Apparatus having a bill validator and a method of servicing the apparatus

• US 20060021848A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FireKing Security Products LLC (Pfingsten Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: FireKing International
• Inventors: Smith, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 8,348,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 194/350
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/005 Portable strong boxes, e.g. which may be fixed to a wall or the like E05G1/08, E05G1/14 take precedence; devices to prevent theft or loss of bags, trunks, baskets, or the like A45C13/18; coin boxes for coin freed apparatus G07F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/009 Depositing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/26 Servicing, repairing or coping with irregularities, e.g. power failure or vandalism
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00

Abstract

An apparatus having a bill validator. The apparatus having a storage area within a housing. The bill validator operable to input bills into the storage area. The bill validator being removable secured within the housing. The removable bill validator permitting the bill validator to be removed from the housing for servicing without comprising security of the storage area.

Claims

1. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having a storage area wherein items are stored for safekeeping;

a primary lock for controlling access to the storage area, the primary lock being operable to an unlocked position to permit access to the storage area; and

a bill validator for receiving bills and delivering the received bills to the storage area, wherein the bill validator is removably secured within the housing such that the validator can be removed without unlocking the primary lock.

2. The safe of claim 1 further comprising a secondary lock for locking the validator in the housing such that the validator cannot be removed without unlocking the secondary lock.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the primary lock remains locked if the secondary lock is unlocked.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the secondary lock is a key-lock.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electronic controller, and wherein the secondary lock is an electric lock, the electric lock being unlockable by the controller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a release mechanism, the release mechanism securing the bill validator within the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the release mechanism is operable to a closed position to prevent removal of the bill validator and operable to an open position to permit removal of the bill validator.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the release mechanism is operated to the open position by pulling on an outward end of the bill validator.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the release mechanism is operated to the closed position by loading the bill validator into the housing from a removed position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is a safe housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a door being operable between an open position and a closed position, the open position permitting access to the storage area, the closed position preventing access to the storage area.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the primary lock is configured to lock the door in the closed position, and wherein the primary lock is unlockable to permit access to the storage area through the opened door.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a cassette in the storage area, the cassette storing bills inputted into the validator.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the cassette is removable secured within the storage area, the cassette being removable when the door is open.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the door includes a ledge extending rearwardly from the door into the housing, the ledge limiting access to the cassette when the validator is removed from the housing.

19. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the release mechanism is operated to the open position by at least one of pulling on an outward end of the bill validator and pressing a lever of the release mechanism.

16. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having a first opening and a second opening, the second opening permitting access to a storage area therein;

a door covering the second opening, the door being operable to an open position and a closed position;

a door lock for securing the door, the door lock being lockable for locking the door in the closed position, the door lock being unlockable for opening the door to the open position;

a cassette in the storage area, the cassette being removable secured within the storage area such that the cassette can be removed by operating the door to the open position

a bill validator in the first opening, the bill validator configured to receive bills for inputting into the cassette, the bill validator being removable secured within the housing such that the bill validator can be removed for servicing without unlocking the door lock.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further including a release mechanism, the release mechanism securing the bill validator within the housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the release mechanism is operable to a closed position to prevent removal of the bill validator and operable to an open position to permit removal of the bill validator.

20. A method for servicing a bill validator of a safe having a storage area containing a cassette, the cassette in communication with the bill validator to receive bills inputted into the bill validator, the cassette being accessible by unlocking a primary lock, the method comprising:

removing the bill validator from the safe for servicing without unlocking the primary lock.