GB2277771A - Cabinet locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

A cabinet has an internally latched closure (3, 4, 6) that is releasable by an electrically actuatable means (5) The cabinet has located therein a receiver (10) responsive to transmission of a coded signal to actuate the release means (5) and further has an aperture (9) arranged to receive a probe (23) for transmission of a coded remote control signal to the receiver (10). A radiation responsive element (12) of the receiver is located away from but in line of sight of the aperture (9) for receipt of a signal radiated from the probe (23). The aperture is preferably that used for insertion of coins in a dispensing apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

CABINET LOCKING DEVICE This invention concerns improvements in and relating to cabinet locking devices, and more especially but not exclusively to such devices for incorporation in vending machines.

Vending machines are generally provided with key operated locks of relatively high security appropriate to the value of the contents. Nevertheless the fact that such locks are visible to the user presents a target to the determined thief and coupled with the increasing tendency for such machines to be located in unattended locations this leads to vandal damage to the machines if not to actual loss.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved locking system for a cabinet. It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple and secure lockable cabinet construction.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a cabinet having an internally latched closure that is releasable by an electrically actuatable means, the cabinet having located therein a receiver responsive to transmission of a coded-signal to actuate said release means and further having an aperture arranged to receive a probe for transmission of a coded remote control signal to said receiver, a radiation responsive element of said receiver being located away from but in line of sight of said aperture for receipt of a signal radiated from a said probe.

Advantageously the cabinet is a cabinet of a vending machine and the said aperture of the cabinet is a coin receiving aperture for a coin freed vending mechanism housed in the cabinet. The cabinet may then be provided with a remote control transmitter having a probe adapted to fit the coin receiving aperture. The transmitter and receiver may be adapted to operate by means of in infra red link in a similar manner to known motor vehicle Such an arrangement is of particular advantage since the coin slot serves a dual purpose and the secondary function will not be apparent to an observer of the exterior of the cabinet who will not see any evidence of the means whereby the cabinet is locked. There is therefore no target presented to the vandal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of cabinet closure that is of increased security.

According to this aspect of the invention there is provided a cabinet having a generally rectangular base provided adjacent each of a plurality of sides thereof with at least one lug extending generally at right angles to the plane of the base, said lugs having recesses extending in a common direction along axes generally parallel to the plane of the base and further having a top in the form of a parallelepipedal box one open side of which is arranged to fit over said base, lateral walls of said box adjacent said open side having inwardly directed studs capable of engaging said recesses when the box is arranged over said base and moved along an axis parallel to the plane of the latter, and at least one of the said recesses being associated with a latch for retaining an inserted stud against withdrawal therefrom.Such an arrangement is particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for incorporation of a lock as referred to above and the latch may then be coupled to the electrical actuating means, e.g. a solenoid, for release of the top from the base.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a partially fragmentary exploded perspective view of a cabinet in accordance with the invention, shown in diagrammatic form.

Referring to the drawing, the cabinet of a coin feed vending machine comprises a rectangular base 1 formed of sheet metal, and comprising a rear wall 2 that is adapted to be secured to a wall by means not shown, the wall 2 having an upstanding rim for reinforcement.

Secured to the rim 2A are four projecting lugs 3 extending generally at right angles to the plane of the base wall 2 and each incorporating a slot or recess 4.

A solenoid 5 is linked by means not shown to a return spring loaded latching lever 6 that is pivoted to the base 1 about an axis 7 and is normally return spring loaded into the position shown in the drawing in which the end of the lever 6 closes the adjacent recess 4.

Mounted to the base wall 2 in a manner not shown is a housing 8 of a coin freed mechanism not illustrated in detail, this mechanism serving for the vending of products from the cabinet in a manner that does not form part of the present invention.

Suffice it to say that the housing 8 incorporates a coin receiving slot 9 leading to a coin chute of the coin freed mechanism. Mounted within the housing 8 is a control circuit 10 having transmitting and receiving diodes 11 and 12. The arrangement is such that the diodes 11 and 12 can be seen from the coin insertion slot 9 but are located out of the path of coins traversing the coin chute. The circuit 10 is connected to the solenoid 5 and the arrangement is such that when an appropriate coded signal is received by the circuit 10, it briefly actuates the solenoid 5 to cause the lever 6 to be pivoted in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in the drawing, in order to free the mouth of the adjacent slot 4.

The base 1 is arranged to support a cover 20 of the cabinet of a vending machine, which is in the form of a generally parallelepipedal box the rear of which is open at 21 so that the box can fit over the base 1. The vertical dimension of the box 20 is slightly greater than that of the base 1, so that it permits relative vertical sliding movement between the base 1 and the box 20 when the latter is positioned over the base 1 with its open mouth flush with the surface of a wall against which the base 1 is mounted.

The two opposite vertical walls of the box 20 as viewed in the drawing are provided with inwardly projecting studs or pegs 22 that are fixed integrally to the side walls of the box in order to register with the slots 4 in the lugs 3.

Thus, the box 20 can be secured in position against the base 1 by positioning it over the base with the studs 22 above the open slots 4. By moving the box 20 vertically downwards, the studs 22 can be inserted in the slots 4, the lower right hand stud 22 as viewed in the drawing moving the lever 6 anticlockwise against return spring loading until it is fully inserted in the corresponding slot 4, at which time the lever 6 returns in a clockwise direction to latch the stud 22 against removal.

It will thus be seen that there is formed a particularly strong connection betwen the base 1 and box shaped cover 20 that is secure against tampering and cannot be released without actuation of the solenoid 5.

Only the rear rim of the box 20 is illustrated in the drawing, but it will be appreciated that in a manner conventional in vending machines, the front wall of the box will incorporate a coin insertion slot arranged to register with the slot 9, as well as a compartment accessible to the user for receipt of vended merchandise and rejected coins. In a cabinet in accordance with the invention, apart from this compartment and the coin slot, no other part of the vending machine is accessible from the outside of the machine, and, in particular, there is no external means for release of the box 20 from the base 1. Accordingly, there is provided a probe 23 incorporating guides 24 for insertion in the coin slot and also incorporating infra red transmitting and receiving diodes 25 and 26. As is known, for example, in the case of remote controlled locks for automobiles, the body of the probe 23 incorporates a circuit for transmitting a coded signal via the diode 25 when the guides 24 are inserted in the coin slot. The circuit 24 is thus capable of responding to a transmitted signal in order to release the lever 6 for a brief period of time, during which the box 20 can be lifted from the base 1 by upward vertical movement.

It will thus be seen that an arrangement in accordance with the invention provides a simple and secure means for closing the cabinet of, for example, a vending machine, which closure has improved security against tampering.

It will be appreciated that the probe 23 and the circuit 10 can be arranged to communicate with one another via the transmitting and receiving diodes, so that the coded signal to be transmitted for unlocking of the cabinet can be derived, for example, by interrogating the circuit 10 in order to obtain a number which can be converted by means of an appropriate algorithm to derive the coded signal.

Conveniently, the number provided by the circuit 10 and from which the coded signal is derived may be the number of products that have been vended by the vending machine since the last time that it was opened. Thus, the probe 23 can serve the dual purpose of opening the cabinet and storing a vending record providing information for the operator of the machine. Such a vending record is useful in preventing fraudulent operation of the machine by a servicing operative. Moreover, since the probe 23 and circuit 10 may be constructed in such a manner that they are readily capable of being reprogrammed, the security code of the vending machine may readily be changed in the event of loss or theft of the probe 23, so that it is not necessary to modify the vending machine, for example by replacing a conventional lock, when a key is lost.

Claims (7)

1. A cabinet having an internally latched closure that is releasable by an electrically actuatable means, the cabinet having located therein a receiver responsive to transmission of a coded signal to actuate said release means and further having an aperture arranged to receive a probe for transmission of a coded remote control signal to said receiver, a radiation responsive element of said receiver being located away from but in line of sight of said aperture for receipt of a signal radiated from a said probe.

2. A cabinet according to claim 1, being a vending machine cabinet wherein the said aperture of the cabinet is a coin receiving aperture for a coin freed vending mechanism housed in the cabinet.

3. A cabinet according to claim 2, provided with a remote control transmitter having a probe adapted to fit the coin receiving aperture.

4. A cabinet according to claim 3, wherein the transmitter is an infra red transmitter and the receiver is responsive to infra red radiation.

5. A cabinet having a generally rectangular base provided adjacent each of a plurality of sides thereof with at least one lug extending generally at right angles to the plane of the base, said lugs having recesses extending in a common direction along axes generally parallel to the plane of the base and further having a top in the form of a parallelepipedal box one open side of which is arranged to fit over said base, lateral walls of said box adjacent said open side having inwardly directed studs capable of engaging said recesses when the box is arranged over said base and moved along an axis parallel tc the plane of the latter, and at least one of the said recesse being associated with a latch for retaining an inserted st against withdrawal therefrom.

6. A cabinet according to claim 5, in combination with any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said latch is coupled to said electrically actuatable means.

7. A cabinet substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.