# US 2021/0330832 A1 · Payment sanitizing system for point of sale > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0330832 A1 - Document ID: US20210330832A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/228,862 - Filed: 2021-04-13 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-22 - Assignees: Ellenby Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Ellenby Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Aaron H. Dobbins; Bob M. Dobbins; Thomas Carullo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330832A1 ## CPC - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - A61L 2/26: Accessories - G06Q 20/20: Point-of-sale [POS] network systems - G07D 11/00: Devices accepting coins; Devices accepting, dispensing, sorting or counting valuable papers - G07D 11/16: Handling of valuable papers (within containers G07D11/13) - G07F 9/10: Casings {or parts thereof}, e.g. with means for heating or cooling - G07F 9/105: {Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage (dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064)} - G07F 13/10: with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles - G07F 19/201: {Accessories of ATMs} - G07F 19/205: {Housing aspects of ATMs} - G07G 1/0018: {Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means} - A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps - A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs - 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) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07D: HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - G07G: REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS ## Abstract A sanitizer is described which frames a payment media, such as a bill, a coin and a credit card, in an irradiation zone between narrowly spaced support walls having associated ultraviolet lamps arranged to irradiate the payment media for at least a predetermined minimum time period. In one approach a motorized transport transports the payment media to an entry point from which it falls into the irradiation zone. In another aspect, a gravity feed approach is employed to return the irradiated media item to a dispense zone. One application is to alleviate concern at a point of sale where customers and merchants are concerned about whether payment media may be carrying a dangerous virus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Payment media sanitizing apparatus comprising: a thin payment media directing mechanism that directs the thin payment media from an insertion point to a sanitization zone internal to the payment sanitizing apparatus; the sanitization zone having a length slightly longer than a longest thin payment media to be sanitized by the payment media sanitizing apparatus and comprising a thin payment media support and associated ultraviolet sources irradiating the thin payment media when the thin payment media is in the sanitization zone; and a release mechanism comprising a movable support member supporting a leading edge of the thin payment media when the thin payment media is in the sanitization zone during sanitizing and a mechanical release lever operated to return the thin payment media to a return retrieval tray. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the thin payment media comprise at least one of bills, coins, credit cards, checks or coupons. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the directing mechanism comprises a motorized bill transport. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 3 wherein the motorized bill transport is part of a bill validator which ensures that a thin payment media comprising a note is flat when its leading edge reaches the sanitization zone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input transport mechanism comprises a chute sized to gravity feed a coin or credit card. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the closely spaced thin payment media support comprises at least a portion defined by perforated aluminum or quartz. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ultraviolet sources comprise ultraviolet lamps emitting radiation in the UVC band and spaced no more than one inch apart, and between which the payment media passes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a sensor to detect the thin payment media is fully in the sanitization zone; a controller to determine how long the thin payment media has been irradiated; and a display controlled by the controller to indicate the thin payment media has been sanitized after a predetermined period of irradiation has occurred. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the thin payment media support comprises at least a portion formed by small spaced wires. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 9 wherein: the moveable support member is controllably rotatable by a motor to move the closely spaced thin payment media support apart facilitating the thin payment media falling under the influence of gravity to the retrieval tray. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sanitization zone is at least 6.25 inches long and 2.65 inches wide. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 having overall dimensions of approximately 17 inches tall, 8 inches wide, and 10 inches deep or less. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a display to indicate an extent of completion of sanitizing on an ongoing basis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 having a lockout switch to prevent opening the apparatus when the associated ultraviolet sources are on. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 7 wherein the mechanical release lever is not operable until sanitizing is completed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a note shaped test card with special ink indicating a completion status of sanitizing utilized to adjust a duration of sanitizing to reflect a current efficiency of said ultraviolet sources. ### Claim 17 (depends on 4) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 4 wherein the bill validator determines a denomination of a banknote transported through the bill validator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the thin payment media support comprises two closely spaced supports, one arranged on either side of the sanitization zone. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the associated ultraviolet sources comprise UVC LEDS. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The payment sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the moveable support member supports a leading edge of the thin payment media in a first position and allows the thin payment media to pass to the retrieval tray when the moveable support member is moved to a second position.