DECONTAMINATION APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20170112954A1
• Filed: 01/04/2017
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Daylight Medical, Inc. (Codonics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dayton, Roderick
• Granted Patent: US 9,889,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• 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 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

Provided is a decontamination apparatus that includes a motorized base with a transport system that is operable to autonomously move the decontamination apparatus. A plurality of UVC bulbs, each of which emits UVC light, are supported at a vertical elevation above the motorized base. A controller controls operation of the transport system to move the decontamination apparatus along a desired route while the UVC bulbs are energized during a decontamination process.

Claims

1. A decontamination apparatus comprising:

a motorized base comprising a transport system that is operable to move the decontamination apparatus;

a plurality of UVC bulbs that each emit UVC light supported by the motorized base; and

a controller that stores a learned route to be traveled autonomously by the decontamination apparatus from a starting point to a destination during a decontamination process and controls operation of the transport system to move the decontamination apparatus along the learned route.

2. The decontamination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transport system comprises a plurality of wheels, and a motor that drives at least one of the plurality of wheels.

3. The decontamination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bulbs are adjustably coupled to the base to be independently-positionable relative to each other.

4. The decontamination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the transport system to reposition the decontamination apparatus from the starting point, where a surface is shielded from the UVC light emitted by the plurality of UVC bulbs, to another location along the learned route where the surface is exposed to the UVC light emitted by at least one of the plurality of UVC bulbs.

5. The decontamination apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a proximity sensor that senses an obstruction interfering with movement of the decontamination apparatus between the starting point and the destination, and transmits a signal that is received by the controller to interrupt movement of the decontamination apparatus along the learned route.

6. A decontamination apparatus comprising:

a motorized base comprising a transport system that is operable to move the decontamination apparatus over a floor;

a plurality of UVC bulbs that each emit UVC light supported by the motorized base;

a sensor that detects a marking on the floor defining a desired route to be traveled by the motorized base during a decontamination process; and

a controller that controls operation of the transport system to move the motorized base supporting the plurality of UVC bulbs over the floor along the desired route.

7. The decontamination apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transport system comprises a plurality of wheels, and a motor that drives at least one of the plurality of wheels.

8. The decontamination apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of bulbs are adjustably coupled to the base to be independently-positionable relative to each other.

9. The decontamination apparatus of claim 6, wherein the sensor is a color sensor that detects a color of the marking and the controller controls operation of the transport system based on a contrast between the color of the marking relative to a floor color.

10. The decontamination apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a cord that conducts electricity between a wall outlet and the motorized base and is flexible to be laid onto the floor to define the desired route, wherein the sensor comprises a cord sensor that detects a quality of the cord on the floor for the controller to control operation of the transport system to cause the motorized base to travel over the floor along the desired route defined by the cord.

11. The decontamination apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a retractor that collects the cord as the motorized base travels along the desired route during the decontamination process.

12. The decontamination apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cord sensor senses a color of the cord on the floor.