ZA200706995B - Cash Acceptance Canister Carousel - Google Patents

Description

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Background to the invention : oo

This invention relates to a cash container holding facility and in particular to a cash container magazine or carousel. : ]

The typical cash in transit system makes use of a plurality of secure cash containers or boxes that are used to transport either or-both cash and transaction documents, including any document normally used in commerce to initiate, conclude or record a transaction. : Examples of such transaction documents include money, cheques, credit card vouchers, : oo deposit- and withdrawal vouchers or slips and printouts of electronic payment records and notwithstanding the use of the term “cash” in the term “cash container’, it will be clear that the cash containers used in cash-in-transit systems are intended for the conveyance of all : "transaction documents, including cash. For this reason, the cash container will be referred to generically, as a “secure document container” if generic reference is intended: - The cash containers used in conventional cash-in-transit systems are constituted by © SACom 003.doc | A : PFTB Ref: PC.4603.QUB Co secure boxes or containers with one or more compartments that are accessible via electronically controlled doors or hatches. Cash is deposited into one or more of the compartments in the cash container by means of dedicated cash acceptance terminals and removed by means of dedicated opening jigs located at one or more cash processing centres. SER

The cash container is normally protected by means of a dye mechanism that can be ) : activated (particularly when the integrity of the container is compromised) to release a document staining dye into the interior of the container, thereby to stain and mark the transaction documents within the container as documents that emanate from a compromised container.

The cash container is adapted to dock with one or more cash container holding facilities constituted, at one end of the transaction chain (the cash receiving end, normally a : retailer) by secure cash acceptance terminals and, at the other end of the transaction : chain (the cash processing end) by one or more cash processing centres.

The term “dock”, in this specification, will be used to refer to the actions of inserting and locating the cash container within a cash container holding facility, such as a cash. : acceptance terminal or cash processing centre opening jig and electronically interfacing the cash container with the cash container holding facility such that the cash container holding facility can be used to open the cash container automatically, to feed cash into the : cash container and to remove the contents of the container either automatically, which is preferred, or manually. The process of docking preferably makes use of bidirectional communication between the cash container and the cash container holding facility.

The cash acceptance terminals are essentially cash container docking stations located at a cash acceptance point, normally the premises of retailers or other organisations that - receive cash and need to have the cash transported to and from their premises. Such : : cash acceptance terminals are often mobile and mounted on castors. The cash acceptance terminal is provided with a feed chute through which the cash is fed into the oo cash acceptance terminal and from there into the cash container docked within the cash acceptance terminal. The document travel path within the cash acceptance terminal typically includes a note validator with a note reject facility, a card reader and a mechanism, such as a tag or identity card reader, to verify one or more of client, user-

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and operator identification. " When the cash container is filled to its operational capacity and the cash has to be moved from the cash acceptance point (the premises of the retailer or other organisation that receives cash and needs to have the cash transported to and from their premises), the container is un-docked from the cash acceptance terminal and transported, with the assistance of a cash in transit service provider, to a cash processing centre. :

The cash processing centre is typically constituted by a cash handling facility that : contains one or more secure container processing jigs each of which is either networked or provided with onboard or processing power interfaced with the cash centre reconciliation system. The emptying jigs are used to open the cash containers and empty - the . contents to allow the cash and transaction documents contained in the cash containers to be counted, reconciled and transferred into bulk document sorting and storage systems. . ’ At both ends of the process, that is when the cash container is docked with a cash : acceptance terminal or with a processing jig at the cash processing centre, a reciprocal : authentication procedure takes place to verify the component identities and the : : authorisation of the components to engage in the various processes permitted within the - system, such as opening the cash container, depositing cash into the cash container and - discharging cash from the cash container at the cash processing centre. This is done with the use of digital cryptographic techniques. :

The cash containers, ‘cash acceptance terminals and the processing jigs at cash processing centres are all provided with bidirectional communication means to enable data and cryptographic data communication between devices.

The applicant has filed a co-pending patent application under South African Patent

Application No. 2005/08213 which, in addition to the cash acceptance terminals and cash : oo processing centres described above, describes a cash container holding facility that includes one or more secure cash container holders or magazines that are adapted to dock, receive and securely house a plurality of cash containers. The cash container holders may be specifically adapted for use in different activity areas of the system. For : instance, one form of cash container holder described in this patent application is adapted

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“ Co : 5 for location at the premises of a merchant or other cash receiving point, the cash container holder being adapted to house full or partly filled cash ‘containers in a secure area accessible only to a cash in transit service provider.

In addition, South African Patent Application No. 2005/08213 describes a further form of cash container holder which is adapted for location in the vehicle of a cash in transit service provider, the cash container holder being adapted to house full or partly filled cash : containers in a secure area accessible only to specifically authorised persons, such as : supervisory personnel of a cash in transit operator or a cash processing centre.

Summary of the invention oo :

According to this invention, a secure document container magazine is provided which is adapted to house at least two secure document containers, the magazine being adapted : for location within a secure document container holding facility such that at least one of oo the secure document containers housed therein is positioned for docking with the holding facility, in use to permit opening of that secure document container and to permit filling or emptying of that secure document container by means of the secure document container holding facility.

The magazine of the invention will find application in any form of secure document container holding facility, including a cash acceptance terminal, a cash processing centre, : a secure area of a retailer's premises or a cash container holder located in the vehicle of : a cash in transit service provider. "In one embodiment of the invention, the magazine is adapted for use in a secure document container holding facility constituted by a cash acceptance terminal.

In this embodiment of the invention, the magazine may conveniently be configured as a carousel or circular rotating holder for two or more secure document containers.

The carousel is preferably adapted to be mounted rotatably within a secure holding facility. forming part of the cash acceptance terminal, such as a safe integral with the cash acceptance terminal, each secure document container housing being normally closed and . . SACom 003.doc ’ oo . PFTB Ref: PC.4603.QUB So the carousel being rotatable to locate and dock each secure document container, in turn, with the cash acceptance terminal in-feed mechanism for the acceptance, in the secure document container, of cash fed into the cash acceptance terminal in use.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the magazine is adapted for use in a secure document container holding facility located on or in a cash in‘transit vehicle. =

In this embodiment of the invention, the magazine may be configured as a carousel such as that described above.

Alternatively the magazine may be configured as container mover, such as a belt conveyor, adapted to move a plurality of secure document containers and to locate and dock each secure document container, in turn, with the cash acceptance terminal in-feed : mechanism for the acceptance, in the secure document container, of cash fed into the cash acceptance terminal in use.

The magazine may also be adapted to co-operate with one or more. internal escrow areas within the secure document container holding facility in which cash and banknotes in particular may be placed temporarily, in addition to or instead of placing the cash only into : the secure document container, either or both the secure document container holding facility and the magazine including means to recirculate the cash between escrow areas and one or more of the secure document containers located within the magazine.

In this embodiment of the invention, the magazine may conveniently be. adapted to sort : cash items fed into the secure document containers into different classes of cash items, such as banknotes of particular denominations or ATM-fit notes, and to locate each class of items in a different secure document container or in a specific location within a secure document container.

Brief Description of the drawing

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic isometric view of a cash acceptance terminal carousel according to the invention.

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Description of embodiments of the invention

The magazine or carousel of this invention will be described below with reference to a cash acceptance terminal. It will be appreciated that this is done purely for illustrative : purposes. oo Cash acceptance terminals are typically provided with a feed chute through which cash _ and other transaction documents are fed into the cash acceptance terminal and from there into a cash container docked within a secure holding facility within the cash acceptance terminal. The holding facility is accessible by way of an electronically openable door by means of which cash in transit personnel may gain access to un-dock and remove the cash container when the container is full and to replace the cash container with an empty container.

The cash acceptance terminal carousel 10 illustrated in the drawing is a circular, rotatable ~ magazine that comprises a top plate 12, a bottom plate 14 and a plurality of vertical wall plates 16. Between them, the wall plates 16 define a pair of vertically orientated housings 18 that are dimensioned to accept and house a pair of cash containers (not shown). The top plate 12 is formed with access openings 20 that allow restricted access to cash containers housed within the housings 18.

The carousel 10 is configured for use in a cash acceptance terminal 12 (not shown), where the carousel 10 will be rotatably mounted on a spindle or vertical axle 11 within a secure holding facility, such as a safe-like secure facility integral with the cash acceptance : terminal. In use, at least one of the cash containers located within at least one of the housings 18 will be docked with the cash acceptance terminal such that cash fed into the cash acceptance terminal by means of the cash in-feed chute thereof will be directed into the cash container in the housing 18 concerned.

This is similar to existing cash container arrangements with the exception that the use of the carousel 10 effectively doubles the capacity of the cash acceptance terminal.

When the first cash container docked with the cash acceptance terminal is filled to capacity, the cash acceptance terminal automatically un-docks the full cash container and rotates the carousel 10 to the point where the housing 18 of the empty cash container is "SACom 003.doc . : :

PFTB Ref: PC.4603.QUB positioned for docking with the cash acceptance terminal. Once the carousel 10 is in place, the cash acceptance terminal automatically docks with the empty cash container and starts loading that container. Only when the second container is full will the cash acceptance terminal require attention.

It will be appreciated that the exact configuration of the magazine or carousel 10 will depend on the application thereof and in some applications the magazine may be configured to house more than two secure document containers.

The magazine of the invention will find application in any form of secure document container holding facility, including a cash acceptance terminal, a cash processing centre, : a secure area of a retailer's premises or a cash container holder located in the vehicle of : a cash in transit service provider. oo : : To enhance the efficacy of the carousel 10, security measures may be built into the : carousel 10 and the secure holding facility within which it is housed.

For instance, the top plate 12 may include a deadlock mechanism including a pair of opposed locking formations (adapted for mounting in mounting holes 22) by means of which the carousel 10 may be locked in place.

To this end, the carousel may be locked in the docking position in the holding facility when the cash acceptance terminal is functioning normally. In this position, either or both the housings 18 will be accessible for the insertion or removal therefrom of the cash containers through the opened door or doors of the cash acceptance terminal.

However, if the cash acceptance terminal should be compromised in any way, the cash’ acceptance terminal programmable ‘logic will automatically rotate the carousel 10 and deadlock it in a position in which the access openings of the housings 18 are remote from the door or doors of the secure holding facility, thereby making it impossible to remove the cash containers from the housings 18 without the use of massive force.

In addition, the cash acceptance terminal programmable logic may be programmed to detonate a dye canister in either or both cash containers if any attempt should be made to : obtain unauthorised access to the cash containers or the housings 18. ’ SACom-003.doc : :

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Using the facilities provided by South African Patent Application No. 2005/08213, a plurality of locking and opening mechanisms can also be used to contro! the operation and security of the cash acceptance terminal and the carousel 10 forming part thereof.

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Claims (11)

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1. ‘A secure document container magazine which is adapted to house at least two : secure document containers, the magazine being adapted for location within a Co secure document: container holding facility such that at least one of the secure document containers housed therein is positioned for docking with the holding facility, in use to permit opening of that secure document container and to permit oo : filling or emptying of that secure document container by means of the secure document container holding facility.

2. A secure document container magazine according to claim 1 which is adapted for Co . use in a secure document container holding facility constituted by a cash processing centre.

3. A secure document container magazine according to claim 1 which is adapted for use in a secure document container holding facility constituted by a secure area of a retailer's premises. :

4, A secure document container magazine according to claim 1 which is adapted for use in a secure document container holding facility constituted by a cash - acceptance terminal. - E

5. A secure document container magazine according to claim 4 which is configured oo. ‘as a carousel or circular rotating holder for two or more secure document containers. : oo

6. A secure document container magazine according to claim 5 which is adapted to be mounted rotatably within a ‘secure holding facility forming part of the cash

: . acceptance terminal, such as a safe integral with the cash acceptance terminal, _ each secure document container housing being normally closed and the carousel - being rotatable to locate and dock each secure document container, in turn, with the cash acceptance terminal in-feed mechanism for the acceptance, in the secure : document container, of cash fed into the cash acceptance terminal in use. : SACom 003.doc - oo oo Co ' PFTB Ref: PC.4603.QUB

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7. A secure document container magazine according to claim 1 which is adapted for use in a secure document container holding facility constituted by a cash container holder adapted for location in the vehicle of a cash in transit service provider. oo

8. A secure document container magazine according to. claim 7 that is configured as container mover, such as a belt conveyor, adapted to move a plurality of secure : document containers and to locate and dock each secure document container, in turn, with the cash acceptance terminal in-feed mechanism for the acceptance, in the secure document container, of cash fed into the cash acceptance terminal in oo use.

9. A secure document container magazine according to any one of the preceding claims in which the magazine is adapted to co-operate with one or more internal ‘escrow areas within the secure document container holding facility in which cash and banknotes in particular may be placed temporarily, in addition to or instead of placing the cash only into the secure document container, either or both the secure document container holding facility and the magazine including means to : recirculate the cash between escrow areas and one or more of the secure document containers located within the magazine.

10. A secure document container magazine according to claim 9 in which the magazine is adapted to sort cash items fed into the secure document containers : into different classes of cash items, such as banknotes of particular denominations or ATMit notes, and to locate each class of items in a different secure document -container or in a specific location within a secure document container. SE

11. A secure document container magazine substantially as described in this specification with reference to the accompanying drawings. "Dated — 14 August 2007 J - PFT Burger Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys . Applicant's Patent Attorneys : co SACom 003.doc : | : PFTB Ref: PC.4603.QUB :

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