Patent Publication Number: US-2023146217-A1

Title: Multifunctional physical store system with automatic sterilization and disinfection functions

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to intelligent physical store system, and more particularly, to a multifunctional physical store system with automatic sterilization and disinfection functions. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In a conventional physical store, the cleansing and disinfection operations are manually carried out by staff of the store. Also, meal related operations, such as ordering, charging, and serving are mostly completed by the interaction of the counter staff and the client. 
     However, narrow places or small items are easily ignored by the store staff. Thus, manual cleansing operation carried out by staff easily cause existence of cleansing blind spots, lowering the tidiness of the environment. Also, manual disinfection easily causes less optimal disinfection effect due to inaccurate dosage of disinfection solution or unevenness of solution spraying. 
     Furthermore, with the global outbreak of COVID-19, although some stores use transparent object as a simple partitioning device for lowering the interaction between the counter staff and the customer, some meal related operations are still manually served by the counter staff to the customer, failing to facilitate a complete isolation therebetween, so that potential infection risk still exists between counter staff and customers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To improve the issues above, a multifunctional physical store system with automatic sterilization and disinfection functions is provided. With the automatic disinfection device, the store is periodically and completely disinfected and cleansed. Also, the disinfection device is combined with the sterilization device for achieving a nearly dust-free and sterile environment. 
     For achieving the aforementioned objectives, a multifunctional physical store system with automatic sterilization and disinfection functions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises a central control process device, a disinfection device, an order device, a sterilization device, and a serve device. The disinfection device is coupled with the central control process device. The disinfection device comprises a first control process module, an air intake module, and an air outtake module. The air intake module and the air outtake module are coupled with the first control process module, which controls the air intake time of the air intake module and the air outtake time of the air outtake module, respectively. The order device is coupled with the central process device and provided with an order module and the receive module. The order module comprises a first communication module, and the receive module comprises a second communication module, wherein the first communication module and the second communication module are communicatively connected in a wireless transmission manner, such that the order module can transmit a meal data to the receive module. The sterilization device is coupled with the central process device and comprises a second control process module, a detection module, and a disinfection spray module. The detection module and the disinfection spray module are coupled with the second control process module. When the detection module detects a person in the sterilization device, the second control process module controls the disinfection spray module to carry out the disinfection and sterilization process on the person. The serve device is coupled with the central process device and comprises a third control process module, a disinfection module, a conveyor belt, and two partition doors. The disinfection module, the conveyor belt, and the two partition doors are electrically connected with the third control process module. The two partition doors are disposed on two ends of the conveyor belt. The third control process module controls the disinfection module to disinfect the package materials of the meals. The third control process module controls the conveying speed of the conveyor belt. The third control process module controls the opening and closing status of the two partition doors, such that the two partition doors do not open simultaneously. 
     In another embodiment, a route indication device is included. The route indication device is coupled with the central process device, and is able to guide the person to move according to a predetermined route after passing through the sterilization device. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is applied to a physical store. The physical store comprises a work area, a customer area, and a counter. The counter is disposed between the work area and the customer area. The disinfection device is disposed on the ceiling of the work area and the customer area. The receive module is disposed in the work area. The order module, and the sterilization device, and the route indication device are disposed in the customer area. The serve device is disposed on the counter. 
     With such configuration, the present invention applies the automatic disinfection device to carry out a wholesome disinfection cleansing operation. Also, with the combination of the disinfection device and the sterilization device, the store is allowed to have a nearly dust-free and sterile environment. 
     Further, through the order device, the serve device, and the route indication device, the people in the customer area can complete ordering and obtaining the meal without the necessity of contacting the staff in the work area. Thus, the chance of direct contact between the staff in the work area and the people in the customer area is completely avoided, thereby greatly reducing the infection of virus or bacteria between the staff in the work area and the people in the customer area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block view of the multifunctional physical store system with automatic sterilization and disinfection functions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a block view of the disinfection device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a block view of the order device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a block view of the sterilization device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a block view of the serve device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a block view of the route indication device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective schematic view of the multifunctional physical store system with automatic sterilization and disinfection functions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  8    is a top schematic view of the multifunctional physical store system with automatic sterilization and disinfection functions applied to a physical store. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned and further advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where the components are illustrated based on a proportion for explanation but not subject to the actual component proportion. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  8   , a multifunctional physical store system  100  with automatic sterilization and disinfection functions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises a central process device  10 , a disinfection device  20 , an order device  30 , a sterilization device  40 , and a serve device  50 . Therein, the present invention is applied to a physical store  1 . The physical store  1  has an inner space  2 , and the inner space  2  comprises a work area  2   a , a customer area  2   b , and a counter  2   c . The customer area  2   b  comprises an entrance  2   d  and an exit  2   e , wherein the entrance  2   d  is disposed on one side of the customer area  2   b  away from the work area  2   a , and the exit  2   e  is disposed on another side of the customer area  2   b  away from the work area  2   a  and in opposite to the entrance  2   d . The counter  2   c  is disposed between the work area  2   a  and the customer area  2   b.    
     The central process device  10  is coupled with the disinfection device  20 , the order device  30 , the sterilization device  40 , and the serve device  50 . The central process device  10  is in the ceiling of the work area  2   a  and applied for controlling the operation of each device. Referring to  FIG.  1   , in the embodiment, the central process device  10  comprises a remote communication module  11 , and the remote communication module  11  can be remotely connected with a terminal device (not shown) through the internet or wireless transmission. The terminal device remotely controls the operation of the disinfection device  20 , the order device  30 , the sterilization device  40 , and the serve device  50  through the remote communication module  11 . 
     The disinfection device  20  is coupled with the central process device  10  and disposed in the ceiling of the work area  2   a  and the customer area  2   b . The disinfection device  20  comprises a first control process module  21 , an air intake module  22 , an air outtake module  23 , a gas storage module  24 , and a plurality of UV light sets  25  that are coupled with the first control process module  21 . The first control process module  21  controls the air intake time of the air intake module  22 , and controls the air outtake time of the air outtake module  23 . The gas storage module  24  and the air intake module  22  are connected through a pipe. Therein, the disinfection device  20  further comprises a disinfection spray module  26  coupled with the first control process module  21 . The first control process module  21  can periodically control the disinfection spray module  26  to spray disinfection liquid (such as but not limited to alcohol) for carrying out routine disinfection operations of the inner space  2 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2    in view of  FIG.  7    and  FIG.  8   , in the embodiment, the air intake module  22  comprises a first control valve  221  and a first filter member  222 . The air outtake module  23  comprises a second control valve  231  and a second filter member  232 . Both the air intake module  22  and the air outtake module  23  have one end disposed outdoor and another end connected with the inner space  2 , respectively. The gas storage module  24  comprises a third control valve  241 . 
     When the physical store  1  is open, the first control process module  21  controls the first control valve  221  to open, so that the air intake module  22  filters outdoor air through the first filter member  222  and input the filtered air into the inner space  2 . The first control process module  21  controls the second control valve  231  to open, so that the second filter member  232  of the air outtake module  23  filters and discharge the waste air in the inner space  2  out for cleansing the air in the inner space  2 . When the physical store  1  is close, the first control process module  21  controls the first control valve  221  and the second control valve  231  to close. The first control process module  21  controls the third control valve  241  to open and turn on the plurality of UV light sets  25 , such that the air intake module  22  inputs a disinfection gas (such as but not limited to ozone) which is stored in the gas storage module  24  for carrying out a comprehensive disinfection operation. Before the physical store  1  is open, the first control process module  21  controls the second control valve  231  to open, whereby the second filter member  232  of the air outtake module  23  filters and discharge the waste air in the inner space  2  out. 
     The order device  30  is coupled with the central process device  10  and comprises a serve module  31  and a receive module  32 . The order module  31  is disposed in the customer area  2   b  and comprises a first communication module  311 . The receive module  32  is disposed in the work area  2   a  and comprises a second communication module  321 . The first communication module  311  and the second communication module  321  are communicatively connected through wireless transmission. When the person in the customer area  2   b  finishes the meal ordering process through the order module  31 , the order module  31  can transmit a meal data through the first communication module  311  and the second communication module  321  to the receive module  32  for informing the staff in the work area  2   a  about the meal to be served. Through the remote ordering manner of the order module  31  and the receive module  32 , the person in the customer area  2   b  can complete the meal ordering process without contacting the staff in the work area  2   a.    
     The sterilization device  40  is coupled with the central process device  10  and disposed at the entrance  2   d . The sterilization device  40  comprises a second control process module  41 , a detection module  42 , a disinfection spray module  43 , a temperature sensor module  44 , and a display module  45 . The detection module  42 , the disinfection spray module  43 , the temperature sensor module  44  and the display module  45  are coupled with the second control process module  41 . Referring to  FIG.  4    in view of  FIG.  7    and  FIG.  8   , in the embodiment, the sterilization device  40  comprises a room  46  having two room doors  461 . The second control process module  41 , the detection module  42 , the disinfection spray module  43 , the temperature sensor module  44 , and the display module  45  are disposed in the room  46 . The room doors  461  are coupled with the second control process module  41  and arranged on two sides of the room  46 , respectively. The second control process module  41  controls the room doors  461  to optionally open. 
     When the detection module  42  detects a person in the room  46 , the second control process module  41  shuts the room doors  461  and controls the disinfection spay module  43  to carry out the disinfection and sterilization process on the person. When the disinfection spray module  43  finished the disinfection and sterilization process, the second control process module  41  controls the temperature sensor module  44  to sense the body temperature of the person, and controls the display module  45  to display the body temperature of the person. Therefore, before the person enters the inner space  2 , the virus and bacteria on the surface of the body and clothes of the person are cleansed. Therein, two room doors  461  are provided, wherein one room door  461  is disposed on one side of the room  46  near the entrance  2   d , and the other room door  461  is disposed on another side of the room  46  away from the entrance  2   d.    
     The serve device  50  is coupled with the central process device  10  and disposed on the counter  2   c . The serve device  50  comprises a third control process module  51 , a disinfection module  52 , a conveyor belt  53 , and two partition doors  54 . The conveyor belt  53  and two partition doors  54  are electrically connected with the third control process module  51 , respectively. The partition doors  54  are disposed on two ends of the disinfection module  52 . The third control process module  51  controls the conveying speed of the conveyor belt  53  and the open and close statuses of the two partition doors  54 , such that the two partition doors  54  do not open simultaneously. Referring to  FIG.  5    in view of  FIG.  7    and  FIG.  8   , in the embodiment, the serve device  50  comprises a disinfection space  55 . The staff in the work area  2   a  place the meal on the convey belt  53  to be conveyed. The third control process module  51  controls the two partition doors  54  to close for sealing the disinfection space  55  in the close status, and then controls the disinfection module  52  to disinfect the package materials of the meal in the disinfection space  55 . Therefore, in the meal serving and acquiring process between the people in the work area  2   a  and the customer area  2   b , no direct contact is performed, so as to lower the virus or bacteria infection chance between the people in the work area  2   a  and the customer area  2   b.    
     Referring to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  6    in view of  FIG.  7    and  FIG.  8   , in the embodiment, a route indication device  60  is further comprised. The route indication device  60  is coupled with the central process device  10  and disposed on the floor of the customer area  2   b . The terminal device, through the remote communication module  11  of the central control process device  10 , remotely controls the operation of the route indication device  60 . The route indication device  60  comprises a fourth control process module  61 , a sense module  62 , and a warning module  63 , wherein the sense module  62  and the warning module  63  are coupled with the fourth control process module  61 , respectively. The route indication device  60  guides the person exiting the sterilization device  40  to orderly move along a predetermined route from the sterilization device  40  to the order module  31 , the serve device  50 , and the exit  2   e . When the sense module  62  senses a person in the customer area  2   b  deviating from the predetermined route, the fourth control process module  61  controls the warning module  63  to send out warning. Thus, the route indication device  60  assures that the person in the customer area  2   b  orderly completing the meal ordering and acquiring process. Therein, the warning module  63  is, for example but not limited to, a warning light in the embodiment. 
     With the automatic disinfection device  20 , the present invention periodically carries out a comprehensive disinfection cleansing operation. Also, the disinfection device  20  is combined with the sterilization device  40 , such that the store can be provided with a nearly sterile environment. 
     Also, with the order device  30 , and serve device  50 , and the route indication device  60 , the person in the customer area  2   b  can finish the meal ordering and acquiring process without contacting the staff in the work area  2   a , thereby completely avoiding the direct contact between the people in the work area  2   a  and the customer area  2   b , so that the virus or bacteria infection chance between the people in the work area  2   a  and the customer area  2   b  is greatly reduced. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.