Disinfection device and personnel transportation equipment having the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a disinfection device and a personnel transportation device including the disinfection device. The disinfection device includes a housing with an internal space and a radiation source disposed in the internal space, the radiation source being capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation for sterilization, and the housing including a first wall facing the radiation source and being penetrable by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source; an auxiliary component and a radiation measurement sensor are provided in the internal space, the auxiliary component is disposed between the radiation source and the first wall, and the auxiliary component is configured to be able to detect a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source through the radiation measurement sensor. The disinfection device of the present invention can reliably disinfect the movable surfaces on the personnel transportation device, can detect its own functionality, can also effectively evaluate and detect the electromagnetic radiation of its radiation source, and has a compact structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a disinfection device and a personnel transportation device having the disinfection device. Background Art

[0002] Personnel transportation devices are used to transport people within buildings or structures. Pathogens in the form of viruses, bacteria, spores, and / or microorganisms may accumulate on the surfaces of personnel transportation devices. To avoid transmitting pathogens to the users of the personnel transportation devices, a disinfection device may be provided in the personnel transportation devices. The disinfection device may be configured to disinfect the movable surfaces of the personnel transportation device, for example, by killing and / or removing the pathogens located thereon.

[0003] A possible design of the disinfection device is to use a radiation source (such as a light-emitting diode (LED)) for disinfection (sterilization), and the radiation source is capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation for sterilization. For example, so-called UVC light-emitting diodes may be used for this purpose. The UVC light-emitting diodes emit high-energy ultraviolet radiation, which is also referred to as UVC radiation and typically has a wavelength range of 100 - 300 nm, mostly 180 - 280 nm.

[0004] Existing disinfection devices are unable to detect their own functionality and cannot effectively evaluate and detect the electromagnetic radiation of their radiation sources. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention aims to solve at least one of the above problems and defects existing in the prior art.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disinfection device for disinfecting a movable surface of a personnel transportation device. The disinfection device includes a housing with an internal space and a radiation source disposed in the internal space. The radiation source is capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation for sterilization, and the housing includes a first wall facing the radiation source and capable of being penetrated by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source. An auxiliary component and a radiation measurement sensor are provided in the internal space. The auxiliary component is disposed between the radiation source and the first wall, and the auxiliary component is configured to detect a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source through the radiation measurement sensor.

[0007] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a first circuit board is provided in the internal space. The first circuit board is arranged parallel and opposite to the first wall, and the radiation source is disposed on the first circuit board.

[0008] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the radiation source is at least one and is arranged on the first circuit board in a planar distribution manner.

[0009] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary component includes a reflector. The first circuit board is provided with a via hole vertically penetrating the first circuit board. A radiation measurement sensor is arranged below the via hole, and the reflector is arranged on the surface of the first wall facing the internal space, so that a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source can be reflected by the reflector and pass through the via hole to reach the corresponding radiation measurement sensor.

[0010] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a second circuit board is provided between the first circuit board and the second wall of the housing. The second wall is arranged opposite to the first wall, and the second circuit board is supported on the second wall. The radiation measurement sensor below the via hole is arranged on the second circuit board; and in the direction perpendicular to the second circuit board, the distance between the second circuit board and the first wall is greater than the distance between the second circuit board and the first circuit board.

[0011] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary component includes a protrusion arranged on the first circuit board. The protrusion extends towards the first wall, and the radiation measurement sensor is arranged on the protrusion, so that the radiation measurement sensor on the protrusion has an elevated position relative to the radiation source, and thus a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source can be directly detected by the radiation measurement sensor on the protrusion.

[0012] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the radiation measurement sensor is also directly arranged on the first circuit board.

[0013] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the radiation measurement sensor is directly arranged on the first circuit board, and the auxiliary component includes a reflector. The reflector is arranged on the surface of the first wall facing the internal space to reflect a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source to the radiation measurement sensor.

[0014] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary component includes a convex lens. The convex lens is arranged on the first circuit board and protrudes towards the first wall, so that a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source is reflected by the reflector of the auxiliary component to the convex lens, and is concentrated into a beam at the focal point of the convex lens, and then is guided to the radiation measurement sensor.

[0015] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the reflector of the auxiliary assembly is a label, the front side of the label faces the interior space and has a coating for reflecting the electromagnetic radiation, and the back side of the label is adhered to the surface of the first wall facing the interior space.

[0016] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the reflector of the auxiliary assembly is a coating or a processed layer directly applied to the surface of the first wall facing the interior space, and the coating or the processed layer has the property of reflecting electromagnetic radiation.

[0017] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the reflector of the auxiliary assembly is configured in a partially reflective manner such that a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source is reflected by the reflector, and the remaining electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source penetrates the reflector.

[0018] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the reflector of the auxiliary assembly is attached only to a part of the first wall.

[0019] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first wall is configured as a cover member that can be detached from the housing.

[0020] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the number of the radiation measurement sensors is at least one.

[0021] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the disinfection device includes two decorative plates configured to be mirror-symmetrical, the two decorative plates are fastened to two opposite sides of the housing such that the first wall is arranged between the two decorative plates, each decorative plate includes a metal plate member formed by bending, one end of the metal plate member is fixed to the housing, the other end of the metal plate member extends correspondingly toward another metal plate member arranged oppositely on the housing, and the inner sides of the two metal plate members facing each other and facing the first wall are mirrors.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a personnel transportation device having at least one guardrail, the guardrail includes at least one handrail, and the personnel transportation device has at least one disinfection device for disinfecting the handrail, and the disinfection device for disinfecting the handrail is the above-mentioned disinfection device.

[0023] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the guardrail includes a guardrail base, in which the return section of the handrail is guided in a manner invisible to the users of the people mover, and the disinfection device for disinfecting the handrail is installed in the guardrail base of the guardrail.

[0024] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the people mover includes a conveyor belt arranged in a surrounding manner, users can enter the forward section of the conveyor belt, and the return section of the conveyor belt is arranged inside the people mover in a manner hidden from the users, and the people mover further has at least one disinfection device for disinfecting the conveyor belt, and the disinfection device for disinfecting the conveyor belt is the above-mentioned disinfection device.

[0025] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the disinfection device for disinfecting the conveyor belt is larger in size than the disinfection device for disinfecting the handrail.

[0026] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the people mover is an escalator or a moving walkway.

[0027] In the foregoing various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the disinfection device of the present invention reliably disinfects the movable surfaces on the people mover, can detect its own functionality, can also effectively evaluate and detect the electromagnetic radiation of its radiation source, and has a compact structure, so that the installation cost and maintenance cost are relatively low, and thus the cost is relatively low.

[0028] The disinfection device has a housing with an internal space and at least one radiation source arranged in the internal space, and the radiation source can emit electromagnetic radiation for sterilization. In order to enable the electromagnetic radiation for sterilization to pass through the internal space and disinfect the movable surfaces of the people mover, the first wall of the housing facing the radiation source is constructed in a manner that enables the electromagnetic radiation to pass through. In addition, the disinfection device further has an auxiliary component and at least one radiation measurement sensor arranged in the internal space of the housing. The auxiliary component can be arranged between the first wall and the second wall of the housing, and can fully detect a part (or share) of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least one radiation source through the radiation measurement sensor. By detecting a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source, on the one hand, the functionality of the disinfection device can be checked. On the other hand, the radiation intensity can also be detected and readjusted if necessary, because radiation sources such as UVC fluorescent tubes or UVC light-emitting diodes will undergo an aging process, and the radiation ability of the radiation source will decrease over time under the same energy supply.

[0029] In addition, another advantage of this disinfection device is that the at least one radiation source, the auxiliary component, and the at least one radiation measurement sensor are hermetically enclosed and integrated in the internal space of the housing and are thus protected from environmental influences such as moisture and dust. In addition, the proposed "all-in-one solution" (i.e., the installation method in which multiple above-mentioned components are integrated in one internal space) minimizes the installation workload because the radiation measurement sensor is already ideally arranged relative to the radiation source and aligned with the radiation source in the internal space of the housing when using this disinfection device, and when installing the disinfection device, there is no need to find a suitable fastening position for the radiation measurement sensor in the personnel transportation device. In this way, the replacement or substitution of a damaged or otherwise non-functional arrangement is simplified.

[0030] In a design of the present invention, a plurality of radiation sources can be arranged on the first circuit board in a planar distribution. The first circuit board can be arranged in the internal space of the housing parallel to the first wall and opposite to the first wall. Of course, the first circuit board can also be formed as a side wall of the housing arranged opposite to the first wall, and the radiation sources are arranged on the first circuit board in the internal space.

[0031] As described above, the auxiliary component is also arranged in the internal space, and the auxiliary component can fully detect a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the at least one radiation source through the radiation measurement sensor. The auxiliary component can be designed in different ways.

[0032] In one of these design solutions, the auxiliary component can have a protrusion, which is arranged on the first circuit board and extends towards the first wall. At least one radiation measurement sensor is arranged on the protrusion, so that the radiation measurement sensor has an elevated position relative to the radiation source, and thus a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by these radiation sources can be directly detected by the radiation measurement sensor. The auxiliary component can also include other components, such as cable connection devices, wireless transmitters, fastening devices connecting the protrusion to the radiation measurement sensor, fastening devices connecting the protrusion to the housing or the above-mentioned first circuit board, and so on.

[0033] In another design solution, at least one radiation measurement sensor is arranged on the first circuit board. The auxiliary component includes a reflector, which is arranged on the surface of the first wall facing the internal space to form a reflection area relative to the radiation measurement sensor and the radiation source, so that a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the at least one radiation source can be reflected (or called "deflected") by the reflector onto the radiation measurement sensor.

[0034] In another design, at least one via is formed in the first circuit board, and a radiation measurement sensor is disposed below the via. In the internal space, the radiation measurement sensor is disposed in a second circuit board spaced apart from the first circuit board, and the second circuit board has a greater distance from the first wall than the first circuit board. As part of the auxiliary component, a reflection area is also disposed within the scope of the first wall, such that a portion of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least one radiation source can pass through the via and be deflected by the reflector onto the corresponding radiation measurement sensor below the via. Thus, due to the changed radiation path, a relatively large area of electromagnetic radiation can be detected by the radiation measurement sensor below the via.

[0035] The design of the above device can be implemented separately in the internal space, that is, only one of these design variants exists in the internal space. However, two or more variants of these design variants can also be implemented in the same internal space. For example, if the radiation measurement sensor is disposed on the protrusion and directly detects the electromagnetic radiation, and another radiation measurement sensor is disposed on the first circuit board and detects the electromagnetic radiation deflected onto the radiation measurement sensor on the first circuit board by the reflector in the reflection area, the sensor signals of the radiation measurement sensor on the protrusion and the radiation measurement sensor on the first circuit board can be compared and evaluated with each other. For example, if the amount of electromagnetic radiation detected by both sensor signals is small, it indicates that the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source is weak. If the radiation measurement sensor disposed on the protrusion continuously detects the same amount of electromagnetic radiation, but the radiation measurement sensor disposed on the first circuit board detects an increasing amount of electromagnetic radiation over time, it can indicate that the first wall is increasingly covered with reflective dirt. Here, further evaluations can also be made, such as evaluating the failure of the radiation measurement sensor, etc.

[0036] The reflection area can also be designed in different ways. In the first variant, the auxiliary component uses a label as the reflector, one side of the label is adhered to the surface of the first wall facing the internal space, and the other side has a coating that reflects electromagnetic radiation as the reflection area.

[0037] In the second variant, the reflector of the auxiliary component is a coating or processing layer directly applied to the surface of the first wall facing the internal space, and the coating or processing layer has the property of reflecting electromagnetic radiation.

[0038] In addition, the reflector of the reflection area can be constructed in a partially reflective manner, such that a portion of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source is reflected by the reflector, and the remaining electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source penetrates the reflector.

[0039] Depending on the different design solutions according to the reflection characteristics, the reflection area can only partially span the first wall, that is, the reflector is only attached to a part of the first wall. The area in the first wall not spanned by the reflector allows the sterilizing electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source to penetrate the first wall almost unobstructed.

[0040] In another design solution, a radiation measurement sensor can also be directly provided on the first circuit board, and the reflector of the auxiliary component is also arranged on the surface of the first wall facing the internal space to reflect a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source onto the radiation measurement sensor on the first circuit board. Further, the auxiliary component can also have a convex lens, which is arranged on the first circuit board and protrudes towards the first wall. Here, the electromagnetic radiation reflected by the reflector of the radiation source is focused into a beam at the focal point or focal line of the convex lens and is guided to the radiation measurement sensor on the first circuit board.

[0041] In order to make the disinfection device easier to maintain, the first wall can be designed as a cover component that can be removed from the rest of the housing. Therefore, when the cover component is removed, the internal space of the housing can be freely accessed.

[0042] The disinfection device can have two decorative panels with mirror-symmetrical structures so as to be able to irradiate a movable surface (such as a curved surface exemplified by a handrail) evenly. The two decorative panels are fastened to two opposite sides of the housing such that the first wall is arranged between the two laterally protruding decorative panels. In this case, each decorative panel includes a metal plate component formed by bending. One end of a metal plate component is fixed to the housing, and the other end of the one metal plate component extends correspondingly towards another metal plate component arranged oppositely on the housing. The inner sides of the two formed metal plate components facing each other and the first wall are designed as mirrors to minimize scattering losses. Therefore, the two decorative panels and the housing directly form a channel through which the movable surface to be disinfected (such as the movable surface of the above-mentioned handrail) passes, and thus is disinfected by the corresponding disinfection device.

[0043] The above-mentioned disinfection device is specifically designed for use in a people-carrying device configured as an escalator or a moving walkway. Such a people-carrying device has at least one guardrail, which includes at least one annular or surrounding handrail. The handrail has a movable surface to be disinfected because the handrail runs together with the conveyor belt and is grasped by the users of the people-carrying device during travel. Therefore, the people-carrying device has at least one disinfection device for each annular handrail.

[0044] Since in most cases the guardrail includes a guardrail base in which the return section of the handrail is not visible to the user of the people conveyor, it is advantageous to install the disinfection device in the guardrail base of the guardrail. On the one hand, the aesthetics of the guardrail can be maintained, and on the other hand, the user can be protected from the harmful electromagnetic radiation of sterilization, which cannot penetrate the usually opaque enclosure metal plate of the guardrail base.

[0045] Therefore, in order to convey the user of the people conveyor, the people conveyor further includes a conveyor belt arranged in a surrounding manner. The user can enter the forward section of the conveyor belt, and the return section that is not visible to the user is arranged inside the people conveyor. Of course, the conveyor belt also has a movable surface that can be disinfected if necessary. The people conveyor can thus also have at least one disinfection device for the conveyor belt. However, in this case, a decorative panel may not be required.

[0046] It should be noted that some possible features and advantages of the present invention are described with reference to different embodiments of the people conveyor in the present invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that these features can be combined, adjusted, or replaced in a suitable manner to obtain other embodiments of the present invention. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0047] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings and the description should not be construed as limiting the present invention. In addition, the same reference numerals are used for elements that are the same or act in the same manner. Among them:

[0048] Figure 1 To show a simplified view of a people conveyor designed as an escalator with a disinfection device.

[0049] Figure 2 To show a cross-sectional view of the people conveyor taken along the Figure 1 straight line A - A.

[0050] Figure 3 To show Figure 1 and Figure 2 a perspective view of the disinfection device shown, where the section through which the handrail of the people conveyor passes is symbolically represented by a double arrow.

[0051] Figure 4 To show Figure 3 a cross-sectional view of a possible design variant of the auxiliary component for the auxiliary measurement of the emitted electromagnetic radiation of the disinfection device shown.

[0052] Figure 5 To show Figure 3Cross-sectional view of other possible design variants of the auxiliary assembly for auxiliary measurement of the emitted radiation of the disinfection device shown. Detailed implementation

[0053] To more clearly elaborate the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description of the embodiments is intended to explain and illustrate the overall concept of the present invention, and should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. In the specification and drawings, the same or similar reference numerals refer to the same or similar components or members. For the sake of clarity, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some well-known components and structures may be omitted in the drawings.

[0054] [[ID=,8]]Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms used in the present invention should have the ordinary meaning understood by those of ordinary skill in the field to which the present invention pertains. The word "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Words such as "including" or "comprising" mean that the element or object appearing before this word encompasses the elements or objects listed after this word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. "Connection" or "connected" and other similar words are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. "Upper", "lower", "left", "right", "top" or "bottom", etc. are only used to represent relative positional relationships, and when the absolute position of the object being described changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly. When an element is referred to as being "on" or "under" another element, the element can be "directly" on or under the other element, or there may be intermediate elements.

[0055] Figure 1 A simplified view of a people mover 1 having a support device 11 designed as a frame structure is shown. The people mover 1 designed as an escalator connects the lower plane (or lower floor) E1 of a building 5 to the upper plane (or upper floor) E2. The people mover 1 can be entered and left again through an access area 3. A surrounding conveyor belt 9 is arranged in the support device 11, and the conveyor belt 9 turns in the upper plane E2 and the lower plane E1, and thus has a forward section (or forward segment) and a return section (or return segment). For the sake of clarity, the detailed illustration of the return section is omitted, and the detailed illustrations of the frame, guide rails and track blocks are also omitted.

[0056] In addition, the people mover 1 also has two guardrails 15 extending along the two longitudinal sides of the conveyor belt 9, Figure 1Only the guardrails 15, arranged in the foreground in the viewing plane, are visible. A handrail 17 is arranged around each guardrail 15, with its return run guided in a guardrail base 13. This guardrail base 13 connects the guardrails 15 to the support device 11. In other words, the return run of the handrail 17 is not visible to the user of the personnel transport system 1 and is returned to the guardrail base 13. The conveyor belt 9 and handrails 17 are driven by a motor 21, which is operatively connected to the conveyor belt 9 and handrails 17 via a reduction gear 7. The motor 21 is controlled by a control device 19.

[0057] Furthermore, the passenger transport system 1 has at least one disinfection device 41 for disinfecting the endless handrails 17, i.e., at least one disinfection device 41 is provided for each handrail 17. Disinfection device 41 can also be installed in the guardrail base 13 of the guardrail 15 and thus be invisible to users of the passenger transport system 1. A disinfection device 42 for disinfecting the conveyor belt 9 can also be provided. In principle, this disinfection device 42 can be constructed identically to the disinfection device 41 for disinfecting the handrails. Logically, this disinfection device 42 can be larger in size than the disinfection device 41 for disinfecting the handrails 17, since the conveyor belt 9 is much wider than the handrails 17.

[0058] exist Figure 2 It is shown in the figure that the straight line AA passes through the Figure 1 sectional view of a passenger transport system 1. In this sectional view, both the forward section and the return section of the conveyor belt 9 are visible. The conveyor belt 9 is guided on guide rails 23 within the support device 11. When the passenger transport system 1 is installed as specified, a guardrail 15 and a guardrail base 13 are arranged on the left and right sides of the upper forward section of the conveyor belt 9. Within the guardrail base 13, there is a clamping device 29 covered by lining plates 25, 27, which serves as a clamping receptacle for each guardrail wall panel 33. Here, the guardrail wall panel 33 is clamped in a clamping device 29 at least at its lower end in a fixed position. The clamping device 29 is arranged in the guardrail base 13 on the support device 11 along the longitudinal extension direction of the passenger transport system 1. Below the clamping device 29 , a disinfection device 41 is provided for each handrail 17 arranged around the guardrail 15 . The disinfection device 41 is equipped with a radiation source 43 which can emit sterilizing electromagnetic radiation within the range of its conical radiation shape.

[0059] Since the return runs of the handrail 17 are also guided in the guardrail base 13, it is advantageous to arrange the disinfection device 41 in the guardrail base 13 and to guide the return runs through or past this disinfection device 41 there, so that it can be ensured that harmful electromagnetic radiation never reaches the users of the people conveyor 1. The same considerations apply to the disinfection device 42 which is intended to disinfect the conveyor belt 9. The disinfection device 42 is preferably arranged below the return section of the conveyor belt 9, so that the surfaces which come into contact with the users can be irradiated sufficiently. In addition, a plate 44 can also be arranged between the forward section and the return section, so that the germicidal electromagnetic radiation cannot penetrate through the gaps and cracks in the conveyor belt 9 and reach the users.

[0060] Figures 3 to 5 shown already in Figure 1 and Figure 2 and which is the same disinfection device 41 (or 42) or at least a part thereof which is shown and provided for the handrail 17. Therefore, the following description of Figures 3 to 5 will be carried out together. In order to be able to show more details in Figure 3 , the handrail 17 of the people conveyor 1 (or the section through which the handrail 17 passes) is symbolically shown by means of a double arrow. Figure 4 For showing Figure 3 a cross-sectional view of possible design variants of an auxiliary assembly for the auxiliary measurement of the emitted electromagnetic radiation of the disinfection device shown. Figure 5 For showing Figure 3 other possible design variants of an auxiliary assembly for the auxiliary measurement of the emitted electromagnetic radiation of the disinfection device shown. In Figure 4 and Figure 5 , in order to simplify this document and to show possible combinations, two possible design variants of the device are correspondingly shown, and one of these design variants can correspondingly be implemented in the disinfection device 41 (or 42).

[0061] Figures 3 to 5The disinfection device 41 (or 42) shown includes a housing 51. The two side walls 53 in the left-right direction, the two side walls 55 in the front-back direction, the top wall (i.e., the first wall) 57, and the bottom wall (i.e., the second wall) 59 opposite to the top wall 57 together enclose a closed internal space 61. In this embodiment, the two side walls 53 in the left-right direction, the two side walls 55 in the front-back direction, the first wall 57, and the second wall 59 are designed as flat walls, so that the housing 51 has the shape of a flat rectangular box. One of these walls 53, 55, 57, 59 is designed as the first wall 57 facing the radiation source 43 and capable of being penetrated by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source 43. A plurality of radiation sources 43 are arranged in the internal space 61. In this embodiment, the radiation source 43 is shown as a UVC light-emitting diode, and the UVC light-emitting diode can emit electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 100 to 300 nm, preferably 220 to 280 nm. The UVC light-emitting diodes or radiation sources 43 are arranged in a planar distribution manner (i.e., arranged on the same plane) on the flat first circuit board 63, and other electronic components 65 required for operating and controlling the radiation source 43 can also be installed on the first circuit board 63. The radiation source 43 has a conical radiation shape 45 due to its structure, so that the radiation source 43 emits electromagnetic radiation for sterilization within the range of its conical radiation shape 45. The conical radiation shape 45 is aligned with the first wall 57. In other words, the first wall 57 is arranged facing the radiation source 43, or the first circuit board 63 provided with the radiation source 43 is arranged opposite to the first wall 57.

[0062] In order to be able to enter the internal space 61 and facilitate the assembly and maintenance of the disinfection device 41 (or 42), the first wall 57 can be constructed as a cover (or cover component) that can be detached from the rest of the housing 51.

[0063] In addition, the disinfection device 41 (or 42) further has an auxiliary component 71 and a radiation measurement sensor 81 arranged in the internal space 61 of the housing 51. In this embodiment, only one radiation measurement sensor 81 is provided in the internal space 61 of the housing 51. Of course, multiple radiation measurement sensors can also be provided if necessary. The auxiliary component 71 is arranged between at least one radiation source 43 and the first wall 57, and can fully detect a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the at least one radiation source 43 through the radiation measurement sensor 81. By detecting a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source 43, on the one hand, the function of the disinfection device 41 (or 42) can be checked and judged. On the other hand, the radiation intensity can also be detected and, if necessary, readjusted, because radiation sources (such as UVC fluorescent tubes or UVC light-emitting diodes) will undergo an aging process, and under the condition of maintaining the same energy supply, the radiation ability of the radiation source will decrease over time. In addition, the advantage of this arrangement is that the at least one radiation source 43, the auxiliary component 71 and the radiation measurement sensor 81 are hermetically enclosed in the internal space 61 of the housing 51 and are thus protected from environmental influences such as moisture and dust.

[0064] In order to enable a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source 43 to be detected by the radiation measurement sensor 81 arranged in the internal space 61, various design variants of the auxiliary component 71 are proposed below.

[0065] Especially in Figure 4 In the first implementation variant shown in, the auxiliary component 71 has a protrusion 73 arranged on the first circuit board 63. The protrusion 73 extends towards the first wall 57 but does not face the reflector 77 in the direction perpendicular to the first circuit board 63. At least one radiation measurement sensor 81 is arranged on the protrusion 73 such that the radiation measurement sensor 81 has an elevated position relative to the radiation source 43 but does not face the reflector 77 in the direction perpendicular to the first circuit board 63. In other words, the protrusion 73 is a base arranged on the first circuit board 63, which rises above the UVC light-emitting diode or the radiation source 43 and holds the radiation measurement sensor 81 in at least one of the conical radiation patterns 45 starting from the light-emitting diode or the radiation source. Due to the elevated position of the radiation measurement sensor 81, a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source 43 can be directly detected by the radiation measurement sensor 81.

[0066] In another implementation variant of the device, as also Figure 4 shown, the first circuit board 63 has at least one via 75. The radiation measurement sensor 81 is arranged below the via 75, and the reflector 77 is provided on the surface 79 of the first wall 57 facing the internal space 61.

[0067] Specifically, a second circuit board 67 is provided between the first circuit board 63 and the second wall 59 of the housing 51, and the second circuit board 67 is supported on the second wall 59 by a support member. The radiation measurement sensor 81 below the via 75 is arranged on the second circuit board 67; and, in a direction perpendicular to the second circuit board 67, the distance between the second circuit board 67 and the first wall 57 is greater than the distance between the second circuit board 67 and the first circuit board 63. Additionally, within the range of the first wall 57, a reflection area member 77 belonging to the auxiliary assembly 71 is arranged such that a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least one radiation source 43 can be reflected (or deflected) by the reflector 77 to pass through the via 75 and reach the corresponding radiation measurement sensor 81 below the via 75.

[0068] At this time, the sensor signals of the radiation measurement sensor 81 on the protrusion 73 and the radiation measurement sensor 81 on the second circuit board 67 can be compared with each other and evaluated. For example, if the amount of electromagnetic radiation detected by both sensor signals is small, it indicates that the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source is weak. If the radiation measurement sensor 81 arranged on the protrusion 73 continuously detects the same amount of electromagnetic radiation, but the radiation measurement sensor 81 arranged on the second circuit board 67 detects an increasing amount of electromagnetic radiation (indicating that more and more electromagnetic radiation is being reflected onto the radiation measurement sensor 81 on the second circuit board 67), it can be shown that the side of the first wall 57 facing the internal space 61 is being covered by an increasing amount of reflective dirt (i.e., dirt that is reflective to electromagnetic radiation); that is, by comparing the amount of electromagnetic radiation detected by the radiation measurement sensor 81 on the protrusion 73 with the amount of electromagnetic radiation detected by the radiation measurement sensor 81 on the second circuit board 67, it is possible to detect whether the side of the first wall 57 facing the internal space 61 is being covered by an increasing amount of reflective dirt, that is, the radiation transmissivity of the first wall 57 can be effectively detected.

[0069] In Figure 5 In another implementation variant of the auxiliary assembly 71 shown, a radiation measurement sensor 81 can be directly provided on the first circuit board 63. The auxiliary assembly 71 includes a reflector 77 in the reflection area, and the reflector 77 is also provided on the surface 79 of the first wall 57 facing the internal space 61, as Figure 5As shown, the reflector 77 is arranged on the lower side of the first wall 57. The reflector 77 is arranged relative to the radiation measurement sensor 81 and the radiation source 43 on the first circuit board 63 such that a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least one of the radiation sources 43 is deflected onto the radiation measurement sensor 81 on the first circuit board 63. However, preferably, the reflector 77 is arranged in an aligned manner such that each of the radiation sources 43 arranged in the internal space 61 reflects a part of the electromagnetic radiation onto the radiation measurement sensor 81 on the first circuit board 63. If necessary, the spatial conditions of the internal space 61 are precisely measured, so that more than one radiation measurement sensor 81 is required for this purpose, and thus the radiation sources 43 are detected or monitored in groups.

[0070] To provide the reflective area or the reflector 77, the auxiliary component 71 may have a label, one side of which is adhered to the surface 79 of the first wall 57 facing the internal space 61, and the other side has a coating that reflects electromagnetic radiation as the reflector 77. In other words, the corresponding label is a surface element, the front side of which reflects electromagnetic radiation, and the back side of which is designed to be self-adhesive (i.e., sticky) to adhere to the surface 79. Another possibility is that the auxiliary component 71 includes a coating or a processed layer applied to the surface 79 of the first wall 57 facing the internal space 61, and the coating or the processed layer has the property of reflecting electromagnetic radiation. The reflector 77 can also be constructed in a partially reflective manner, so that a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source 43 is reflected by the reflector 77, and the remaining electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source 43 penetrates the reflector 77. As Figure 3 shown, the reflector 77 preferably only partially covers (or adheres to) the first wall 57, so that the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source 43 can generally penetrate the part of the first wall 57 that is not covered (or adhered to) by the reflector 77 unhindered.

[0071] In another implementation variant of the auxiliary component 71 as also Figure 5 shown, the auxiliary component 71 also has a convex lens 83. The convex lens 83 is arranged on the first circuit board 63 and protrudes towards the first wall 57, so that a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source 43 is reflected by the reflector 77 onto the convex lens 83, and is concentrated into a beam at the focal point or the focal line 85 of the convex lens 83, and then is guided to the radiation measurement sensor 81 on the first circuit board 63.

[0072] It should be emphasized that although the above description has been made, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments or implementation variants. The arrangement of the radiation measurement sensor 81 can be freely combined, that is, Figure 4 and Figure 5The technical solutions or embodiments involved can be freely combined. For example, although the radiation measurement sensor 81 is arranged as in Figure 4 However, in Figure 4 At least the following three setting schemes can be included: The radiation measurement sensor 81 is only arranged below the via hole 75, or the radiation measurement sensor 81 is only arranged on the protruding portion 73, or the radiation measurement sensor 81 can be arranged both below the via hole 75 and on the protruding portion 73. In addition, although the radiation measurement sensor 81 is arranged as in Figure 5 However Figure 5 The setting scheme of the radiation measurement sensor 81 in Figure 4 Can also be freely combined with each of the above three setting schemes in

[0073] In order to be able to fully disinfect the armrest 17, all surfaces that the user may touch must be irradiated with electromagnetic radiation. To achieve this, the disinfection device 41 (or 42) can be as in Figures 3 to 5 Shown to have two decorative plates 91, 93 that are configured to be mirror-symmetrical. These two decorative plates 91, 93 are fastened to two opposite sides of the housing 51 such that the first wall 57 is arranged between the two laterally protruding decorative plates 91, 93. Each decorative plate 91 or 93 includes a metal plate member 94 formed by bending. One end 97 of a formed metal plate member 94 is fixed to the housing 51, and the other end 95 of this formed metal plate member 94 extends correspondingly toward another metal plate member 94 arranged opposite on the housing 51. In order to enable the electromagnetic radiation passing through the first wall 57 and hitting the decorative plates 91, 93 to reach the surface to be disinfected of the armrest 17 with as little scattering loss as possible, the inner sides 99 of the two formed metal plate members 94 that face each other and face the first wall 57 are designed as mirrors. Since the conveyor belt 9 only has a surface to be disinfected that can be fully irradiated or disinfected from one radiation direction, in Figure 1 And Figure 2 The disinfection device 42 shown schematically does not require the decorative plates 91, 93.

[0074] Although Figures 1 to 5The different aspects of the present invention are illustrated based on a people conveyor device 1 designed as an escalator, which is intended to connect floors E1, E2 vertically spaced apart from each other. However, it is obvious that the described disinfection devices 41, 42 are equally applicable to an inclined moving walkway or a horizontal moving walkway. As described, the reflector (or reflection area) is preferably arranged on the inner side of the first wall (i.e., the side facing the internal space) and thus between the radiation source and the first wall. This can protect the reflector from damage by environmental influences. Obviously, a reflector directly arranged on the outer side of the first wall is a functionally equivalent solution and is thus included within the scope of protection.

[0075] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "having", "including", etc. do not exclude any other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "one" do not exclude a plurality. In addition, it should also be noted that the features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of the above other embodiments. The reference signs in the claims should not be regarded as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0076] Those skilled in the art can understand that the above-described embodiments are all exemplary, and those skilled in the art can make improvements to them. The structures described in various embodiments can be freely combined without conflict in terms of structure or principle.

[0077] Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to exemplarily illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as a limitation on the present invention. The dimensional ratios in the drawings are merely schematic and should not be construed as a limitation on the present invention.

[0078] The above embodiments only exemplarily illustrate the principles and structures of the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that any changes and improvements made to the present invention without departing from the general concept of the present invention are within the scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be subject to the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A disinfection device (41, 42) for disinfecting a movable surface of a personnel transportation device (1), characterized in that, the disinfection device (41, 42) comprises a housing (51) with an internal space (61) and a radiation source (43) arranged in the internal space (61), the radiation source (43) being capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation for sterilization, and the housing (51) comprises a first wall (57) facing the radiation source (43) and capable of being penetrated by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source (43); an auxiliary component (71) and a radiation measurement sensor (81) are provided in the internal space (61), the auxiliary component (71) is arranged between the radiation source (43) and the first wall (57), and the auxiliary component (71) is configured to be able to detect a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source (43) through the radiation measurement sensor (81).

2. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to claim 1, characterized in that, a first circuit board (63) is provided in the internal space (61), the first circuit board (63) is arranged parallel and opposite to the first wall (57), and the radiation source (43) is provided on the first circuit board (63).

3. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The radiation source (43) is at least one and is arranged on the first circuit board (63) in a planar distribution manner.

4. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The auxiliary component (71) comprises a reflector (77), the first circuit board (63) is provided with a through hole (75) vertically penetrating the first circuit board (63), a radiation measurement sensor (81) is arranged below the through hole (75), and the reflector (77) is provided on a surface (79) of the first wall (57) facing the internal space (61), so that a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source (43) can be reflected by the reflector (77) to pass through the through hole (75) and reach the corresponding radiation measurement sensor (81).

5. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to claim 4, characterized in that, A second circuit board (67) is provided between the first circuit board (63) and a second wall (59) of the housing (51), the second wall (59) is arranged opposite to the first wall (57), and the second circuit board (67) is supported on the second wall (59), the radiation measurement sensor (81) below the through hole (75) is arranged on the second circuit board (67); and, in a direction perpendicular to the second circuit board (67), the distance between the second circuit board (67) and the first wall (57) is greater than the distance between the second circuit board (67) and the first circuit board (63).

6. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that, The auxiliary component (71) includes a protrusion (73) disposed on the first circuit board (63), the protrusion (73) extending toward the first wall (57), and a radiation measurement sensor (81) is provided on the protrusion (73) such that the radiation measurement sensor (81) on the protrusion (73) has an elevated position relative to the radiation source (43), whereby a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source (43) can be directly detected by the radiation measurement sensor (81) on the protrusion (73).

7. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The radiation measurement sensor (81) is also directly provided on the first circuit board (63).

8. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The radiation measurement sensor (81) is directly provided on the first circuit board (63), and the auxiliary component (71) includes a reflector (77), the reflector (77) being provided on the surface (79) of the first wall (57) facing the internal space (61) to reflect a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source (43) onto the radiation measurement sensor (81).

9. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The auxiliary component (71) includes a convex lens (83), the convex lens (83) being provided on the first circuit board (63) and protruding toward the first wall (57), such that a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source (43) is reflected by the reflector (77) of the auxiliary component (71) onto the convex lens (83), and is concentrated into a beam at the focal point (85) of the convex lens (83), and then is guided onto the radiation measurement sensor (81).

10. The sterilization device (41, 42) according to any one of claims 4, 5, 7, and 8, characterized in that, The reflector (77) of the auxiliary component (71) is a label, the front surface of the label faces the internal space and has a coating for reflecting the electromagnetic radiation, and the back surface of the label is adhered to the surface (79) of the first wall (57) facing the internal space (61).

11. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to any one of claims 4, 5, 7 and 8, characterized in that, The reflector (77) of the auxiliary component (71) is a coating or a processed layer directly applied to the surface (79) of the first wall (57) facing the internal space (61), and the coating or the processed layer has the property of reflecting electromagnetic radiation.

12. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to any one of claims 4, 5, 7 and 8, characterized in that, The reflector (77) of the auxiliary component (71) is constructed in a partially reflective manner such that a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source (43) is reflected by the reflector (77), and the remaining electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source (43) penetrates the reflector (77).

13. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to any one of claims 4, 5, 7 and 8, characterized in that, The reflector (77) of the auxiliary component (71) is only attached to a part of the first wall (57).

14. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first wall (57) is constructed as a cover member that can be detached from the housing (51).

15. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 7, 8 and 14, characterized in that, The number of the radiation measurement sensors (81) is at least one.

16. The disinfection device (41, 42) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 7, 8 and 14, characterized in that, The disinfection device (41, 42) includes two decorative panels (91, 93) configured to be mirror-symmetrical. The two decorative panels (91, 93) are fastened to two opposite sides of the housing (51) such that the first wall (57) is disposed between the two decorative panels (91, 93). Each decorative panel includes a metal plate member (94) formed by bending. One end (97) of the metal plate member (94) is fixed to the housing (51), and the other end (95) of the metal plate member (94) extends correspondingly toward another metal plate member (94) disposed oppositely on the housing (51). Moreover, the inner sides (99) of the two metal plate members (94) facing each other and facing the first wall (57) are mirrors.

17. A personnel transportation device (1), the personnel transportation device (1) having at least one guardrail (15), the guardrail (15) including at least one handrail (17), characterized in that, The people conveyor (1) has at least one disinfection device for disinfecting the handrail (17), and the disinfection device for disinfecting the handrail (17) is the disinfection device (41) according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. The personnel transportation device (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that, The guardrail (15) includes a guardrail base (13). In the guardrail base (13), the return section of the handrail (17) is guided in a manner invisible to the users of the people conveyor (1), and the disinfection device for disinfecting the handrail (17) is installed in the guardrail base (13) of the guardrail (15).

19. The personnel transportation device (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that, The people conveyor (1) includes a conveyor belt (9) arranged in a loop. Users can enter the forward section of the conveyor belt (9), and the return section of the conveyor belt (9) is arranged inside the people conveyor (1) in a manner hidden from the users. The people conveyor (1) also has at least one disinfection device for disinfecting the conveyor belt (9), and the disinfection device for disinfecting the conveyor belt (9) is the disinfection device (42) according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

20. The personnel transportation device (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that, The disinfection device for disinfecting the conveyor belt (9) is larger in size than the disinfection device for disinfecting the handrail (17).

21. The personnel transportation device (1) according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that, The people conveyor (1) is an escalator or a moving walkway.

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