Merchandiser with a packaging hygiene system

Abstract

The present application provides a merchandiser having a number of packages therein, which may include a product area having either a number of shelves or a number of columns with packages therein, and a package sanitization system, which may include one or more ultraviolet lamps positioned within the product area to sanitize packages therein.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Technical Field This application and the resulting patent generally relate to merchandisers, and more particularly to merchandisers such as vending machines, coolers, etc. having a package sanitization system for safely maintaining and selling packages therein.

Background Art

[0002] Background of the Invention Consumers have an increasingly high concern about the safety and integrity of packages of food and beverage products. Specifically, consumers are interested in how the packages are handled and whether it is necessary to clean or disinfect the surfaces of the packages. Such consumer concerns can be alleviated, for example, when the packages can be sterilized before being sold from merchandisers such as vending machines, coolers, etc.

[0003] There are many known decontamination techniques, each with different advantages and disadvantages. For example, there is wet purification using various types of liquid chemicals, dry purification through chemical means or energy radiation, and the use of agents that prevent the growth of microorganisms on the package surface. However, not all of these techniques are available or even feasible for safely and efficiently sanitizing packages within merchandisers and other types of package cases.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for an improved merchandiser or other type of case having a safe and effective package sanitization system. Such a package sanitization system can safely maintain and sell the packages therein. Further, such a package sanitization system can inform consumers that the packages can be safely handled.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] Summary of the Invention The present application and the resulting patent provide a merchandiser having several packages therein. The merchandiser may include a product area having several shelves or several columns, any of which have packages therein, and a package sanitization system. The package sanitization system may include one or more ultraviolet lamps positioned within the product area for sanitizing the packages therein.

[0006] The present application and the resulting patent further provide a method for sanitizing packages within a merchandiser. This method may include the steps of turning on an ultraviolet lamp within the merchandiser for a predetermined length of time, identifying when the door of the merchandiser has been opened, and, upon identifying that the door of the merchandiser has been opened, turning on the ultraviolet lamp again for a predetermined length of time.

[0007] The present application and the resulting patent further provide a merchandiser having several packages therein. The merchandiser may include several shelves or several columns, any of which have packages therein, and a package sanitization system. The package sanitization system may include several ultraviolet lamps positioned around the shelves or columns to sanitize the packages therein.

[0008] These and other features and improvements of the present application and the resulting patent will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings and appended claims. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] Brief explanation of the drawing [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a merchandiser. [Figure 2] This is a side view of a merchandiser as a cooler having a package sanitization system, which may be described herein. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a front view of the cooler. [Figure 4] Figure 2 is a side view of the shelf on which the package is placed inside the cooler. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a front view of the shelf on which the package is placed. [Figure 6] Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the bottom exit of the shelf. [Figure 7] Figure 4 is an enlarged top view of the bottom exit of the shelf. [Figure 8] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps in the timing algorithm of the package sanitization system. [Figure 9] This is a front view of a merchandiser as a vending machine having a package sanitization system, which may be described herein. [Figure 10] Figure 9 is an enlarged side view of a vending machine equipped with a package hygiene system. [Figure 11] Figure 9 is an enlarged side view of a vending machine equipped with a package hygiene system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Detailed explanation Herein, referring to drawings where similar numbers point to similar elements through several figures, Figure 1 shows an example of a merchandiser 100 as described herein. The merchandiser 100 may have any number of product packages 110 within it. The merchandiser 100 may include an outer shell 120. In this example, the outer shell 120 may have a substantially rectangular configuration, but the outer shell 120 may have any suitable size, shape or configuration. The outer shell 120 may be made of metal, plastic or any suitable rigid material. The outer shell 120 may be insulated entirely or partially. The outer shell 120 may define a product area 130 and a refrigerated component area 140. The refrigerated component area 140 may include conventional refrigerated and / or heated components, etc. The outer shell 120 may include an access door 150. The access door 150 may have any suitable size, shape or configuration. Other components and configurations may also be used in this application.

[0011] Figures 2 and 3 show an example of a merchandiser 100 as a cooler 160. As is known, the cooler 160 may include an access door 150, which is a glass front door 170, allowing the packages 110 inside to be visible to the consumer. The cooler 160 may have several shelves 180 inside for supporting the packages 110. Here, any number of shelves 180 of any size, shape or configuration may be used. The product area 130 may have one or more refrigeration fans 190, etc., communicating with the refrigerated component area 140. The refrigeration fans 160 may be of a conventional design. In use, the consumer simply opens the glass front door 170 and selects one of the packages 110 on the shelves 180. Other components and configurations may also be used in this application.

[0012] The cooler 160 may include a package sanitizing system 200 located therein. The package sanitizing system 200 may include several alternative configurations. In the examples of Figures 2 and 3, the package sanitizing system 200 may take the form of an air recirculation sanitizing system 210. The air recirculation sanitizing system 210 may include an air duct 220 located together with the product area 130. The air duct 220 may have an inlet 230 and one or more outlets 240 located around the shelves 180. The air duct 220 may have any suitable size, shape or configuration. The air recirculation system 210 may have a recirculation fan 250 located around the inlet 230 of the air duct 220 or elsewhere. The recirculation fan 250 may be a low CFM axial flow fan, etc. The air recirculation sanitizing system 210 may also have an ultraviolet (UV) light source 260 located within the air duct 220. As will be described in more detail below, the UV light source 260 can operate at a specific wavelength to inactivate microorganisms and the like. Other components and configurations may also be used in this application.

[0013] During use, the recirculation fan 250 can move air inside the cooler 160 through the air duct 220. The air passes the UV lamp 260 within a certain proximity range to remove airborne bacteria and other contaminants that may enter when the glass front door 170 is open. By positioning the UV lamp 260 within the air duct 220, consumers are also protected from potential exposure to UV light. Each time there is an opening or closing event of the door, the recirculation fan 250 is turned on and can operate for a sufficient amount of time to sanitize the volume of air inside the cooler 160. The air duct 220 can be installed to direct the airflow in a manner considered most effective in reducing contamination. Other components and configurations may also be used in this application.

[0014] Figures 4 and 5 show another example of the package sanitization system 200 for the cooler 160. This example may show the product shelf sanitization system 270. Specifically, the shelf 180 in the cooler 160 can be in the form of a gravity-fed shelf 280 positioned at an angle such that the package 110 can move from the upper inlet 290 to the bottom outlet 300 by gravity. Each shelf 180 is also divided into several rows 310 so that the advancement of each package 110 therein can be controlled. In the present application, any number of rows 310 can be used. In the present application, other components and other configurations can also be used.

[0015] The product shelf sanitization system 270 can include a pair of UV lamps 260 around the bottom outlet 300 of each row 310 or elsewhere. Each UV lamp 260 of the pair thus has an irradiation range of emitted UV light for one half of the package 110, whereby the entire vertical surface is the irradiation range by the emitted UV light. The product shelf sanitization system 270 thus sanitizes each package 110 just before it is sold from the row 310 and the cooler 160.

[0016] Figures 6 and 7 show further embodiments of the product shelf sanitization system 270. In this example, the bottom outlet 300 of each row 310 can also include a pair of deflection plates 320 positioned around the UV lamp 260. The deflection plates 320 can condense the emitted UV light so that the UV light is not emitted in an unnecessary direction. In the present application, other components and other configurations can also be used.

[0017] The product shelf sanitization system 270 can also limit the UV exposure range. Specifically, the UV lamp 260 can be timed and switched off to prevent product deterioration and / or package damage due to excessive exposure to the emitted UV light. The exposure time to the UV light can also optimize sanitization and product preservation. The exposure time (T) is variable and can be set by a controller for the entire cooler 160 or elsewhere.

[0018] FIG. 8 shows an exemplary flowchart regarding the operation of the UV lamp 260 based on the opening of the door 170 of the cooler 160. Specifically, the contamination removal process is re-initialized each time the door 170 is opened because the previous package contamination removal process may be invalidated during the opening of the door 170.

[0019] In step 330, the process is initialized and it is determined whether there is a package 110 at the bottom outlet 300 of a certain row 310. If present, in step 340 the UV lamp 260 is turned on and in step 350 a timer is started. In step 360, it is determined whether the door 170 has been opened. If not, in step 370, it is determined whether the elapsed time T has exceeded the set time T , ,

[0020] . If so, in step 380 the UV lamp 260 is turned off. In step 390, the state of the system changes from "standby" to "ready". In step 400, it is again determined whether there is a package 110 detected at the bottom outlet 300 of a certain row 310. If present, in step 415, it is determined whether the door 170 has been opened. If so, in step 420 the system state changes from "ready" to "standby". Thereafter, the process returns to step 340 and the UV lamp 260 is turned on again. Depending on the nature of the cooler 160, a signal or other type of display means may indicate to the consumer that the package 110 has been sanitized. The steps described herein are merely examples. In the present application, many different and other steps may be used in any order. <0000​Figures 9-11 show further examples of the merchandiser 100. In this example, the merchandiser 100 may take the form of a vending machine 425. As is known, the vending machine 425 may include a supply port 430 on an access door 150, from which consumers can take packages 110 supplied. The vending machine 425 may have several internal supply columns 440 communicating with the supply port 430. The supply columns 440 may have an upper stack area 450 and a lower pre-supply area 460. In this application, any number of supply columns 440 of any appropriate size, shape or configuration may be used. In this application, other components and other configurations may also be used.

[0021] The vending machine 425 may also include a package sanitization system 200 located therein. In this example, the package sanitization system 200 may take the form of a supply column sanitization system 470. The supply column sanitization system 470 may include several UV lamps 260 located around each of the supply columns 440. For example, a pair of UV lamps 260 may be located around the upper stacking area 450, and a pair of UV lamps 260 may be located around the lower pre-sale area 460. Other locations may also be used in this application. UV lamps 260 located around the upper stacking area 450 may sanitize the package 110 when it is replenished in the vending machine 425, while UV lamps 260 located around the pre-sale area 460 may sanitize the package 110 before or during its sale. Other components and configurations may also be used in this application.

[0022] As shown in Figure 10, the UV lamp 260 may be positioned around the feed column 440 on a metal guide bar 480 within it so that the package 110 within it is well exposed. As shown in Figure 11, the UV lamp 260 may be movable. Specifically, the UV lamp 260 may rotate and / or move the feed column 440 up and down to increase the exposure of the package 110 to the emitted UV light. A timing algorithm similar to that described above may be used here. Other components and configurations may also be used in this application.

[0023] In this application, various types of UV light sources can be used. Short-wavelength ultraviolet light or radiation (UV-C) has been successfully used to decontaminate fresh produce. UV-C radiation is a non-thermal / non-chemical intervention method that utilizes physical light energy of a specific wavelength to inactivate microorganisms. The germicidal effect of UV-C light (i.e., UV around 200-290 nm) is a result of its ability to damage the DNA or RNA of microorganisms. UV-C light effectively kills microorganisms, including pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Treatment with UV-C technology offers several advantages, such as leaving no chemical residue or requiring extensive protective equipment. Microorganisms must be directly exposed to UV-C light to be inactivated. Therefore, ensuring that the entire surface is evenly exposed to UV-C light is a technical challenge. The use of multiple UV lamps 260 can help achieve more even UV-C exposure from multiple directions and angles.

[0024] To accurately measure the amount of UV-C irradiation each package 110 receives, a dose metering system capable of indicating the irradiation dose at different locations on the package surface may be used. For example, a plastic film embedded with a dye that changes color when exposed to ionization irradiation may be used. These colorless, transparent films have good optical quality and are thin, strong, and flexible. These films can therefore be used as labels to provide consumers with some indication of the sanitization process.

[0025] Pulsed light (PL) technology can also be used to inactivate several pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms with little to no impact on quality attributes. Short-duration, i.e., high-power light pulses can inactivate microorganisms through a combination of photochemical, photothermal, and photophysical mechanisms. In addition to microbial inactivation, PL treatment has proven effective in removing microbial contamination from some packages, reducing allergens, and extending the shelf life of certain foods while maintaining nutritional value. This technology is also known by several other names, including high-intensity light, broad-spectrum white light, intense pulsed light, pulsed white light, and pulsed UV light, with most of the energy of the pulsed light coming from the UV portion of the spectrum. PL systems generate broad-spectrum light from ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (NIR, 100-1000 nm: UV [100-400 nm], visible light [380-780 nm], and infrared [700-1100 nm]). Light used for food processing typically has 1–20 flashes per second and a radiation level of 0.01–50 J / cm². 2 The surface energy density is pulsed within this range.

[0026] Using PL for sterilization offers several advantages over other methods, including (1) improved safety, (2) smaller temperature fluctuations resulting in reduced product damage, (3) shorter irradiation times and higher operational efficiency, and (4) the possibility of use in food manufacturing and processing as needed. PL irradiation can reduce microbial contamination and extend the shelf life of products.

[0027] Therefore, the systems and methods described herein provide improved package hygiene. Such improved hygiene can give consumers peace of mind that packages can be handled safely and that the products inside can be consumed safely. Such systems and methods, when combined with other types of sales and delivery technologies such as contactless sales, can further enhance consumer confidence in this application.

[0028] It will be apparent that the foregoing pertains only to specific embodiments of the present application and the resulting patent. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements to the present application without departing from the general subject matter and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims and equivalents set forth below.

Claims

1. It is a merchandiser, and it has several packages within it. A product area comprising multiple shelves or multiple columns, the product area including at least one of the multiple shelves or multiple columns having some of the aforementioned packages, A package sanitization system comprising one or more ultraviolet pulse lamps positioned within the product area for sanitizing several packages. Includes, A merchandiser in which several packages have a plastic film embedded with a dye that changes color when exposed to irradiation from one or more ultraviolet pulse lamps.

2. A merchandiser according to claim 1, comprising a cooler.

3. The merchandiser according to claim 2, wherein the package sanitization system includes an air duct and a recirculation fan located within the product area of ​​the cooler.

4. The merchandiser according to claim 3, wherein the one or more ultraviolet pulse lamps are positioned around the air duct to sanitize the airflow passing through it.

5. The merchandiser according to claim 2, wherein the cooler includes a plurality of shelves therein.

6. The merchandiser according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of shelves include a plurality of gravity-feed shelves extending at an angle from an upper entrance to a bottom exit.

7. The merchandiser according to claim 6, wherein the pair of one or more ultraviolet pulse lamps is positioned around the bottom outlet.

8. The merchandiser according to claim 7, wherein the bottom outlet includes one or more deflection plates positioned around each of the one or more ultraviolet pulse lamps.

9. The merchandiser according to claim 1, including a vending machine.

10. The merchandiser according to claim 9, wherein the one or more ultraviolet pulse lamps are positioned around the plurality of columns.

11. The merchandiser according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of columns includes an upper stack area and a lower pre-sale area.

12. The merchandiser according to claim 11, wherein the one or more ultraviolet pulse lamps are positioned around the upper stack area.

13. The merchandiser according to claim 11, wherein the one or more ultraviolet pulse lamps are positioned around the lower pre-sale area.

14. The merchandiser according to claim 1, wherein the one or more ultraviolet pulse lamps are operable within the product area.

15. A method for sanitizing packaging within a merchandiser, The steps include turning on the ultraviolet pulse lamp in the merchandiser for a predetermined length of time, A step of determining when the door of the merchandiser is opened, Upon determining that the door of the merchandiser has been opened, the steps include turning the ultraviolet pulse lamp on again for a predetermined length of time. Includes, The method wherein the package has a plastic film in which a dye that changes color when exposed to irradiation of the ultraviolet pulse lamp is embedded.

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