Paper currency cleansing/reconditioning/sanitizing system and method

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.

1 . A system for cleaning paper currency comprising:
 a washing portion having a first and a second washing section;   a drying portion downstream of said washing portion;   said washing portion having a first belt portion in said first washing section with a plurality of opposing rows of driven rollers in a predetermined staggered pattern, and a second belt portion in said second washing section with a second plurality of opposing rows of driven rollers in a predetermined staggered pattern, said second belt portion and its opposing driven rollers being in an inverted orientation from said first belt portion and its opposing driven rollers, wherein paper currency is fed and distributed on said first belt portion for conveyance through said first and second washing sections to clean one side of said paper currency in said first washing section and an opposite side of said paper currency in said second washing section;   means for holding said paper currency in place on said first and second belt portions;   means for spraying a cleaning solution on said paper currency as said paper currency travels on said first and second belt portions in said washing portion;   a meshed belt conveyance portion on which said paper currency passes from said washing portion onto said meshed belt conveyance portion; and   means for drying and for reconditioning said paper currency as it passes on said meshed belt conveyance portion.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for drying and for reconditioning said paper currency as it passes on said meshed belt conveyance portion comprises one of:
 a plurality of air wiper nozzles directed from above and below said meshed belt conveyance portion, with pressured air, for removing excess moisture from said cleaned paper currency;   a plurality of heated air nozzles having means for directing forced heated air on both sides of the paper currency;   one or more pressure rollers configured to squeeze said paper currency against a surface of said meshed belt conveyance portion for removing moisture and wrinkles from said paper currency; or   any combination thereof.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second belt portions include two or more grooves running longitudinally on each of said first and second belt portions. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said means for holding said paper currency in place on said first and second belt portions comprises an array of a plurality of guide rods, wherein a designated portion of said guide rods adjacent a transition area of said first and second belt portions are aligned with said two or more grooves in said first and second belt portions so as to allow corresponding guide rods adjacent said transition area to be located within said two or more grooves for facilitating the conveyance of the currency from said first washing section to said second washing section and from said second washing section to said meshed belt conveyance portion. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said driven rollers of said first and second plurality of opposing rows of driven rollers are grooved rollers. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sanitizing portion downstream of said washing portion and said drying portion, said sanitizing portion having said meshed belt conveyance portion continue from said drying portion through said sanitizing portion;   means for misting a sanitizing solution on both sides of said paper currency as said paper currency travels on said meshed belt conveyance portion continuing from said drying portion.   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for storing said cleaning solution and pumping said cleaning solution through a plurality of spray nozzles at a desired pressure; and   means for collecting sprayed cleaning solution.   
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 means for filtering collected sprayed cleaning solution and recycling said filtered cleaning solution for re-use.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 means for storing said sanitizing solution and pumping said sanitizing solution through a plurality of misting nozzles at a desired pressure; and   means for collecting misted sanitizing solution.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 means for filtering residually collected misted sanitizing solution and recycling said filtered misted sanitizing solution for re-use.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising means for controlling a temperature of said cleaning solution. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 9 , further comprising means for controlling a temperature of said sanitizing solution. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 2 , where said one or more pressure rollers further comprise means for heating said one or more pressure rollers. 
     
     
         14 . A method for cleaning paper currency comprising:
 washing paper currency to be cleaned in a washing portion of a paper currency cleaning system, said washing portion having a first and a second washing section;   drying said cleaned paper currency in a drying portion downstream of said washing portion; and   passing said cleaned and dried paper currency from said drying portion onto a meshed belt conveyance portion,   wherein said washing portion having a first belt portion in said first washing section with a plurality of opposing rows of driven rollers in a predetermined staggered pattern, and a second belt portion in said second washing section with a second plurality of opposing rows of driven rollers in a predetermined staggered pattern, said second belt portion and its opposing driven rollers being in an inverted orientation from said first belt portion and its opposing driven rollers, wherein paper currency is fed and distributed on said first belt portion for conveyance through said first and second washing sections to clean one side of said paper currency in said first washing section and an opposite side of said paper currency in said second washing section,   wherein said system further comprises means for holding said paper currency in place on said first and second belt portions,   wherein said washing portion further comprises means for spraying a cleaning solution on said paper currency as said paper currency travels on said first and second belt portions in said washing portion, and   wherein said system further comprises means for drying and for reconditioning said paper currency as it passes on said meshed belt conveyance portion.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said means for drying and for reconditioning said paper currency as it passes on said meshed belt conveyance portion comprises one of a plurality of air wiper nozzles directed from above and below said meshed belt conveyance portion, with pressured air, for removing excess moisture from said cleaned paper currency;
 a plurality of heated air nozzles having means for directing forced heated air on both sides of the paper currency;   one or more pressure rollers configured to squeeze said paper currency against a surface of said meshed belt conveyance portion for removing moisture and wrinkles from said paper currency; or   any combination thereof.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said first and second belt portions include two or more grooves running longitudinally on each of said first and second belt portions. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said means for holding said paper currency in place on said first and second belt portions comprises an array of a plurality of guide rods, wherein a designated portion of said guide rods adjacent a transition area of said first and second belt portions are aligned with said two or more grooves in said first and second belt portions so as to allow corresponding guide rods adjacent said transition area to be located within said two or more grooves for facilitating the conveyance of the currency from said first washing section to said second washing section and from said second washing section to said meshed belt conveyance portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said driven rollers of said first and second plurality of opposing rows of driven rollers are grooved rollers. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 sanitizing said cleaned and dried paper currency in a sanitizing portion downstream of said washing portion and said drying portion, said sanitizing portion having said meshed belt conveyance portion continue from said drying portion through said sanitizing portion;   means for misting a sanitizing solution on both sides of said paper currency as said paper currency travels on said meshed belt conveyance portion continuing from said drying portion.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , further comprising one of:
 controlling a temperature of said cleaning solution using means for controlling said temperature of said cleaning solution;   controlling a temperature of said sanitizing solution using means for controlling said temperature of said sanitizing solution, and   any combination thereof.