초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for managing cash utilize one or more remotely or locally operable cash management devices. A cash management device dispenses cash, determines the denomination and amount of deposited cash and remotely or locally reconciles a cashier cash drawer at the end of a shift. The ca

An apparatus and method for managing cash utilize one or more remotely or locally operable cash management devices. A cash management device dispenses cash, determines the denomination and amount of deposited cash and remotely or locally reconciles a cashier cash drawer at the end of a shift. The cash is accounted for from the time it is disbursed from a cash management device, throughout a cashier's sales and when it is deposited into the cash management device.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for managing cash comprising: (a) a high security safe having a door, said high security safe having an aperture through a safe wall; (b) an inner safe with a first internal compartment, a second internal compartment, and a third internal compartment, said inner

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for managing cash comprising: (a) a high security safe having a door, said high security safe having an aperture through a safe wall; (b) an inner safe with a first internal compartment, a second internal compartment, and a third internal compartment, said inner safe configured to fit within said high security safe; (c) a first door preventing access to said first compartment when closed and providing access to said first compartment when open; (d) a second door preventing access to said second compartment when closed and providing access to said second compartment when open, said second door having an aperture that allows communication between said second compartment and the outside of said inner safe when said second door is closed; (e) a third door preventing access to said third compartment when closed and providing access to said third compartment when open, said third door having an aperture that allows communication between said third compartment and the outside of said inner safe when said third door is closed; (f) a first lock for locking said first door; (g) a second lock for locking said second door; (h) a third lock for locking said third door; (i) a processor contained within said first compartment having a data connection for communicating with a computer external to said high security safe, said data connection passing through said aperture in said safe wall of said high security safe; (j) a power supply contained within said first compartment having a power connection that passes through said aperture in said safe (k) a cash handling device mounted in said second compartment, said cash handling device connected to said power supply and to said processor and mounted to have a portion protrude through said aperture in said second door when said second door is closed; (l) a cash dispensing device contained in said third compartment, said cash dispensing device comprising a dispensing head connected to said power supply and to said processor and configured to have said dispensing head protrude through said aperture in said third door when said third door is closed, said dispensing head being removable through said aperture in said third door without opening said third door; and (m) a moveable shelf in said third compartment configured to move to a position that permits said dispensing head of said cash dispensing device to protrude through said aperture in said third door when said third door is closed. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inner safe is attached to said high security safe. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: (a) a first sensor connected to said processor for sensing whether said first door is open or closed; (b) a second sensor connected to said processor for sensing whether said second door is open or closed; (c) a third sensor connected to said processor for sensing whether said third door is open or closed; and (d) said first lock, said second lock, and said third lock being electronic locks connected to said processor and being locked or unlocked by signals from said processor. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is an on-site cash management system at least partially controllable from an off-site location distant from where said cash management system is located. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is an on-site cash management system in which at least one of said high security safe door and the inner safe doors is controllable from an off-site location distant from where said cash management system is located. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is an on-site cash management system in which at least one of said cash handling device and said cash dispensing device is controllable from an off-site location distant from where said cash management system is located. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is an on-site cash management system for dispensing an amount of cash to a cashier. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: (a) means for receiving into said cash management system cashier identifying information from a trusted source; and (b) means receiving into said cash management system cashier identifying information from the cashier before dispensing the amount of cash. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said aperture in said safe wall of said high security safe is consistent with an underwriter high security rating of TL-15 or better. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data connection is an Ethernet data connection. 11. An apparatus for managing cash comprising: (a) a high security safe having a door, said high security safe having an aperture through a safe wall, said aperture consistent with an underwriter high security rating of TL-15 or better; (b) an inner safe having a plurality of internal compartments, said inner safe configured to fit within said high security safe; (c) a plurality of doors, each door associated with a respective internal compartment, each door preventing access to its respective compartment when closed and providing access to its respective compartment when open; (d) a cash handling device positioned within one of said compartments such that at least a portion of said cash handling device protrudes through an aperture in the respective door when the respective door is closed; and (e) a cash dispensing device positioned within one of said compartments such that at least a dispensing head of said cash dispensing device protrudes through an aperture in the respective door when the respective door is closed, said dispensing head being removable through said aperture in said respective door without opening said respective door; (f) a moveable shelf in said third compartment configured to move to a position that permits said dispensing head of said cash dispensing device to protrude through said aperture said respective door is closed. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: (a) a processor having a data connection for communicating with a computer external to said high security safe, said processor positioned within one of said compartments; and (b) said data connection passing through the aperture in said safe wall of said high security safe and attached to said computer external to said high security safe. 13. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: (a) a processor having an Ethernet data connection for communicating with a computer external to said high security safe, said processor positioned within one of said compartments; and (b) said Ethernet data connection passing through the aperture in said safe wall of said high security safe and attaching to said computer external to said high security safe. 14. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: (a) a first sensor connected to said processor for sensing whether said first door is open or closed; (b) a second sensor connected to said processor for sensing whether said second door is open or closed; (c) a third sensor connected to said processor for sensing whether said third door is open or closed; and (d) said first lock, said second lock, and said third lock being electronic locks connected to said processor and being locked or unlocked by signals from said processor. 15. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: (a) a processor having a data connection for communicating with a computer external to said high security safe, said processor positioned within one of said compartments; (b) a power supply having a power connection, said power supply positioned within one of said compartments; (c) said data connection and said power connection passing through the aperture in said safe wall of said high security safe; and (d) said data connection attached to said computer external to said high security safe. 16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said inner safe is attached to said high security safe. 17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said apparatus is an on-site cash management system at least partially controllable from an off-site location distant from where said cash management system is located. 18. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said apparatus is an on-site cash management system in which at least one of said high security safe door and said inner safe doors is controllable from an off-site location distant from where said cash management system is located. 19. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said apparatus is an on-site cash management system in which at least one of said cash handling device and said cash dispensing device is controllable from an off-site location distant from where said cash management system is located. 20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said apparatus is an on-site cash management system for dispensing an amount of cash to a cashier. 21. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising: (a) means for receiving into said cash management system cashier identifying information from a trusted source; and (b) means receiving into said cash management system cashier identifying information from the cashier before dispensing the amount of cash. 22. An apparatus for managing cash comprising: (a) a high security safe having a door, said high security safe having an aperture through a safe wall, said aperture consistent with an underwriter high security rating of TL-15 or better; (b) an inner safe having a plurality of internal compartments, said inner safe configured to fit within said high security safe; (c) a plurality of doors, each door associated with a respective internal compartment, each door preventing access to its respective compartment when closed and providing access to its respective compartment when open; (d) a processor having a data connection for communicating with a computer external to said high security safe, said processor positioned within one of said compartments; (e) a power supply having a power connection, said power supply positioned within one of said compartments; (f) said data connection and said power connection passing through the aperture in said safe wall of said high security safe; (g) said data connection attached to said computer external to said high security safe; (h) a cash handling device positioned within one of said compartments such that at least a portion of said cash handling device protrudes through an aperture in the respective door when the respective door is closed; and (i) a cash dispensing device positioned within one of said compartments such that at least a dispensing head of said cash dispensing device protrudes through an aperture in the respective door when the respective door is closed, said dispensing head being removable through said aperture in said respective door without opening said respective door (j) a moveable shelf in said third compartment configured to move to a position that permits said dispensing head of said cash dispensing device to protrude through said aperture said respective door is closed; (k) wherein said apparatus is an on-site cash management system at least partially controllable from an off-site location distant from where said cash management system is located. 23. The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising: (a) a first sensor connected to said processor for sensing whether said first door is open or closed; (b) a second sensor connected to said processor for sensing whether said second door is open or closed; (c) a third sensor connected to said processor for sensing whether said third door is open or closed; and (d) said first lock, said second lock, and said third lock being electronic locks connected to said processor and being locked or unlocked by signals from said processor. 24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said apparatus is an on-site cash management system in which at least one of said high security safe door and said inner safe doors is controllable from an off-site location distant from where said cash management system is located. 25. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said apparatus is an on-site cash management system in which at least one of said cash handling device and said cash dispensing device is controllable from an off-site location distant from where said cash management system is located. 26. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said apparatus is an on-site cash management system for dispensing an amount of cash to a cashier. 27. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising: (a) means for receiving into said cash management system cashier identifying information from a trusted source; and (b) means receiving into said cash management system cashier identifying information from the cashier before dispensing the amount of cash.