Rotating Carousel UV Exposure Apparatus for Operator Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UV exposure systems for sanitizing personal articles are bulky, require significant setup and operation training, and often expose operators to UV radiation, leading to potential contamination and reduced bulb life due to power cycling and operator contact.
Innovation Solution
A rotating carousel-based UV exposure apparatus that isolates the operator from exposure hardware, using energy-blocking features to contain UV radiation within the exposure chamber, allowing for hands-free, user-friendly operation with minimal operator training.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If operator access to exposure chamber is permitted for loading and unloading, then ease of operation is improved, but operator exposure to UV radiation and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exposure chamber is segmented into distinct zones: a loading zone with open access for operators, and an exposure zone with controlled access. The carousel rotates to bring articles between these zones, allowing operators to load/unload without entering the enclosed exposure chamber where UV radiation is present.
Solution Approach 2:
The carousel acts as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the UV exposure chamber. Operators interact with the carousel at the loading zone rather than directly accessing the exposure chamber, and the carousel mechanically transports articles into the enclosed exposure zone where UV radiation is contained.
2Ease of operation
If continuous power cycling of UV bulbs is implemented to allow operator access, then ease of operation is improved, but bulb life and performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning articles on the carousel in the loading zone before exposure. The carousel rotates to bring articles into the exposure zone only when needed, allowing the UV bulbs to remain continuously powered without unnecessary cycling on and off for each loading/unloading operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV bulbs operate continuously rather than cycling on and off with each operator access. The carousel mechanism enables continuous operation by mechanically managing article transport and positioning, allowing the bulbs to maintain steady state and extend their operational life.
3Ease of operation
If operator contact with exposure components is allowed, then ease of operation is improved, but component lifetime and effectiveness decrease due to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful exposure components (UV bulbs and enclosed chamber) are extracted from the operator's accessible area. Operators can load and unload articles at the open loading zone without contacting the enclosed exposure chamber or UV bulbs, preventing contamination from skin oils and other contact-related degradation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If UV radiation is contained within enclosed chamber, then operator protection is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic rotation of the carousel to manage exposure rather than static enclosed chambers for all operations. The carousel rotates to bring articles into and out of the enclosed exposure zone, allowing the enclosure to be smaller and more focused on the actual exposure area rather than requiring large interlocked chambers for entire loading/unloading processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides effective, controlled UV exposure for sanitizing personal articles while protecting operators from UV radiation and minimizing bulb degradation, achieving efficient radiation patterns and extended bulb life.
Implementation Method 1
UV-C exposure systems have been used in industrial applications... UV light (UV), particularly light in the UV-C range (nominally, with wavelengths in the range of about 100 to 280 nm)
Implementation Method 2
energy-blocking feature that defines an article support sector... Containment of the radiation to avoid operator exposure
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for exposing an article to radiant energy has a rotating carousel having an article support in a support sector defined between a first energy-blocking feature of the rotating carousel and a second energy-blocking feature of the rotating carousel. An actuator is energizable to rotate the carousel and to revolve the article support along a circular transport path. An enclosure has a stationary hood that defines an enclosed sector of the transport path and an unenclosed sector of the transport path. There is at least a first radiant energy source energizable to direct the radiant exposure energy toward the carousel along the enclosed sector of the transport path.