Apparatus having a bill validator and a method of servicing the apparatus
View Patent ↗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.
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;
an exposed bill validator that is accessible for removal from outside the housing without unlocking a security lock, the bill validator being configured for receiving bills and delivering the received bills to the storage area, wherein the housing is configured to permit the validator to be removed without unlocking the primary lock and without providing access to items stored in the storage area.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a release mechanism, the release mechanism securing the bill validator within the housing.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 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.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the release mechanism is operated to the open position by pulling on an outward end of the bill validator.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the release mechanism is operated to the closed position by loading the bill validator into the housing from a removed position.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is a safe housing.
7. 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.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 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.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a cassette in the storage area, the cassette storing bills inputted into the validator.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cassette is removably secured within the storage area, the cassette being removable when the door is open.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 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.
12. 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; and
a ledge between the storage area and the bill validator to limit access to the storage area when the bill validator is removed.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 further including a release mechanism, the release mechanism securing the bill validator within the housing.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 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.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 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. 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 through an opening included on an outside non-moveable wall of the safe for servicing without performing any unlocking operations, including without unlocking the primary lock and without providing access to the cassette when the bill validator is removed, the validator being removable through the opening when the safe is locked.
17. A safe, the safe comprising:
a storage area secured behind a lockable door on a front side of the safe; and
a bill validator proximate the front side of the safe for receiving paper bills, the bill validator being configured to deliver paper bills to the storage area, the bill validator being accessible and removable through an opening exposed on the front side of the safe when the safe is locked, the bill validator being accessible and removable without requiring unlocking of the door to the storage area.
18. The safe of claim 17 further comprising a bill validator lock for locking the bill validator within the safe, the bill validator lock being different from a door lock used with the lockable door such that the validator can be unlocked without unlocking the door lock.
19. The safe of claim 17 further comprising a cassette in the storage area for storing the paper bills received from the bill validator, wherein the bill validator is located above the door and the door includes a ledge extending rearwardly therefrom and under the bill validator, the ledge extending rearwardly to partially cover the cassette so as to limit access to the cassette when the bill validator is removed.
20. A safe comprising:
a housing having first and second openings, the first opening covered with a door behind which items are safely secured with a lock on the door, the second opening providing access to an exposed, unsecured and removable bill validator, the second opening located on a non-moveable outer wall of the safe and being larger than a width and height of the bill validator; and
wherein the bill validator includes electrically driven, motorized features to facilitate electronically analyzing bills and delivering the analyzed bills to the storage area for safekeeping, the entire bill validator, including the electronically driven, motorized features, being unsecured and removable through the second opening.
21. The safe of claim 20 wherein the bill validator includes a transport system, the transport system being removable through the second opening when the safe is locked, wherein the lock on the door is the only security lock used to lock the safe.