GB2130299A

GB2130299A - Cashbox closure mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2130299A
Application number: GB08330539A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Horst Schupp
Original assignee: Sodeco Saia AG; Societe des Compteurs de Geneve SODECO
Current assignee: Sodeco Saia AG; Societe des Compteurs de Geneve SODECO
Priority date: 1982-11-22
Filing date: 1983-11-16
Publication date: 1984-05-31
Also published as: GB8330539D0; CH661091A5; GB2130299B; DK155475B; DK155475C; DK534183A; DK534183D0; DE3247308C2; DE3247308A1

Abstract

A cashbox for collecting money in an automatic sales machine is positively closed upon being removed from the machine and can then serve as a transport container for the money. When the cashbox is inserted, a stationary pin 23 mounted on the housing of the machine engages the cashbox cover, and, by way of slide tracks 24,27, displaces a slide member 6 which opens entry openings 7,8 for receiving money and closes same again upon the cashbox being removed. The slide member 6 has pawls 15 which engage teeth 17,18 on a container portion 1 of the cashbox, lock the slide member 6 in position and prevent further insertion into the box. The slide member 6 is positively reset by a spring 21 when the cashbox is opened for emptying thereof by eg pivotal movement of the cover about a spindle 3 thereby disengaging the pawls 15 from the teeth 18. The slide member 6 and the pawls 15 are made from one piece. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Closure mechanism for the cover of a cashbox The invention relates to a closure mechanism for the cover of a cashbox for accommodating either coins or banknotes.

Besides their primary purpose of accommodating collected coins or banknotes in automatic sales machines, for example in coin operated telephones or in automatic petrol dispensing machines, such cashboxes also usefully serve as containers for transporting the coins or banknotes to the location at which they are authorised to be emptied.

Such cash boxes, in particular coin collection boxes, have been designed so as to minimise the risk of unauthorised removal of money therefrom during transportation thereof. Swiss patent specification No. 504 740 discloses a cash box suitable for that purpose which may only once be fitted into the matching housing in an automatic sales machine, thereby opening a point of entry for the money, and which is then re-closed and locked in that condition, when the cashbox is taken out. In this arrangement, and also in German patent specification No. 25 11 063, when the cashbox is emptied, the locking means has to be released again, which is necessary so that the closure mechanism will reopen the point of entry for the money for reinsertion in the sales machine.These known cashboxes all comprise a number of components in the closure mechanism, and their manufacture is therefore relatively expensive.

According to the invention, there is provided a closure mechanism for a cash box having a cover and a container portion for receiving either coins or banknotes, the mechanism comprising a slide member which is arranged on the inside of the cover and which, when the cashbox is inserted into a housing of an automatic sales machine, is displaced laterally by a key element secured to the housing thereby to open an entrymeans for the coins or banknotes and to close the entry means when the cashbox is withdrawn from the housing, at least one pawl for locking the slide member in its closed position after the cash box has been withdrawn from the housing, wherein the slide member and the pawl are formed by a single component and the pawl bears against teeth forming part of the container portion of the cash box.

Embodiments of the invention provide a simplified closure mechanism for a cashbox, in such a way that it can be produced at low cost.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a cashbox in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, with the top part of the closure cover removed; Figure 2 shows a view in section taken along line A-A in Fig. 1, but including the top part of the closure cover; Figure 3 shows a plan view of a section of a cashbox in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, the section being taken along line B-B in Fig. 4, and with the coin cash box opened for emptying thereof; Figure 4 shows a view in section taken along line C-C in Fig. 3; and Figures 5 and 6 each show sectional views similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3, but in two different conditions of the cashbox.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a container portion 1 of a coin cashbox is closed off at its top by a cover 2 which includes the closure mechanism. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cover 2 is mounted pivotally on the container portion 1 of the cashbox. For that purpose, the arrangement has a hinge which is schematically indicated by a hinge axis or spindle 3 in Figs. 1 and 2. A known closing means (not shown) is provided on that side of the cover 2 which is remote from the hinge, which may be a lock or a lead seal. The cover 2 comprises a lower cover portion 4 and an upper cover portion 5 between which is arranged a slide member 6 in the form of a flat plate and which can be slid laterally, in relation to Fig. 1.The lower cover portion 4 and the upper cover portion 5 are connected together in such a way as to be non-releasable at least from the outside, for example by rivet, screw or weld means (not shown) and they each have at least one coin entry opening, two openings 7,8 being shown, which openings are aligned with each other and can be covered by the slide member 6. The slide member 6 also has two openings 9,10 which are aligned with the centre openings 7,8, in a given position of the slide member 6. For longitudinally guiding and at the same time restricting the travel of the slide member 6, in the described embodiment, the slide member 6 has two longitudinal slots 11,12 into which engage two longitudinal wedges or cleats 1 3,14 which are formed on the lower cover portion 4.The slide member 6 also has two resilient pawls 1 5 (see Fig. 1) and the slide member together with the pawls advantageously form a single component which can easily be made for example from plastics material by injection moulding. The spring action required in respect of the pawls 1 5 is provided by suitable shaping, in the embodiment illustrated, by virtue of freely projecting pawl arms 1 6.

The pawls 1 5 co-operate with teeth 1 7,1 8 which form parts of the container portion 1 of the cashbox. For that purpose, the teeth 17,18 project through corresponding openings 19,20 into the space through which the pawls 1 5 pass. The pawls 1 5 and the teeth 1 7,1 8 are of such a configuration that, in one direction of movement of the slide member 6, the pawls 1 5 pass over the teeth 1 7,1 8 without engaging therewith, while the pawls 1 5 prevent the slide member 6 from moving in the other direction, by bearing against the teeth 17,18.

Also disposed in the space between the lower cover portion 4 and the upper cover portion 5 is a spring element, being in the described embodiment in the form of a bent leaf or blade spring 21, which is fitted into correspondingly shaped openings on the slide member 6 and the lower cover portion 4. The spring 21 is provided for positively returning the slide member 6 when the cashbox is opened, as will be described hereinafter.

The upper cover portion 5 also has a slot 22 through which a key element which is fixedly mounted to a housing of an automatic service machine engages into the cash box in known manner when the cashbox is inserted into the housing. In the embodiments described, the key element is a pin or bolt 23 which projects with its outer end into the plane of the slide member 6. At the point of engagement of the pin 23, the slide member 6 has a first slide track 24 with which the pin 23 is aligned when the cashbox is inserted in the direction indicated by arrow 25 (see Fig.

1), and triggers a movement of the slide member 6 against the spring force of the spring 21. When that occurs, the two pawls 1 5 latch over the teeth 1 7. When the cashbox is in the fully inserted condition, the pin 23 reaches the inward end of the slot 22. When that occurs, the slide member 6 takes up a position in which the openings 7 and 9, and 8 and 10, are aligned with each other, thereby allowing coins to be inserted. The slide member 6 is positively held in that position since the pin 23 has passed from the slide track 24 and into a groove 26.

When the cash box is removed from the housing, normally for the purposes of emptying the cashbox which has been filled in the meantime, the slide member 6 cannot be deflected towards the right in relation to Fig.

1 for the teeth 1 7 block the pawls 1 5 against such movement. As the pin 23 effectively moves back relative to the cashbox, it lines up with another slide track 27 and, when the cash box is removed, causes positive further movement of the slide member 6 towards the left. When that occurs, the pawls 1 5 also latch over the second teeth 1 8 and, after the pin 23 has completely emerged from the cashbox, the teeth 1 8 ensure that the spring 21 cannot move the slide member 6 towards the right again. In that position, the coin entry openings 7,8 are closed again by the slide member 6.

In the event of another attempt to introduce the cashbox into the housing, the pin 23 would be aligned with a recess 28 in the slide member 6, which makes it impossible for the cashbox to be further inserted and prevents the coin entry openings 7,8 from opening.

When the cashbox is emptied, the cover 2 (see Fig. 2) is pivoted upwardly about the hinge axis 3 after opening the lock or breaking the seal. The teeth 17,18 which are provided on the container portion 1 of the cashbox no longer present an obstacle to the slide member 6, and the spring 21 urges the slide member back into its starting position.

In place of the leaf or blade spring 21, the spring element may instead comprise plastics material and, when made in a suitable configuration, may be formed directly on the slide member 6, that is to say, it can be produced by injection moulding, integrally with the slide member 6.

In the second embodiment as shown in Figs. 3 to 6, the cover 2 is mounted slidably on the container portion 1 of the cashbox, for opening same. The container portion 1 of the cashbox comprises a base 29 and four walls 30, 31, 32, 33 (see Figs. 3 and 4), and is upwardly open. The two side walls 30,31 each have a respective groove 34,35, which is open outwardly on the side of the wall 33 and into which a lower cover portion 36 can be inserted (Figs. 3 and 4). As in the first embodiment, the lower cover portion 36 is fixedly connected to the upper cover portion 37 while once again disposed therebetween is a slide member 38 for opening or closing a coin entry opening 7, as described in relation to the first embodiment.

In Fig. 3, the cover 2 is shown in its limit opening position, for emptying the cashbox.

That open position is defined by a pin 39 which projects beyond the top edge contour of the wall 33 and the additional purpose and function of which is described hereinafter.

In the present embodiment, the slide member 38 has only one longitudinal slot 11 and an associated longitudinal cleat or wedge member 13, for longitudinally guiding the slide member 38. The arrangement also has only one pawl 40 which is disposed at the junction between two thin arms which extend away from the slide member 38, the two arms forming an obtuse angle to each other.

In the open position of the cover 2, as shown in Fig. 3, the pawl 40 bears against a projection 41 which is formed on the top cover portion 37 and which projects inwardly. The projection 41 serves to hold the slide member 38 in the illustrated position until closing of the cover 2 is concluded, Figs. 5 and 6 corresponding to that condition. As in the first embodiment, the wall 32 has two inwardly projecting teeth 1 7,1 8 in the region of the pawl 40.

When the cashbox, in a ready-for-use condition, as shown in Fig. 5, is inserted into a housing, the slide member 38 is moved towards the left by the pin 23 fixedly mounted to the housing, as described in connection with the first embodiment, the pawl 40 latching over the projection 41 and the tooth 1 7 and the coin entry opening 7 being opened.

Fig. 6 shows that condition of the cash box.

When the cashbox is removed, in this embodiment also, the slide member 38 is displaced further towards the left and the pawl 40 locks behind the tooth 1 8. The coin entry opening 7 is closed and the cashbox cannot be used any more.

In the above-described conditions as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the pin 39 is disposed outside the region of the slide member 38.

Now, as soon as the cover 2 is pushed upwardly to open the cashbox, as shown in Fig. 3, the pin 39 which is part of the container portion 1 of the cash box engages into the lower cover portion 36 and positively causes the slide member 38 to be returned to its starting position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, by way of a guide track 42 of the slide member 38. That is possible because, when the cover 2 is slid away, the pawl 40 comes out of engagement with the teeth 1 7,1 8. The pawl 40 latches over the projection 41, whereupon the cashbox, after being emptied and after the cover 2 has been closed, is again ready for use (see Fig. 5).

In comparison with the first embodiment, the second embodiment is even cheaper to produce.

Both embodiments are described in relation to collecting coins. In that connection, the means for introducing the coins are the openings 9,10 as described hereinbefore. However, for the purposes of collecting banknotes, the entry means may also be formed from two rollers which touch each other at a common generatrix. In such a use, care must be taken to ensure that the rotatability of the rollers is dependent on the position of the slide member 6 or 38, that is to say, when the cashbox is taken out, the rollers should be locked.

The above-described closure mechanisms for cashboxes are made from a minimal number of individual components. In addition, the components can be produced in a simple fashion in the form of injection moulded components, either from plastics material or from metal.

Claims

1. A closure mechanism for a cashbox having a cover and a container portion for receiving either coins or banknotes, the mechanism comprising a slide member which is arranged on the inside of the cover and which, when the cashbox is inserted into a housing of an automatic sales machine, is displaced laterally by a key element secured to the housing thereby to open an entry means for the coins or banknotes and to close the entry means when the cashbox is withdrawn from the housing, at least one pawl for locking the slide member in its closed position after the cash box has been withdrawn from the housing, wherein the slide member and the pawl are formed by a single component and the pawl bears against teeth forming part of the container portion of the cashbox.

2. A closure mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the cover is pivotally mounted to the container portion of the cashbox.

3. A closure mechanism according to claim 2, wherein a spring element is provided for positively returning the slide member when the cover of the cashbox is opened.

4. A closure mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the spring element comprises plastics material and is formed integrally with the slide member.

5. A closure mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the spring element is a leaf or blade spring.

6. A closure mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the cover is mounted slidably on the container portion of the cashbox, for opening the cashbox.

7. A closure mechanism according to claim 6, wherein a pin mounted on the container portion of the cashbox engages a lower cover portion of the cover for positively returning the slide member when the cashbox is opened.

8. A closure mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover has at least one coin entry opening which can be covered by the slide member.

9. A closure mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the entry means is formed from two rollers which touch each other on a respective generatrix and which are drivable for taking in banknotes, the rotatability of said rollers being dependent on the position of the slide member.

10. A closure mechanism for a cashbox substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.