TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a belt conveyor system and a disinfection system. The systems may be used for sterilizing surfaces, materials, products and similar objects.

BACKGROUND

The transmission of pathogens such as viruses and bacteria in stores, public rooms, hospitals and other places are costly and at times deadly. Research studies report that pathogens can survive on certain surfaces up to three or even nine days. In some cases, such as that one of hospitals, the bacteria and viruses are known to significantly differ to those found elsewhere and can be resistant to treatments such as antibiotics or conventional disinfectants. In stores and public rooms, where there is a lot of human presence and touching of materials and surfaces, slowing or obstructing the transmission rate of viruses and bacteria requires substantial cleaning and in cases conventional cleaning does not effectively remove or kill the pathogens.

Many viruses and bacteria can lead to severe illnesses and death by infections or diseases. These are transmitted by direct and indirect human contact. For example, like many viruses SARS CoV-2, resulting in the disease COVID-19 are believed to be transmitted by droplets and fluid when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or touches a surface. Research on related coronaviruses shows that the viruses can live for several days on surfaces and items. Similarly, many bacteria can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with a reservoir of infectious bacteria and they can survive outside of a host and on products and surfaces to remain contagious for extended periods of time.

Significant costs are associated to infections. The World Health Organization reported numbers suggesting 3.4% of reported COVID-19 patients around the world have died and studies in China reported that 2.3% of 72 000 patents have died. The Ebola virus has been reported with a fatality rate of up to 50%. The problem with many viruses and bacteria are that many people do not experience symptoms and move in public spaces. In the COVID-19 example, this means that the contagious effects are problematic. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported about 25% of people infected with the virus may exhibit no symptoms at all. Combined with that many of the viruses and bacteria are highly contagious, the risk is epidemical and pandemic outbreaks.

Efforts to eradicate or remove contaminates such as virus and bacteria from products and materials have varied in applicability and success. Personal hygiene and washing hands with chlorhexidine gluconate and povidone-iodine solutions and distancing from contagious contact points have been advocated, but proven difficult and transmission still occurs. The use of antiseptics in terms of soap, alcohol-based fluid, boric acid, and benzalkonium chloride and iodine are also evident. The problem is that many may be adding to the problem by inducing antibiotic resistance. Moreover, many products and surfaces such as keyboard, touchscreens, or handles are very difficult and almost impossible to sterilize by liquid disinfectants without a negative influence on the electronics that the product is based upon.

Radiation operations, such as using artificial UVC (ultraviolet C), which is a subgroup of ultraviolet light, and is produced by electric lamps, have previously been used for germicidal applications such as sterilization and disinfection. There have been applications of high frequency wave light UVC for decontaminate water, and there has been UVC applications for air sanitation. There have been UVC bulb sanitation solutions for materials and disinfection spaces such as operation rooms. These, however, have not been used for large-scale commercial purposes and fast frequent and optimized cleaning of materials and surfaces in seconds, such as the sanitation of a product in a store. New technology solutions in the LED field makes it possible to sanitize by customizing the wave length for optimizing sterilization of different types of surfaces. This enables large scale usage that the UVC bulbs could not effectively cover because they failed to optimize and reach important wavelength frequencies for sterilization and the technology is not suitable for fast on-and-off UVC light switching. Fast on-off switching is important when sterilizing surfaces such as payment terminals, door key pads or for consumer products. In addition, also advance in LED field also make it possible to miniaturize solutions. A human can use one of these surfaces when for example buying and paying a product and UVC sanitation can occur before the next human uses the device. In this way, ⁽ JVC sanitation can determinate bacteria and virus from the surfaces before usage by the next customer. The wide use of UVC LED is so far limited, but the recent COVID-19 pandemic and concerns for highly contagious viruses and bacteria supports a strong societal need for cheap and alternative devices. EP2174670B1 presents an automated room sterilizer by measuring reflection of UVC from multiple points within an area. The device can calculate the darkest area in the room and can calculate the dose of UVC for sterilization of the room.

US-A-5891399 describes a device where multiple UVC emitters are used to emit 360-degree radiation and a radiation receiver is sensing the output power of the UVC emitters. DE-U-29812427 describes a sensor for calculating the cumulative radiation for sterilizing

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a belt conveyor system comprising a belt conveyor comprising a conveyor belt and driving means for driving the conveyor belt; at least one radiation source arranged to radiate an outer surface of the conveyor belt, wherein said at least one radiation source being arranged to emit ultraviolet radiation; and a control unit (11) arranged to control emission from the at least one radiation emitting source based on whether the conveyor belt is running or not.

Optional features are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The present invention further relates to a disinfection system for disinfecting a conveyor belt outer surface of a belt conveyor. The disinfection system comprises at least one radiation source arranged to radiate the outer surface of the conveyor belt, wherein said at least one radiation source being arranged to emit ultraviolet radiation, preferably ultraviolet C radiation; and a control unit arranged to control the at least one radiation source based on whether the conveyor belt is running or not so that the at least one radiation source only provide radiation while the conveyor belt is running.

Optional features are disclosed in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures la and lb illustrate views of an example of a belt conveyor system, wherein figure la represents a perspective view and figure lb represents a side view.

5 Figure 2 illustrates a view from above of an example of a support for radiation sources with the radiation sources mounted thereon.

Figure 3 is a block scheme illustrating an example of a cleaning system for cleaning a conveyor belt part of a belt conveyor.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically an example of a radiation source.

10 Figure 5 illustrates an example of emission of radiation provided by a radiation source towards a conveyor belt surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures la and lb illustrates a belt conveyor system 100. The belt conveyor system may be 15 used in different applications such as hand rails of escalators or moving walkways, or at cash registers in department stores, or for luggage for example at airports.

The belt conveyor system comprises a belt conveyor 10 comprising a conveyor belt 1.

The belt conveyor 10 comprises in the illustrated example two or more pulleys 2. The conveyor belt 1 is arranged to rotate about the pulleys in an endless loop. At least one of the

20 pulleys 2 is powered. The powered pulley(s) may be denoted as drive pulley(s). Any unpowered pulley may be referred to as idler pulley(s). The conveyor belt 1 is moving in the endless lope as long as the pulleys rotate. It should be noted that the belt conveyor having at least one powered pulleys is only given as an example. The belt conveyor can have any type of driving means such as a drive chain.

25 The conveyor belt 1 has an outer surface 3. The outer surface 3 of the conveyor belt 1 is exposed to the environment at a first part 4 of the belt conveyor 10. For example, when the belt conveyor 10 is designed as a hand rail of an escalator or moving walkway, persons moving with the escalator or moving walkaway, may put their hand on the outer surface 3 of the conveyor belt 1 at first part 4 of the belt conveyor. When the belt conveyor 10 is designed for use at cash registers and for luggage handling, objects are travelling on the outer surface 3 at the first part 4 of the belt conveyor.

The outer surface 3 of the conveyor belt 1 is not exposed to the environment at a second part 5 of the belt conveyor 10. At the second part 5 of the belt conveyor 10, the belt 1 is characteristically travelling in a direction opposite direction the travelling direction of the belt at the first part 4 of the belt conveyor 10. Thus, the outer surface 3 of the conveyor belt 1 is at the second part 5 of the belt conveyor 10 characteristically not exposed to the environment.

In figures la and lb the travelling direction of the conveyor belt is illustrated. The arrow pointing to the right in the figures illustrates the travelling direction of the belt 1 at the first part 4 of the belt conveyor 10 and the arrow pointing to the left in the figures illustrates the travelling direction of the conveyor belt 1 at the second part 5 of the belt conveyor 10.

The conveyor belt 1 characteristically relies on a support 6 at the first part 4 of the belt conveyor 10. In practice the belt conveyor 10 may be designed in different ways in this respect. For example, the belt conveyor 10 may comprise a frame with pulleys mounted at either end of the support being a support surface 6. The conveyor belt 1 then travels on top of the support surface 6 a the first part 4 of the belt conveyor 4 and the conveyor belt 1 travels beneath the support surface 6 at the second part of the belt conveyor 10. Any object travelling on the conveyor belt 1 at the first part 4 of the belt conveyor 10 is then supported by the underlying support surface. In another example, the support surface is substituted with rollers. The use of rollers instead of the support surface reduces the amount of friction generated from heavier loading on the conveyor belt. Generally, the support 6 may be configured to provide a planar support to the conveyor belt 1 at at least a part of the first part 4 of the belt conveyor 10. The support 6 may be configured to provide a curved support to the conveyor belt 1 at at least a part of the first part 4 of the belt conveyor 10. This is for example normally the case in rail handle applications.

The belt conveyor system 100 as disclosed herein comprises further one or a plurality of radiation sources 7. At least some of the radiation sources 7 are arranged to emit ultraviolet light, preferably ultraviolet C light. The radiation sources 7 may comprise radiation sources of different kinds, such as UV radiation sources and UVC radiation sources. At least one radiation source 7 of the radiation sources may comprise LEDs.

The belt conveyor system 100 comprises further a support 8 for supporting the at least one radiation source 7. In the illustrated example, the support for the at least one radiation source is a plate. The plate may be formed of a material having cooling effects. Thereby, heat from the radiation sources is distributed away. The plate may be a sheet metal plate and/or may be made of or comprise aluminium

The support 8 for the at least one radiation source 7 is arranged to hold the at least one radiation source such that the radiation source radiates against at least a part of the outer surface at the second part 5 of the belt conveyor 10.

The belt conveyor system 100 may further comprise at least one cover 9 for preventing unauthorized access to the space 15 intended to be radiated by the radiation sources. The covers may be there to prevent both unauthorized access in the form of physical access to the space 15 but also preventing the radiation from reaching eyes of persons and animals. In the illustrated example, the covers 9 forms side walls between the support 8 for the radiation sources and the conveyor belt 1 at the second part 5 of the belt conveyor 10. As mentioned above, the surface of the conveyor belt 1 is exposed to the environment at the first part 4 of the belt conveyor 10. Accordingly, the second part 5 of the belt conveyor is not accessible as it is surrounded by the support 8 for the radiation sources and by the cover(s) 9. The respective cover 9 has in an example a scraper 20. The scraper 20 is characteristically a rubber bar arranged to lie against the conveyor belt 3. Thereby the space 15 is secluded with regard to UV radiation.

In the illustrated example of figures la, lb, the radiation source support 8 with radiation sources 7 is arranged at an underside of the belt conveyor system. However, other designs may be considered as long as only non-exposed outer surfaces of the conveyor belt are radiated and as long as the radiation sources or the light emitted therefrom cannot be accessed. The belt conveyor system 100 further comprises a control unit (not shown) arranged to control the radiation source(s). The control unit is arranged to control the radiation source(s) based on whether the conveyor belt is running or not. The control unit is arranged to control the radiation sources so that the radiation source(s) only provide radiation while the belt is running. Thereby, it can be assured that a correct dosage of radiation is provided. The conveyor belt material is characteristically organic and does then characteristically not endure an excessive amount of at least UVC radiation.

Figure 2 illustrates an example of a radiation support configuration, wherein radiation sources 7 as discussed in relation to figures la and lb are arranged at a support 8 as discussed in relation to figures la and lb. The at least one radiation source 7 is preferably arranged to provide radiation across the entire extension of the conveyor belt. In the illustrated example, the radiation sources are arranged to radiate a substantial part of the second part of the conveyor belt. However, the radiation may be provided in one or more smaller sections.

Figure 3 illustrates a disinfection system 200 for disinfecting a conveyor belt part of a belt conveyor. The disinfection system 200 is forms a part of the belt conveyor system as disclosed in relation to figures la, lb and 2. The disinfection system 200 comprises radiation source(s) 7 and a control unit 11 arranged to control the radiation source(s). The control unit is arranged to control the radiation source(s) based on whether the conveyor belt is running or not. The control unit is arranged to control the radiation sources so that the radiation source(s) only provide radiation while the belt is running. Thereby, it can be assured that a correct dosage of radiation is provided. The conveyor belt material is characteristically organic and does then characteristically not endure an excessive amount of at least UVC radiation.

In different examples, one or a plurality of sensor arrangements 14 are provided to detect that the conveyor belt is running. At least one of the sensor arrangements may further be arranged to determine a velocity of the conveyor belt 1. In one example the at least one sensor arrangement 14 comprises one or a plurality of cameras or video cameras arranged to capture images of the conveyor belt. The sensor arrangement further comprises an image processor in communication with the control unit. The image processor may then be arranged to determine whether the conveyor belt is moving based on the captured images. The image processor may further be arranged to determine the velocity of the conveyor belt based on the captured images The conveyor belt outer surface may be provided with a pattern so as to facilitate the image processing to determine whether the conveyor belt is moving and the velocity, if desired. The conveyor belt may in this respect for example be provided with stripes extending in a direction across the travelling direction of the conveyor belt. The image processor may be arranged to capture images of any part of the conveyor belt, i.e. either the first part or the second part.

In a complementing or alternative example, the sensor arrangement may be arranged for mechanical detection of whether the conveyor belt is running. For example, a wheel may provided for engagement with teeth provided at one of the pulleys may be used. When the wheel is running, this indicates that the pulleys are running. An indication of the velocity of the conveyor belt is also provided.

In a complementing or alternative example, some kind of sensor arrangement 14 may be provided comprising a Hall element arranged at the motor powering the driving means, to thereby detect that the motor powers the driving means.The Hall-element may for example be arranged at a cable from the motor. The Hall element detects the current in the cable and based thereon it can both be determined whether the conveyor belt is moving and the velocity of the conveyor belt, if desired.

The control unit 11 may be arranged to control also the driving means such as the powered pulley(s) 2. The control unit 11 may then be arranged to coordinate control of the radiation sources with the control of powering of the pulley. However, the conveyor belt may for some reason not run, even though the pulley(s) is powered. It may therefore be advisable to use some additional detection of whether the conveyor belt is running, for example as exemplified above.

The control unit 11 may be arranged to, in addition to controlling radiation to occur only while the conveyor belt is running, deactivate the radiation sources when then have been radiating for a time period exceeding a predetermined limit. The radiation sources may then be re activated after another time period has passed with running conveyor belt.

The control unit 11 may also be arranged to control the amount of radiation by the radiation source(s). For example, the control unit may be arranged to increase radiation when the conveyor belt is moving faster and decrease the amount of radiation when the conveyor belt is moving slower. Thereby a desired dosage is provided. The control of increase/decrease of radiation may for example be obtained by pulsating the radiation source with increased or decreased on-time or by controlling the intensity of the radiation (the current provided to the radiation source).

Further, in an example, the radiation sources may comprise a driver circuit 12 and one or more light emitting diodes, LEDs 13. The control unit 11 is then connected to and arranged to control the driver circuit 12 to control emission by the LEDs 13. Thus, the control unit is arranged to control the driver circuit 12 to provide power or not provide power and possibly also the current to the respective LED 13. The LEDs may be mounted on a printed circuit board or chip.

Figure 4 illustrates an example wherein a radiation source 7 comprises a printed circuit board or chip 16 with a plurality of LEDs 13 mounted thereon. The driver circuit 12 of the radiation source 7 is not shown in this figure. The printed circuit board or chip may at its underside (not shown) be provided with a pasta providing a thermal interface between the printed circuit board/ship and the support S.The printed circuit board may for example be screwed to the support 8. The pasta then fills any voids so that there is a contact between the printed circuit board and support 8 substantially over the entire area of the underside of the printed circuit board. Figure 5 illustrates the emission of radiation from a radiation source 7 mounted at a support 8.The radiation source 7 emits UV radiation, for example UVC radiation, towards the conveyor belt surface 3 being disinfected. In the figure, reference 18 indicates a radiation lobe. In the illustrated example, one or a plurality of optical lenses 17 and/or other optical means are arranged in the beam path to form the shape and/or direction of the radiation lobe 18. Thus, the optical lens(es) and/or other optical means may be configured to shape the radiation lobe so that the radiation radiates a desired area 19 of the belt surface. Thus, given a predetermined distance between the radiation source and the belt surface and given the characteristics of the radiation source, the optical lens(es) and/or other optical means may be used to provide a desired area 19 of radiation at the belt surface 3. The area of radiation may be selected to provide an area of desired size and/or to provide a desired intensity per area unit of the radiation hitting the belt surface 3.

In the illustrated example, the radiation lobe 18 extends perpendicularly to the belt surface. However, the radiation source may be arranged in relation to the belt surface at an oblique angle. Further the optical lens(-es) and/or other optical means may in addition thereto or instead be arranged to control the direction of the radiation. Thus, the optical lenses and/or other optical means may comprise at least one mirror and/or prism or the like for directing the radiation.

In the illustrated example, the radiation sources are situated beneath the conveyor belt. However, the radiation source(s) may be arranged at any location and directed in any direction as long as the radiation is not exposed to the environment.