Abstract: A lock, particularly well suited for use with a safe which includes a movable door latch mechanism having a lock bolt abutment surface. The lock has a casing having a bolt-receiving aperture in one of its walls. The casing is to be mounted to the door, for example, on the inside surface of the door with the bolt-receiving aperture adjacent the bolt-abutment surface of the door latch mechanism. A bolt is slidably mounted in the casing for movement at an angle relative to the bolt abutment surface of the door latch mechanism between a locked position projecting through the aperture in the casing and into abutment with the abutment surface of the door latch mechanism and an unlocked position out of abutment with the abutment surface of the door latch mechanism and retracted into the casing.

Abstract: An autosecuring solenoid utilizes an interposing device that restrains the solenoid plunger when the solenoid is de-energized and/or energized, effectively preventing undesired movement of the plunger. When a voltage is applied across the coil, the flowing current creates an magnetic field. This field causes the plunger to slide within the solenoid cavity, unless restrained. This field also causes displacement of a movable magnet in the interposing device. The direction of motion of the movable magnet will depend on the magnetic field orientation of the movable magnet with respect to the magnetic field. Thus, the interposing device may move either toward or away from the plunger. Additionally, if using two interposing devices, one device could move away from the plunger and the second device could move toward the plunger. The second interposing device could even permit the plunger to move until the second interposing device engaged a recess or notch in the plunger.

Abstract: The technique for electronically resetting a magnetically sealed solenoid to an unattracted, unactuated position is described for use with solenoids which have either a residual magnetic or a permanent magnet holding force necessary to retain the armature of the solenoid in its actuated position until such time as the armature is either physically displaced by a mechanical force or an electronic signal is applied to the solenoid. This displacement creates a reverse polarity magnetic field, effectively overcoming the magnetic field acting to hold the armature in its actuated position, permitting a small mechanical force to reset the armature. In order to prevent a lock or similar device from being conditioned for opening and possibly left in that condition for a significant period of time while unattended, jeopardizing the security of the container and its contents, the actuation of the armature in the reset or release phase may occur a relatively short time following its actuation.

Abstract: A deadbolt lock and a deadbolt which will extend automatically whenever a container is locked by virtue of a rigid portion of the container engaging a trigger element extending from the end face of the bolt and causing the release of an outer bolt portion is shown and described herein. The release of the outer bolt of the bolt assembly allows the outer bolt to project outwardly and to lock the container notwithstanding the fact that the bolt has not been reset by the operator of the lock. The bolt is self-contained and can be substituted into many existing lock mechanisms of the mechanical type and into some of the existing electronic dial combination locks, to provide the auto-locking enhancement.

Abstract: A slidebolt lock, with slidebolt displacement forces provided by a mechanism outside the lock assembly and acting on the slidebolt, is locked by a blocking member carried by the slidebolt and normally spring biased toward a blocking and locking position. The blocking member engages the lock case and denies the bolt freedom to move in an unlocking direction. The blocking member is forced to a disengaged position by an electromechanical drive, such as a stepper motor driving a cam wheel and cam follower, or a solenoid directly or indirectly acting to force the blocking member to a position within the bolt and disengaging the blocking member from engagement with the lock casing. To simplify the solenoid in one embodiment, upon slidebolt movement toward a withdrawn, unlocked position, the blocking member forms and provides a camming structure to break any residual magnetic seal of the solenoid armature to the solenoid body.

Abstract: A self powered lock is powered by a manually driven generator. The data input to the lock is entered by rotating the dial and stopping and waiting a predetermined amount of time when a desired number is displayed on the lock display. The drive of the power generator, a stepper motor, is through a unidirectional clutch such that the generator is only driven when the dial is rotated in a selected direction and remains stationary when the dial is rotated in the opposite direction. The data input, including entry of the combination, to the lock is provided by a stepper motor which generates a train of electrical pulses. The electrical pulses are used by the electronic controls of the lock to control the electronic controls including entering the combination. The data input pulses are generated by a stepper motor driven to act as a generator.

Abstract: A locking device is disclosed which substantially restricts access to the cassettes or drawers within a vault or safe, including an ATM or ABM, and also restricts access to the cassette rack of the ATM/ABM, both resident within the vault or safe of an ATM/ABM. The blocking member restricts access to the cassettes or drawers and the cassette rack is mounted on a pair of supporting pins on a mounting bracket attached to the interior of a vault or safe, including an ATM/ABM. The blocking member may be removed from the supporting pins only after unlocking and withdrawal of a lock bolt from a strike hole in the mounting bracket. The blocking member must be lifted off the support pins and laid aside and later re-installed. By extending the bolt into the strike hole of the mounting bracket, the only available degree of freedom is eliminated preventing removal of the blocking member from the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A mechanism for locking the back cover of a combination lock to the lock housing is described having two sequentially and phased moveable parts, each having an aperture through which a locking member may be inserted, the apertures are disposed in parts moveable in parallel and adjacent planes and a portion of each aperture is at all times aligned with the other aperture such that a third member may extend through the apertures. The apertures have enlarged portions which will pass the third member and channel portions which prevent withdrawal of the third member while permitting movement of the moveable parts. The third member is carried by the back cover of the lock and can only be withdrawn by sequentially withdrawing from a first moveable part, shifting the moveable parts to a second position and withdrawing from the second moveable part.

Abstract: The technique for electronically resetting a magnetically sealed solenoid to an unattracted, unactuated position is described for use with solenoids which have either a residual magnetic or a permanent magnet holding force necessary to retain the armature of the solenoid in its actuated position until such time as the armature is either physically displaced by a mechanical force or an electronic signal is applied to the solenoid. This displacement creates a reverse polarity magnetic field, effectively overcoming the magnetic field acting to hold the armature in its actuated position, permitting a small mechanical force to reset the armature. In order to prevent a lock or similar device from being conditioned for opening and possibly left in that condition for a significant period of time while unattended, jeopardizing the security of the container and its contents, the actuation of the armature in the reset or release phase may occur a relatively short time following its actuation.

Abstract: The charge on a capacitor is supplied by a manual generator in a self-powered lock. The capacitor retains a reduced level charge after completion of the operation of the electronic lock controls that may serve as a capacitor pre-charge. The pre-charge reduces the amount of manual input to the generator required. The drain of the electronic control circuitry on the capacitor is disconnected responsive to a microprocessor command at the completion of microprocessor operations. The disconnection may occur at a higher level of charge voltage on the capacitor when the control is from the microprocessor without having to wait for charge decay to reach a disconnect or power down level based on charge voltage level.

Abstract: An electronic lock is provided with an emergency technique by which the lock may be possibly opened in the event that the electronic memory used to store the authorized combinations for operation in unlocking of the lock becomes corrupted, damaged or is unable to provide a valid read of storage locations containing combinations. Upon the determination that an invalid read has occurred and that the invalid read has been verified for at least a plurality of additional read cycles, the lock is conditioned to accept an otherwise inoperable master combination for purposes of opening the lock. Under the prescribed conditions, the master combination is capable of opening the lock and providing access to the interior of the container carrying the lock, thus permitting either replacement or repair of the lock and also simultaneously eliminating the need for drilling or other destructive access to the interior of the container.

Abstract: An electronic combination lock of the self-powered type, wherein the electrical energy for operation of the lock is developed within the lock itself, has a solenoid which magnetically seals in the activated position, thus preserving the "open" condition of the lock until such time as the operator may withdraw the bolt. Significantly, there is no requirement for continued electrical power to hold the solenoid and the latching mechanism in a condition for lock opening.

Abstract: A gear driven bolt withdrawal mechanism for an electronic lock is disclosed wherein an electromagnetic device such as an electromagnetic device displaces a partial gear into a position to be engaged by a manual drive. The partial gear, in turn, drives subsequent gears in a gear train to engage a gear with teeth on a rack attached to or a part of the bolt of the lock. The restoration of the bolt is ensured by a physical engagement between a portion of the drive cam and a portion of the bolt to force the bolt to its extended position upon locking; a displaceable slide is disposed in blocking relationship to the bolt whenever the bolt is fully extended to prevent end pressure from displacing the bolt without entry of a valid combination into the electronic controls of the lock.

Abstract: A combination lock and particularly an electronic combination lock used on a container that is typically housed within an enclosure having a door which further has a lock and a security switch indicating that the enclosure door has been opened may, be provided with a device to shunt a security signal around the switch associated with the enclosure door to shut off, override, or cancel the security switch signal. The lock may be provided with a shunt relay which effectively connects a signal from a voltage source to a monitor or alarm when the combination lock is opened, thereby signaling the monitor that the enclosure door was opened by an individual having the authorized combination for the combination lock. This indicates that the person opening the enclosure lock has a legitimate authorization to access the locked container within the enclosure and that the opening of the enclosure door may be reasonably ignored.

Abstract: A self-powered lock incorporates a generator within the dial housing. The generator incorporates a plurality of coils and two concentric rings of magnetic segments. The rings are mounted on a dial housing, capable of rotation, and rotation of the dial housing generates operating power for the lock. Dial rotation rotates another ring of magnetic segments to input data necessary for lock operation.

Abstract: An electronic combination lock has the capability of generating the combination that is used to compare to the entered combination by combining data read from an electronic key and data unique to the lock and stored in the lock. The lock may be operated in a mode that requires two combinations and two separate keys to open the lock. This dual combination mode of operation is possible in several classes of operation such as Route, First Line Maintenance or Bank Mode. The lock also has a mode of operation wherein the lock may be shelved or returned to the factory mode by using a unique combination and a one-time use key for assistance whenever combinations are severely out of synchronization with the dispatching computer and without other correction options.

Abstract: A combination lock is described where the combination that is used to open the lock is generated on a separate computer system using information that is contained in the lock and a series of steps that combine selected items of the information contained in the lock and alter the results of the results of the combination of the information items. The lock incorporates a computer processor-which performs the identical steps to generate an authorized combination after a combination is entered into the lock. When the two combinations match, the lock is enabled for opening. At least some of the information items used in the generation of the combinations change with each successful opening of the lock, rendering the combination generated by the computer system useable for only a single opening of the lock.