ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION DISINFECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

A disinfection system for disinfecting an object using ultraviolet radiation, including a conveyor assembly operable to carry the object along a path, the path defining a conveying plane; a support frame supporting the conveyor assembly, the support frame including a housing covering at least a portion of the path; an ultraviolet radiation system mounted to the support frame and operable to irradiate the object with ultraviolet radiation from at least two independent positions as the object is carried along the path within the housing, the at least two independent positions including a first position adjacent a first side of the conveying plane and a second position adjacent a second side of the conveying plane across the conveying plane from the first side.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to decontamination, particularly to an apparatus and method for disinfection using ultraviolet radiation.

BACKGROUND

U.S. Pat. No. 8,624,203 to Tullo et al. (“Tullo”) purports to disclose a sterilizing system for sterilizing a continuous loop conveyor belt of a conveyor assembly is provided. Tullo purports to disclose a conveyor assembly that includes a drive operatively connected to the conveyor belt and operative to move the belt between upper and lower flight paths, the upper flight path including an exposed surface for receiving items, the sterilizing system including a housing that is configured to at least partially cover the lower flight path, an ultraviolet light source positioned in the interior of the housing, and the light source operative to emit ultraviolet light on the belt at the lower flight path to sanitize the belt.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,975,605 to Neister (“Neister”) purports to disclose an improved method, process and apparatus for disinfecting and sterilizing all types of surfaces and indoor air and room air contaminated with microorganisms. Neister purports to disclose an improved apparatus that consists of a multi-wavelength narrow spectral width UV source that is more effective than mercury based 254 nm germicidal lamps for destroying the DNA and outer shell or membrane of virus, bacteria, spores and cists.

SUMMARY

In some aspects, there is provided a disinfection system for disinfecting an object using ultraviolet radiation, comprising a conveyor assembly operable to carry the object along a path, the path defining a conveying plane; a support frame supporting the conveyor assembly; an ultraviolet radiation system mounted to the support frame and operable to irradiate the object with ultraviolet radiation from at least two independent positions as the object is carried along the path, the at least two independent positions including a first position adjacent a first side of the conveying plane and a second position adjacent a second side of the conveying plane across the conveying plane from the first side.

In some examples, the support frame includes a housing covering at least a portion of the path, and the ultraviolet radiation system is operable to irradiate the object with ultraviolet radiation from the at least two independent positions as the object is carried along the path within the housing.

In some examples, the housing includes a tunnel enclosure through which the path extends.

In some examples, at least one inner surface of the housing is a reflective surface.

In some examples, the ultraviolet radiation system includes at least two independent radiation sources.

In some examples, each of the at least two independent radiation sources is a ultraviolet C lamp operable to generate ultraviolet C radiation.

In some examples, the conveyor assembly includes an endless loop conveyor forming a receiving surface to carry the object along the path.

In some examples, the disinfection system further comprises a control system operable to adjust at least one of a speed at which the conveyor assembly carries the object along the path and a distance between the ultraviolet radiation system and the object as the object is carried along the path,

In some examples, the control system is operable to receive an indication of an object type of the object and match at least one of the speed and the distance to the object type.

In some examples, the control system includes an imaging system operable to generate an image of the object, and the control system is operable to process the image to produce the indication of the object type.

In some examples, the object includes a removable compartment tray that may be removably positioned on the conveyor assembly to be carried along the path while holding at least one item in a compartment of the removeable compartment tray.

In some examples, the object includes a face mask, and the face mask is mounted to a removeable fixation tray, and the removable fixation tray is operable to carry the face mask in a fixed and opened configuration.

In some examples, the removable tray includes a plurality of fasteners to hold the face mask at a plurality of separate points on the face mask, the plurality of fasteners spaced from one another to hold the face mask in the opened configuration.

In some examples, the ultraviolet radiation system is operable to deliver at least 250 millijoules of ultraviolet C radiation per square centimeter to each of at least two opposite surfaces of the object.

In some examples, the conveyor assembly is operable to reposition the object at least once as the object travels along the path.

In some examples, the conveyor assembly includes at least one of a jostling system operable to jostle the object as the object travels along the path and a blocking system operable to block movement of the object along the path for a predetermined blocking time to reposition the object relative to the conveyor assembly.

In some examples, the object includes a face mask and the ultraviolet radiation system is operable to deliver ultraviolet radiation to at least two opposite surfaces of the face mask, the at least two opposite surfaces of the face mask including an exterior surface of the face mask and an interior surface of the face mask.

In some aspects, there is provided a disinfection method for disinfecting an object using ultraviolet radiation, comprising placing the object on a conveyor assembly; conveying the object along a path using the conveyor assembly, the path defining a conveying plane; and delivering ultraviolet C radiation to the object from at least two independent positions as the object is conveyed along the path, the at least two independent positions including a first position adjacent a first side of the conveying plane and a second position adjacent a second side of the conveying plane across the conveying plane from the first side.

In some examples, the disinfection method further comprises placing an indicator material adjacent the object prior to conveying the object along the path using the conveyor assembly; conveying the indicator material with the object along the path; and verifying, following delivering ultraviolet C radiation to the object, that the indicator material shows that a minimum quantity of ultraviolet C radiation was delivered.

In some examples, at least a portion of the path is covered by a housing, and the ultraviolet C radiation is delivered to the object from the at least two independent positions as the object is conveyed along the path within the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, illustrated is an example of a disinfection system100for disinfecting an object102using ultraviolet radiation. The object102may be, for example, contaminated with a pathogen such as a virus or a bacteria. The disinfection system100may deliver ultraviolet radiation, such as ultraviolet C radiation having a wavelength between 100 nanometers and 280 nanometers. The ultraviolet radiation may damage and/or kill the pathogen.

The disinfection system100includes a support frame104. A conveyor assembly106is supported by to the support frame104. The conveyor assembly106is operable to carry the object102along a path108. An ultraviolet radiation system110is also mounted to the support frame.

In the example ofFIG. 1, the support frame104includes a housing112covering at least a portion of the path108. In the illustrated example, the housing112encloses the ultraviolet radiation system110and a portion of the conveyor assembly106.

In some examples, the housing112shields adjacent individuals from ultraviolet light. In some examples, the housing112assists in directing ultraviolet radiation at the object. For example, an interior surface114of the enclosure housing112may be reflective, such as formed of a reflective aluminum, to direct ultraviolet radiation towards the object102as the object102is conveyed along the path108.

In the illustrated example, the path108passes through the housing112. The housing112forms a tunnel enclosure around a portion of the path108.

In some examples, the enclosure housing112or a portion of the enclosure housing112is moveable relative to a base116of the support frame104. For example, the enclosure housing112may move up and down relative to the base116to bring items mounted to the enclosure housing112farther from or closer to items mounted to the base116.

The illustrated example ultraviolet radiation system110mounted to the support frame104is operable to irradiate at least two opposite surfaces of the object102with ultraviolet radiation as the object102is carried along the path108within the housing112. In some examples, irradiating at least two opposite surfaces of the object102with ultraviolet radiation as the object102is carried along the path108assists in disinfecting the object102in one operation of the disinfection system100.

In the illustrated example, the object102includes a first surface118and a second surface120opposite the first surface118. In some examples, the ultraviolet radiation system110is operable to irradiate the first surface118and the second surface120with ultraviolet radiation as the object102is carried along the path108.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 6, the object102may be and/or include a face mask object, as illustrated. In some examples, the first surface118is an interior surface of the face mask object102and the second surface120is an exterior surface of the face mask object102, or vice versa. The ultraviolet radiation system110may be operable to irradiate the interior surface and the exterior surface of the face mask object102.

In the illustrated example ofFIG. 1, the ultraviolet radiation system110is operable to irradiate the object102with ultraviolet radiation from a first position122and a second position124that is independent of the first position122. In the illustrated example, a first radiation source126is at the first position122and a second radiation source128is at the second position124.

In the illustrated example, the path108includes a conveying plane spanning a longitudinal axis130and a lateral axis132. In the illustrated example, the path108is straight and is coincident with the longitudinal axis130. The conveying plane has a first side134and second side136across the conveying plane from the first side134.

In some examples, the first position122is adjacent the first side134of the conveying plane of the path108, and the second position124is adjacent the second side136of the conveying plane of the path108. In the illustrated example, the disinfection system100has a vertical axis140, and the first radiation source126is above the path108and the second radiation source128is below the path108.

The disinfection system100may also include a control system142. The illustrated control system142may be communicatively coupled to the conveyor assembly106and/or to the ultraviolet radiation system110. The control system142may be operable to adjust a speed at which the conveyor assembly106carries the object102along the path108. The control system142may be operable to adjust a distance144between at least a part of the ultraviolet radiation system110and the object102as the object102is carried along the path108. For example, the control system142may be operable to lower the first radiation source126and/or raise the second radiation source128. In another example, the ultraviolet radiation system110may be operable to adjust the position of the conveyor assembly106and/or the position of one or more radiation source.

In some examples, the housing112is a tunnel enclosure with an open underside, and is moveable up and down relative to the base116received in the open underside of the housing112. For example, the tunnel enclosure housing112may have an inverted u-shaped cross section. In some examples, the first radiation source126is mounted to the housing112while the second radiation source and the conveyor assembly106are mounted to the base116. In some examples, the distance144is adjustable by moving the tunnel enclosure housing112up and down relative to the base116.

The control system142may also be operable to adjust the output of the ultraviolet radiation system110. For example, the control system142may be operable to increase or decrease the quantity of radiation emitted by an ultraviolet radiation source.

In some examples, the control system142is operable to receive an indication of an object type of the object102. The control system142may match at least one setting to the object type, such as to adjust the ultraviolet radiation dose delivered to the object102. For example, the control system142may adjust the speed of the conveyor assembly106to move the object102faster to deliver a lower dose or may adjust the speed of the conveyor assembly106to move the object102slower to deliver a higher dose. In another example, the control system142may decrease the distance144between the ultraviolet radiation system110and the object102as the object102is carried along the path108to increase the dose delivered, or may increase the distance144to decrease the dose.

In some examples, the control system142is operable to apply a plurality of settings, such as increasing the distance144to accommodate a larger object102and decreasing the speed and/or increasing the output of a radiation source to account for the increased distance144.

In some examples, the distance144is at least 2 cm. In some examples, the distance144is at least 5 cm. In some examples, the distance144is at least 5 cm to provide enough space for, e.g., a face mask object102. In some examples, the distance144is set to between 5 cm and 20 cm to, e.g., provide enough space for a face mask object102.

In some examples, the control system142includes an imaging system146. The imaging system146may be operable to generate an image of the object102. The control system142may be operable to process the image to produce the indication of the object type. For example, the imaging system146may be positioned at a first end148of the tunnel of the housing112to generate the image when the object102is placed on the conveyor assembly106to be conveyed along the path108. The control system142may receive the image, determine the object type, and adjust one or more setting to match.

In some examples, the disinfection system100is operable to deliver between 25 millijoules of ultraviolet C radiation per square centimeter and 1000 millijoules of ultraviolet C radiation per square centimeter to each of the at least two opposite surfaces of the object102. In some examples, the disinfection system100is operable to deliver between 100 millijoules of ultraviolet C radiation per square centimeter and 1000 millijoules of ultraviolet C radiation per square centimeter to each of the at least two opposite surfaces of the object102. In some examples, the disinfection system100is operable to deliver at least 100 millijoules of ultraviolet C radiation per square centimeter to each of the at least two opposite surfaces of the object102. In some examples, the disinfection system100is operable to deliver at least 250 millijoules of ultraviolet C radiation per square centimeter to each of the at least two opposite surfaces of the object102.

In some examples, only a few millijoules per square cm is needed to kill pathogens. However, in some examples, more than a few millijoules per square cm is needed to kill pathogens. In some examples, a greater dose allows for more penetration of the radiation into the object102and/or accounts for user error or obstructions of the radiation. In some examples, a dose above 1000 millijoules per square cm may damage some materials and/or be a wastefully high dose.

In some examples, the conveyor assembly106is operable to reposition the object102at least once as the object102travels along the path108. In some examples, the conveyor assembly106includes a repositioning system150operable to reposition the object102at least once as the object102travels along the path108. A repositioning system150may shift the position of the object102relative to the conveyor assembly106. For example, a conveyor assembly106that includes a wire conveyor may block radiation from reaching portions of the object102that are resting on or behind wires of the wire conveyor. The repositioning system150may move the object102so that a portion of a surface of the object102that is positioned behind a body member of the conveyor assembly106relative to the ultraviolet radiation system110may be moved out from behind the body member.

The repositioning system150may be, for example, a jostling system operable to jostle the object as the object travels along the path. In the illustrated example, the repositioning system150is a jostling system including a compressed air nozzle152to direct compressed air at the object102as the object102travels along the path108to shift the position of the object102. In some examples, a fan may be used to jostle the object102. In some examples, the disinfection system100may include a fan or other air mover to cool the object102.

A blocking system is another example of the repositioning system150. The blocking system may be operable to block movement of the object102along the path108for a predetermined blocking time to reposition the object102relative to the conveyor assembly106. For example, if the object102is held in position while an endless loop conveyor of the conveyor assembly continues moving, the object102will be shifted relative to the surface of the endless loop conveyor. A blocking system may include, for example, an arm or paddle removably positionable across the path108to obstruct movement of the object102.

In some examples, the conveyor assembly itself is operable to reposition the object102at least once as the object102travels along the path108. For example, the conveyor assembly106may include at least two staged conveyors, such as including a first endless loop conveyor operable to convey the object102a first way along the path108and then drop the object102onto a second endless loop conveyor to carry the object102the rest of the way along the path108.

The disinfection system100may be powered by one or more of an external power supply and an onboard power supply. For example, the disinfection system100may draw power from an electrical wall outlet. In some examples, the conveyor assembly106, the ultraviolet radiation system110, and/or the control system142may be powered.

Referring now toFIG. 2, the ultraviolet radiation system may include at least one ultraviolet lamp156. The first radiation source126and the second radiation source128may each be an ultraviolet lamp156. In some examples, the ultraviolet lamp156is an ultraviolet C lamp operable to generate ultraviolet C radiation having a wavelength between 100 nanometers and 280 nanometers.

In some examples, the ultraviolet lamp156has an adjustable output. For example, the power or wavelength of the ultraviolet lamp156may be adjustable. In some examples, the control system142is operable to adjust the output of the ultraviolet lamp156.

In some examples, the disinfection system100includes a thermal management system161(e.g., to control the temperature of the lamps156). The thermal management system may include one or more heat sinks (e.g., a heat sink including a thick aluminum sheet) and/or one or more fans163. For example, the thermal management system161may include at least one fan163for each lamp156. In some examples, the at least one fan163may be used to cool the lamp(s) and/or reposition the object on the conveyor (e.g., the fan(s)163may be part of the repositioning system150, such as instead of or in addition to the compressed air system and nozzle152). For example, the at least one fan163may operate in at least two modes; a first mode when airflow is directed to the lamp(s) to cool the lamp and a second mode when airflow is directed to the object(s) on the conveyor to shift the object(s). The modes may differ in direction of air and/or air speed and/or air volume.

Referring now toFIG. 3, the conveyor assembly106may include, for example, an endless loop conveyor158. The endless loop conveyor158in the illustrated example is a loop formed of open links to support the object102while allowing ultraviolet radiation to pass through. In some examples the endless loop conveyor158forms a receiving surface160to carry the object102along the path108.

A drive motor162may drive the endless loop conveyor158at a predetermined speed. The speed may be, for example, set by the control system142. The drive motor162may be powered by an external power supply or an onboard power supply.

Referring now toFIGS. 4 and 5, in some examples, the disinfection system100includes a tray164to hold the object102. In some examples, the tray164is shaped to hold the object102in an opened configuration to more easily enable the ultraviolet radiation to be delivered to the object.

In the illustrated example, the tray164is a removable tray. The illustrated example removable tray164ofFIGS. 4 to 6is shaped to hold a face mask object102in a fixed and opened configuration (e.g., the face mask102is mounted to the tray164, and the tray164is shaped to hold the object102in a fixed position). In some examples, the face mask object102is an N95 mask or other shaped and/or stiff face mask. A shaped and/or stiff face mask may need to be held open by drawing two or more points (or 3 or 4 or more points) on the mask apart. The illustrated example tray164includes a plurality of fasteners166to hold the face mask object102at a plurality of separate points168(e.g., 2, 3, 4, or more points168) on the face mask object102. The plurality of fasteners166are spaced from one another so the tray164may hold the face mask object102in the opened configuration.

For example, a face mask object102may have a pair of elastic fastening loops169, and one loop of the pair may be retained by a first pair of fasteners170while the other loop of the pair is retained by a second pair of fasteners172across from the first pair of fasteners170. Where the pair of fastening loops are side loops, the face mask object102with the first pair of fasteners170and the second pair of fasteners172may hold the face mask object102in an opened configuration above an aperture174of tray164.

Referring now toFIGS. 6 and 7, in some examples the disinfection system100is used to disinfect an object102. A method176of disinfecting an object102may include, at step178, positioning the object102on a rack or tray, such as the tray164. For example, a face mask object102may be stretched out and retained in position by the plurality of fasteners166of the tray164.

The method176may then include, at step180, providing an object type indication to the control system142. The object type may be input by a user, such as through a touchscreen182(FIG. 1), or determined automatically, such as from an image captured by the imaging system146. The control system142may then use the indication of object type and may, at step184, match one or more settings of the disinfecting system100to the object type.

The method176includes, at step186, providing the object102on a conveyor assembly. For example, a user may place the object102on a conveyer belt of the conveyor assembly106, or the disinfection system100may automatically move the object102onto a conveyor belt of the conveyor assembly, such as from a corral or platform or other waiting area.

The method176includes, at step188, conveying the object102along the path108using the conveyor assembly106, and, at step190, delivering ultraviolet radiation to each of two opposite surfaces of the object102as the object102is conveyed along the path108. The ultraviolet radiation may be ultraviolet C radiation. In some examples, the method176includes delivering at least 250 millijoules of ultraviolet C radiation per square centimeter to each of the at least two opposite surfaces of the object102.

In some examples, the method176includes delivering ultraviolet C radiation to the object102from at least two independent positions as the object102is conveyed along the path108, the at least two independent positions including a first position122adjacent a first side134of the conveying plane and a second position124adjacent a second side136of the conveying plane across the conveying plane from the first side122. In some examples, at least a portion of the path108is covered by a housing112, and the ultraviolet C radiation is delivered to the object102from the at least two independent positions as the object102is conveyed along the path108within the housing112.

In some examples, the method176also includes, at step192, placing an indicator material adjacent the object102prior to conveying the object102along the path108using the conveyor assembly106. The method176may also include, at step194, verifying, following delivering ultraviolet radiation to each of two opposite surfaces of the object102as the object102is conveyed along the path108, that the indicator material shows that a minimum quantity of ultraviolet radiation was delivered. In some examples, the minimum quantity of ultraviolet C radiation is 250 millijoules of ultraviolet C radiation per square centimeter.

Referring now toFIGS. 8 to 11, in some examples the object102may be and/or include the tray164(e.g., a compartment tray to hold at least one item in a compartment of the tray). For example, the object may be a low-profile and open-topped compartment tray such as is used with airport security systems to hold items (e.g., luggage, keys, shoes, etc.) for inspection.

In some examples, the disinfection system100may be used with and/or included in an airport security system (e.g., the system100may include an x-ray scanner or other sensor(s) mounted to frame104).

In some examples, the first surface118is an interior surface of the tray164and the second surface120is an exterior surface of the tray164(e.g., including an underside of a peripheral rim165), or vice versa. The ultraviolet radiation system110may be operable to irradiate the interior surface and the exterior surface of the tray164.

The present invention has been described here by way of example only. Various modification and variations may be made to these exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.