DISINFECTION DEVICE FOR DISINFECTING AT LEAST A PART OF A TROLLEY
PT 20210863 (346819)
Key information
Title
DISINFECTION DEVICE FOR DISINFECTING AT LEAST A PART OF A TROLLEY
Application number
20210863
Case type
National
Status
16.01.2023 Patent meddelt (B1)
Filed
02.07.2021
Effective date
02.07.2021
Publicly available
03.01.2023
Next annual fee due
31.07.2027
Applicant
VOGNWASH AS (NO)
Owner
VOGNWASH AS (NO)
Inventor
Adnan Sajjadi (NO) et al.
Granted
16.01.2023
Patent number
346819
Expiry date
02.07.2041
Abstract and drawing
Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.
The present invention relates to a disinfection device for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley, and the use of such disinfection device for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley.
Publications
B1A1
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02.06.2026
21-01
Saksbehandling
20210863(346819)
UT
PT Varsel om betaling av årsavgift for år 4 + (3352) (PT20210863)
VOGNWASH AS
02.06.2025
20-01
Saksbehandling
20210863(346819)
UT
PT Varsel om betaling av årsavgift for år 4 + (3352) (PT20210863)
VOGNWASH AS
08.07.2024
02-01
Endring av fullmektig
2024/10212
UT
GH Forespørsel
VOGNWASH AS
02.07.2024
01-01
Endring av fullmektig
2024/10212
INN
Generell henvendelse
VOGNWASH AS
06.06.2023
19-01
Saksbehandling
20210863(346819)
UT
PT Varsel om betaling av første årsavgift (3317) (PT20210863)
Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.Description
DISINFECTION DEVICE FOR DISINFECTING AT LEAST A PART OF A TROLLEYField of the inventionThe present invention relates to a device for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley, and the use of such device for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley.Background of the inventionShopping carts or trollies, used e.g. at supermarkets, stores, hospitals and airports, are handled daily by millions of people, and frequently stored in uncovered or exposed areas such as parking lots. The trollies are exposed to bacteria and viruses, having e.g. a high level of exposure to the skin flora of the users, and through their frequent handling by different users, they serve as a significant contributor to the spreading of viruses and bacteria to a large proportion of the human population. Contagious viruses such as the coronavirus can endanger human life and indirectly cause an overload to the health sector service providers such as hospitals, medical centres, nursing homes etc. Hence, disinfecting such trollies in order to inactivate potentially dangerous viruses and bacteria, at least on areas of frequent contamination, such as the handle, is a matter of public concern.In many cleaning systems known in the art, the focus is on washing the trollies and killing germs with water or chemicals. While these systems may be useful for washing dirty trollies, using them for disinfection purposes is disadvantageous not only because of the considerable energy consumption associated with washing entire trollies, but also from a financial point of view. The systems frequently rely on large tunnels wherein one or more trolleys are completely enclosed, leading to a large consumption of cleaning fluids, some of which may also be harmful to the environment. Therefore, the alternative of having the user manually wipe a trolly in order to disinfect it before use is commonly employed, frequently with single-use wipes that generate large amounts of waste, that are costly, and that are only effective if used properly.Hence, there is a need for efficient and environmentally friendly devices and methods for disinfection of trollies.Brief summary of the inventionIn one aspect, the present invention relates to a disinfection device for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley as claimed in claim 1, the disinfection device comprising a housing; a base, within the housing, for supporting a trolley; a steam generator for generating pressurised
steam, where the steam has a temperature of at least 70 °C; a hood comprising a first wall and a side wall defining a hood volume for receiving the trolley; a hood positioning means for moving the hood relative to the housing between a first position and a second position; and at least one steam nozzle having an opening into the hood volume, where the at least one steam nozzle is in fluid communication with the steam generator.Recent literature reviews have shown that heat treatment is an efficient way of inactivating coronaviruses, and it is well known that a range of other viruses and bacteria are heat sensitive. Advantageously, the present invention uses steam, which is more environmentally friendly than many other alternative disinfection methods, to take advantage of this thermal sensitivity in the disinfection of trolleys.Further advantageous embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims.In another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of such disinfection device for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley, as claimed in claim 16. This use is associated with the same advantages as described above for the disinfection device.The invention relates to a disinfection device for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley, the disinfection device comprising- a housing;- a base, within the housing, for supporting the trolley- a steam generator for generating steam, where the steam has a temperature of at least 70 °C;- a hood comprising a first wall and a side wall defining a hood volume opening the space to be occupied by the trolley for receiving at least a part of the trolley;- an additional hood comprising a first wall and a side wall defining an additional hood volume opening the space to be occupied by the trolley to be disinfected for receiving at least a part of the trolley, wherein the additional hood is opposite to the hood;- a hood positioning means for moving the hood horizontally relative to the housing between a first position and a second position, and further configured to move the additional hood relative to the housing and the hood between a first additional hood position and a second additional hood position, where, when the hood is in the second position and the additional hood is in the in the second additional hood position, the hood and the additional hood engage each other to form a combined hood volume; and
- an array of steam nozzles having an opening into the combined hood volume, where the steam nozzles are in fluid communication with the steam generator.The invention further relates to said disinfection device, wherein when the hood is in the second position, and the additional hood is in the second additional hood position, the opening of the at least one steam nozzle is located up to 250 cm above the base.The invention further relates to said disinfection device, further comprising a heat exchanger, and wherein the hood or the additional hood further comprises a steam outlet from the hood volume, where the steam outlet is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger.The invention further relates to said disinfection device, wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the steam generator.The invention further relates to said disinfection device, further comprising a fluid outlet from the hood volume.The invention further relates to said disinfection device, further comprising a proximity sensor and/or a temperature sensor arranged in the hood volume.The invention further relates to said disinfection device, wherein the at least one steam nozzle is an array of steam nozzles.The invention further relates to said disinfection device, further comprising steam nozzle positioning means for positioning the at least one steam nozzle.The invention further relates to said disinfection device, wherein the first wall has a rectangular or frustoconical shape.The invention further relates to use of said disinfection device for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley.Brief description of the drawingsIn order to make the invention more readily understandable, the description that follows will refer to accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a disinfection device according to the invention.Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a disinfection device according to the invention.Figure 3 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the disinfection device according to the invention.Figure 4 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the disinfection device according to the invention.Figure 5 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the disinfection device according to the invention.Figure 6 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the disinfection device according to the invention.Figure 7 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the disinfection device according to the invention.Detailed description of the inventionUnless otherwise defined, all terms of art, notations and other scientific terms or terminology used herein are intended to have the meanings commonly understood by those of skill in the art to which this invention pertains. In some cases, terms with commonly understood meanings are defined herein for clarity and/or for ready reference, and the inclusion of such definitions herein should not necessarily be construed to represent a substantial difference over what is generally understood in the art.In the following, general embodiments as well as particular exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described. References will be made to the accompanying drawings. It shall be noted, however, that the drawings are exemplary embodiments only, and that other features and embodiments may well be within the scope of the invention as claimedIn one aspect, the invention relates to a disinfection device for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley.As schematically illustrated in Figure 1, the disinfection device 1 disclosed herein comprises - a housing 10;- a base 20, within the housing 10, for supporting the trolley 30;- a steam generator 40 for generating pressurised steam, where the steam has a temperature of at least 70 °C;
- a hood 50 comprising a first wall 60 and a side wall 70 defining a hood volume 55 for receiving at least a part of the trolley 30;- a hood positioning means 80 for moving the hood 50 relative to the housing 10 between a first position A and a second position B; and- at least one steam nozzle 90 having an opening into the hood volume 55 where the at least one steam nozzle 90 is in fluid communication with the steam generator 40.The terms “disinfect” and “disinfection” are used herein to refer to a reduction in the count of bacteria and/or viruses in an area, such as on a part of a trolley 30, and encompasses the term “sanitise”. As used herein, the term “trolley” refers to any type of wheeled cart suitable for use in a shop or store, such as for use by a customer for transport of merchandise. The term may refer to, but is not limited to, any one from the list of trollies, shopping carts, grocery carts, wheeled shopping baskets, buggies, carriages and shopping wagons.One part of a trolley 30 that is frequently touched and contaminated is the handle. The handle can thus be considered as an area of interest, such as an area that it is important to contaminate. Another area of interest is the upper edges of the trolley. The handle and the upper edges are frequently touched by the user, and often also by children placed in the trolley. These areas are also subject to indirect contamination, such via contact with items transported in the trolley or by contact with other trolleys. Contamination in the form of droplets and/or aerosols may also be expected to occur frequently on the handle and upper edges. Other areas of interest may e.g. include the sides of the trolley, the bottom of the trolley, any child seat, and/or the wheels of the trolley. These areas, which all may be referred to as areas of interest on the trolley, may be contaminated directly or indirectly. They are all to be considered a part of the trolley 30 for which the disinfection device disclosed herein is suitable for disinfecting. In some embodiments, the invention relates to a disinfection device 1 for disinfecting an entire trolley 30.The disinfection device 1 disclosed herein comprises a housing 10, such as a housing for partly or completely housing a trolley 30. The sizes and dimensions of the housing 10 can vary. The housing 10 may be adapted to fit a particular type of trolley to be disinfected, e.g. by being sized to house such trolley. The housing 10 may comprise an open framework for supporting a hood 50, and/or it may comprise walls providing an enclosure. The housing 10 has an entrance opening for a trolley 30 at one end, and an exit opening for a trolley 30 at the opposite end.
The disinfection device 1 further comprises a base 20, within the housing 10, for supporting the trolley 30 to be disinfected. The base 20 may be a part of the housing 10, such as a floor. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that an alternative to a base 20 that is a part of the housing, is using the ground enclosed by the housing 10 as the base 20. Hence the base 20 may be a structural element, or it may be an area suitable for placement of a trolley 30. The base 20 may further be provided with a conveyor, and/or be connected to ramps for transporting a trolley 30 onto the ramp. The conveyor may comprise elements for gripping, holding or supporting the wheels of a trolley 30 for transportation of the trolley onto the base 20. The base 20 may be located substantially on the ground below the housing 10, or it may be at least in part elevated above the ground. The base 20 is sized to support the trolley 30, such as sized and shaped to accommodate simultaneously all the wheels of a trolley 30.The disinfection device 1 disclosed herein further comprises a steam generator 40 for generating steam, where the steam has a temperature of at least 70 °C. Preferably, the steam generator 40 is a steam generator for generating pressurised steam. The person skilled in the art is aware that such steam generator 40 comprises a fluid source, preferably a water source, such as a fluid tank or fluid tank, and fluid communication means, such as a pipe, a tube or a conduit. Further, as known to the skilled person, such steam generator 40 further comprises, or is connected to or associated with, a heating means for raising the temperature of the water. Non-limiting examples of heating means include a boiler and a heat exchanger, such as an electric heat exchanger, such as a gas heat exchanger. When the steam generator 40 is in use, the water may pass, via the fluid communication means, from the water source through or by the heating means, so that the water is heated and undergoes a phase change into steam. Preferably, the water is heated to high pressure steam. The steam generator 40 may further comprise a transportation means, such as a pump, for transporting the water through the fluid communication means. Electric power to the heating means and/or the pump may be provided in any way known to the skilled person, such as by an electrical generator.The steam generated by the steam generator 40 has a temperature of at least 70 °C, such as 70-200 °C, preferably 80-170 °C, such as 100-150 °C. The temperature may be chosen based on the type of trolley 30 to be disinfected, taking into account the properties, such as the melting point, of e.g. any plastic parts, such as on the handle, of the trolley.The disinfection device 1 disclosed herein further comprises a hood 50. The hood 50 may be connected directly or indirectly to the housing 10. The hood 50 comprises a first wall 60 and
a side wall 70 defining a hood volume 55. The first wall 60 may, for example, be rectangular, frustoconical or oval in shape. Typically, the first wall 60 will be chosen so that its area is larger than a particular area of a type of trolley to be disinfected, such as a side face or a top face of the trolley 30, such that the first wall 60 is sized to cover and/or enclose said area of said type of trolley. The first wall 60 may be flat, or it may be curved, such as to closely accommodate a certain part of a trolley 30, such as the handle and upper edge of a trolley 30. Typically, the first wall 60 is sized to extend beyond a surface area of a type of trolley to be disinfected, such as a side face or a top face of the trolley 30. The first wall 60 may optionally comprise several sections. The side wall 70 is arranged on, or is an extension of, the first wall 60. The side wall 70 may be a peripheral wall or a circumferential wall, or it may be located at a distance from an edge of the first wall 60. The side wall 70 may comprise several sections, such as several sub-walls, such as several sub-walls forming a rectangle, or it may be a single wall, such as an oval wall. It may be continuous or non-continuous. It may be curved. The angle between the first wall 60 and the side wall 70 may vary. The height of the side wall 70, i.e. the distance from its point of attachment to the first wall 60, to its edge, may vary. In some embodiments, the height of the side wall 70 is 110-250 cm, such as 120-200 cm, such as 130-170 cm, such as 80-120 % of the height of a trolley 30 to be disinfected. In other embodiments, the height of the side wall 70 is 5-80 cm, such as 10-70 cm, such as 20-50 cm, such as 5-40 % of the height of a trolley 30 to be disinfected.Together, the first wall 60 and the side wall 70 define a hood volume 55. The hood volume 55 is suitable for receiving and/or enclosing at least a part of a trolley 30 to be disinfected. In some embodiments, the hood 50 is configured to enclose, in the hood volume 55, at least the handle and the upper edge of the trolley 30. In some embodiments, the hood 50 is sized and shaped such that the hood volume 55 may enclose at least 1/4 of the trolley 30, such as 1/3 of the trolley 30, such as half the trolley 30, such as the entire trolley 30. In some embodiments, the hood 50 is sized and shaped such that the hood volume 55 may enclose up to half the trolley 30, such as up to 1/3 of the trolley 30, such as up to 1/4 of the trolley 30. According to the invention, the hood 50 may have various shapes and sizes, depending e.g. on the shape and size of a trolley 30 to be disinfected, and/or on which and how large areas of the trolley 30 are to be disinfected. Various variants of the hood 50 may be obtained by varying the shape, size and curvature of the first wall 60 and/or the side wall 70.Advantageously, the hood 50 is adapted in size and shape to the shape of a trolley 30 to be disinfected, e.g. by including an area for enclosing a handle.
In all embodiments, the disinfection device 1 disclosed herein further comprises a hood positioning means 80 for moving the hood 50 relative to the housing 10 between a first position A and a second position B. The hood positioning means 80 may be connected directly or indirectly to the hood 50. The hood positioning means 80 may be connected directly or indirectly to the housing 10. Non-limiting examples of hood positioning means 80 include means that comprises motors, actuators, hydraulic mechanisms, and manual lifts. In the first position A, the hood 50 is positioned to allow free entry of a trolley 30 into the housing 10 and free exit of a trolley 30 from the housing 10. In the second position B, the hood 50 is typically closer to the centre of the housing 10 than in the first position A. The disinfection device 1 is arranged such that when the hood 50 is in the second position B, the hood 50 encloses at least a part of a trolley 30 supported at the base 20.In some embodiments, the hood 50 is adapted for contacting the base 20 when the hood 50 is in the second position B, such as to generate a hood volume 55 that is closed off by the base 20, such as by the edge of the side wall 70 opposite to the first wall 60 contacting the base 20. In these embodiments, the height, angle, and curvature of the side wall 70 are selected to allow such contact with the base 20 for at least a part, preferably the whole, of an edge of the side wall 70.The disinfection device 1 disclosed herein further comprises at least one nozzle 90 having an opening into the hood volume 55, where the nozzle 90 is in fluid communication with the steam generator 40. Said at least one nozzle 90 may thus be defined as a steam nozzle 90. The at least one steam nozzle 90 may be in fluid communication with the steam generator 40 via fluid communication means, such as fluid communication means of the steam generator 40, such as a steam conduit. Said nozzle 90 is configured to inject steam into the hood volume 55. In particular, the at least one steam nozzle 90 is configured to direct steam onto a trolley 30 supported at the base 20. When in use, the at least one steam nozzle 90 ejects steam onto a trolley 30 when the hood 50 is in the second position B. A skilled person with knowledge of the present invention will appreciate that said nozzle 90 may be controlled by steam nozzle control means, such as a controller, such as a multi-purpose computer, such as an electronic control system. In some embodiments, the steam is at an elevated pressure such that the steam exiting the at least one nozzle 90 impinges onto the trolley. In other embodiments, the steam exits said steam nozzle 90 at or near atmospheric pressure. The steam may be nebulised through said nozzle 90. Said nozzle 90 may be a nebuliser. Said nozzle 90 may be an accelerating nozzle or a non-accelerating nozzle. It may be convergent,
divergent or convergent-divergent. The nozzle 90 may be arranged in or on the hood 50 and/or be a part of the hood 50.Advantageously, the disinfection device 1 comprises two or more nozzles 90, preferably an array of nozzles 90. The nozzles 90 may be arranged and/or directed such that when the disinfection device 1 is in use, the nozzles 90 direct steam onto predefined areas of interest, such as a handle of a trolley 30. In some embodiments, at least one nozzle 90 is opening towards the first wall 60 of the hood 50, e.g. such that steam ejected from said nozzle will be ejected in the general direction of the first wall 60. Such orientation of one or more nozzles 90 lowers the amount of steam that escapes the hood 50 by diffusion into the surroundings rather than through a steam outlet, if such steam outlet is present in the hood 50. In some embodiments, an array of nozzles 90 is placed along the side wall 70 with the openings of the nozzles 90 arranged such that when the hood 50 is in the second position B, the nozzle openings align with an area of interest on a trolley 30, such as the upper edges and/or handle of a trolley 30 to be disinfected.Advantageously, the hood 50 and/or the at least one nozzle is/are arranged and/or configured such that when the hood 50 is in the second position B, the opening of at least one nozzle 90, preferably all nozzles 90, is/are located 0.1-15 cm from a predefined area of interest, such as 3-10 cm, preferably 0-8 cm from a predefined area of interest, such as a predefined area of interest of a trolley 30 to be disinfected. Such arrangements allow the steam to contact the trolley 30 at the high temperatures, typically above 70 °C, such as above 80 °C, necessary for eliminating pathogens such as bacteria and/or viruses. These arrangements also save energy, since the shorter the steam has to travel, the lower the temperature of the steam generated by the steam generator 40 has to be in order to obtain a disinfecting effect. Thus, in some embodiments, the disinfection device 1 is arranged such that when the hood 50 is in the second position B, the opening of the steam nozzle 90 is located up to 250 cm above the base 20, such as 50-250 cm above the base 20, preferably 70-170 cm above the base 20, such as 80-150 cm above the base 20.In preferred embodiments, the hood 50 is sized and shaped and the opening of the at least one nozzle is arranged such that, when in use, when the hood 50 is in the second position B, all areas of interest of a trolley 30 to be disinfected are in the hood volume 55 and 0-25 cm from the first wall 60 and/or the side wall 70, such as 0-15 cm, such as 1-10 cm, such as 0-8 cm, and 0-10 cm from the opening of a nozzle. In such embodiments, the steam has to travel a short distance only before reaching the area of interest, and further, the close fit of the
hood 50 to the trolley 30 restricts the hood volume 55 thus facilitating recycling of the steam as well as making the device more compact.In order to ensure the desired distance of a steam nozzle 90 from a predefined area of interest, the hood 50 and/or steam nozzle 90 may comprise one or more proximity sensors 108, such as a proximity sensor 108 for detecting a distance from the opening of a steam nozzle 90 to a predefined area of interest, such as a predefined area of interest of a trolley 30 to be disinfected. Non-limiting examples of such proximity sensors 108 include ultrasound sensors and lidar-based sensors. The one or more proximity sensors 108 may be arranged in the hood volume 55, and/or on at least one steam nozzle 90.Figure 2 schematically illustrates a disinfection device 1 according to the invention, further comprising certain advantageous but optional features. The disinfection device 1 shown in Figure 2 comprises an array of nozzles 90, arranged in two heights. The disinfection device 1 in Figure 2 is shown with the hood 50 in the second position (B).As shown in Figure 2, in some embodiments, one or more steam nozzles 90 are associated with a steam nozzle positioning means 117. Non-limiting examples of steam nozzle positioning means 117 include adjustable brackets, robotic arms, and actuators, such as servo-actuators. The steam nozzle positioning means 117 may position, such as angle or physically position within the hood volume 55, at least the opening of a nozzle in a predetermined direction, such as for ensuring a certain direction of the opening, and thus also of steam ejected from the opening. The steam nozzle positioning means 117 may be used to obtain the desired distance disclosed above.In some embodiments, the disinfection device 1 further comprises a heat exchanger 114, and the hood 50 further comprises a steam outlet 101 from the hood volume 55, where the steam outlet 101 is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger 114, such as via a tube or a conduit. Said heat exchanger 114 may be a heat exchanger of the steam generator 40.Advantageously, the disinfection device 1 further comprises a steam recycling system. The steam recycling system is configured to recycle at least a portion of the steam used for disinfection, such as by dehumidifying moist air (i.e. steam) from the hood volume 55 by condensation of water, allowing the water to be reused. The steam recycling system may comprise a heat exchanger 114 comprised by the disinfection device 1, and a steam outlet 101 from the hood volume 55, wherein the steam outlet 101 is in fluid communication with
the heat exchanger 114 and a condensation tank, such as a fluid tank of the steam generator 40. Hence, when the disinfection device 1 is in use, the heat exchanger 114 may simultaneously dehumidify steam from inside the hood 50. The heat exchanger 114 may, in some embodiments, include at least one inlet for ejecting dry air from the heat exchanger 114 into the hood volume 55. The heat exchanger 114 may dehumidify moist air (steam) by passing it through a radiator upon receiving it from the hood 50 via the steam outlet 101. Recycled water may be led back to the fluid tank for reuse in the next disinfection cycle.The disinfection device 1 may further comprise a fluid outlet 102 from the hood volume 55. Such fluid outlet 102 may be suitable for removing steam and/or water and/or dirt from the housing 10 and/or the hood volume 55. It may be in communication with e.g. a tube or a conduit, and is advantageously connected to a pump for pumping away fluids.The person skilled in the art will appreciate that any pumps or other transportation means for fluid may be useful in the system for recycling steam.The disinfection device 1 may further comprise a steam reflection element 118 connected to the hood 50. The steam reflection element 118 may be arranged within or below the hood volume 55. The steam reflection element 118 may be shaped as a disc or a plate, or any other shape suitable for reflecting steam into the hood volume 55. When more steam is reflected into the hood volume 55, more steam may be made use of in the steam recycling system. The steam reflection element 118 may be curved or angled. The steam reflection element 118 may be composed of one or more sections. Optionally, the steam reflection element 118 may comprise one or more steam nozzles 119, wherein the one or more steam nozzles 119 are defined as disclosed above for the steam nozzles 90 of the hood 50.The disinfection device 1 disclosed herein may further comprise a temperature sensor 116 for sensing the temperature in a predetermined area of interest, such as an area of interest on or near a trolley 30 to be disinfected. Such temperature sensor 116 may be used in order to confirm that a minimum temperature has been reached, such as a minimum temperature for obtaining a disinfection, such as 80 °C.The disinfection device 1 may further comprise a wipe cloth, sponge or brush, which may be arranged to contact a part of a trolley 30 to be disinfected and optionally arranged to be moved by a moving device, such as a robotic arm, such as a conveyor. Such components may be used for additionally cleaning the trolley 30.
The person skilled in the art will appreciate that the disinfection device 1 may further comprise a controller for controlling at least the hood positioning system and/or the at least one nozzle, optionally comprising any actuators understood by the skilled person to be useful.In another aspect, the invention relates to the use of a disinfection device 1 as disclosed herein for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley 30. In some embodiments, the relates to the use of a disinfection device 1 as disclosed herein for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley 30, wherein the nozzle ejects steam for 0.1-300 seconds, such as for 0.5-120 seconds, such as for 1-60 seconds, such as for 0.1-5 seconds.A first exemplary embodiment of a disinfection device 1 according to the invention is shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5. Figure 3 shows the disinfection device 1 with the hood 50 in the first position (A) and a trolley 30 outside the device 1. Figure 4 shows a trolley 30 inside the disinfection device 1, with the hood 50 in the first position (A). Figure 5 shows a trolley 30 inside the disinfection device 1, with the hood 50 in the second position (B). In this first exemplary embodiment, the disinfection device 1 comprises- a housing 10;- a base 20, within the housing 10, for supporting the trolley 30 to be disinfected; - a steam generator 40 for generating steam, where the steam has a temperature of at least 70 °C;- a hood 50 comprising a first wall 60 and a side wall 70 defining a hood volume 55 opening towards the base 20 for receiving at least a part of the trolley 30, wherein the first wall 60 is a ceiling or top wall;- a hood positioning means 80 for moving the hood 50 vertically relative to the housing 10 between a first position A and a second position B; and- an array of steam nozzles 90 having an opening into the hood volume 55, where the steam nozzles 90 are in fluid communication with the steam generator 40 via tubes 91.The hood 50 of the device 1 of the first exemplary embodiment further comprises a steam outlet 101 from the hood volume 55, where the steam outlet 101 is in fluid communication with a heat exchanger 114, and air inlets 103 localised outside the hood 50 and arranged to eject air into the hood volume 55, and connected to an air tube 104. Ramps 105 and 106 are connected to the base 20, which comprises a conveyor 120 for conveying the trolley 30. The
device 1 further comprises a pump 113 for pumping steam out from the hood volume 55 to the heat exchanger 114. As shown in Figure 5 only, a conveyor sensor 107 for detecting the presence of a trolley 30 on the conveyor, proximity sensors 108 for detecting the placement of a trolley 30 on the base 20 and/or in relation to the hood 50, and a safety sensor 109 may also be present.In all embodiments, means for supplying electrical power, fluid transportation means, and/or control means may be implemented as found by the skilled person to be suitable.In some embodiments, the disinfection device 1 disclosed herein further comprises an additional hood 51, and the hood positioning means 80 further is configured to move the additional hood 51 relative to the housing 10 and the hood 50 between a first additional hood position C and a second additional hood position D, where, when the hood 50 is in the second position B and the additional hood 51 is in the in the second additional hood position D, the hood 50 and the additional hood 51 engage each other to form a combined hood volume 55. The additional hood 51 is defined as disclosed above for the hood 50. The additional hood 51 may be a closed volume. The additional hood 51 may advantageously be a mirror image of the hood 50. Preferably, the hood 50 and the additional hood 51 are arranged opposite each other in the horizontal direction, and the first position A and the second position B of the hood 50 are arranged horizontally opposite each other, and the first additional hood position C and the second additional hood position D are arranged horizontally opposite each other. In such embodiments, the hood positioning means 80 is configured to move the hood 50 and the additional hood 51 horizontally between the first position A and the second position B, and between the first additional hood position C and the second additional hood position D, respectively.Figure 6 shows, from above, a second exemplary embodiment of a disinfection device 1 according to the invention. In addition to a housing 10, a base 20, a steam generator 40, a hood positioning means 80 for moving the hood 50 horizontally relative to the housing 10 between a first position A and a second position B, and further configured to move the additional hood 51 relative to the housing 10 and the hood 50 horizontally between a first additional hood position C and a second additional hood position D, where, when the hood 50 is in the second position B and the additional hood 51 is in the in the second additional hood position D, the hood 50 and the additional hood 51 engage each other to form a combined hood volume 57, and an array of steam nozzles 90 having an opening into the combined hood volume 57, where the steam nozzles are in fluid communication with the
steam generator 40, not shown in the figure, the second exemplary embodiment comprises, as shown in Figure 6, a hood 50 comprising a first wall 60 and a side wall 70 defining a hood volume 55 for receiving at least a part of the trolley 30, and an additional hood 51 comprising a first wall 61 and a side wall 71 defining an additional hood volume 56 for receiving at least a part of the trolley 30, wherein the additional hood 51 is opposite to the hood 50. In Figure 6, a) shows the hood 50 in the first position A and the additional hood 51 in the first additional hood position C, c) shows the hood 50 in the second position B and the additional hood 51 in the second additional hood position D, and b) illustrates the movement from A to B and from C to D.Hence, in some embodiments, the invention relates to a disinfection device 1 for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley 30, the disinfection device 1 comprising- a housing 10;- a base 20, within the housing 10, for supporting the trolley 30.- a steam generator 40 for generating steam, where the steam has a temperature of at least 70 °C;- a hood 50 comprising a first wall 60 and a side wall 70 defining a hood volume opening the space to be occupied by the trolley 30 for receiving at least a part of the trolley 30;- an additional hood 51 comprising a first wall 61 and a side wall 71 defining an additional hood volume 56 opening the space to be occupied by the trolley 30 to be disinfected for receiving at least a part of the trolley 30, wherein the additional hood 51 is opposite to the hood 50;- a hood positioning means 80 for moving the hood 50 horizontally relative to the housing 10 between a first position A and a second position B, and further configured to move the additional hood 51 relative to the housing 10 and the hood 50 between a first additional hood position C and a second additional hood position D, where, when the hood 50 is in the second position B and the additional hood 51 is in the in the second additional hood position D, the hood 50 and the additional hood 51 engage each other to form a combined hood volume 57; and- an array of steam nozzles 90 having an opening into the combined hood volume 57, where the steam nozzles are in fluid communication with the steam generator 40.A third exemplary embodiment is shown in Figure 7. This particular embodiment shows a disinfection device 1 comprising in the same housing 10 both a system with only one hood 50 and wherein the second position B is located vertically below the first position A, as
disclosed above for the first exemplary embodiment, and a system wherein the disinfection device 1 comprises a hood 50 and an additional hood 51 as disclosed above for the second exemplary embodiment. However, the further components shown in Figure 7 are equally relevant for all other embodiments.As shown in Figure 7, the disinfection device 1 may further comprise a first ramp 105 and/or a second ramp 106 connected, directly or indirectly, to the base 20. The at least one ramp 105 and/or 106 and/or the base 20 may comprise a conveyor 120, such as a conveyor belt or a track, and/or rails for guiding a trolley 30 to be disinfected. Alternatively, the trolley 30 can be manually fed or automatically pushed onto the base 20 such as by a trolley mover. Guide rails can be installed along the base 20, or slightly above the base 20, to guide the wheels of the trolley 30. Further, the device 1 may have a slanted floor that such that a trolley 30 is encouraged to remain inserted within the device.In all embodiments, the disinfection device 1 may further comprise additional sensors, such as a conveyor sensor 107 for detecting the presence of a trolley 30 on the conveyor, one or more proximity sensors 108 in or near the hood 50 and/or the additional hood 51 for detecting the placement of a trolley 30 on the base 20 and/or in relation to the hood 50 and/or the additional hood 51, and one or more safety sensors 109, such as for detecting the presence of an object in the trolley 30. A controller 110 for controlling at least a part of the device, such as the hood positioning system and/or the ejection of steam from the nozzles, may be controlled by a control panel 111 and optionally by an emergency button 112 for turning the device off. The device 1 may further comprise a heating cable 97, a wipe cloth 98, and/or a tube 99 connected to the heat exchanger 114 and/or to a fluid outlet 102, such as for transportation of fluid to the heat exchanger 114.The device 1 of the third exemplary embodiment may function as follows: When a trolley 30 is placed on the ramp 105, the conveyor sensor 107 detects the trolly 30 and the conveyor 120 is activated by the controller 109 to transfer the trolly 30 inside the housing 10, such as using hooks mounted on top of the conveyor 120. A safety sensor 109 on the housing 10 detects if an object, animal or person is in the trolly, and, if so, deactivates the device. As shown in Figure 7, any type of trolley can be disinfected; the device 1 may be adapted for a particular type or types of trolley.If a safety sensor 109, if present, does not detect anything in the trolley 30, the conveyer moves the trolley 30 to the base 20. The proximity sensors 108 detect the placement of the
trolley 30 by the conveyor relative to the hood 50 and/or the additional hood 51, and are connected to the controller 110 which controls the conveyor 120 to ensure correct placement of the trolley 30 on the base 20. When only the upper parts of the trolley 30 is to be disinfected, the controller is programmed for placing the trolley 30 on the base 20 below the hood 50 (shown to the right in the figure). When the entire trolley 30 is to be disinfected, the controller is programmed for placing the trolley 30 on the base 20 between the hood 50 and/or the additional hood 51 (shown to the left in the figure).When the trolley 30 is localised below hood 50 or between hood 50 and additional hood 51, the hood positioning system 80 will move hood 50 from the first position A to the second position B, and optionally the additional hood 51 from the first additional hood position C to the second additional hood position D, respectively. The nozzles 90 will be activated by the controller 110 to eject steam from the steam generator 40 onto at least a part of the trolley 30 for a predetermined time. Simultaneously and/or after the ejection of steam, a pump 113 pumps steam out from the hood volume 55 or the combined hood volume 57 and to a heat exchanger 114 to dehumidify the moist air (steam). Condensed water is led back into a fluid tank 115 of the steam generator 40. After the ejection of steam, air is ejected into the hood volume 55 or the combined hood volume 57 from air inlets 103 for a predetermined time. The hood positioning system 80 will then move hood 50 from the second position B to the first position A, and optionally additional hood 51 from the second additional hood position D to the first additional hood position C. The conveyor then transfers the trolley 30 out of the housing 10 via ramp 106.Temperature sensors 116 are present in the hood volume 55 and/or the additional hood volume 57 for sensing the temperature at areas or interest. The steam nozzles 90 comprise steam nozzle positioning means 117.The embodiments and features described in the context of one aspect of the invention, e.g. for the disinfection device 1, also apply to the other aspects of the invention, e.g. the use of the disinfection device 1.The invention shall not be limited to the shown embodiments and examples. While various embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous modifications and changes to, and variations and substitutions of, the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the
disclosure. It is to be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments described herein can be employed in practicing the disclosure.It is to be understood that every embodiment of the disclosure can optionally be combined with any one or more of the other embodiments described herein.It is to be understood that each component, compound or parameter disclosed herein is to be interpreted as being disclosed for use alone or in combination with one or more of each and every other component, compound or parameter disclosed herein. It is further to be understood that each amount/value or range of amounts/values for each component, compound or parameter disclosed herein is to be interpreted as also being disclosed in combination with each amount/value or range of amounts/values disclosed for any other component(s), compound(s) or parameter(s) disclosed herein, and that any combination of amounts/values or ranges of amounts/values for two or more component(s), compound(s) or parameter(s) disclosed herein are thus also disclosed in combination with each other for the purposes of this description. Any and all features described herein, and combinations of such features, are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features are not mutually inconsistent.It is to be understood that each lower limit of each range disclosed herein is to be interpreted as disclosed in combination with each upper limit of each range disclosed herein for the same component, compound or parameter. Thus, a disclosure of two ranges is to be interpreted as a disclosure of four ranges derived by combining each lower limit of each range with each upper limit of each range. A disclosure of three ranges is to be interpreted as a disclosure of nine ranges derived by combining each lower limit of each range with each upper limit of each range, etc. Furthermore, specific amounts/values of a component, compound or parameter disclosed in the description or an example is to be interpreted as a disclosure of either a lower or an upper limit of a range and thus can be combined with any other lower or upper limit or a range or specific amount/value for the same component, compound or parameter disclosed elsewhere in the application to form a range for that component, compound or parameter.
Claims
C L A I M S1. A disinfection device (1) for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley (30), the disinfection device (1) comprising:- a housing (10);- a base (20), within the housing (10), for supporting the trolley (30);- a steam generator (40) for generating steam, where the steam has a temperature of at least 70 °C;- a hood (50) comprising a first wall (60) and a side wall (70) defining a hood volume for receiving at least a part of the trolley (30);characterized in that the device further comprises:- an additional hood (51) comprising a first wall (61) and a side wall (71) defining an additional hood volume (56) for receiving at least a part of the trolley (30), wherein the additional hood (51) is opposite to the hood (50);- a hood positioning means (80) for moving the hood (50) relative to the housing (10) between a first position (A) and a second position (B), and further configured to move the additional hood (51) relative to the housing (10) and the hood (50) between a first additional hood position (C) and a second additional hood position (D), where, when the hood (50) is in the second position (B) and the additional hood (51) is in the second additional hood position (D), the hood (50) and the additional hood (51) engage each other to form a combined hood volume (57); and- at least one steam nozzle (90) having an opening into the combined hood volume (57), where the at least one steam nozzle (90) is in fluid communication with the steam generator (40).2. The disinfection device (1) of claim 1, wherein, when the hood (50) is in the second position (B), the opening of the at least one steam nozzle (90) is located up to 250 cm above the base (20).3. The disinfection device (1) of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a heat exchanger (114), and wherein the hood (50) further comprises a steam outlet (101) from the hood volume (55), where the steam outlet (101) is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger (114).4. The disinfection device (1) of claim 3, wherein the heat exchanger (114) is in fluid communication with the steam generator (40).5. The disinfection device (1) of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a fluid outlet (102) from the hood volume (57).6. The disinfection device (1) of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a proximity sensor (108) and/or a temperature sensor (116) arranged in the hood volume (57).7. The disinfection device (1) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one steam nozzle (90) is an array of steam nozzles (90).8. The disinfection device (1) of any of the preceding claims, further comprising steam nozzle positioning means (117) for positioning the at least one steam nozzle (90).9. The disinfection device (1) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first wall (60) has a rectangular or frustoconical shape.10. Use of a disinfection device (1) according to any of claims 1-9 for disinfecting at least a part of a trolley (30).PATENTKRAV1. En desinfeksjonsanordning (1) for desinfisering av i det minste en del av en vogn (30), idet desinfeksjonsanordningen (1) omfatter:- et hus (10),- et fundament (20), inne i huset (10), for å støtte vognen (30).- en dampgenerator (40) for generering av damp, hvor dampen har en temperatur på minst 70 °C,- en hette (50) omfattende en første vegg (60) og en sidevegg (70) som definerer et hettevolum for mottak av i det minste en del av vognen (30), karakterisert ved at anordningen videre omfatter:- en tilleggshette (51) omfattende en første vegg (61) og en sidevegg (71) som definerer et tilleggshettevolum (56) for mottak av i det minste en del av vognen (30), hvor tilleggshetten (51) står motsatt fra hetten (50),- en hetteposisjoneringsanordning (80) for å bevege hetten (50) i forhold til huset (10) mellom en første posisjon (A) og en andre posisjon (B), og videre anordnet til å bevege tilleggshetten (51) i forhold til huset (10) og hetten (50) mellom en første tilleggshetteposisjon (C) og en andre tilleggshetteposisjon (D), hvor, når hetten (50) er i den andre posisjonen (B) og tilleggshetten (51) er i den andre tilleggshetteposisjonen (D), går hetten (50) og tilleggshetten (51) i inngrep med hverandre for å danne et kombinert hettevolum (57), og- minst én dampdyse (90) som har en åpning inn mot det kombinerte hettevolumet (57), hvor den minst ene dampdysen (90) er i fluidkommunikasjon med dampgeneratoren (40).2. Desinfeksjonsanordningen (1) ifølge krav 1, hvor, når hetten (50) er i den andre posisjon (B), er åpningen av den minst ene dampdysen (90) lokalisert opp til 250 cm over fundamentet (20).3. Desinfeksjonsanordningen (1) ifølge krav 1 eller krav 2, videre omfattende en varmeveksler (114), og hvor hetten (50) videre omfatter et damputløp (101) fra hettevolumet (55), hvor damputløpet (101) er i fluidkommunikasjon med varmeveksleren (114).4. Desinfeksjonsanordningen (1) ifølge krav 3, hvor varmeveksleren (114) er i fluidkommunikasjon med dampgeneratoren (40).5. Desinfeksjonsanordningen (1) ifølge ethvert av de foregående krav, videre omfattende et fluidutløp (102) fra hettevolumet (55).6. Desinfeksjonsanordningen (1) ifølge ethvert av de foregående krav, videre omfattende en avstandssensor (108) og/eller en temperatursensor (116) anordnet i hettevolumet (57).7. Desinfeksjonsanordningen (1) ifølge ethvert av de foregående krav, hvor den minst ene dampdysen (90), er en gruppe med dampdyser (90).8. Desinfeksjonsanordningen (1) ifølge ethvert av de foregående krav, videre omfattende en dampdyseposisjoneringsanordning (117) for posisjonering av den minst ene dampdysen (90).9. Desinfeksjonsanordningen (1) ifølge ethvert av de foregående krav, hvor den første veggen (60) har en rektangulær eller frustokonisk form.10. Bruk av en desinfeksjonsanordning (1) ifølge ethvert av krav 1-9 for desinfisering av i det minste en del av en vogn (30).