IES77151B2 - A transfer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for transferring valuables such as strongboxes 12 between a bank vault 14 or the like and a security vehicle 24. The apparatus comprises a first tube (32, Fig. 2a) housed in the vault 14 which is extendible into the vehicle 24 and a second tube 30 housed in the vehicle 24 which is extendible through or over the first tube (32, Fig. 2a) and into the vault 14. Conveyor means, preferably a hydraulic ram 45 housed in the vault 14, transports strong boxes 12 along the tubes (32, Fig. 2a) & 30 between the vault 14 and vehicle 24. Preferably the vault 14 is situated below ground, the vehicle 24 having a floor mounted door (27, Fig. 2a), openable only from the inside, through which the tubes (32, Fig. 2a) & 30 and consequently the strongboxes 12 pass. The underground vault 14 may have an access door (17, Fig. 2a) at ground level, both doors (17 & 27, Fig. 2a) can have electromagnetic locks (40, Fig. 2a) to secure them in both open and closed positions. Strongboxes 12 can be held within the second tube 30 by grippers (52 & 52', Fig. 4) while other strongboxes 12 are loaded into the second tube 30 from below by the ram 45.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring valuables from one location to another.

Considerable risk is involved in transferring valuables from one secure enclosure to another, for example from a bank vault or safe to a security van or visa versa. The risk to both security personnel and valuables is most likely to be exploited when the valuables are being transferred by the security personnel between a bank vault or safe and a van.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate the risks to valuables and security personnel by providing a transfer mechanism for valuable articles to and from secure enclosures.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for transferring valuables from a first location to a second location, the apparatus comprising: a primary chute housed in the first location and extendible into the second location; a secondary chute housed in the second location and extendible through or over the primary chute into the first location; and means for transferring valuables from the first location, through the central chute, into the secondary location.

Advantageously, the first location is a fixed chamber and the second location is a movable vehicle mounted chamber, the primary and secondary chutes communicating through - 2 £77151 co-operating doors in both the fixed and movable chambers.

Conveniently, the valuables are lifted from the chamber to the vehicle by means of a hydraulic ram located in the chamber and extendible and retractable through the secondary chute.

Advantageously, conveyor means are provided for transferring strongboxes from a bank vault to the hydraulic ram.

The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, one embodiment of a transfer apparatus according to the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic sectional side elevation of the transfer apparatus; Figures 2a and 2b are schematic sectional side elevations of the transfer mechanism in an inoperational mode and an operational mode, respectively; Figure 3 is a schematic sectional side elevation of a detail of the transfer mechanism; Figures 4a and 4b are sectional side elevation of a gripping arrangement for transferring a strongbox to an access port; and Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation of the transfer mechanism in use.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, a transfer apparatus for transporting valuables from one location to another is shown. A bank building houses a primary transfer arrangement 10 located below ground level GL for transporting strongboxes 12 from a vault 14 to a secondary transfer arrangement 20 comprising a security van 24. The primary transfer arrangement 10 further comprises a conveyor 42 for transporting the strongboxes 12 from the vault 14 of a bank to a chamber outside the vault but below ground level GL from where the boxes can be elevated into the security van located above ground level.

The security van has a door in its floor and is manoeuvred into a position so that the door is located over a larger door in the roof of the chamber. The door, when opened, defines an access port 16. Both doors can then be opened and secured so as to form a passage communicating between the van and chamber. A chute 32 located in the chamber is then raised so that it enters the van. Another chute 30 located in the van is lowered through the first chute 32 and into the chamber, both chutes passing through a fixed elevator shaft 34 and access port 16 of the chamber. A ram 45 at the delivery end of the conveyor 42 lifts the strongbox 12 into the chutes 30,32 where it is held by gripping clamps.

In a reverse procedure, the van 24 containing the strongboxes 12 is positioned over the access port 16 which is opened on instructions from an operator. The communication chute 30 is then lowered from the van floor 28 into the first chute 32 raised from the access port 16 to abut or penetrate the van floor and the strongboxes 12 are transferred from the van 24 into the elevator shaft chamber from where they are conveyed to the vault 14.

Referring to Figures 2a and 2b, the transfer mechanism is shown in its inoperational mode and operational mode respectively. A detail of Figure 2b is shown in Figure 3. The secondary transfer arrangement 20 comprises a security van 24 in which valuables are transportable from one location to another. The van 24 is provided with a floor 28 having an opening 26 with a hinged and lockable door 27. The communication chute 30 through which valuables are passed is stored within the van 24. At the access port 16 of the primary transfer arrangement 10, a hinged and lockable door 17 prevents access to the vault 14. A chute 32, complimentary to the communication chute 30, is stored below ground level GL and is housed within an elevator shaft 34. In the operational mode the access port 16 and the van floor opening 26 are opened and the respective doors 17,27 are pivotally moved and locked in their open positions. A support beam 37 is moved into position to support the access port door 17.

Electromagnetic locks 40 are used to lock the doors 17,27 in their open and closed positions and to fix the support beam 37 in its operational position as indicated in Figure 2b. The underground chute 32 is elevated to penetrate the opening 26 in the van floor 28 to receive the communication chute 30 is dropped from the van 24 into the elevator shaft 34. Valuables are then transferred between the vault 14 and the van 24.

A strongbox 12 lifted from the vault space 14 is fed onto one end of the conveyor 42 which feeds the strongbox 12 to a hydraulic elevator arrangement 44 comprising a ram 45 and a lifting plate 46. The strongbox 12 is then lifted by the elevator ram 45 to a point in the elevator shaft 34 where it is held by a pneumatic or hydraulic gripping arrangement 50. Referring to Figures 4a and 4b, each strongbox 12 to be used in the transfer mechanism is adaptable to be gripped by a pair of clamps 52 acting on the strongbox 12 from each side of the elevator shaft 34. The strongboxes 12 are provided with receptors 54 which are engaged by the clamps 52. A ram 56 is provided to advance and retract the clamps 52. The gripping arrangement 50 is constructed to allow three strongboxes to be transferred from the vault 14 to the security van 24. A first strongbox 12 is carried along the conveyor 42 and positioned on the lifting plate 46. The ram 45 is activated and the strongbox is raised into the elevator shaft 34. A first set of clamps 52 engage the receptors 54 on the strongbox 12 and position it within the communication chute 30. Similarly, as shown in Figure 5, a second strongbox 12' is gripped and positioned by a second set of clamps 54'. A third strongbox 12 is positioned on the lifting plate 46 so that when the ram 45 is activated all three strongboxes 12,12',12 are presented for transfer through the chute 30.

The transfer mechanism is adaptable so that the primary transfer arrangement is located above ground level within a building and the access port is provided on a wall of the building. The secondary transfer arrangement is accordingly adaptable so that a security vehicle is parked adjacent the access port and the strongboxes are conveyed through the wall of the security vehicle.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention.

MACLACHLAN & DONALDSON, Applicant's Agents, Merrion Square, DUBLIN 2.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS :

1. An apparatus for transferring valuables between a first location and a second location, the apparatus comprising: a primary chute housed in the first location and extendible into the second location; a secondary chute housed in the second location and extendible through or over the primary chute into the first location; and means for transferring valuables between the first location, through the chutes, and the second location.

2. An apparatus for transferring valuables according to claim 1, in which the first location is a fixed chamber and the second location is a movable vehicle mounted chamber, the primary and secondary chutes communicating through co-operating doors in both the fixed and movable chambers.

3. An apparatus for transferring valuables according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the means for transferring valuables between the two locations comprises a hydraulic ram located in the first location and extendible and retractable through the chutes.

4. An apparatus for transferring valuables according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the means for transferring valuables between the first and second locations includes a conveyor means adapted to convey strongboxes to and from a bank vault.

5. An apparatus for transferring valuables substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.