# US 12,005,150 B2 · Apparatus for currency sterilization and exchange > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,150 B2 - Document ID: US12005150B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/510,567 - Filed: 2021-10-26 - Published: 2022-05-19 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-26 - Applicants: Beverly Tinsley - Inventors: Beverly Tinsley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005150B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/22: Phase substances, e.g. smokes or aerosols - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/26: Accessories - B65G 15/30: Belts or like endless load-carriers (co-operating with rails or the like B65G21/22; {co-operating} with rollers B65G39/20) - B65G 47/248: by turning over or inverting them (B65G47/244 takes precedence) - B65G 49/00: Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for - F26B 3/04: the gas or vapour circulating over or surrounding the materials or objects to be dried (F26B3/14 takes precedence) - F26B 15/10: with movement in a path composed of one or more straight lines, e.g. compound {, the movement being in alternate horizontal and vertical directions} - F26B 15/18: the objects or batches of materials being carried by endless belts - A61L 2202/123: Connecting means - A61L 2202/15: Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers - A61L 2202/16: Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - F26B: DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM (drying devices for combines A01D41/133; racks for drying fruit or vegetables A01F25/12; drying foodstuffs A23; drying hair A45D20/00; body-drying implements A47K10/00; drying household articles A47L; drying gases or vapours B01D; chemical or physical processes for dewatering or like separating liquids from solids B01D43/00; centrifugal apparatus B04; drying ceramics C04B33/30; drying yarns or fabrics in association with some other form of treatment D06C; drying frames for laundry without heating or positive air circulation, domestic laundry-or spin-driers, wringing or hot pressing laundry D06F; furnaces, kilns, ovens F27) ## Abstract An article treating device includes a belt conveyor having a belt that encircles a drive pulley at one end and an idler pulley at another end to support an article. At least one upper sprayer is positioned above the belt and is directed to spray a treatment liquid on an upper surface of the article on the belt. The article treating device sprays a second surface of article using a second sprayer by either: (i) spraying through perforations in a belt of the belt conveyor; and (ii) conveying the article over a flipping wedge to flip over the article before conveying under the second sprayer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article treating device comprising: a belt conveyor having a perforated belt that encircles a drive pulley at one end and an idler pulley at another end to support an article; at least one upstream sprayer positioned above the perforated belt and directed to spray a treatment liquid on an upper surface of the article on the perforated belt; a flip wedge positioned to flip over the article conveyed on the perforated belt subsequent to passing the at least one upstream sprayer; and at least one downstream sprayer positioned above the perforated belt and directed to spray the treatment liquid on an upper surface of the article on the perforated belt subsequent to being flipped by the flip wedge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article treating device of claim 1, wherein the belt conveyor comprises a roller conveyor having an aligned series of live rollers spaced between the drive pulley and the idler pulley that are supported for rotation by a base. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article treating device of claim 1, wherein the belt conveyor comprises a slider bed positioned between the drive pulley and the idler pulley. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The article treating device of claim 1, wherein drive pulley and the idler pulley are supported in opposition to apply tension that flattens the perforated belt. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article treating device of claim 1, wherein the perforated belt has a lateral width having a size sufficiently wide to convey the article that comprises a tangible payment article of one or more of: (i) coins; (ii) currency; (iii) credit cards and sufficiently small to be supported upon a counter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article treating device of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure received over a portion of the belt conveyor to capture excess treatment liquid and to enable two parties to view the article during a transaction of: (i) placement on the perforated belt by one party; (ii) transporting of the article through the transparent enclosure; and (iii) depositing the article off of an end of the belt conveyor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The article treating device of claim 6, further comprising a funnel bottom configured to collect excess treatment liquid for recirculation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The article treating device of claim 6, further comprising one or more fan modules positioned to move air through the enclosure to facilitate drying of treated articles. ### Claim 9 A method comprising: conveying an article from exposed upstream portion of a belt conveyor into a enclosure, the article comprising a tangible payment article placed on the exposed portion by one party to a financial transaction; conveying the article under at least one first sprayer positioned upstream that sprays a first surface of the article with a treatment liquid; spraying a second surface of the article using at least one second sprayer positioned downstream by conveying the article over a flipping wedge to flip over the article before conveying under the at least one second sprayer; and conveying the article out of the enclosure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: recirculating excess treatment liquid captured by the enclosure; and circulating outside air through the enclosure to dry the article.