Shopping Cart Sanitization Device Using Automatic UV Light Irradiation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Shopping carts in retail environments are frequently touched by multiple customers, leading to the spread of pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and existing cleaning methods require active participation and may not effectively disinfect all surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A shopping cart sanitization device with a main body that receives carts, a primary sanitization unit that automatically moves and illuminates UV light to eliminate pathogens, and a sensor to detect cart presence, using UV-filtered materials to prevent UV exposure to humans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cleaning methods (spraying/wiping with disinfectant) are used, then some pathogen elimination is achieved, but active participation by customers or employees is required and not all surfaces are effectively disinfected
Solution Approach 1:
The shopping cart sanitization device enables self-service sanitization by automatically detecting when a shopping cart enters the chamber and initiating UV-C irradiation without requiring any manual intervention from customers or employees. The system autonomously completes the sanitization process, eliminating the need for active participation while ensuring reliable pathogen elimination through comprehensive UV-C exposure of all cart surfaces.
2Reliability
If manual cleaning methods are used, then some pathogen elimination is achieved, but comprehensive coverage of all cart surfaces is not ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The device addresses surface coverage by transitioning from manual spot-cleaning to three-dimensional UV-C irradiation. Multiple UV-C lamps positioned at different locations within the chamber emit ultraviolet light that envelops the shopping cart from all directions, ensuring complete coverage of all surfaces including handles, baskets, and frames that would be difficult to reach with manual wiping methods.
3Extent of automation
If UV light is used for sanitization, then automatic pathogen elimination is achieved, but UV exposure to humans must be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the operational sequence into distinct phases: cart detection, chamber closure, UV-C irradiation, and cart retrieval. The barrier mechanism creates a physical separation that confines UV-C exposure strictly to the chamber interior during sanitization, allowing automatic UV irradiation while protecting humans from exposure through spatial segmentation of the harmful UV field.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier acts as an intermediary element between the UV-C source and the external environment. This physical barrier blocks UV-C radiation while allowing the automatic sanitization process to proceed unimpeded within the chamber, thus enabling automated pathogen elimination while preventing harmful UV exposure to customers and employees who interact with the device.
4Productivity
If quick disinfection of multiple carts is needed, then processing speed must increase, but thorough sanitization may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device maintains continuous useful action by processing shopping carts in a continuous flow through the chamber. As one cart completes sanitization and exits, the next cart immediately enters and begins its UV-C exposure cycle. The UV-C irradiation continues uninterrupted throughout the chamber, ensuring that each cart receives adequate exposure time while maximizing the number of carts sanitized per unit time, thus achieving both high productivity and reliable sanitization completeness.
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 device efficiently disinfects shopping carts by automatically illuminating UV light on all surfaces, reducing the risk of pathogen transmission and eliminating pathogens without requiring active participation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one illumination unit disposed on at least at least one portion of the sanitization body to automatically illuminate UV light on the at least one shopping cart
Implementation Method 2
The main body may allow visible light with respect to humans to move therethrough and prevent the UV light from moving therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
A shopping cart sanitization device, including a main body to receive at a first end at least one shopping cart therein, and a primary sanitization unit disposed within at least at least one portion of an interior of the main body, the primary sanitization unit including a sanitization body to automatically move from a second end of the main body to the first end of the main body in response to the main body receiving the at least one shopping cart, and at least one illumination unit disposed on at least at least one portion of the sanitization body to automatically illuminate UV light on the at least one shopping cart in response to the main body receiving the at least one shopping cart, such that the at least one illumination unit eliminates a pathogen.