Ultraviolet Irradiation of Food Handling Instruments
First Claim
1. A food handling instrument ultraviolet illuminator, comprising:
- a housing having a plurality of receptacles each configured to receive one or more food handling instruments;
a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources located about the plurality of receptacles to direct ultraviolet light towards the receptacles;
one or more sensors located about the plurality of receptacles to detect operational conditions associated with the plurality of receptacles and any food handling instruments received therein; and
a control unit, operatively coupled to the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources and the one or more sensors, wherein the control unit is configured to manage the irradiation of the plurality of receptacles and any food handling instruments in the receptacles with the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources as a function of the operational conditions detected by the one or more sensors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Ultraviolet irradiation of food handling instruments for purposes of sterilization, disinfection, cleaning and other treatment capabilities. A housing having receptacles receives one or more food handling instruments. Ultraviolet light emitting sources located about the receptacles can direct ultraviolet light towards the receptacles and any food handling instruments placed therein. One or more sensors located about the receptacles can detect operational conditions associated with the receptacles and any food handling instruments received therein. A control unit, operatively coupled to the ultraviolet light emitting sources and the one or more sensors, manages the irradiation of the receptacles and any food handling instruments in the receptacles as a function of the operational conditions detected by the one or more sensors.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A food handling instrument ultraviolet illuminator, comprising:
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a housing having a plurality of receptacles each configured to receive one or more food handling instruments; a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources located about the plurality of receptacles to direct ultraviolet light towards the receptacles; one or more sensors located about the plurality of receptacles to detect operational conditions associated with the plurality of receptacles and any food handling instruments received therein; and a control unit, operatively coupled to the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources and the one or more sensors, wherein the control unit is configured to manage the irradiation of the plurality of receptacles and any food handling instruments in the receptacles with the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources as a function of the operational conditions detected by the one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A food handling instrument ultraviolet illuminator, comprising:
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a housing having a plurality of receptacles each configured to receive one or more food handling instruments; a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources located within each of the plurality of receptacles to direct ultraviolet light towards any food handling instruments placed within the receptacles, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources direct the ultraviolet light to multiple surfaces of the food handling instruments including front and back surfaces of the food handling instruments, wherein at least one of the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources is an ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light emitting source configured to irradiate the surfaces of the food handling instrument with a peak wavelength in an ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection range of 230 nm to 280 nm; one or more sensors located about the plurality of receptacles to detect operational conditions associated with the plurality of receptacles and any food handling instruments received therein; and a control unit, operatively coupled to the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources and the one or more sensors, wherein the control unit is configured to manage the irradiation of any food handling instruments in the receptacles with the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources as a function of the operational conditions detected by the one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A food handling instrument ultraviolet illuminator, comprising:
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a housing having a plurality of compartments each configured to receive one or more food handling instruments that vary by at least one of size, shape or function, wherein the compartments vary by at least one of size, shape, or depth within the housing; a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources located within each of the plurality of compartments to direct ultraviolet light towards any food handling instruments placed in the compartments, wherein at least one of the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources is an ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light emitting source configured to irradiate the surfaces of the food handling instruments with a peak wavelength in an ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection of 230 nm to 280 nm; one or more sensors located about the plurality of compartments to detect contamination levels on any food handling instruments received therein; a control unit, operatively coupled to the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources and the one or more sensors, wherein the control unit is configured to direct the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources to irradiate surfaces of any food handling instruments deemed to have contamination levels satisfying a predetermined contamination level, wherein the control unit is configured to monitor the irradiation of the food handling instruments and adjust the intensity of any of the ultraviolet light emitting sources as a function of the contamination levels detected by the one or more sensors; and a user input/output component configured to facilitate user interaction with the control unit to control the irradiation of the food handling instruments by the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting sources. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification