Patent Publication Number: US-8539890-B2

Title: Fluid dispensing apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to PCT/GB2011/050349, filed Feb. 23, 2011, which claims priority to Great Britain Patent Application No. 1003869.3, filed Mar. 9, 2009 entitled “A FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS” incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a fluid dispensing apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a fluid dispensing apparatus which is suitable for use in a container such as an ATM cassette. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     In order to facilitate the process of replenishing automated teller machines (ATMs) it is common for cassettes to be used to store bank notes, both in the ATM and in transit to and from ATMs. An empty ATM cassette can simply be removed from the ATM and replaced with a cassette which has been pre-filled with bank notes. 
     ATM cassettes are an attractive target for thieves, since they may contain 2000 bank notes or more, and are particularly vulnerable to theft during transportation and delivery to an ATM. To deter thieves, it is commonplace for ATM cassettes to be provided with spoiling or degradation systems which dispense an indelible dye, ink, or other spoiling or degrading agent onto the notes in the event of an attempted theft, thereby rendering the notes unusable. 
     In some spoiling systems a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the spoiling or degrading agent is mounted in a lid of the ATM cassette. However, due to complex design and variations between models of ATM cassette it is not always possible to mount the dispensing mechanism in the lid. 
     One solution to this problem is to mount the dispensing mechanism in the base of the ATM cassette. However, this can reduce the note carrying capacity of the ATM cassette, thereby increasing the frequency with which the cassette has to be replaced or replenished. This is undesirable, as ATM operators typically have to pay a fee to a licensed security company for replenishing the ATM, and thus reducing the frequency of replenishment of the ATM reduces cost for the ATM operator. 
     A common method of implementing a base-mounted dispensing mechanism is to store the spoiling or degradation agent in a cylinder or bore, with a piston being used to compress the spoiling or degrading agent on actuation of a spoiling or degradation system, forcing the spoiling or degrading agent through a valve and subsequently onto the notes contained in the ATM cassette. A problem with this type of system is that in order to obtain a satisfactory seal between the piston and the bore to ensure that there can be no leakage of the spoiling or degradation agent, the bore must be machined from a metal such as aluminium. The weight of a metallic bore produced in this way which is large enough to hold sufficient spoiling or degrading agent to spoil 2000 notes is substantial. Given that a cash in transit company will typically handle a large number of ATM cassettes at one time any excess weight is highly undesirable. Moreover, the cost of manufacturing a bore with sufficient precision to ensure a good quality seal between the bore and the piston and to prevent skewing of the piston in travel is prohibitive. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fluid dispensing apparatus comprising a collapsible bellows for storing the fluid to be dispensed, a housing for receiving the collapsible bellows and means for compressing the collapsible bellows on actuation of the fluid dispensing apparatus so as to eject the fluid through an outlet of the bellows, wherein the housing is configured to guide the bellows so as to impede lateral deformation of the bellows during compression thereof. 
     The fluid dispensing apparatus of the present invention provides a compact, lightweight and low cost solution to the problem of mounting a spoiling or degradation agent dispensing system in the base of an ATM cassette or the like. 
     The bellows may comprise a closure at one end thereof, which closure may extend longitudinally inwardly of the bellows. 
     The means for compressing the collapsible bellows may comprise a source of gas. 
     For example, the source of gas may comprise a gas generator. 
     Alternatively, the source of gas may be a source of pressurised gas. 
     The fluid dispensing apparatus may further comprise a seal for creating an airtight seal between an outer part of the bellows and an inner wall of the housing. 
     The housing may comprise exhaust ports, which exhaust ports may be positioned such that prior to actuation of the apparatus gas cannot escape from the housing and after actuation of the apparatus gas can escape from the housing through the exhaust ports. 
     The fluid dispensing apparatus may further comprise a hollow needle which communicates with the outlet of the bellows, the needle extending into an interior of the bellows towards a closure thereof such that on compression of the bellows the needle pierces the closure, thereby permitting gas to escape from the housing through the outlet. 
     The needle may comprise an aperture which, when the bellows is fully compressed, is positioned in the interior of the bellows such that excess fluid can escape through the needle. 
     The fluid dispensing apparatus may further comprise a cap for sealing the housing, and the means for compressing the collapsible bellows may be positioned outside the housing when it is sealed by the cap. 
     The housing may be of a plastics material. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible bellows for a fluid dispensing apparatus according to the first aspect. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an ATM cassette comprising a fluid dispensing apparatus according to the first aspect. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention will now be described, strictly by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation showing, in cross-section, an embodiment of fluid dispensing apparatus in an uncompressed state; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic representation showing, in cross-section, the fluid dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 1  in a compressed state; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic representation showing, in cross-section, an alternative embodiment of a fluid dispensing apparatus is an uncompressed state; and 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic representation showing, in cross-section, the fluid dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 3  in a compressed state. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a fluid dispensing apparatus is shown generally at  10 , and includes a collapsible bellows  12  containing a fluid spoiling or degrading agent such as indelible ink, adhesive or the like. The bellows  12  is housed in a bore  14  of a housing  16  of a lightweight plastics material. The housing  16  may be formed, for example, by extrusion of a plastics material, whilst the bellows  12  may be formed by blow-moulding a plastics material. 
     In this example the bellows  12  is generally cylindrical, and the housing  16  has a generally cylindrical bore  14  of a slightly larger diameter than that of the bellows  12 , but it is to be appreciated that the bellows  12  may take any form. 
     One function of the bore  14  of the housing  16  is to guide the bellows  12  during compression to ensure that the bellows  12  compresses in a direction generally along a longitudinal axis thereof, to prevent or at least impede skewing or undesired lateral deformation of the bellows  12  during compression. Thus, it is advantageous for the bore  14  to have a generally similar form to that of the bellows  12 . 
     The bellows  12  is closed at a first end  18  thereof by a closure  20  which extends longitudinally inwardly of the bellows  12 , whilst an outlet  22  is provided at the other end of the bellows  12 . The outlet  22  communicates with a spray bar  24  which is provided with a plurality of outlet apertures through which a spoiling or degrading agent can be dispensed onto bank notes stored in an ATM cassette, security container or the like. A valve  25  is disposed between the outlet and the spray bar  24  to prevent the spoiling or degrading agent from escaping from the bellows  12  until the apparatus  10  is actuated to compress the bellows  12 . 
     The bellows  12  is sealed at its outlet end to the housing  16  by means of a first O-ring seal  26  of rubber or a similar material. The first O-ring seal prevents gas from escaping from the bore  14  of the housing  16 . 
     A second O-ring seal  28  is provided towards the other end  18  of the bellows  12 , creating an airtight seal between an outer part of the bellows  12  and an inner wall of the bore  14 , thereby preventing gas from escaping around the outside of the bellows  12 . 
     A compression system  30  is mounted on a cap  32  of the housing  16 , such that the compression system  30  is positioned outside the housing  16  when the housing  16  is closed by the cap  32 . The cap  32  forms an airtight seal for the bore  14  and is removable for maintenance purposes, for example replacement of the bellows  12 . 
     The compression system  30  has a cartridge or cylinder  34  of compressed gas such as carbon dioxide which is sealed by an actuator  36  such as an explosive protractor or an electrically operated valve. The actuator  36  is connected to a theft or interference detection system and is configured, on actuation, to permit the pressurised gas stored in the cylinder  34  to be released into the sealed bore  14 . This release of the pressurised gas into the sealed bore  14  causes the bellows  12  to be compressed, which in turn causes the spoiling or degrading agent to be ejected from the bellows  12  through the outlet  22 , from where it passes to the spray bar  24  and is dispensed through the outlet apertures. 
     The bore  14  is provided with exhaust ports  38  through which gas from the cylinder  34  can escape from the bore  14  of the housing  16  once the bellows  12  has been fully compressed to ensure that the housing  16  does not remain pressurised after activation of the fluid dispensing apparatus  10 , thus permitting safe handling of the housing  16  by an operator or service personnel. When the bellows  12  is not fully compressed the second O-ring seal  28  prevents gas from escaping through the exhaust ports  38 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the fluid dispensing apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  is shown in an actuated condition, with the bellows  12  fully compressed. It can clearly be seen from  FIG. 2  that in this actuated condition the bellows  12  is compressed to the point that the second O-ring seal  28  has moved past the exhaust ports  38 , thus permitting the safe release of the pressurised gas from the sealed bore  14 . 
       FIG. 2  also illustrates the function of the inwardly-extending closure  20  of the bellows  12 . The inwardly-extending closure  20  ensures that substantially all of the spoiling or degrading agent stored in the bellows  12  is ejected through the outlet on activation of the apparatus  10 . The inwardly-extending closure  20  ensures that the uncompressed volume within the bellows  12  when it has been fully compressed by the pressurised gas is as small as possible, thereby ensuring that as much as possible of the spoiling or degrading agent stored in the bellows  12  is ejected during compression of the bellows  12 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a fluid dispensing apparatus  50 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  includes many of the elements present in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and thus the same reference numerals have been used to designate elements which are common to both embodiments. 
     In the fluid dispensing apparatus  50  of  FIG. 3  there are no exhaust ports. Instead, to ensure safe venting of the compressed gas following activation of the apparatus  50  a hollow needle  52  is provided, which needle  52  extends into the interior of the bellows  12  towards the closure  20 . The needle  52  communicates with outlet  22  of the bellows  12 . 
     As is shown in  FIG. 4 , when the bellows  12  is completely compressed, the hollow needle  52  pierces the closure  20 , permitting compressed gas in the bore  14  of the sealed housing  16  to escape through the outlet  22  and the spray bar  24 . The hollow needle  52  is provided with an aperture  54 , which, when the bellows  12  is fully compressed, is positioned in the interior of the bellows  12  such that excess spoiling or degrading agent in the bellows  12  can be ejected from the bellows  12  with the compressed gas being vented through the hollow needle  52 . 
     In a further alternative embodiment, the apparatus  50  may be provided both with exhaust ports  38  and with a hollow needle  52  as described above to ensure effective and safe venting of compressed gas from the bore  14  of the housing  16 . 
     Although the fluid dispensing apparatus  10 ,  50  described above has a compression system  30  which uses a source of pressurised gas to cause compression of the bellows  12  on actuation of the apparatus  10 ,  50 , it will be appreciated that alternative compression systems could be used. For example, the compression system  30  may be replaced by a pneumatically—or hydraulically operated piston or a solenoid which is operative to compress the bellows  12  on actuation of the apparatus  10 ,  50  or by a compression system which employs a gas generator to generate gas to compress the bellows  12 . 
     Similarly, alternative components can be used in place of the spray bar  24  to direct the spoiling or degrading agent onto bank notes, documents or other valuable items, For example, an injector-style component, as is described in the applicant&#39;s European patent no. EP1499787B1, may be used in place of the spray bar  24 . 
     The fluid dispensing apparatus  10  is particularly suited to use in ATM cassettes in which space is limited, but it will be clear that the fluid dispensing apparatus  10  is equally suited to other applications, for example use in security transit containers such as the iBox® supplied by the applicant, safes or any other container used for storing or transporting bank notes or other valuable items. 
     It will be appreciated that in certain applications more than one fluid dispensing apparatus  10  may be used. For example, where a two-part resin or adhesive is used as the spoiling or degrading agent, two fluid bellows  12  may be used, with one holding a first part of the two-part spoiling or degrading agent and the other holding the second part of the two-part spoiling or degrading agent, such that on actuation of the apparatus  10  the first part of the two-part spoiling or degrading agent is ejected from one bellows  12  onto the bank notes, documents or other valuable items, and the second part of the two-part spoiling or degrading agent is ejected from the other bellows  12  onto the bank notes, documents or other valuable items, causing the two parts of the spoiling or degrading agent to mix and cure on the bank notes, documents or other valuable items, rendering them unusable.