A FLEXIBLE SPRINKLING DEVICE FOR AN INK-BASED NEUTRALISATION SYSTEM OF

VALUES SUCH AS BANKNOTES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is enclosed in the area of intelligent banknote neutralisation systems, in particular components of such systems which provide said neutralisation.

PRIOR ART

Solutions exist in the art where, such as the case of patent application US5787819, which discloses a device which allows to spray a set of valuables provided within a container.

However, all the existing solutions - of which the referred disclosure is an example - contain rigid boxes or tubes with perforations, which do not allow to be both arranged throughout the enclosure - for instance, from top to bottom and from the periphery to the centre of the enclosure - and are not suitable for transportation solutions such as flexible bags, if which the dimensions may vary - namely depth - depending on the amount of values placed inside the flexible bag.

The present solution innovatively overcomes such issues. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention a flexible sprinkling device (3) for an ink-based neutralisation system of values such as banknotes, the device comprising a flat and flexible sleeve, wherein:

- an input (2) and

- a circuit (3) with a plurality of perforations (4)

are provided in said sleeve, the input (2) being connected to the circuit (3) and the perforations (4) being so arranged on the sleeve that, under injection of ink through the input (2), provide for sprinkling of the ink to the outside of the sprinkling device (3) through the perforations (4). The circuit (3) operates has a set of interconnected hydraulic channels, which provide for the dispersion of injected ink through the sleeve. The device of the present invention is suitable to be placed inside an enclosure containing values, in an open or folded position. The folded position is particularly advantageous, and possible due to the flexibility of the sleeve. Thus, in an initial, folded position, the sleeve may be injected with ink, through the input (2), the sleeve thus being unwound and brought into an open position. The sleeve is able to be unwound by the effect of the injected ink through the circuit (3), namely under pressure, and brought into the open position. Such is possible due to the flatness and flexibility of the sleeve, with the passage of the injected ink through the circuit (S).

This solution is suitable for any enclosure of values such as banknotes, such as containers, safety cabinets, safes or bags (rigid or provided with flexibility), containing banknotes and valuables. The device is however particularly advantageous when applied in flexible bags, which are used for transporting the values between any two locations, typically a facility (e.g. a bank) and a vehicle (e.g. a valuables armoured car). Specifically, the device adapts to the form of the bag, which may be more or less full, as both are flexible. Thus, the device of the present invention provides for a way of neutralising values within a values/valuables enclosure (e.g. containing banknotes), more effectively than solutions in prior art. Such is achieved by the several elements of the device, in particular by the flexibility and flatness of the sleeve. The device can thus be arranged inside the enclosure in a folded manner, thus with a very small form factor, and brought into a position / arrangement in which it unfolds and neutralises the valuables more effectively and with less ink, since it is able to be brought into a position in which it better sprinkles the whole set of valuables, as above referred.

It therefore allows to overcome the typically established goals of neutralising with ink 100 % of the valuables such as banknotes within an enclosure, in 20-30% of each banknote. Especially, as referred, in mobile solutions in which such systems fail to effectively actuate, namely flexible valuable transport bags.

Preferably, the circuit (3) is arranged along at least 70 % of the flat and flexible sleeve, so that the perforations (4) are arranged along at least 70 % of the sleeve.

In an advantageous embodiment of the device of the present invention, the flat surface is made of a sheet of a woven or non-woven material tight to ink, preferably a polymer-based material. Such consist of a suitable materials, which are tight to ink and which provide flexibility.

In order to improve the referred unwind from an initial / folded position into an open / unfolded position, the device may further comprise an elastic element (5) which forms a channel, the elastic element (5) being provided within the flat and flexible sleeve and directly connected to the input (2). By containing an elastic channel within the circuit (3), in a section connected to the input (2), an improved opening is provided. Such elastic element (5) may or may not allow for the passage of ink into perforations (4) provided in such section. Optionally, such elastic element (5) consists of a helical spring. Alternatively or cumulatively to such embodiment, to respectively provide the effect of unfolding, the input (2) is connected to a first section of the circuit (3) which contains no perforations (4), the circuit (3) comprising at least a second section which contains the plurality of perforations (4).

Advantageously, both the input (2) and a section of the circuit (3) connected to the input (2) are centrally arranged in a same plane as the flat and flexible sleeve, two portions of the circuit (3) deriving from said section. Such provides that the distance between the input (2) / section of the circuit (3) connected to it and a perforation positioned the furthest from the input (2) is reduced, when compared to a situation in which input (2) / section of the circuit (3) connected to it would be provided along a side / the perimeter of the sleeve.

In another inventive aspect of the device of the present invention, the flat and flexible sleeve has two surfaces, each surface containing perforations (4). Thus, when open to a position within the set of valuables / banknotes, it provides sprinkling along the two sides of the sleeve, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sleeve.

It is also an object of the present invention a system for ink-based neutralisation of values such as banknotes which comprises at least one flexible sprinkling device (3) according to any of the described embodiments, at least one ink container and an actuation unit, each ink container being connected to an input (2) of each flexible sprinkling device (3) and the actuation unit being configured to, under an actuation command, discharge pressurised ink from each ink container into the circuit (3) of a flexible sprinkling device (3), through the input (2), and thereby provide for sprinkling of the ink to the outside of each sprinkling device (3), through the respective perforations (4). It consists of a valuables neutralisation system - ink-based - with the improved abilities provided by the flexible sprinkling device (3). Correspondingly, it is also an object of the present invention a protected enclosure (10) for values such as banknotes with ink-based neutralisation of values which comprises an enclosure and the system for ink-based neutralisation according to any of the described embodiments, the cover (11) being provided on the enclosure. Preferably, the enclosure is formed by an external wall, such external wall being of a flexible material. It consists of the typical situation of a flexible / mobile bag for transporting valuables.

It is yet an object of the present invention a method for neutralising values such as banknotes by means of ink, which comprises at least the step injecting ink under pressure in the input (2) of a device according to any of the described embodiments.

It is yet an object of the present invention the use of the device of any of the described embodiments for an ink-based neutralisation system of values such as banknotes, preferably for an ink-based neutralisation system of values such as banknotes arranged in a flexible enclosure for values.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure 1 - representation of an embodiment of the flexible sprinkling device (3) of the present invention suitable for an ink-based neutralisation system of values such as banknotes. Figure la presents the sprinkling device (3) in an unfolded position, with no ink being injected. The circuit (3) - as well as the flat and flexible sleeve - is thus not filled, providing no sprinkling through the perforations (4). In Figure lb, the same sprinkling device (3) now has an elastic element (5) which forms a channel, directly connected to the input (2), and specifically consisting of a helical spring. In Figure lc (not in the same scale as Figures la and lb), the sprinkling device (3) contains the referred elastic element (5), and is in a folded position. Upon injection of ink through the input (2), it will unfold into a position as that of Fig. lb, as well as providing sprinkling through the perforations (4). Figure 2 - representation of an embodiment of the flexible sprinkling device (3) comprising a second circuit (7) provided in the flat and flexible sleeve, the second circuit (7) being provided along a part of the perimeter of the sleeve and being able to be inflated. The second circuit (7) has an input of the second circuit (6). In such case, and upon injection of air through the second circuit (7) - which contains no perforations (4) - a flat and flexible sleeve as provided in Fig. lc may unfold into the position of Fig. 2. At the same time, ink may be injected on the circuit (3), thereby providing sprinkling through the perforations (4). Figure 3 - a side view representation of an embodiment of the protected enclosure (10) of the present invention, the protected enclosure (10) having a system according to the present invention, the system comprising a cover (11) and a plurality of flexible sprinkling devices (1) positioned within the protected enclosure (10) so as to maximise the area of ink sprinkling, and thereby covering efficiently and effectively any goods contained in the protected enclosure (10). An input of the system (12), preferably consisting of a pipe made of a flexible material, more preferably textile based, is connected to the cover (11) and feeds ink to each of the sprinkling devices (1), upon actuation of the actuation unit on an ink container (not presented in the figure). The sprinkling devices (1) are positioned substantially from the cover up to the bottom of the enclosure.

Figure 4 - a perspective view representation of the embodiment of Figure 3, as seen from the outside of the protected enclosure (10). Figure 5 - a top view of the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, herein being visible the positioning of the sprinkling devices (1), which are specifically positioned on the corners of the enclosure (10) and halfway the inner sides of the enclosure. Such positioning promotes a maximisation of the dispersion of ink. Figure 6 - a perspective view representation of the embodiment of Figures 3-5, as seen from the inside of the protected enclosure (10).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The more general and advantageous configurations of the present invention are described in the Summary of the invention. Such configurations are detailed below in accordance with other advantageous and/or preferred embodiments of implementation of the present invention.

In a particular and optional embodiment of the device of the present invention, specifically regarding the case in which the input (2) is connected to a first section of the circuit (S) which contains no perforations (4), the first section of the circuit (S) is aligned with a side of larger dimension of the sleeve.

In an inventive aspect of the device of the present invention, it comprises a second input (2) and a second circuit (7) connected to each other and provided in the flat and flexible sleeve, the second circuit (7) being at least provided along a part of the perimeter of the sleeve and being able to be inflated, the part of the perimeter preferably consisting of at least 50 % of such perimeter. Such second circuit (7) provides a way of improving the unfolding of a folded device since, by means of its inflation, it brings the device - its flat and flexible sleeve - into an unfolded position, allowing the injection of ink and consequent sprinkling to subsequently occur.

In a preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention, the flat and flexible sleeve has a substantially rectangular shape, the input (2) consisting of an extension of the sleeve along a side of lesser dimension of such rectangular shape.

Preferably, the flat and flexible sleeve is formed by a sheet folded in two, the circuit (3) and its sections being formed by connections between the two sheets. Advantageously, the folding is such that perforations (4) are arranged substantially along the fold, thereby providing for sprinkling along a line parallel to the flat and flexible sleeve. Such arrangement provides that sprinkling occurs along a line parallel to the flat and flexible sleeve, not only perpendicularly to the sleeve, as provided by the previously described embodiments.

In an exemplary embodiment, the flat and flexible sleeve of the device of the present invention has a substantially rectangular shape, a larger side having a dimension of 25-40 cm and a smaller side having a dimension of 10-15 cm.

In an advantageous embodiment of the system of the present invention, it further comprises a cover (11) suitable to cover a values enclosure, each flexible sprinkling device (3) being arranged perpendicularly to such cover (11). In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the device is arranged inside a values enclosure, preferably from the perimeter of a values enclosure to the inside of such values enclosure. Preferably, and in an initial position, the device is rolled-up in a folded position and, under said injection of ink under pressure in the input (2), the device is brought into an unfolded position.

As will be clear to one skilled in the art, the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described herein, and a number of changes are possible which remain within the scope of the present invention. Of course, the preferred embodiments shown above are combinable, in the different possible forms, being herein avoided the repetition all such combinations.