Transfer station with theft protection

Abstract

Transfer station for theft-proof temporary storage of items, consisting of - a housing (1) with a housing opening (11) in the upper part of the front (12) of the housing (1), and - a collection container (2) in the lower part of the housing (1) with a container opening at its top, wherein a swivel box (3) is arranged in the upper part of the housing (1), ◯ which is pivotably mounted in the housing (1) about a horizontal pivot axis (4) arranged at approximately half its height between an insertion position (A) and a closed position (Z) and ◯ whose upper half pivots out of the housing opening (11) of the housing (1) by pivoting into the insertion position (A) until an insertion opening (31) on the top of the pivoting box (3) is accessible from the outside, and - the swivel box (3) has a drop opening (32) on its underside, ◯ which is located in the closed position (Z) of the swivel box (3) above the container opening and ◯ a flap (5) is pivotably hinged to its rear edge, which can be closed when the swivel box (3) is pivoted into the insertion position (A) by at least one pressure roller (6) or a sliding piece, which is arranged on the housing (1) in the closed position (Z) of the swivel box (3) below a rear edge of the flap (5), and - which is open in the closed position (Z) of the swivel box (3) so that an underside of the flap (5) points away from the front, - wherein the pressure roller (6) or the sliding piece is arranged such that it is located in the closed position (Z) of the pivot box (3) immediately next to the underside of the flap (5), characterized in that - the underside of the flap (5) has the shape of a cylindrical segment with the pivot axis (4) as its center point, and - a hollow cylinder segment (7) is placed on that part of the front of the swivel box (3) which can be swivelled out of the housing opening (11), ◯ whose front surface in the closed position (Z) closes flush with the housing opening (11), and ◯ whose upper and lower surfaces are cylindrically curved closed surfaces, and ◯ whose sides are levels, ◯ wherein the top and bottom and the two sides in each of the possible pivot positions of the pivot box (3) have only the necessary movement distance to the respective adjacent edges of the housing opening (11).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a transfer station for theft-protected intermediate storage of items according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The mailbox is certainly the best-known example of a drop-off point where items are deposited and usually collected without the supervision of a person, intended to be received at a later time only by an authorized individual. Other examples include ballots cast in elections or hotel room keys handed in at reception. Another example is the return of rental car keys after hours at the rental car station. A particularly tempting example for thieves is the deposit of cash boxes, for example, containing the day's takings from individual businesses.

[0003] Unfortunately, thieves repeatedly attempt to steal items such as deposited keys from mailboxes and other handover points mentioned above, hoping to gain unfair advantages through misuse. In the case of bank and savings bank mailboxes, there have been reports of attempts to retrieve deposited transfer slips in order to use the resulting account information, along with a forged signature, for fraudulent transactions.

[0004] As an attempt to at least hinder such unjustified removals, DE 298 06 947 describes a cuboid hollow body with an opening that can be closed at one edge by a flap. A plate is attached to the edge of the insertion opening opposite the hinge of the flap as a "removal deterrent," rising relative to the longitudinal axis of the mailbox when viewed in the direction of insertion. This causes a letter to bend if it is to be pushed over the removal deterrent into the mailbox's collection container. This type of removal deterrent presupposes that the inserted item can be bent from its original shape, which is the case for most postal items.

[0005] The main disadvantage, however, is that with fairly simple tools - such as a bent wire with a shovel-like widening at its front end - mail items can be retrieved from the mailbox.

[0006] Since there is continuous contact between the outside and the letter collection container, other, more specialized tools can also be used, such as a remote-controlled gripping device on a flexible wire. To essentially "see past" the anti-theft device, the initial approach doesn't even require a tiny camera on the front of the wire; a simple mirror positioned under the letterbox flap, above the anti-theft device, is all that's needed.

[0007] To eliminate the disadvantage of direct accessibility, DE 698 05 040 T2 proposes that, while the chute is opening, the chute area is separated from the collection area by a wall. To allow this wall to be opened in a space-saving manner to allow the collected items to pass through, the invention proposes a roller shutter. After the chute is closed, the roller shutter opens so that the items on it fall into a collection container below.

[0008] This is a primary disadvantage of the system: because the roller shutter moves perpendicular to the direction in which the mail is dropped, there is a risk of damaging the bottom edge of the mail items placed on it. This risk is exacerbated by the gaps in the roller shutter.

[0009] The invention indirectly confirms this undesirable effect by providing a "scraper" between the horizontal and vertical positions of the roller shutter. This prevents mail items caught between two adjacent segments of the roller shutter from being carried upwards by the shutter instead of falling through the opening into the collection container below.

[0010] Another disadvantage of this principle is the complicated drive of the roller shutter by a swivel arm which must be driven by the user via the movement of the locking flap.

[0011] This device is not only expensive to manufacture but, due to its numerous moving parts, is also susceptible to wear and tear and therefore requires maintenance over time. Continuous operation can lead to stiffness in the drive mechanism, preventing the flap from closing automatically under its own weight and requiring it to be forced down. A user in a hurry might then forget to force the flap shut, leaving their deposited item in the handover area where it can be easily accessed and retrieved by thieves.

[0012] European Publication EP 0 631 751 A1 proposes a device for depositing objects into a storage box, as well as a storage box equipped with the device. The storage box features a swiveling box mounted at an angle when closed, with a top-mounted insertion opening and a bottom-mounted discharge opening. The discharge opening is closed by a flap that opens when the swiveling box is pivoted by means of a articulated push rod, and only when the pivot angle exceeds a threshold value. After this angle threshold is exceeded, the opening angle of the discharge flap is proportional to the difference between the threshold angle and the angle threshold value.

[0013] The patent application DE 43 43 523 A1 concerns a secure mailbox for the safe storage of valuables with a slot flap and a further flap closing the collection space.

[0014] In the patent application DE 10 2006 039 002 A1, a collection container, in particular for collecting parcels, is presented with a drop-in opening and a storage space, in which a receiving device in the drop-in opening for items to be transported through the drop-in opening into the storage space is provided in the form of a tipping tray, wherein a device for measuring the fill level is located in the storage space.

[0015] Belgian patent BE 387017 A describes a model for offering boxes, letterboxes, or similar containers, in which a pivoting box is located within a housing. This pivoting box can be tilted from the outside, and when tilted, an upper opening of the pivoting box is exposed for the insertion of objects. A lower opening is closed by a flap, which is pivotally attached to the pivoting box. The flap slides with its flat underside on a sliding block that is fixed relative to the housing. When the pivoting box swings back to its starting position, the flap slides off the sliding block, opening due to gravity and thus allowing the inserted object to pass into the interior of the housing.

[0016] US Patent 4,176,610 describes a safety storage device that provides a pivoting box with circular segment-shaped side panels, connected at the front to a cylindrical segment-shaped top, for receiving items within a housing. A storage area for the items only becomes accessible when the box is sufficiently pivoted out of the housing, at which point it is closed off from the rear collection area of ​​the housing by a partition that moves along with the box as it is ejected.

[0017] Against this background, the invention aims to create a transfer station in which a transfer area separate from the collection area is completely separated from the collection area during the insertion of an object into the station, and the transfer zone empties itself automatically into the collection area after filling, whereby damage to the deposited object should be avoided as far as possible and the cost and maintenance effort of the transfer station should be as low as possible.

[0018] As a solution to this problem, the invention teaches a transfer station with the features of claim 1.

[0019] A key feature of the invention is the swivel box, which precisely defines the transfer area. Its openings are accessible either only from the housing opening or only from the collection container through its discharge opening on the underside. A crucial characteristic is that these two openings are never open simultaneously. This prevents any manipulation tool from being passed through the swivel box.

[0020] In its function, the swivel box resembles a seesaw: When one end of the swivel mechanism is reached, the inlet opening on the top of the box pivots outwards through the housing opening and can be filled from the outside in this inlet position. Meanwhile, the second opening of the swivel box, namely the discharge opening on its underside, is closed by a flap.

[0021] When the swing box is full and swung from its insertion position, the flap initially remains stationary relative to the housing. This is particularly advantageous for use as a letterbox because letters inserted into the swing box rest on their narrow side against the flap, thus concentrating their entire weight on a relatively small area. If they had to be moved across this area, the risk of damage would be much higher than when the envelope slides on one of its two larger surfaces. Due to the large surface area, the force per unit area—that is, the pressure—is significantly lower. This also considerably reduces the risk of scratches and other damage.

[0022] Only at the end of the swiveling movement, when the swivel box has reached its closed position and the opening is no longer accessible from the outside, does the hinged flap on the underside of the swivel box open, allowing the contents of the swivel box to be carried by gravity into the collection container below.

[0023] If the items stored in the swing-out box are envelopes, then one of their narrow sides rests on the flap. The risk of damaging these edges when the flap is swung open is therefore very low, because the flap is not moved perpendicular to the envelopes, but rather its angle increases rapidly as it opens. Initially, the envelope does not move relative to the flap, but remains in its position on the swing-out flap. At this initial moment, it tilts only slightly relative to the swing-out box. The major advantage is that, during this phase, the edge of the envelope does not slide on the flap, but rolls along it. As the flap's angle increases, the rolling motion continues until the edge of the envelope begins to slide on the flap.

[0024] However, this phase is extremely short compared to the other stages of emptying, because each envelope is quickly separated from the flap by the rapidly increasing tilt of the flap and, in most cases, by other, pressing mail items, and in the final stage of emptying can only rub slightly with its two large surfaces against the opposite inside of the swivel box or against the front edge of the flap.

[0025] For this reason, the invention proposes, as a further refined embodiment, that the front edge of the flap is rounded.

[0026] Another measure to prevent damage to the goods temporarily stored in the swivel box is to coat its inner surfaces with a very slippery plastic such as Teflon® or another similarly acting material.

[0027] The pivoting movement of the flap is triggered by at least one pressure roller or sliding block, which is located on the housing below the rear edge of the flap when the swivel box is in the closed position. When the swivel box is in its closed position, which in practice is usually a perfectly vertical alignment of the side walls of the swivel box, the flap hangs down from the underside of the swivel box due to its own weight, thus exposing the discharge opening. As soon as the swivel box is moved out of this position, the flap is also pressed against the pressure roller or sliding block, which, with further pivoting, quickly presses the flap against the discharge opening of the swivel box, thus keeping the discharge opening of the swivel box closed.

[0028] It is advantageous if the flap is flat on its side facing the swivel box, because then the objects stored in the swivel box can roll perfectly onto it in the first phase of the flap opening and, in the second phase, after a very short glide on the inner surface of the flap, detach themselves from it quite quickly, in order to slide along the edge of the flap in the third phase and fall downwards.

[0029] On its other, outward-facing side, however, the flap, according to the invention, has the shape of a cylindrical segment with the pivot axis at its center. Only then does the flap remain stationary relative to the pivoting housing during pivoting. To achieve this, a circular arc-shaped segment can be mounted on a flat flap in the area of ​​each pressure roller or sliding element. Preferably, it is made of a highly lubricious plastic that is compatible with the material of the pressure roller or sliding element. A further advantage of this mounted cylindrical segment is that, after a long period of operation, it can be easily replaced as a wear part without having to replace the entire flap.

[0030] In another design variant, the swivel box closes the housing opening when closed. If the swivel axis is located on a side surface of the swivel box, only a relatively thin plate needs to be placed on the upper part of the swivel box. In the closed position, the front of this plate is flush with the housing opening. The further the swivel axis is from the front of the swivel box, the thicker this plate needs to be.

[0031] If there is a relatively large distance between the housing and the swing box, it can be useful to mount this cover plate on spacers. However, this solution has the weakness that a gap opens between the front wall of the housing and the front wall of the swing box when transitioning from the closed position to the insertion position.

[0032] This gap is closed by the hollow cylinder segment mounted on the front of the swivel housing according to the invention. In the closed position of the swivel housing, the front surface of the hollow cylinder segment closes the housing opening flush. The rear of the hollow cylinder segment is attached to the front of the swivel housing. The top and bottom surfaces are cylindrically curved, and the two side surfaces are flat. In each of the possible swivel positions of the swivel housing, these latter four surfaces allow only the absolutely necessary – and very small – clearance to the adjacent edges of the housing opening. As a result, the hollow cylinder segment always completely closes the housing opening in all intermediate positions of the swivel housing, preventing any tool or other object from being inserted through the gap between the housing opening and the hollow cylinder segment.

[0033] The pivot axis of the swivel box can be designed and positioned in various ways. In a very simple version, the pivot axis runs through the side surfaces of the swivel box. The pivot axis should be positioned as close to the front as possible so that the swivel box is moved from its inclined opening position back to its closed, approximately vertical position by its own weight. The weight of the part of the swivel box located behind the pivot axis generates a torque that moves the swivel box back into its vertical, closed position.

[0034] If this torque is insufficient, the effective lever arm can be lengthened by placing the pivot axis in front of the front of the swivel box, e.g. in a bridge mounted on the front.

[0035] If the return torque provided by the weight of the swivel box is insufficient, a spring can be used additionally or alternatively to automatically pivot the swivel box from its insertion position to its closed position. Depending on its position, the spring will be either a tension or a compression spring.

[0036] A common design for a pivot axis is a real-world axis mounted in a plain bearing, ball bearing, or other type of bearing, allowing it to rotate freely. Numerous variations of such bearings are currently available. In practice, a plain bearing will suffice in most cases. A ball bearing is much more complex but also offers a significantly longer lifespan. As is generally known, in such a bearing, balls roll between the stationary and rotating parts.

[0037] The rolling principle can also be applied to the swivel box according to the invention without a ball bearing. For this purpose, it is proposed to attach at least one cylindrical segment horizontally to the front of the swivel box, the outer surface of which rolls on a flat plate mounted horizontally in the housing. In the area of ​​the line of contact, this cylindrical segment behaves like the wheel of a vehicle rolling on a road. However, since the swivel box is only pivoted through a fraction of a full circle, the cylindrical segment only needs to be precisely arc-shaped over a relatively small area. Only in this area is it subject to wear – which is very minimal.

[0038] This "running surface" can therefore even be covered with an additional, replaceable wear layer. In its other areas, the design of this bead-shaped cylinder segment located on the front of the swivel housing is freely selectable.

[0039] In an advantageous embodiment, the invention proposes that the profile of the swivel box gradually increases slightly from its insertion opening to its discharge opening. This prevents letters or other objects inserted into the swivel box from becoming wedged or jammed, and ensures they always fall downwards when the flap is opened, even if they have been forced into the insertion opening under some tension.

[0040] If the swivel box consists of four plates joined together to form a rectangular cross-section, then it makes sense to shape the interior of the swivel box like a very steep truncated pyramid. The discharge opening is then slightly larger than the insertion opening, thus achieving the desired profile widening.

[0041] As an additional optional feature, lighting of the interior surfaces of the swivel box is proposed. This would allow an authorized user of the drop-off station to check before inserting an item that there are no other objects or even suspicious items in the swivel box. After inserting their item – for example, their letter – they can check again by opening the swivel box to ensure that their letter has actually slid out.

[0042] As a further useful addition, the invention proposes a rain protection roof above the housing opening, which is mechanically coupled to the swivel box and is swung out above the housing opening when the swivel box is opened. This rain protection roof prevents precipitation from penetrating the open swivel box.

[0043] Another optional feature would be a fill level sensor that monitors when the maximum possible fill level in the collection container is reached and locks the swivel box when this fill level is reached, only releasing it again after the collection container has been emptied.

[0044] This prevents, for example, very thin mail items that should actually fall completely into the collection container from becoming jammed between the flap and the swivel box due to overfilling, and thus being damaged or unlawfully removed from the swivel box.

[0045] Thanks to the sensor and the locking mechanism that prevents the swivel from turning when the collection container is full, every object that falls out of the swivel box always finds enough space in the collection container to avoid being swept away again by the closing flap when the swivel box is turned again.

[0046] A mechanical version of the sensor would be a lever pivoting in its center like a seesaw. Falling letters push one side of the seesaw downwards, causing the other side of the lever to move upwards. This upward-moving end engages a pawl with a gear mounted on the pivot axis of the swivel housing. The pawl blocks the movement of the gear and thus the swivel housing.

[0047] Once the falling letters have passed the lever, a small spring pushes the lever back into its starting position. This also retracts the pawl from the gear, allowing the swivel box to be swiveled again.

[0048] When the collection bin is full, the most recently inserted letters remain on the lever, preventing it from returning to its starting position. The swivel box is then permanently blocked.

[0049] Alternatively, the sensor could be a light barrier that controls an electrically operated lock to prevent the swiveling of the swivel box.

[0050] Further details and features of the invention will be explained in more detail below using an example. This example is not intended to limit the invention, but only to illustrate it. It shows a schematic representation of: Fig. 1 Section through a transfer station Fig. 2 Front view of a transfer station

[0051] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a cross-section through a transfer station according to the invention. The housing 1 – here column-shaped – has the swivel box 3 in its upper part. It is shown with solid lines in its closed position Z and with dotted lines in its insertion position A. In the insertion position A, the insertion opening 31 of the swivel box protrudes from the housing opening 11 of the housing 1. A large arrow, labeled “A”, indicates the direction in which letters and other items can be thrown into the swivel box 3, which is then accessible from the outside.

[0052] In this position, the pivot flap 5, which is hinged directly to the discharge opening 32, is closed at the lower edge of the swivel box 3, because in this position it is pressed against the discharge opening 32 by the pressure roller 6 and closes it.

[0053] When the swivel box 3 is swung into the closed position Z – indicated by solid lines – the flap 5 opens due to its own weight and hangs approximately vertically downwards. In this position, it exposes the discharge opening 32, allowing objects located in the swivel box 3 to fall into the collection container 2.

[0054] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a version in which the pivot axis 4 is arranged in front of the front of the pivot box 3. In the illustrated embodiment, it is mounted in a web, so that it has a significant distance from the pivot box 3. This means that the weight of the pivot box 3 acts with a relatively long lever arm, thus increasing the torque that returns the pivot box 3 and its attachments back to the vertical, closed position Z.

[0055] In the upper part of the swivel box, the hollow cylinder segment 7, attached to its front, becomes visible, specifically with one side surface. Only a lateral edge of the respective curved top and bottom surfaces of this hollow cylinder segment 7 is visible. Fig. It becomes plausible that the hollow cylinder segment 7 closes the housing opening 11 in every angular position of the swivel box 3. The gap between the hollow cylinder segment and the housing opening is so small that no manipulation tools can be inserted into the interior of the housing 1. Only at the end of the swivel movement, when the insertion position A is reached, does the insertion opening 31 open behind the upper, curved surface of the hollow cylinder segment 7.

[0056] In Fig.Figure 2 shows part of the front view of the housing 1. Only the closed position Z of the swivel box 3 is shown. Therefore, the upper part of the housing 1 shows how the rectangular housing opening 11 is closed by the front of the hollow cylinder segment 7.

[0057] In the lower part of the housing 1 a flap can be seen which, in this version, serves to remove the collection container 2 in the lower part of the housing 1. Reference symbol list A. Insertion position of the swivel box 3 Z Closed position of the swivel box 3 1 case 11. Housing opening in the upper part of the front of the housing 1 2 collection containers in the lower part of the housing 1 3 swivel boxes in housing 1 31 Inlet opening on top of swivel box 3 32 Discharge opening on the underside of swivel box 3 4 Swivel axis of the swivel box 3 5 flap, at drop opening 32 6 Pressure roller below the rear edge of the flap 5 7 Hollow cylinder segment at the front of the swivel box 3

Claims

[1] Transfer station for theft-protected temporary storage of items, consisting of - a housing (1) with a housing opening (11) in the upper part of the front (12) of the housing (1), and - a collection container (2) in the lower part of the housing (1) with a container opening at its top, wherein a swivel box (3) is arranged in the upper part of the housing (1), ◯ which is pivotably mounted in the housing (1) about a horizontal pivot axis (4) arranged at approximately half its height between an insertion position (A) and a closed position (Z) and ◯ whose upper half pivots out of the housing opening (11) of the housing (1) by pivoting into the insertion position (A) until an insertion opening (31) on the top of the pivoting box (3) is accessible from the outside, and - the swivel box (3) has a drop opening (32) on its underside, ◯ which is located in the closed position (Z) of the swivel box (3) above the container opening and ◯ a flap (5) is pivotably hinged to its rear edge, which can be closed when the swivel box (3) is pivoted into the insertion position (A) by at least one pressure roller (6) or a sliding piece, which is arranged on the housing (1) in the closed position (Z) of the swivel box (3) below a rear edge of the flap (5), and - which is open in the closed position (Z) of the swivel box (3) so that an underside of the flap (5) points away from the front, - wherein the pressure roller (6) or the sliding piece is arranged such that it is located in the closed position (Z) of the swivel box (3) immediately next to the underside of the flap (5), characterized by , that - the underside of the flap (5) has the shape of a cylindrical segment with the pivot axis (4) as its center point, and - a hollow cylinder segment (7) is placed on that part of the front of the swivel box (3) which can be swivelled out of the housing opening (11), ◯ whose front surface in the closed position (Z) closes flush with the housing opening (11), and ◯ whose upper and lower surfaces are cylindrically curved closed surfaces, and ◯ whose sides are levels, ◯ wherein the top and bottom and the two sides in each of the possible pivot positions of the pivot box (3) have only the necessary movement distance to the respective adjacent edges of the housing opening (11). [2] Transfer station according to claim 1, characterized by , that the swivel box (3) in its closed position (Z) closes the housing opening (11). [3] Transfer station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the pivot axis (4) is located in the front area of ​​the pivot box (3) or in front of the front of the pivot box (3) and that the pivot box (3) can be pivoted by gravity from its insertion position (A) to its closed position (Z). [4] Transfer station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the swivel box (3) can be automatically swivelled from its insertion position (A) to its closed position (Z) by means of a spring. [5] Transfer station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one cylindrical segment is horizontally mounted as a pivot axis (4) on the front of the pivot box (3), the outer surface of which rolls on a flat plate fixed horizontally in the housing (1). [6] Transfer station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the profile of the swivel box (3) increases continuously from its insertion opening (31) to its discharge opening (32). [7] Transfer station according to claim 6, characterized by , that the interior of the swivel box (3) is shaped like a truncated pyramid. [8] Transfer station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the inner surfaces of the swivel box (3) are provided with a particularly smooth coating. [9] Transfer station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the inner surfaces of the swivel box (3) are illuminated. [10] Transfer station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that when the swivel box (3) is swung out of the housing opening (11) a rain protection roof also swings out or folds out from the front of the housing (1), which is mechanically coupled to the swivel box (3) and is arranged above the swivel box (3). [11] Transfer station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one level sensor blocks the swiveling box (3) from pivoting when the maximum possible filling height of the collection container (2) is reached and only releases it again after emptying. [12] Transfer station according to claim 11p, characterized by that as a level sensor - near the top edge of the collection container (2) a lever is pivotably mounted in its center like a seesaw, and - a part of the lever projecting into the area where objects fall can be pushed downwards by falling objects, whereupon the other side of the lever can be moved upwards, and - a pawl presses into a gear that is mounted on the pivot axis (4) of the swivel box (3), and by the pawl engaging, the pivoting of the gear and thus of the swivel box (3) is blocked and - the lever can be swung back into its starting position by a spring after the objects bearing on it have passed. [13] Transfer station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that they are for - Letters and other objects, such as flat, round objects or - Ballot papers or - Containers with cash or - Hotel key or - Rental car key is dimensioned.

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