GB2468527A

GB2468527A - Apparatus for the storage or transport of valuable items

Info

Publication number: GB2468527A
Application number: GB0904304A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tony Westington; Nick Tripp
Original assignee: Spinnaker International Ltd
Current assignee: Secure Innovation Ltd
Priority date: 2009-03-12
Filing date: 2009-03-12
Publication date: 2010-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-12
Also published as: EP2406451A1; GB2468527B; GB0904304D0; WO2010103298A1

Abstract

Apparatus 10 for storing or transporting a valuable item 16, the apparatus comprising a security container 12 and a sealable bag 14 having a container 18 containing a degrading agent or a component of a degrading agent, which sealable bag can be received in the security container, wherein the apparatus comprises a degrading mechanism 20 which is configured to breach the container 18 of the sealable bag so as to release the degrading agent or component into the sealable bag. The degrading mechanism may dispense degrading agent or the first part of a multi-part degrading agent into the bag by means of a hollow needle into the bag and the bag may contain the second part of a multi - part degrading agent. The degrading mechanism may comprise a source of pressured gas and / or a pyrotechnic device. The sealable bag may be removable and resealable.

Description

I

A SECURITY APPARATUS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus for transporting or storing valuable items such as bank notes.

Background to the Invention

In the cash industry it is known to use sealable bags to hold cash or other valuable items in transit or in storage for additional security for their contents and to provide a tamper-evident seal which gives a clear indication of any unauthorised interference with the bag or its contents.

Often these bags are used in conjunction with a security container equipped with a degrading mechanism which is configured to dispense a degrading agent such as an indelible dye onto the contents of the container in the event of unauthorised interference with the container, so as to render the contents of the container valueless and unusable, as well as providing a visual indication that the contents have been involved in a theft or similar incident. Security containers with delivery systems which are designed to breach or penetrate a sealed bag to dispense a degrading agent onto the contents of the bag have been developed. One such security container is disclosed in the applicant's European patent EP1499787.

A difficulty with such security containers is that they require regular servicing and maintenance, as they contain a reservoir of a degrading agent which must be checked periodically for damage and refilled if necessary.

Two-part degrading agents such as two-part adhesives have been proposed for use in security containers to improve the spoiling effect on the contents of the container.

However, it is difficult to ensure effective degradation of the contents when a sealable bag is used to store the valuable item, as both parts must be dispensed separately into the bag and thoroughly mixed.

Summary of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for storing or transporting a valuable item, the apparatus comprising a security container and a sealable bag having a container containing a degrading agent or a component of a degrading agent, which sealable bag can be received in the security container, wherein the apparatus comprises a degrading mechanism which is configured to breach the container of the sealable bag so as to release the degrading agent or component into the sealable bag.

An advantage of the apparatus of the present invention is that service intervals are reduced in comparison to known devices as there is no reservoir of degrading agent in the security container itself.

The degrading mechanism may be configured to dispense a fluid into the container of the sealable bag through a substantially hollow needle to cause the degrading agent to leak into the sealable bag.

The degrading mechanism may comprise a reservoir for containing the fluid dispensed into the container of the sealable bag, which fluid may comprise a second component of a multi-part degrading agent, the container of the sealable bag containing a first component of the multi-part degrading agent.

The degrading mechanism may further comprise a source of pressurised gas such that on activation of the degrading mechanism pressure in the reservoir increases causing the second component to be dispensed through the needle.

In an alternative embodiment the degrading mechanism may comprise a pyrotechnic device.

The sealable bag may be provided with a further container, the container containing a first component of a multi-part degrading agent and the further container containing a second component of the multi-part degrading agent, the pyrotechnic device being configured to breach the containers on activation, to cause the first and second components of the multi-part degrading agent to leak into the sealable bag.

The or each container of the sealable bag may be removable.

The sealable bag is preferably re-sealable.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a sealable bag comprising a container for containing a degrading agent, the sealable bag being suitable for use in an apparatus according to the first aspect.

Brief Description of the Drawiigs

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, strictly by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention prior to the activation of the degrading mechanism; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 after activation of the degrading mechanism; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention; and Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a further alternative embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention.

Description of the Embodiments

Referring first to Figure 1, an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown generally at 10. The apparatus 10 comprises a security container 12 such as that manufactured and sold by the applicant under the trademark iBox�, a cassette for storing cash for distribution in an automated teller machine (ATM), or any other container for storing bank notes or other valuable items.

The apparatus 10 further comprises a sealable bag 14 for receiving an item 16 to be stored or transported in the security container 2. The sealable bag 14 may be of a flexible plastics material, and is preferably of the re-usable type which can be closed and sealed by a zip-style fastener, but may also be of the single-use type which can be closed and sealed using a self-adhesive strip or the like.

The sealable bag 14 is provided with a container 18 containing a degrading agent. In this example, the container 18 is a sealed bag or sachet made from a flexible plastics material, but it will be appreciated that the container may be made from any suitable material that can be pierced, penetrated or otherwise breached by a needle 22 of a degrading mechanism of the apparatus 10. The container 18 may be integral to or permanently attached to the sealable bag 14 or may be removable. For example, a pouch or pocket may be provided in the sealable bag 14 to receive the container 18.

The degrading mechanism 20 comprises a reservoir 24 containing a fluid degrading agent.

The needle 22, which is generally hollow, is mounted on a piston of a mechanical valve 26, which has a cylinder which is in fluid communication with the reservoir 24. The needle 22 has a bore which is in fluid communication with the mechanical valve 26 and which terminates in an outlet of the needle 22 such that on activation of the degrading mechanism, in the event of unauthonsed interference with the security container 12 for example, fluid from the reservoir 24 passes through the valve 26 and is dispensed through the outlet of the needle 22, as will be explained below, Suitable systems for detecting unauthorised interference with the security container 12 and activating the degrading mechanism 20 will be familiar to those skilled in the art, and thus will not be described in detail here.

The degrading mechanism 20 further comprises a canister 28 containing a pressurised gas such as carbon dioxide. An outlet of the canister communicates with the reservoir 24 by means of a valve 30, which in turn is controlled by an electrically operated actuator 32, such that on activation of the actuator 32 the valve 30 opens, permitting the pressurised gas from the canister 28 to enter the reservoir 24, thereby increasing the pressure within the reservoir 24 and causing the mechanical valve 26 to be activated.

The mechanical valve 26 may be of the type described in the applicant's European patent no. EP199787. Thus, when the degrading mechanism 20 is activated, the pressure within the reservoir 24 increases, filling the cylinder of the mechanical valve 26 with fluid degrading agent from the reservoir 24. The piston on which the needle 22 is mounted thus extends outwardly of the cylinder, causing the needle 22 to extend towards the bag 14, eventually piercing or breaching the bag 14 and the container 18, as is shown in Figure 2.

When the piston has reached the furthest limit of its extension pressurised fluid degrading agent from the cylinder 24 is dispensed from the outlet of the hollow needle into the container 18. This causes the fluid degrading agent from the reservoir 24 to mix with the fluid degrading agent contained in the container 1 8, and as the pressure increases in the container 18 the container 18 begins to leak, causing the mixture of the two fluid degrading agents to spread over the items 16 received in the bag 14, thereby degrading the items 16 to render them unusable. In some cases the pressure within the container 18 may rise to such an extent as to cause the container 18 to burst and spill the mixture of the two fluid degrading agents over the items 16. To increase the likelihood of this happening the container may be provided with zones of weakness such as sections where the material of the container 18 is scored or otherwise made thinner than elsewhere.

In this example the container 18 contained within the sealable bag 14 contains a first component of a two-part degrading agent, whilst the reservoir 24 of the degrading mechanism 20 contains a second component of the two-part degrading agent. For example, the first component may be an adhesive element of a two-part adhesive, whilst the second component may be a fixing element of the two-part adhesive. Thus, when the two parts of the adhesive degrading agent are mixed by the introduction of the fixing element into the container 18 of the sealable bag 18 an adhesive is produced which degrades the items 16 by causing them to become stuck together.

In an alternative embodiment, the container 18 may contain a first component of a two-part corrosive degrading agent, with a second component being stored in the reservoir 24. Thus, on activation of the degradation system 20 the corrosive agent may be formed. The corrosive degrading agent may be selected so that, when formed by mixing the contents of the container 1 8 and the reservoir 24, the corrosive degrading agent dissolves or otherwise degrades the container and thus leaks onto the items 16. Alternatively the corrosive degrading agent may simply leak onto the items 16 without dissolving or otherwise degrading the container 18, in the manner described above.

In a further alternative embodiment, the container 18 may contain a first component of a two-part dye and the reservoir may contain a second component of the two-part dye, such that on mixing of the two components a dye is formed which stains the items 16. In one example the container 18 may contain a soluble dye powder whilst the reservoir 24 contains a solvent such as water. However, other two-part dye formulations will be familiar to those skilled in the art.

Of course, other two-part degrading agents will be familiar to those skilled in the art, and any suitable two-part degrading agent may be used in the apparatus 10 of the present invention.

The apparatus 10 of the embodiments described above provides a reliable means of mixing the two components of a two-part degrading agent before application of the degrading agent to the items 16.

The embodiments described above use two-part degrading agents. However, in an alternative embodiment the container 18 may contain a complete degrading agent such as an indelible dye or ink or an adhesive. In this embodiment the reservoir 24 may contain only air, or may be omitted altogether, such that on activation of the degradation system 20 compressed gas from the canister 28 is injected into the container 18, causing the spoiling agent to leak out of the bag onto the items 16, either through an aperture made in the container 18 by the needle 22 or by increasing the pressure within the container 18 to the point where the container 18 bursts, spilling the degrading agent onto the items 16.

The embodiment described above has the advantage that servicing and maintenance of the security container 12 are reduced, as it is not necessary to check the reservoir 24, since the only degrading agent used is that contained in the container 18 of the sealable bag 14. Thus a security container may remain in service for prolonged periods of time before routine servicing and maintenance is required.

Although the degrading mechanism described above in relation to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 uses only a single needle 22, it will be apparent that a plurality of needles 22 may be provided to increase the number of times the container 1 8 is breached and therefore to increase the likelihood of successfully degrading the items 16 by causing the degrading agent to leak onto them. Moreover, as it is commonplace for a security container 12 to be used to store or transport a plurality of sealable bags 14 containing cash or other valuable items, a plurality of needles 22 may be provided at positions spaced along the length, width or depth of the security container 12 such that the containers 18 of each of the plurality of sealable bags 14 are breached in the event of unauthonsed interference with the security container 12.

Referring now to Figure 3, a further alternative embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 40. This embodiment has many elements in common with the embodiments previously described, and thus like elements have been given like reference numerals.

In this embodiment the degrading mechanism 20 is based around a pyrotechnic device 42, which is positioned in the security container 12 at a point close to the position of the container 18 of the sealable bag 14, when the sealable bag 14 is received in the security container 12. The degrading system has a trigger mechanism 44 which, on activation, causes the pyrotechnic device 42 to explode, thereby breaching the sealable bag 14 and the container 18 and causing the degrading agent contained in the container 18 to leak onto the items 16. It will be appreciated that this embodiment is suitable only for use with single component degrading agents.

A further alternative embodiment is illustrated in Figure 4. Again, many elements are shared with embodiments described above, so like elements have been assigned like reference numerals. In this embodiment two containers 46, 48 are provided in the sealable bag 14 in close proximity to one another, and each container 46, 48 contains one component of a two part degrading agent, such as a two part dye, adhesive or corrosive agent. On activation of the trigger mechanism 44 the pyrotechnic device 42 explodes, breaching both containers 46, 48 to cause the components of the two-part degrading agent to mix and leak onto the items 16.

In the exemplary embodiments described above the degrading mechanism 20 is provided inside a security container 12. However, it will be appreciated that the degrading mechanism 20 could be provided externally of the security container 12, for example in a rack used to store a plurality of such security container, as may be found in an ATM, provided that the degrading mechanism 20 is positioned in sufficiently close proximity to the container 18 (or containers 46, 48) of the sealable bag 14 and is able to breach or otherwise penetrate the container(s).

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus for storing or transporting a valuable item, the apparatus comprising a security container and a sealable bag having a container containing a degrading agent or a component of a degrading agent, which sealable bag can be received in the security container, wherein the apparatus comprises a degrading mechanism which is configured to breach the container of the sealable bag so as to release the degrading agent or component into the sealable bag.
2. Apparatus according to claim I wherein the degrading mechanism is configured to dispense a fluid into the container of the sealable bag through a substantially hollow needle to cause the degrading agent to leak or spill into the sealable bag.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the degrading mechanism comprises a reservoir for containing the fluid dispensed into the container of the sealable bag, which fluid comprises a second component of a multi-part degrading agent, the container of the sealable bag containing a first component of the multi-part degrading agent.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the degrading mechanism further comprises a source of pressurised gas such that on activation of the degrading mechanism pressure in the reservoir increases causing the second component to be dispensed through the needle.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the degrading mechanism comprises a pyrotechnic device.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the sealable bag is provided with a further container, the container containing a first component of a multi-part degrading agent and the further container containing a second component of the multi-part degrading agent, the pyrotechnic device being configured to breach the containers on activation, to cause the first and second components of the two-part degrading agent to leak into the sealable bag.
7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each container of the sealable bag is removable.
8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sealable bag is re-sealable.
9. A sealable bag comprising a container for containing a degrading agent, the sealable bag being suitable for use in an apparatus according to any on of claims 1 to 8.
10. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. A sealable bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.