WO2013068973A2

WO2013068973A2 - Apparatus for the disinfection/sterilization and cleaning of banknotes

Info

Publication number: WO2013068973A2
Application number: PCT/IB2012/056287
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabio PORCHIA
Original assignee: Porchia Fabio
Priority date: 2011-11-09
Filing date: 2012-11-09
Publication date: 2013-05-16
Also published as: ITLC20110011A1; WO2013068973A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for the disinfection/sterilization and cleaning of banknotes comprising a substantially hollow body (2) having an inner wall at least partially reflecting, opposing inlet (5) and outlet (6) openings for banknotes, a path (7) comprised between the inlet (5) and outlet (6) openings inside the body (2), handling means (8) combined with the path (7) for handling banknotes from the inlet opening (5) to the outlet opening (6), disinfection/sterilization means of the banknotes comprising at least one UV radiation source (9) arranged over the path (7) and at least one UV radiation source (9) arranged under the path (7), and cleaning means of the banknotes comprising at least one brush (10) active along the path (7).

Description

Title: Apparatus for the disinfection/sterilization and cleaning of banknotes

* * * *

DESCRIPTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the disinfection/sterilization and cleaning of banknotes and in particular to an apparatus of the afore said type, which is lightweight and provided with a reduced overall dimensions, adapted to be used in banknote payment operations, automated and not automated.

State of the Art

As it is known, there is worldwide a large circulation of banknotes whose total number, considering the existing different denominations and currencies, is hardly quantifiable but however at least high.

It further has to be said that, despite in the last decades there has been an increase in the use of cash point cards, credit cards and checks, the cash payment (banknotes or paper money) is still widely popular.

It is also to be noted that, beside great countries or regions adopting its own unique currency used by several millions of citizens, such as the United States, China, part of the European Union, the today increasing possibility to travel of many people, further increased the circulation of banknotes and in particular the passage of the same between subjects and environments very different one to another.

A banknote can thus be used for paying in several situations over a time span even rather short, or however it can be exchanged repeatedly among different subjects (users) for example in markets and supermarkets, grocery stores, filling stations, restaurants and coffee houses, movie theaters and theaters, post offices, banks and currency exchange offices, hotels and guest houses, boutiques and chain or department stores in addition to other shops of various kind.

Therefore the banknotes became one of the main diffusion and transmission vehicles for diseases since, for the afore said considerable passage among different subjects and environments, microorganisms of various type deposit, collect and nest to a great extent thereon among which pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, cause of even severe diseases.

In confirmation of the above, a thorough study made by some physicists of the MRX PLANK INSTITUTE FOR DYNAMICS AND SELF-ORGANISATION in Gottigen, Germany, allowed to develop, by reconstructing the path of some one dollar banknotes, the first accurate statistical model of human travels in the globalized world and therefore to determine the origin and the diffusion of epidemics.

Therefrom the need to provide systems for cleaning banknotes and in particular apparatuses and methods for disinfecting and sterilizing the same.

To satisfy the afore said need the known art provided some solutions such as for example the one described in the document DE 102009010957 disclosing a device for processing banknotes in an automated teller machine (cash point), comprising feed rollers of banknotes having a layer of photocatalytic material, bearing UV lamps in their inside and made of material transparent to ultraviolet radiation.

A further solution provided in the known art is described in the document DE 10 2004 016961 which discloses a device for the cleaning of banknotes combined with a device for sorting banknotes, wherein the banknotes are firstly carried between rotating brushes and then subjected to irradiation with an UV lamp.

A further solution provided in the known art is described in the document US 5,626,822 which discloses a machine for banknotes including an unit for the sterilization of banknotes by heat, wherein the heating temperature is detected by a sensor and maintained in a predetermined range, and wherein the number of banknotes to be treated is limited to avoid the banknotes from absorption of an excessive heat with undesired lowering of the heating temperature and ineffective germ elimination, and wherein a determined pressure is applied on banknotes to eliminate folds and wrinkles.

A further solution provided in the known art is described in the document DE 102009010957 disclosing a device for the discontinuously, contemporary cleaning of a plurality of banknotes, by a gas flow.

A further solution provided in the known art is described in the document JP 3209595 disclosing an apparatus for banknote transactions having, at a banknote transportation mechanism, means for the sterilization of the same comprising an ultraviolet ray lamp and a reflecting mirror to irradiate both sides of the banknotes.

Despite advantageous, the solutions proposed in the known art are not drawback free, for example some are rather cumbersome and structurally complex, other allow to process only one banknote at a time, other to sterilize only one surface, still others operate discontinuously and therefore are unsuitable to be used during operations such as banknote payments.

Briefly, against a number of solutions provided in the known art, generally different drawbacks are found to be associated with the different known embodiments of apparatuses for the disinfection/sterilization of banknotes, whereas it would be desirable having an apparatus of the afore said type provided with such characteristics to make it convenient to be used in every situation, i.e. environment, during payment operations with banknotes or withdrawal of the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus for the disinfection/sterilization and cleaning of banknotes, apt to be used during a payment with, or withdrawal of, banknotes, having structural and functional characteristics such to overcome the mentioned drawbacks referring to the known technique, that is to say an apparatus of the afore said type, resulting particularly easy to use, light, robust and provided with a reduced overall dimensions, which allows to be used continuously during the afore said payment or withdrawal operations, which allows to rapidly carry out the afore said payment or withdrawal operations, which allows an effective disinfection/sterilization of both the surfaces of the banknotes as well as the removal of dusts and various residuals and which is further economically advantageous to realize .

In accordance with the invention the afore said object is obtained by an apparatus for the disinfection/sterilization and cleaning of banknotes, apt to be used continuously during payment operations with, or withdrawal operations of, banknotes, comprising a substantially hollow body having an inner wall at least partially reflecting, opposing inlet and outlet openings for banknotes, a path . comprised between the afore said inlet and outlet openings inside the afore said substantially hollow body, handling means combined with the afore said path for the handling of banknotes from the afore said inlet opening to the afore said outlet opening, disinfection/sterilization means of banknotes comprising at least one UV radiation source arranged over the afore said path and at least one UV radiation source arranged under the afore said path and cleaning means of banknotes comprising at least one brush active on the afore said path.

Preferably, the afore said path comprises a sliding bed (sliding plane) for the sliding of banknotes having a respective rest surface (support surface) of the banknotes.

Preferably, the afore said sliding bed comprises at least one plate-like or laminar element provided with openings or through holes.

Preferably the afore said at least one plate-like or laminar element is composed of a grid or a mesh element in reflecting metal.

Preferably the afore said apparatus comprises at least two brushes active on the afore said path, more preferably a first brush and a second brush opposed each other with respect to the afore said path, that is to say arranged on opposite sides of the afore said path and opposed each other with respect to the afore said sliding bed.

In accordance with the invention, the afore said first and second brush can be both arranged in proximity of a same end portion of the afore said path or arranged at opposing end portions of the afore said path.

Preferably the afore said handling means comprise a motor and a plurality of first rotating elements connected to, and controlled by, said motor, arranged each other in predetermined spaced apart relationship along the afore said path.

Preferably the afore said first rotating elements comprise first rollers having rotation axis parallel one to another and parallel to the afore said path, particularly to the afore said sliding bed.

Preferably the afore said first rollers face from the afore said sliding bed, particularly from the afore said rest surface of banknotes with the afore said rotation axes of the first rollers lying under the afore said rest surface of banknotes.

Preferably the apparatus according to the invention comprises a plurality of contrast elements of the banknotes active on the afore said path, particularly active on the afore said sliding bed and even more particularly active on the afore said rest surface of the banknotes, apt to press or retain the banknotes themselves on the afore said rest surface .

Preferably each contrast element is arranged at a respective first rotating element of the afore said handling means.

Preferably each contrast element comprises at least one second rotating element, more preferably at least one second roller with rotation axis essentially parallel to the rotation axis of the afore said first rollers, thus parallel to the afore said path and the afore said sliding bed, the rotation axes of the afore said second rollers being parallel one to another and lying over the afore said rest surface of the banknotes.

Preferably the afore said second rotating elements, therefore the afore said second rollers are free to rotate being mounted idle on respective supports.

Preferably the afore said first rollers and the afore said second rollers are coupled side by side, in a predetermined limited spaced apart relationship so that a banknote can pass between them.

Preferably each contrast element also comprises at least one push element thereof, therefore preferably each second roller is combined at least at one end thereof with a respective afore said push element.

Preferably each push element comprises at least one lever combined with the afore said end of a second roller and at least one active spring on the afore said lever, constrained to the afore said supports of the second rollers .

Preferably the apparatus according to the invention also comprises detection means of banknotes, advantageously arranged at the afore said inlet opening, preferably inside the afore said substantially hollow body. Preferably the afore said detection means of banknotes comprise an optical sensor connected to the afore said handling means, therefore connected to the afore said motor.

Preferably the afore said UV radiation sources comprise cylindrical germicide UV lamps, extending parallel to the afore said path, for a length equal to or greater than the half thereof.

Preferably the afore said substantially hollow body comprises two half - shells combined one to another and more preferably a first upper half - shell and a second lower - half shell hinged one to another.

Detailed description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the following detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment, shown for illustration purposes only and without limitation, with the aid of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of an apparatus for the disinfection/sterilization and cleaning of banknotes in accordance with the present invention, in a closed working configuration;

figure 2 shows the apparatus of figure 1 according to a further perspective in an open configuration;

figure 3 shows a detail of figure 2 in enlarged scale; figures 4, 5 and 6 show a detail of the apparatus of figure 2, seen separately according to two different upper perspective views and respectively according to a lower perspective view; figure 7 shows a longitudinal side phantom view of the apparatus of figure 1 ;

figure 8 shows a detail of the apparatus of figure 7 in enlarged scale;

figure 9 shows a further detail of the apparatus of figure 7 in enlarged scale.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring to the afore said figures an apparatus for the disinfection/sterilization and cleaning of banknotes in accordance with the present invention is denoted on the whole with 1.

The apparatus 1 is apt to be used, continuously, in payment operations by banknotes, or withdrawal thereof, as it will better result in the following.

The apparatus 1 essentially comprises a substantially hollow body 2, in practice a box - like body, realized by two half-shells which, in accordance with the examples of the figures, are longitudinally hinged one to another by dedicated association means like hinges, not shown in the figures, the possibility of providing two removably associated half-shells, for example by hook or snap means, not being however excluded.

In particular, the apparatus 1 comprises a first half- shell 3, or upper half-shell, and a second half-shell 4, or lower half-shell, closed one to another when the apparatus is in operative configuration, as shown in the examples of figures 1 and 7, which can be opened between them to give access to the inside of the body 2, for example for maintenance or repairing operations, as shown in the example of figure 2. The apparatus 1 further comprises two opposing openings for banknotes, in detail an inlet opening 5 and an outlet opening 6, between which a path for the banknotes, denoted on the whole with 7, is comprised.

The apparatus 1 further comprises handling means 8 of the banknotes, combined with the path 7, for handling or carrying a banknote from the inlet opening 5 to the outlet opening 6.

The apparatus 1 further comprises disinfection/sterilization means of banknotes and cleaning means of banknotes which advantageously comprise a plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources 9 and respectively a first brush 10, active on the path 7.

In particular, in accordance with the examples of the figures, the apparatus 1 comprises a couple of cylindrical UV lamps denoted with 9, housed in the first half-shell 3, and a couple of cylindrical UV lamps, always denoted with 9, housed in the half-shell 4, in practice positioned over and under the path 7 respectively.

The first brush 10 is housed over the path 7, at the inlet opening 5, and in accordance with the invention a second brush can be provided too, not shown in the examples of the figures, opposing to the first brush 10, in particular housed under the path 7.

The second brush can be housed too at the inlet opening of the present apparatus, not being however excluded the possibility of providing the first and the second brushes arranged at opposite end portions of the path 7.

In accordance with the invention the first brush 10, thus possibly the second brush too, comprises limitedly - sized soft rubber bristles apt to remove the so called micro-dirt from a surface.

As regard to the path 7, it has to be added that it essentially comprises a sliding bed 11 of the banknotes, having a respective rest surface 12 of the banknotes themselves .

In particular, the sliding bed 11 consists of a platelike or laminar element, mesh-like or with through holes, provided with a plurality of windows for a respective plurality of first rotating elements, as it will better appear in the following, advantageously realized in metal with a surface reflecting ultraviolet radiations.

Alternatively a plurality of plate-like or laminar elements can be provided, mesh-like or with through holes, in metal reflecting the ultraviolet radiation, consecutively arranged one after the other in predetermined spaced apart relationship to form respective windows for the afore said plurality of first rotating elements.

In this regard it has to be added that, in accordance with the invention, also the inner wall of the body 2 is made of material, or coated with material, reflecting ultraviolet radiations.

As regard to the handling means 8, it- has to be added that they essentially comprise motor 13, advantageously an electrical motor, powered by battery or electric system, and a plurality of first rotating elements 14, combined with, and controlled by, the motor 13, which are arranged in predetermined spaced apart relationship on the path 7.

In accordance with the invention, the first rotating elements 14 consist of a plurality of first rollers facing to the sliding bed 11.

Substantially the first rollers, which are assembled on dedicated supporting means 16, have respective rotation axes parallel one to another lying on a plane essentially parallel to the sliding bed 11 placed under the latter.

The first rotating elements 14 are rotationally integral one to another by means of a transmission element 17, advantageously a toothed belt, connected to the motor 13, in particular combined therewith by means of a further transmission means advantageously comprising a second belt 18.

In accordance with the invention, the apparatus 1 also comprises a plurality of contrast elements of banknotes, denoted on the whole with 19, active on the path 7 and in particular active on the sliding bed 11 of the banknotes, apt to keep the banknotes adhered to the rest surface of the same.

Advantageously each contrast element 19 is arranged at a respective first rotating element 14 of the handling means 8.

Advantageously each contrast element comprises a second rotating element 20, advantageously a second roller with rotation axis essentially parallel to the rotation axis of the first rollers, therefore parallel to the sliding bed 11 of the banknotes.

Substantially the rotation axes of the second rollers are parallel one to another and lie over the rest surface 12 of the banknotes.

The second rotating elements 20, that is to say the second rollers, are free to rotate being mounted idle on respective supports which advantageously are composed of the same supporting means 16 of the first rollers.

In particular the supporting means 16 essentially comprise two right-angle folded side edges 21, provided with a plurality of passages for supporting the first and second rotating elements and for tensioning plugs 22 of the transmission element 17.

As shown in the examples of the figures, the first rotating elements 14 and the second rotating elements 20, that is to say the first rollers and the second rollers, are coupled side by side, in each couple one over another in a predetermined limited spaced - apart relationship, such that a banknote, dragged by the first rotating means connected to the motor 13, can pass between them.

In accordance with the invention, each contrast element 19 also comprises a thrust element 23.

In particular a thrust element 23 is provided at both the ends of each second rotating element 20 and it comprises a lever 24 and a spring 25 active on the lever 24 which is combined with, at one end thereof, the end of the second roller, and at the other end, with the supporting means 16.

In practice the thrust elements act on the second rotating elements ensuring a correct passing of the banknotes between the first rotating elements and the second rotating elements, and a correct dragging of banknotes along the path inside the apparatus 1.

In accordance with the invention, for the operation of the handling means 8, the present apparatus comprises detecting means 26 of the banknotes, advantageously arranged at the inlet opening 5, arranged inside the body 2.

The detecting means of the banknotes comprise in particular an optical sensor, particularly an optical fiber beam sensor, connected to the handling means 8, thus connected to the motor 13 which is operated when a banknote entering into the apparatus is detected.

The motor switching off can be provided automated after a predetermined time span following the switching on thereof, advantageously comprised between 1 and 1.5 seconds, preferably of about 1.2 seconds, being the time taken by a banknote to cross the present apparatus, in particular from the inlet opening to the outlet opening along the path 7 comprised therebetween.

The apparatus 1 is completed by brackets for the supporting means 16 of the first and second rotating elements, arranged inside the body 2, not shown in the examples of the figures, by supporting bases 27 for a banknote 28, which are arranged outside the body 2 at the inlet and outlet openings for banknotes, by a control panel 29 comprising a programmable logical unit and a display, and by a switching on/off button 30.

The advantages of the present invention, already become evident during the above reported description, can be summarized pointing out that it is provided a particularly compact apparatus for the disinfection/sterilization and cleaning of banknotes, with preferred sizes of about 40 cm length, 15 cm width and 15 cm height, thus particularly lightweight such that it can- be defined as portable, which allows a full or almost full sterilization and cleaning of banknotes in a very short time and which, therefore, is adapted to be used in any commercial shop or activity wherein banknote payment operations are provided, as well as to be installed at automated teller machines with banknotes payment or withdrawal .

Advantageously, in fact, the UV lamps, even if a banknote takes a reduced time in order to cross the apparatus, allow to sterilize a banknote on both sides, thanks to the mesh sliding bed and to the high reflection of the UV radiations inside the apparatus body, and to remove dusts and various residuals among which narcotic drugs often taken by inhalation just by the use of banknotes.

A person skilled of the art may make various changes to the present invention, in its illustrated and described embodiments, to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, on the other hand all contained in the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the following claims .

Claims

1 . Apparatus (1) for the disinfection/sterilization and cleaning of banknotes comprising a substantially hollow body (2) having an inner wall at least partially reflecting, opposing inlet (5) and outlet (6) openings for banknotes, a path (7) comprised between said inlet (5) and outlet (6) openings inside said body (2), handling means (8) combined with said path (7) for handling banknotes from said inlet opening (5) to said outlet opening (6), disinfection/sterilization means of the banknotes comprising at least one UV radiation source (9) arranged over said path (7) and at least one UV radiation source (9) arranged under said path (7) and cleaning means of banknotes comprising at least one brush (10) active along said path (7) .

2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein said path (7) comprises a sliding bed (11) for the sliding of banknotes having . a respective rest surface (12) of the banknotes.

3 . Apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein said sliding bed (11) comprises at least one plate-like or laminar element provided with openings or through holes.

4. Apparatus (1) according to claim 3, wherein said at least one plate-like or laminar element is composed of a grid or a mesh element in reflecting metal.

5. Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a first brush and a second brush which are acting on, and provided opposing to, said path (7) .

6 . Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said handling means (8) comprise a motor (13) and a plurality of first rotating elements (14) connected to, and controlled by, said motor (13), arranged in predetermined spaced apart relationship along said path

P) .

7. Apparatus (1) according to claim 6, wherein said first rotating elements (14) comprise respective first rollers having rotation axis parallel one to another and parallel to said sliding bed (11) .

8 . Apparatus (1) according to claim 7, wherein said first rollers are facing from said sliding bed (11), particularly from said rest surface (12) of the banknotes, said first rollers having respective rotation axes lying under said rest surface (12).

9. Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of contrast elements

(19) of banknotes active along said path (7).

10 . Apparatus (1) according to claim 9, wherein each one of said contrast elements (19) comprises a respective second rotating element (20) free to rotate.

11 . Apparatus (1) according to claim 10, wherein each one of said second rotating elements (20) comprises a respective second roller with rotation axis lying over said sliding bed (11) and parallel to the rotation axis of said first rotating elements (14), each one of said second rotating elements (20) being arranged at a respective first rotating element (14) .

12 . Apparatus (1) according to claim 11, wherein each contrast element (19) comprises at least one thrust element (23) of a respective second rotating element (20).

13 . Apparatus (1) according to claim 12, wherein each one of said thrust elements (23) comprises a lever (24) associated to an end of the respective second rotating element (20) and a spring (25) active on said lever (24) .

14. Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising detection means (26) of the banknotes, arranged at said inlet opening (5), preferably arranged inside said body (2).

15. Apparatus (1) according to claim 14, wherein said detection means (26) of the banknotes comprise an optical sensor connected to said motor (13).

16. Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said UV radiation sources (9) comprise cylindrical germicide UV lamps, extending parallel to said path (7), for a length egual to or greater than the half thereof.