Patent Publication Number: US-2022212235-A1

Title: Paper Currency Sanitizing Assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
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     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to sanitizing devices and more particularly pertains to a new sanitizing device for sanitizing paper currency. The sanitizing device includes a translucent conveyor belt and ultraviolet light emitters positioned above and below the conveyor belt. In this way the ultraviolet light emitters sterilize the paper currency. 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     The prior art relates to sanitizing devices including a variety of sanitizing devices for sanitizing paper currency which includes conveyor rollers and ultraviolet light. In at least one instance a liquid sanitizer is applied to the paper currency. Additionally, the prior art discloses a cash drawer that is exposed to ultraviolet light when the cash drawer is closed to sanitize paper currency in the cash drawer. In no instance does the prior art disclose a translucent conveyor belt for passing ultraviolet light therethrough to sanitize paper currency. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing that has an entry and an exit to pass paper currency therethrough. A conveyor belt is rotatably integrated into the housing to transport the paper currency between the entry and the exit. The conveyor belt is comprised of a translucent material to pass light therethrough. A set of first light emitters is each positioned within the housing to emit light onto the conveyor belt. A set of second light emitters is each of the second light emitters is positioned within the housing to emit light onto the conveyor belt. Moreover, each of the first light emitters and the second has an operational frequency in the spectrum of ultra-violet light to kill bacteria on the paper currency. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective in-use view of a paper currency sanitizing assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a left side phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a top phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new sanitizing device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the paper currency sanitizing assembly  10  generally comprises a housing  12  that has an entry  14  and an exit  16  to pass paper currency  18  therethrough. The housing  12  has a front wall  20 , a back wall  22  and an outer wall  24  extending therebetween, and the outer wall  24  has a first lateral side  26 , a second lateral side  28  and a top side  30 . The entry  14  extends through the front wall  20  and the exit  16  extends through the back wall  22 . A pair of first rollers  32  is each rotatably integrated into the housing  12  and each of the first rollers  32  is aligned with the entry  14 . The first rollers  32  are stacked on each other to urge the paper currency  18  between the first rollers  32  when the first rollers  32  are rotated. Each of the first rollers  32  extends between the first lateral side  26  and the second lateral side  28  of the outer wall  24  of the housing  12 . 
     A pair of first motors  34  is provided and each of the first motors  34  is rotatably coupled to a respective one of the first rollers  32 . Each of the first motors  34  rotates in opposing directions from each other when the first motors  34  are turned on. Additionally, each of the first rollers  32  rotate in opposite directions from each other when the first motors  34  are turned to urge the paper currency  18  inwardly through the entry  14  in the housing  12 . Each of the first motors  34  may comprise an electric motor or the like. 
     A pair of second rollers  36  is rotatably integrated into the housing  12  and each of the second rollers  36  is aligned with the exit  16 . The second rollers  36  are stacked on each other to urge the paper currency  18  between the second rollers  36  when the second rollers  36  are rotated. Moreover, each of the second rollers  36  extends between the second lateral side  28  and the second lateral side  28  of the outer wall  24  of the housing  12 . A pair of second motors  38  is each rotatably coupled to a respective one of the second rollers  36 . Each of the second motors  38  rotates in opposing directions from each other when the second motors  38  are turned on. Additionally, each of the second rollers  36  rotates in opposite directions from each other when the second motors  38  are turned on to urge the paper currency  18  outwardly through the entry  14  in the housing  12 . Each of the second motors  38  may comprise an electric motor or the like. 
     A conveyor belt  40  is rotatably integrated into the housing  12  and the conveyor belt  40  extends between the first rollers  32  and the second rollers  36 . In this way the conveyor belt  40  can transport the paper currency  18  between the first rollers  32  and the second rollers  36 . The conveyor belt  40  is comprised of a translucent material to pass light therethrough. A pair of conveyor rollers  42  is each rotatably integrated into the housing  12 . Each of the conveyor rollers  42  extends between the first lateral side  26  and the second lateral side  28  of the outer wall  24  of the housing  12 . Additionally, each of the conveyor rollers  42  is positioned adjacent to a respective one of the pair of first rollers  32  and the pair of second rollers  36 , and the conveyor belt  40  extends around each of the conveyor rollers  42 . 
     A pair of conveyor motors  44  is each rotatably coupled to a respective one of the conveyor rollers  42 . Each of the conveyor motors  44  rotates in a first direction when the conveyor motors  44  is turned on and each of the conveyor rollers  42  is rotated in the first direction when the conveyor motors  44  are turned on. Each of the conveyor motors  44  may comprise an electric motor or the like. 
     A set of first light emitters  46  is each positioned within the housing  12 . Each of the first light emitters  46  is directed downwardly toward the conveyor belt  40  emit light onto the conveyor belt  40 . Additionally, each of the first light emitters  46  has an operational frequency in the spectrum of ultra-violet light to kill bacteria on the paper currency  18 . In this way the paper currency  18  is sanitized as the conveyor belt  40  transports the paper currency  18  through the housing  12 . Each of the first light emitters  46  is positioned above the conveyor belt  40  and the first light emitters  46  are spaced apart from each other and are distributed along a substantial length of the conveyor belt  40 . Each of the first light emitters  46  may comprise an LED or other type of electronic light emitter. 
     A first panel  48  is coupled to the top side  30  of the outer wall  24  of the housing  12  and the first panel  48  has a first surface  50  that is directed toward the conveyor belt  40 . Each of the first light emitters  46  is coupled to the first surface  50 . A plurality of rods  52  is each coupled to and extends downwardly from the first surface  50  of the first panel  48 . Each of the rods  52  is aligned with a respective one of four corners of the first panel  48  such that each of the rods  52  extends downwardly adjacent to a respective left side  54  and right side  56  of the conveyor belt  40 . A second panel  58  is provided that has a primary surface  60  and each of the rods  52  is coupled to the primary surface  60 . Thus, the second panel  58  is positioned between a top portion  62  and a bottom portion  64  of the conveyor belt  40  having the primary surface  60  being directed toward the top portion  62 . Additionally, the paper currency  18  rests on the top portion  62  of the conveyor belt  40  while the conveyor belt  40  is transporting the paper currency  18  through the housing  12 . 
     A set of second light emitters  66  is provided and each of the second light emitters  66  is positioned within the housing  12 . Each of the second light emitters  66  is directed upwardly toward the conveyor belt  40  to emit light onto the conveyor belt  40 . Moreover, each of the second light emitters  66  has an operational frequency in the spectrum of ultra-violet light to kill bacteria on the paper currency  18 . In this way the paper currency  18  is sanitized while the paper currency  18  is transported through the housing  12 . Each of the second light emitters  66  is positioned below the conveyor belt  40  and the second light emitters  66  are spaced apart from each other and are distributed along a substantial length of the conveyor belt  40 . Moreover, each of the second light emitters  66  is coupled to the primary surface  60  of the second panel  58 . Each of the second light emitters  66  may comprise an LED or other type of electronic light emitter. 
     A control circuit  68  is positioned in the housing  12  and the control circuit  68  is electrically coupled to each of the first motors  34 . The control circuit  68  is electrically coupled to each of the second motors  38  and the control circuit  68  is electrically coupled to each of the conveyor motors  44 . Additionally, the control circuit  68  is electrically coupled to each of the first light emitters  46  and the control circuit  68  is electrically coupled to each of the second light emitters  66 . A power switch  70  is movably coupled to the housing  12  and the power switch  70  is electrically coupled to the control circuit  68 . Each of the first motors  34 , each of the second motors  38 , each of the conveyor motors  44 , each of the first light emitters  46  and each of the second light emitters  66  is turned on when the power switch  70  is turned on and conversely turned off when the power switch  70  is turned off. 
     A power cord  72  is coupled to and extends away from the housing  12  and the power cord  72  is electrically coupled to the control circuit  68 . The power cord  72  has a distal end  74  with respect to the housing  12  and a male electrical plug  76  is electrically coupled to the distal end  74 . The male electrical plug  76  can be plugged into a power source  72  comprising a female electrical outlet. 
     In use, the power switch  70  is turned on the paper currency  18  is fed into the first rollers  32 . Thus, the paper currency  18  is positioned on the conveyor belt  40  to be transported through the housing  12  to be sterilized by the first light emitters  46  and the second light emitters  66 . The housing  12  may be positioned near a cash register in a retail environment or any other location when paper currency  18  is commonly exchanged. The power switch  70  is turned off when all of the paper currency  18  has been fed through the housing  12  and sterilized. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.