Abstract:
A paper currency method and system, which is comprised of multi-stages of sections or areas for cleaning and/or sanitizing/and or drying with input and output to receive and dispense. A roller and conveyor, opposed to each other with pressure fluid or air jets, remove dirt, oils, and other foreign matter from the currency. When desired by the end user, the currency passes through a sanitation section using a sanitation solution to effectively kill viral and fungal organisms. After the cleaning processes is complete, the currency passes through a drying portion using squeezing rollers, high-pressure air and heat to remove moisture and to complete the reconditioning process.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a paper currency cleaning, reconditioning and sterilization system and associated methodology and more particularly pertains to killing viral and fungal microorganisms on paper currencies and/or cleaning dirty paper currency and ultimately reconditioning the currency for longer use. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    While prior art devices for cleaning paper currency exist and fulfill their respective objectives and/or requirements, such devices generally do not provide for a paper currency sterilization system that allows killing viral and fungal microorganisms on paper currencies. U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,106 to Masyada is a device that provides for sterilization but is extremely complex and expensive to build and operate, and requires much maintenance. Prior art devices are generally known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations not withstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art, which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objections and requirements, they do not describe paper currency reconditioning with the cleaning and sterilization process as described herein. 
         [0003]    In this respect, the paper currency system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of cleaning dirty and soiled paper currency as well as for the purpose of killing viral and fungal microorganisms on paper currencies, wherein the apparatus or system is simpler and less expensive to build and operate, and requires less maintenance. 
         [0004]    The present invention further as an objective addresses needs in the following areas: 
         [0005]    Health issues are decreased due to handling clean and sterilized currency; 
         [0006]    As for National and International Security, the sterilization process will be necessary in dealing with bio-terrorism, either as a preventative or recovery effort, should currency be used in terrorist attack; 
         [0007]    Life expectancy of currency substantially increases by cleaning and reconditioning; and 
         [0008]    Currency handling equipment will have substantially less downtime due to dirt jamming the equipment. 
         [0009]    Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for clean, reconditioned, sterilized and improved paper currency condition, and the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art paper cleaning devices of known designs and configurations, the present invention provides a new and improved currency cleaning, sanitizing and reconditioning system over current art in one operation. This system will show none of the disadvantages of the prior art. 
         [0011]    To attain this, the present invention comprises a method of cleaning a paper currency through a washing portion or section of a paper currency cleaning system. The currency notes ride on a grooved belt with opposing individually grooved driver rollers in a staggered pattern to accomplish 100% exposure of the notes on the side being cleaned. The currency can be fed narrow end first or wide end first and in a single or dual or other multiple side by side orientation as desired and depending on the width of the system when fabricated. The grooved belt is to accommodate in the transition area of belts segments within the system, guide rods. These guide rods are typically round non-corrosive, stainless steel or equal guide rods that hold the currency on the belt between the driver rollers as it moves from roller to roller through the washing section. Between the staggered rollers, there are high pressure staggered nozzles that spray a cleaning solution, which may be optionally heated, suitable for cleaning paper currency from the wash section onto the top of the notes to wash away dirt, oils, and other contaminates on one side. 
         [0012]    After a designated length of belting, the notes pass through the second cleaning area or section that has the same specially developed inverted belt, roller, and staggered spray nozzle system, which duplicate the first area cleaning process. The purpose of the whole conveyor section being inverted is to accomplish 100% cleaning of the currency on the opposite side of the notes yet to be cleaned. As noted above, the cleaning solution can be heated if desired. This cleaning area is self-contained to repeatedly reuse the solution. This is accomplished by filtering the solution through a reservoir before passing it through the high pressure pump back to the cleaning nozzles. 
         [0013]    This self-contained washing system is to minimize servicing of the device and is controlled by an operating panel. This panel measures pump pressures to determine the filter and cleaning solution replacement cycle. The cleaning solution may optionally be thermally controlled as well from an operating panel. 
         [0014]    The plurality of guide rods are arranged in a staggered array and are oriented and located so as to hold the currency in place against the conveyor belt as the currency is passed through the invention cleaning system. 
         [0015]    The notes, after passing through the washing section, are transferred to a mesh belt to expose both sides of the notes. The stages of drying process from both sides are: 
         [0016]    a. Air wiper nozzles with pressured air remove excess moisture; 
         [0017]    b. Squeeze rollers further remove more moisture from the notes; and 
         [0018]    c. Heated air nozzles direct forced heated air on both sides of the notes. 
         [0019]    The notes then enter the sanitization area of the system and pass over mesh belting, where the notes are misted on both sides with a sanitizing solution through low pressure nozzles to give the notes 100% coverage. This sanitization area is also self-contained and filtered to help prolong the solution use and service cycle. 
         [0020]    Finally, the notes pass through another high pressure air wiper to remove moisture, and then through high pressure rollers to recondition the notes such as to remove wrinkles and folds. The notes are then deposited into a collection box (not shown). 
         [0021]    Feeding/loading and receiving/collecting stackers or boxes are known in the art and are commercially available from companies such as National Cash Register (NCR) and are therefore not depicted in the drawings which descriptions follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    In the accompanying drawings: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a conceptual perspective view of the washing portion and drying portion of the present invention system; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the depiction of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a rear isometric view of the  FIG. 1  depiction showing an example of a gear train mechanism that drives the system conveyors; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the depiction of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the  FIG. 1  depiction with the front face removed to generally show an example of the internal components of the washing portion of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6A  is a partial exploded view to conceptually depict one of the cleaning solution spray nozzles between driven rollers of the first portion of the washing portion of the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6B  is a partial exploded view to conceptually depict one of the cleaning solution spray nozzles between driven rollers of the second portion of the washing portion of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6C  is a partial exploded view to conceptually depict the air wiper/air nozzles in the transition after the washing portion is completed; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6D  is a partial exploded view to conceptually depict the heated air nozzles and the pressure rollers portion of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the combination washing and sanitizer portions of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the depiction of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a rear isometric view of the  FIG. 7  depiction showing an example of a gear train mechanism that drives the system conveyors; 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a rear view of the depiction of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the  FIG. 7  depiction with the front face removed to generally show an example of the internal components of the washing and sanitizing portions of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 12A  is a partial exploded view to conceptually depict the sanitizing solution spray nozzles in the sanitizing portion of the invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 12B  is a partial exploded view to conceptually depict an optional second set of heated air nozzles and pressure rollers after the sanitizing phase of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-5  and  6 A- 6 D disclose a system for cleaning paper currency, which is depicted generally as  10 . 
         [0040]    The present invention  10  comprises a washing portion  12  having a first washing section  12   a  and a second washing section  12   b,  and drying portion  14  downstream of the washing portion  12 . The washing portion  12  has a first belt portion  16   a  in the first washing section  12   a  with a plurality of opposing rows of driven rollers  18   a  in a predetermined staggered pattern, and a second belt portion  16   b  in the second washing section  12   b  with a second plurality of opposing rows of driven rollers  18   b  in a predetermined staggered pattern. The second belt portion  16   b  and its opposing driven rollers  18   b  are in an inverted orientation from the first belt portion  16   a  and its opposing driven rollers  18   a.  The driven rollers  18   a,    18   b  are preferably grooved rollers. The rollers  18   a,    18   b  are driven from a motorized belt or chain drive using motor  32  and its driven pulley or gear  18   d.  Pulley or chain  18   e  is used to drive rollers  18   a,    18   b,    18   c.    
         [0041]    The paper currency is fed and distributed on the first belt portion  16   a  for conveyance through the first and second washing sections  12   a,    12   b  to clean one side of the paper currency in the first washing section  12   a  and an opposite side of the paper currency in the second washing section  12   b.    
         [0042]    The cleaning solution is sprayed on the currency from an array of a plurality of nozzles  22   a  using water as the solution of another appropriate cleaning solution. The solution may be optionally heated if desired. One such way of providing this feature is to have the solution which is stored in the tank  22   b  heated using a temperature controller and electric or gas heating means similar to those found in water heaters. Another method is to provide an in-line instant heat electric or gas powered device. 
         [0043]    The invention includes means for holding the paper currency in place on the first and second belt portions  16   a,    16   b,  and as noted above, means for spraying the cleaning solution on the paper currency as the paper currency travels on the first and second belt portions  16   a,    16   b  in the washing portion  12 . Downstream of the cleaning or washing portion  12  is a meshed belt conveyance portion  24  on which the paper currency passes from the washing portion  12  onto the meshed belt conveyance portion  24 . As the currency proceeds down the conveyor line, it is dried and reconditioned using various means as the currency passes on the meshed belt conveyance portion  24 . 
         [0044]    The means for drying and for reconditioning the paper currency as it passes on the meshed belt conveyance portion  24  can be done in a variety of ways such as by using an air pump  26  and/or heater/air pump combination  34  connected to a plurality of air wiper nozzles  26   a  directed from above and below the meshed belt conveyance portion  24 , with pressured air, for removing excess moisture from the cleaned paper currency, by using a plurality of heated air nozzles  26   b  having means for directing forced heated air on both sides of the paper currency, and/or by using one or more pressure rollers  26   c  configured to squeeze the paper currency against a surface of the meshed belt conveyance portion  24  for removing moisture and wrinkles from the paper currency. 
         [0045]    In one embodiment, the first and second belt portions  16   a,    16   b  preferably include two or more grooves  16   c  running longitudinally on each of the first and second belt portions  16   a,    16   b.  The means for holding the paper currency in place on the first and second belt portions  16   a,    16   b  comprises an array of a plurality of guide rods  20 , wherein a designated portion of the guide rods  20  adjacent a transition area of the first and second belt portions  16   a,    16   b  are aligned with the two or more grooves  16   c  in the first and second belt portions  16   a,    16   b  so as to allow corresponding guide rods  20  adjacent the transition area to be located within the two or more grooves  16   c  for facilitating the conveyance of the currency from the first washing section  12   a  to the second washing section  12   b  and from the second washing section  12   b  to the meshed belt conveyance portion  24 . As can be seen in the drawings, the rods  20  are generally small diameter pins with ends welded or otherwise attached to cross-member plates. This allows the rods  20  to be segmented and spaced-apart to ensure that some guide rods  20  (at least two) are always in contact with one surface of the currency. Rods  20  in the transition areas are placed so as to be co-linear with the grooves  16   c  of the belts  16   a,    16   b.    
         [0046]    In an alternative embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 7-11  and  12 A- 12 B, a sanitizing portion  28  is added downstream of the washing portion  12  and the drying portion  14 . The sanitizing portion  28  can be configured to have the meshed belt conveyance portion  24  continue from the drying portion  14  or it can be configured to have another transition area where the mesh belt conveyance portion  24  transitions into another meshed belt portion, not shown. In  FIGS. 1 and 7 , it is understood that mesh belt  24  may also be representative of adjoining sections of mesh belts. The sanitizing portion  28  includes means for misting a sanitizing solution on both sides of the paper currency as the paper currency travels on the meshed belt conveyance portion  24 . An array of spaced-apart spray nozzles  28   c  are located so as to pump and spray a fine mist of a sanitizing solution on the cleaned currency. The mist is so fine that little or no residual mist needs to be collected; however, if residual condensate of the misted spray solution is collected, it can be drained to the sanitizing tank for recycled use through a filtering medium  28   d.    
         [0047]    Although the final process is contemplated to be the sanitizing process if this process is added to the system  10 , the sanitizing process may also include means for drying and for reconditioning the paper currency as it passes on the meshed belt conveyance portion  24 . This feature can be provided using the same method as described above for the currency leaving the washing process. Accordingly, as depicted in  FIG. 7 , a second hot air dryer pump  34  may be added after the misting of the sanitizer is completed if desired with associated nozzles  26   b  as depicted in  FIG. 6D . In addition, additional pressure rollers  26   c  may also be added in line after the second hot air application process is completed. 
         [0048]    As noted above, the system  10  includes means for storing the cleaning solution using a tank  22   b  and a pump  22   c  to pump the cleaning solution through a plurality of spray nozzles  22   a  at a desired pressure. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning solution should be recycled by having means for collecting sprayed cleaning solution. This can be done by having a drainage collection pan, where the solution is routed back to the cleaning solution tank  22   b.  Preferably the collected solution should be filtered either before entry into the solution tank  22   b  or the filtering medium  22   d  can located in line between the tank  22   d  and the nozzles  22   a.    
         [0049]    Similarly, the sanitizing portion  28  has means for storing the sanitizing solution, for example a tank  28   a  and pump  28   b  for pumping the sanitizing solution through a plurality of misting nozzles  28   c  at a desired pressure. Similar to the cleaning phase of the system, the sanitizing portion  28  preferably includes means for collecting misted sanitizing solution and means for filtering residually collected misted sanitizing solution and recycling the filtered misted sanitizing solution for re-use. Again, this can be provided with a collection pan type of system that directs any collected residual solution to the tank  28   a.  The collected solution can be filtered using a filtering medium  28   d.    
         [0050]    The cleaning solution temperature as well as the sanitizing solution temperature can also optionally be controlled using means known in the art to heat the solution to a desired and maintained temperature. Preferably, monitoring and controlling for setting the temperature is done from a control panel  30  that also houses the on/off switches for the pumps  22   c,   28   b.    
         [0051]    The pressure rollers  26   c  may also be optionally heated to provide for an ironing effect on the currency. This can be accomplished in a number of ways known in the art including electrically heating the rollers  26   c  or passing a heated medium through the internal part of the rollers  26   c.    
         [0052]    As alluded to above, it should be understood that equivalent belt structure could be multiple segments of adjoining belts that perform the same structural performance feature. In addition, it is also understood that the wash portion belts may also be meshed belts with grooves for the guide rods in the belt transition areas. 
         [0053]    It should be understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of one or more embodiments of this invention and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.