GB2376268A

GB2376268A - Cash drawer with a cash drop facility

Info

Publication number: GB2376268A
Application number: GB0210381A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hugh Burnett; Francis Brooks
Original assignee: Cash Bases Ltd
Current assignee: Cash Bases Ltd
Priority date: 2001-06-05
Filing date: 2002-05-07
Publication date: 2002-12-11
Also published as: GB0113688D0; GB0210381D0

Abstract

A cash storage unit comprising a housing (20) and a drawer (30), having a compartment (31), the drawer being movable within the housing between an open position (Figure 1a, b) and a closed position (Figure 2a, b), and a receiving compartment (40) located beneath the housing. In use, when the drawer is moved towards, or is in a closed position, the contents of the drawer compartment fall into the receiving compartment. Preferably the base (33) of the drawer compartment includes a rearwardly located aperture, which may be covered by a sliding or hinged flap. Such a cash drawer may be used in combination with a cash register.

Description

Cash Storage Unit The present invention relates to a cash storage unit for containing coins, bank notes, card transaction slips, coupons, etc. , and to a retail check-out system comprising a cash storage unit. The cash storage unit may be a stand-alone unit, or may form a module or a component part of a cash register or check-out system.

Conventional cash registers generally comprise a housing with a keypad and a display, and a cash drawer underneath. The cash drawer generally comprises a tray slidably mounted inside the register. When access to the cash drawer is required, the tray is propelled open towards the operator.

More recently, retail check-out systems have been developed, for example for supermarkets, which are modular in construction and comprise some or all of the following modules : input conveyor, output conveyor, bar code scanner, display (s), weighing scales, card swipe unit, printer and cash storage unit. The check-out will also normally include some form of computer interface, which may be a keyboard or possibly a computer terminal. The card swipe unit may be integral with the computer interface, e. g. as part of the keyboard.

Security is clearly an issue with cash storage units. Systems exist to increase the security of such units to prevent the theft of the contents. For example, it is known to employ a treasury box, usually situated adjacent the cash storage unit, into which the operator places any relatively high denomination bank notes, cheques or card transaction slips. However, one problem with this system is that the operator needs to feed the notes, etc., into the treasury box rather than into the cash storage unit, requiring a separate operation and therefore taking up additional time. Also, the treasury box may be relatively more difficult to access than the cash drawer.

In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a cash storage unit comprising a housing and a drawer, the drawer being movable between a closed position in which the drawer is located substantially within the housing and an open position in which the drawer extends or projects from the housing, wherein the drawer includes at least one compartment for storing cash, and the cash storage unit further includes a receiving compartment located beneath the housing, the receiving compartment being

in communication with the at least one drawer compartment when the drawer is in or is moving towards the closed position, such that, in use, any contents of the compartment will fall into the receiving compartment.

The housing is preferably provided with a base which is provided with an aperture through which the contents pass in use from the drawer compartment to the receiving compartment. Provided the housing base extends sufficiently far forwards, the drawer compartment may not itself require a base, the contents of the compartment being simply retained in the compartment by the walls thereof as the drawer moves backwards to its closed position. However, it is preferable that the drawer compartment is provided with a base, the base being movable between a closed position in which the contents are in use retained in the compartment, and an open position In which the contents are released into the receiving compartment.

The compartment base may comprise any suitable arrangement to achieve the stated function. For example, the base may fold, flap, hinge or slide to its open position. The base may comprise a trap door, a falling flap, or a sliding flap, for example. Preferably, the compartment base is biased towards the closed position, such as by means of a spring, for example.

In at least preferred embodiments, the movement of the base to the open position is preferably provided as the drawer moves to the closed position. In other words, the closing motion of the drawer is preferably converted into opening motion of the compartment base.

In some preferred embodiments, the base is slidable relative to the compartment, and is preferably slidable to the open position in the same direction as the opening of the drawer.

In other preferred embodiments, however, the base may, as stated above, hinge to its open position. A roller may be provided to facilitate the movement of the base as it hinges.

The base may be retained in its closed position by a catch which is released to allow the base to move to its open position. Preferably the catch is configured to retain the base closed when the drawer is removed.

In one embodiment the catch may comprise a pivot arm, one end of which underlies the drawer and the other end of which engages a flange on the housing as the drawer is closed to pivot the arm away from under the base to release the base. Preferably the catch is spring loaded such that when the drawer is opened once again the catch arm returns to its position under the base.

Preferably, the base opens to such an extent that the compartment essentially becomes bottomless, to avoid the chance of any of the contents of the compartment becoming caught on any ledges or the like which remain by virtue of the fact of the base not being completely retracted.

Preferably, means are provided on the compartment base for engaging the housing, such that on returning the drawer to the closed position, the means engages the housing and causes the compartment base to move to the open position. In an alternative embodiment, means may be provided on the housing for engaging with the base of the compartment.

In a preferred arrangement, engaging means are provided on both the housing and the compartment base, which preferably comprise projections or flanges which engage with one another as the drawer moves to its closed position.

The receiving compartment can comprise any suitable structure underneath the housing which functions to retain the cash or other items which are deposited therein from the drawer compartment.

The phrase"in communication with"when referring to the relationship between the receiving compartment and drawer compartment is intended to cover the situation where the receiving compartment is not necessarily directly underneath the drawer compartment when the contents are transferred, but for example is connected with the drawer compartment by a chute or other like communication passage. This, for example, may allow the receiving compartment to be located in a more accessible position relative to the drawer.

Preferably, the receiving compartment includes a removable container located inside the compartment and appropriately positioned to receive the contents from the drawer compartment. When necessary, the container may be removed from the receiving compartment, and taken away to safe storage.

The container in the receiving compartment may be provided with a lid, which may be lockable so that the contents can be removed securely.

Means may be provided in the receiving compartment for retaining the lid in an open position, until it is removed from the receiving compartment.

The receiving compartment may also be provided with a door, which may be locked in its closed position to secure the receiving container inside.

It may be desirable to have one or more drawer compartments so

arranged that their contents are automatically deposited in a receiving container by closing the drawer. Each compartment may have its own separate receiving container, or the receiving container may be communal.

Preferably, the or each compartment which is in communication with the receiving compartment (s) is located at or towards the rear of the drawer.

This enables the receiving compartment (s) to be located at the rear of the cash storage unit, away from the operator and in a more secure position.

If only one or some of the compartments of the cash drawer are configured to be in communication with a receiving compartment, preferably these compartments are designed to take on the appearance of the other, permanently-closed compartments (at least insofar as the base is concerned) when the base is closed, so that anyone seeing the cash drawer is not immediately alerted to the fact that there may be hidden compartments underneath. Preferably therefore, the base of the drawer compartment is made from the same material as that of the other, permanently-closed compartments.

Thus, at least in its preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a convenient arrangement for securely storing high-value or highdenomination notes or coins which are desirably removed from the normal cash drawer compartments in order to increase security. Essentially, the present invention provides an automatic treasury box system in which one or more drawer compartments are arranged so that their contents are automatically deposited in a receiving container by closing the drawer. The operator simply needs to place any items for secure storage in a particular compartment, and the items are then automatically removed from the cash drawer to the receiving compartment when the drawer is closed. Thus, the present invention avoids the need for the operator to feed any items into a separate treasury box spaced from the cash drawer. Access to the "treasury box"in the present invention is provided automatically via an apparently conventional cash drawer compartment.

As can be seen from the above, the efficiency of a transaction and of a check-out operation as a whole will be improved. Furthermore, the security of the cash storage unit is enhanced, as potential thieves will think that the compartment is simply empty, and will not be aware of the more secure compartment hidden towards the rear and underneath the cash storage unit.

The invention also extends to a cash register comprising a cash

storage unit as described above, and also to a retail check-out system comprising such cash storage unit. As previously mentioned, the retail check-out system may include one or more of the following modules: input conveyor, output conveyor, bar code scanner, display (s), weighing means, card swipe unit, computer terminal, keyboard, printer.

Two preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figs. 1 a and 1 b show a perspective view and a cross-sectional view respectively of a cash storage unit in accordance with the invention, with the drawer in an open position; Figs. 2a and 2b show a perspective view and a cross-sectional view respectively of the same cash storage unit, with the drawer in a closed position ; Fig. 3 shows a view from underneath with the compartment base being held in its open position against a pair or springs; Fig. 4 is a view of the same drawer from above, showing again the compartment with its base held in a open position; Figs 5a and 5b show, schematically, a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 shows a view of the arrangement of Figures 5a and 5b, m with certain parts in phantom; Figure 7 shows a view of the underside of the drawer of the second embodiment; and Figure 8 shows a view of the inside of the housing of the second embodiment.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4, a first embodiment of cash storage unit 10 comprises a housing 20 and a drawer 30 slidably mounted within the housing on runners shown generally as 21.

Drawer 30 is shown as having a compartment 31 having sloped sides 32 and a base 33. With reference to Figure 3, it can be seen that base 33 is substantially planar and slidable between a closed position (Fig. 1 b) and an open position (Fig. 2b, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4), the base being biased towards the closed position by means of two springs 34. The base 33 slides in runners 35.

Base 33 is also provided with a projection 36, which runs along the forward edge and depends downward therefrom.

Housing 20 includes a base 21, which is provided with an aperture 22 therein. Provided on the base 21 is an upward-pointing projection 23, which in use engages with downwardly-depending projection 36 (see Fig. 2b).

Beneath housing 20 is positioned a secure compartment 40 which essentially comprises a housing 41 which inci des a door 42 which ma be locked in its closed position by means of lock 43. Inside the housing 41 is a container 44 having a lid 45 and a lock 46. As can be seen from Figs. 1 b and 2b, housing 41 is provided with a projection 47 which serves to hold the lid 45 in its open position. Housing 41 is also provided with a chute section 48.

With reference to Figures 1 b and 2b, operation of the invention will now be described.

Beginning with Fig. 1 b, high-denomination note 50 is shown stored in compartment 31. Base 33 is at present in its closed position, but the drawer is being moved into the housing, into its closed position. When projection 36 makes contact with projection 23, movement of the base 33 relative to the housing 20 is arrested, and the base then begins to move relative to the drawer 30, towards its open position. Further movement of the drawer towards its closed position causes the opening compartment to align itself with the opening 22 in the base of the housing. Note 50 is then free to fall via chute 48 down into storage container 44 inside secure compartment 40.

As can be easily understood, the reverse takes place as the drawer is opened, and therefore an empty compartment having a normal, closed base is all that can be seen from above, when the drawer is open.

Turning now to Figures 5a to 8, a second embodiment of the invention IS described.

In this embodiment, the sliding base 33 of the drawer compartment 31 is replaced with a hinged base 60. The base 60 is attached to the drawer 30 by a hinge 62. A roller 64 is provided in the housing 20 at the upper end of the chute 48 adjacent the opening 22 to the to reduce friction between the base 60 and the housing base 21 as the base 33 hinges up and down. A catch 68 is provided for holding the base 60 in its closed position, this catch being released as the drawer 30 moves towards its closed position so allowing the base 60 to hinge downwardly and release the note 50 through the opening 22.

The catch 68 comprises a pivot arm 70 mounted on a pivot 72 projecting from the underside of the drawer 30. One end 74 of the arm 70

receives one end of a spring 76 whose other end is anchored to the drawer 30. The other end 78 of the arm 70 comprises two lugs 80 with downwardly turned edges for engaging under the base 60. The end 74 of the arm 70 also comprises a post 82 which engages a release flange 84 provided on the housing base 21 adjacent the aperture 22.

In use, the catch pivot arm 70 normally retains the base 60 closed when the drawer is open so that the drawer can be removed from the housing without danger of the base 60 opening (in Figure 6 the base is shown pivoted down, for explanatory purposes only-in the position shown in use, the base 60 will lie above the catch 68 and be retained thereby).

When the drawer 30 is moved towards its closed position, the catch 68 keeps the base 60 in its raised position until the post 82 engages the flange 84 which causes the pivot arm 70 to pivot, moving the lugs 80 from under the base 60 allowing it to drop. With continued movement of the drawer 30 the base 60 will then hinge down about the hinge 62 over the roller 64, allowing notes 50 to drop down the chute 48 into the storage container 44. When the drawer is opened once again, the base 60 is first rotated upwardly into its closed position by engagement with the roller 64, the post 82 then disengaging the flange 84 allowing the catch arm 70 to return to its rest position in which it lies under and retains the drawer 30.

It will be seen that the invention provides a versatile system for the safe storage of high denomination notes. The embodiments shown cater for notes which are placed in drawers either horizontally or vertically.

Claims

1. A cash storage unit comprising a housing and a drawer, the drawer being movable between a closed position in which the drawer is located substantially within the housing and an open position in which the drawer extends or projects from the housing, wherein the drawer includes at least one compartment for storing cash, and the cash storage unit further includes a receiving compartment located beneath the housing, the receiving compartment being in communication with the at least one drawer compartment when the drawer is in or is moving towards the closed position, such that, in use, any contents of the compartment will fall into the receiving compartment.

2. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing is provided with a base which is provided with an aperture through which the contents pass in use from the drawer compartment to the receiving compartment.

3. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the drawer compartment is provided with a base, the base being movable between a closed position in which the contents are in use retained in the compartment, and an open position in which the contents are released into the receiving compartment.

4 A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the compartment base folds, flaps, hinges or slides to its open position.

5. A cash storage unit as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the base comprises a trap door, a falling flap, or a sliding flap.

6. A cash storage unit as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5 wherein the compartment base is biased towards the closed position.

7. A cash storag 7. A cash storage unit as claimed in any of claims 3 to 6 wherein the movement of the compartment base to the open position is provided as the drawer moves to the closed position.

8. A cash storage unit as claimed in any of claims 3 to 7 wherein the compartment base is slidable relative to the compartment.

9. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 8 wherein the compartment base is slidable to the open position in the same direction as the opening of the drawer.

10. A cash storage unit as claimed in any of claims 3 to 7 wherein the the compartment base hinges to its open position.

11. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 10 wherein a roller is provided to facilitate the movement of the base as it hinges.

12. A cash storage unit as claimed in any of claims 3 to 11 wherein the compartment base is retained in its closed position by a catch which is released to allow the base to move to its open position.

13. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein the catch is configured to retain the base closed when the drawer is removed from the housing.

14. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the catch comprises a pivot arm, one end of which underlies the drawer and the other end of which engages a formation on the housing as the drawer is closed so as to pivot the arm away from under the base to release the base.

15. A cash storage unit as claimed in any of claims 3 to 14 wherein the base opens to such an extent that the compartment essentially becomes bottomless.

16. A cash storage unit as claimed in any of claims 3 to 15 wherein means are provided on the compartment base for engaging the housing, such that on returning the drawer to the closed position, the means engages the housing and causes the compartment base to move to the open position.

17. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 16 wherein means are

provided on the housing for engaging with the base of the compartment.

18 A cash storage unit as claimed in any of claims 16 or 17 wherein engaging means are provided on both the housing and the compartment base.

19. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 18 wherein said engaging means comprise projections or flanges which engage with one another as the drawer moves to its closed position.

20. A cash storage unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the receiving compartment includes a removable container located inside the compartment and appropriately positioned to receive the contents from the drawer compartment.

21. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 20 wherein the container in the receiving compartment is provided with a lid.

22. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 21 wherein said container is lockable.

23. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 21 or 22 wherein means are provided in the receiving compartment for retaining the lid in an open position, until it is removed from the receiving compartment.

24. A cash storage unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the receiving compartment is provided with a door.

25. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 24 wherein said door is lockable.

26. A cash storage unit as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a plurality of drawer compartments.

27. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 26 wherein each compartment has its own separate receiving container.

28. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 26, having a communal receiving container.

29. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 26 wherein only one or some of the compartments of the cash drawer are configured to be in communication with a receiving compartment, the bases of these compartments at least having the appearance of the bases of the other, permanently-closed compartments

30. A cash storage unit as claimed in claim 29 wherein the base of the drawer compartment (s) is made from the same material as that of the other, permanently-closed compartments.

31. A cash storage unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each compartment which is in communication with the receiving compartment (s) is located at or towards the rear of the drawer.

32. A cash register comprising a cash storage unit as claimed in any preceding claim.