WO1996038824A1

WO1996038824A1 - Device for storing small objects and for managing and monitoring entry and removal of such objects

Info

Publication number: WO1996038824A1
Application number: PCT/FR1996/000784
Authority: WO
Inventors: Isabel Luque-Palacios; Christian Canard
Original assignee: A.I.C. Finances Societe Anonyme
Priority date: 1995-05-29
Filing date: 1996-05-24
Publication date: 1996-12-05
Also published as: FR2734794B1; FR2734794A1; AU6008196A

Abstract

A device is disclosed for storing small objects and for managing and monitoring entry and removal thereof. Each small object is associated with an identification support with means that form an identification code of said object. Each small object is stored in a particular place (9) inside the device and may be released into a place (4) that is accessible to the user, after the user enters a message that matches a predetermined message associated with the means that form the identification code of said object. The device also has data storage means for storing the co-ordinates of the place (9) where each particular object is stored.

Description

"Device for storing small objects and for managing and monitoring the entrances and exits of these small objects"

The invention relates to a device for the storage of small objects and for the management and monitoring of the entrances and exits of these small objects which are each associated with an identification support carrying a means forming the identification code of said object.

This invention applies more particularly to keys or sets of keys.

The management of all the keys is a key element for the proper functioning of the security of a building or a set of buildings. Indeed, losing a general master key or keys can generate very significant replacement costs for locks or keys.

In order to avoid loss or theft of keys, the invention provides a cabinet for monitoring and managing key movements. Such a device thus allows the distribution of a key or a set of keys by means of the introduction of a confidential code, for example, in preprogrammed time slots. Thus, any attempt to take a key without prior authorization is impossible.

To this end, the invention relates to a device of the aforementioned type comprising means for receiving an object associated with its identification support, means for reading the means forming the identification code of said object and verify the conformity of this means forming a code, means for storing the object in a particular place inside the device, if the means forming an identification code has been recognized as conforming, means for receiving an exit request message of an object, means for comparing said message to a predetermined message associated with said means identifying code of said object and means for releasing said object, comprising means for transporting it from said particular place to a location in which this object is made available to a user, if said request message conforms to the predetermined message.

The device further comprises memory means for keeping in memory the coordinates of the particular place where the object is stored and the means forming the identification code of said object.

This device is characterized in that the means for storing an object comprise at least one rotary drum provided with cells adapted to each receive an object associated with its identification support, the axis of rotation of the drum being disposed substantially horizontally when the device is in its operating position.

Thus, each key stored inside such a device is invisible and inaccessible from the outside, which in particular makes it possible to avoid copying by molding keys.

In addition, all key management is done inside the device. Another advantage of the invention is the small size of the device, which is substantially similar to that of a simple table on which keys can be hung.

In addition, the device allows increased security compared to such a table.

For the insertion of an object into the device, means make it possible to rotate the drum up to the first empty cell.

The device further comprises means for locating the position of the drum in real time and means for keeping in memory the loaded or unloaded situation of each cell.

According to a particular embodiment, the drum is separated into two parts by a wall substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum.

Advantageously, the means for receiving an object comprise means for checking the presence and means for checking the conformity of the means forming an identification code associated with the object.

The device also includes means for rejecting a non-conforming object. According to a particular embodiment, the object concerned is a key or a set of keys and the identification medium associated with said object is a tamper-resistant key ring so that the key or the set of keys cannot be dissociated therefrom, even breaking and entering. In addition, the means forming the identification code of such a support comprises an integrated circuit.

Other advantages of the invention will result from the description which follows with reference to the drawings given by way of nonlimiting example.

Figure 1 shows a schematic elevational view of the interior of a device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the device according to line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 represents an optical encoder making it possible to know the positioning of the drum of the device according to the invention.

The device according to the invention is intended to allow the storage of small objects, the management and monitoring of the entrances and exits of these small objects. It is in the form of a wardrobe.

Each object intended to be stored inside the device is associated with a number and with an identification medium carrying means forming an identification code. The means forming an identification code is for example an integrated circuit (a chip). More particularly, the device can be adapted to the storage of keys or sets of keys. In this case, the associated identification medium is a key chain. Preferably, the latter is inviolable so that it is impossible to separate the key, or the set of keys, from its support.

In addition, in the case of the use of a chip, provision can be made to integrate it by molding inside the support, which makes it possible to avoid its wear.

As shown in Figure 1, the device comprises a housing 1 of substantially parallelepiped shape closed by a door and inside which are arranged in particular an input receptacle 2 adapted to receive an object associated with its identification support, at less a rotary drum 3, and an outlet receptacle 4 intended to make the released object available.

The drum 3 is arranged between the inlet receptacle 2 and the outlet receptacle 4 so that the inlet receptacle 2 is positioned in the upper position.

The inlet and outlet receptacles 2, 4 are generally arranged along the same axis, substantially parallel to the door of the housing 1.

The axis of rotation of the drum 3 is disposed substantially horizontally when the device is in its operating position. More precisely, the axis of rotation of the drum 3 is substantially perpendicular to the door and to the axis along which the inlet and outlet receptacles 2, 4 extend.

The input receptacle 2 comprises a probe 6 for detecting the presence of an object and clamps 5 holding the deposited object. Preferably, the probe 6 is with electrical contact.

As soon as it detects the presence of an object, this probe 6 excites a magnetic field which will allow the conformity of the means forming the identification code of the object to be verified by means of an electromagnetic induction reading known in itself.

The use of an integrated circuit as an identification code means enables the code to be read whatever the position of the object.

If the means of identification is not recognized, the clamps 5 will move away and release the object by gravity, in a chute 7 connected to the outlet receptacle 4. The chute 7 has an upper orifice 7a located near the clamps and means which open at the time of the evacuation of the object to direct this object in the chute 7.

On the other hand, if the means of identification is recognized, the clamps 5 will open in the direction of the drum 3. In order to orient the object precisely towards the chute 7 or the drum, provision may be made to associate the clamps 5 with means forming a lever. It is possible, for example, to attach to the clamps 5 a flexible strip able to receive the object and to be oriented in the direction of the trough 7 or of the drum before the spacing of the clamps 5.

The drum 3 has two cylinders arranged coaxially around the axis of the drum: a hollow inner cylinder 8a and an outer cylinder 8b.

Between these two cylinders 8a, 8b, are arranged cells 9 adapted to each store an object associated with its identification support. These cells 9 are arranged circumferentially side by side around the inner cylinder 8a of the drum 3, that is to say of the axis of the drum 3.

Each cell 9 is delimited by two substantially radial walls 10 and is closed by a pivoting hatch 11 articulated around a pivot axis directed preferably substantially parallel to a cross section of the drum 3.

Preferably, the pivot axis of the hatch 11 is located near the axis of the drum 3.

In this way, and as shown in the figures, the path of an object coming from the input receptacle 2 is particularly simple: the hatch 11 in the closed position 11a of the cell 9a situated vertically under the clamps 5 opens towards the outside of the drum 3 (arrow 19a) to come into position 11b of such so that its free end links, close to said clamps 5, moves away from the cylinder 8b to form an opening 20 through which the object falls by gravity into the cell 9a.

For the exit of an object contained in the cell 9b, located vertically above the outlet receptacle 4, the hatch in the closed position lld opens (arrow 19b) towards the outside of the drum 3 to come into the position binds in such a way that its free end llf, close to the outlet receptacle 4, moves away from the cylinder 8b to form an opening 21 through which the object falls by gravity into the receptacle 4.

The means of conveying the object are all the more simple as the object is not subjected to any mechanical stress, it is only moved by gravity.

However, it can be provided that the hatch 11 is arranged otherwise.

According to a particular embodiment, the device can comprise several substantially identical drums 3.

In addition, according to the embodiment shown, the drum 3 is divided internally, by a wall 3c, substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum 3, in two parts 3a, 3b of the same dimensions, each comprising cells 9.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the cylinder 8b has an axial length less than that of the cylinder 8a, by so that the drum 3 has its two axial faces comprising the hatches 11 substantially in the form of a convex truncated cone. Thus, a hatch 11 in the open position 11b or lie may be substantially in line with the corresponding end of the cylinder 8a: the opening of the hatches 11 therefore does not cause a significant increase in the size of the drum 3 in the direction of the axis of the latter.

It is also expected that the total number of cells

9 is greater than the maximum number of objects intended to be stored in this device, so that the drum, or the drum parts 3a, 3b, always comprises at least one empty cell 9 for better management of the objects.

The hatch 11 of the cell 9a located near the clamps 5 opens when the clamps release the recognized object. In addition, for the exit of an object located in a cell 9, the drum 3 will rotate so that the cell concerned is in position 9b facing the outlet receptacle 4, and the hatch 11 of this cell 9b will open to release said object in the receptacle 4 outlet.

In order to direct the object in the chute 7 or in the cell of one of the parts 3a, 3b of the drum 3, the device comprises bypass means 22.

In the example shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, these bypass means 22 are in the form of a triangular section guide whose apex is oriented towards the clamps 5 and to which a valve 23 is fixed. The latter is separated (position 23a) of the triangular guide 22 when the object must fall into the chute 7 and pressed against the guide 22 when the object must fall into the empty cell 9 of one of the parts 3a, 3b of the drum 3.

In the present case where the drum 3 is divided into two parts 3a, 3b, provision can be made for only one of the clamps 5 to move away from the other depending on the cell 9 which is selected.

The opening and closing of a hatch 11 for receiving an object is controlled by a motor 12a, while the opening and closing of a hatch 11 for ejecting an object are controlled by a motor 12b. These two motors 12a, 12b are fixed and preferably located in the center of the drum 3, namely inside the inner cylinder 8a.

The outer cylinder 8b has at its outer periphery projections 13 located in correspondence of each cell 9. These projections 13 are intended to cooperate with an element 14 separate from the drum 3, during the rotation of said drum 3, in order to slow the rotation of the drum 3 when approaching the corresponding cell. In addition, the positioning of the drum can be carried out by means of an optical reading.

As shown in Figure 1, an encoder 15, in the form of a disc, is arranged near the drum 3 and rotates with the latter. This disc 15, shown in detail in FIG. 3, comprises sectors 15a individually coded by respectively transparent and dark periods. Number of sectors 15a is equal to the number of cells 9 of a drum 3. In this way, to a cell 9 corresponds a code.

This disc is placed in front of an encoder connected to a database. Thus, when a projection 13 is in cooperation with the element 14, a sector 15a of the disc 15 associated with a particular cell 9 is placed in front of the encoder, and the disc will inform the database of the exact positioning of the alveolus. Thus, thanks to the database, it is possible to know exactly the references of the cell in which such an object is located.

The disc 15 and the optical encoder are elements known in themselves which need not be described in detail here.

Of course, the device comprises as many discs 15 as there are drums 3. A particular signal distinguishes the ^" cells of part 3a of the drum from those of part 3b.

According to a particular embodiment, provision can be made for the housing 1 to have on its front external face 16 a keyboard connected to a data processing system and a screen with liquid crystal display (LCD). Thus, via this keyboard, a user can choose either to request an object stored inside the device, or to return an object to this device by means of a confidential code, for example. During an object delivery, if the user's confidential code is correct, the user introduces the object associated with his identification medium into the input receptacle 2. The probe 6 will then detect the presence of an object and start the process of verifying the conformity of the support.

If the object does not conform, it is ejected, by means of the clamps 5 and the bypass means 22, out of the device via the chute 7 to end up in the outlet receptacle 4.

If the object is recognized, the drum 3 is rotated so as to position an empty cell 9 in position 9a under the clamps 5 and the object is placed by means of the clamps 5 and the bypass means 22 in said cell after opening of the hatch 11 by means of the motor 12a. The cell is then identified by the projections 13 and the disc 15 and the reference of the cell and the identification code of the object are stored in the database.

When requesting an object, if the user's confidential code is correct, the user enters the number of the object he wishes and the data processing means check against the database whether the object is present and can be delivered to the user who requested it. If so, the data processing means will search the base for the coordinates of the object, that is to say the mark of the cell containing it and the corresponding part 3a, 3b of the drum, and the drum 3 is rotated until the cell 9 containing this object is facing the outlet receptacle 4 (position 9b). The corresponding hatch 11 then opens by means of the motor 12b and releases the object in the receptacle 4.

It can also be provided that the database contains information such as for example the times and / or dates at which the keys must be entered or left. A signal can then be issued to report any anomaly.

All steps and instructions can be viewed on the LCD screen.

According to the invention, it can be envisaged that the outer front face 16, namely the door of the housing 1, comprises light-emitting diodes to indicate the presence or not of the objects to be stored in the device. The number of diodes is then equal to the number of objects to store.

The device advantageously includes the software means necessary to ensure the management and monitoring of the inputs and outputs of the objects, to keep in memory all the events recorded and to print a log of these events and any anomalies noted.

These software means can be integrated into the box 11 where exxttéérriieeuurrss à à cceelluuii - ccii.,

The identification code of each object can be secret and ignored by the manufacturer and the user of the device according to the invention. In this case, the device's software means provide for loading the memory database by successively introducing, into the input receptacle 2, each of the objects to be stored, the code of which reads and saves secret identification, accompanied by the entry into memory of information concerning the codes or messages of the persons authorized to request the entry and / or exit of said object.

The information thus loaded into memory can of course be updated.

Means can also be provided for connecting the database to peripherals such as a printer or a MODEM connected to a computer station or a terminal, such as for example a "Minitel" (registered name). Thus, the management and monitoring of objects can be carried out remotely. In this case, the keyboard of the computer station or the terminal is used in place of the keyboard of the box 1.

For security reasons, it is also possible to manually release the objects contained in the device.

In addition, the box 1 is protected against any forced opening or any other attempt to break in.

Thus, the opening hinges of the front face are internal and prohibit the use of tools and the lock is tamper-proof. Provision may also be made to integrate into the box 1 means for detecting forced opening connected by MODEM, for example, to a remote monitoring system.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and variants can be made.

Claims

1. Device for the storage of small objects and for the management and monitoring of the entrances and exits of these small objects, each of them being associated with an identification support carrying a means forming the identification code of said object, the device including:

means for receiving an object associated with its identification medium; means for reading the means forming an identification code of said object and verifying the conformity of this means forming a code;

means for storing the object in a particular place inside the device, if the means forming an identification code have been recognized as conforming;

means for receiving an object request request message;

means for comparing said message with a predetermined message associated with said means forming the identification code of said object;

means for releasing said object, comprising means for transporting it from said particular location to a location in which this object is made available to a user, if said request message conforms to the predetermined message;

the device further comprising memory means for keeping in memory the coordinates of the particular place where the object is stored and the means forming the identification code of said object; characterized in that the means for storing an object comprise at least one rotary drum (3) provided with cells (9) adapted to each receive an object associated with its identification support, the axis of rotation of the drum (3) being arranged substantially horizontally when the device is in its operating position.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cells (9) are arranged side by side circumferentially around the axis of the drum (3).

3. Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each cell (9) is closed by a pivoting hatch (11) articulated around a pivot axis directed substantially parallel to a straight section of the drum ( 3).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the pivot axis is located near

The axis of the drum.

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises means (13, 15) for locating the position of the drum (3) in real time.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises means for keeping in memory the loaded or unloaded situation of each cell (9).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises means for rotating the drum (3) to the first empty cell when inserting an object.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the drum (3) is separated in two parts (3a, 3b) by a wall substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum (3).

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the means (2) for receiving an object comprise means (6) for checking the presence of an object and means for checking the conformity of the means forming an identification code associated with the object.

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the means forming an identification code comprises an integrated circuit.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the means for checking the conformity of the identification means comprise an electromagnetic induction system.

12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it further comprises means (7) for rejecting a non-conforming object.

13. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it comprises means for managing and monitoring the inputs and outputs of objects remotely.

14. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said object is a key or a set of keys, and in that the identification medium associated with said object is a key holder.