Systems and methods to disinfect an object or surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12285532-B2
Application number	US-202217573879-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2022
Priority date	Jan 14, 2021
Publication date	Apr 29, 2025
Grant date	Apr 29, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods for treating an object, in particular, for disinfecting and/or drying objects and/or surfaces are provided. One or more of an air delivery system, an electromagnetic emitter (e.g., a Far ultraviolet (UV) light source), and/or an air treatment device (e.g., a gaseous hydrogen-peroxide generator) may be used to condition ambient air to treat a surface or container for use (e.g., prior to filling the container, applying a surfactant, etc.). An ionizer may be employed with one or more of the emitter or air treatment device to additionally remove static from air within or provided to a treatment area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for disinfecting an object comprising:
a Far ultraviolet (UV) emitter to degrade one or more contaminants on a surface of the object; and
an air delivery system configured to:
ingest ambient air; and
direct the ambient air through one or more conduits to force air to dry and blow debris from the surface of the object.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ambient air is treated by Far UV light from the Far UV emitter prior to being directed through the one or more conduits.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the Far UV emitter is further configured to apply Far UV light directly to the object.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an ionizer to charge particles in the ambient air.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a housing to integrate one or more of the Far UV emitter, the ionizer, and the air delivery system.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the housing is a manifold to receive and contain the ambient air for treatment by the ionizer.

7. The system of claim 5 , further comprising an enclosure to contain one or more of the housing, the Far UV emitter, the ionizer, the air delivery system, the object, and the treated air during a disinfecting operation.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an exhaust system to remove treated air from a treatment area following a disinfecting operation.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein one of a position or an orientation of the Far UV emitter is adjustable.

10. A system for disinfecting an object comprising:
a Far ultraviolet (UV) emitter to degrade one or more contaminants on a surface of the object;
an ionizer to charge particles in ambient air; and
an air delivery system configured to:
ingest ambient air; and
direct the ambient air across the ionizer or through one or more conduits to force air to dry and blow debris from the surface of the object.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the air delivery system comprises an air delivery conduit to channel the ambient air toward the object.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the ionizer comprises an ionizing bar arranged within and extending through a portion of the air delivery conduit.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the air delivery conduit is configured to direct the ambient air across a portion of the ionizing bar and output the ambient air via an air knife.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the air delivery conduit comprises one or more of an air manifold or duct.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the ionizer comprises an ionizing bar arranged external to a conduit feeding the ambient air toward the object.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the air delivery system comprises a cover to enclose one or more of the Far UV emitter or the ionizer.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the cover comprises one or more windows arranged to direct Far UV light or conditioned air from the air delivery system toward the object within a treatment area.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more windows are manually or mechanically moveable to an open, a closed, or a partially open position.

19. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a gaseous hydrogen peroxide generator.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the air delivery system is further configured to direct the ambient air through the gaseous hydrogen peroxide generator, wherein the gaseous hydrogen peroxide generator converts hydrogen and oxygen molecules in the ambient air into gaseous hydrogen peroxide.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Stefl Barbara Ann
• Immell William Richard
• Feldmann William Mark
• Newland Iii Jeem

Classifications

• F26B21/50

  Ducting arrangements from the source of air or other gases to the materials or objects being dried · CPC title

• F26B21/40

  using gases other than air · CPC title

• A61L2202/17

  Combination with washing or cleaning means · CPC title

• A61L2202/122

  Chambers for sterilisation · CPC title

• A61L2202/11

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