly the environment in which the cashbox is triggered when triggered by the difficult to remove dye are countered. It is therefore particularly annoying when the ink kit is triggered, although there is no attempt at manipulation at all, for example because the cashbox is handled improperly by the person handling the cashbox or one of the manipulation sensors is defective and thus indicates a manipulation attempt, although in fact none exists.

From the documents EP 2 463 831 A2 and DE 10 2010 004 669 A1 In each case cash cassettes are known in which a plurality of sensors for detecting tampering attempts of the cashbox are provided. If any of these sensors detect a tampering attempt, an ink kit will be triggered if the cashbox is in an enabled state.

The document DE 10 2008 035 915 A1 describes a cashbox comprising a sensor via which unauthorized opening of the cash dispensing opening of the cashbox can be detected.

From the not pre-published German patent application 10 2011 053 443.1 For example, a cashbox is known that includes a plurality of sensors for detecting tampering attempts. Furthermore, the cashbox has a display over which individual operating conditions of the cashbox can be displayed.

It is the object of the invention to specify a cashbox and a method for activating a cashbox, in which the risk of unnecessarily triggering a debiting unit of the cashbox is minimized.

This object is achieved by a cash box having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 14. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the control unit checks the planned function of at least one sensor of the sensor unit before activation. Under activating, switching from the deactivated state to the activated operating state becomes Understood. This ensures that it can be detected if the sensor under test does not work as planned and thus an unnecessary false triggering of the ink cartridge can be prevented by a faulty signal of this sensor, for example, this sensor is not taken into account or generally no activation of the cashbox.

The cash box may in particular comprise a receiving compartment in which the recorded notes of value are accommodated with their front and back sides abutting one another, standing on their edges, in the form of a banknote stack. Alternatively, the cash box may also include a roll storage in which the recorded notes of value are stored wound up between two film strips. The devaluation unit is adapted in each case to the corresponding embodiment and configured such that the notes of value received in the receiving compartment or the notes of value wound on the roller storage can be canceled irreversibly.

In particular, a so-called ink kit comprising a dye reservoir, a gas pressure cartridge and an igniter is used as the devaluation unit. To trigger the gas pressure cartridge is opened by the detonator, so that escapes under high pressure in her gas escapes and the dye from the dye supply via a spray system flashed out, so that the notes are dyed with the dye. The detonator is especially in Formed a detonator, which can be controlled by the control unit of the cashbox.

It is advantageous if the sensor unit comprises a multiplicity of sensors and if the control unit checks the planned function of at least two of these sensors before activation. It is particularly advantageous if the control unit checks the planned function of all the sensors of the sensor unit, so that it is ensured before activating that all sensors function according to plan and thus there can be no false triggering due to a faulty sensor.

The sensor unit preferably comprises at least one acceleration sensor, at least one position sensor for determining the position of the cashbox and / or at least one moisture sensor. In addition, the cash box may include a shutter sensor, with the aid of which it can be detected whether a shutter of the cash box is closed or not. The shutter is used in particular for closing an opening of the cash box for the automatic filling and emptying of the cash box, as is done for example ATMs, automatic POS systems and automatic cash safes.

In addition, the sensor unit may include a cover sensor, with the aid of which it can be determined whether a lid of the cashbox is closed. The lid is used in particular for closing an upper opening of the Cashbox through which the notes of value can be manually removed and supplied and / or access to the inside of the cash box for maintenance is possible.

In addition, a battery sensor may be provided for determining the charge level of a battery of the cashbox. Likewise, a trigger sensor may be provided, with the aid of which it can be determined whether the trigger of the cancellation unit is correctly connected. Furthermore, an identification sensor can be provided, with the aid of which the identification of the cassette type of the cashbox can be checked. In particular, two types of cassettes are distinguished, namely cassettes with a roll storage and cassettes with a receiving compartment, in which the notes of value are taken up as value note stacks. In particular, the same print is used in the respective electronics, but for the control is important to determine what type of cartridge it is. This is done via a cable bridge, which is plugged into correspondingly different plugs on the print.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the state of charge of the battery is continuously determined with the aid of the battery sensor. The control unit compares the respectively determined measured values with a preset minimum limit. If the current state falls below this minimum limit, it is indicated by means of a display unit of the cash box of the operator that the state of charge of the battery has reached a critically low value and it is necessary to charge the battery and / or to replace it with another battery. When the battery is completely discharged, the invalidation unit is preferably automatically triggered so as to prevent the sensor system from being bypassed by waiting for a thief to deplete the battery and thus de-energize the sensors.

According to the invention, a desired signal value is stored in the control unit for each sensor of the sensor unit to be checked before activation, and to check the function of each sensor to be tested, the control unit respectively determines an actual value of this sensor and compares the determined actual signal value with the respective one target signal value. Depending on the result of this comparison, the control unit determines whether the corresponding sensor and thus the entire sensor unit is operating according to plan or whether there is an error.

It is particularly advantageous if the control unit determines the planned function of a sensor when the actual signal value of the sensor corresponds to the associated desired signal value of this sensor. Alternatively, the control unit can determine the planned function only if the actual signal value of a sensor deviates from the assigned desired signal value only within predetermined limits. This ensures that small fluctuations in the sensor signal, which may be due to environmental influences and do not necessarily mean a malfunction of the sensor must not be misinterpreted.

Additionally or alternatively, a desired signal range with an upper and a lower limit value can be stored in the control unit for each sensor to be checked before activation. To check the function of each sensor to be tested, the control unit determines an actual signal value of the respective sensor and compares this actual signal value with the respective desired signal range. The control unit determines the scheduled function when the actual signal value of the respective sensor lies in the respective assigned desired signal range. In an alternative embodiment, a desired signal value can also be stored for some sensors of the sensor unit and a desired signal range for other sensors.

It is particularly advantageous if the control unit only moves the cashbox from the deactivated to the activated operating state if, for all the sensors to be checked, the check has revealed that these sensors are operating according to plan. This ensures that there can be no false triggering of the devaluation unit due to a faulty sensors. Alternatively, it is also possible that the cash box is placed in the activated operating state despite a faulty sensor, but this sensor remains disabled, ie, that this sensor is not taken into account in the detection of tampering and thus due to the sensor signal to trigger the Devaluation unit can come.

In particular, the cash box has an output unit for outputting information, wherein the control unit activates this output unit in such a way that the output unit outputs information about the planned function of the sensor unit and / or information about the activation of the cashbox when the check of the sensors to be checked has revealed that all sensors work as planned. This ensures that the operator receives a response and thus can ensure that the self-examination of the cashbox was completed positive and this was put into the activated state.

It is advantageous if the control unit, if the check of at least one sensor shows that it does not work as planned, does not activate the sensor unit, so that false triggering due to faulty sensors can not occur. In this case, the control unit controls the output unit in particular such that it outputs an error message with information that at least one sensor is faulty.

The output unit can be designed in particular in the form of a display unit, for example a display. In this way, a simple output possibility of a variety of different information is given. Alternatively, a screen may be provided. Additionally or alternatively, any other form of signal may be transmitted via the cashbox itself and / or via a device, in the cashbox is inserted during filling and / or emptying and / or during maintenance, are issued. For example, an acknowledgment can be issued.

If the control unit has determined that at least one sensor is not functioning as planned, it preferably again checks the function of at least this previously determined non-scheduled sensor after a predetermined period of time after displaying the error message. Here, in particular, the same process steps are processed, as is done in a first-time review. This ensures that the operator has the opportunity, if possible, to remedy the error and thus still use the cashbox yet. In an alternative embodiment, the re-examination can take place only when a corresponding operation command of the person handling was entered.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the sensors to be tested are subdivided into a first group and at least one second group, wherein the first group comprises the sensors in which an error can possibly be remedied by an operator, and the second group comprises the sensors in which an error can only be remedied by maintenance of a service employee. This ensures that the operator can easily determine whether it makes sense that they first tried to fix the error or whether the cashbox without previous repair of a service employee can no longer be operated.

It is particularly advantageous that the control unit carries out the re-examination and a predetermined period of time only with sensors of the first group, since sensors of the second group do not make sense anyway because these errors can not be remedied by an operator anyway.

It is particularly advantageous if the display unit of the cashbox an operator is displayed, whether the error can be fixed by her or not. Moreover, it is advantageous if the control unit, if there is a fault of a sensor of the second group, basically does not activate the cashbox.

It is particularly advantageous if, in the activated operating state, the sensor unit is activated and the sensor unit is deactivated in the deactivated state. Alternatively, the sensor unit can also be activated in both operating states, wherein, however, in the deactivated operating state of the cashbox no evaluation of received sensor signals takes place so that, depending on the sensor signals determined, no triggering of the debiting unit takes place.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cashbox has a storage element, wherein the control unit stores the determined actual signal values and / or the comparison results in this storage element. The cashbox further has in particular a connector via which by attaching a complementary connector, a data transmission connection to the cashbox can be made. Via this data transmission connection, the data stored in the memory element can be read out so that a service employee can easily determine which sensor is faulty and thus can remedy the error quickly. The reading out of the stored data takes place, in particular, when the cashbox is inserted into a docking station of a cash center or another device. When inserting the cashbox in this device takes in particular an automatic production of the connector.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for activating a cash box located in a deactivated operating state in which, after the input of an activation command by an operator, a control unit of the cash box checks the planned function of at least one sensor for detecting manipulation attempts of a sensor unit of the cash box. The control unit of the cashbox switches the cashbox from the deactivated operating state to an activated operating state only if the check has revealed that all sensors of the sensor unit to be checked are functioning as planned. The deactivated operating state is in particular an operating state, in which also in the presence a tampering of the cashbox does not trigger a manipulation attempt, wherein the invalidation unit is triggered in the activated operating state, if a manipulation attempt is determined with the aid of the sensor unit.

The method described above can be developed with the features of the independent device claim and / or the features of the dependent claims or corresponding method features referenced on the independent devices.

Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following description, which explains the invention with reference to embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Geldkassette;

Figur 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Handhabungsprozesses der Geldkassette nach Figur 1;

Figur 3

eine schematische Darstellung der Anzeige eines Displays der Geldkassette nach Figur 1;

Figur 4

eine weitere Darstellung der Anzeige des Displays nach Figur 3; und

Figur 5

ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Aktivieren einer in einem deaktivierten Betriebszustand befindlichen Geldkassette.

Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of a cashbox;

FIG. 2

a schematic representation of a handling process of the cashbox after FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3

a schematic representation of the display of a display of the cashbox after FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4

another representation of the display of the display FIG. 3 ; and

FIG. 5

a flowchart of a method for activating a cash box located in a deactivated operating state.

In FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a cash box 10 is shown. The cash box 10 comprises a receiving area 12 in which notes of value can be received. Here, the receiving area 12 may be formed in the form of a receiving compartment, in which the notes of value standing on their edges with their front and / or back are added to each other fitting. Alternatively, a roller storage can be provided in which the notes of value between two film strips are arranged wound on a winding drum.

Furthermore, a devaluation unit 14 is provided in the cash box 10, by means of which the value note received in the receiving area 12 can be irreversibly canceled. The cancellation unit 14 is designed in particular in the form of a so-called ink kit. Such ink kits include a dye-filled dye container, a gas-pressure cartridge, and an electronically-triggered igniter. In particular, the detonator has a detonator which, when ignited, has a bolt through a rupture disk the gas pressure cartridge shoots through, so that the gas taken up in the gas pressure cartridge under high pressure penetrates into the dye container and sprays the dye out of it via a spraying system onto the bank notes. As a result, the recorded notes of value are irreversibly colored and thus can not be brought into circulation by the thief and are worthless for this.

In addition, a control unit 16 is provided, with the help of which, among other things, the devaluation unit 14 can be controlled, in particular triggered. The control unit 16 can trigger the cancellation unit 14, in particular, if the manipulation attempt was detected with the aid of a sensor unit 18. The sensor unit 18 comprises a multiplicity of different sensors 20, with the aid of which various security-relevant aspects of the cashbox 10 can be monitored and which serve to preferably avoid all potential manipulation attempts in which they are detected so that the cancellation unit 14 can be triggered and the banknotes inked can be. In addition, a memory element 22 is provided in which data can be stored by the control unit 16. A connector 24 arranged on the housing of the cash box 10 can be used to establish a data transfer connection between the cash box 10 and a device in which it is received, for example a docking station, an ATM, an automatic cash register system and / or an automatic cash deposit. Via this data transmission connection, the data stored in the memory element 22 can be read out and further control information is transmitted to the control unit 16.

In addition, a display 26 is provided on the cashbox 10, via which, as described in more detail below in connection with the activation and deactivation, information can be output to a person handling the cashbox 10. As an alternative to a display 26, any other suitable display unit can be used to output information. For example, a screen can be used.

As sensors 20 of the sensor unit 18, a large variety of different sensors 20 can be used. For example, an acceleration sensor can be used, with the aid of which accelerations of the cashbox 10 can be determined. In addition, moisture sensors can be used. Furthermore, in particular a position sensor can be used, with the aid of which the position of the cashbox relative to the horizontal can be determined.

In addition, a shutter sensor is provided in particular, with the help of which it is possible to monitor whether a shutter 30 of the cash box 10 is closed. An opening 32 can be closed by means of this shutter 30, by means of which the notes of value 12 received in the receiving area 12 can be taken out by machine when the cash box 10 has a corresponding device for handling notes of value is used, or can be supplied via the notes of value with open shutter 30.

In addition, the sensor unit 18 may comprise a cover sensor, with the aid of which it can be monitored whether a cover 34 of the cash box 10 is closed.

In addition, a battery sensor may be provided with the aid of which the state of charge of a battery 36 for supplying the cashbox 10 with electrical energy can be determined. In particular, the battery is a rechargeable battery 36, ie an accumulator.

Furthermore, an identification sensor can be provided, with the aid of which it can be determined that the cashbox 10 is a cashbox 10 with a storage compartment or a cashbox 10 with a roller storage. Furthermore, the sensor unit 18 in particular comprises a trigger sensor, with the aid of which it can be determined whether a trigger of the cancellation unit 14 is connected as planned.

In FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a transport process of the cashbox 10 is shown. For emptying the cashbox 10 and / or for filling the cashbox 10, this is in a docking station 100 of a Cashcenters 102 arranged. After the cashbox 10 has been filled on schedule with the bills, it is removed from the docking station 100 and fed, for example, a Geldautoamten 104 and pushed into a corresponding receptacle of this ATM 104. The transport between the cash center 102 and the cash machine 104 is in FIG. 2 symbolically indicated by the double arrow P1.

The cash box 10 may be operated during its operation in a so-called activated mode of operation and a so-called deactivated mode of operation, wherein the cash box 10, when received in the docking station 100 or in the cash machine 104, respectively in the deactivated operating state and during transport in the activated operating state is operated. The activated operating state is in FIG. 2 represented by the shaded from top left to bottom right portion of the transport path, the deactivated operating state by the hatched from bottom left to top right area. It can be seen here that the switching from the deactivated to the activated operating state already takes place before leaving the cash center or before the complete removal from the ATM so that the entire transport takes place reliably in the activated operating mode.

During the activated operating mode, the sensors 20 of the sensor unit 18 are activated and the control unit 16 triggers the invalidation unit 14 if at least one of the sensors 20 detects a tampering attempt.

In the deactivated operating state, however, the control unit 16 does not trigger the devaluation unit 14 in the presence of a manipulation attempt. For this purpose, z. B. the sensor unit 18 are disabled. Alternatively, the sensors 20 of the sensor unit 18 remain active, d. H. that they still provide measured values, which are not evaluated in the deactivated operating state.

In the deactivated operating mode, it is possible during the recording in the cash center 102 or the cash machine 104 that the shutter 30 and / or the cover 34 can be opened without the validation unit 14 being triggered. On the other hand, during transport, opening the lid 34 or shutter 30 would trigger, causing the notes to become colored and useless to a thief. Correspondingly, the other sensors 20 of the sensor unit 18 also serve to detect manipulation attempts during transport and thus to enable safe transport.

The operating mode in which the cash box 10 is currently operated in each case can be represented in particular by means of a display 28 of the display 26, as shown in FIGS FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown. The wrench symbol 40 indicates, for example, that maintenance of the cash box 10 is necessary. The off symbol 42 indicates that the invalidation unit 14 is deactivated and thus would not be triggered even if one of the sensors 20 detected a tampering attempt.

By the sensor unit 18, a high degree of security during transport of the cashbox 10 can be ensured. The problem, however, is that triggering 14 of validation unit 14 can occur even if the cashbox is operated in the activated mode of operation and if there is no manipulation attempt at all, for example if the cashbox 10 is handled improperly or one of the sensors 20 of the sensor unit 18 does not work on schedule and thus provides a signal that would normally suggest a tampering attempt, but is generated due to the sensor's faulty operation.

In FIG. 5 FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of a method for activating the cashbox 10, wherein the activation is understood as the switching from the deactivated operating state into the activated operating state.

When the process is started in step S10, the cash box 10 is in the deactivated operation mode (S12). After an activation command for switching the cash box from the deactivated to the activated operating mode or for activating has been given in step S14, the control unit 16 checks the planned function of the sensors 20 of the sensor unit 18 in step S18.

In particular, the activation command is entered manually by a person handling the cash box 10. Alternatively, the activation command can also be generated automatically when the cash box 10 is removed from the device 100, 104, in which it was previously recorded. This removal can be detected, for example, by loosening the existing connector 24 via the connector.

In the control unit 16 or the memory element 22, a desired signal value and / or a desired signal range are stored for each of the sensors 20 to be checked. For checking purposes, the control unit 16 determines in each case in particular of each sensor 20 to be checked an actual signal value and compares it with the desired signal value or the desired signal range. If the first signal value lies within the desired signal range or if the actual signal value corresponds to the desired signal value or if there is only a slight deviation within a predetermined limit, then it is assumed that the corresponding sensor 20 functions as planned.

In particular, all sensors 20 of the sensor unit 18 are checked in step S16. In an alternative embodiment, only a subset of the sensors 20 can be checked. It can also be checked in step S16 sensors 20 that are not needed during transport, ie not activated, or their signals be used in other operating modes for triggering the validation unit 16. Although there is no direct risk of false triggering during transport in such sensors 20, but their function is important for the entire course of the operation, so it may be useful to check their function.

In step S18, the control unit determines whether all the sensors 20 to be checked are functioning as scheduled. If this is the case, then the control unit 16 switches from the deactivated operating mode to the activated operating mode in step S20, so that triggering of the devaluation unit 14 would then take place when a manipulation attempt is detected by the sensor unit 18. Subsequently, the process is ended in step S22.

In a preferred embodiment, a message is additionally output to the operator in step S20, that the check has revealed that all sensors 20 are operating according to plan and the cashbox 10 has been correspondingly set to the activated operating mode. This can be done, for example, via an acknowledgment and / or via a display of the display unit 26.

If, on the other hand, it is determined in step S18 that at least one of the sensors 20 to be checked is not functioning as planned, an error message is output to the operator in step S24 and the cashbox 10 is left in the deactivated operating mode. Again, the error message for example, in the form of a receipt and / or a display via the display unit 26.

In a preferred embodiment, the actual signal values and / or the comparison results determined for checking are stored in the memory element 22 so that the stored data can be read out during maintenance of the cashbox 10, for example in the cash center 102, via the data transmission connection that can be established via the plug connector 24 , As a result, service employees can easily obtain an overview of the functionality of the cashbox 10 and, if necessary, rectify existing errors purposefully and quickly.

In particular, the various sensors 20 may be grouped, with a first group revealing the sensors 20 in which an erroneous function can be attributed to a user error, and in which the second group those sensors 20 are classified as having an erroneous function a system error is due. As a user error errors are understood here, which can be corrected by the user himself and after their rectification a renewed activation command and thus a retry activation can be useful. On the other hand, system errors are understood to mean errors in which there is most probably a defect in the corresponding sensor 20 which can not be easily remedied by the user.

The first group includes, in particular, the cover sensor, the shutter sensor, the battery sensor and the triggering sensor, the second group particularly including the identification sensor, the acceleration sensor, the moisture sensor and the position sensor. In the case of the cover sensor, it can be present as a user error, for example, that the cover 34 is still open when the activation command is input. Accordingly, it may be present as a user error in the shutter sensor that the shutter 30 is still open during activation. The cause of a faulty signal value of the battery sensor may be, for example, that the battery has only a low charge level and therefore must be replaced. A deviating signal value of the trigger sensor may be due, for example, to the fact that the trigger is not connected as planned and therefore has to be connected as planned by the user.

With the sensors assigned to the second group, if the actual signal value deviates from the desired signal range, it must be assumed that the sensor 20 itself or the wiring via which the sensor 20 is connected to the control unit 16 is defective, and thus Maintenance of the cashbox 10 is necessary.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

cashbox

12

reception area

14

devaluation unit

16

control unit

18

sensor unit

20

sensor

22

storage element

24

Connectors

26

display

28

display

30

shutter

32

opening

34

cover

40, 42

symbol

100

Docking station

102

Cash Center

104

ATM

P1

arrow

S10 to S24

step

Claims (14)

1. Cash box
   having a receiving area (12) for receiving banknotes,
   a voiding unit (14) for irreversibly voiding banknotes designed in the receiving area (12),
   a sensor unit (18) with at least one sensor (20) for detecting manipulation attempts, and
   a control unit (16) for controlling the voiding unit (14), wherein the control unit (16) is designed such that, in an activated operating state of the cash box, said control unit triggers the voiding unit (14) if the sensor unit (18) detects a manipulation attempt and, in a deactivated operating state of the cash box, said control unit does not trigger the voiding unit (14) in the event of a manipulation attempt,
   characterized in that the control unit (16) is designed such that, before the cash box is activated, the planned function of at least one sensor (20) of the sensor unit (18) is checked, and
   in that a setpoint signal value is stored in the control unit (16) for each sensor (20) to be checked before activation, and in that the control unit (16) is designed such that it calculates an actual signal value of the respective sensor (20) in order to check the function of each sensor (20) to be checked, and compares said calculated actual signal value with the respective setpoint signal value.
2. Cash box (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sensor unit (18) comprises a multiplicity of sensor (20) and in that the control unit (16) is designed such that it checks the planned function of at least two sensors (20), preferably of all of the sensors (20), of the sensor unit (18) before activation.
3. Cash box (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor unit (18) comprises at least one acceleration sensor, at least one position sensor, at least one moisture sensor, a shutter sensor for detecting whether a shutter (30) of the cash box (10) is closed, a lid sensor for detecting whether a lid (34) of the cash box (10) is closed, a battery sensor for calculating the state of charge of a battery (36) of the cash box (10), a trigger sensor for detecting whether a trigger of the voiding unit (14) is connected and/or a labelling sensor for calculating the labelling of the box type of the cash box (10).
4. Cash box (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (16) is designed such that it in each case determines the planned function of a sensor (20) if the actual signal value of said sensor (20) corresponds to the assigned setpoint signal value and/or if the actual signal value of said sensor (20) deviates from the assigned setpoint signal value only within predetermined limits.
5. Cash box (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a setpoint signal range with an upper and a lower limit value is stored in the control unit (16) for each sensor (20) to be checked before activation,
   in that the control unit (16) is designed such that it calculates an actual signal value of the respective sensor (20) in order to check the function of each sensor (20) to be checked, and compares said calculated actual signal value with the respective setpoint signal value, and in that the control unit (16) is designed such that it in each case determines the planned function of a sensor (20) if the actual signal value of said sensor (20) is in the assigned setpoint signal range.
6. Cash box (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (16) is designed such that it only transfers the cash box (10) from the deactivated operating state into the activated operating state if the result of the check of all of the sensors (20) to be checked is that said sensors are all functioning as planned.
7. Cash box (10) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the cash box (10) comprises an output unit (26) for outputting information, in particular a display, and in that the control unit (16) is designed such that it actuates the output unit (26) such that the output unit (26) outputs an item of information about the planned function of the sensor unit (18) and/or an item of information about the activation.
8. Cash box (10) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the control unit (16) is designed such that it does not activate the sensor unit (18) if the result of the check of at least one sensor (20) is that said sensor is not functioning as planned, and actuates the output unit (26) such that it outputs an error message with an item of information relating hereto.
9. Cash box (10) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the control unit (16) is designed such that it rechecks the function of at least the sensors (20) which were previously determined to be not functioning as planned after a predetermined interval after the error message was output.
10. Cash box (10) according to Claim 9, characterized in that the sensors (20) to be checked are divided into a first group and at least one second group, in that the first group comprises the sensors (20) in the case of which an error can possibly be remedied by an operator and the second group comprises the sensors (20) in the case of which an error can only be remedied by maintenance by a service employee, and in that the control unit (16) is designed such that it only performs the recheck after the predetermined interval in the case of sensors (20) in the first group.
11. Cash box (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor unit (18) is activated in the activated operating state and deactivated in the deactivated operating state.
12. Cash box (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cash box (10) comprises a memory element (22) and in that the control unit (16) is designed such that it stores the calculated actual signal values and/or the comparison results in the memory element (22).
13. Cash box (10) according to Claim 12, characterized in that the cash box (10) comprises a plug-in connector (24) and in that the data stored in the memory element (22) can be read by establishing a data transfer connection by plugging on a complementary plug-in connector.
14. Method for activating a cash box which is in a deactivated operating state,
    in which, after the input of an activation command by an operator, a control unit (16) of a cash box (10) checks the planned function of at least one sensor (20) for detecting manipulation attempts of a sensor unit (18) of the cash box (10),
    in which a setpoint signal value is stored in the control unit (16) for each of the sensors (20) to be checked before activation,
    in which the control unit (16) calculates an actual signal value of the respective sensor (20) in order to check the function of each sensor (20) to be checked, and compares said calculated actual signal value with the respective setpoint signal value, and
    in which the control unit (16) switches the cash box (10) over from the deactivated operating state into an activated operating state only if the result of the check is that all of the sensors (20) to be checked of the sensor unit (18) are functioning as planned.

Images