Sterilizing Media Cassette UV Banknote Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Banknotes stored in ATMs pose a health risk due to potential pathogens, as existing disinfection methods are ineffective or harmful when applied to paper currency, and current ATMs lack the capability to sterilize banknotes before they are withdrawn.
Innovation Solution
A sterilizing media cassette with integrated UV light sources, a fanning mechanism, vibrating plates, air jet mechanisms, ozone sources, and heat sources to create spacing between banknotes and apply disinfecting agents, ensuring thorough sterilization within the cassette before banknotes are withdrawn.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV light is applied to banknotes for extended period (30 minutes), then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but exposure time increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a fanning mechanism that dynamically moves back and forth to separate banknotes during UV exposure. This dynamic action increases the effective surface area exposed to UV light over time, improving sterilization effectiveness without requiring a proportionally longer exposure time, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The fanning mechanism operates periodically, creating cyclic separation and repositioning of banknotes during the UV sterilization process. This periodic action ensures comprehensive UV exposure to all banknote surfaces, achieving thorough sterilization in reduced time compared to static exposure methods
2Reliability
If ozone gas is applied to disinfect banknotes, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but harmful effects to humans increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful ozone gas from the ATM environment by providing a recapture mechanism that captures and contains ozone within the cassette enclosure during the disinfection process. This allows effective disinfection to occur while preventing harmful ozone exposure to users and operators
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary containment structure (enclosed cassette with recapture mechanism) between the ozone gas and the external environment. This intermediary system enables the disinfection function to be performed effectively while mediating the harmful effects by containing and controlling ozone exposure
3Reliability
If multiple UV light sources are added to sterilize all banknote surfaces, then sterilization completeness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the UV sterilization function into multiple distributed light sources positioned at different locations within the cassette (top, bottom, and side walls). This segmentation allows comprehensive coverage of all banknote surfaces without requiring a single complex high-intensity source, achieving complete sterilization through coordinated simple units
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple UV light sources into a unified sterilization system where the combined output of several lower-power sources achieves the desired sterilization effect. This merging approach distributes the functional load across multiple simple components rather than relying on one complex source, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining completeness
4Reliability
If fanning mechanism is added to create spacing between banknotes, then UV light exposure effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fanning mechanism provides partial separation action during the sterilization process, creating sufficient spacing between banknotes to allow effective UV penetration. The mechanism does not require complete separation of all banknotes, but rather provides adequate spacing in critical areas, achieving improved UV exposure effectiveness with moderate mechanical complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively sterilizes banknotes by ensuring all surfaces are exposed to disinfecting agents, reducing the risk of pathogen transmission and simplifying the implementation of banknote sterilization, while minimizing exposure to harmful UV light or ozone.
Implementation Method 1
Ultraviolet light is known to kill pathogens. However, to be most effective, the ultraviolet light should be applied to the surface harboring such pathogens for an extended period of time, e.g., thirty minutes.
Implementation Method 2
a fanning mechanism mounted adjacent to, the fanning mechanism moving back and forth between a first end of the stack of media items to a second end of the stack of media items while the first UV light source is activated to create a space between adjacent media items
Implementation Method 3
a vibrating plate coupled to the support members that is activated while the first UV light source is activated to generate spacing between adjacent media items
Implementation Method 4
an air jet mechanism mounted adjacent to an outer surface of the stack of media items, the air jet mechanism moving back and forth between a first end of the stack of media items to a second end of the stack of media items while the first UV light source is activated to create spaces between adjacent media items via air directed into the stack of media items by an air jet
Implementation Method 5
Ozone gas has been found effective in disinfecting banknotes, but ozone gas is harmful to humans and cannot simply be applied to banknotes in an ATM machine without a mechanism for recapturing the applied gas.
Implementation Method 6
Banknotes can be disinfected by the application of heat. In particular, the SARS coronavirus can be disinfected at a rate of 10000 units per 15 minutes when heated to a temperature of 56 °C.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5
AI summary
A sterilizing media cassette is described for docking with a self-service terminal or a docking terminal. The sterilizing media cassette has a body having a lower portion and four sides. The body is adapted to hold a stack of media items such as banknotes on support members positioned above the lower portion of the body. A lid is provided that couples to the body. The lid forms an enclosed inner space when coupled to the body. UV light sources are mounted on each an inner surface of the body and the inner surface of the lid. A controller activates the UV light source to sterilize the stack of media items. This may be done for a predetermined fixed period of time after the sterilizing media cassette is docked with a self-service terminal or a docking terminal. Ozone and/or heat may also be used for sterilization of the media items.