Techniques for directing ultraviolet energy towards a moving surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11896728-B2
Application number	US-202117313193-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2021
Priority date	Sep 29, 2020
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

An ultraviolet (“UV”) emission device may emit energy towards a movable surface of a conveyor system. A housing of the UV emission device may attach to a frame of the conveyor system. A lateral edge of the housing may extend across the moveable surface. The housing and a portion of the moveable surface may be inclined with respect to the frame. A barrier bracket of the UV emission device may support an absorptive barrier along the lateral edge, the absorptive barrier configured to contact the moveable surface. In a first position of the barrier bracket, the absorptive barrier contacts the moveable surface and the barrier bracket activates an interlock switch. In a second position of the barrier bracket, the barrier bracket deactivates the interlock switch. Responsive to deactivation of the interlock switch, a controller may provide a control signal to decrease power to the UV energy emission element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ultraviolet (“UV”) emission device for a conveyor system, the UV emission device comprising:
a housing that is configured to attach to a frame of the conveyor system, the frame supporting a moveable surface of the conveyor system, such that a return surface of the moveable surface is located within an interior cavity of the frame, wherein the housing is further configured to attach to the frame within the interior cavity,
the housing having a lateral edge and a longitudinal edge, wherein:
the lateral edge is configured to extend across the return surface within the interior cavity,
the longitudinal edge is configured to extend along the return surface within the interior cavity, wherein a first end of the longitudinal edge is arranged at a first location on the frame and a second end of the longitudinal edge is arranged at a second location on the frame, wherein the lateral edge intersects the longitudinal edge at the first end,
the return surface contacts the longitudinal edge at the first end and at the second end, such that (i) the longitudinal edge has a first angle between the first end and the second end, and (ii) a portion of the return surface between the first end and the second end has the first angle, and
each of the longitudinal edge and the return surface has a respective incline, the respective inclines being in a particular direction with respect to the frame;

an energy emission element arranged within the housing;
a barrier bracket arranged along the lateral edge of the housing, the barrier bracket having a first position and a second position; and
an absorptive barrier supported via the barrier bracket, wherein the absorptive barrier is configured to contact, along the lateral edge of the housing, the return surface of the conveyor system, wherein:
in the first position of the barrier bracket, the absorptive barrier contacts the return surface of the conveyor system and the barrier bracket activates an interlock switch, and
in the second position of the barrier bracket, the barrier bracket deactivates the interlock switch.

2. The UV emission device of claim 1 , further comprising a power regulator that is configured to provide power to the energy emission element, wherein:
responsive to activation by the barrier bracket, the interlock switch increases the power provided by the power regulator to the energy emission element, and
responsive to deactivation by the barrier bracket, the interlock switch decreases the power provided by the power regulator to the energy emission element.

3. The UV emission device of claim 1 , wherein:
in the second position of the barrier bracket, contact between the absorptive barrier and the return surface is interrupted.

4. The UV emission device of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of energy output by the energy emission element is received by the moveable surface of the conveyor system, and a second portion of energy output by the energy emission element is received by the absorptive barrier.

5. The UV emission device of claim 4 , wherein the first portion of energy output is received by the return surface.

6. The UV emission device of claim 1 , wherein the absorptive barrier is configured to maintain contact with the return surface during motion of the return surface.

7. The UV emission device of claim 1 , wherein the absorptive barrier is comprised of material including one or more of: fabric, plastic fiber, foam, or glass.

8. The UV emission device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one pair of mounting brackets having incline rails, the at least one pair of mounting brackets being configured to attach to the frame of the conveyor system,
wherein the housing is configured to attach the frame of the conveyor system via the incline rails.

9. The UV emission device of claim 1 , further comprising a reflector arranged within the housing, wherein the reflector is configured to reflect a portion of energy output by the energy emission element towards the moveable surface of the conveyor system.

10. The UV emission device of claim 9 , wherein the reflector includes a weep hole arranged to expel liquid from the reflector.

11. The UV emission device of claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning device that is arranged to contact the return surface of the moveable surface, wherein:
the cleaning device is arranged between the lateral edge and a first rotor drum of the conveyor system, and
with respect to motion of the return surface from the first rotor drum and a second rotor drum of the conveyor system, the cleaning device is arranged to contact the return surface prior to the lateral edge.

12. An enclosed fixture for an ultraviolet (“UV”) emission element, the enclosed fixture comprising:
a housing in which the UV emission element is arranged, the housing having a lateral edge configured to extend across a moveable surface of a conveyor system;
a suspension bracket that is mounted to the housing via a biasing member, the suspension bracket extending in a direction across the moveable surface along the lateral edge, the suspension bracket further having a flange that extends in the direction along the lateral edge;
a barrier bracket that is arranged along the lateral edge of the housing, the barrier bracket being arranged to contact the flange of the suspension bracket,
the barrier bracket having a first position in which the barrier bracket applies pressure to the flange of the suspension bracket in a direction away from the moveable surface of the conveyor system, wherein the pressure applied by the barrier bracket extends the biasing member, and
the barrier bracket having a second position in which the flange of the suspension bracket applies pressure to the barrier bracket in a direction towards the moveable surface of the conveyor system, wherein the pressure applied by the suspension bracket is applied via a contraction of the biasing member; and

an absorptive barrier supported via the barrier bracket, wherein:
in the first position of the barrier bracket, the absorptive barrier contacts the moveable surface of the conveyor system and the barrier bracket activates an interlock switch,
in the second position of the barrier bracket, the barrier bracket deactivates the interlock switch.

13. The enclosed fixture of claim 12 , further comprising a power regulator that is configured to provide power to the UV emission element, wherein:
responsive to activation by the barrier bracket, the interlock switch increases the power provided by the power regulator to the UV emission element, and
responsive to deactivation by the barrier bracket, the interlock switch decreases the power provided by the power regulator to the UV emission element.

14. The enclosed fixture of claim 12 , wherein:
in the second position of the barrier bracket, contact between the absorptive barrier and the moveable surface of the conveyor system is interrupted.

15. The enclosed fixture of claim 12 , wherein the biasing member comprises one or more of: a spring, a piston, or an elastic member.

16. The enclosed fixture of claim 12 , wherein the absorptive barrier is configured to maintain contact with the moveable surface of the conveyor system during motion of the moveable surface.

17. The enclosed fixture of claim 12 , wherein the absorptive barrier is comprised of material including one or more of: fabric, plastic fiber, foam, or glass.

18. An enclosed fixture, the enclosed fixture comprising:
an energy emission element configured to produce ultraviolet (“UV”) energy output;
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Assignees

• Abl Ip Holding Llc

Inventors

• Mccanless Forrest Starnes
• Shoop Jr Charles Richard
• Rodriguez Yan

Classifications

• A61L2/10 Primary

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title

• B65G45/00

  Lubricating, cleaning, or clearing devices · CPC title

• A61L2202/11

  Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps · CPC title

• A61L2202/14

  Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs · CPC title

• A61L2202/17

  Combination with washing or cleaning means · CPC title