U.S. patent number 3,665,160 [Application Number 05/099,596] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-23 for coded security vault.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Automatic Toll Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Herman Lopata.
United States Patent |
3,665,160 |
Lopata |
May 23, 1972 |
CODED SECURITY VAULT
Abstract
A vault into which cash, such as coins and tokens are deposited,
is provided with a self-locking enclosure to be opened only by
authorized personnel in preferably supervised facilities at which
the contents are counted and accounted for. The vault is generally
of a parallelapiped form adapted for slidable insertion in a drawer
provided with an access port for conveying the cash therein.
Mechanical, magnetic, optical or electronic means are provided as
an adjustable code for identification of the vault. Means to sense
the identification code on the vault are provided in the drawer
housing and are so arranged as to prevent access by unauthorized
personnel. A control circuit responsive to signals representative
of the coded vault are processed by appropriate scanning and
comparator circuits and, depending upon the code used, conversion
matrices to develop a print-out of the identified vault at a remote
location upon the occurrence of certain actions such as the
insertion, removal of the vault from the drawer or at some
programmed interval on the hour or the like. In a preferred
application the coded self-locking vault is included in a toll
collection system for toll roads and toll bridges wherein the
output is punched into a tape for translation at accounting centers
in any desired printed form.
Inventors: |
Lopata; Herman (New Rochelle,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Automatic Toll Systems, Inc.
(Bronx, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22275764 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/099,596 |
Filed: |
December 18, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
235/382; 235/448;
109/23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
9/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
9/06 (20060101); G06k 001/18 (); G06k 007/01 ();
E05g 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;194/.020,.003,.009
;235/61.12R,61.12M,61.12N,61.12C,61.7B,.11R,.11C,.11A,.11D,.11H
;340/149A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Cook; Daryl W.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Control means for preventing unauthorized access to a depository
of cash comprising in combination:
a. a sealed vault having an access port for depositing cash
therein;
b. coded means on said vault for uniquely identifying the
vault;
c. a housing into which said vault is inserted;
d. said housing having sensing means responsive to said coded means
for determining the identification means on said vault;
e. means responsive to said sensing means for recording the
identification of said vault.
2. A control means according to claim 1 wherein said vault includes
a self-locking cover that fully closes the vault by an automatic
lock when said vault is removed from said housing to prevent access
to the interior of said vault without authorized opening of said
lock.
3. A control means according to claim 1 wherein said coded
identification means is a series of protuberances representative of
a coded identification character;
said sensing means in said housing comprising a plurality of
apertures for receiving said protuberances and electric switches in
said apertures which are operative when a protuberance is received
in said aperture.
4. A control according to claim 3 wherein said protuberances are
adjustable to any one of a plurality of different vault
identification indicia.
5. A control means according to claim 1 wherein said coded
identification means is an array of excitation lamps and said
sensing means is an array of photo-electric cells responsive to
said lamps, said array of lamps being representative of a selected
code corresponding to an indicia of a unique vault.
6. A control means according to claim 1 wherein said coded
identification means is an array of permanent magnetic slug members
and said means is an array of magnetic-responsive switches, said
array of magnetic members being representative of a selected code
corresponding to an indicia of a unique vault.
7. A control means according to claim 1 wherein said recording
means is a tape punch responsive to signals from said sensor to
punch holes in a tape corresponding to the identification of said
vault.
8. A control means according to claim 1 including means for
recording simultaneously with the recordation of the identification
of the cash vault data corresponding to the location, time, date
and identification of the person manipulating the vault relative to
the housing.
9. Control means for preventing unauthorized access to a depository
of cash comprising in combination:
a. a sealed vault having an access port for depositing cash
therein;
b. coded means on said vault for uniquely identifying the
vault;
c. a housing into which said vault is inserted;
d. said housing having sensing means responsive to said coded means
for determining the identification means on said vault;
e. means responsive to said sensing means for generating a signal
corresponding to the identification of said vault.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to coded security vaults and more
particularly to such vaults in toll collection systems.
Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, in facilities in which cash is collected in the form of
specie or tokens that are deposited at toll barriers a certain
amount of security control to prevent unauthorized tampering with
the contents has been utilized. Vaults for use in drawer facilities
are provided with key-operated locks operated only by authorized
personnel. With the vase increase of the use of toll collection
facilities the problems of assuring absolute security not only in
the handling of vaults containing money is causing serious problems
of preventing unauthorized tampering if not outright confiscation
of such vaults. In addition, because of the substantial increase in
the amounts of facilities and individual vaults that are being used
to collect monies the problem of accurate and simplified accounting
is critical.
Although the vaults are known with security provision and systems
are in operation that attempt to minimize pilfering with funds
collected and deposited in such vaults, no system has solved the
total problem of assuring a totally secured vault and means to
determine the status of the vault at all times.
It is a general objective of the present invention to provide a
vault and associated system for processing data identifying that
vault. It is a further object of the invention to provide a cash
vault having self-locking means so that during the transportation
of the vault from the collection point to the accounting point the
personnel are not authorized to open the vault while at the
accounting facility a second and different group of personnel are
provided with means to open the vault.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a cash vault having a
self-locking enclosure that is sealed upon the removal of the vault
from a cash receiving facility such as at a toll collection barrier
for a toll road or tunnel. Only authorized personnel at an
accounting center have the facilities to open and remove the
contents of the vault. The vault is provided with means for
identifying it by a code that is adjustable and can be thereby
rendered unintelligible even to personnel who may have knowledge of
the system of coding. Such means are embodied in mechanical,
magnetic, optical or electronic signal sources. A sensing device is
provided in the housing and into which the vault is inserted during
the cash collection phase of its use. The sensing means are
arranged to appropriately transduce the sensed information to
electrical circuits for decoding and processing the signal to
appropriate recording equipment, such as typewritten print-outs,
punched tape or magnetic tape systems. Upon the insertion or the
removal of the cash vault from its housing the system is arranged
to effect a read-out of the coded identification of the vault and
together with other data provides a means to precisely identify the
vault by a unique number and associate with it the time, location,
and total of the contents of the vault. In addition, by the
provision of a key identifying system the attendant who removes or
inserts the vault only by the use of an authorized key would have
his key identified and correlated with the other data in respect of
the action he performs on the vault.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Referring now to the drawing which shall be described in greater
particularity in the following detailed description of several
embodiments of the invention:
FIG. 1 is a block schematic of the coded cash vault and controls as
used in a toll collection system;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vault in sliding relation with a
housing showing the relative locations of the identification means
of the vault and the sensing means in the housing;
FIG. 3 shows in schematic form the arrangement of the code indicia
means adapted for variable adjustment of the identification;
FIG. 4 shows in schematic form the arrangement of the array of
sensing transducers;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary portion of a tape showing the
representative data punched in code form thereon.
Referring now to FIG. 1, Block 10 indicates the indicia on the
vault which, depending upon the system, may be represented by
slots, holes and the like if a mechanical system is to be utilized.
If the system is used to utilize magnetic devices, bar magnets in
the form of cylinders may be inserted into a series of holes
provided in the wall of the vault. If the system is to utilize
optical sensing means, the indicia may be in the form of colored
inserts which may be detected by appropriate photo-electric sensing
devices in appropriate matching locations within the housing
containing the vault.
Block 12 indicates the sensing devices located in the housing. If a
binary coded system is selected, a matrix circuit is provided as
indicated by Block 14 to convert the binary signal to a decimal
signal or to an appropriate code for utilization by a tape
punch.
The comparator provided in Block 16 is arranged to verify the
validity of the signal to assure that the code is accurate and has
not been distorted by noise or the like. Thus, if a five-level
(teletype) code as commonly used in tape punch systems is being
utilized, the comparator circuit 16 will verify that every signal
representative of a digit or a character of the code is present.
Any deviation effects an appropriate control signal to indicate the
error or fault in the code.
A scanner circuit contained within Block 18 is arranged to scan all
of the data in the form of appropriate signals that are to be
recorded or transmitted to remote locations. The scanner conveys
the appropriate operating signals to the tape storage and punch
shown within Block 20 from which is produced a tape 22 which has
been appropriately punched corresponding to the data including the
identification of the coded vault together with other data such as
the time 24, the date 26, the location 28, the collectors key No.
30 and the total amount of cash 32 that has been deposited in the
vault during the interval subsequent to the last recordation or
print-out.
A control circuit 34 is arranged to control the operation of the
scanner 18 in response to usual toll collection control signals
such as the power on-off control 36, the stop-go signal 38 and the
lane gate position 40. An output signal from the sensing transducer
of the cash vault 12 is arranged to put the control circuit 34 in
its operative state to respond to the input signals.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown the cash vault 50 which is
in generally box-like form and is provided with a self-locking
cover 52 such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,884,188. The
self-locking cover 52 is thus arranged to be automatically opened
when the vault is inserted within the housing 54 with a suitable
mechanism 55. A coin chute 56 is positioned over the aperture so as
to convey coins 58 into the vault 50 via coin port 51. An array of
coded indicia means 60 are located preferably on the rear wall 62
of the vault. The transducer 64 is located in a mating relation on
the wall 66 of the housing. The transducer is of appropriate form
depending upon the signal source for the coded indicia 60 that is
to be used.
The transducers 64 are suitably located on the rear wall 66 of the
housing to determine from the code means 60 the particular
identification of a vault 50, depending on the arrangement of the
coded indicia 60 as will be described.
The housing 54 is provided with a door 68 or some other form of
electro-mechanical locking device having a lock 70 arranged to
receive any of a plurality of keys (not shown), each of which is
provided with a particular coded identification which is associated
with the holder or user of the key. Thus a collector of the vaults
who both removes vaults at certain times must also replace such
vaults with a replacement usually, empty vault. During such
operations his key is used to open the door 68. The control means
thus positively identifies the person who is both removing a vault,
the identification of which is being simultaneously recorded, and
adding a new vault, the identification of which being different
from the one removed and which is also being recorded after the
collector has closed the door 68 and removed his key from the lock
70.
Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown one example of an array of
indicia means 60 in the form of a plurality of pegs 72 each
inserted into a particular hole 74 of an array arranged in four
columns each having five rows. The columns are shown as seen
looking at the rear face of rear wall 62. The five holes in each
column correspond to the conventional five level code that is most
generally used with punched tape systems.
Although the preferred code now being described is the well-known
baudot code, it will be understood that any code may be used to
identify the vault whether by numerical, alphabetical or other
characters provided the vaults are uniquely identified relative to
each other.
Other vaults provided with the array of holes 74 will, of course,
have a different arrangement of pegs 72 whereby a different
four-digit number will be represented. The pegs may be permanently
fixed within the holes 72 or if desired, the pegs may be arranged
for removal so that a particular vault may have its identification
means 60 changed from time to time so that the operating personnel
may not be able to know with any degree of certainty the coded
identification of any particular vault.
FIG. 4 shows in schematic form the array of sensors 64 as seen
facing the rear wall 66 of the housing 54. Four columns of holes 76
are arranged in five rows each corresponding to the array of
indicia 60 shown in FIG. 3. The holes 76 are arranged to receive a
peg 72. A peg 72 will be guided into its mating hole 76 only when
the vault 50 is fully seated in the housing 54. Each hole 76 is
provided with means to actuate a relay switch 78 by a pair of leads
80 for energizing a relay coil 82. If desired, the hole 76 may be
provided with a switch which is closed when the peg 72 is seated
therein. It will be understood that each of the holes 76 is
provided with an appropriate sensing mechanism such as the switches
just described or any other sensing device suitably arranged to be
responsive and thereby sense the presence or absence of a code
signal bit from the array 60 on the vault, as will be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
The sensing transducers 64 are arranged to provide a positive
indication of the presence of a vault by the operation of the
plurality of switches. The absence of the closure of a precise
number of switches, in this case, 12, may, if desired, be
interpreted by the comparator 16 (FIG. 1) as either the absence of
a vault or an erroneous code. The comparator is arranged to render
the recordation inoperative if any of the column switches means 77
have more or less than the predetermined switches closed.
The decoder matrix 14 (FIG. 1) is arranged to decode the
transducer-sensing signals and translate the decoded signals into
appropriate operating voltages for energizing the punch 20 to punch
a tape 22 with holes corresponding to the identification of the
vault. For the embodiment being described the code punched on the
tape is the same as the code array shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
Accordingly, the decoder matrix 14 is not required when the punched
code or read-out information is the same as the signal-source code
used on the vault. For binary codes used as the vault indicia,
however, a binary to punch tape code matrix would be required, the
design details and mode of operation of which are well known.
In operation, the control circuit 34 (FIG. 1), when energized,
causes the scanner 18 to scan the data stored in each of the is
signal sources 10 (vault code), 24 (time), 26 (date), 28
(location), 30 (collector's key), and 32 (cash total). As each of
the signal data is scanned, the signal is in sequence, transmitted
to the tape punch 20 to effect a punch on the tape corresponding to
the respective data. Thus, as seen in FIG. 5 a tape 22 is shown
punched with a series of rows, each row having precisely three
holes of a possible five punched for informational data. Certain of
the punched rows, as indicated, are control signals to the tape
reader. The holes F are for teeth in the tape punch 20 to feed the
tape. The time of the punch-out is indicated by the four rows 24a,
the date by the four rows 26a, the location by the two rows 28a,
the collectors key by the two rows 30a and the total amount of cash
since the last recording by the rows 32a. The identification of the
vaults is shown by the four rows 10a corresponding to the four
digits of the respective vaults 50.
The control circuit 34 is arranged to effect such a recorded taped
output for any of several control signals. When a particular lane
is placed in service, the stop-go signal is energized to start the
control circuit 34. However, none of the control operations can
start unless the vault is fully seated and the lock 70 is closed.
Each time the lock is opened or closed the control circuit 34
effects a read-out so that a precise record is kept of each action
related to the vault.
The embodiment just described utilizes a mechanical means for
providing a coded indicia of the vault. Other forms of code may be
utilized whereby the form of the coding means must be adapted to
suit the means selected. Thus if a magnetic system is to be
selected, instead of pegs 72 there will be permanent magnetic slugs
and the sensing device 77 will be a magnetically responsive switch,
such as a reed relay.
In certain applications an optical system may be of especial
advantage. One such arrangement utilizes colored, black or white,
markers replacing the pegs 72 with appropriate photoelectric
exciting lamps and detectors to provide a means to detect the
appropriate array of code elements in the code means 60.
Other means for providing a signal source corresponding to a coded
indicia and a sensing means will be apparent to those skilled in
the art.
When a vault is removed from a housing at a particular location,
the vault is automatically locked and sealed from access by the
collector. The vault, of course, will usually contain a certain
amount of cash, the precise amount of which can be determined only
by an actual count. The totalizing register may or may not
accurately represent the amount of cash that was deposited in the
vault. Any tampering of the vault, however, during manipulations by
an individual using a particular coded key will be easily
determined by the authorized personnel responsible for opening the
vault and counting the contents thereof.
It is now seen that we have carried out the objects of the
invention. According to the invention there is provided means of
double-security to prevent unauthorized tampering or access to cash
vaults. The vault during the phase of its use when cash is being
deposited therein is sealed within a housing which requires a
special coded key to open and remove it. The vault when removed
from the housing, with or without authorized personnel, it
self-locked so that its contents are sealed therein. Its
identification is unique, which identification has been recorded at
a remote location automatically upon its removal from the housing
and indeed has been recorded at a previous time when it was
inserted or seated into the housing. At a central receiving depot
such as a vault depository center the numbered vault is opened and
its contents counted. Subsequently, the print-out produced by the
tape punch is reconciled against the count at the vault collection
center for verification. If discrepancies occur, appropriate action
can be taken. This invention, therefore, provides a positive means
to provide full-security and a tamperproof system for cash
vaults.
* * * * *