US 11,941,931 B2
Self-service modular drop safes with technology shelf replacement capability
Douglas A. Pertz, Southlake, TX (US); Rohan Pal, Colleyville, TX (US); Keith Barthelmeus, Atlanta, VA (US); Laura Baumann, Rockwall, TX (US); Shane McKiernan, Charlotte, NC (US); Ken Pohl, Arlington, TX (US); Kyle Bolin, Flower Mound, TX (US); Colm McKiernan, Flower Mound, TX (US); and Mark Nietubyc, Frisco, TX (US)
Assigned to BRINK'S NETWORK, INCORPORATED, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed by Brink's Network, Inc., Richmond, VA (US)
Filed on Jul. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/380,713.
Application 17/380,713 is a division of application No. 17/003,120, filed on Aug. 26, 2020, granted, now 11,164,412.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/898,868, filed on Sep. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0350644 A1, Nov. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. G07C 9/00 (2020.01); G06K 7/10 (2006.01); G06K 19/06 (2006.01); G06K 19/07 (2006.01)
CPC G07C 9/00912 (2013.01) [G06K 7/10297 (2013.01); G06K 19/06028 (2013.01); G06K 19/06037 (2013.01); G06K 19/0723 (2013.01); G07C 9/00309 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of replacing a technology cabinet of a modular drop safe; the method comprising:
servicing the modular drop safe that includes a modular chassis, a modular door for the modular chassis, and a modular technology cabinet,
the chassis having a set of walls defining an internal storage space and adapted to receive and contain within the internal storage space a thing of value,
the door being coupled to a front of the chassis, movable between open and closed positions, and having a plurality of functional devices including at least a bag drop slot or a bill validator, the internal storage space of the chassis being inaccessible when the door is in the closed position, the door being structured so that cash is receivable into the chassis only via one of the functional devices within the door when the door is in the closed position, and
the technology cabinet removably coupled to an exterior of the chassis, the technology cabinet including at least a processor adapted to provide control data to at least one of the functional devices within the door, the technology cabinet adapted to provide a source of power to at least one of the functional devices during use of the modular drop safe,
the drop safe further having a set of cables connected between the technology cabinet and the door to facilitate providing control data and power from the technology cabinet to at least one of the functional devices within the door,
servicing the modular drop safe comprising:
physically disconnecting the technology cabinet, including the processor of the technology cabinet, completely from the chassis;
disconnecting the set of cables between the technology cabinet and the door;
connecting the set of cables between a new technology cabinet and the door;
coupling the new technology cabinet to the exterior of the chassis; and
initializing the new technology cabinet to enable the modular drop safe to function wherein the new technology cabinet is able to provide control data to at least said one of the functional devices within the door and to provide a source of power to at least one of the functional devices;
wherein servicing the modular drop safe is achievable with the door in the closed position so that the internal storage space of the chassis remains inaccessible during the servicing of the modular drop safe.