Apparatus for currency sterilization and exchange

An article treating device includes a belt conveyor having a belt that encircles a drive pulley at one end and an idler pulley at another end to support an article. At least one upper sprayer is positioned above the belt and is directed to spray a treatment liquid on an upper surface of the article on the belt. The article treating device sprays a second surface of article using a second sprayer by either: (i) spraying through perforations in a belt of the belt conveyor; and (ii) conveying the article over a flipping wedge to flip over the article before conveying under the second sprayer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to sanitizing machines, and more particularly, to sanitizing machines that automatically spray both sides of flat articles.

BACKGROUND

Many communicable diseases are transferable on contaminated surfaces. Person-to-person interactions often require an exchange of a tangible article, such as a payment means (e.g., paper currency, coins, bank card, bank check, etc.) Handling these articles can provide a vector to transfer contaminants such as viruses, bacteria, etc. from one person's hand to another person's hand. Thus, a payee can require a sanitization of the article prior to accepting the article. However, the payer can also be concerned about losing control of the article prior to completion of the transaction. For example, a dispute could arise if a denomination of currency is placed inside some sanitizing device out of sight of the payer and then the payee asserts that a lower denomination is what was sanitized.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, an article treating device includes a belt conveyor having a perforated belt that encircles a drive pulley at one end and an idler pulley at another end to support an article. At least one upper sprayer is positioned above the perforated belt and is directed to spray a treatment liquid on an upper surface of the article on the perforated belt. At least one lower sprayer is encircled by the perforated belt and is directed to spray through the perforated belt to an underside of the article.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, an article treating device includes a belt conveyor having a belt that encircles a drive pulley at one end and an idler pulley at another end to support an article. At least one upstream sprayer is positioned above the perforated belt and is directed to spray a treatment liquid on an upper surface of the article on the perforated belt. A flip wedge is positioned to flip over the article conveyed on the belt subsequent to passing the at least one upstream sprayer. At least one downstream sprayer is positioned above the perforated belt and is directed to spray the treatment liquid on an upper surface of the article on the perforated belt subsequent to being flipped by the flip wedge.

In an additional aspect of the present disclosure, a method includes conveying an article from exposed upstream portion of a belt conveyor into a transparent enclosure. The article comprises a tangible payment article placed on the exposed portion by one party to a financial transaction. The method includes conveying the article under a first sprayer that sprays a first surface of the article with a treatment liquid. The method includes spraying a second surface of article using a second sprayer by one of: (i) spraying through perforations in a belt of the belt conveyor; and (ii) conveying the article over a flipping wedge to flip over the article before conveying under the second sprayer.conveying the article out of the transparent enclosure.

These and other features are explained more fully in the embodiments illustrated below. It should be understood that in general the features of one embodiment also may be used in combination with features of another embodiment and that the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one or more embodiments, an article treating device includes a belt conveyor having a belt that encircles a drive pulley at one end and an idler pulley at another end to support an article. At least one upper sprayer is positioned above the belt and is directed to spray a treatment liquid on an upper surface of the article on the belt. The article treating device sprays a second surface of article using a second sprayer by either: (i) spraying through perforations in a belt of the belt conveyor; and (ii) conveying the article over a flipping wedge to flip over the article before conveying under the second sprayer.

FIG.1depicts a top view of an article treatment device100having a belt conveyor102that conveys articles, depicted as currency104a-104bthat is being exchanged from a payer106to a payee108. The belt conveyor102conveys the currency104a-104bthrough a transparent enclosure110. A treatment liquid spraying system112cleans and sanitizes the currency104a-104bwithin clear view of both payer106and payee108. The transparent enclosure110captures excess treatment liquid to avoid an irritation to payer106to a payee108as well as enabling economical recirculation. The article treatment device100is conveniently sized for placement on a counter114.

FIG.2Adepicts a side view of a pulley-tensioned belt conveyor102afor the article treatment device100ofFIG.1. A drive pulley120and an idler pulley122receive a belt124that is held in tension to provide a flat conveying surface126.

FIG.2Bdepicts a side view of a belted roller conveyor102bfor the article treatment device100ofFIG.1. A series of aligned rollers130are spaced between the drive pulley120and the idler pulley122to support the flat conveying surface126.

FIG.2Cdepicts a side view of a slider tray belt conveyor102cfor the article treatment device100ofFIG.1. A slider tray134is positioned between the drive pulley120and the idler pulley122to support the flat conveying surface126.

FIG.3depicts a three-dimensional view of an example transparent enclosure110and recirculating treatment liquid spraying system112for the article treatment device100ofFIG.1. In one or more embodiments, the transparent enclosure100is rectangular with an upstream lateral wall150having an upstream conveyor opening152that is opposed by a downstream lateral wall154having a downstream conveyor opening156. A funnel bottom158collects excess treatment liquid for recirculating by treatment liquid spraying system112. Left, right and top walls160,162,164complete the enclosure and are transparent to provide viewing from any direction. In one or more embodiments, the transparent enclosure110is formed from acrylic sheets.

FIG.4depicts a three-dimensional view of an example article treatment device400having a perforated belt402for dual sided treatment of an article403.FIG.5depicts a three-dimensional exploded view of the example article treatment device400.FIG.6depicts a side view of the example article treatment device400. With reference toFIGS.4-6, the article treatment device400includes an elongate belted roller conveyor404that has an exposed upstream portion406that accepts the article403to be cleaned and sanitized. The perforated belt402encircles drive and idler pulleys408,410on opposite ends with a series of spaced rollers412supporting a flat conveying surface414. Each roller412and pulley408,410are attached at opposite ends by support legs416to a base418. Three buckle-shaped sprayers420a-420cencircle the flat conveying surface414. Each sprayer420a-420chas an upper spray bar424that has downward nozzles425that spray downward toward the perforated belt402and a lower spray bar426that has upward nozzles427that spray upward through the perforated belt402. A transparent enclosure428encloses a substantial portion of the belted roller conveyor404including the sprayers420a-420c. Three fan modules430downstream of the sprayers420a-420cexhaust air through a right side of the transparent enclosure428, drawing air through vent holes432on a left side of the transparent enclosure428to dry the article403after being sprayed. Further downstream, the article403is conveyed out of the transparent enclosure428and deposited in a tray434.

FIG.7depicts a three-dimensional view of an example article treatment device700having a flip wedge701above a belt702for dual sided treatment of an article703.FIG.8depicts a three-dimensional exploded view of the example article treatment device700.FIG.9depicts a side view of the example article treatment device700. With reference toFIGS.7-9, the article treatment device700includes an elongate belted roller conveyor704that has an exposed upstream portion706that accepts the article703to be cleaned and sanitized. The belt702encircles drive and idler pulleys708,710on opposite ends with a series of spaced rollers712supporting a flat conveying surface714. Each roller712and pulley708,710are attached at opposite ends by support legs716to a base718. Upstream and downstream buckle-shaped sprayers720a-720bencircle the flat conveying surface714. Each sprayer720a-720bhas an upper spray bar724that has downward nozzles425that spray downward toward the belt702. The flip wedge701is positioned between upstream and downstream buckle-shaped sprayers720a-720b. The flip wedge701turns over the article703. A transparent enclosure728encloses a substantial portion of the belted roller conveyor704including the sprayers724,726. Further downstream, the article703is conveyed out of the transparent enclosure728and deposited in a tray734.

FIG.10presents a flow diagram of a method1000for facilitating a transaction between a payer and a payee by automated treatment liquid spraying of a payment article. The method1000includes conveying an article from exposed upstream portion of a belt conveyor into a transparent enclosure (block1002). The article is a tangible payment article (e.g., currency, coin, bank card, check, etc.) placed on the exposed portion by one party to a financial transaction. The method1000includes conveying the article under a first sprayer that sprays a first surface of the article with a treatment liquid (block1004). The method1000includes spraying a second surface of article using a second sprayer by one of: (i) spraying through perforations in a belt of the belt conveyor; and (ii) conveying the article over a flipping wedge to flip over the article before conveying under the second sprayer (block1006). The method1000includes circulating outside air through the transparent enclosure to dry the article (block1008). The method1000includes conveying the article out of the transparent enclosure (block1010). The method1000includes recirculating excess treatment liquid captured by the transparent enclosure (block1012). Then method1000ends.

In one or more embodiments illustrated inFIGS.1-10, the article treatment device100comprises a hand sterilization module (not shown). The hand sterilization module allows a user to sterilize their hands after purchase and prior to retrieving the purchased product. The hand sterilization module comprises a sterilizing material compartment, a dispenser, a sensor, and a hand sterilizing area. The sterilizing material compartment stores a germicidal or sterilizing gel or sterilizing liquid. The dispenser is connected to the sterilizing material compartment and sprays the sterilizing liquid or pumps out the sterilizing gel from the sterilizing material compartment. A least one sensor is provided to sense when a user inserts their hands into the hand sterilizing area and signals the dispenser to dispense the sterilizing gel or liquid onto the user's hands in the hand sterilizing area. The user simply rubs their hands and the sterilizing material sterilizes the user's hands. In application, the user selects the product they want to purchase and inserts payment into the payment area of the article treatment device100. The payment controller signals the hands sterilizing module that a purchase has been made. The user inserts their hands into the hand sterilizing area and the dispenser dispenses the sterilizing material to sterilize the user's hands. The user, having sterilized hands, can now retrieve their purchased sanitary product from the sanitary dispensing machine.

In one or more embodiments illustrated inFIGS.1-10, the article treatment device100comprises ultraviolet light sterilization module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one or more embodiments, the article treatment device100further comprises an ultraviolet light module positioned inside or around the coin currency input. In this embodiment the ultraviolet light module is provided for performing sterilization procedures on the coins input by a user into the coin currency input. The ultraviolet light module comprises a lamp or a plurality of lamps, for example, a mercury-vapor lamp that emits ultraviolet light at the germicidal wavelength. Since money is frequency passed between people, stored in unhygienic areas, touched by hands or devices, money such as coin currency or paper currency is carries and passes germs or bacteria and is usually unsanitary. The ultraviolet light module sterilizes the coins by breaking down micro-organisms. Ultraviolet light has a short wavelength that is harmful to microorganisms and destroys their nucleic acids. The ultraviolet radiation disrupts the microorganisms' DNA thereby killing them by eliminating their reproductive capabilities. Microorganisms cannot survive prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed system. Other examples will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed system. By way of non-limiting examples, magnets, buckles, buttons, or other attaching mechanisms could be used in the place of fastener surfaces. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as illustrative only, with a true scope being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.