DESC:DEVICE FOR SANITISATION OF ARTICLES BY CONTROLLED THERMAL TREATMENT

Field of the invention:

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for sanitizing articles by controlled thermal treatment. The process destroys micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses. The method is also suitable for other articles such as jewelry and wallet, etc.

Background of the invention:

Infectious diseases such as Covid -19 have made its existence worldwide and is spreading rapidly though human to human direct contact and non-direct contact. The exchange of currency is one of the very common non-direct contact way where person-to-person transmission of the viruses can occur. According to a recent article in the Journal of Hospital Infection, the COVID-19 virus can remain on surfaces, such as metal, glass, paper or plastic, for up to nine days. These surfaces include door handles, armrests, and electronic devices. The person touching such infected articles or devices could then become infected with the virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus's preferred method of person-to-person transmission is through respiratory droplets, such as those in a cough or sneeze.

Based on previous research on corona viruses, researchers found that household cleaning products containing 62% to 71% ethanol (alcohol), 0.5% hydrogen peroxide, or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite (bleach) are effective in killing the virus. However, such disinfectants cannot be used on currency notes.

Worldwide exchange of currency is major means of transaction. Certain countries have advised the banks to release the currency that had been sterilized. There are various methods of sterilization of currency notes such as treatment using ultraviolet light and heat, and the currency notes will then be held for seven to 14 days before being released.

ITT Bombay researchers have developed Ultra-Violet sanitizer to disinfect currency notes, mobile phones and the like devices. However, sanitizer gel cannot be used to disinfect papers, files, currency notes and mobile phones which can endanger our fight against Coronavirus. However, there is very less research done on the effective sanitization of the currency notes and small objects such as wallets, watches, mobile phones without affecting their performance.

US Patent Application US 20110253563 discloses a currency sterilization apparatus. The apparatus discloses a standalone or retrofitted cash box that incorporates inner mounted ultra violet light sterilization and aerosol disinfectant release systems comprising automated actuation upon closing of the drawer, to reduce the amount of germs and bacteria found on currency both paper and coins at points of currency transaction. The retrofitted cash drawer component of the system comprises a perforated design to allow for greater surface exposure and currency desiccation quality.

Another Chinese Patent CN 203894795 discloses a paper currency automatic disinfection currency-counting machine comprising a currency input and currency detection device, a conveying guide wheel, a currency-counting impeller, and an ultraviolet ray disinfection device. The ultraviolet ray disinfection device comprises two mini-sized ultraviolet lamp tubes and an ultraviolet ray disinfection conveyor belt. The two mini-sized ultraviolet lamp tubes are respectively disposed on the upper part and the lower part of the ultraviolet ray disinfection conveyor belt. The paper currency automatic disinfection currency-counting machine is advantageous in that the ultraviolet ray and the ozone are used for the all-directional disinfection and sterilization of the currency during the currency-counting and currency-detection process, and therefore the sanitary conditions during the currency circulation process can be improved, the spreading and the infection of the bacteria and the viruses during the currency circulation process can be eliminated, and the body health of the people having direct contact with the currencies can be guaranteed.

Though the apparatus and method for disinfection of currency are available in the prior art, they are not cost effective. Further, the system of the prior art are applicable to disinfection of currency or objects from outer surface only and cannot be extended to disinfection of mobiles, wallets, purses and the like.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a solution for disinfection of currency notes, coins, wallets and mobile phones which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Objects of the invention:

An object of the present is to provide a system for currency & coins disinfection which prevents spread of bacteria, viruses and other harmful funguses by physical contact through such objects.

Another object of the present invention is to disinfect the outside surface as well as inner surfaces of the objects to be sanitized.

Yet another object of the present invention is to heat the entire volume of the objects to be sanitized uniformly.

Summary of the invention:

Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for sanitization and disinfection of currency notes, coins, mobile devices, wallets and other objects. The device comprises a plurality of chambers that are arranged vertically or inclined to the ground. The plurality of chambers comprises a pre-process chamber, a disinfection chamber and a post-process chamber. The pre-process chamber is arranged above the disinfection chamber and the post-process chamber is arranged below the disinfection chamber. The pre-process chamber includes a door as inlet provided from the top thereof and the post process chamber also includes a door as outlet configured on the bottom surface thereof. The doors of the pre-process chamber and the post-process chamber are operated manually or mechanically or electro-mechanically through automated controls. The pre-process chamber and the disinfection chamber includes a gate configured there between. Similarly, the disinfection chamber and the post-process chamber also include a gate configured there between. Both the gates are operated manually or mechanically or electro-mechanically through automated controls.

The pre-process chamber is capable of receiving the currency, wallets and similar objects to be disinfected from the opening which is provided at the top surface of the pre-process storage. The objects received in the pre-process chamber are transferred to the disinfection chamber by means of gravity when the gate is opened. The disinfection chamber has a plurality of heaters for heating and radiating the heat therein. The maximum temperature the heaters required is to achieve 140 deg. C and they can be pre-programmed to any temperature below 140 deg. C depending on the objects to be sanitized. The optimum time required for the heaters to achieve the predefined temperature is controlled by a control device. The disinfection chamber is insulated with heat insulation material or through air insulation. The disinfection chamber includes a glass window configured thereon though which monitoring of the objects getting disinfected therein can be done. Once the objects in the disinfection chamber are sterilized, these objects are transferred from the disinfection chamber to the post-process chamber through the gate.

Brief description of the drawings:

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein

Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing of a device for sanitization and disinfection of currency notes, coin and allied objects, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

The present invention provides a device for sanitization and disinfection of currency notes, coin, mobile devices, wallets and the like. The device provides sanitization and disinfection of outer as well as inner surfaces of the objects to be sanitized. The thermal energy to the chamber in which the articles are placed can be given by one or more methods such as resistance heating, microwaves, infrared or other methods. The invention addresses this problem by a simple process of thermal treatment to currency notes and coins without damaging them.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.

Referring now to figure 1, there is shown a device (100) for sanitization and disinfection of currency notes, coins, mobile devices, wallets and other objects. The device (100) comprises a plurality of chambers (10). In an embodiment, the plurality of chambers (10) are arranged vertically or inclined to the ground and are made up of metal, plastic, ceramic or composite material sheets.

The plurality of chambers (10) comprises a pre-process chamber (1), a disinfection chamber (2) and a post-process chamber (3). The pre-process chamber (1) is arranged above disinfection chamber (2) and the post-process chamber (3) is arranged below the disinfection chamber (2).

The pre-process chamber (1) includes a door (not shown) as inlet provided from the top thereof and the post-process chamber (3) also includes a door (9) as outlet configured on the bottom surface thereof. In an embodiment, the doors of the pre-process chamber (1) and the post-process chamber (3) is operated manually or mechanically or electro-mechanically through automated controls.

The pre-process chamber (1) and the disinfection chamber (2) includes a gate (6) configured there between. Similarly, the disinfection chamber (2) and the post-process chamber (3) also include a gate (7) configured there between. In an embodiment, both the gates (6 and 7) are operated manually or mechanically or electro-mechanically through automated controls.

The pre-process chamber (1) is capable of receiving the currency, wallets and similar objects to be disinfected from the door/opening which is provided at the top surface of the pre-process chamber (1). The objects received in the pre-process chamber (1) are transferred to the disinfection chamber (2) by means of gravity when the gate (6) is opened. In an embodiment, the gate (6) is opened by any one of manual, mechanical or electro-mechanical means.

The disinfection chamber (2) is provided with a plurality of heaters (8) for heating and radiating the heat in the disinfection chamber (2). In an embodiment, the maximum temperature the heaters required is to achieve 140 deg. C and they can be pre-programmed to any temperature below 140 deg. C depending on the objects to be sanitized. For disinfecting the objects therein, in an embodiment, the disinfection chamber (2) is insulated with heat insulation material or through air insulation. The optimum time required for heaters (8) to achieve the predefined temperature is controlled by a control device (not shown). In preferred embodiment, the disinfection chamber (2) includes a glass window (4) configured thereon though which monitoring of the objects getting disinfected therein can be done.

In an embodiment, the articles/objects to be sanitised such as but not limited to currency notes, coins, mobile phones, and wallet are kept in the disinfection chamber for the predefined time,

Once the objects in the disinfection chamber (2) are sterilized, these objects are transferred from the disinfection chamber (2) to the post-process chamber (3) through the gate (7). In an embodiment, the gate (7) is pulled out by any one of manual mean and mechanical means. The sterilized objects are removed for the door (9) of the post-process chamber (3).

Advantages of the invention:

1. The device (100) provides heating process for disinfection of the objects in efficient manner over existing UV process.
2. The objects to be disinfected in the device (100) are visible during the disinfection process.
3. The device (100) avoids physical contact of the objects from giver to receiver thereby eliminating risk of infection.
4. The device (100) can be used for disinfection of currency notes, coins, wallets and small objects.
5. No Shadow effect will be there in device (100) like UVC method.
6. The device (100) is very easy to maintain and low cost.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention. ,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A device (100) for sanitisation of articles/objects by controlled thermal treatment comprising a plurality of chambers (10) arranged vertically or inclined to the ground, the plurality of chambers (10) including:
a pre-process chamber (1) having a door provided at a top thereof, wherein the door acts as an inlet to receive the articles/objects to be disinfected and sanitized;
a disinfection chamber (2) arranged below the pre-process chamber (1) to receive the articles/objects to be disinfected and sanitized via a gate (6) configured between the pre-process chamber (1) and the disinfection chamber (2), the disinfection chamber (2) having a plurality of heaters (8) for heating and radiating the heat therein for disinfecting and sanitizing the articles/objects;
a post-process chamber (3) arranged below the disinfection chamber (2) to receive the disinfected and sanitized articles/objects via a gate (7) configured between the disinfection chamber (2) and the post-process chamber (3), the post-process chamber (3)) having a door (9) that acts as an outlet to remove the disinfected and sanitized articles/objects therefrom;
wherein, optimum time required for the plurality of heaters (8) to achieve a predefined temperature is controlled by a control device and the plurality of heaters (8) is required to achieve the maximum temperature of 140 deg. C and the plurality of heaters (8) are pre-programmed to achieve any temperature below 140 deg. C depending on the articles/objects to be disinfected and sanitized.

2. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the articles/objects to be disinfected and sanitised are, coins, mobile phones, and wallet, but not limited currency notes.

3. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the doors of the pre-process chamber (1) and the post-process chamber (3) are operated by any means selected from manual, mechanical and electro-mechanical through automated controls.

4. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disinfection chamber (2) includes a glass window (4) configured thereon for monitoring of the objects getting disinfected therein.

5. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gates (6 and 7) of the disinfection camber (2) are operated by any means selected from manual, mechanical and electro-mechanical through automated controls.

Dated this 15th day of May 2021

Madhavi Vajirakar
(Agent for Applicant)
(IN/PA-2337)