IES59672B2 - Tamper-proof coin holder - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a device for storing coins securely.

I Coin holders or coin racks are widely used in banks, building societies, post offices, wages and petty-cash departments of large 5 businesses, and in many other places where there is a need for the speedy and efficient issue and receipt of coins of different denominations.

A coin holder is known in the form of a plastics, wooden or metal device which has a series of inclined, parallel grooves which 10 support stacks of coins. The reason such devices are used is that they allow the cashier or teller to handle coins easily, speedily and efficiently, without the necessity of repeatedly opening and shutting trays or drawers, to the extent that coin holders of this design are used to the virtual exclusion of all other coin storage means.

However, a drawback associated with this known coin holder is functionally related to the features providing its greatest advantage. The coins are stored in such a way that they can be manipulated with the utmost convenience. This leads to the result that, if left unattended, the coin holder offers the same accessibility to the casual thief passing by, or neighbouring on, the location of the coin holder. In Ireland, the recent introduction of the £1 coin led to a substantially larger amount of money being left available on open view, with a consequent increase in the losses attributable to employee pilfering. The possible introduction of £5 coins will, accordingly, lead many institutions to review their use of coin holders as described above.

. One solution would be to provide a lockable front cover, guard, or shutter for the known coin holder, but such a system would also j have associated problems due to the undesirability of locking up the coin holder on every occasion that the authorised cashier has to leave 30 the coin holder unattended. It is envisaged that, over time, a sense of complacency would arise over the need to position and lock a cover 859672 when the cashier is required to leave the counter for a period of only thirty seconds or so; firstly, since the routine lessens the accessibility of j the coins on return, secondly, since the possibility of theft occurring during that period might be supposed to be negligible, and thirdly, i since the act of fitting a locked cover for thirty seconds absence conveys implications of mistrust towards colleagues in a very conspicuous manner.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tamperproof coin holder which provides comparable or improved accessibility and ease of use to that of the coin holders of the prior art, while affording the user the possibility of leaving the holder unattended and secure, yet without the requirement that a cover or grill be provided.

Accordingly, the invention provides a tamper-proof coin holder comprising a receptacle for coins, a sensor integral with the receptacle for detecting movement in the area adjacent to the coins and means for signalling any movement detected.

This provides for a device which both detects and deters pilfering, at the discretion of the authorised user. The deterring function will be possible if the function of the coin holder is known generally. Surveillance is possible without deterring if the detection (sensor) and alarm (signalling) means are concealed and if only a selected range of people know the function of the coin holder.

Preferably, the receptacle is divided into separate compartments, such that coins of the same value may be stacked in a corresponding compartment.

This arrangement of coins allows for accessibility and ease of use comparable to that of the coin holders of the prior art.

Preferably, the sensor comprises an array of infrared radiation emitters and matching detectors arranged on the receptacle, such that a coin may not be removed therefrom without the path of the emitted radiation from an emitter to the matching detector being interrupted.

A Infrared radiation is preferred as a means for detecting movement on account of the availability of a well-known, standardised technology which has been developed for electric eye systems in general, and infrared systems in particular.

In general, for the most secure operation of the coin holder, the sensor detects movement occurring within a region which must be crossed to gain access to the coins. If such a region can be defined using a network of straight lines, then an array of infrared emitters and matching detectors can provide a corresponding network of infrared beams (either directly or using reflection or diffraction of the infrared radiation).

In some cases, it may be more suitable to provide a device according to the invention which uses an alternative type of radiation such as ultrasound, visible, ultraviolet, etc. The radiation may be focussed, diffuse, continuous, pulsed, or of any other suitable type; and it may be emitted by any suitable source, providing, for example, monochromatic, polychromatic or coherent radiation.

Alternatively, the sensor may comprise a heat detector which detects the body heat of a person removing a coin from the receptacle.

The means for signalling can be chosen to provide a visible and/or an audible signal that movement has been detected, in the manner of a conventional alarm.

Optionally, the means for signalling provides a signal to an independent alarm system that movement has been detected, and preferably a signal is provided to a point remote from the coin holder that movement has been detected.

This provides the possibility that the alarm system for the department or building or an alarm system in a manager's office or in a security room may be activated when movement is detected. This feature might be useful if no signal is perceivable in the vicinity of the i coin holder. It allows for a body of evidence to be built up if covertly watching the coin holder for pilfering, thereby avoiding the possibility of mistakenly identifying a person as the culprit on the evidence of only one incident. Furthermore, it allows the cashier to call attention to the location of the coin holder in an emergency, without the necessity or the inherent risk of obvious movement towards a buzzer or bell.

The coin holder preferably comprises a switching means for switching on and off the sensor and/or the movement signalling means. Thus, an authorised person can activate the sensor and/or for signalling means by means of a switch when the coin holder is left unattended. Such a method is obviously less obtrusive and blatant than applying a locked cover or grill. It is also easily and almost instantly done, providing the real possibility of a fixed routine developing, whereby the coin holder is switched on and off on every necessary occasion.

Preferably, the switching means is operated by a key, by means of a linked computer terminal, by entering a secret identification number, by wiping a magnetic card through a reader, or by any combination thereof; thus bank officials might switch the coin holder on and off by entering a four-character password on their (existing) on-line computer terminal, in the event of the coin holder being connected to the terminal.

Preferably, the signalling means is not activated until a delay period has elapsed from the moment of first detected movement. Further, preferably, said activation may be avoided by switching off the sensor and/or the signalling means during the delay period.

This feature allows an inadvertent activation of the signalling means by authorised personnel to be avoided, but unless an unauthorised pilferer can access the means for switching off, a delay of approximately 5 seconds will result in the culprit being caught substantially in situ.

The switching means may also incorporate a reset function by which the signalling means can be turned off after activation,without 5 completely turning off the device.

Furthermore, the signalling means may activate a camera to photograph the location of the coin holder. This has the advantage that an occurrence of theft from the coin holder will not be missed due to lack of observation on the part of management or security staff.

The coin holder according to the invention may have a sensor which further comprises means for calculating the number of coins in each compartment coupled with the coin holder having means for displaying the number of coins in each compartment.

The advantage of such a sensor is that a change in the number of 15 coins in a compartment may activate the signalling means, providing a further degree of security for the coin holder.

Preferably, the means for calculating the number of coins is operable without the signalling means being switched on, as this allows the cashier extra efficiency when using the holder by providing a visual 20 check on the number of coins added to and removed from each compartment during any transaction. In addition, if the cashier is unable to switch on the signalling means, or forgets to do so, it is nonetheless possible to verify whether the same amount of coins is in the coin holder after a period during which the cashier has been absent.

One means for calculating the number of coins, according to the invention, comprises a weight or pressure sensitive mechanism for each compartment, which can be situated under a stack of coins or against which a stack rests.

A further means for calculating the number of coins comprises a source of pulsed radiation and a detector for the radiation, both situated > above a stack of coins, whereby the time taken for a pulse of radiation to be reflected to the detector from the top coin in the stack provides a ) measure of the height of the stack, and hence, the number of coins in the stack.

Preferably, ultrasonic radiation is used as the pulsed radiation, since the velocity of such radiation in air affords a more easily measurable time lapse upon reflection than that afforded by the velocity of electromagnetic radiation in air.

It may be preferable to allow activation of the signalling means upon detection both of movement in the area adjacent to the coins and of a change in the calculated number of coins, or alternatively detection either of movement or of a change in the calculated number of coins may be sufficient to activate the means for signalling.

The means for displaying the number of coins may comprise a pointer on a dial, especially when used in conjunction with a weighing mechanism for calculating the number of coins.

Preferably, the means for displaying the number of coins comprises an LCD or an LED display.

Suitably, the means for display, when used in conjunction with a suitable mechanism for converting the number of each type of coin to the value of the coins, provides a display of the value of the coins in each compartment, and optionally, the value of all of the coins in the coin holder. f The coin holder may be powered by battery or mains supply.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a coin holder according to the invention; and ,! Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the electrical circuit of the coin holder of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is indicated generally at 10, a tamperproof coin holder according to the invention comprising a receptacle 11 for coins mounted on a base 12. The receptacle 11 is divided into separate compartments 13, such that coins of the same value may be stacked in a corresponding compartment. The coin holder 10 is made 10 of a suitable metal material. A transverse member 14, on which the coins rest in use, extends across bottom ends 15 of the compartments 13. The top 16 of the receptacle 11 extends over the upper ends 17 of the compartments 13. A sensor 18,19 integral with the receptacle 11, comprises an array of infrared emitters 18, mounted in the top 16, and matching detectors 19 (Fig. 2), mounted in the transverse member 14, such that a coin may not be removed from the receptacle 11 without the path of emitted radiation from an emitter 18 to the matching detector 19 being interrupted.

Referring additionally to Fig. 2, the sensor 18,19 is connected to 20 a control box, indicated generally at 20, by wires 21,22 (Fig, 2). The control box 20 is mounted on the top 16 of the receptacle 11. The control box 20 consists of a green LED 23, which indicates that the sensor is active, and signalling means 24,25 consisting of a red flashing LED 24, which indicates that the sensor has detected movement near 25 the coins, and an audible alarm 25. The control box 20 also includes a battery 26 (Fig. 2) and a switching means 27, which is operated by a key. The key may be turned to three positions (not shown) i.e. off, on , and reset.

J Thus, in use, once the coin holder 10 has been activated, by turning the switching means 27 to the on position, the green LED 23 will light up and any subsquent movement in the area adjacent to the coins will cause a drop in the level of infrared radiation detected by one or more of the detectors 19, which in turn will activate the signalling means 24,25 causing the red LED 24 to flash and the audible alarm 25 to sound. The coin holder can then be turned off or reset by turning the switching means 27 to the appropriate position.

Claims (5)

1. A tamper-proof coin holder comprising a receptacle for coins, a sensor integral with the receptacle for detecting movement in the area adjacent to the coins, and means for signalling any movement 5 detected.

2. A coin holder according to Claim 1, wherein the receptacle is divided into separate compartments, such that coins of the same value may be stacked in a corresponding compartment.

3. A coin holder according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the 10 sensor comprises an array of infrared radiation emitters and matching detectors arranged on the receptacle, such that a coin may not be removed therefrom without the path of the emitted radiation from an emitter to the matching detector being interrupted.

4. A coin holder according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the 15 sensor further comprises means for calculating the number of coins in each compartment, and the coin holder having means for displaying the number of coins in each compartment.

5. A coin holder according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to and as illustrated in