GB2567843A

GB2567843A - A cash containing machine and a security kit for fitting into a cash containing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2567843A
Application number: GB1717624.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bayerl WILHELM
Original assignee: Linde GmbH
Current assignee: Linde GmbH
Priority date: 2017-10-26
Filing date: 2017-10-26
Publication date: 2019-05-01
Also published as: GB201717624D0

Abstract

A security kit for installing inside a cash machine. The kit having a cylinder 6 containing non-flammable gas such as carbon dioxide, flammable substance detector 9, 13 for detecting a flammable substance, e.g. gas such as Hydrogen and Propane, a controller 10 to release the non-flammable gas upon detection of a flammable substance. Also claimed is a cash machine having a flammable gas detector, a controller to determine presence of flammable gas above a threshold and carry out a security procedure such as disperse a non-flammable gas or raise a local or remote alarm, release a cash spoiling dye or activating a door lock of a room where the ATM is stood. Gas sensors may be placed at the top and bottom of the ATM housing which may include an overpressure valve 12.

Description

A CASH CONTAINING MACHINE AND A SECURITY KIT FOR FITTING INTO A CASH CONTAINING MACHINE

The present invention relates to a cash containing machine. The invention may be provided as part of the cash containing machine as a whole. Alternatively it may be provided as a kit which can be retro fitted into an existing cash containing machine.

The invention is primarily been designed to operate with a cash dispensing machine. In this case, the mechanism will be a mechanism for dispensing cash. However, the invention also has applications to dispensing machines, e.g. for ticket or other products in which case the store of cash will one which primarily receives cash inserted by a user which may also be configured to provide change to a user. The invention has applications to other machines which may contain cash such as an automatic cash depositing machine in a bank or gaming machines such as fruit machines and the like. The subsequent description will refer to a cash dispensing machine, it can be readily understood that the same principle is applied to all of the above types of cash containing machines.

Cash dispensing machines (ATMs) contain large sums of money and are frequently a target of criminals.

One way in which criminals attack such machines is to drill a hole in the user interface or outer shell of the ATM to access the internal space within the machine housing. They then inject a flammable gas or liquid through the drilled hole which they then ignite to cause an explosion which breaches the housing of the cash dispensing machine to allow access to the cash contained therein.

Manufacturers of cash dispensers are addressing this problem by changing the design of the machines such that they are harder to drill into, for example by creating long paths into the open space and using composite materials with hard fillers. They have also redesigned the interiors of the machines to absorb the explosive force within the internal space, for example by using internal baffles/or lining with absorbent materials/ and eliminating or shielding weak spots such as at any joint.

Currently the cost of adapting a cash dispensing machine in this way is at approximately €3000 per machine.

-2The present invention addresses this problem and aims to provide a much more cost effective way of protecting machines against an attack using an explosive gas.

According to the present invention there is provided a cash dispensing machine according to claim 1.

Rather than trying to protect a machine against penetration by a drill, or dealing with the consequences of the blast, the present invention provides a simple yet elegant solution which aims at a third way of protecting the machine, namely by preventing an explosive situation in the event that a flammable substance is injected into the interior space of the machine.

Once this is detected, the controller will cause the non-flammable gas to be dispensed into the interior space. The non-flammable substance will dilute and/or displace the air in the internal space to the extent that the oxygen level is reduced to below a level by which it will not readily ignite.

It is estimated that the cost of installing such a system would be approximately €1000 per machine which is around 1/3 of the cost of the existing modifications.

The internal space is not generally gas tight so that, as well as being diluted, the oxygen is also forced out of the internal space. As the non-flammable gas should be dispensed quickly in order to quickly move to a safe condition, the internal space in preferably provided with an over pressure valve configured to open at above a threshold pressure. This will avoid a dangerous build of pressure within the internal space. It may also be possible to have a gas tight internal space in which all of the venting is done by an over pressure valve.

Preferably the non-flammable gas is one which is heavier than oxygen. In this case, preferably, the outlet from the cylinder is positioned adjacent to a higher region of the internal space. All inert gases may be used. A preferred gas in this application is CCb.This satisfies all of the necessary criteria and is available economically. Alternatively the gas may be Ar/CO2or N2/CO2.

-3The opening mechanism of the cylinder may be a single operation mechanism which is opened once to dispense the entire content of the cylinder into the internal space without any further control. However, preferably, the opening mechanism is re-closable allowing the controller to shut off the supply of non-flammable gas once a safe condition is detected.

As well as releasing the non-flammable gas, the controller may also initiate a further antitheft operation. This may include setting off an alarm which may be audio or visual. It may also comprise alerting an operator or a security service provider to this situation. Alternatively it may be operable to close an access door if the cash dispensing machine is inside. It may additionally or alternatively be a dye release mechanism to dispense dye onto the cash.

This forms a second aspect of the present invention which may be defined, in a broader sense, as a cash dispensing machine according to claim 8. By detecting a flammable substance, a controller can then carry out one or more security operations to raise the alarm, trap the offenders or render the cash unusable. The features of the first aspect may also apply to this aspect.

As mentioned above, the present invention may provide a kit which is retrofitted into an existing cash machine. In this case, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a security kit according to claim 9. The features of the first aspect may also apply to this aspect.

An example of a cash dispensing machine and security kit in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic cross sectional view of a cash dispensing machine to which the security kit is fitted.

The cash dispensing machine comprises a housing 1 having a screen 2 to provide information to the user and a user interface in the form of a keyboard 3 via which the user interacts with the machine. The machine is provided with a supply 4 of cash and a mechanism 5 for conveying the cash to user interface when required. All of these represent conventional features of a cash dispensing machine and will not be described in greater detail here.

-4The modifications provided by the present invention are the provision of a pressurised cylinder 6 of CO2 which has a dip tube 7 and an outlet valve 8. A flammable substance detector 9 is provided towards the top of the housing 1. In the event that a person attempts to drill a hole into the housing 1 and inject a flammable substance, detectors 9 and/or 13 will detect this. The lower positioned detector 13 is for heavier as Air flammable gases (e.g. Propane) and the higher positioned detector 9 is for lighter as Air flammable gases (e.g. H2). This information is fed to a controller 10 which is coupled to the valve 8. In the event that an unusual level of flammable gas is detected, the controller 10 will operate the valve 8 thereby dispensing CO2 into the internal space 1 which will dilute or displace the oxygen such that the gas within the internal space adds a level of O2 (around 16% by volume or less) which it too low to be ignited.

It is intended that the cylinder 6 releases the CO2 quickly into the internal space. As a result of this, a dangerous pressure build up can occur if the internal space is not adequately vented. This overpressure is vented through an over pressure valve 12. In addition, a pressure sensor 11 can stop the gas release in case the over pressure valve 12 is blocked.

The controller 10, sensors 9, 13 and valve 8 are powered by a rechargeable battery which is recharged from the mains supply of the machine to ensure continuity of operation even in the event of a mains power interruption.

As well as or as an alternative to releasing CC>2,the detection of an abnormal level of flammable gas may trigger an additional security procedure such as alerting a security service 14 or setting off a local alarm 15 in the form of a visual or audio alarm, or activating a door lock 16 if the cash machine is indoors.

The present invention also extends to a security kit comprising the cylinder 6, valve 8, sensor 9, controller 10, pressure sensor 11, over pressure valve 12 and second sensor 13 which can be installed into an existing cash dispensing machine.

-5CLAIMS

Claims

1. A cash containing machine comprising a housing having an internal space containing a store of cash;

a user interface via which the cash is dispensed and/or inserted;

a mechanism for dispensing and/or inserting cash to/from the store via the user interface;

a cylinder containing a non-flammable gas, the cylinder having an automatically operable opening mechanism and an outlet communicating with the internal space;

a flammable substance detector to detect a flammable substance in the internal space; and a controller to determine the presence of a flammable substance from the detector and to operate the opening mechanism of the cylinder to release the gas into the internal space.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the internal space is provided with an over pressure valve configured to open at above a threshold pressure.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the non-flammable gas is one which is heavier than oxygen.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the non-flammable gas is CO2.

5. A machine according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the outlet from the cylinder is positioned adjacent to a higher region of the internal space.

6. A machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening mechanism is reclosable allowing the controller to shut off the supply of non-flammable gas once a safe condition is detected.

7. A machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller is also configured to initiate a further anti-theft operation.

8. A cash containing machine comprising a housing having an internal space containing a store of cash;

a user interface via which the cash is dispensed and/or inserted;

a mechanism for dispensing and/or inserting cash to/from the supply via the user interface;

a flammable gas detector to detect a flammable substance in the internal space; and a controller to determine the presence of a flammable substance from the detector and to carry out a security procedure in response to the detection of a flammable substance level within the internal space above a predetermined threshold.

9. A security kit for fitting into the internal space of a cash containing machine, the security kit comprising a cylinder containing a non-flammable gas, the cylinder having an automatically operable opening mechanism and an outlet arranged, in use, to communicate with an internal space of the cash containing machine;

a flammable substance detector to detect a flammable substance in the internal space; and a controller to determine the presence of a flammable substance from the detector and to operate the opening mechanism of the cylinder to release the non-flammable gas from the outlet.

Intellectual Property Office

Application No: GB1717624.9 Examiner: Ben Munns

Claims searched: 1-8 Date of search: 25 April 2018

Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17

Documents considered to be relevant:

Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance X 1-8 GB 2534177 A (SPINNAKER) see the entire document X 1-8 WO 2010/083564 Al (CHUBB FIRE SAFETY) see the entire document. X 1-8 AU 2009200395 Al (AS SADI) see the entire document X 1-8 DE 102007061243 Al (FORMAT TRESORBAU) see the entire document, detector 16, container 18 X 1-8 DE 102005034396 Al (LINDE) see the entire document, sensor 2, controller 3, cylinder 5 X 1-8 DE 202016003193 U1 (M-KONZEPT) see the entire document X 1-8 WO 2010/022432 Al (SEC ENG SYSTEMS) see the entire document

Categories:

X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and/or state of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of before the filing date of this invention. same category. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing dale of this application.

Field of Search:

Search of GB, EP, WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX :