Device and method for processing confidential material

© Patent holder (s):

Van Schijndel Holding BV in Maasbracht.

<img file="NL2010344C2_D0001.tif" />

Patent granted:

25.08.2014 © Patent issued:

03.09.2014 © Inventor (s):

Gijsbertus Martinus Johanna van Schijndel in Maasbracht.

Cornells Gijsbertus van Schijndel in Maasbracht.

© Authorized representative:

Ir. JMG Dohmen cs in Eindhoven.

© Device and working method for processing confidential material.

The invention relates to a device for processing confidential material, the device comprising a lift mechanism that can be enclosed by a hood, for emptying a container into the container with a baking part which can be locked by means of a lock on a lid, the lift mechanism comprising a loading chair, unlocking means for unlocking the lock of the container, and displacing means for manipulating the container relative to the container. The unlocking means have a first unlocking member for activating the unlocking of a lock in a first way, a second unlocking member for activating the unlocking of a lock in a second way, and control means for actuating the lock depending on the lock. unlocking the relevant lock-equipped unlocking member. The invention further relates to a method for processing confidential material.

LC 2010344

This patent has been granted regardless of the enclosed result of the prior art research and written opinion. The patent corresponds to the documents originally filed.

Short indication: Device and working method for processing confidential material.

Description

The present invention relates to a confidential material processing device, which device is adapted to cooperate with a container for storing the confidential material therein, the device comprising a hood-enclosable lift mechanism for emptying a container into the container. holder with a baking part containing confidential material, which baking part by means of a lock on a, an open top side of the baking part at least partially closing, lid is lockable, the lifting mechanism comprising a loading chair for placing and holding the container thereon, unlocking means for unlocking the lock of the container, and displacing means for such relative to manipulate the container from the container, at least during operation of the device, the material present in the container is emptied into the container, wherein the unlocking means comprise a first unlocking member which is arranged for activating the unlocking of a lock present on a holder in a first manner.

Within the scope of the invention, confidential material is understood to mean information carriers such as confidential papers, archives and other confidential paper waste, but also, for example, floppy disks, memory sticks and other such information carriers.

Such a device, which is provided on a truck, is known from NL 1034785. The known device comprises a container which, in the condition provided on a truck, extends in the longitudinal direction of the truck. The confidential contents of the containers emptied with the lifting mechanism are stored in this container. The known device is further provided with a cover. Between the cover and the lift mechanism there is a space in which a holder can be moved and tilted in a shielded position from the outside. When emptying such containers with confidential material, such a covering ensures that the confidential material is not visible from the outside during emptying of the containers. Furthermore, the cover ensures that no confidential material can blow away. For opening the lock of one on the loading chair of the known device, it is provided with a lock stamp. By placing the lock punch against a contact strip of the holder and providing a voltage, the lock of the holder is opened electrically.

An object of the present invention is to provide a confidential material processing apparatus which is more universally employable.

Said object is achieved with the device according to the present invention, characterized in that the unlocking means further comprise at least a second unlocking member which is adapted to unlock a lock present on a further holder in a second manner, wherein the device further has control means for actuating, depending on the lock of the holder present on the loading chair, the unlocking member arranged for activating the unlocking of the lock concerned.

An advantage of the device according to the invention is that with the presence of at least a second unlocking member for activating the unlocking of a lock in a second way, and in combination with the said control means, more different types of holders, or at least holders with locks whose unlocking can be activated in various ways can be emptied or the confidential material stored therein can be processed.

It is advantageous if the first unlocking member is arranged for activating the unlocking of a lock in a non-mechanical manner.

Preferably, the first unlocking member is adapted to electrically activate the unlocking of a lock.

Within the scope of the present invention, "electrically activating the unlocking" is understood to mean that a locking mechanism provided in the lock for locking and unlocking the lid thereof relative to the baking part of the container, is electrically actuated or actuated with the aid of the first unlocking member such that the locking mechanism of the lock is moved from a closed position thereof to an open position thereof, whereby the locking of the lid relative to the baking part is released. Electric actuation or activation of the locking mechanism of the lock can for instance be effected by applying an electrical voltage, current or charge to one or more electrical contact elements of the lock with the aid of the unlocking member. In another example, the first unlocking means comprises means for the electrically controlled wireless or contactless communication, for example in radiographic, electro-optical or electroinductive manner, with the lock, such that under its influence the locking mechanism present in the lock is in a state for unlocking the lock is actuated or energized.

Preferably, the first unlocking member comprises a lock punch element having an electric actuator provided thereon, which is movable from a rest position outside the range of the container to an unlock position at the location of the lock to establish an electrical connection between the first release member and lock for unlocking the lock.

Preferably, the second unlocking member is adapted to activate the unlocking of a lock in a mechanical manner.

Within the scope of the present invention, "mechanically activating the unlocking" is understood to mean that a locking mechanism present in the lock, under the influence of mechanical activation of the lock, or mechanical interaction between lock and device, is actuated or actuated such that the locking mechanism of the lock is moved from a closed position thereof to an open position thereof, whereby the locking of the lid relative to the baking part is released.

For example, a locking element of the lock can be pressed in that, in one embodiment, the second unlocking member is arranged for displacing the holder and the device in such a way that the locking element is depressed as a result of this mutual displacement.

Preferably, the second unlocking member comprises an actuating member for depressing a locking element of the lock for the purpose of unlocking the lock under its influence. In another type of mechanical activation of the unlocking of the lock, the actuating member can alternatively be arranged, for example, for tilting a locking element or rotating a locking element.

In an alternative embodiment, the first unlocking member is arranged to electrically activate the unlocking of a lock, and the second unlocking member is configured to activate the unlocking of a further lock in a further electrical manner.

In one embodiment, the unlocking means comprise a third unlocking member which is adapted to activate the unlocking of a lock present on an even further holder in a third way.

In one embodiment, an unlocking member is arranged to magnetically activate the unlocking of a lock.

Preferably, the first unlocking member and the second unlocking member are spaced one above the other.

It is advantageous here if the actuating member is provided at a higher level on the lift mechanism than the lock stamping element,

Most preferably, the loading chair has a lifting beam for automatically lifting a holder present on the loading chair in the direction of the higher-placed unlocking member of the first and second unlocking member so that the lock thereof moves within the working range of the relevant higher-placed unlocking member. If, as is currently the case, the lock of different types of holders, which means holders with at least one lock, the unlocking of which can be activated in different ways, is provided at approximately the same height on the holder, the said lifting beam can therefore simply are faced with the problem of the unlocking means which otherwise conflict in terms of space required. The lifting beam may alternatively be configured to lift a container placed on the loading chair by a predetermined height in the direction of an unlocking member. This predetermined height can be determined automatically with the said control means. In this variant, holders with a mutually varying height and with or without a mutually varying type of lock can thus be unlocked with the unlocking means.

It is advantageous if the loading chair has a platform to which a pivotable ramp is attached and a rear wall for placing a holder placed on the loading chair against it.

It is advantageous here if the lifting beam of the loading chair is provided on the side of the rear wall of the loading chair which faces away from the holder, wherein the open top of the baking part of the container is bounded by a protruding edge part which is present in the loading chair. condition of the container extends over the rear wall, the lifting beam being adapted to move upwardly along the rear wall for lifting the container from the edge part. In one embodiment, the lifting beam is designed for automatically lifting a holder under the influence of the control means.

The lifting beam can herein be designed to move a little away from the rear wall during upward movement, such that when the container is lifted, it is forced, at least to a greater extent, against the rear wall. As a result, a clamping function as well as a lifting function are integrated into the lifting beam.

It is furthermore advantageous if the lock punch element comprises at least two separately actuatable electric actuators for electrically activating the possibility of unlocking at least two different locks, the unlocking of which can both be activated electrically, wherein the control means are adapted to actuate, depending on the lock of the holder present on the loading chair, the actuator or a combination of actuators arranged for activating the unlocking of the lock concerned. The lock stamp element thus provides a multiple unlocking member, wherein, for example, a central, when used as the only energized, of three juxtaposed electric actuators forms a first unlocking member, and wherein further, for example, the two electric actuators located on either side of the central actuator, are energized. while the central actuator is not actuated, it forms a third release member.

It is furthermore advantageous if the device further comprises, for the benefit of at least one of the first and the second unlocking means, a cover light mechanism for operating, after unlocking the lock with the relevant unlocking means, lifting the cover. Preferably, a lid light mechanism is provided at least for the purpose of an unlocking member adapted to electrically activate the unlocking of a lock. This allows the lid light mechanism to act as a control mechanism to verify that the electrically activatable type lock is actually unlocked.

In one embodiment, the unlocking means can be arranged for unlocking a double-shaped lock of a holder. In other words, the lid of the container is locked in two places by two locks. For this purpose, the unlocking member can be made multiple, preferably placed at the same height. With such a device, the alternative is possible to process two relatively narrow containers at the same time if they are placed side by side on the loading chair.

The invention also relates to a method for processing confidential material using an above-described device according to the invention, comprising:

- placing and holding a container with a baking part containing confidential material on the loading chair, which baking part is closed by means of a lock on a lid, which at least partially closes an open top side of the baking part;

- unlocking the lock of the holder with the unlocking means, for which purpose, using the control means, depending on the lock of the holder present on the loading chair, the unlocking means arranged for activating the unlocking of the lock concerned is activated;

- manipulating the container with the displacement means in such a manner that the material present in the container is emptied in the container at least during operation of the device.

Advantages of the method according to the invention are analogous to the above-mentioned advantages of the device according to the invention.

Preferably, prior to the manipulation step, the method comprises the step of, if a container having a non-mechanically unlockable lock placed on the loading chair, lifts the lid using a lid light mechanism as described above, further preferably the step of manipulating the container can only be carried out if, with the aid of observation means, the step of lifting the lid has been observed to have been correctly performed.

The invention further relates to a vehicle, in particular a truck, provided with a container for storing confidential material therein, and a device according to the invention as described above, wherein the lift mechanism can be enclosed by a cover. By enclosable is meant that the casing is movable from an open position, in which a holder can be placed on the loading chair, to a closed position, in which the holder placed on the loading chair is no longer accessible to an individual. In one embodiment of the vehicle, the device is arranged at a rear of the vehicle, behind the container. In another embodiment, the device is arranged on a longitudinal side of the vehicle, most preferably sunk into the container in such a way that the device does not protrude outside the vehicle, or at least only slightly laterally.

The invention will be elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of the description of a preferred embodiment of a device and method according to the present invention with reference to the following figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a part of a known device for processing confidential material, Fig. 2a-c shows a side view of a part of the device according to the invention during loading of a container, as well as in Fig. 2b and 2c shows two enlarged side views of the unlocking and opening of a container, fig. 3 and 4 are enlarged views of a preferred embodiment of unlocking means of a device according to the present invention, in two respective operating states when opening a container of a first type, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show the same respective views as FIG. 3 and 4 show, in two further respective operating states, upon opening a container of a second type, the respective figures also showing a head view of an unlocking member.

In the different figures, the same parts are provided with corresponding reference numerals.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of part of a known device

I according to NL1034785. The device 1 is provided with a cover 5, a lifting mechanism 7, as well as a container 9, which is only partially shown for the sake of clarity, but which of course comprises an area closed from the outside in which confidential material, whether processed or not, can be safely stored. The top of the cover 5, as shown in figure 1, merges into a roof wall 10 of the container 9.

The holder 3 is preferably provided with a locked lid

II which can only be opened with unlocking means specially provided for this purpose on the device. The holder 3 is further provided with wheels 13 and a handle 15, with the aid of which the holder 3 can be moved by a user.

The lift mechanism 7 is provided with a loading chair 17 which is provided with a horizontally extendable platform 19, a rear wall 21, as well as a ramp 21. The ramp 23 is pivotally connected to the plateau 19 and can be pivoted by means of the arms 25 from a first extending substantially vertically to a second position as shown in Fig. 1, with the end 27 of the ramp 23 facing away from the platform 19 lying against the base 29.

Furthermore, the loading chair 17 comprises a holder clamp 31 which is displaceable from a first position by means of extendable and pivotable arms 33, 35, the arms 33, 35 and the holder clamp 31 extending at an acute angle with the vertical upwards, so that the holder 3 can be positioned without hindrance under the arms 33, 35 and the holder clamp 31 can be positioned in the loading chair 17, to a second position, in which the arms 33, 35 are located around the holder 3 with the holder clamp 31 and hold them on the loading chair. Presence of such a holder clamp is optional.

The lift mechanism 7 is further provided with a lift frame (indicated by dotted line, 36) which can be moved up and down at an acute angle to the vertical by means of two laterally arranged slides 38 by means of two laterally arranged lifting cylinders. The loading chair 17 is rotatably attached to the lift frame 36 about an axis 37, about which axis 37 can tilt the loading chair 17 by means of a tilting mechanism, such that the already opened container 3 can be emptied into the container 9.

The cover 5 is equal in height h and width (not shown) to the height and width of the container 9. The length L of the cover 5 with the lift mechanism 7 therein is relatively limited. In a favorable embodiment, the length L of the cover 5 is a maximum of approximately 1.25 meters.

The cover is further provided with a hatch 41 which, with the aid of an electric motor 43, is movable from a closed position to an open position (shown in Fig. 1) via a chain 47 running over a roller 45, through which an opening 49 is provided through which the holder 3 can be moved in the direction indicated by P1.

Fig. 2a shows a side view of a part of the known device 1 during the loading of a container 3, wherein in Fig. 2b and 2c two enlarged side views of the unlocking and opening of the container 3 are shown.

The holder 3 shown in Fig. 2a is positioned by an operator on the loading chair 17 with the aid of the ramp 23, after which the ramp 23 is moved to the second position. The platform 19 is also retracted. Wheels 19 of container 3 are pressed firmly against the rear wall 21 of loading chair 17 by the platform 19 and the ramp 23. The arms 33, 35 with the holder clamp 31 are from the first position as shown in FIG. 1 tilted to an intermediate position as shown in figure 2a and will then come into contact with the holder to clamp it firmly on the loading chair.

In order to empty the holder 3, a lock 52 of the holder must first be unlocked. Only then can the lid 11 be lifted. Fig. 2b and 2c show an unlocking mechanism 51 for the lock 52 with which the lid 11 secured against undesired opening can be unlocked and opened. The lock 52 comprises a catch 55, which catch 55 is normally hooked behind a projection (not shown) in the closed position, so that the cover 11 cannot be opened. This projection is movable with the aid of a magnet present in the lock 52.

The unlocking mechanism 51 comprises a lock punch 53 which can be moved pneumatically on a contact strip 56 of the lock 52 located on the holder 3 in the direction indicated by arrow P1. By providing a certain voltage using the lock punch 53 located against the contact strip 56, the lock is electrically activated, the magnet (not shown) being activated in the lock 52, thereby displacing or tilting the projection whereby the catch 55 is exposed. If the catch 55 is exposed, the lid 11 can be lifted.

The unlocking mechanism 51 is further provided with lid lift 65 rotatable about an axis 63. The lid lift 65, when the lock 52 is opened, is displaceable against an edge 67 of the lid 11, the lid 11 as shown in Fig. 2c, lift up via the edge 67.

The present invention relates to a device described above and shown in Figures 1-2c. The invention is in particular directed to unlocking means for unlocking the lock of a container. Figure 3-6 shows a detail view of an exemplary embodiment of unlocking means of a device according to the invention. These unlocking means according to the invention thus replace the above-described unlocking mechanism 51 of known device 1. The device according to the invention is designed for cooperation with a container for storing the confidential material therein. The device is preferably connected to the container at the location of a rear end, at least in a condition of the container placed on a vehicle. In one embodiment, the device can comprise the container.

The unlocking means shown in Figures 3-6 are adapted to activate the unlocking of three different locks of containers. To this end, the unlocking means are provided with a first unlocking member in the form of an electric actuating member to be described in more detail below and of a second unlocking member in the form of a mechanical actuating member 71 for activating the unlocking of a lock in an electrical and mechanical manner, respectively. of a holder 103. The mechanical actuating member 71 is movable from the rest position shown in Figure 3 outside the range of the holder 103 to an active position shown in Figure 4 in which it contacts a release pin 172 of the holder 103 and depresses it at least to the extent that it lock from the locked state according to figure 3 changes into the unlocked state according to figure 4.

The unlocking means also comprise the said first unlocking member in the form of an electric actuating member 76 provided on a lock punch element 70. See figure 5. With electric actuating member 76, in an analogous manner as described above with unlocking mechanism 51 of the known device 1, an activated unlockable lock with a single contact element.

The unlocking means additionally comprise a third unlocking member in the form of electric actuating members 77 and 78 provided on the same lock punch element 70. Using this, a further type of electrically unlockable lock, with a multiple contact element, can be unlocked. For example, a circuit can be constructed via organs and 78. Optionally, actuator 76 is used in this configuration as a data connection, for example for reading out a memory medium present in the lock and optionally also for being able to write data thereon, for example with regard to the number of times a lock has already been opened, data from the user of the container, or the like.

The first and third release members 76 and 77, 78, respectively, are both arranged at the free end of a piston rod 74, which piston rod 74 is connected at its other end to a piston of a piston / cylinder element 75 which can be actuated by pneumatic means. second and third release members are moved together from a rest position (not shown) outside the range of the holder 3 to an unlock position shown in Figure 5.

The first and third release members 76 and 77, 78, respectively, are supplemented with a lid lift mechanism 79 which operates in a similar manner to the above-described cover lift 65 of the known device 1.

The height of the lock of the different holders with a different type of lock is usually about the same. To address problems with space requirements, as shown in Figures 3-6, the second unlocking member 71 and the combination of the first and third unlocking members 76 and 77, 78 are arranged one above the other. The lock of a container resting on the platform of the loading chair is located at such a height that it is opposite the first and third unlocking members 76 and 77, 78, respectively, as shown in figure 5. The lift mechanism further comprises a lifting beam 80 provided in a space behind the rear wall 21 of the loading chair 17. As shown in Figure 3, rear wall 21 does not extend over the total height of a container 103, but only to a certain distance below a projecting edge portion 105 of the baking portion 104 of the container 103. In the shown situation in which container 103 is the loading chair is placed, edge part 105 extends over the rear wall 21. If lifting beam 80 is now moved upwards, it engages under the edge part 105 and can thus lift the holder 103 on its edge part 105 in order to bring holder 103 within reach of the second unlocking member 71. Compare Figure 3 with Figure 4, in Figure 4 the holder 103 is automatically lifted with the lifting beam 80 such that its unlocking pin 172 is within the range of the second unlocking member 71 so that upon actuation of the mechanical actuating member configured as the second unlocking member, the unlocking pin can be pressed. When lifting the holder 103 as described, the holder clamp 31 is not in clamping contact with the holder 103. In order to prevent the container 103 from emptying its contents, in which situation the container hangs at least partly upside down, the lifting mechanism also comprises an edge fixing element 81 which is fixedly provided on the mechanical actuating member 71. With edge fixing element, the edge part of the holder can be blocked on an upper side thereof, such that the holder, with its edge part, is fixed between the lifting beam 80 and the edge fixing element 81. By actually integrating the mechanical actuating member 71 and the edge fixing element 81, it is achieved that these two parts can be moved jointly within a range of the holder by a single actuator, thus unlocking both the lock of the holder and the holder. is largely fixed on the loading chair.

The second unlocking member 71 can also be supplemented with a cover light mechanism as described above with the first and third unlocking members 76 and 77, 78, respectively.

The above-described device according to the invention can be used in a method for processing confidential material as follows.

First of all, a container such as, for example, a container 3 or 103 described above is placed on the platform of the loading chair 17. Hatch 41 may have been opened beforehand and hatch 41 can now be closed again so that the container is no longer accessible from the outside.

The type of container, that is to say a container with a lock that can be activated in a specific manner, is determined with control means on the loading chair 17. This may or may not be done prior to placing the container by an operator pressing a particular key on the device to select the correct type of container. The control means can also be provided with read-out means for, for example, electronically reading out a characteristic provided on the holder, such as a barcode, QR code or RFID tag or the like, for the purpose of automatically determining the type of holder in such a manner for the purpose of energizing the unlocking member arranged for unlocking it.

Subsequently, depending on the unlocking member to be used, the lifting beam is preferably automatically activated to raise the container, if necessary, within the range of the said unlocking member to be used. Furthermore, the container is preferably fixedly fixed to the loading chair in one or more of the ways described above.

The lock of the container is then automatically unlocked using the unlocking means arranged for unlocking it.

If the lock of the container can be unlocked electrically, the lid is preferably slightly lifted with the lid light mechanism. Optionally, the device can be provided with release means which are arranged for only releasing the lift mechanism for emptying the contents of the container if the lid light mechanism has actually been able to lift the lid, for instance with a lid light arm rotatable about an axis by measuring the lid light arm. angular rotation thereof. In this way it can be achieved that the holder is only emptied, at least the manipulation of the holder for this purpose, if the opening of the lock of the holder has been electrically successful, which can be determined using the lid light mechanism.

Subsequently, the container is actually manipulated in such a way that it is held at least partly upside down above the container, such that the unlocked lid opens further by gravity and / or the contents of the container, so that the contents of the container are emptied into the container.

The above-described step of lifting the lid can also be applied to a container with a mechanically unlockable lock. However, the added value is less, since with such a type of lock the chance that the lid has not been unlocked while the mechanical actuating member has shifted to its unlocking position, which can be observed by observing means, is very small, in contrast to the situation with a lock that can be unlocked electrically.