UV STERILIZATION OF CONTAINERS

• US 20120121457A1
• Filed: 12/07/2011
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bluemorph LLC
• Original Assignee: Bluemorph LLC
• Inventors: Farren, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 9,707,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/23 Containers, e.g. vials, bottles, syringes, mail

Abstract

Provided herein are systems, devices, and methods for ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and sterilization, more specifically, systems, devices, and methods for UV disinfection and sterilization of a container, and more particularly systems, devices, and methods for UV disinfection and sterilization of a container used in the process of fermentation for an alcoholic beverage. Provided are also systems, UV devices, and methods for inhibiting the growth of one or more species of microorganisms present in a container, preferably for inhibiting the growth of one or more species of microorganisms present on an interior surface of a container.

Claims

1. A UV device comprising:

a frame;

(ii) a germicidal UV light source, attached to the frame;

(iii) a means for moving the germicidal UV light source to a first vertical downwards position; and

(iv) a means for attaching the germicidal UV device to a container.

2. The UV device according to claim 1, further comprising:

(v) a housing, surrounding the germicidal UV light source.

3. The UV device according to claim 1, further comprising:

(v) a means for moving the germicidal UV light source from the first vertical downwards position to a horizontal position.

4. The UV device according to claim 3, further comprising:

(vi) a means for moving the germicidal UV light source from the horizontal position to a second vertical downwards position.

5. The UV device according to claim 1, wherein the means for moving the germicidal UV light source to a first vertical downwards position is a telescopic arm.

6. The UV device according to claim 5, wherein the telescopic arm comprises one or more telescopic units of different diameters.

7. The UV device according to claim 5, wherein moving the telescopic arm to the first vertical downwards position is by gravity.

8. The UV device according to claim 3, wherein the means for moving the germicidal LTV light source from the first vertical downwards position to the horizontal position is a winch.

9. The UV device according to claim 7, wherein the means for moving the germicidal UV light source from the horizontal position to a second vertical downwards position is a motor.

10. The UV device according to claim 9, wherein the motor also moves the germicidal UV light source from the horizontal position to the second vertical downwards position.

11. The UV device according to claim 5, wherein the means for moving the germicidal UV light source to a first vertical downwards position extends the telescopic arm and thereby moves the germicidal UV light source to the first vertical downwards position.

12. The UV device according to claim 1, wherein the germicidal UV light source comprises one or more UV lamps.

13. The UV device according to claim 12, wherein the germicidal UV light source comprises eight UV lamps.

14. The UV device according to claim 12, wherein the one or more UV lamps are attached to an upper plate.

15. The UV device according to claim 14, wherein the one or more UV lamps are attached to the frame and the upper plate in an approximately 15 degree angle.

16. The UV device according to claim 4, wherein the means for moving the germicidal UV light source from the horizontal position to the second vertical downwards position is attached to a reel assembly.

17. The UV device according to claim 16, wherein the germicidal UV light source is attached to the reel assembly by a cable.

18. The UV device according to claim 1, wherein the means for attaching the UV device to the container is a hanger.

19. The UV device according to claim 1, wherein the germicidal UV light source is a UV-C light source.

20. The UV device according to claim 2, wherein the housing is attached to the frame or an upper plate.

21. The UV device according to claim 2, wherein the housing is a mesh cage.

26. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of attaching a UV device comprising the germicidal UV light source to the container.

22. A method for ultraviolet (UV) sterilization of an interior surface of a container, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a container having an opening;

(b) movably inserting through the opening of the container a germicidal UV light source; and

(c) activating the germicidal UV light source.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of (d) moving the germicidal UV light source to a first vertical downwards position within the container.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of (e) moving the germicidal UV light source from the first vertical downwards position to a horizontal position within the container.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of (f) moving the germicidal UV light source from the horizontal position to a second vertical downwards position within the container.

27. The method according to claim 22, wherein the germicidal UV light source is a pulsed germicidal UV light source.

28. The method according to claim 22, wherein the container is a container for fermenting an alcoholic beverage.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the alcoholic beverage is beer.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the alcoholic beverage is wine.

31. The method according to claim 22, wherein one or more species of microorganisms is present on the interior surface of the container and wherein the activation of the germicidal UV light source results in inhibiting the growth of the one or more species of microorganisms.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the one or more species of microorganisms is selected from the group consisting of Candida, Kloeckera, Hanseniaspora, Zygosaccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, Torulaspora, Brettanomyces, Saccharomycodes, Pichia, Williopsis, Pediococcus, Lactobacillus, and Oenococcus.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the one or more species of microorganisms is Lactobacillus.

34. The method according to claim 22, wherein the germicidal UV light source is attached to a detector.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the detector measures a UV intensity level.

36. The method according to claim 34, wherein the detector shuts off the germicidal UV light source when a specified UV intensity level is attained.

37. The method according to claim 31, wherein the growth of the one or more species of microorganisms is inhibited by at least 2 log.

38. The method according to claim 31, wherein the growth of the one or more species of microorganisms is inhibited by at least 3 log.

39. The method according to claim 31, wherein the growth of the one or more species of microorganisms is inhibited by at least 4 log.

40. The method according to claim 31, wherein the growth of the one or more species of microorganisms is inhibited by at least 5 log.

41. The method according to claim 31, wherein the growth of the one or more species of microorganisms is inhibited by at least 6 log.

42. The method according to claim 22, wherein the germicidal UV light source resides in a housing.

43. The method according to claim 22, wherein the housing is a mesh cage through which the UV light passes through.

44. The method according to claim 42, wherein the UV light source does not pass through the housing.

45. The method according to claim 42, further comprising the step of releasing the germicidal UV light source from the housing.

46. The method according to claim 22, wherein the germicidal UV light source is a UV lamp cluster.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the UV lamp cluster comprises two to eight UV lamps.

48. The method according to claim 46, wherein the two to eight UV lamps are arranged in an angle of approximate 15 degrees.

49. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of moving the germicidal UV Light source longitudinally within the container to a predetermined position.

50. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of moving the germicidal UV Light source laterally within the container to a predetermined position.

51. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of rotating the germicidal UV Light source within the container at a predetermined position.

52. A method for ultraviolet (UV) sterilization of an interior surface of a container, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a UV device to the upper perimeter of a container;

wherein the UV device comprises;

(i) a germicidal UV light source comprising one or more UV lamps;

(ii) a telescopic atm;

(iii) a means for moving the germicidal UV light source at a predetermined first vertical downwards position;

(iv) a means for moving the germicidal UV light source from the first vertical downward position to a horizontal position; and

(v) a means for moving the germicidal UV light source from the horizontal position to a second vertical downwards position;

(b) moving the germicidal UV light source of the UV device to a first vertical downwards position;

(c) moving the germicidal UV light source of the UV device from the first vertical downwards position to a horizontal position;

(d) moving the germicidal UV light source of the UV device from the horizontal position to a second vertical downwards position; and

(e) activating the germicidal UV light source.