The LEM banknote ink staining system for installation inside banknote cassettes for ATMs has been designed to meet specific security, logistics and installation requirements:
The device, designed to stain banknotes inside ATM cassettes, is equipped with sensors to detect mechanical attacks, thermal attacks and ram raids on the ATM itself.
It also ensures staining in the event of fraudulent opening of the ATM safe door.
If it is set to transport mode, ink staining also takes place even if the cassette cover is opened or if the cassette is broken into.
In order to ensure the banknotes are sufficiently stained, the ink distribution coil has been fitted on the body of the cassette to ensure staining even when the cover is suddenly removed or opened.
The device is activated and deactivated in two ways:
- Staining takes place only when the cassette is inserted in the ATM. The ink staining system activates when the cassette is inserted in the ATM and deactivates automatically when it is extracted from the ATM
- Staining takes place in the ATM and during transport; The ink staining system is activated via a designated device, for example, in a protected room where the banknotes are loaded into the cassette. This operation activates all of the sensors in “transport” mode. During this phase, the sensitivity to impacts is reduced and the position sensors are not activated to prevent activation of the ink staining system due to a slight impact, the cassette accidentally falling to the ground or during its transport. This activates in any case when the cover is opened, drilled into or an attempt is made to force the lock. It is also possible to set a maximum transport time after which the ink staining system activates. When the cassette is inserted into the ATM, the ATM mode activates automatically modifying the sensors so they detect any attacks carried out on the ATM. The reverse path is carried out in the same way.An electronic interfacing circuit board is installed inside the ATM which serves to transmit/receive the information regarding the cassette and transmit the alarms.
The circuit board can be integrated with a gas sensor to detect explosive gases and if a CO2 cannister is installed, it also become an AntiGas sensor.
N.B. The device inside the cassette is powered by a lithium battery which charges automatically when the cassette is inserted into the ATM.
A number of objectives are thereby reached:
- Protection of the ATM against physical attacks using explosive gases or explosive solids (with the addition of the “double shutter”)
- No modification made to the ATM
- Protection of the cassette inside the branch during ATM loading operations.
- Protection of the cassette during transport.
Technical specifications:
- Dimensions of the circuit board compliant with the cassette model.
- Staining ink reservoir for Euro banknotes.
- Electronic circuit board with buffer battery.
- Power supply with a rechargeable lithium battery, LI-ION type.
- Automatic recharging of the buffer battery when the cassette is inserted in the ATM or when the cassette is inserted in the counting room interface device.
- Clock with current date and time complete with independent power supply circuit.
- Acoustic indicator.
- Two LEDs signalling the device status.
- One LED indicating battery charge status.
- Magnetic sensor for detecting when the cassette is open/closed.
- Light sensor.
- Electronic temperature sensor to detect the operating temperature as well as any rapid changes in the temperature.
- Electronic sensor for detecting mechanical vibrations.
Two tilt sensors (TILT). - Two noise sensors (microphones).
- Saving of significant events in the non-volatile memory (approx. 900 events: cyclical memory).
- Direct interface with the cassette via auxiliary sensors on the ATM (gas sensors, flame sensors, etc.) and with HAL600 lock to ensure that the alarms triggered by the auxiliary sensors activate ink staining inside the cassette.
- Direct interfacing of the cassette with the basic management circuit board of the ink staining system installed inside the ATM to transmit the status of the cassettes and the cassette alarms.
- Status of the cassette shown on the HAL600 lock display even with the ATM fully closed.
- Automatic deactivation of the ink staining system with the cassette inserted in the ATM in the event of regular opening (not forced) of the ATM doors.
- Programming of maximum transport time from 1 to 255 minutes (from 1 to 255 hours in the case of transport by vehicles)
Operating principle
The purpose of this device is to protect each individual banknote cassette of the ATM while being transported from a protected room (vault, counting room, security room, etc.) to the ATM and vice versa.
All the sensors present are filtered with a “weight” system, which determines the importance.
Each sensor typically has 2 thresholds: the first is pre-alarm threshold while the second is the alarm threshold.
Generally, the minimum condition for intervention is the simultaneous presence of two alarms or pre-alarms detected by two different sensors.
Each sensor can be programmed to activate ink staining, block dispensing of the banknotes or simply provide the alarm signal.
The activation and deactivation of the device is carried out automatically via an electronic interface positioned in the protected zone of the post office (vault, counting room or other protected zone).
There are two activation modes: transport mode and ATM mode.
In these two activation modes, the sensors are calibrated with different sensitivity levels to prevent false alarms.
Generally the green LED flashes to indicate activation in transport mode while the red LED flashes to indicate activation of the ATM mode.
Activation in ATM mode occurs automatically when the cassette is placed inside the ATM; a special connector mounted on the cassette recognises the insertion of the cassette in the ATM and activates its total protection without any intervention required by the user.
Following activation, in both transport and ATM mode, the magnetic cover status sensor is active and opening the cassette would cause the device to trigger immediately, causing the banknotes to be ink stained.
A device automatically prevents the cover from being opened if the device is activated. This is to prevent unintentional staining if the cover is opened accidentally.