Trays for returning changes from commercial transactions are widely known to date. Typically, they are arranged near the cash register of a trader and serve to allow both the customer and the trader to show and lay the money during the transaction. Typically, these trays are made of a substantially plane surface resting on the business counter. The tray can also have rims, so as to prevent coins from slipping out. Moreover, typically the surface can rest onto the counter in a tilted arrangement so as to help a customer's getting hold of the coin change.

Furthermore, these trays are preferably manufactured from a plastic moulded material by pressure die-casting or the like and have, for purely promotional purposes, depictions or images of products or trademarks and related colorings sponsoring the tray. Said images are applied to the surface of the tray by means of silk- screen printing, transfer, melting or the like.

An entailed drawback lies in that during the use of the tray, given its material, its surface and the images reproduced thereon are eroded by friction from the coins, remarkably worsening the appearance thereof.

On the other hand, it is likewise known the use of apparatuses with optical devices for detecting forged banknotes, providing a frame inside which there is a projection region for a light beam of a wavelength such as to detect the watermark. In the field of trade they are widely used, and are typically located near the cash register for ease of use of the trader.

However, the use of these apparatuses by the trader implies the trader's need to find space on the counter or near the cash register in order to position and easily use such an apparatus, with the entailed inconvenience.

Hence, object of the present invention is to solve said drawbacks and inconveniences by providing a money tray assembly giving the option of interchanging promotional illustrations and figures thereon with the utmost ease and reliability, keeping a fixed support and ensuring their preservation during a lengthy use thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a money tray assembly incorporating a device for detecting forged banknotes so as to make the tray itself more practical and useful, concomitantly limiting its dimensions, so as to make easier its use by a user.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a money tray assembly that be easy to manufacture, sturdy, reliable and, last but not least, inexpensive.

Hence, the present invention provides a money tray assembly according to claim 1.

Hereinafter, a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the money tray assembly according to the present invention will be provided, given by way of a non-limiting example and making reference to the annexed drawings, wherein: figure 1 is an exploded view of the tray assembly according to the present invention; figure 2 is a perspective view of the tray of figure 1; figure 3 is a perspective view of the tray of figure 1 in a first operating condition; and figure 4 is a perspective view of the tray of figure 1 in a second operating condition.

Referring now to figure 1, according to the invention it is provided an assembly 1 comprising a frame 2 to which two sidewalls 3 and 4, respectively, are

connected. Inside the frame 2 there is obtained a chamber for a battery pack 5. The latter is apt to power-supply a pair of light sources 6 (LED-row kind or the like), arranged at the two front and rear end regions of the frame 2, and a second violet and UV light source 7 arranged at the rear region of the frame 2 (better illustrated hereinafter).

Moreover, it is provided a removably mountable light diffuser 8 for the uniform distribution of the light coming from the light sources 6 onto the plane of the frame 2. Furthermore, onto the top surface of the diffuser 8 it is provided a transparent member 9 apt to close the top portion of the frame 2 (better described hereinafter).

Referring now to figure 2, the assembled tray assembly 1 is illustrated. More precisely, the sidewalls 3 and 4 firmly support both the light diffuser 8 and the transparent element 9. Then, the light sources 6 are apt to light the edges of the diffuser member 8, attaining a centerwise and sideways distribution of the light thus generated of the tray. Accordingly, the top surface of the tray is uniformly lighted.

In fact, in the tray of the present invention it is provided the option of inserting, upon removing the transparent member 9 from the frame 2, light-transparent images such as transparencies or the like between the diffuser member 8 and the transparent member 9. Thus, any promotional message or image can be arranged integrally to the tray, said images being easily removable therefrom with the mere opening of the frame 2. Moreover, the image, being thus arranged below the transparent member 9, is protected from scratches and wear.

On the other hand, the wall 3 is removably mounted onto the frame 2 by means of any locking device whatsoever, so as to be removable in order to gain access both to the diffuser member 8 and the battery compartment 5 for maintenance and replacement.

Referring now to figure 3, the operation of the tray of the present invention is illustrated.

According to a first feature of the tray of the present invention, the tray provides that at the approaching of the user's hand, when items are placed onto the surface of the transparent member 9, the mechanical pressure waves (from knock or sound) generated by the items being rested onto the surface of the transparent member 9, are transformed into an electric signal by a suitable transducer (of the commonly marketed kind). This electric signal is commuted into a pulse to a control unit, which is arranged inside the frame 2 and manages the light sources 6 and 7 and the power supply 5.

Then, this pulse is transformed by the control unit into an ON/OFF signal for the light source 6, turning on the latter.

Accordingly, the surface of the tray is turned on automatically each time an item is placed thereon. For the turning off of the former there is provided a common timer integral to the control unit.

This function of turning on the surface of the tray serves to enhance the images reproduced thereon, as well as to attract the attention of the users thereof.

Referring now to figure 4, a second operating mode of the tray of the present invention is illustrated.

According to the invention, it is advantageously provided the light source 7 arranged at the rear region of the tray. The light source 7 is of the violet and UV radiance kind commonly used for detecting watermarks.

According to the invention and to needs, the user of the tray may switch over a switch located near the source 7 (not shown in the figures) to generate a beam of violet/UV light, and then place the banknote to be tested therebelow. In the manner known per se, when the banknote is original a reflecting watermark will appear, otherwise the banknote will be a forged one.

Advantageously, the user can thus avail him/herself of an effective instrument such as a change-returning tray for his/her own trade, as well as of a device for detecting forged banknotes in the same assembly.

The tray assembly of the present invention is susceptible of several modifications, the latter not altering the inventive spirit thereof and anyhow being encompassed by the scope of the claims appended herein.

E. g. , according to an alternative embodiment of the tray assembly of the present invention, there may be provided a power supply external to the tray. The power supply may be apt to externally supply the control unit and to allow the power pack 5 to recharge when needed.

Moreover, according to a further embodiment it may be provided that the diffuser member 8 be replaced by an image display of the liquid crystal type, OLED technology, or the like, in a manner such that the images be projected rather than backlighted. Such a display may be connected to said control unit in the manner envisaged and already known per se for controlling the displaying of the images. Of course, in this case as well it may be provided the internal or external power supply 5.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment it may be provided that access to the battery compartment be gained directly from the frame 2 rather than by removing one of the sidewalls 3 or 4.