GB2246810A - Card operated lock for safe-deposit box - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a card operated lock. Preferably, the card operated lock is part of a double lock, which also comprises a conventional cylinder lock (2), the card operated lock comprising a fixed base (4) and a lockable slide cover 910). In the locked state the slide cover is retained in a locked position. In the case of the double lock, the cylinder lock (2) is then underneath the slide cover (10). Insertion of a specific key card (17) having holes matched with code pins (6) on the fixed base (4) mechanically releases engagement of the slide cover and allows it to be pushed downward against spring (7) and then reciprocated longitudinally, thus releasing the card operated lock and, in the case of the double lock, exposing the cylinder lock keyhole. The perforated card key may also have a coded magnetic stripe for use in a safe deposit box vault entry system. <IMAGE>

Description

CARD OPERATED LOCK FOR SAFE-DEPOSIT BOX The invention relates to a card operated lock. More particularly, the invention relates to a card type lockrelease device which uses an ID card as a key card. The invention also relates to a double lock and to several varieties of safe-deposit box for rental use.

The present invention is particularly applicable to a safe-deposit box unit of the kind installed in banks. The invention realizes particularly efficient and safe management.

Traditionally, the safe-deposit box system installed in banks comprises many safe-deposit box units piled up and arranged in a safe-deposit vault provided with a specific gateway by use contracts made with each individual customer.

For the door of each unit, a double lock is commonly used, provided with a customer lock releasable with a key possessed by an individual customer, and a bank lock releasable with a key managed by the responsible bank employee.

Such a double lock requires a high degree of cooperation and a complex procedure for both customer and bank.

Moreover, the bank requires at all times a person in charge of safe-deposit boxes. This provides the bank with a significant labour burden.

In an attempt to solve these problems, methods for central management of the lock-release procedure for bank locks by computers and such like have been developed recently. However, these new systems are built on the basis of an electrical system, and any electrical failure of a safe-deposit box unit could lead to the breakdown of the whole system, leading to a major problem.

As a solution to the above problems of the prior art, a mechanical lock-release method was adopted which can employ a double lock. By this method, even if one safe-deposit box unit fails, the failure is restricted to the one said safedeposit box unit without any other unit being influenced.

The difficulty of use on the bank side is also alleviated, and utilization systems for safe-deposit boxes used in such a way have been provided by the invention.

The invention provides a card operated lock comprising.

a fixed base having an upper face and two sides, said upper face having a plurality of lock pins standing therein and a resilient body located thereon, said sides each having a first groove running longitudinally along each said side, said grooves having one or more stopping grooves extending upwards of said first grooves, said sides each also having at least one engagement recess; a slide component comprising an upper plate and two side plates, said upper plate being located over said upper face of the fixed base, said upper plate having on its lower face one or more longitudinal grooves adapted to receive said lock pins, said side plates each possessing one or more flanges adapted to be retained by said first grooves or said stopping grooves of said fixed base, and each possessing at least one angular resilient spring adapted to engage with said engagement recesses;; a key card insertable between said fixed base and said slide component, said key card having sufficient width to compress said angular resilient spring and release its engagement with the engagement recesses, said card also having code holes pierced in positions such that in use each of said plurality of lock pins passes through one of said code holes, wherein insertion of said key card enables a user to push down said slide component against said resilient body and whereby said slide component can be reciprocated between a first, locked position and a second, open position.

The invention provides a card operated lock composed of: Al) a cover lock comprising: All) a slide component having an approximate U-shape in section and comprising longitudinally continuing opposed side plates and an upper plate, wherein, a) stopping pieces are provided protrudingly at the inside edge portions of these both side plates, b) one or more concave grooves are formed in the longitudinal direction inside the upper plate, c) angularly curved resilient springs protruding inwardly are provided at the upper portions of both side plates, and A12) a fixed base being a block always engaging with said slide component and having upper face and a pair of opposed side faces, wherein, e) a resilient body always pushing said slide component upward is provided on said upper face, f) stopping grooves stopping the longitudinal reciprocating movement of slide component by engaging with said stopping pieces of slide component when the slide component is pushed up by said resilient body are provided at the upper portions of a pair of said opposed side faces, g) slide grooves permitting the longitudinal reciprocating movement of slide component by disengagement with said stopping pieces when the slide component is pushed down against said resilient body are provided at the lower portions of a pair of said opposed side faces, h) fixed number of pins are stood at the fixed longitudinal positions on said upper face in opposition to the positions of concave grooves inside the upper plate of slide component, and i) edge portions to engage with inside protruding portions of said angle resilient springs are provided at the edges on the opposed side faces of said upper face for stopping further also the downward movement of slide component in the state of the reciprocating movement of said slide component having stopped, and A3) a key card having a width capable of pushing the inside protruding portions of angle resilient springs on both side outward and releasing the engagement with said edge portions by inserting it into a clearance between inside lower face of upper plate of said slide component and pins and uppermost face of resilient body on said fixed base from the opposite side to the side formed said drawing and inserting lock piece and being provided with pierced code holes to loosely insert said pins at the same positions as the opposed positions of pins on the upper face of said fixed base.

The invention also provides a double lock comprising a card operated lock as described above and a cylinder lock, the keyhole of which is located such that the keyhole is beneath the slide cover when the card operated lock is locked and such that when the card operated lock is released the slide cover may be reciprocated to expose the keyhole.

In all cases, it is preferred that an ID card provided with a magnetic stripe along the longitudinal direction is used as a key card.

Moreover, the invention provides a safe-deposit box system composed of a double lock as described above, a safedeposit box unit equipped therewith, a safe-deposit vault equipped with a plurality of safe-deposit box units, a vaultentering reader and vault-leaving reader.

The invention provides another safe-deposit box system composed of a double lock as described above, a safe-deposit unit provided with said double lock, a safe-deposit vault equipped with a plurality of these safe-deposit box units,-an ID card for the user, a key card issuer/collector for providing key cards for said double lock and a vault-entering reader.

The invention provides yet another safe-deposit box system in which an anteroom is provided in front of the safedeposit vault, a safe-deposit vault card reader and an anteroom card reader are installed, and either a key card with magnetic stripe and pierced with said card holes is used, or a magnetic card without code holes is used.

Specific embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 (A) and (B) show the fixed base of an embodiment of a double lock according to the invention, wherein (A) is a plan and (B) is a side view, Fig. 2 (A), (B) and (C) show the slide cover of an embodiment of a double lock, wherein (A) is a plan, (B) is a side cross section and (C) is a front view.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the locked double lock, Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a key card with a magnetic stripe, Fig. 5 (A) and (B) show the state of the cover lock being released, wherein (A) is a plan and (B) is a side view, Fig. 6 (A) and (B) show a card type lock-release device according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein (A) is a plan and (B) is a side view, Fig. 7 is an illustration of one example of a safe deposit box system according to the invention, Fig. 8 is an illustration of one example of another safe-deposit box system according to the invention.

Fig. 9 is an illustration of an example of the safedeposit box system according to the invention with an anteroom.

The invention is described by means of the following examples.

Example 1 As an example of a double lock according to the invention, a double lock is described which comprises a cylinder lock for use by the customer and a cover lock with a slide cover which can open and shut by operation with a key card.

As shown in Fig. 1 (A) and (B), a fixed base (4) having at one end the keyhole of a cylinder lock (2), and at the other end an operating section (3) for opening and shutting a slide cover described below, was mounted to each door (1) of a safe-deposit box unit.

On the upper face of the operating section, lock pin standing holes (5) were provided longitudinally in two rows of eight, lock pins (6) were stood in the same height at the positions of standing holes (5) as shown by block circles in the diagram, and a lock pin protect cover (9) having pierced holes (8) with a larger diameter than the outer diameter of lock pin (6) was located over the position of the standing holes (5) by means of a floating spring (7), being a resilient body provided on the upper face of the operating section (3). This floating spring (7) always pushes the slide cover (10), which is described below, upward to keep it in conjunction with the protect cover (9).

As shown in Fig. 2, said slide cover (10) is approximately U-shaped in section and continues in the longitudinal direction, wherein the opened face is directed downward, the inside lower face of top plate (11), being a ceiling face thereof, is contacted with said protect cover (9), and stopping pieces (13) which protrude inside are provided at the lower end of both side plates (12). It is mounted to said fixed base (4) so that the slide cover encircles the upper portion of said fixed base (4).

Upon mounting the slide cover (10), the structure is as follows: since the slide cover (10) is always pushed upward by the floating spring (7), when the stopping pieces (13) of said slide cover (10) are positioned in stopping grooves (14) at the upper portions of side faces of fixed base (4), said stopping pieces (13) are engaged by this insertion in said stopping grooves (14). Hence, the slide cover (10) becomes impossible to move either further upward or longitudinally.

In addition, angularly curved resilient springs (15) are mounted to protrude inside the upper portions of both side plates (12) of slide cover (10). The lower end of the protruding portions of said resilient springs (15) are engaged with both side edges of the upper face of fixed base (4), whereby the downward movement of slide cover (10) is also stopped.

Moreover, on the lower face of the inside of upper plate (11) of slide cover (10), two concave grooves (16) are formed longitudinally so as to oppose each row of lock pin standing holes (5) on said fixed base (4) when said slide cover (10) is mounted in the fixed base (4). These concave grooves (16) can absorb the length of lock pins (6) protruding from the protect cover (9) so the slide cover (10) is able to be moved downward until the stopping pieces (13) of the slide cover (10) disengage with the stopping grooves (14) of the fixed base (4) when the slide cover (10) is pushed downward against the elastic force of floating spring (7). This can be done when the engagement of protruding portions of curved resilient springs (15) of said slide cover (10) with edge portions of fixed base (4) is released as described below.

When pushing the slide cover (10) downward to move it, the stopping pieces (13) disengage from the stopping grooves (14) and move into slide grooves (26) formed in connection to the stopping grooves (14) at the lower part of the side faces of the fixed base (4), whereby said slide cover (10) may move in the longitudinal direction.

In the cover constituted as above, when the curved resilient springs (15) of slide cover (10) are engaged with the edge portions of fixed base (4) as described above, then the longitudinal reciprocating movement of slide cover (10) is prevented, and the upper space of the keyhole of the cylinder lock (2) is covered with one end of the slide cover (10) as shown in Fig. 3, so that the cylinder lock cannot be used and the safe-deposit box unit is kept in the locked state.

For releasing the engagement of the curved resilient springs (15) of the slide cover (10) with the edge portions of fixed base (4), a key card (17) as shown in Fig. 4 may be inserted into a clearance between the slide cover (10) and the protect cover (9) above the fixed base (4) from opposite side to the cylinder lock in the longitudinal direction. The width of the key card (17) is sufficient to push the curved resilient springs (15) outward sufficiently for them not to engage with the edge portions on the upper face of the fixed base (4). However, it is impossible to release the engagement of the stopping pieces (13) of the slide cover (10) with the stopping grooves (14) of fixed base (4) merely by inserting a simple plate-shaped object. Even if the slide cover (10) is urged downward towards release, the lock pins (6) come into contact with the lower face of key card (17) to prevent the downward movement of slide cover (10).

Accordingly, code holes are provided at specific positions of key card (17) for every safe-deposit box unit to provide a card lock.

One tip of key card (17) is positioned in contact with the stopper (18) on the cylinder lock (2) side of the fixed base (4). Though the key card (17), code holes (19) to allow release are pierced at all positions corresponding to the standing positions of the lock pins (6). Hence the slide cover (10) can only be pressed downward when a key card (17), provided with said code holes (19) pierced at positions consistent with the positions of lock pins (6) arranged for the specific safe-deposit box unit, is inserted. If the slide cover (10) is pushed down when in this state, the engagement of said stopping pieces (13) with stopping grooves is released to move the stopping pieces (13) from stopping grooves (14) to slide grooves (26). Thereby it becomes possible to move the slide cover (10) in the longitudinal direction away from the cylinder lock.Movement towards the cylinder lock is prevented by end stopper (27). As a result, as shown in Fig. 5 (A) and (B), the keyhole of cylinder lock (2) appears, to make the releasing procedure of cylinder lock (2) possible.

For locking this double lock, the door of the safedeposit box unit is shut and the cylinder lock is closed. At this point, as the lock has previously been relaxed as described above, the stopping pieces (13) are retained in the slide grooves (26) at the lower portions of the slide faces of fixed base (4) and the slide cover (10) is freely reciprocable in the longitudinal direction. The slide cover (10) is then slid to the cylinder lock (2) side. The slide cover (10) is allowed to slide to the end of its travel.

When the stopping pieces (13) of slide cover (10) reach the positions of the stopping grooves (14), the slide cover (10) is lifted automatically by the force of floating spring (7) and said stopping pieces (13) are inserted into and again engaged with the stopping grooves (14). By this the engagement of code holes (19) with lock pins (6) of the fixed base (4) is released and it becomes possible to draw out the key card (17) from the cover lock, thus completing the locking of cover lock.

Numeral (20) in Fig. 1 indicates a tray detecting section, which works effectively as below for a safe-deposit box unit internally provided with a tray.

One end of a tray sensing lever (21) mounted to the inside of the door (1) of the safe-deposit box unit is a tray sensing end (24). This comes into contact with the tray when the door (1) is shut when the tray is accommodated in- the safe-deposit box unit and it is further pushed down by the tray so as to draw a tray lock pin (24), provided at the other end, inward against the spring force of a return coil spring (2 at the other end. This tray lock pin (24) protrudes through the door (1) and the fixed base (4) of the cover lock to engage with a metal hook (25) in the slide cover (10) when the cover lock is in the released state. For this reason, e'ren if one may try to lock this double lock without returning the tray into the safe-deposit box unit, the cover lock cannot be locked since the slide cover (10) cannot move slidingly.Hence, the engagement of code holes (19) of key card (17) with lock pins (6) also cannot be released so the key card (17) also cannot be drawn out.

Thus, use of such a tray detecting section, prevents the accidents such as failure to replace the tray.

In this example, a key card provided with a magnetic strip (Q) was used as shown in Fig. 4. This is because that, utilizing the magnetic card as an ID card of customer used so far, it is possible to provide code holes (19) in the region other than the emboss region (P) shown in Fig. 4.

Example 2 While a double lock consisting of a combination of a cover lock with a cylinder lock was illustrated in the previous example, the lock release device of the invention can also be employed in a lock without a cylinder lock, as below.

Fig. 6 (A) and (B) show a card type lock-release device, wherein the portion of a cover lock is mounted, for example, at the edge of a door (28). A slide component (101), a counterpart to slide cover (10) in the previous example, is provided with drawing and inserting lock piece (31), which lock piece (31) is inserted freely slidably into a concave hole (30) in a fixed component (29) such as a wall, being another component in opposition thereto to make locking and releasing possible.

According to this arrangement, the slide component (101) itself, that is, the cover lock itself, can be utilized as a slidable lock.

Example 3 An utilization system for safe-deposit boxes is illustrated in Fig. 7, cards (17) with magnetic stripes, as in Fig. 4 above, are used in this safe-deposit box system which comprises a safe-deposit vault (A), having a number of safe-deposit box units provided with double locks as in Example 1, a vault-entering reader (B) in the vicinity of the entrance door and a vault-leaving reader (C) in the vicinity of the exit door.

Information relating to a specific safe-deposit box unit corresponding to a specific customer, and the information relating to the customer, are encoded beforehand into the magnetic stripe of said key card (17) and code holes (19) are pierced beforehand at the positions consistent with the positions of lock pins (6) for that safe-deposit box unit.

To utilize the safe-deposit box system, this key card (17) is first inserted into the vault-entering reader (B).

This vault-entering reader (B) is on-line, is equipped with magnetic card reader, code hole reader, etc. as hardware, and handles the utilization history of that customer and the management for entering into the safe-deposit vault (A).

After the magnetic data of the key card is collated, the entrance door is opened. At the operating stage of this vault-entering reader (B), it is also possible to allow the customer to input the code number recorded beforehand in magnetic stripe by external keys as a way to identify that customer.

Once the key card (17) is passed by the vault-entering reader (B) the user enters into the safe-deposit vault (A) and opens the fixed safe-deposit box unit for use in the manner described above.

Thereafter, upon leaving the vault, said key card (17) is inserted into the vault-leaving reader (C) to read out the magnetic stripe and code hole records. The condition to open the vault-leaving door is that the readout is confirmed to be identical with the records read out by the vault-entering reader (B). The user then opens the vault-leaving door by door switch (D) to leave. The arrow lines in the diagram and numerals 1 though 5 indicate the order of movement of the customer.

In such an utilization system, the role of a conventional bank lock can be accomplished by the cover lock using a key card with magnetic stripe, thereby realizing the decreased labour burden for bank staff. The fully mechanical structure of the double lock makes failures fewer and, even if a failure should occur restoration is easy.

In this example, a safe-deposit vault is illustrated that has the entrance door and the exit door at different places. However, a vault constituted with one door serving for both entrance door and exit door can be utilized similarly.

Example 4 This example will be described with reference to Fig. 8.

An ID card or the like possessed by the customer is inserted into a vault-entering reader (B) installed at the entrance of the safe-deposit vault (A) to collate the data recorded in that card and then the entrance door is opened automatically.

After entry into the vault, the ID card is inserted into a key card issuer/collector (E). After identification of the customer by entry of the code number recorded in the host computer into the manual key of the key card issuer/collector (E), a pierced card is issued. The card has code holes (19) pierced at positions consistent to the positions of lock pins (6) of the safe-deposit box unit corresponding to that customer in a card of fixed size capable of insertion into the cover lock, piercing being performed by a piercing device in the key card issuer/collector (E) connected to the on-line host computer. Concurrently, said ID card is received and kept in the issuer/collector (E). The customer can then release the cover lock of that safe-deposit box unit with that pierced card for utilization.Thereafter, for leaving the vault, said used pierced card is returned to the pierced card issuer/collector (E). After the collector (E) has read out the code holes of the returned pierced card and confirmed them to be identical with those previously issued, the retained ID card is returned to that customer. The pierced card is cut by a cutter provided in the issuer/collector (E) to prevent incorrect utilization. Since the conditions for leaving the vault are thus enabled, the customer can leave the vault by operating the door switch (D) of the entrance door, which serves also for exit. If the door switch (D) for leaving the vault is operated before the receipt of ID card, the entrance door does not open. Hence receipt of the ID card cannot be forgotten.

Example 5 Examples of a safe-deposit box system of the invention with an anteroom will be illustrated with reference to Fig.

9.

A system using the magnetic card as shown in Fig. 4 is described. The card has prepierced code holes for releasing the double lock of an individual safe-deposit box unit.

In this case, since the gateway of the safe-deposit vault (A) is communicated to the anteroom (F), the user has to enter or leave the vault through the anteroom. In this anteroom (F), booths are installed, optionally usable when the user utilizes the safe-deposit box. Furthermore a camera (G) is installed for photographing the entering persons one by one, or for monitoring. If necessary a connection port is provided, through which the person in charge on the bank side may enter into the room.

The user inserts said magnetic card into an anteroom card reader (H) for entering into the anteroom (F) and he inputs his code number. If the input value is successfully checked with the host computer, said magnetic card is returned to automatically open the gateway door (I) of the anteroom or to open the electric lock of said door (I).

Monitored by the camera (G), the person in the anteroom then inserts said magnetic card into a safe-deposit vault card reader (J) placed at the gateway door of the safe-deposit vault (A) on the anteroom side. With said reader (J), the embossing of the magnetic card is recorded to check the person entering and the magnetic card is returned.

Thereafter, the user releases the safe-deposit box unit of the individual user using that magnetic card as a key card as described in Example 1, and then leaves the room by pushing the touch key for leaving the room provided inside the gateway door (I) of the anteroom (F) to open the gateway door (I).

Example 6 Another case can also be described with reference to Fig. 9. This is the case when the user himself possesses a magnetic card, but a card without code holes pierced for utilizing the safe-deposit box system.

First of all the magnetic card is inserted into the anteroom card reader (H) installed near the gateway door (I) of the anteroom (F). The magnetic record is checked with the host computer to automatically open the gateway door (I).

The user enters into the anteroom (F) with that magnetic card. He inserts said magnetic card into a safe-deposit vault card reader (J) located in front of the gateway of the safe-deposit vault and he inputs the code number. This safedeposit vault card reader (J) has the same functions as those of the key card issuer/collector (E) in Example 3. Said card reader (J) checks the code number, concurrently records the embossing of said magnetic card for checking the entering person, returns said magnetic card received in the main body of said card reader (J), and concurrently issues a pierced card having a size and pierced code holes capable of releasing the double lock of the said-deposit box unit corresponding ot that magnetic card. Thereafter, the user uses that pierced card as a key card as in said Example 1 and releases his own safe-deposit box unit for operation. After the completion of the operation, said pierced card is returned to said safe-deposit vault card reader, thereby the magnetic card kept is returned, while said pierced card abandoned. For leaving the anteroom (F), the gateway door (I) opens automatically by pushing the touch key to permit leaving of the room.

As described, in accordance with the invention, double locks so installed in number in a safe-deposit box system have the advantage that they operate completely mechanically causing fewer failures and, even if failure should occur there is no influence on other locks, unlike the case of the conventional electric lock. The safe-deposit box system using such a double lock also has the effect that customer management and the utilization of safe-deposit boxes is safe, sure and less labour-intensive.

Claims (10)

1. A card operated lock comprising.

a fixed base having an upper face and two sides, said upper face having a plurality of lock pins standing therein and a resilient body located thereon, said sides each having a first groove running longitudinally along each said side, said grooves having one or more stopping grooves extending upwards of said first grooves, said sides each also having at least one engagement recess; a slide component comprising an upper plate and two side plates, said upper plate being located over said upper face of the fixed base, said upper plate having on its lower face one or more longitudinal grooves adapted to receive said lock pins, said side plates each possessing one or more flanges adapted to be retained by said first grooves or said stopping grooves of said fixed base, and each possessing at least one angular resilient spring adapted to engage with said engagement recesses;; a key card insertable between said fixed base and said slide component, said key card having sufficient width to compress said angular resilient spring and release its engagement with the engagement recesses, said card also having code holes pierced in positions such that in use each of said plurality of lock pins passes through one of said code holes, wherein insertion of said key card enables a user to push down said slide component against said resilient body and whereby said slide component can be reciprocated between a first, locked position and a second, open position.

2. A card operated lock composed of: Al) a cover lock comprising: All) a slide component having an approximate U-shape in section and comprising longitudinally continuing opposed side plates and an upper plate, wherein, a) stopping pieces are provided protrudingly at the inside edge portions of these both side plates, b) one or more concave grooves are formed in the longitudinal direction inside the upper plate, c) angularly curved resilient springs protruding inwardly are provided at the upper portions of both side plates, and A12) a fixed base being a block always engaging with said slide component and having upper face and a pair of opposed side faces, wherein, e) a resilient body always pushing said slide component upward is provided on said upper face, f) stopping grooves stopping the longitudinal reciprocating movement of slide component by engaging with said stopping pieces of slide component when the slide component is pushed up by said resilient body are provided at the upper portions of a pair of said opposed side faces, g) slide grooves permitting the longitudinal reciprocating movement of slide component by disengagement with said stopping pieces when the slide component is pushed down against said resilient body are provided at the lower portions of a pair of said opposed side faces, h) fixed number of pins are stood at the fixed longitudinal positions on said upper face in opposition to the positions of concave grooves inside the upper plate of slide component, and i) edge portions to engage with inside protruding portions of said angle resilient springs are provided at the edges on the opposed side faces of said upper face for stopping further also the downward movement of slide component in the state of the reciprocating movement of said slide component having stopped, and A3) a key card having a width capable of pushing the inside protruding portions of angle resilient springs on both side outward and releasing the engagement with said edge portions by inserting it into a clearance between inside lower face of upper plate of said slide component and pins and uppermost face of resilient body on said fixed base from the opposite side to the side formed said drawing and inserting lock piece and being provided with pierced code holes to loosely insert said pins at the same positions as the opposed positions of pins on the upper face of said fixed base.

3. A card operated lock according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein an IC card provided with a magnetic stripe in the longitudinal direction is used as a key card.

4. A card operated lock accordingly to any preceding claim, wherein said slide component further comprise a lock piece to engage with another component, said lock piece formed by extending one end of the slide component in the longitudinal direction.

5. A double lock comprising a card operated lock as described in any of claims 1 to 3 and a cylinder lock, the keyhole of which is located such that the keyhole is beneath the slide cover when the card operated lock is locked and such that when the card operated lock is released the slide cover may be reciprocated to expose the keyhole.

6. A safe-deposit box, comprising a double lock as described in claim 5, wherein said fixed base is fixed to the door of the safe deposit box.

7. A safe-deposit box system comprising a safe-deposit box as described in claim 6; a safe-deposit vault provided with a plurality of said safe-deposit box units; a vault-entering reader at the entrance of safe-deposit vault which read out the magnetic stripe and code holes of said key card; and D2) a vault-leaving reader which at the exit of safe deposit vault reads out the magnetic stripe and code holes of said key card.

8. A safe-deposit box system comprising a safe-deposit box as described in claim 6; a safe-deposit vault provide with a plurality of said safe-deposit units; an ID card possessed by the user individual; a vault-entering reader to open the gateway door of the safe-deposit vault after inspecting the data recorded on the ID card; and a pierced card issuer/collector, which identifies the user on insertion of said ID card, issues a pierced card pierced with the code holes required to release the cover lock of the users specific safe-deposit box unit and concurrently receives and keeps said ID card, and which returns said ID card to the user when said pierced card issued is returned.

9. A safe-deposit box system with an anteroom, comprising a safe-deposit box as described in claim 6; a safe-deposit vault provided with a plurality of said safe-deposit box units; a safe-deposit vault card reader installed at the gateway section of said safe-deposit vault, which records the data embossed on said key card; an anteroom in communication with said safe-deposit vault; and an anteroom card reader installed outside the gateway of said anteroom, which checks the information stored in the magnetic stripe of said key card and a code number input externally and opens the gateway door of the anteroom on entry into said anteroom.

10. A safe-deposit box system with an anteroom, comprising a safe-deposit box as described in claim 6, a safe-deposit vault provided with a plurality of said safe-deposit box units; a magnetic card possessed by the user individual; a safe-deposit vault card reader installed at the gateway section of said safe-deposit box vault, which automatically pierces a card with code holes to release the cover lock of the specific safe-deposit box unit corresponding to the magnetic card on insertion of said magnetic card on entry into said safe-deposit vault, issues said pierced card, concurrently receives and keeps said magnetic card, and performs a check of a code number input externally and the record embossed on said magnetic card, and which returns the magnetic card to the user and abandons the pierced card when the pierced card is returned upon leaving the safe-deposit vault; an anteroom in communication with the gateway of said safe-deposit vault; and an anteroom card reader installed outside the gateway of said anteroom, which checks the information stored on said magnetic card and opens the gateway door of the anteroom on entry into said anteroom.