Surface disinfection in closed chamber systems

Abstract

The apparatus for sterilizing and / or disinfecting objects comprises a cabinet 1 for containing the objects, and means 29 for generating UV-C light within the cabinet, at least a portion of the interior surface of the cabinet being disturbed so that the UV-C light is reflected in a diffuse (i.e. soft) manner to ensure that substantially all surfaces of the objects are irradiated. The cabinet is provided with one or more doors 9 having inward-facing door panels with perforated aluminum reflective surfaces 27.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to improved distribution, efficacy, and monitoring of UV-C light for surface disinfection / sterilization in closed chamber systems. [Background technology]

[0002] UV disinfection cabinets are known for disinfecting objects using ultraviolet light in the "C" wavelength band (UV-C). Such cabinets are used to kill microorganisms such as bacteria without the need for heat or chemicals. They comprise a cabinet with a door and one or more UV-C lamps located within the cabinet. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for sterilizing and / or disinfecting objects, said apparatus comprising: a cabinet for containing the objects; and means for generating UV-C light arranged within the cabinet, at least a portion of the inner surface of the cabinet being disturbed so as to cause the UV-C light to be reflected in a diffuse (i.e. soft) manner to ensure that substantially the entire surface of the object is irradiated; and the cabinet being provided with one or more doors having inward-facing door panels with perforated aluminum reflective surfaces.

[0004] The disturbance to the interior surface increases the proportion of UV-C radiation reflected from the UV-C light generating means and scatters the radiation at multiple angles from the uneven surface, thereby increasing the diffusion of UV-C to a higher proportion of the cabinet surface, thereby increasing the output of reflected radiation onto the surface of the object.

[0005] Preferably, the inner surface is disturbed by being textured, for example by being corrugated, cracked or dimpled.

[0006] At least one or more doors of the cabinet may be provided with an inward-facing door panel having a perforated aluminum reflective surface, thereby increasing the reflectivity of the door panel and allowing a user to see inside the cabinet during use.

[0007] Preferably, the means for generating UV-C light is embedded in an inner surface of the cabinet.

[0008] Preferably, the means for generating UV-C light within the cabinet is fixed to the cabinet by a hidden fixing unit.

[0009] This aspect of the invention reduces the proximity of the UV-C light generating means to the reflective surface, maximizing the proportion of UV-C light that is reflected by the reflective surface.

[0010] Preferably, the cabinet is provided with at least one shelf for supporting said object, said shelf being an open wire support structure.

[0011] For example, the shelves may be of the type known as display cabinets.

[0012] This open structure reduces the shadow areas on the object and maximizes the coverage of the object by UV-C radiation.

[0013] Preferably, the open wire structure is configured so that an object rests on multiple points on the wire, thereby minimizing shadow areas.

[0014] More preferably, the open wire structure comprises spaced apart support wires in a triangular wave pattern, which provide spaced apart vertices upon which objects placed within the cabinet rest.

[0015] The accompanying drawings are as follows: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of an apparatus according to the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with the door closed. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with the door open. [Figures 5A-5D] 2A-2C are perspective, side, top, and front views, respectively, of a shelf of the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view from below of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] The apparatus 1 for sterilizing and / or disinfecting objects includes a cabinet 3 having a housing 5 mounted on wheels 7 and provided with a pair of doors 9 allowing access to the interior of the cabinet 3.

[0019] Mounted within the cabinet 3 so as to be horizontally slidable in and out of the cabinet 3 are a series of vertically spaced shelves 11. Each shelf 11 has an open wire support structure. Wires 13 are spaced apart, extend from one side of the shelf to the other, and are straight, while wires 15 are spaced apart, extend from the front to the rear of the shelf, and have a triangular wave shape. When viewed from above, the wire structure defines an array of square spaces 17. When viewed from the side, the wire structure exhibits a triangular wave shape, with each triangle 19 forming a vertex 21, and the vertices 21 support an object placed within the cabinet 3. As a result, during operation of the device 1, UV-C light can reach substantially the entire bottom surface of the object.

[0020] The inner surface of the wall 23 of the cabinet 3 is textured and disturbed, for example by corrugating, cracking or creating small dimples, as shown at 25 in Figure 6. As a result, a higher proportion of the UV-C radiation from the UV-C light generating means is reflected within the cabinet 3, scattering the radiation at multiple angles from the uneven surfaces, thereby increasing the spread of UV-C radiation over a higher proportion of the cabinet surfaces and thereby increasing the output of reflected radiation to these surfaces.

[0021] Each of the doors 9 of the cabinet 3 is provided with an inward-facing door panel having a perforated aluminum reflective surface with perforations 27. This feature not only improves the reflectivity from the door panel, but also allows the user to see inside the cabinet when in use.

[0022] A plurality of UV-C light generating means are mounted within the cabinet 3, each of which comprises a UV-C light generating tube 29 positioned directly above the edge of the shelf 11 on one of the side walls of the cabinet 3.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for sterilizing and / or disinfecting an object, comprising: a cabinet for containing the object; and means for generating UV-C light within the cabinet, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the cabinet is disturbed so that the UV-C light is reflected in a diffuse (i.e. soft) manner to ensure that substantially the entire surface of the object is irradiated; and wherein the cabinet is provided with one or more doors having inward-facing door panels with perforated aluminum reflective surfaces.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interior surface of the cabinet is textured.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the interior surface of the cabinet is corrugated, cracked, or dimpled.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means for generating UV-C light is embedded in an inner surface of the cabinet.

5. 4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means for generating UV-C light within the cabinet is fixed to the cabinet by means of a hidden fixing unit.

6. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cabinet is provided with at least one shelf for supporting the object, the shelf being an open wire support structure.

7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the open wire support structure is configured so that the object rests on multiple points on the wire, thereby minimizing shadow areas.

8. 8. The device of claim 6 or 7, wherein the open wire structure comprises spaced apart support wires in a triangular wave pattern.

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