Patent Publication Number: US-2023148035-A1

Title: Clean access uv

Description:
COPYRIGHT 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device and a method of disinfecting a card via the ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device. The device may be used to disinfect a card, such as a hotel key card, using ultraviolet light sources. A housing and a conveyor mechanism within the housing moves the card in a planarly manner while the card is illuminated via the ultraviolet light sources. A control device controls the linear motion of the conveyor along the axial direction of the housing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Guest management systems in hotels use access key cards to allow guests to open their assigned rooms. The card is handled by a large number of guests and as such present a health issue. In particular, each guest carries numerus germs on his body and in particular on his hands. Accordingly, those germs will be deposited on the card and subsequently transmitted to other guests. 
     Ultraviolet light sources in the UVC band have been used extensively for disinfection of surfaces in laboratories and food-processing industries. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 9,603,956 discloses a system for disinfecting a clinical surface utilizing a broad-spectrum UV-C ultraviolet light source, U.S. Pat. No. 9,974,875 discloses a sterilizer for point-of-sale credit card readers and keypads using a UV-C ultraviolet light source, and U.S. Pat. No. 11,097,025 discloses a system and method for sterilizing gaming machines and associated equipment. 
     The present invention is an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device which includes a housing having one or two apertures where a key card maybe inserted, disinfected via an ultraviolet light source, and ejected free of germs. A conveyor within the housing operates to receive the card and planarly move it along an axial direction of the housing. An ultraviolet light source illuminates the card while it moves along the housing. A control device is configured to control a linear motion of the conveyor, for instance, its speed, to ensure that the ultraviolet light source properly illuminates the card thereby disinfecting the card as it moves along the housing. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device is disclosed wherein the devices comprises a substantially cubic housing having a first aperture through a first side of the housing and a second aperture through a second side of the housing, a conveyor operable to receive a card through the first aperture, to planarly move the card along an axial direction of the housing, and to eject the card through the second aperture, an ultraviolet light source operable to disinfect the card, wherein the ultraviolet light source illuminates the card within the housing as the card moves along the axial direction of the housing, and a control device, coupled with the conveyor, wherein the control device comprises a processor including a programming code stored on a storage device of said processor, and wherein the control device is configured to control a linear motion of the conveyor along the axial direction of the housing. 
     Preferably, each of the first aperture and the second aperture has a rectangular cross section. 
     Preferably, a width of the rectangular cross section of each of the first aperture and the second aperture is substantially equal to or greater than a width of a rectangular cross section of the card, and wherein a height of the rectangular cross section of each of the first aperture and the second aperture is substantially equal to or greater than a height of the rectangular cross section of the card. 
     Preferably, the conveyor comprises a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, a fourth roller, a first belt, and a motor coupled with the control device, wherein the first belt engages a first end of the second roller and a first end of the third roller, and wherein the motor engages the second roller. 
     Preferably, the conveyor further comprises a second belt operable to engage a second end of the second roller and a second end of the third roller. 
     Preferably, the conveyor comprises a first roller having a first gear, a second roller having a second gear, a third roller having a third gear, a fourth roller having a fourth gear, a first belt, and a motor coupled with the control device, wherein the first gear engages the second gear, wherein the third gear engages the fourth gear, wherein the first belt engages the second roller and the third roller, and wherein the motor engages the first roller. 
     Preferably, the conveyor further comprises a second belt operable to engage the first roller and the fourth roller. 
     Preferably, the ultraviolet light source comprises four panels having UV-C light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     Preferably, the four panels illuminate the card from a top side, a bottom side, a left side, and a right side of the card. 
     Preferably, the control device is further coupled with ultraviolet light source and configured to at least one of turn on and turn off the ultraviolet light source. 
     Preferably, the device further comprises a sensor operable to detect the card through the first aperture and to generate a signal in response to detecting the card, wherein the control device is further coupled with the sensor and configured to receive the signal from the sensor and control the linear motion of the conveyor along the axial direction of the housing according to the signal. 
     Preferably, the card is one of a hotel key card, an ATM card, and a credit card. 
     In another aspect, an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device is disclosed wherein the device comprises a substantially cubic housing having an, aperture through a side of the housing, a conveyor operable to receive a card through the aperture, to planarly move the card along an axial direction of the housing, and to eject the card through the aperture, an ultraviolet light source operable to disinfect the card, wherein the ultraviolet light source illuminates the card within the housing as the card moves along the axial direction of the housing, and a control device, coupled with the conveyor, wherein the control device comprises a processor including a programming code stored on a storage device of said processor, and wherein the control device is configured to control a linear motion of the conveyor along the axial direction of the housing. 
     Preferably, the aperture has a rectangular cross section. 
     Preferably, a width of the rectangular cross section of the aperture is substantially equal to or greater than a width of a rectangular cross section of the card, and wherein a height of the rectangular cross section of the aperture is substantially equal to or greater than a height of the rectangular cross section of the card. 
     Preferably, the conveyor comprises a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, a fourth roller, a first belt, and a motor coupled with the control device, wherein the first belt engages a first end of the second roller and a first end of the third roller, and wherein the motor engages the second roller. 
     Preferably, the conveyor further comprises a second belt operable to engage a second end of the second roller and a second end of the third roller. 
     Preferably, the conveyor comprises a first roller having a first gear, a second roller having a second gear, a third roller having a third gear, a fourth roller having a fourth gear, a first belt, and a motor coupled with the control device, wherein the first gear engages the second gear, wherein the third gear engages the fourth gear, wherein the first belt engages the second roller and the third roller, and wherein the motor engages the first roller. 
     Preferably, the conveyor further comprises a second belt operable to engage the first roller and the fourth roller. 
     Preferably, the ultraviolet light source comprises four panels having UV-C light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     Preferably, the four panels illuminate the card from a top side, a bottom side, a left side, and a right side of the card. 
     Preferably, the control device is further coupled with ultraviolet light source and configured to at least one of turn on and turn off the ultraviolet light source. 
     Preferably, the device further comprises a sensor operable to detect the card through the aperture and to generate a signal in response to detecting the card, wherein the control device is further coupled with the sensor and configured to receive the signal from the sensor and control the linear motion of the conveyor along the axial direction of the housing according to the signal. 
     In another aspect, a method of disinfecting a card via an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device is disclosed wherein said ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device comprises a substantially cubic housing having a first aperture through a first side of the housing and a second aperture through a second side of the housing, a conveyor operable to receive the card through the first aperture, to planarly move the card along an axial direction of the housing, and to eject the card through the second aperture, an, ultraviolet light source operable to disinfect the card, wherein the ultraviolet light source illuminates the card within the housing as the card moves along the axial direction of the housing, and a control device, coupled with the conveyor, wherein the control device comprises a processor including a programming code stored on a storage device of said processor, and wherein the control device is configured to control a linear motion of the conveyor along the axial direction of the housing, wherein the method comprises receiving the card through the first aperture, via the conveyor, planarly moving the card along the axial direction of the housing, via the conveyor, illuminating the card within the housing as the card moves along the axial direction of the housing, via the ultraviolet light source, and controlling the linear motion of the conveyor along the axial direction of the housing, via the control device. 
     Preferably, the ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device further comprises a sensor operable to detect the card through the aperture and to generate a signal in response to detecting the card and wherein the control device is further coupled with the sensor and configured to receive the signal from the sensor and control the linear motion of the conveyor along the axial direction of the housing according to the signal, wherein the method further comprises detecting the card through the aperture, via the sensor, generating a signal in response to detecting the card, via the sensor, receiving the signal, via the control device, and controlling the linear motion of the conveyor along the axial direction of the housing according to the signal, via the control device. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1 A  shows a perspective view of an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device according to a preferred embodiment. The device includes a housing having a first aperture through a first side of the housing. 
         FIG.  1 B  shows a perspective view of the ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device of  FIG.  1 A  rotated 90 degrees clockwise around the Z axis. The housing has a second aperture through a second side of the housing. 
         FIG.  2    shows a perspective view of an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device according to a preferred embodiment. The device includes a housing, a conveyor, an ultraviolet light source, and a control device. 
         FIG.  3    shows an exploded view of an ultraviolet light source according to a preferred embodiment. The ultraviolet light source comprises four panels having UV-C light emitting diodes (LEDs). A card planarly movies along an axial direction of a housing containing the ultraviolet light source wherein the card is disinfected by the radiation emanating from the UV-C ultraviolet light source as it moves along the axial direction. 
         FIG.  4    shows a perspective view of a conveyor and a control device according to a preferred embodiment. The conveyor includes a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, a fourth roller, a first belt, a second belt and a motor coupled with the control device. The first belt engages a first end of the second roller and a first end of the third roller. The motor engages the second roller. The second belt engages a second end of the second roller and a second end of the third roller. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG.  1 A  depicts a perspective view of an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device  100  according to a preferred embodiment. The device includes a substantially cubic housing  102  which comprises a first side  110  having a first aperture  106  where a card  104 , such as a hotel key card, may be inserted to be disinfected by an ultraviolet light source (see  FIG.  2   ., or  FIG.  3   , or  FIG.  4   ). In this embodiment, the aperture  106  has a rectangular cross section having a width  114  and a height  116 . The card  104  has a rectangular cross section having a width  128  and a height  130 . A conveyor (see  FIG.  2    or  FIG.  4   ) is contained within the housing  102  which operates to receive the card  104  through the first aperture  106 . The conveyor moves the card  104  along an axial direction, the X axis  122  in a planarly manner, i.e., substantially in the X-Y plane defined by the X axis  122  and the Y axis  124  and perpendicular to the Z axis  126 . A control device (see  FIG.  2    or  FIG.  4   ) is configured to control a linear motion of the conveyor along the axial direction  122 , thereby, moving the card  104  as it is being exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet light source. In this preferred embodiment, the conveyor planarly moves the card  104  along the axial direction  122  and ejects it through a second aperture (see  FIG.  1 B ) of the housing  102 . 
       FIG.  1 B  depicts a perspective view of the ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device  100  of  FIG.  1 A . In this view, the ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device  100  is rotated 90 degrees clockwise around the Z axis  126  where a second aperture  108  through a second side  112  of the housing  102  is shown. The second aperture  108  has a rectangular cross section having a width  118  and a height  120 . In this preferred embodiment, the width  114  of the first aperture  106  and the width  118  of the second aperture  108  are substantially equal to the width  128  of the card  104 , and the height  116  of the first aperture  106  and the height  120  of the second aperture  108  are substantially equal to the height  106  of the card  104 , so as to provide an interference fit between the card  104  and the first aperture  106 , and the card  104  and the second apertures  108  as the card  104  is received and ejected through the first aperture  106  and the second aperture  108 , respectively. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the width  114  of the first aperture  106  and the width  118  of the second aperture  108  are substantially greater than the width  128  of the card  104 , and the height  116  of the first aperture  106  and the height  120  of the second aperture  108  are substantially greater than the height  106  of the card  104 , so as to provide a clearance fit between the card  104  and the first aperture  106 , and the card  104  and the second apertures  108  as the card  104  is received and ejected through the first aperture  106  and the second aperture  108 , respectively. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the housing  102 , of the ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device  100  has only one aperture  106  through its first side  110 . The card  104  may be inserted to be disinfected by an ultraviolet light source (see FIG.  2 _, or  FIG.  3   , or  FIG.  4   ). A conveyor (see  FIG.  2    or  FIG.  4   ) is contained within the housing  102  which operates to receive the card  104  through the first aperture  106 . The conveyor planarly moves the card  104  along the X axis  122  and a control device (see  FIG.  2    or  FIG.  4   ) is configured to control a linear motion of the conveyor along the axial direction  122 . The card  104  is exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet light source and the control device reverses the linear motion of the conveyer along the axial direction  122  so as to eject the card  104  through the first aperture  106 , eliminating the need for a second aperture. 
       FIG.  2    depicts a perspective view of an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device  200  according to a preferred embodiment. The device  200  includes a housing  202 , a conveyor  214 , an ultraviolet light source  216 , and a control device  218 . For illustrative purposes, a top portion of the housing  202  has been removed in this view so as to expose the internal components, i.e., the conveyor  214 , the ultraviolet light source  216 , and the control device  218  of the ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device  200 . 
     Similar to the ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device  100  shown in  FIG.  1 A , the ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device  200  includes the substantially cubic housing  202  which comprises a first side  210  having a first aperture  206  where a card  204 , such as an ATM card, may be inserted to be disinfected by an ultraviolet light source  216 . The conveyor  214  is disposed within the housing  202  and operates to receive the card  204  through the first aperture  206 . The conveyor  214  moves the card  204  along an axial direction, i.e., the X axis  242  in a planarly manner, i.e., substantially in the X-Y plane defined by the X axis  242  and the Y axis  244  and perpendicular to the Z axis  246  The control device  218  is configured to control a linear motion of the conveyor  214  along the axial direction  242 , thereby, moving the card  204  as ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet light source  216  illuminates the card  204 . The conveyor  214  planarly moves the card  204  along the axial direction  242  and ejects it through a second aperture  208  of the housing  202 . 
     In this preferred embodiment, the conveyor  214  comprises a first roller  220  having a first gear  234 , a second roller  222  having a second gear  232 , a third roller  224  having a third gear  236 , a fourth roller  226  having a fourth gear  238 , a first belt  228 , and a motor  240  electrically coupled with the control device  218  via a line  248 . The first gear  234  engages the second gear  232 , the third gear  236  engages the fourth gear  238 , the first belt  228  engages the second roller  222  and the third roller  224 , and the motor  240  engages the first roller  220 . The conveyor further includes a second belt  230  operable to engage the first roller  220  and the fourth roller  226 . 
     In particular, the control device  218  applies a signal to the motor  240  via the line  248  to control the rotational motion of the motor  240 . The motor  240  is mechanically coupled, to the first roller  220  and rotates it in a clockwise direction around the Y axis  244 . The first gear  234  also rotates in the clockwise direction around the Y axis  244  and is in rotational engagement with the second gear  232  and rotates it in the counterclockwise direction around the Y axis  244 . As such, the first roller  220  rotates in the clockwise direction and the second roller  222  rotates in the counterclockwise direction around the Y axis  244 . The card  204  enters the first aperture  206  and is sandwiched between the first roller  220  and the second roller  222  and thus planarly moves along the axial direction, i.e., the X axis  242 . The first belt  228  is in rotational engagement with the second roller  222  and the third roller  224 , thereby, rotating the third roller  224  in the counterclockwise direction around the Y axis  244 . The third gear  236  also rotates in the counterclockwise direction around the Y axis  244  and is in rotational engagement with the fourth gear  238  and rotates it in the clockwise direction around the Y axis  244 . As such, the third roller  220  rotates in the counterclockwise direction and the fourth roller  226  rotates in the clockwise direction around the Y axis  244 . The card  204  planarly moves along the X axis  242  and is sandwiched between the third roller  224  and the fourth roller  226 . The card  204  is ejected through the second aperture  208 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the conveyor  214  has only one belt, i.e., the first belt  228 , as the conveyor is fully functional without the second belt  230 . However, the second belt  230  may be utilized for stability of the conveyor  214 . 
     A sensor  252  may be utilized to detect the card  204  as it enters through the first aperture  206  and to generate a signal in response to detecting the card  206 . The control device  218  is further electrically coupled with the sensor  252  via a line  250  and is configured to receive the signal from the sensor  252  and control the linear motion of the conveyor  214  along the axial direction  242  of the housing  202  according to the signal. 
     The control device  218  comprises a processor  254  including a programming code stored on a storage device of said processor. The control device  218  may further comprise an analog to digital convertor (ADC) and a communication module. According to a preferred embodiment, the control device  218  is a 68HC08 processor having internal flash memory available from Freescale of Austin, Tex. It is contemplated that the processor may be a combination of individual discrete or separate integrated circuits packaged in a single housing or it may be fabricated in a single integrated circuit. 
       FIG.  3    depicts an exploded view of an ultraviolet light source  300  according to a preferred embodiment. The ultraviolet light source  300  comprises four panels,  302 ,  304 ,  306 , and  308 , each having UV-C light emitting diodes (LEDs). A card  310  planarly movies along an axial direction, i.e., the X axis  312  and is disinfected by the radiation emanating from the UV-C ultraviolet light source  300  as it moves along the X axis  312 . In particular, the card  310  is illuminated from the top by the panel  302 , from the bottom by the panel  306 , from the right side by the panel  308 , and from the left side by the panel  304 . In one embodiment, the ultraviolet light source  300  may be switched on and off manually. In another embodiment, the ultraviolet light source  300  may be switched on and off via a control device, such as the control device  218  shown in  FIG.  2   . 
       FIG.  4    depicts a perspective view of a conveyor and a control device  412  according to a preferred embodiment. The conveyor includes a first roller  402 , a second roller  404 , a third roller  406 , a fourth roller  408 , a first belt  414 , a second belt  416  and a motor  410 , electrically coupled with the control device  412 . The first belt  414  engages a first end  418  of the second roller  404  and a first end  420  of the third roller  406 . The motor  410  engages the second roller  404 . The second belt  416  engages a second end  422  of the second roller  404  and a second end  424  of the third roller  406 . 
     In particular, the control device  412  applies a signal to the motor  410  via a line  248  (not shown) to control the rotational motion of the motor  410 . The motor  410  is mechanically coupled to the second roller  404  and rotates it in a counterclockwise direction around, the Y axis  430 . A card  426  enters a first aperture (not shown) and is sandwiched between the first roller  402  and the second roller  404  and thus planarly moves along the axial direction, i.e., the X axis  428 . The first belt  414  is in rotational engagement with the second roller  404  and the third roller  406 , thereby, rotating the third roller  406  in the counterclockwise direction around the Y axis  430 . The card  426  planarly moves along the X axis  428  and is sandwiched between the third roller  406  and the fourth roller  408 . The card  426  is ejected through a second aperture (not shown). 
     In an alternative embodiment, the conveyor has only one belt, i.e., the first belt  414 , as the conveyor is fully functional without the second belt  416 . However, the second belt  416  may be utilized to provide stability to the conveyor. 
     The foregoing explanations, descriptions, illustrations, examples, and discussions have been set forth to assist the reader with understanding this invention and further to demonstrate the utility and novelty of it and are by no means restrictive of the scope of the invention. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which are intended to define the scope of this invention.