Autonomous device for disinfecting an environment using UV-C radiation and its operating method

Abstract

Autonomous UV-C disinfection device and its safe operating management method. The invention relates to an autonomous UV-C disinfection device for an environment, comprising a frame (2) mounted on a base (3) and including at least one UV-C lamp (5), an operating management unit (8) comprising first remote communication means (10) with a programming and control interface (11), at least one presence sensor means (9), and visual and / or audible signaling means (16). Advantageously, it further comprises second remote communication means (13) with at least one remote emergency stop command (14), said second remote communication means (13) operating according to a communication protocol distinct from said first remote communication means (10).The invention also relates to a method for managing the safe operation of such a device. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Autonomous device for disinfecting an environment by UV-C radiation and its operating method

[0001] The present invention relates to an autonomous device for disinfecting an environment by UV-C radiation and its operating method. It relates to the field of irradiation by high-energy ultraviolet light.

[0002] Pulsed light of the UV-C radiation type has been used for some time now for decontamination in the fields of the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, medical, aeronautical industries, etc.

[0003] This decontamination technology consists of emitting a concentrated source of UV-C light onto surfaces to be disinfected, which will penetrate the cell membrane of microorganisms to destroy their DNA structure. For example, document US 4,464,336 describes the general principles of this high-frequency pulsed light irradiation technology.

[0004] Since then, many autonomous devices for disinfecting an environment by UV-C radiation have been developed. Such devices are often in the form of a tower on the periphery of which are mounted one or more lamps capable of emitting UV-C radiation. For example, such a tower may be fixed and preferably in this case comprises several lamps on its periphery so as to emit radiation at an angle of up to 360° to reach all the surfaces of a room to be decontaminated. A tower designed to rotate, or even to move like a robot, can flash all the parts of a room, or even several rooms, by means of one or more lamps, by rotation and movement, according to a determined operating cycle.

[0005] Such autonomous robot-type disinfection arrangements comprise, apart from a unit for managing their operation, a programming and control interface, or even means for learning and recognizing an environment, so as to define the most appropriate operating cycle to achieve the desired level and extent of disinfection.

[0006] Since the operation of such disinfection devices must only take place in the absence of any person or animal in the environment in which they operate, this control interface frequently takes the form of a tablet, the devices being equipped with remote intercommunication means of the Wifi or Bluetooth type, to exchange data with this control interface. By means of this tablet an operator can, depending on the case, control a learning function, select a disinfection cycle, a disinfection duration, etc. and control the start and stop of the device.

[0007] It is also known to equip these autonomous disinfection devices with a presence sensor capable, depending on the case, of preventing the start of a disinfection cycle or of stopping it by interrupting the operation of the UV-C lamps. For increased safety, it is even known to double these sensors.

[0008] Taking into account the seriousness of the consequences that can result from the exposure of a person or an animal to the high-energy radiation emitted by these UV-C lamps, it has been observed, whatever the safety measures already fitted to existing autonomous disinfection devices, that all risk of failure is not eliminated and, under certain conditions, exposure to these radiations likely to seriously impact a person or an animal remains possible.

[0009] In particular, the mode of intercommunication between a stand-alone disinfection device and a tablet is subject to malfunction and disconnection. Furthermore, taking into account the multiple possible interactions between a disinfection device and a tablet, the latter generally proves to be too bulky to be carried permanently by an operator and the useful time to grasp it and select the stop command is, in any case, too long to avoid any consequence of exposure.

[0010] Furthermore, these autonomous disinfection devices most often comprise a docking station for the tablet designing the remote control interface. It is therefore possible to leave this tablet on this docking station, in particular after activating a disinfection cycle, especially since it is usual for this disinfection cycle to only start after a time delay to allow an operator to leave the room and / or after detecting the absence of a person or an animal. An emergency stop command using the tablet is made impossible under these conditions.

[0011] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks of existing autonomous UV-C radiation disinfection devices by providing a solution allowing their operation to be instantly interrupted in the event of a risk of exposure.

[0012] To this end, the invention relates to a self-contained device for disinfecting an environment by UV-C radiation comprising a frame surmounting a base and accommodating an electrical power supply unit, at least one UV-C lamp arranged on the periphery and / or in the upper part of the frame, an operating management unit comprising first means of remote intercommunication with a programming and control interface, at least one presence sensor means and visual and / or audible signaling means, characterized in that it comprises second means of remote intercommunication with at least one control remote emergency stop, said second remote intercommunication means operating according to an intercommunication protocol distinct from said first remote intercommunication means.

[0013] The invention also relates to a method for managing the safe operation of an autonomous UV-C radiation disinfection device according to the invention, a method comprising the following essential steps: • Powering on the device; • Optionally, validation of the powering up of the device by visual and / or audible signaling means and / or on the programming and control interface; • Resetting the emergency stop command on the device; • Optionally, validation of the reset status of the emergency stop command on the device by means of visual and / or audible signaling and / or on the programming and control interface; • Entry and validation of operator identification on the programming and control interface; • Optionally, validation of safety instructions by the operator on the programming and control interface; • Selection on the programming and control interface of the parameters of a disinfection cycle and transmission to the device management unit; • Validation by means of visual and / or audible signaling of the activation status of the device; • Start of a timer and activation of the presence sensor means; • Validation of the absence of a human or animal in a given environment at the end of the time delay by starting the disinfection cycle by UV-C radiation; • At least extinction of the UV-C lamp(s) in case of: • Presence detection by sensor means; • And / or activation of the emergency stop command; • And / or activation of the remote emergency stop command; • And / or a stop command from the programming and control interface; • At the end of the disinfection cycle.

[0014] Advantageously, at least one of the following steps: • Powering on the device; • Resetting the emergency stop command on the device; • Entry and validation of operator identification via the professional interface programming and ordering; • Selection on the programming and control interface of the parameters of a disinfection cycle and transmission to the device management unit; followed by a validation step by means of visual and / or audible signaling of the status and / or the programming and control interface.

[0015] The advantages arising from the present invention consist in that through the remote emergency stop command in intercommunication with the device according to an intercommunication protocol distinct from said first remote intercommunication means connecting the device to the programming and control interface, not only can this emergency stop command be carried permanently by the operator, because it can be compact, but, in addition, the intercommunication protocol can be chosen to be simpler and safer in comparison with that implemented between the device and the programming and control interface. Indeed, if the information communicated by an emergency stop command is of the ON or OFF type, that which the programming and control interface must be able to transmit is much more complex.

[0016] Other aims and advantages of this invention will appear in the description below relating to an exemplary embodiment and the understanding of which will be facilitated by referring to the appended drawing in which:

[0017] [Fig.l] shows schematically, in elevation and in the form of an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of an autonomous disinfection device according to the invention.

[0018] As shown in [Fig.l], the present invention relates to a stand-alone disinfection device 1 using UV-C radiation, also known as high-energy pulsed light.

[0019] This device 1 comprises a frame 2, generally in the form of a tower, surmounting a base 3 and at the periphery 4 of which at least one UV-C lamp 5 is arranged. This can extend over all or part of the height of the frame 2 or take position in the upper part 6 of the latter.

[0020] In order to flash and, therefore, disinfect the environment of a room over 360°, the tower-shaped frame 2 can be pivotally mounted around a vertical axis on the base 3, just as the latter is capable of rotating around such an axis thanks to suitable rolling means 7 and suitable rotation control motor means.

[0021] Another solution consists of associating the lamp 5 with a head mounted rotating on the frame 2, just as it is possible to multiply the lamps 5 on the periphery of the latter to cover the entire area around the device 1.

[0022] Note that the device 1 may include means 17 for locking the rotation of the lamp(s) 5 if the latter are mounted to rotate on the device 1, this so as to be able to immobilize it or them when moving or transporting the device 1.

[0023] The frame 2 also receives an electrical power supply unit 8 which may be of the autonomous type and equipped with rechargeable batteries or comprising means of connection to a building's power supply network.

[0024] The device 1 according to the invention also comprises a unit 8 for managing its operation, for example integrated into the frame 2. Such a management unit 8 manages the proper running of a pre-programmed disinfection cycle, for example by ensuring the rotation control of the device, the switching on and off of the lamp(s), this according to a determined duration and / or according to a defined disinfection cycle.

[0025] This management unit 8 is in communication with at least one presence sensor means 9 of infrared or other type which, in the event of detection of the presence of an animal or a human in the environment of the device 1, prevents, through said management unit 8, the start of a disinfection cycle or generates the extinction of the UV-C lamp(s), or even the stopping of a disinfection cycle in progress.

[0026] The presence sensor means 9 can be summarized as a single sensor capable of scanning the overall environment of a room or any space to be disinfected. However, the device preferably comprises several presence sensor means acting on several different zones or in duplicate on identical zones for increased safety.

[0027] Said management unit 8 also comprises first remote intercommunication means 10 with a programming and control interface 11. These first remote intercommunication means 10 can be of the Wifi or Bluetooth type, while the programming and control interface 11 can be defined, substantially, by a portable computer, preferably a digital tablet.

[0028] If such a digital tablet 11 constitutes a user-friendly tool through which an operator can generate multiple commands of the device 1, such as an environment recognition cycle, configure numerous functionalities or choose a predefined disinfection cycle, it makes it possible to carry out all these operations remotely while avoiding any risk of exposure to UV-C radiation. It also makes it possible to control the stopping of operation of the device 1, in particular the emergency switching off of the lamp(s), without having to intervene on the device 1 itself.

[0029] Advantageously, this also includes an emergency stop control 12, of the circuit breaker type, directly on the frame 2, or even on the base 3. This emergency stop control 12 can be used to render the device 1 inoperative. It is preferably activated before use of the device 1 and it is reset when is preparing to operate this device 1 for a disinfection cycle. In short, when activated, the emergency stop command 12 cuts off the power supply to the device 1, while when reset it restores this power supply.

[0030] According to a feature of the present invention, the operating management unit 8 comprises second remote intercommunication means 13 with a remote emergency stop command 14 operating according to an intercommunication protocol distinct from said first remote intercommunication means 10.

[0031] If these second remote intercommunication means 13 can be, depending on the case, of the Bluetooth or Wifi type, they are advantageously based on the communication model of low power wide area networks (LPWAN for Low Power Wide Area Network). This type of protocol offers extensive network coverage, for low energy consumption and a very low economic cost.

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[0061] The advantage of such a remote stop control 14 is that it can take the size of a pocket remote control that an operator can carry permanently on their person so that it can be operated quickly without wasting time. In comparison, the tablet 11 defining the first remote intercommunication means 10 is very often too bulky to be carried permanently by an operator. Furthermore, activating the tablet and searching through a complex menu for the emergency stop control can be far too long to limit the risks of exposure in the event of a failure, not to mention that the intercommunication protocols between a tablet and the management unit 8 of the device 1 are subject to disruption and malfunction.

[0062] It should be noted that the device 1 may be provided with additional proximity detection means 15 of the remote emergency stop control 14 and / or the programming and control interface 11, not allowing the start of a disinfection cycle, as long as this remote emergency stop control 14 and / or this programming and control interface 11 are not located outside a defined space meaning that the operator has not or has not taken them with him, or even that this operator is himself located in an environment likely to be exposed to high-energy radiation. These additional proximity detection means 15 can thus compensate for a possible failure of the presence sensor(s).

[0063] Advantageously, the device 1 according to the invention also comprises visual and / or audible signaling means 16 for its operating state. Visual signaling means may take the form of one or more indicator lights and / or a rotating beacon preferably surmounting the device 1 so as to be visible over 360°.

[0064] The invention also relates to a method for managing the safe operation of an autonomous UV-C radiation disinfection device according to the invention, a method comprising the following essential steps: • Power on device 1 • Optionally, validation of the powering up of the device 1 by means of visual and / or audible signaling and / or on the programming and control interface 11; • Reset emergency stop command 12 on device 1 • Optionally, validation of the command reset status emergency stop 12 on the device 1 by means of visual and / or audible signaling and / or on the programming and control interface 11; • Entry and validation of operator identification via the programming and control interface 11; • Optionally, validation of safety instructions by the operator on the programming and control interface 11; • Selection on the programming and control interface 11 of the parameters of a disinfection cycle and transmission to the management unit 8 of the device 1; • Optionally, validation by means of visual and / or audible signaling of the activation status of device 1; • Start of a timer and activation of the presence sensor means; • Validation of the absence of a human or animal in a given environment at the end of the time delay by starting the disinfection cycle by UV-C radiation; • At least extinction of the UV-C lamp(s) in case of: • Presence detection by sensor means 9; • And / or activation of the emergency stop command 12; • And / or activation of the remote emergency stop command 14; • And / or a stop command from the programming and control interface 11; • At the end of the disinfection cycle.

[0065] Advantageously, the step of activating the device 1 is preceded by a step of detecting the programming and control interface 11 and / or the remote emergency stop command 14 in a determined perimeter, by the complementary proximity detection means 15.

[0066] In particular, if the programming and control interface 11 and / or the remote emergency stop control 14 are on the contrary detected in the predefined perimeter, the device remains in a standby state. In this case, visual and / or audible alarm information is preferably emitted by said signaling means 16 and / or on the programming and control interface 11.

[0067] Advantageously, the management unit 8 of the device 1 comprises a non-volatile memory of the ROM type for recording all the steps of the method according to the invention and all the error messages likely to be issued previously to a validation step.

[0068] Note, if the device 1 comprises means 17 for locking the rotation of the lamp(s) 5, the step of energizing the device 1 may be preceded or followed by a step of controlling the release of said locking means 17, just as this rotation release step can occur after the resetting of the emergency stop control 12.

[0069] Thus, if a validation step cannot take place, visual and / or audible alarm information can be systematically emitted by said signaling means 16 and / or on the programming and control interface 11, just as the transition to a next step can be prevented. In particular, the device 1 cannot switch to activation mode.

[0070] According to the method according to the invention, at the end of a disinfection cycle, visual and / or audible alarm information is emitted by said signaling means 16 and / or on the programming and control interface 11 until the activation of the emergency stop command 12 on the device 1 or the selection and command to start a new disinfection cycle by resuming the method, in particular by the step of validating the powering up of the device 1.

[0071] Note that through the programming and control interface 11, a programming mode can be selected to select different parameters of a disinfection cycle, such as the duration, the number of flashes emitted, or even the intensity and space coverage. In particular, the programming and control interface 11 makes it possible to select a learning mode.

Claims

Claims

1. Autonomous device for disinfecting an environment by UV-C radiation comprising a frame (2) surmounting a base (3) and receiving an electrical power supply unit, at least one UV-C lamp (5) arranged on the periphery and / or in the upper part of the frame (2), an operating management unit (8) comprising first remote intercommunication means (10) with a programming and control interface (11), at least one presence sensor means (9) and visual and / or audible signaling means (16), characterized in that it comprises second remote intercommunication means (13) with at least one remote emergency stop control (14), said second remote intercommunication means (13) operating according to an intercommunication protocol distinct from said first remote intercommunication means (10).

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the first remote intercommunication means (10) are of the Wifi or Bluetooth type and the second remote intercommunication means (13) are, as the case may be, of the Bluetooth or Wifi type.

3. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the second remote intercommunication means (13) are based on the communication model of low power wide area networks (LPWAN for Low Power Wide Area Network).

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with complementary proximity detection means (15) of the remote emergency stop control (14) and / or of the programming and control interface (11).

5. Method for managing the safe operation of an autonomous UV-C radiation disinfection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following essential steps: • Powering up the device (1); • Resetting the emergency stop command (12) on the device (1); • Entering and validating the identification of the operator via the programming and control interface (11); • Selecting on the programming and control interface (11) parameters of a disinfection cycle and transmission to the management unit (8) of the device (1); • Starting a time delay and activation of the presence sensor means (9); • Validation of the absence of a human or an animal in a determined environment at the end of the time delay by starting the disinfection cycle by UV-C radiation; • At least extinction of the UV-C lamp(s) in the event of: • Detection of presence by the sensor means (9); • And / or activation of the emergency stop command (12); • And / or activation of the remote emergency stop command (14); • And / or a stop command from the programming and control interface (11); • At the end of the disinfection cycle.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the following steps: • Powering up the device (1); • Resetting the emergency stop command (12) on the device (1); • Entering and validating the identification of the operator by the programming and control interface (11); • Selecting on the programming and control interface (11) the parameters of a disinfection cycle and transmitting them to the management unit (8) of the device (1); is followed by a validation step by the visual and / or audible status signaling means (16) and / or the programming and control interface (11).

7. Method according to claim 5 or 6 characterized in that the step of activating the device (1) is preceded by a step of detecting the programming and control interface (11) and / or the

8. remote emergency stop control (14) within a determined perimeter, by the complementary proximity detection means (15). Method according to one of claims 5 to 7 characterized in that the step of entering and validating the identification of the operator by the programming and control interface (11) is followed by a step of validating safety instructions by the operator on the programming and control interface (11).

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