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Title:
AN ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION CLEANING SYSTEM FOR BAGGAGE TRAYS IN AN AIRPORT SECURITY ENVIRONMENT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2022/189129
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
An ultraviolet radiation cleaning system for baggage trays (3) in an airport security environment, comprising a radiation tunnel (7) with an input (1) for dirty trays (3) and an output (8) for clean trays (10), wherein at the input (1) a first buffering zone (5) is provided for a stack (4) of dirty trays, and at the output (8) a second buffering zone (13) is provided for a stack (12) of clean trays.

Inventors:
VAN RIJN KLAAS (NL)
GROENHOF AGE DURK (NL)
PEDOTE ALESSANDRO PAOLO (IT)
KLUZER FEDERICO MARIA (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2022/054233
Publication Date:
September 15, 2022
Filing Date:
February 21, 2022
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
GRINNORY IP B V (NL)
ONE TRAY S P A (IT)
International Classes:
A61L2/10; B64F1/36; B65G59/10
Domestic Patent References:
WO2021022053A12021-02-04
WO2021022053A12021-02-04
Foreign References:
EP2263944A12010-12-22
US20020131856A12002-09-19
US5791867A1998-08-11
CN207046454U2018-02-27
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
VAN BREDA, Jacques (NL)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. An ultraviolet radiation cleaning system for baggage trays (3) in an airport security environment, comprising a radiation tunnel (7) with an input (1) for dirty trays (3) and an output (8) for clean trays (10), characterized in that at the input (1) a first buffering zone (5) is provided that is equipped to receive a stack (4) of dirty trays, and at the output (8) a second buffering zone (13) is provided that is equipped to receive a stack (12) of clean trays.

2. The ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of claim 1, characterized in that at the input a destacking system (2) is provided for removal of an individual dirty tray (3) from the stack (4) of dirty trays in the first buffering zone (5), and a first transfer mechanism (6) to receive said individual dirty tray (3) from the destacking system (2) and to supply said individual dirty tray (3) taken from the stack (4) of dirty trays to the radiation tunnel (7).

3. The ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of claim

1 or 2, characterized in that at the output (8) a second transfer mechanism (9) is provided to transfer an individual cleaned tray (10) from the radiation tunnel (7) to a stacking system (11) for receiving such individual cleaned tray (10) and to supply that individual cleaned tray (10) to the stack (12) of clean trays in the second buffering zone (13).

4. The ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of claim

2 or claim 3, characterized in that the destacking system (2) and/or the stacking system (11) comprises four tray handling organs (16) that are operative near corner points of the trays (3, 10).

5. The ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of claim 4, characterized in that each tray handling organ (16) comprises two flanges (17, 18) that share a common vertical axis (19), wherein the said two flanges (17, 18) are jointly rotatable around said vertical axis (19), and wherein said two flanges (17, 18) define a slit (20) between the two flanges (17, 18) which is equipped to receive an edge from a tray (3, 10), wherein the two flanges (17, 18) have obliquely oriented surfaces (17', 18') that are facing each other and that delimit the slit (20) for the edge of the tray (3, 10) so as to arrange that rotation of the tray handling organ (16) will cause the slit (20) to change in height.

6. The ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that the second buffering zone (13) at the output (8) is arranged to receive and add an individual cleaned tray (10) to the bottom of the stack (12) of cleaned trays.

7. The ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of claim 6, characterized in that the second buffering zone (13) at the output (8) is equipped with a first sensor for monitoring the height of the stack (12) of cleaned trays.

8. The ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that the second buffering zone (13) at the output (8) is arranged to receive and add an individual cleaned tray to the top of the stack (12) of cleaned trays.

9. The ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of claim 8, characterized in that the system is provided with a control system and a second sensor to monitor the altitude of the top of the stack (12) of cleaned trays so as to maintain this altitude.

Description:
An ultraviolet radiation cleaning system for baggage trays in an airport security environment

The invention relates to an ultraviolet radiation cleaning system for baggage trays in an airport security environment, comprising a radiation tunnel with an input for dirty trays and an output for clean trays. The ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of the invention is intended to quickly and effectively disinfect the baggage trays that are used for security checks, and to efficiently and reliably eliminate micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses from these trays. The term 'quickly' relates to the cleaning process taking less than 30 seconds. The term 'effectively' means that after processing the trays, the amount of microorganisms on the trays have been removed for more than 99% of the original quantity at the infeed of the cleaning system.

With prior art solutions for cleaning trays with ultraviolet radiation in a passenger security process, the trays are processed sequentially. A tray is put on a belt or rollers and goes through a tunnel and comes out clean on the other side. Only when a cleaned tray is taken from the belt or rollers, there is room to deliver the next cleaned tray. The problem with the prior art solution is that picking up trays can be done at a faster pace than cleaning trays. The actual situation is even worse, taking into account that a passenger needs on average two trays. In addition, the prior art solution requires a labour- intensive process to ensure a sufficient supply of trays to be cleaned. The level of experience of the responsible personnel in timely placing of trays to be cleaned, is at the end of the day decisive for limiting the idle time of the UVC cleaning tunnel.

Another disadvantage of the prior art solution is that if a passenger picks up a tray, he or she has to wait until the next tray has been cleaned before being able to proceed with two clean trays. Some prior art solutions offer the possibility to place two cleaned trays on the outlet belt from the UVC cleaning tunnel. Even then however, a waiting time (idle time) is created for the next passenger, which reduces the flow rate of the security process. This means that a higher than normal number of security setups has to be deployed due to inefficient cleaning. If the maximum capacity of security setups is used, this will consequently lead to waiting times and queues for the actual security process.

The invention is intended to provide a solution for the above mentioned problems.

W02021/022053 discloses a device for disinfecting a container, said device comprising: a housing having an upstream opening, a downstream opening, and an interior; a pathway extending between the upstream opening and the downstream opening; and a light source positioned in proximity to the pathway, wherein the light source is configured to emit an antimicrobial wavelength.

According to the invention an ultraviolet radiation cleaning system for baggage trays in an airport security environment is proposed, having the features of one or more of the appended claims.

In a first aspect of the invention at the input of the cleaning tunnel a first buffering zone is provided for a stack of dirty trays, and at the output of the cleaning tunnel a second buffering zone is provided for a stack of clean trays. Accordingly the invention makes cleaning of trays possible by UVC lighting in an airport security environment, whereby a continuously replenished stack/batch of trays can be processed, by destacking the trays, cleaning the trays individually and then stacking the trays at the output buffering zone. As will be explained hereinafter there are several options to stack the trays at the output buffering zone.

Preferably a destacking system is provided at the input for removal of an individual dirty tray from the stack of dirty trays in the first buffering zone, and a first transfer mechanism to receive said individual dirty tray from the destacking system and to supply said individual dirty tray taken from the stack of dirty trays to the radiation tunnel.

Accordingly it is also preferred that a transfer mechanism is provided at the output to transfer an individual cleaned tray from the radiation tunnel to a stacking system for receiving such individual cleaned tray and to supply that individual cleaned tray to the stack of clean trays in the second buffering zone.

Suitably the destacking system and/or the stacking system comprises four tray handling organs that are operative near corner points of the trays. In this way the handling of the trays can be carried out efficiently and reliably.

Each tray handling organ can be effective and yet be provided at low cost, when it comprises two flanges that share a common vertical axis, wherein the said two flanges are jointly rotatable around said vertical axis, and wherein said two flanges define a slit between the two flanges which is equipped to receive an edge from a tray to be lifted or lowered, wherein the two flanges have obliquely oriented surfaces that are facing each other and that delimit the slit for the edge of the tray so as to arrange that rotation of the tray handling organ will cause the slit to change in height. Accordingly the tray that is handled will be correspondingly lifted or lowered.

In a first embodiment of the system of the invention, the second buffering zone at the output is arranged to receive and add an individual cleaned tray to the bottom of the stack of cleaned trays.

Desirably the first embodiment is arranged such that the second buffering zone at the output is equipped with a first sensor for monitoring the height of the stack of cleaned trays.

In a second embodiment of the system of the invention, the second buffering zone at the output is arranged to receive and add an individual cleaned tray to the top of the stack of cleaned trays.

Desirably the second embodiment is arranged such that the system is provided with a control system and a second sensor to monitor the altitude of the top of the stack of cleaned trays so as to maintain this altitude.

The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with reference to the drawing of two exemplary embodiments of an ultraviolet radiation cleaning system for baggage trays in an airport security environment according to the invention that is not limiting as to the appended claims.

In the drawing: figures 1A-1D provide a transparent side view, a side view, a frontal view and a top view respectively at a first embodiment of the system of the invention; figure 2A-2C shows the system of the invention in an airport security environment; figure 3 shows a single tray handling organ to be placed near a corner point of a tray or trays to be handled; figure 4A-4J show operation of the first embodiment of the system of the invention; figure 5A -5B provide a transparent side view and a side view at a second embodiment of the system of the invention; figures 6A-6C show three variations on the second embodiment of the system of the invention; and figures 7A-7Z show operation of the second embodiment of the system of the invention.

Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

Figures 1-4 relate to a first embodiment of the ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of the invention. Figures 1A-1D show the ultraviolet radiation cleaning system for baggage trays in an airport security environment as depicted in figures 2A-2C, comprising a radiation tunnel 7 with an input 1 for dirty trays and an output 8 for clean trays 10, wherein the input 1 is equipped with a first buffering zone 5 for a stack 4 of dirty trays, and the output 8 is equipped with a second buffering zone 13 for a stack 12 of clean trays.

It is schematically shown in figures 1A-1D that at the input 1 a destacking system 2 is provided for removal of an individual dirty tray 3 from the stack 4 of dirty trays in the first buffering zone 5, and a first transfer mechanism 6 to receive said individual dirty tray 3 from the de-stacking system 2 and to supply said individual dirty tray 3 taken from the stack 4 of dirty trays to the radiation tunnel 7.

It is further shown in figures 1A-1D that at the output 8 a transfer mechanism 9 is provided to transfer an individual cleaned tray 10 from the radiation tunnel 7 to a stacking system 11 for receiving such individual cleaned tray 10 and to supply that individual cleaned tray 10 to the stack 12 of clean trays in the second buffering zone 13.

It is remarked that the destacking system 2 and/or the stacking system 11 comprises four tray handling organs 16 that are operative near corner points of the trays 3, 10. One tray handling organ 16 is shown in figure 3. This figure 3 shows that such a tray handling organ 16 comprises two flanges 17, 18 that share a common vertical axis 19, wherein the said two flanges 17, 18 are jointly rotatable around said vertical axis 19. The two flanges 17, 18 define a slit 20 between the two flanges 17, 18 which is equipped to receive an edge from a tray 3, 10, wherein the two flanges 17, 18 have obliquely oriented surfaces 17', 18' that are facing each other and that delimit the slit 20 to receive an edge of the tray 3, 10 so as to arrange that rotation of the tray handling organ 16 will cause the slit 20 to change in height. Accordingly also the tray 3, 10 will be changed in height.

Particular for this first embodiment of the ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of the invention as depicted in figures 1-4, is that the second buffering zone 13 at the output 8 is arranged to receive and add an individual cleaned tray 10 to the bottom of the stack 12 of cleaned trays.

The operation of this first embodiment of the ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of the invention, will be further explained hereinafter with reference to figures 4A-4J.

Figure 4A: Supply of trays

Trays are provided on the stack 4 at the input buffering zone

5.

There is always one tray in the tray handling organs 2 on the input side and one tray in the tray handling organs 11 on the output side. This is to prevent a passenger or coworker from getting their hands/arms into the cleaning system. Furthermore, the tray in the tray handling organs 2, 11 serves to shield the UVC light of the lamps 14. If the stack 4 of trays is too high, the tray handling organs 2 will stop and a warning light will flash. The detection of whether the stack 4 is too high can be determined with a sensor.

Figure 4B: Destacking

The stack 4 at the infeed is destacked per tray by means of four tray handling organs 2, each with its own motor. The tray 3 lands on lift arms of a lift mechanism 6.

Figure 4C: Controlled placement of tray on rollers The lift mechanism 6 places the tray 3 on the driven rollers 15. Figure 4D: Cleaning situation 1

The tray 3 is transported by the driven rollers 15 and cleaned with UVC light from the lamps 14. The cleaning of the tray 3 starts as soon as it is within reach of the lamps 14 and ends when the tray 3 has been transported from the lamps 14 to the output 8.

Figure 4E: Cleaning situation 2

The tray 3 is transported by the driven rollers 15 and cleaned with UVC light at the bottom, side and top (360 degrees, all sides). The speed of transport of the tray 3 is adjusted to the required UVC exposure time to clean the tray at least 99.9%. The tray handling organs 2 at the input buffering zone 5 place the next tray in the transfer mechanism 6.

Figure 4F: controlled placement of a next tray on the rollers 15 while another tray is being exposed to UVC lighting The transfer mechanism 6 places the next tray on the driven rollers 15, while the previous tray is illuminated with UVC light.

Figure 4G: Transport and lighting.

The tray that is transported from the lighting position is still illuminated as long as it is within range of the UVC lamps 14. The next tray is transported and for this purpose the lighting starts as soon as it is in the range of the UVC lamps 14.

Figure 4H: Position tray in stacking mechanism The edge of the cleaned tray 10 is above the guides of the stacking mechanism 11 at the output buffering zone 13.

Figure 41: stacking mechanism

By means of the transfer mechanism 9, the tray 10 is placed in the tray handling organs 11 that take over the tray 10 for stacking up.

Figure 4J: Stack up

The tray which was still in the tray handling organs 11 is stacked upwards by the tray handling organs 11 with the upward movement of the tray. The tray 10 remains in the tray handling organs 11 until the next tray is raised, so as to provide that on the one hand access from below is prevented so that passengers and employees cannot enter it with their hand or arm, and on the other hand to shield against UVC light.

Figures 5-7 relate to a second embodiment of the ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of the invention. Figures 5A-5D show the ultraviolet radiation cleaning system for baggage trays, which, similar to the first embodiment of figures 1-4, can be applied in an airport security environment as depicted in figures 2A-2C. The cleaning system according to the second embodiment also comprises a radiation tunnel 7 with an input 1 for dirty trays 3 and an output 8 for clean trays 10, wherein the input 1 is equipped with a first buffering zone 5 for a stack 4 of dirty trays, and the output 8 is equipped with a second buffering zone 13 for a stack 12 of clean trays.

It is schematically shown in figures 5A-5B that at the input 1 a destacking system 2 is provided for removal of an individual dirty tray 3 from the stack 4 of dirty trays in the first buffering zone 5, and a first transfer mechanism 6 to receive said individual dirty tray 3 from the destacking system 2 and to supply said individual dirty tray 3 taken from the stack 4 of dirty trays to the radiation tunnel 7.

It is further shown in figures 5A-5B that at the output 8 a transfer mechanism 9 is provided to transfer an individual cleaned tray 10 from the radiation tunnel 7 to a stacking system 11 for receiving such individual cleaned tray 10 and to supply that individual cleaned tray 10 to the stack 12 of clean trays in the second buffering zone 13.

Also in this second embodiment the destacking system 2 and/or the stacking system 11 comprises four tray handling organs 16 that are operative near corner points of the trays. One tray handling organ 16 is shown in figure 3. Figure 3 shows that such a tray handling organ 16 comprises two flanges 17, 18 that share a common vertical axis 19, wherein the said two flanges 17, 18 are jointly rotatable around said vertical axis 19. The two flanges 17, 18 define a slit 20 between the two flanges 17, 18 which is equipped to receive an edge from a tray 3, 10, wherein the two flanges 17, 18 have obliquely oriented surfaces 17', 18' that are facing each other and that delimit the slit 20 to receive an edge of the tray 3, 10 so as to arrange that rotation of the tray handling organ 16 will cause the slit 20 to change in height. Accordingly also the tray 3, 10 will be changed in height.

Particular for this second embodiment of the ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of the invention as depicted in figures 5-7, is that the second buffering zone 13 at the output 8 is arranged to receive and add an individual cleaned tray 10 to the top of the stack 12 of cleaned trays.

Figures 6A-6C show three variations to the second embodiment, to note: in fig. 6A: Transfer system which lowers stack. Fall distance of tray is short. System detects when a cart is positioned and then places trays on it. in fig. 6B: Lowerator slowly lowers due to weight of trays. Fall distance of trays is small. in fig. 6C: Cart where the trays fall onto. This works well because of the shape and nestability of the trays. One tray is attached to the cart to have a correct starting position. The operation of this second embodiment of the ultraviolet radiation cleaning system of the invention and the three mentioned variations to this embodiment, will be further explained hereinafter with reference to figures 7A-7Z.

Figure 7A: Supply of trays

Trays are provided on the stack 4 at the input buffering zone 5 . There is always one tray in the tray handling organs 2 on the input side and one tray in the tray handling organs 11 on the output side. This is to prevent a passenger or coworker from getting their hands/arms into the cleaning system. Furthermore, the tray in the tray handling organs 2, 11 serves to shield the UVC light from the lamps 14. If the stack 4 of trays is too high, the tray handling organs 2 will stop and a warning light will flash. The detection of whether the stack 4 is too high can be determined with a sensor.

Figure 7B: Destacking

The stack 4 at the input buffering zone 5 is destacked per tray by means of four tray handling organs 2, each with its own motor.

Figure 7C: Controlled placement of tray on rollers 15.

The transfer mechanism 6 places the tray 3 on the powered rollers 15.

Figure 7D: Cleaning

The tray 3 is transported by the driven rollers 15 and cleaned with UVC light with lamps 14 at the bottom, side and top (360 degrees, all sides). The speed of transport of the tray 3 is adjusted to the UVC exposure time that is required to clean the tray at least 99.9%.

Figure 7E: Clean and destacking the next tray.

The tray handling organs 2 at the input buffering zone 5 place the next tray in the transfer mechanism 6.

Figure 7F: Clean and place next tray The transfer mechanism 6 places the next tray on the driven rollers 15, while the previous tray is still illuminated with UVC light.

Figure 7G: Cleaning and transportation The tray that is transported from the exposure position is still illuminated as long as it is within range of the UVC lamps 14. The next tray is transported and for this purpose the lighting starts as soon as it is in the range of the UVC lamps 14.

Figure 7H: Stacking 1

The cleaned tray 10' is thrown onto the cleaned tray 10 in the tray handling organs 11 at the output buffering zone 13. This output buffering zone 13 also uses four tray handling organs, each with its own motor. There is always a tray in these four tray handling organs 11 at the output buffering zone 13, so as to close off access from below so that passengers and employees cannot enter it with their hand or arm, and on the other hand to shield against UVC light from the lamps 14.

Figure 71: Stacking 2

The cleaned tray 10' lands on the tray 10 which still is in the tray handling organs 11.

Figure 7J: Destacking

The tray located in the tray handling organs 11 is destacked and lands on the lift system. The top edge of the tray is detected by a sensor 21.

Figure 7K: Lift system-situation 1 The lift system lowers until sensor 21 is free from detection again.

Figure 7L: Lift system-situation 2 Situation in which several trays are stacked and the lift system always drops a tray height, so that sensor 21 is free from detection.

Figure 7M: Lift system-situation 3 Situation where the lift system is almost full. The stack has dropped into reach of sensor 22 and sensor 21 is still free from detection. There is still room for one tray.

Figure 7N: Lift system-situation 4 Situation where the lift system is full. The stack is still detected by sensor 22 and now also by sensor 21. No more trays can be added (max 25 trays).

Figure 70: Lift system-situation 5 Situation where the lift system is full. A cart is placed. The lift system lowers and places the stack on the cart. The cart is detected by sensor 23. If a cart is placed before the lift system is full (and is detected by sensor 23), stacking will stop as soon as the lift system is detected by sensor 22. The lift system then places the trays on the cart.

Figure 7P: Lift system-situation 6 If the lift system is full and the cart has not yet been taken out, the process will stop if there is a tray inside and a tray on the tray handling organs 11.

Figure 7Q: Lift system-situation 7 The lift system is full, the cart has not been taken out yet and there is a tray inside and a tray on the tray handling organs 11 . The rollers 15 stop when the tray reaches the last roller. The UVC exposure by lamps 14 stops. The rollers 15 and UVC lighting by lamps 14 start again when the process continues, so when the full cart has been removed.

Figure 7R: Lift system-situation 8 The full cart has been removed. The lift system returns to the top to below sensor 21.

Figure 7S: Lift system-situation 9 The UVC lighting starts again, the drive of rollers 15 starts again. The tray in the tray handling organs 11 is destacked and lands on the lift system. The tray is detected by sensor 21.

Figure 7T: Lift system-situation 10 The lift system lowers until sensor 21 is free from detection again in accordance with the previous Lift system-situation 1.

Figure 7U: Application of a lowerator There are now two trays on the tray handling organs 11 at the output, through which the bottom tray can be destacked and stacked on the lowerator. Sensor 23 detects that there is a lowerator below the output. Sensor 22 is not in use with the lowerator.

Figure 7V: Destacking

The bottom tray is destacked and falls on the lowerator.

Figure 7W: Lowerator drops

Due to the weight of the tray, the lowerator drops a bit.

The moment the lowerator comes to its lowest position and a tray is added that remains detected by sensor 21, the stack is at maximum height and stacking stops. Other operation is identical with the operation when using a lift system.

Figure 7X: Detection cart present There are now two trays on the tray handling organs 11 at the output, allowing the bottom tray to be destacked and stacked on the cart.

Sensor 23 detects that there is a cart present at the output. Sensor 22 is not in use when applying a cart.

Figure 7Y: Destacking

The bottom tray is destacked and falls on the cart. Even at a greater height, the tray falls into the bottom tray due to the nesting of the trays.

Figure 7Z: Stack on cart

When a tray is added, the stack 12 increases. If a tray remains detected by sensor 21, the stack is at maximum height and stacking stops. One tray is attached to the cart to have a correct starting position. Other operation is identical to using a lift system.

Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the method of the invention, the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using this exemplary embodiment.