Abstract: A beverage-producing machine includes a housing, a beverage producing unit arranged in the housing and a container for at least one beverage ingredient. The container is lockable to the housing and unlockable therefrom. The container includes a bottom aperture configured to dispense the ingredient contained therein and a shutter configured to selectively close and open the aperture. Furthermore, an actuating member is provided in the housing. The actuating member acts upon the shutter for selectively opening and closing the bottom aperture of the container while respectively locking the container to the housing and unlocking the container from the housing.

Abstract: A protector includes a cover that is attachable to a casing formed with an opening through which the medium passes from an outside for storing the medium in an internal storage space or feeding the medium from the internal storage space to the outside, and that covers the opening when attached to the casing; and an attaching portion that extends so as to face toward a side surface of the casing from an end of the cover, and includes a fitting portion that fits with a fitting portion formed on the side surface of the casing.

Abstract: Methods and devices provide for lock interaction with software in order to facilitate access to a vault in a cash handling device and display of a transportation utility interface. A user may access an electromechanical lock on a cash handling device. The lock may determine whether the user is authorized. If unlocked, access may be provided to a transportation utility interface and to a vault that may contain currency in order to facilitate removal and transportation of the currency. If desired, stackers in the cash handling device may automatically transfer the currency to a container in the vault after the lock is unlocked. The vault may be subsequently closed, access to the transportation utility interface may be disabled, and the lock may be re-locked.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a container for transporting of valuables in a first compartment; particularly towards a container having a second compartment containing an alarm system. The alarm system includes an air bladder, i.e. airbag, for instantaneous and rapid deployment when triggered by a remote activator or other devices present on the container. After being triggered the air bladder inflates to a volume much greater than the second compartment and the container, such that the thief cannot easily transport the container into a car or through a doorway, or at the very least without being noticed.

Abstract: Described is a security device for the lock on a switchgear-cabinet door, a machine housing or similar equipment, the device consisting of a first element (54) attached e.g. to the door (12) and a second element (44) attached e.g. to the door frame or machine-housing frame (24), the two elements (54, 44) being designed so that one can be inserted in the other and be held in this position under the control of an electrical signal, corresponding, for example, to the presence or absence of an operating signal. The invention calls, in the case of a door or machine-housing panel (12), for e.g. one element (54) to be attached to the handle (26) of a turning-handle lock (14) mounted on the door or housing panel and for the other element (44) to be attached in such a way to the door frame or housing frame (24) that this other element (44) projects out into the vicinity of the lock handle when the door is closed or the housing in place and the lock handle turned into the "locked" position.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling strips of paper removably incorporated in paper strip handling equipment. The apparatus has a box having a window for handling strips of paper, a shutter section for opening and closing the window, a drum section having therein a pooling section for temporarily accommodating strips of paper, and an anti-intrusion portion provided on either one of opposite edges of the shutter section with respect to the opening and closing direction of the shutter for preventing a strip of paper, trash or similar alien substance from being inserted in the apparatus through a clearance formed between the box and the shutter section.

Abstract: A strongbox having an integral antitheft mechanism. The antitheft mechanism is a plurality of rigid rod-like projections having a normal retracted position within a perimeter of the strongbox. The projections are maintained in this normal position by a lever which is associated with a handle for gripping to move the strongbox. If the manual lever is released actuating means provide for the rapid movement of the projections from the retracted position to a radial, extended position beyond the strongbox perimeter. These projections when in the extended position impair movement of the strongbox.

Abstract: A lock comprising a hollow cylindrical seat, a cylindrical lock body for insertion into the seat and having a cavity in its exterior surface to accommodate a sphere therein, a screw hood for screwing onto the lock body, the hood having a plurality of cavities on its interior surface to accommodate the sphere, and a cylindrical lock barrel for insertion into the lock body and having a conical recession for accommodating the sphere to permit removal of the lock barrel and for pushing the sphere into the cavity in the screw hood to prevent removal of the lock barrel from the lock body.

Abstract: An autoteller accepts on a ramp exchangeable banknote cassettes which can only be opened at the predetermined angle of the ramp when a key assembly on the ramp is presented to a lock. The cassettes may only have the key assembly presented to the lock when not on the ramp at an angle to the horizontal, whereat opening of the doors on the cassette is prevented by a blocking bar swinging to engage a notch in the opening mechanism to prevent operation of the opening mechanism. A processor in the autoteller accepts a password from an internal keypad, enters a wide access bank service routine if a first password is provided and a restrictive access third party service routine if a second password is provided, shutting down the autoteller if no correct password is provided within a predetermined number of tries in a predetermined time.

Abstract: In apparatus for dispensing documents of value for example banknotes, a cassette (10) preloaded with a stack of banknotes is movable along a predetermined path into the dispenser housing up to a feed position; the cassette includes a shutter (18) for closing a feed aperture (22) through which banknotes can be extracted for dispensing. The dispenser housing has a stop member (40) movable by a cam (30) on the cassette to cause a shutter-actuating member (42), coupled to the stop member, to enter a recess (26) in the shutter (18) whereby during further movement of the cassette up to the document feed position the shutter is moved from its closed position to its open position. The relative position of the cam on the cassette and the stop member is such that if because the shutter is already open the shutter-actuating member (42) is prevented from entering the recess, further movement of the cassette into the housing is blocked by the continued engagement of the stop member (40) and the cam (30).

Abstract: A cassette which is arranged to hold currency notes or other valuable articles and which may be used for transporting currency notes from a bank to an automatic cash dispensing machine. The cassette includes a receptacle for notes, and locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the receptacle. There is provided a tampering indicating mechanism which is arranged to be actuated during an unlocking and locking cycle of operation of the locking mechanism, this indicating mechanism including a latch which is set to a first state when the cassette is loaded with notes. The latch is tripped during an unlocking operation of the locking mechanism, the latch when tripped serving to prevent any further unlocking operation until such time as the latch is reset to its first state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cassette particularly for bank notes. The object of the invention is to provide a cassette which will give an indication if it is tampered with.The cassette has a shutter which can be opened to remove the contents and mechanism to move the shutter from a first position to a second position when actuated by an external actuator means. When the external actuator is removed the mechanism automatically returns the shutter to the first position. Means are provided to prevent further movement of the shutter after it has returned to the first position.In the drawings (FIG. 5), shutter 12 is actuated by rods 30 acting against the tension of spring 26.The shutter is held against movement by latch 44 engaging bar 24. When key 57 is turned through 180.degree., end 51 of bar 50 lifts latch 44 against spring pressure to allow shutter 12 to be opened by rods 30.

Abstract: A carrying case, having a hinged lid, is provided with a handle and locks. Within the interior of the case and hingedly connected to the case is a liner, within which are stored sensitive papers. A thermite charge is within a removable boat in the liner and has igniters electrically connected, through a selectively positionable key operated switch, to a battery and through various switch members so that the igniters are triggered upon the occurrence of and one of various events. One switch member is on the handle and is depressed when carrying the case. Other switch members are closed upon tilting; still other switch members are closed if a knife is passed through the exterior of the container. Still other switches are closed in the event that a knife is inserted to prize open the case or the case is opened without being disarmed.Upon the making of an electrical circuit, the igniters ignite the thermite charge to burn or char the papers, the gases escaping through an opening in the lid of the case.

Abstract: A safe for protecting valuables such as jewelry with an outer casing having an open top and an inner casing for receiving the valuables. A hydraulically operated, mechanical linkage within the outer casing mounts the inner casing for movement by the application of hydraulic force between a lower and elevated position. First and second locks are disposed in the hydraulic path which elevates the inner casing and each include a rotatable annular element and a second element rotatable therein, each element having a passage therethrough so that the hydraulic elevating path is completed when the passages are aligned by choice of the correct combination. At least one of the elements includes a drain path for releasing the hydraulic pressure to lower the inner casing. An alarm coupled to the hydraulic path sounds whenever pressure greater than a given value is detected indicating that pump has been operated without the locks being in the correct positions.