CA3206904A1

CA3206904A1 - Method for treating containers for human excretions

Info

Publication number: CA3206904A1
Application number: CA3206904A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Bruno Gaus; Juergen Heppner; Thomas Naeger; Thomas Peukert; Bernd Ringwald; Vera Schneider
Original assignee: Meiko Maschinenbau GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Meiko Maschinenbau GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2021-02-11
Filing date: 2022-02-10
Publication date: 2022-08-18
Also published as: EP4291253A1; CN116847891A; DE102021201293B4; WO2022171721A1; JP2024506659A; DE102021201293A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for treating at least one container (112) for human excretions. The method comprises the following steps: a. at least one emptying step, comprising the emptying of the container contents from inside at least one cleaning chamber (114) into at least one drain (116), the drain (116) having at least one odor trap (118); b. at least one washing step, comprising at least one impingement of the container (112) with at least one cleaning liquid in the cleaning chamber (114); and c. at least one disinfecting step, comprising at least a mixing of at least two reactive components for producing at least one disinfecting agent and impingement of the container (112) with the disinfecting agent. The invention also relates to a cleaning and disinfection apparatus (110) for treating at least one container (112) for human excretions.

Description

Method for treating containers for human excretions Technical field The present invention relates to a method for treating at least one container for human waste and to a washer-disinfector for treating at least one container for human waste.
Such washer-disinfectors and methods are used, for example, in a hospital or nursing setting for cleaning containers such as bedpans, urine bottles, chamber pots, emesis basins, washbowls, commode pans, measuring cups and other containers which are suitable for holding human or animal waste, in particular with a volume of at least 100 ml, in particular at least 500 ml or even at least 1000 ml, for example 1000-5000 ml.
Technical background A multitude of washers and cleaning methods for treating containers for human waste are known from the prior art. The containers to be cleaned may contain relatively large amounts of liquid or of solid waste, which usually have to be disposed of during cleaning.
Conventional dishwashers are therefore generally not suitable for cleaning such containers. Moreover, such containers may contain infectious waste or be otherwise contaminated, and so disinfection is also usually required in addition to emptying. Such washers for treating containers for human waste are accordingly commonly also referred to as washer-disinfectors. Besides the stated containers, they are in principle also suitable for cleaning other medical articles, as used in hospitals or elderly care homes for example. Usually, however, the items to be cleaned consist of urine bottles, bedpans, emesis basins, washbowls or similar containers, the cleaning of which may entail the disposal of relatively large amounts of waste.
Examples of washer-disinfectors are shown in DE 103 48 344 Al or else in WO
2013/037723 Al.
The constructions of washer-disinfectors described therein may in principle also be referred to by way of example in the context of the present invention, it being possible for the washer-disinfectors shown to be used in modified and/or augmented form in the context of the present invention.
However, other configurations are also possible in principle. Thus, for example, the washer-24739401.1

- 2 -disinfector described in DE 103 48 344 Al comprises a device for recooling of items to be cleaned.
The items to be cleaned are rinsed within a chamber, followed by a precleaning washing step.
Afterwards, the items to be cleaned that are contained in the chamber are subjected to a final clean with a water containing a rinse aid additive, before carrying out a step to disinfect the items to be cleaned in the chamber through introduction of steam into said chamber. With the door closed, air is forcibly introduced into the steam-filled chamber, thus bringing about condensation of steam within the chamber and also cooling and drying of the items to be cleaned that are contained in the chamber.
In a washer-disinfector, the items to be cleaned are therefore usually treated by running a program which is usually stored in a controller of the washer-disinfector. After the washer-disinfector has been loaded, a user usually selects a cleaning program and usually starts it by pressing a relevant button, for example on a membrane keypad. In doing so, the user generally has to subjectively decide what type and/or degree of soiling and/or microbial contamination is/are present on the articles to be cleaned. Here, incorrect selection of a cleaning program may, however, in principle result in continued microbial contamination of the items to be cleaned following the treatment.
Another technical challenge in many washer-disinfectors is that, under certain circumstances of microbial contamination, steam disinfection with steam is insufficient to ensure sufficient antimicrobial action on specific microbes. Disinfectants may in principle be added to the cleaning agents previously used for washing, or said cleaning agents themselves have an antimicrobial effect. Nevertheless, it would be desirable to ensure a more universal and yet more reliable disinfection effect in washer-disinfectors. For instance, microbes which are not killed or only insufficiently killed by conventional disinfection methods are known especially in hospital and care facility settings. In this connection, Clostridioides difficile (C.
difficile) bacteria may be mentioned for example. However, other microbes as well may also play a role in this regard. In particular, a spoticidal effect is also usually not achievable or not fully achievable with the known methods. It would therefore be desirable to provide not only the depleting cleaning with a cleaning fluid but also a valid sporicidally effective method component in order to inactivate any spores that may have remained on the items to be washed.
In addition, one technical challenge is that many chemical disinfectants are difficult to handle in practice. Thus, they may be, for example, extremely aggressive, corrosive, flammable or unstable, depending on the nature of the disinfection.
24739401.1

- 3 -In principle, disinfectants and disinfection methods in numerous different variants are known from other areas of science and technology. Merely by way of example, reference is made to the disinfection methods which have been described in WO 2019/219220 Al and in WO

Al and in which a disinfectant is formed in situ. The disinfection methods described therein are used especially in the area of skin disinfection, of disinfection of packaging and of disinfection of endoscope tubes.
US 2018/0058053 Al describes a toilet assembly with various embodiments of a cleaning system.
The toilet assembly has a toilet bowl, a toilet tank, a flush valve, a rim inlet port, and a rim flow path extending from an outlet of the flush valve to the rim inlet port. The cleaning system comprises a reservoir for holding a liquid cleaning agent having an outlet port in fluid communication with the interior of the reservoir and a housing for receiving the reservoir. The cleaning system further has a supply conduit in fluid communication with the interior of the reservoir, a flow control device capable of controlling flow through the supply conduit, and a control system activatable by an actuator feature. Upon activation of the actuator feature, the control system is adapted to initiate a clean cycle by operating the flow control device for a first period of time sufficient to deliver a dose of a liquid cleaning agent from the supply conduit to an interior of the flush valve in a closed position, wherein the flush valve is arranged for delivery of fluid to the rim inlet port, and further operating the flush valve to open the flush valve to introduce flush water to carry the dose of the liquid cleaning agent through the rim inlet port into the toilet bowl.
WO 2019/036828 Al discloses a steam-cleaning flush toilet comprising: a flush toilet, a toilet tank and a toilet cover. Provided within the toilet tank are a water storage tank and a steam generator tank which is opposite to and separate from the water storage tank. A steam generator is provided within the steam generator tank and comprises: a water inlet tank, a heating pipe, a steam tank and a control assembly. A water supply pipe is provided on the water inlet tank and a steam outlet pipe is provided on the steam tank. The toilet rim at the upper portion of the toilet body of the flush toilet is provided with a steam inlet pipe for circulating steam from the steam outlet pipe within a steam circulation conduit.
US 2017/0260728 Al describes a toilet apparatus for providing an intelligent bidet dispensing system. Dynamic dispensing according to bidet wand position, type of substance dispensed, user preferences, user gender and user identification is described. Cleansers, surfactants, moisturizers, 24739401.1

- 4 -medicines, deodorants and fragrances are dispensed through a bidet wand to a user and are stored in reservoirs which are contained in a tank area of the toilet. In other embodiments, reporting the levels of reservoir substances is automated.
Object of the invention In view of the above-described technical challenges of conventional washer-disinfectors, it would therefore be desirable to provide a method for treating at least one container for human waste and a washer-disinfector for treating at least one container for human waste that at least largely avoid the disadvantages of known devices and methods of the type mentioned. In particular, the intention is to achieve a disinfection effect which is simple, universal, and at least largely independent of operating personnel experience and yet safe.
General description of the invention This object is addressed by a method for treating at least one container for human waste and a washer-disinfector for treating at least one container for human waste having the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments, which can be implemented individually or in any desired combination, are given in the dependent claims.
In the following text, the terms "exhibit", "have", "comprise" or "include" or any grammatical deviations therefrom are used non-exclusively. Accordingly, these terms can refer either to situations in which, besides the features introduced by these terms, no further features are present, or to situations in which one or more further features are present. For example, the expression "A
exhibits B", "A has B", "A comprises B" or "A includes B" can refer either to the situation in which, apart from B, no further element is present in A (i.e., to a situation in which A exclusively consists of B), or to the situation in which, in addition to B, one or more further elements are present in A, for example element C, elements C and D or even further elements.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the terms "at least one" and "one or more" and grammatical modifications of these terms, if they are used in association with one or more elements or features and are intended to express the fact that the element or feature can be provided once or more than once, generally are used only once, for example when the feature or element is introduced for the first time. When the feature or element is subsequently mentioned again, the corresponding term 24739401.1

- 5 -"at least one" or "one or more" is generally no longer used, without this restricting the possibility that the feature or element can be provided once or more than once.
Furthermore, in the following text, the terms "preferably", "in particular", "for example" or similar terms are used in conjunction with optional features, without alternative embodiments being restricted thereby. In this regard, features which are introduced by these terms are optional features, and the scope of protection of the claims, and in particular of the independent claims, is not intended to be restricted by these features. In this regard, the invention, as will be recognized by a person skilled in the art, can also be carried out using other configurations.
In a similar way, features which are introduced by "in one embodiment of the invention" or by "in one exemplary embodiment of the invention" are understood as optional features, without alternative configurations or the scope of protection of the independent claims being intended to be restricted thereby. Furthermore, all of the possible ways of combining the features introduced by these introductory expressions with other features, be they optional or non-optional features, are intended to remain unaffected by these introductory expressions.
In a first aspect of the present invention, a method for treating at least one container for human waste is proposed. The method comprises the steps described and defined in greater detail below, which steps may preferably be carried out in the stated order. In principle, a different order is, however, also possible. Furthermore, it is possible to carry out two or more of the described method steps at the same time or overlapping in time. Moreover, one or more or all of the stated method steps, individually or else in groups, may also be carried out once or multiple times repeatedly.
Moreover, the method may comprise additional method steps that are not stated.
The method comprises the following steps:
a. at least one emptying step, comprising emptying of the container contents within at least one cleaning chamber into at least one drain, wherein the drain comprises at least one odor trap;
b. at least one washing step, comprising at least one impingement of at least one cleaning liquid on the container in the cleaning chamber; and c. at least one disinfection step, comprising at least one mixing of at least two reactive components to produce at least one disinfectant and impingement of the disinfectant on the container.
24739401.1

- 6 -In general, the method may be carried out in at least one washer-disinfector, in particular according to one or more of the configurations that will be described in greater detail below. The term "washer-disinfector" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a device arranged to carry out a treatment of the container, including at least one clean and at least one disinfection.
The at least one clean and the at least one disinfection may in particular be effected in separate program steps of a program sequence. For example, the method and/or the washer-disinfector may comprise or support a program in which at least one cleaning step and at least one disinfection step are provided as separate program steps. In particular, the washer-disinfector may comprise a bedpan washer or be configured or arranged as a bedpan washer.
The term "treatment" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to cleaning which, as will be described in greater detail below, involves impingement of at least one cleaning fluid on the container. The cleaning may in particular be configured in such a way that it at least largely frees the container of adherent contamination. Furthermore, the treatment includes not only cleaning, but also disinfection.
The term "disinfection" and grammatical variations thereof as used here are likewise broad terms which are to be accorded their usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The terms are not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning.
Without restriction, the terms may relate in particular to microbial reduction. In general, disinfection may involve a method which brings about microbial reduction in a defined test method with specific test specimens by a factor of at least 10-5, i.e., in which, for example, from originally 1 000 000 viable microbes, so-called colony-forming units (CFU), there are no more than ten that survive.
Here, the disinfection effect and antimicrobial action may be tested by using, for example, standardized test methods and/or standardized CFU or test organisms, as described in European standard and WG3 for example.
The disinfection effect may, for example, be checked and/or monitored, for example on a random basis. Alternatively or additionally, the conditions of the method may, however, also be monitored, for example by appropriate sensors and/or a controller. The conditions of the method may be 24739401.1

- 7 -adjusted in such a way that the desired disinfection effect is achieved. Thus, for example, the desired disinfection may be achieved by complying with technical conditions, for example specific conditions selected from the group consisting of temperature profiles, thermal equivalents, concentrations of chemical active ingredients and action times. Said technical conditions for achieving the disinfection effect may, for example, also be standardized, for example in standards which specify minimum standards and test methods for specific groups of devices and/or specific applications.
Microbial reduction that exceeds disinfection is also referred to as sterilization. In the case of sterilization, microbial reductions of at least 10-6 are typically required.
Microbial reduction may, for example, be effected by a thermal treatment and/or by a chemical treatment of the at least one container, for example by a treatment with at least one disinfectant, for example a disinfecting liquid compound, a disinfecting gas and/or a disinfecting gas, for example steam. The disinfection may optionally culminate in sterilization of the container.
The term "container for human waste" as used here is likewise a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a container which has at least one receiving region, for example a cavity or a depression, in which a relatively large amount of human waste or else animal waste is receivable, for example an amount of at least 50 ml, in particular at least 100 ml, preferably at least 200 ml or even at least 500 ml or at least 1000 ml. For example, a maximum amount within the range from 100 ml to 5 1, for example 1000 ml to 5000 ml, may be receivable. In addition to the at least one receiving region, for example the at least one cavity, the container may also have at least one opening. Said opening may be present from the outset and/or may else be created at a later time.
Furthermore, at least one opening may also be created during and/or before the treatment, for example by mechanically opening the container and/or by cutting open and/or tearing open the container, for example as part of the proposed method. Furthermore, the opening may be arranged to be reversibly or irreversibly opened and/or closed. The container may have at least one container wall, which may be rigid or else deformable, in particular flexible. Thus, the container may comprise, for example, a vessel having a rigid container wall, composed of, for example, one or more of the materials glass, plastic, ceramic and metal. Alternatively or additionally, the container may also have at least one deformable container wall, for example at least one film bag, in particular a film bag composed of 24739401.1

- 8 -a plastics material. Thus, the container for human waste may, for example, also be wholly or partly in the form of an initially closed container in the shape of a film bag. In general, the container may be selected, for example, from the group consisting of: a urine bottle; a bedpan; a urine bag; an emesis basin; a commode pan; a measuring cup.
As discussed above, the method first comprises, in method step a., emptying of the container contents within at least one cleaning chamber, for example a cleaning chamber of the washer-disinfector, into at least one drain, for example a drain of the washer-disinfector. Here, the emptying may be effected especially by a change in position and/or orientation of the container, for example by completely or partially tipping the contents of the container into the drain. As will be described later, this change in position and/or orientation may be effected, for example, as a result of attachment of the container to a door of the washer-disinfector that is swivelable, and so the change in position occurs upon swiveling. Emptying may therefore be effected through the weight of the container contents. Alternatively or additionally, a different type of change in orientation is also possible, for example through a separate swiveling device.
The contents may be emptied, for example, through an opening of the container. Alternatively or additionally, a different configuration may, however, also be provided as discussed above, for example cutting open a bag, in particular automatic cutting. In this case, a change in position is also not necessary in principle, but may nevertheless be provided.
The term "cleaning chamber" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a completely or partially closed chamber into which the container is introducible and in which the treatment or part of the treatment of the container takes place. In particular, the washer-disinfector may be a single-chamber washer, with performance of all the treatment steps in the same cleaning chamber.
What may therefore take place in the cleaning chamber is impingement of the cleaning fluid, and optionally the disinfection of the container and/or emptying of the container.
For example, the washer-disinfector may be arranged to carry out at least one cleaning program comprising at least the abovementioned method steps. The cleaning chamber may in particular be completely closed and may have, for example, at least one door, as will discussed in greater detail below.
As discussed above, the container contents are emptied within at least one cleaning chamber into at least one drain. The term "drain" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual 24739401.1

- 9 -and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a device which is arranged to supply liquid waste for disposal. In particular, the drain may comprise at least one opening in the floor region of the cleaning chamber. Furthermore, the drain may comprise at least one drain pipe which is connected to the opening. Said drain pipe may have, for example, a mouth at the opening in the floor of the cleaning chamber. Said mouth may in particular be open in such a way that the container contents can flow into the drain without any obstacles and solely on the basis of their weight. For example, the cleaning chamber in the floor region may run toward the drain at least partially in the shape of a funnel and/or at an incline.
The drain may be, for example, directly or indirectly connected to a building-side disposal system and/or a wastewater system. The drain, in particular the drain pipe, may in particular have a cross section of at least 30 mm, in particular at least 50 mm, particularly preferably at least 70 mm or even at least 100 mm.
In this way, the abovementioned amounts of liquid can also be disposed of through the drain.
As discussed above, the drain comprises at least one odor trap. The term "odor trap" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a device which is arranged to keep gases from at least one drain pipe away from the interior of the cleaning chamber. For example, the odor trap may comprise at least one siphon bend. The washer-disinfector may in particular be arranged to empty the container into the drain in the cleaning program. As discussed above, this emptying in the cleaning program may comprise automatic emptying and/or emptying which, for example, occurs while introducing the container into the cleaning chamber, for example while closing a door, comprising for example connection of a mount for the container to the door and swiveling thereof while closing the door.
The closing of the door may be entirely or partially driven by a drive, for example by a motor, a mechanism, hydraulics or pneumatics, and/or may else be entirely or partially driven by muscle power. The container contents can flow away via the drain, and the odor trap can at least partially prevent gases or vapors from the drain from flowing back into the cleaning chamber.
As discussed above, method step b. comprises at least one washing step in which impingement of at least one cleaning liquid on the container takes place in the cleaning chamber, in particular impingement on at least one surface of the container. Therefore, a washing step may be understood in general to mean an operation in which the container is contacted with at least one cleaning fluid in the form of a cleaning liquid. Therefore, as an umbrella term, the term "cleaning fluid" as used 24739401.1

- 10 -here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a liquid and/or a gas which have a cleaning effect on the container, for example by the cleaning fluid washing off adherent contaminants from at least one surface of the container. This may be at least one outer surface of the container and/or else at least one internal surface, for example at least one inner surface of at least one container interior, which, for example, may be impinged on by the at least one cleaning liquid via at least one nozzle.
The cleaning fluid may in particular be an aqueous cleaning fluid, in which case water may be used, optionally with addition of one or more cleaning agents and/or auxiliaries and/or disinfectants. Such cleaning fluids are known in principle from the prior art.
The washer-disinfector may comprise, for example, at least one tank, via which the impingement device can be provided with the cleaning fluid. Alternatively or additionally, the washer-disinfector may also comprise one or more connections for providing the cleaning fluid, for example a fresh water connection and/or a hot water connection, which may be connected to a building-side supply for example. Furthermore, as will be discussed in greater detail below, the washer-disinfector may also comprise, for example, one or more steam generators for impingement of steam on the container. Furthermore, the washer-disinfector may also comprise one or more metering tanks in which additives of the cleaning fluid can be stored, for example by mixing them with other components of the cleaning fluid in a metered manner, for example by metered mixing into water.
For example, one or more cleaning agent tanks and/or one or more tanks for auxiliaries and/or one or more tanks for disinfectants may be provided in the washer-disinfector and/or on the washer-disinfector. As a specific form of cleaning fluid, the term "cleaning liquid"
relates to a cleaning fluid in liquid form.
In particular, as will be described in greater detail below, the impingement may be effected by means of at least one impingement device of the washer-disinfector. For example, the impingement may be effected in the form of spraying the container with the cleaning liquid and/or dripping the cleaning liquid onto the container and/or jetting the cleaning liquid onto the container. In particular, the impingement device may comprise at least one nozzle which generates at least one fluid jet, specifically at least one liquid jet, which strikes the container.
For example, the impingement device may comprise at least one nozzle which sprays and/or jets one or more jets of the cleaning liquid onto the container from one or more spatial directions in a targeted manner.
24739401.1

- 11 -As also discussed above, the method comprises, with method step c., at least one disinfection step.
In the at least one disinfection step, or, if multiple disinfection steps are provided, in at least one of said disinfection steps, what takes place at least once is mixing of at least two reactive components to produce at least one disinfectant. Furthermore, impingement of the disinfectant on the container, for example at least one surface of the container, takes place.
This may be the same at least one surface which can also be impinged on in method step b. or else at least one other surface. Again, the surface may be at least one outer surface of the container and/or else at least one internal surface, for example at least one inner surface of at least one container interior.
The term "reactive components" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to chemical compounds which are arranged to carry out a chemical reaction with one another, alone or under the influence of one or more additives such as catalysts. Thus, for example, the reactive components may comprise at least one component A and at least one component B
that can react with one another as reactants, alone or with the involvement of one or more additives, it being possible to form for example at least one component or compound AB or else C
as product, and also optionally further products or by-products. The reaction may be homogeneous or else heterogeneous. The reaction may take place on its own once the reactants are contacted with one another or it may require additional initialization, such as chemical initialization, thermal initialization, photochemical initialization or else catalytic initialization.
Thus, for example, the reaction may take place depending on whether certain environmental conditions are present. Said environmental conditions may be caused and determined, for example, by a temperature, by a pH, by the presence of one or more catalysts or else by other parameters or combinations of the stated parameters and/or other parameters. Thus, for example, a pH may be specifically set in such a way that initially no reaction takes place, and this is then followed by adjusting the pH, for example on the container, in such a way that the reaction can take place. For example, the reactive components may be mixed and applied to the container, it being possible for the mixing to be done before the application or else during or after the application, in a state in which the pH prevents the reaction from taking place. The pH may then be adjusted on the container, for example by specific application of acid and/or alkaline solution, in such a way that the reaction is initiated.
Alternatively or additionally, the initiation may also be effected, for example, by specific illumination with UV light or else in some other way. Alternatively or additionally again, initiation may also be effected, for example, by mechanical action, for example by the action of ultrasound.
24739401.1

- 12 -Ultrasound can destroy or dissolve, for example, separations between the reactive components, for example encapsulations, and so the action of ultrasound can result in contacting and reaction of the reactive components. The reaction may be in one stage or else in multiple stages.
The term "disinfectant" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a chemical compound, a chemical substance or else a mixture of multiple chemical substances that have an antimicrobial effect, in particular a disinfecting effect or else a sterilizing effect. In particular, the disinfectant may exhibit at least one effect selected from the group consisting of: a sporicidal effect; a virucidal effect, in particular a full virucidal effect; a fungicidal effect; a bactericidal effect. Furthermore, the disinfectant may also have a destructive effect on at least one parasite selected from the group consisting of unicellular human-pathogen parasites, preferably Euglenozoa, Parabasalidea, Diplomonadida, Entamoebidae, Heterolobosea or Alveolata, and multicellular human-pathogen parasites, preferably Platyhelminthes, Platyzoa, Nematoda, Nematomorpha, Annelida, Pentastomida, Arachnida or Insecta.
As also discussed above, method step c. involves at least one mixing of the at least two reactive components. The term "mixing" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to an operation in which the at least two reactive components are contacted with one another so that they can react with one another to form the disinfectant directly in one step or indirectly in multiple steps, alone or else with involvement of one or more auxiliaries. Various possibilities are conceivable and will also be explained in greater detail below.
Thus, the reactive components may be present, for example, in the same state of matter or else in different states of matter, it being possible for the reactive components, after they have been mixed, to be homogeneously or heterogeneously mixed or else to have at least one common interface with one another. Thus, for example, when mixing the reactive components, a liquid comprising the reactive components may form, in particular a liquid selected from a liquid mixture, a solution, a suspension, an emulsion or a dispersion, which reactive components may react further immediately or else after a time delay to form the at least a disinfectant. The reactive components may be contacted with one another in pure form. Alternatively or additionally, at least one of the reactive 24739401.1

- 13 -components may also be incorporated in at least one auxiliary and/or carrier, for example in at least one solvent. The auxiliary or carrier, it also being possible to use both terms synonymously, may be, for example, solid, liquid or else gaseous. The same carrier may be used for the at least two reactive components, or different carriers may also be used.
The mixing may therefore comprise, for example, the reactive components, each in the form of liquids or contained in liquids, being contacted with one another or being brought together, for example in a mixing chamber, a mixing container, a mixing vessel, a pump, a mixing section and/or in a jet. Alternatively or additionally, the mixing may, however, also comprise at least one of the reactive components being introduced into at least one other of the reactive components, each in liquid form for example. Alternatively or additionally again, the mixing may also comprise, for example, at least one of the reactive components being applied to at least one surface, for example at least one container surface of the container, and then either at least a second reactive component of the reactive components being applied to the surface and/or the surface being exposed to an atmosphere, for example a gas or vapor atmosphere, which comprises at least a second reactive component of the reactive components. Alternatively or additionally again, the mixing may also comprise, for example, the reactive components being introduced into the cleaning chamber and/or being applied to the container once or multiple times alternately. Thus, as discussed above, the mixing may take place inside or outside the cleaning chamber. As discussed, mixing within the cleaning chamber may occur, for example, by alternate application of the reactive components to the container or in some other way.
Alternatively or additionally again, the at least one carrier may also be present, for example entirely or partially in solid form, and at least one of the reactive components may be embedded in the carrier.
For example, tabs composed of a soluble carrier having at least two chambers in which the reactive components are present are conceivable. Upon contact with at least one solvent, for example water, for example before or during the impingement on the container, the tabs can then, for example, dissolve and the reactive components can mix. Various possibilities are conceivable and will be described in greater detail below.
As also discussed above, the container is impinged on by the at least one disinfectant. As will be discussed in greater detail below, this impingement involves, in general, the container being contacted with the at least one disinfectant on at least one surface, preferably over a large area.
There are a number of possibilities for this, which will also be discussed in greater detail below.
For instance, the disinfectant itself may be applied to the container.
Alternatively, at least one of 24739401.1

- 14 -the reactive components may, however, also be applied to the container, and what may take place on the container itself is the above-described chemical reaction of the reactive components, in which the at least one disinfectant is formed. It is thus possible that the at least one disinfectant is formed wholly or partly in a different space from the container and is then applied to the container, for example to the above-described at least one internal or external surface of the container, and/or that the at least a disinfectant is formed wholly or partly on the container itself, for example on the at least one above-described internal or external surface of the container.
Irrespective of this, the impingement of the disinfectant on the container involves the at least one container being wholly or partly in contact with the at least one disinfectant at at least at one moment.
Both variants, i.e., the formation of the disinfectant outside the container and subsequent application of the disinfectant to the container or the formation of the disinfectant on the container itself, have advantages that can be made use of according to the given situation.
In the case of formation of the disinfectant outside the container, a mixing ratio may be set precisely for example, and the reaction to form the disinfectant may be controlled more precisely for example.
If, by contrast, the disinfectant is formed wholly or partly directly on the container, for example by reacting the at least two reactive components on the at least one surface of the container, this can have in particular the advantage of the components being applied separately from one another, one after the other or at the same time. In the case of rapid reactions with subsequent rapid decomposition of the disinfectant, this can better utilize the useful life of the disinfectant, which is formed directly on the surface, since the disinfectant does not have to be applied to the container first, with possible loss of valuable time. Furthermore, undesired gas formation, which may for example occur upon decomposition of the disinfectant, can also be better controlled if the disinfectant forms directly on the surface of the container, and so gases, for example, either do not form at all or are formed to a reduced extent, or the disinfectant can already be rinsed off again from the surface of the container before said disinfectant decomposes and before gas is formed.
The method may thus in general involve in situ formation of the disinfectant from the at least two reactive components within the washer-disinfector used for the method. The term "in situ" may refer to the fact that the disinfectant is formed in the washer-disinfector itself. This covers a number of possibilities, namely formation inside the washer-disinfector, but outside the cleaning chamber, 24739401.1

- 15 -formation within the cleaning chamber of the washer-disinfector, but before the impingement on the container, or else formation on the surface of the container. Combinations are also conceivable.
The method may further comprise the following step:
d. at least one final-rinsing step, comprising at least one impingement of at least one rinse aid liquid on the container.
Final-rinsing step d. may be carried out before disinfection step c. and/or else after disinfection step c. Multiple final-rinsing steps are also possible.
The term "final-rinsing step" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular in general to impingement of at least one rinse aid liquid on at least one item to be cleaned. The rinse aid liquid may be a cleaning fluid which comprises at least one rinse aid additive. The rinse aid liquid may in particular be distinguished from the cleaning liquid which is used in the washing step and which may also be referred to as washing liquid or washing fluid. Thus, for example, the washing liquid may comprise water having at least one cleaning agent additive, whereas the rinse aid liquid comprises water having at least one rinse aid additive which quickens drying of the container and/or which promotes residue-free trickling or flowing of the rinse aid liquid from the container surface.
The method may further comprise the following method step:
e.
at least one steam disinfection step, in particular downstream of the final-rinsing step and/or the disinfection step, comprising at least one impingement of vapor, in particular steam, on the container.
For example, the washer-disinfector may comprise at least one steam generator in which the vapor, for example the steam, is generated. Said steam generator may comprise, for example, at least one water reservoir. Alternatively or additionally, the steam generator may also comprise, for example, at least one heating device, for example at least one heating coil. The steam generator may, for example, be connected to the cleaning chamber via at least one steam line. For the impingement in method step e., the washer-disinfector may comprise, for example, at least one steam nozzle, which may, for example, be separate from the impingement device for the washing step and/or the 24739401.1

- 16 -optional final-rinsing step. Alternatively or additionally, the steam nozzle and the impingement device for the washing step and/or the optional final-rinsing step may also be combined in whole or in part.
As discussed above, the mixing in step c. may be configured in different ways that are also combinable with one another. In particular, the mixing in step c. may comprise at least one mixing of the reactive components, i.e., contacting of the reactive components with one another, selected from the group consisting of:
- the reactive components are mixed, wherein the disinfectant is formed in the mixture and the mixture is applied to the container;
- the reactive components are applied to the container and mixed on the container, wherein the disinfectant is formed in the mixture on the container;
- at least one first reactive component of the reactive components is applied to the container, and the container with the first reactive component applied thereto is exposed in the cleaning chamber to an atmosphere which comprises at least one second reactive component of the reactive components, such that the reactive components are mixed on the container, wherein the disinfectant is formed in the mixture on the container.
Examples will be described in greater detail below.
As also discussed above, the reactive components, at least one of the reactive components or else the disinfectant may each independently of one another be present in pure form or else in combination with one or more further substances, for example one or more carriers. Thus, for example, the disinfectant may be contained in at least one carrier, in particular in at least one solvent, in particular water. In principle, the carrier may in particular be fluid, i.e., liquid and/or gaseous. Aerosols and/or mists may also be used. The carrier may in particular comprise, for example, an aqueous carrier, since water or water-containing solvents generally pose less of a challenge than other solvents as regards their disposal, in particular via the drain.
The disinfectant and the carrier, in particular the solvent, may form an active solution, which may optionally also comprise one or more further additives. The term "active solution" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular in general to a fluid medium, in particular a liquid, which may comprise the at least one disinfectant and also at least one carrier, and optionally one or more 24739401.1

- 17 -additives. For example, said carrier may comprise at least one solvent. The active solution may be or comprise, for example, a solution of the at least one disinfectant in the at least one carrier, a dispersion of the at least one disinfectant in the at least one carrier, a suspension of the at least one disinfectant in the at least one carrier or an emulsion of the at least one disinfectant in the at least one carrier. The container may in general be impinged on by the at least one active solution, in particular in method step c.
As discussed above, method step c. may in particular comprise mixing of at least one of the reactive components with the at least one carrier. This may be the same carrier that may also contain the disinfectant, for example the same solvent. Alternatively, this may, however, also be for example merely at least one component of this carrier of the disinfectant, for example at least one component of a multicomponent solvent.
Other possible configurations concern the reactive components. For instance, the reactive components may in particular comprise at least one oxidizing agent and at least one anion of an acid. The term "oxidizing agent" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a substance which can accept other substances and is reduced itself as a result.
Alternatively or additionally, the term may relate to a substance which can absorb at least one electron, i.e., which may act as an electron acceptor. The term "anion of an acid" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a singly or multiply negatively charged ion, i.e., an anion, which can be formed as a result of an acid releasing one or more positively charged hydrogen ions or protons, i.e., H+ ions.
In particular, reference may be made to the above-described documents WO
2019/219220 Al and WO 2019/219959 Al for possible reactive components and also for possible disinfectants which are also usable in the context of the present invention. Other reactive components and/or disinfectants are, however, also possible in principle. For example, as an alternative or in addition to peroxynitric acid, other active ingredients having corresponding reactive components may also be used as the disinfectant. Thus, for example, chlorine-based disinfectants and/or peroxycarboxylic acids could be used.
24739401.1

- 18 -As a result of the reaction of the at least two reactive components, the method, as discussed above, may comprise in situ production of the disinfectant in the washer-disinfector.
Therefore, the disinfectant is preferably formed only during the method, in particular in the washer-disinfector.
This also allows the use of unstable, aggressive or flammable disinfectants that would be difficult or impossible to use without in situ production. This can increase the spectrum of activity with respect to antimicrobial action and/or improve the antimicrobial effect. The storage and stockpiling of comparatively harmless starting materials is also safer and easier to implement than would be the case for unstable, aggressive or flammable disinfectants.
In particular, the disinfectant may comprise at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of: a reactive nitrogen compound (reactive nitrogen oxide species, RNOS), in particular a reactive nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of:
peroxynitric acid (ONOOH);
peroxynitrite (ON00-); a reactive oxygen compound (reactive oxygen species, ROS), in particular 11202; a peroxycarboxylic acid, in particular peroxyacetic acid (CH3C000H); an anion of a peroxycarboxylic acid, in particular peroxyacetic acid (CH3C000); and a chlorine compound, in particular a chlorine compound selected from the group consisting of hypochlorous acid (HC10), an anion of hypochlorous acid (C10), chlorous acid (11C102), an anion of chlorous acid (C102), chloric acid (HC103), an anion of chloric acid (C103), a chlorine oxide, in particular chlorine dioxide.
The reactive components or at least one of the reactive components may comprise, for example, hydrogen peroxide (H202) and/or ozone (03) or generate them in a chemical reaction, in particular as oxidizing agent.
Furthermore, at least one of the reactive components, in particular a different reactive component, may comprise at least one component selected from the group consisting of:
nitrate (NO3); nitrite (NO2); a carboxylic acid, in particular acetic acid (CH3COOH); an anion of a carboxylic acid, in particular acetic acid (CH3C00); hypochlorite (C10); chlorite (C102); chlorate (C103).
The reactive components may in particular comprise at least one combination, in particular as a combination of at least one first reactive component and at least one second reactive component, selected from the group consisting of:
- hydrogen peroxide (H202) and nitrite (NO2);
- hydrogen peroxide (H202) and nitrate (NO3);
24739401.1

- 19 -- a carboxylic acid and an oxidizing agent, in particular hydrogen peroxide, in particular acetic acid (CH3COOH) and hydrogen peroxide (11202);
-hypochlorite (C10) and an acid, in particular hypochlorite (C10) and an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid and nitric acid;
-chlorite (C102) and an acid, in particular chlorite (C102-) and an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid and nitric acid;
- chlorate (C103-) and an acid, in particular chlorate (C103-) and an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid and nitric acid.
Thus, for example, the disinfectant peroxynitric acid (ONOOH) can be prepared by reaction of hydrogen peroxide (H202) and nitrite (NO2) as reactive components, in particular in an acidic medium, by means of the reaction:
11202 + NO2- + H30+ ¨> ONOOH +2 H20.
Regarding possible concentrations and parameters of the mixture of the reactive components, reference may likewise be made to the above-described documents WO 2019/219220 Al and WO
2019/219959 Al by way of example. In particular, reference may be made to said documents regarding the concentrations of the reactive components, regarding the pH of the disinfectant and/or of an active solution containing the disinfectant on the container and also regarding the preferred mixing times. Other compositions and/or concentrations and/or parameters are, however, also possible.
Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, the disinfectant peroxyacetic acid (CH3C000H) can, for example, be prepared by reaction of acetic acid (CH3COOH) and hydrogen peroxide (H202) as reactive components, by means of the reaction:
CH3COOH + H202 ¨> CH3C000H + H20 Furthermore, likewise as an alternative or in addition to one or both of the abovementioned options, the disinfectant chlorine dioxide (C102) can, for example, be prepared by reaction of chlorate (C103) and an acid, in particular citric acid (CH3COOH) and hydrogen peroxide (H202) as reactive components, by means of the reaction:
24739401.1

-20 -C103- + ¨> C102 + H20 Furthermore, likewise as an alternative or in addition to one or more of the abovementioned options, the disinfectant hypochlorous acid (HC10) can, for example, be prepared by reaction of hypochlorite (C10-) and an acid, for example citric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid or acetic acid, as reactive components, by means of the reaction:
C10- + 11+ HC10 The hypochlorite ions can, for example, be provided in a first reactive component or solution comprising a salt of hypochlorous acid in alkaline solution. Said first reactive component can, for example, be mixed with a second reactive component comprising the acid.
Other preparations of disinfectants from multiple reactive components are also possible.
Unlike the direct introduction of the disinfectants, the reactive components can be chosen such that they are comparatively easy to handle. For example, peroxyacetic acid, peroxynittic acid or chlorine dioxide are unstable, flammable and extremely reactive, and so they difficult to handle and can be used in a washer-disinfector. As a result of in situ production, in particular in the cleaning chamber, from two or more reactive components which are easier to handle in their own right, the aggressive and possibly short-lived disinfectants are only formed within the cleaning chamber, in particular on the surface of the container to be cleaned, where they develop their effect in a targeted manner.
Thus, at least one of the reactive components may in general comprise, for example, hydrogen peroxide, i.e., H202, and/or ozone, i.e., 03, in particular as oxidizing agent. Other oxidizing agents are also usable in principle. However, hydrogen peroxide is in general easy to handle in washer-disinfectors and is a very effective oxidizing agent. The stated acids are also easy to handle.
Likewise, nitrates, nitrites, chlorates, chlorites or hypochlorites are easily providable in the form of corresponding salts, for example sodium salts, for example in the form of aqueous solutions of said salts. For example, nitrite salts according to formula KNO2 may be provided, for example NaNO2.
24739401.1

- 21 -Other substances may be present in addition to the reactive components. These may be, for example, auxiliaries, such as surface-active substances, surfactants, foaming agents, fragrances or combinations of the stated auxiliaries. Furthermore, as an alternative or in addition, additional auxiliaries may be present, such as acids, bases or buffers.
Method step e. may in particular be carried out in such a way that a period of not more than 75 s, in particular not more than 20 s, in particular not more than 15 s, passes between the mixing of the at least two reactive components and the impingement on the container, if the mixing does not in any case take place on the container surface. The time window may be, for example, 1 s to 20 s.
For example, a period of time of 2-3 s may pass between the mixing of the at least two reactive components and the impingement on the container, for example in the case of the above-described reaction of the reactive components hydrogen peroxide and nitrate and/or nitrite ions.
Furthermore, the disinfectant may be present as an active solution or be present in an active solution, for example as a real solution, as a dispersion, as a suspension or as an emulsion. The carrier, in particular solvent, used may be, for example, water. As discussed above, said carrier may, for example, also act as a carrier for one or more of the reactive components, in particular for hydrogen peroxide and/or nitrate and/or nitrite ions, which are mixed outside the surface of the container or else only on the surface of the container. Especially when using water as a carrier for the disinfectant and/or for one or both of the reactive components, the conditions may, for example, be set in such a way that there is a pH of 2.1 to 6.8 in the active solution with the disinfectant and the carrier contained therein.
Especially in the case of the above-described reaction of the reactive components hydrogen peroxide and nitrate and/or nitrite ions, the concentration of the nitrate and/or nitrite ions, in particular in the mixed active solution with both reactive components before the reaction, may be, for example, in a range from 5 to 500 mM (corresponding to 5 to 500 x 0.001 mo1/1), in particular in a range from 8 to 200 mM, in particular in a range from 10 to 100 mM, for example 50 mM.
In general, the concentration of the disinfectant on the surface of the container over time, for example, may be considered for efficacy, and the so-called Haber's efficacy parameter H may be defined therefrom by:
H = ft2 CDCIt (1) tl 24739401.1

-22 -Here, CD is the concentration of the disinfectant on the surface of the container, and H is determined from the integral of this concentration over time tin the application interval (ti, t2).
Specifically for the above-described use of peroxynitric acid, Haber's efficacy parameter H can, for example, be calculated as H = 5t2[ONOOH]clt (2) Here, [ON001/] is the concentration of peroxynitric acid on the surface of the container.
In general, the method may in particular be carried out in such a way that Haber's efficacy parameter H is in the range from 10 mM=s to 400 mM mM.s, in particular in the range from 10mM=s to 200 mM= s, in particular in the range from 20 mM= s to 100 mM.s, in particular for the use of peroxynitric acid as disinfectant. The desired efficacy parameter in the method may in particular be set via the concentration of the disinfectant and/or via the action time. Monitoring may be effected, for example, via at least one sensor, as will be described in greater detail below.
The container may, for example, be impinged on for a specified action time by the at least one disinfectant and/or the at least one active solution, which may comprise the at least one carrier, the at least one disinfectant and optionally one or more additives. Said action time may begin, for example, with contacting of the container with the disinfectant and/or the active solution, and may end, for example, by rinsing off the disinfectant or else in some other way.
The action time may be infinite or else limited. Rinse-off may also, for example, be replaced and/or supplemented by impingement of steam on the container, for example according to method step e.
The action time may, for example, be limited, for example to 90 seconds or less, to 50 seconds or less, to 30 seconds or less, or else to 15 seconds or less. For example, the action time may be 1 s to 90 s. For example, the action time may be 1 s to 10 seconds, in particular 2 seconds to 3 seconds. Method step c. may thus in general also comprise at least one action step, in which the disinfectant acts on the container for a specified action time.
Further optional possibilities concern the impingement in method step c. Thus, the impingement in method step c. may in particular comprise at least one impingement with at least one type of impingement selected from the group consisting of: spraying; jetting;
dripping; gas treatment;
24739401.1

-23 -vapor treatment; fogging, in particular cold fogging. If the reactive components are only mixed in the cleaning chamber, for example in the atmosphere of the cleaning chamber and/or on the surface of the container, the reactive components may also be applied by means of a different type of impingement in each case. Thus, for example, one of the reactive components may be sprayed onto the container, whereas another of the reactive components is, for example, atomized and is applied to the container as condensation from the mist. The reactive components may then be mixed, for example, wholly or partly on the container surface or else wholly or partly in the atmosphere of the cleaning chamber. The mixing may furthermore be assisted by additional devices, for example by at least one fan for circulating the mist.
As also discussed above, the method may comprise additional, unmentioned method steps in addition to method steps a. to c. and optionally also in addition to optional method steps d. and/or e. In particular, the method may further comprise at least one displacement step. In the displacement step, gases, in particular nitrogen oxide-containing gases, can be discharged from the cleaning chamber, in particular forcibly. The displacement step may in particular be carried out after method step c., for example immediately after method step c. or within a specified time interval, for example within a time interval of 1 s to 90 s. For example, the displacement step may be carried out within a time interval of 5 seconds to 90 seconds, in particular within a time interval of 10 seconds to 60 seconds, after the end of method step c., but for example before carrying out optional method step e. Alternatively or additionally, the displacement step may, however, also be carried out after method step d. and/or after method step e. The last possibility may have in particular the advantage that time for carrying out the method may be saved, since it is then possible, for example, for displacement of the steam in steam disinfection e.
to be temporally combined with the step of displacement of vapors in disinfection step c., and so it is possible to dispense with carrying out the displacement step multiple times. Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, carrying out the displacement step after steam disinfection e.
and/or after final-rinsing step d. may have the advantage that vapors from disinfection step c. are additionally diluted by water and/or steam from final-rinsing step d. and/or from steam disinfection e. Nevertheless, it is also possible to carry out the optional displacement step multiple times.
Therefore, one or more displacement steps may in general be carried out, for example after one or more of method steps c., d. and e.
The displacement step may, however, also be carried out multiple times, for example once after carrying out method step c. and at least one more time after carrying out optional method step e.
24739401.1

-24 -Thus, for example, in a first displacement step downstream of method step c., gases containing nitrogen oxides (N0x) can be discharged from the cleaning chamber, whereas in a second displacement step downstream of method step e., steam is discharged from the cleaning chamber.
Accordingly, the method may comprise, for example, method steps a. to c. and optionally d., followed by a first displacement step, which in turn is followed by method step e., which in turn is followed by the second displacement step. In this way, disinfection step c.
and optional steam disinfection step e. can be clearly separated, and at least one displacement step can be carried out between said disinfection steps c. and e. and at least one displacement step can optionally also be carried out after steam disinfection step e. This means, for example, that harmful gases from method step c. and also optionally vapors and moist air disagreeable to the operating personnel can be discharged in the displacement steps before a door of the cleaning chamber is opened, and their release into the room air can be prevented.
The displacement step may in particular be carried out in such a way that the displacement step comprises discharging the gases from the cleaning chamber through at least one bypass into the drain downstream of the odor trap. Therefore, the washer-disinfector may thus comprise at least one bypass, for example at least one pipeline, which connects the cleaning chamber and the drain downstream of the odor trap, in particular the siphon. The bypass may comprise, for example, at least one check valve and/or at least one other type of valve which prevents gases from flowing back into the cleaning chamber from the drain.
The displacement step may in particular be carried out forcibly. This may be realized, for example, by increasing the pressure in the cleaning chamber and/or by introducing at least one displacement medium into the cleaning chamber, in particular under positive pressure. For this purpose, the washer-disinfector may comprise, for example, at least one supply line for the displacement medium, in particular with at least one valve, and/or at least one fan, which, for example, forcibly introduces air into the cleaning chamber. Alternatively or additionally, gases may also be sucked out of the cleaning chamber in the displacement step.
As discussed above, the at least one displacement step may in particular be carried out multiple times. In particular, the displacement step may be carried out at least once after disinfection step c. and preferably before optional steam disinfection step e. Furthermore, the displacement step may optionally be carried out at least once after optional steam disinfection step e.
24739401.1

-25 -As an alternative or in addition to the displacement step, the method may also comprise at least one conversion step. In the conversion step, gases from the cleaning chamber, for example nitrogen oxide-containing gases, can in particular be supplied to at least one conversion device for chemical and/or physical and/or biological processing of at least a portion of the gases. The conversion device may comprise, for example, at least one device selected from the group consisting of a catalyst, a filter and a scrubber. The filter may comprise, for example, activated carbon, since activated carbon can bind, for example, nitrogen oxides and in particular NO2 well. The conversion step may also be carried out in such a way that it comprises at least one step in which the catalyst and/or the filter are regenerated and/or made reusable. This may be achieved, for example, by the action of temperature, for example on a zeolite material as catalyst and/or on the filter material, and/or in some other way, for example chemically.
Thus, for example, nitrogen oxide-containing gases may be converted into gaseous nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water in a humid atmosphere by a catalyst, for example a platinum-containing catalyst and/or a palladium-containing catalyst. The conversion step may be carried out in the cleaning chamber itself, or the conversion step may comprise discharging gases from the cleaning chamber, for example by displacement and/or suction, and supplying said gases to the conversion device, for example the filter and/or catalyst and/or scrubber. After processing by the conversion device, the gases may be passed on, for example, in at least one way selected from the group consisting of: the gases are returned to the cleaning chamber, in particular in a circulation process or circulation method; the gases are released into a surrounding area; the gases are discharged into an exhaust system; the gases are discharged into the drain downstream of the odor trap. The first possibility may be effected, for example, in circulation mode, for example by repeatedly passing the gases through the conversion device. The circulation method may be carried out, for example, until the processed gases meet certain quality requirements, for example until at least one gas component no longer exceeds a concentration threshold, for example in the cleaning chamber. The quality requirements may be measured, for example, by at least one sensor.
Thus, the gases after the disinfection step may, for example, also be decomposed over one or more catalysts in a circulation method. Alternatively or additionally, they may be bound, for example, to water in a scrubber. The water may then be used, for example, in a subsequent cleaning method, for example in a subsequent washing step and/or a washing step of a subsequent rinses cycle. Alternatively or additionally, the water may also be disposed of, for example through the drain.
24739401.1

-26 -The at least one optional conversion step may be carried out continuously or batchwise. It may also be carried out as an alternative or in addition to the described displacement step. Regarding possible times at which the conversion step may be carried out in the method, reference may be made to the possible times of the displacement step. Thus, for example, the conversion step may in particular be carried out after method step c., for example immediately after method step c. or within a specified time interval, for example within a time interval of 1 s to 90 s. Alternatively or additionally, the conversion step may, however, also be carried out after method step d. and/or after method step e. Regarding the options, reference may be made to the description of the displacement step.
As discussed above, the method may also comprise further method steps. Thus, the method may comprise, for example, at least one drying step. Said drying step may be, for example, downstream of the disinfection step and/or the steam disinfection step. As discussed above, the method may comprise, for example, initially method steps a. to c. and optionally method step d., method step d. being preferably upstream of method step c. After carrying out method step c., a first displacement step may then be carried out, optionally followed by steam disinfection step e. and optionally the at least one second displacement step and the drying step. The second displacement step and the drying step may be separate method steps or may else be common method steps in whole or in part.
As will be further discussed below, one or more sensors may be used in the method. In particular, one or more sensors may be used that monitor one or more of method steps a.-c.
and/or optionally one or more of optional method steps d. and/or e. and/or one or more parameters which play a role in said method steps and which characterize the execution of said method steps. In particular, one or more sensors may be used that monitor the at least one disinfection step or else one or more partial steps thereof For example, the mixing of the reactive components and/or the impingement of the disinfectant on the container may be monitored by one or more sensors.
This monitoring may be used, for example, for control of the method, in particular the disinfection step, in particular for feedback control. Alternatively or additionally, this monitoring may also be used to detect malfunctions which, in particular, might have an influence on the disinfection of the container. If a malfunction is detected, the method may comprise, for example, outputting of a warning signal to a user.
24739401.1

-27 -Thus, the method may in general, as discussed, comprise the use of at least one sensor. The sensor may in particular be arranged in at least one way selected from the group consisting of:
a) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one component selected from the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components; and/or b) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one reaction product within the cleaning chamber or on the surface of the container selected from the group consisting of: an acid which is formed; a gas formed from the reaction; a reaction by-product.
If the sensor is arranged according to variant a), this at least one property of the at least one component may be detected within the cleaning chamber or else outside the cleaning chamber, for example in a line system through which the at least one component flows, as will be discussed in greater detail below.
As discussed above, the sensor may be used, for example by means of at least one controller, to influence the method. In particular, the disinfection step may comprise influencing at least one parameter of the disinfection step in accordance with at least one sensor signal of the sensor. The parameter may be selected, for example, from the group consisting of: a mixing ratio of the reactive components; a concentration of at least one of the reactive components; a concentration of the disinfectant.
As will also be discussed in greater detail below, one or more filter elements may also be used in the method. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the method may in particular be carried out using at least one washer-disinfector. Accordingly, the at least one filter element may in particular be part of the at least one washer-disinfector. The filter element may in particular be disposed in at least one line system through which at least one component flows, for example at least one line of said line system, for example a line system of the washer-disinfector. For example, this may be a disinfection line system. The at least one component may in particular be selected from the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components.
24739401.1

-28 -The filter element may in particular also be used to process the at least one component and, for example, to avoid precipitates, particle formation or similar undesired effects. Furthermore, the filter element may also be part of monitoring of the functioning of the method, for example the disinfection step. Thus, for example, the method may further comprise measurement of at least one pressure in the line system upstream and downstream of the filter element by means of at least one pressure sensor, in particular at least one differential pressure. If, for example, the filter element becomes clogged, for example because of aging effects and/or else the formation of undesirable constituents in the component flowing through the filter, this can be detected on the basis of the pressure. The method may in particular be arranged in at least one of the following ways:
- the disinfection step is controlled in accordance with the at least one pressure signal; and/or - the pressure signal is monitored and at least one item of information, in particular at least one warning, is output to a user in the event of deviations of the pressure signal from at least one specified normal value, at least one specified normal profile or at least one specified normal range.
If, for example, a viscosity increases because of a composition of the disinfectant that deviates from a normal range, because of a concentration that deviates from a normal range, or similar effects, this can be detected on the filter element on the basis of the pressure, for example by the differential pressure rising. The disinfection step may then be controlled, for example, by means of said pressure signal, for example by specifically influencing the concentration. Alternatively or additionally, warnings may be output, for example, if there is a deviation from the normal range.
Such effects may also be logged.
In a further aspect of the present invention, a washer-disinfector for treating at least one container for human waste is proposed. The washer-disinfector is arranged to carry out the proposed method in one or more of the above-described configurations and/or according to one or more of the embodiments that will be described in greater detail below. Accordingly, for possible definitions and options of the washer-disinfector, reference may be largely made to the description of the method.
The washer-disinfector comprises, as discussed above, at least one cleaning chamber. Furthermore, the washer-disinfector comprises at least one drain having at least one odor trap, in particular a siphon bend. Furthermore, the washer-disinfector comprises at least one impingement device for impingement of at least one cleaning fluid on the container in the cleaning chamber. The term 24739401.1

-29 -"impingement device" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a device arranged for impingement of the at least one cleaning fluid on the container. For example, impingement may be effected in the form of spraying the container with the cleaning fluid and/or dripping the cleaning fluid onto the container and/or jetting the cleaning fluid onto the container. In particular, the impingement device may comprise at least one nozzle which generates at least one fluid jet which strikes the container. For example, the impingement device may comprise at least one nozzle which sprays and/or jets one or more jets of the cleaning fluid onto the container from one or more spatial directions in a targeted manner.
As discussed above, the term "cleaning fluid" is to be understood as an umbrella term and may include liquid cleaning fluids and also gaseous cleaning fluids. Liquid cleaning fluids are also referred to as cleaning liquids. If multiple cleaning fluids are provided for treating the container in the washer-disinfector, then different impingement devices or else common impingement devices may be provided for these different cleaning fluids. Thus, for example, the at least one impingement device may comprise at least one washing system, for example having at least one washing nozzle usable for the above-described washing step, in which, for example, the container is impinged on by at least one cleaning liquid in the form of at least one washing liquid.
For the at least one optional final-rinsing step, the impingement device may comprise, for example, optionally at least one final-rinsing system, for example having at least one final-rinsing nozzle.
The washing system and the final-rinsing system may be wholly or partly separate, but may also be wholly or partly combined. In particular, the washing system may comprise at least one washing tank and at least one washing line system. The final-rinsing system may comprise at least one final-rinsing tank and at least one final-rinsing line system.
Furthermore, the impingement device for the at least one optional steam disinfection step may comprise at least one steam system which, for example, may comprise at least one steam nozzle, at least one steam generator and at least one steam line. Here too, for example, the steam system may be wholly or partly separate from the washing system and the final-rinsing system, or may else be wholly or partly combined with one or both of these systems. Thus, for example, the final-rinsing line system may be wholly or partly used as the steam line as well, just as for example the 24739401.1

- 30 -final-rinsing nozzle may be wholly or partly used as the steam nozzle. A
separate design is also possible.
Moreover, the impingement device for carrying out the at least one disinfection step c. may comprise at least one disinfection system. As will be described in greater detail below, said disinfection system may comprise, for example, at least two reservoirs for the reactive components and at least one disinfection nozzle for impingement of one or both of the reactive components on the container, wherein the impingement may be effected in liquid form and/or in gaseous form.
Furthermore, the disinfection system may comprise at least one disinfection line system which, for example, may supply the reactive components and optionally one or more carriers to the at least one disinfection nozzle.
The washer-disinfector further comprises at least two reservoirs for accommodation of the at least two reactive components. These may in particular be reservoirs for liquids.
Said reservoirs may be completely or partially closed, for example as canisters and/or other types of reservoirs.
The washer-disinfector further comprises at least one controller for control of at least one cleaning program. The term "cleaning program" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a sequence of program steps which is used for cleaning items to be cleaned and in which the items to be cleaned are treated in different ways. At least one of the program steps involves impingement of at least one cleaning fluid. Multiple program steps with differing impingement of different cleaning fluids may be provided. For possible configurations, reference may be made, for example, to the method according to the present invention.
The term "controller" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a device, in particular an electronic device, arranged to drive, to control, to regulate or to influence in any other way at least one function of another device. The controller may be centralized or else decentralized and/or may comprise, for example, at least one data processing device programmed to control the cleaning program. For example, the data processing device may be arranged to set one or more or all of the program parameters of the cleaning program, for example in a specified order and/or with a 24739401.1

- 31 -specified time schedule. The controller may be centralized and/or in the form of one component or may else be decentralized and comprise multiple control components. For example, the controller may comprise one or more processors, which may optionally be connected to one another wirelessly or nonwirelessly in order to exchange information and/or commands. The at least one controller, for example the at least one optional data processing device, may in general be wholly or partly integrated into a common module with the at least one cleaning chamber, for example into a common housing. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one controller, for example the at least one data processing device, may also be wholly or partly disposed outside a module of the washer-disinfector that comprises the cleaning chamber, for example outside a housing that encloses the cleaning chamber, for example as an external controller. The at least one controller may comprise one or more control components, for example multiple data processing devices, which, for example, may be connected to one another via at least one interface and/or at least one data connection in order, for example, to exchange data and/or general information and/or control commands. In general, the controller may also wholly or partly comprise at least one data processing device which serves not only for control of the washer-disinfector but also for at least one other purpose, for example a PC. In general, the controller may thus comprise one or more control components, each of which may be wholly or partly realized as hardware components and/or wholly or partly realized as software components. If multiple control components are provided, they may be different hardware components which may be spatially separated, for example in the form of multiple data processing devices. Alternatively or additionally, the controller may comprise multiple control components which may be implemented as software components in the same piece of hardware, for example in the same data processing device.
The controller may in particular be arranged to carry out at least method steps b. and c., and optionally method steps d. and/or e., in particular as program steps of the cleaning program.
The controller may in particular be arranged to control the disinfection step.
Here, the controller may be, for example, specifically adapted to a desired antimicrobial action, for example automatically and/or on the basis of appropriate settings by the operating personnel. Thus, operating personnel may, for example, influence the disinfection step, for example a duration and/or an intensity of the disinfection step, by means of the controller. For example, a type of microbial contamination and control thereof may be settable here. For example, what may be specifically set is whether the disinfection is effective against a specific type of pathogen, such as against the typical hospital pathogen C. difficile, or else whether the disinfection is to have a 24739401.1

- 32 -sporicidal effect, for example a full sporicidal effect. For this purpose, a type and/or concentration of the disinfectant and/or a duration of the disinfection step may be settable by means of the controller, for example. Explicitly, the previously defined and verified Haber's efficacy parameter H may then be influenced and set via the controller. The disinfection method is therefore verifiable and reliable (in accordance with the AO values).
The washer-disinfector may in particular comprise at least one disinfection system which, for example, may be part of the impingement device. In particular, the washer-disinfector may comprise at least one mixing device, wherein the mixing device may be arranged to mix the reactive components. Regarding possible configurations of the mixing operation, reference may be made to the above description of the mixing in method step c., it being possible for the mixing device to be in general a device for carrying out the described mixing operation in one or more of the described embodiments. In particular, the mixing device may be arranged to mix the reactive components before the impingement on the container, in particular in at least one device selected from the group consisting of: a mixing chamber; a mixing section; a pump, in particular a centrifugal pump; a nozzle, in particular a mixing nozzle. Thus, the mixing device may in general comprise not only the reservoirs, but also the at least one additional device.
The mixing chamber may in particular be a chamber which is separate from the reservoirs and in which the reactive components, alone or with the addition of one or more carriers and/or additives for example, can be brought together before they are then applied to the container for example, in particular via the at least one nozzle or mixing nozzle. The mixing section may in particular comprise at least one fluidic conductor through which the reactive components, alone or with the addition of one or more carriers and/or additives for example, can flow, for example at least one flow tube and/or at least one nozzle, for example a flow nozzle. Alternatively or additionally, the mixing section may also comprise at least one mixing device selected, for example, from the group consisting of a static mixer and/or a pump, for example a centrifugal pump. The mixing nozzle may in general be at least one nozzle arranged to atomize at least one of the reactive components or else the at least two reactive components, alone or else with the addition of one or more carriers and/or additives for example, together, and so they strike the container and, for example, come into contact with one another over a stretch between the mixing nozzle and the container and, for example, can react with one another over this stretch or can else react with one another on the surface of the container.
The reactive components may be present in the same state of matter or else in different states of matter. Thus, for example, at least one of the reactive components, alone or with the addition of one or more carriers and/or additives, may be sprayed onto the container in liquid form by means 24739401.1

- 33 -of the mixing nozzle, whereas at least one other of the reactive components, alone or with the addition of one or more carriers and/or additives, may be introduced into the cleaning chamber in gaseous form for example, as an aerosol or as a mist, where it can react, for example, on the surface of the container with the first of the reactive components.
The washer-disinfector may further comprise at least one processing tank for processing of at least one of the reactive components. Said processing tank may in general be a tank which is connected to at least one of the reservoirs. The processing tank may also be connected to at least one reservoir for at least one carrier, in particular a reservoir for water. The washer-disinfector may be arranged to mix the at least one reactive component with the carrier in the processing tank. Therefore, the processing tank may serve to introduce the reactive component or at least one of the reactive components into the at least one carrier, thereby making it possible, for example, to set a concentration in a specific manner and thereby also making it possible, for example, to facilitate atomization or misting of the at least one reactive component.
The washer-disinfector may in particular comprise at least one metering pump arranged to introduce a specifiable amount of the at least one reactive component into the processing tank. For example, the metering pump may be controlled by the controller, especially also, for example, with respect to the time of metered addition and/or with respect to the specified amount of the at least one reactive component and/or the additive.
The processing tank may in particular be connected to the reservoir via at least one supply line having at least one valve. The washer-disinfector may in particular be arranged to introduce the carrier into the processing tank via the supply line. This introduction may be, for example, gravity-driven or else driven by at least one further metering pump. For example, the washer-disinfector may be arranged, in particular by means of the controller, to control the valve accordingly in order, for example, to introduce a specified amount of the carrier into the processing tank via the supply line. For example, a timer may accordingly be provided to define the amount of carrier.
In particular, the supply line may protrude into the processing tank. Thus, for example, a mouth of the supply line may be immersible within an amount of the reactive component contained in the processing tank. The controller may be arranged, for example, to first introduce the at least one reactive component into the processing tank, for example by appropriately control of the metering pump. The controller may further be arranged to then introduce the at least one carrier into the 24739401.1

- 34 -processing tank, for example by appropriate control of the valve, wherein the carrier may in particular be introduced in such a way that it flows from inside out into the reactive component, via the mouth of the supply line that is immersed into the reactive component.
This can achieve better and faster mixing of the reactive component with the carrier, which may be advantageous in particular for fast-running reactions and which may lead in particular to good homogeneity in the distribution of the reactive component in the carrier.
The washer-disinfector may further comprise at least one steam generator for generation of steam.
The steam generator may in particular comprise at least one reservoir, in particular for water, and at least one heating device for generation of the steam, wherein, for example, the steam generator may be connected to at least one steam nozzle on the cleaning chamber via at least one steam line.
The above-described reservoir for the carrier may in particular be at least partly identical to the reservoir of the steam generator. Thus, for example, water may be withdrawn from the reservoir of the steam generator as a carrier for at least one reactive component.
At least one reactive components and in particular a number of the reactive components may be processed by introducing them into at least one carrier. Thus, the washer-disinfector may in general comprise, for example, at least two of the processing tanks, with different reactive components being processable in the processing tanks.
After one or more of the reactive components have been processed, they may be mixed. Thus, the washer-disinfector may in particular be arranged to bring together the reactive components from the processing tanks that have been mixed with the at least one carrier and to form the disinfectant.
This bringing together may comprise the above-described mixing or may be part of the above-described mixing, for example in one or more of the described variants. The bringing together may therefore take place outside the container, for example in a mixing chamber, in a mixing section, by means of a mixing nozzle, or a combination of the stated possibilities, or else, for example, on the container, for example by bringing together the processed reactive components on the container surface.
The washer-disinfector may further comprise at least one pump arranged to pump the reactive components mixed with the at least one carrier out of the processing tanks and to apply them to the container. The pump may in particular be part of the impingement device.
Here, a separate 24739401.1

- 35 -disinfection pump may be provided which, for example, generates a required pressure and/or which supplies the processed reactive components to at least one disinfection nozzle.
Further possible configurations concern the process control and the monitoring of the cleaning process, in particular the disinfection step. Thus, the washer-disinfector, as discussed above in connection with the method, may in particular comprise at least one sensor.
The sensor may in particular measure at least one parameter and/or at least one measurable variable relevant to the operation of the washer-disinfector. This may in particular be at least one physical and/or chemical and/or biological variable. Relevant sensors, for example electrical and/or electro-optical and/or electromechanical sensors, are known in principle to a person skilled in the art. Examples will be described in greater detail below.
In particular, the at least one sensor may be arranged in at least one way selected from the group consisting of:
a) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one component selected from the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components;
b) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one reaction product within the cleaning chamber or on the surface of the container selected from the group consisting of: an acid which is formed; a gas formed from the reaction; a reaction by-product.
Combinations of the stated possibilities are also conceivable.
According to stated variant a), the sensor may thus be arranged to detect at least one property of at least one component selected from the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components;
at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components. The by-product may be formed, for example, in liquid form or else in gaseous form.
In this way, it is possible in particular to monitor that, for example, a mixing ratio between the at least one carrier and the at least one reactive component and/or the disinfectant has been set correctly. The sensor may be disposed, for example, in at least one processing tank, in at least one 24739401.1

- 36 -supply line, within the cleaning chamber or else at other locations at which monitoring is meaningfully possible.
Especially in one or both of the stated possibilities a) and/or b), the sensor may in particular comprise at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: a conductivity sensor; a level sensor; a pressure sensor; a flow sensor; an optical sensor, in particular an optical sensor for detection of yellowing; a sensor for detection of spectroscopic properties; a sensor having one or more light-emitting diodes, in particular having a defined wavelength, and one or more light detectors; a level sensor; a gas sensor; a pH sensor. The optical sensor may comprise, for example, at least one absorption sensor, as will be discussed in greater detail below.
The spectroscopic properties may be captured, for example, by means of at least one spectral camera and/or at least one hyperspectral camera. The light-emitting diodes may be individual or combined, for example in the form of multicolor light-emitting diodes. The at least one light detector may be configured in various ways, for example by having the corresponding spectral line properties.
Merely by way of example, one or more of the substances selected from the group consisting of nitrogen oxides, nitrate, nitrite, hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitric acid and peroxynitrite may be optically detected, for example by qualitatively and/or quantitatively optically detecting yellowing of water in the presence of nitrate, nitrite, nitrogen oxides, peroxynitric acid or peroxynitrite.
In particular, but not exclusively, if the sensor is at least partly arranged in the way a), the sensor may in particular be disposed in at least one line system through which the component flows. In particular, this may be at least one line of at least one disinfection line system through which the at least one component flows. In particular, the sensor may therefore be a flow sensor in this case or else in other cases, i.e., a sensor which can measure at least one property of at least one flowing medium. In particular, the sensor may be an optical sensor which can measure at least one optical property of the at least one flowing medium, in particular of the at least one component.
As discussed above, the at least one sensor may be arranged for process control and may, for example, measure optically, electrically, mechanically or in some other way at least one property of the disinfectant, of at least one active solution containing the disinfectant, of at least one of the reactive components, of at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier or 24739401.1

- 37 -of a combination of the stated substances, which may be used for process control for example.
Thus, for example, optical, electrical or mechanical properties may be used to infer a concentration.
As will be discussed in greater detail below, the at least one sensor may in particular be coupled to the at least one controller, and feedback control, for example, may be provided in order, for example, to adjust and/or to regulate concentrations of the stated substances individually or in combination.
As already discussed, the at least one sensor may comprise at least one optical sensor. In particular, the at least one sensor may comprise at least one optical absorption sensor.
The optical absorption sensor may in particular comprise at least one light source and at least one photodetector. The light source and the photodetector may be disposed, for example, on opposite sides of a cell in which at least one medium used in the method and/or in the washer-disinfector is present. In particular, this may be a fluid medium, for example a liquid, which can flow through the cell in particular. In particular, the medium may be the at least one component already mentioned above and used in the context of the disinfection step, in particular the component selected from the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components. As discussed in greater detail below, an active solution containing the disinfectant may in particular be monitored by means of the at least one sensor, for example the absorption sensor, in particular in a flowing state.
The at least one optional absorption sensor may in principle be tailored to the absorbing properties or spectral properties of the medium to be measured, for example the at least one component. Thus, the spectral properties of the medium and/or a component thereof are in principle known in most cases, for example in the form of absorption curves. In this way, by using the Beer¨Lambert law for example, the absorption properties may be used to infer one or more concentrations. For example, the at least one light source and/or the at least one photodetector may be tailored to these spectral properties. For example, the light source may emit in the ultraviolet spectral range, and the photodetector may likewise be sensitive in the ultraviolet spectral range.
However, other spectral ranges are also possible, depending on the circumstances to be measured.
As likewise discussed above, the sensor, in particular the optical sensor and/or else other types of sensors, may in particular be connected to the at least one controller. As discussed, the controller 24739401.1

- 38 -may be in one part or else in multiple parts. Thus, for example, at least one control component may also optionally be specifically adapted for processing of the sensor signals of the at least one sensor and/or for at least one process step to be controlled by the sensor, for example the disinfection step. Accordingly, the controller may be in one part or else in multiple parts and may also comprise, for example, at least one disinfection controller specifically arranged to control the at least one disinfection step.
Accordingly, the controller may, for example, be arranged to control, in particular to control by feedback control, the disinfection step by means of at least one sensor signal of the sensor. Thus, the controller may in particular be arranged to influence at least one parameter of the disinfection step in accordance with the sensor signal, in particular at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: a mixing ratio of the reactive components; a concentration of at least one of the reactive components; a concentration of the disinfectant.
The at least one sensor, in particular the at least one optical sensor and in particular the optical absorption sensor, may in particular be arranged to measure at least one property of the disinfectant, of the active solution containing the disinfectant or of a precursor or of a partial component, for example one or more of the reactive components. In this regard, reference may be made to options a) and b) above. The at least one property may, for example, be captured as an actual value by the controller via at least one sensor signal of the at least one sensor and compared with at least one target value in order to generate therefrom, for example, corresponding control signals and/or other information, for example about the monitored component.
The at least one sensor signal may be or comprise, for example, at least one absorption signal indicating, for example, a degree of absorption of the monitored component. In general, the at least one sensor signal may be measured statically. Alternatively or additionally, a plot against time of at least one signal of the at least one sensor may also be monitored for example. For example, the controller may be arranged to compare the plot against time of the at least one signal of the at least one sensor with at least one target plot. In general, the controller may be arranged to also infer, for example, one or more errors, such as an incorrect mixing ratio, an incorrect and/or aged reactive component or other types of errors, from the at least one sensor signal and/or its plot against time. For example, relevant errors may be stored in the controller and may be assigned to specific sensor signals and/or plots of the sensor signals. Machine learning methods may also be used here, for example by using specific sensor signals or their plots against time having known errors as training data in order then to be able to infer a corresponding error in real use via a trained model.
24739401.1

- 39 -As discussed above, the at least one sensor may be disposed at various locations. Thus, it may be disposed outside the cleaning chamber, for example at one or more of the following locations: at the at least one processing chamber; at the at least one mixing device; at the at least one mixing chamber; at at least one bypass; at the at least one mixing section; at the at least one mixing nozzle;
at at least one of the reservoirs; at at least one processing tank; at the at least one supply line.
Alternatively or additionally, the at least one sensor may also be disposed within the reaction chamber and may, for example, be arranged to measure the at least one property within the cleaning chamber, for example on the surface of the container.
As also discussed above in connection with the proposed method, the washer-disinfector may further comprise at least one filter element. In particular, the filter element may be disposed in at least one line system through which at least one component flows, in particular at least one fluid component. Said component may in particular be selected from the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components.
As likewise discussed, the function of the at least one filter element may be used in various ways.
Thus, the at least one filter element may in particular exercise a processing effect on the at least one component, in particular retention of particles and/or solid or highly viscous constituents.
Alternatively or additionally, the filter element may also act as a sensor, by for example, as discussed above, measuring and/or monitoring a pressure upstream and downstream of the filter element. In this way, contamination and/or changes in the composition may be detected for example, since, for example, a change in the composition may lead to a change in the pressure conditions upstream and downstream of the filter element.
Accordingly, as discussed above, the washer-disinfector may in particular further comprise at least one pressure sensor. The at least one pressure sensor may in particular be arranged to measure a pressure in the line system upstream and downstream of the filter element, in particular at least one differential pressure. The controller may in particular be arranged to capture at least one pressure signal of the pressure sensor. There are a number of ways as to how the controller can process this pressure signal. In particular, the controller may be arranged in at least one of the following ways:
24739401.1

-40 -- the controller is arranged to control the disinfection step in accordance with the at least one pressure signal, for example by adjusting a mixing ratio of the at least two reactive components and/or at least one concentration;
- the controller is arranged to monitor the pressure signal and to output at least one item of information, in particular at least one warning, to a user in the event of deviations of the pressure signal from at least one specified normal value, at least one specified normal profile or at least one specified normal range.
As discussed above, the washer-disinfector comprises the at least one impingement device. Said impingement device may in particular be arranged for carrying out the at least one washing step and optionally for carrying out the at least one final-rinsing step and/or the at least one steam disinfection step. The washer-disinfector may thus be arranged to use the impingement device for the at least one washing step. The washer-disinfector may further comprise at least one disinfection impingement device, wherein the disinfection impingement device is part of the impingement device or may else be separate from the impingement device. Thus, for example, the disinfection impingement device may comprise at least one disinfection nozzle which, for example, may be separate from at least one washing nozzle. In this way, mixing of washing liquid with one or more fluids of the disinfection step can be avoided for example. The washer-disinfector may in particular be arranged to use the disinfection impingement device in the disinfection step. The disinfection impingement device may in particular comprise at least one spray nozzle as part of the at least one disinfection nozzle, and the washer-disfinector may be arranged to apply at least one component to the container by means of the spray nozzle. The component may be selected from the group consisting of the reactive components, the disinfectant and at least one auxiliary, in particular at least one carrier. The disinfection impingement device may in particular further comprise, as an alternative or in addition to the at least one spray nozzle, at least one atomizer which, for example, may be arranged to generate at least one fluid medium selected from the group consisting of a vapor and an aerosol. If an atomizer is used, it may in particular also, for example, be used in combination with at least one fan, for example at least one circulation fan which can circulate in the cleaning chamber a mist generated by the atomizer. The fluid medium may in particular comprise at least one component selected from the group consisting of the reactive components, the disinfectant and at least one auxiliary, in particular at least one carrier.
As discussed above, the washer-disinfector may in particular comprise at least one door to the cleaning chamber. The door may in particular be a flap door, for example a flap door having a 24739401.1

- 41 -horizontal swivel axis. The flap door may in particular comprise at least one mount for the at least one container, so that, for example, said container can be connected to the door. The washer-disinfector may in particular be arranged in such a way that, when the flap door is closed, contents of the container are emptied into the drain, for example as a result of tipping of the container.
As discussed above, the washer-disinfector may further comprise at least one bypass. For possible configurations of the bypass, reference may be made to the above description.
Gases may be dischargeable from the cleaning chamber through the bypass into the drain downstream of the odor trap. The washer-disinfector may further comprise at least one displacement device arranged to discharge gases from the cleaning chamber through the bypass into the drain.
The displacement device may in particular comprise at least one device selected from the group consisting of a blower, a fan and a compressed gas source.
As also discussed above, the wisher-disinfector may be arranged to carry out the at least one conversion step. Accordingly, the wisher-disinfector may comprise. The conversion device may be arranged to chemically and/or physically and/or biologically process gases from the cleaning chamber, in particular nitrogen oxide-containing gases. As discussed above, the conversion device may comprise, for example, at least one catalyst and/or at least one filter and/or at least one scrubber. The washer-disinfector may in particular be arranged to pass on the gases, after processing by the conversion device, in a way selected from the group consisting of: the gases are returned to the cleaning chamber; the gases are released into a surrounding area; the gases are discharged into an exhaust system; the gases are discharged into the drain downstream of the odor trap. The washer-disinfector may comprise, for example, a pump and/or a suction device which sucks the gases out of the cleaning chamber, supplies them to the conversion device and then optionally either releases them into the surrounding area, discharges them into the drain or returns them to the cleaning chamber.
The method and the washer-disinfector according to one or more of the presently proposed configurations have numerous advantages over known methods and devices of a similar type.
Thus, the multicomponent method using multiple reactive components which are only brought together and reacted in the washer-disinfector can produce disinfectants in situ. Said disinfectants can be short-lived and still have a high level of efficacy. Precisely devices which must satisfy high hygiene requirements, as is the case in washer-disinfectors, can benefit from short-lived disinfectants having a high level of efficacy.
24739401.1

-42 -Especially the above-described use of peroxynitric acid, which can be prepared in situ by a chemical reaction between hydrogen peroxide and nitrite for example, offers numerous advantages here for washer-disinfectors. Thus, it generally has a very short life of typically one second under normal conditions, i.e., at room temperature and a pH of less than 10. Storage is therefore only possible at great effort, for example by freezing at -80 C and at pH=14.
However, the proposed method makes it possible for the reactive components to be brought together continuously and for the disinfectant to be formed freshly, just before, during or just after the impingement on container.
The disinfectant peroxynitric acid formed in situ has, however, a high antibacterial effect.
The disinfectant can therefore be produced from at least two reactive components which, for example, may be brought together shortly before the desired effect.
Alternatively, the mixing may also already be effected in advance and the mixture may be stored in premixed form, for example under passive ambient conditions. In the case of a mixture of nitrite and hydrogen peroxide, deactivation may be effected, for example, by setting the pH, for example by storing the mixture at p11=14. At the desired time for the effect, the pH may be changed for activation, for example by adding acid as an auxiliary.
For the mixing and the impingement on the container, a number of possibilities, which are also combinable, come into consideration. Thus, the reactive components may, for example, be mixed immediately before impingement, for example before spraying. They may, for example, continue to react beyond the time of mixing, even after the impingement on the container. For example, a mixing nozzle having at least two inlets may be used to mix the reactive components.
Alternatively or additionally, the reactive components may be mixed during the impingement itself. Thus, they may, for example, mix in the spray jet, it being possible in turn, for example, to use one mixing nozzle or multiple nozzles with mutually overlapping spray jets. The reactive components are already mixed when they then strike the container, where they can react or continue to react. For example, a first reactive component may be sprayed from at least one first nozzle, and at least one second reactive component may be sprayed from at least one second nozzle, it being possible for spray jets from the nozzles to overlap.
Again as an alternative or in addition to one or both of the aforementioned possibilities, the reactive components may each strike the container separately, but with a time overlap or at the same time.
There they can mix and react.
24739401.1

-43 -Again as an alternative or in addition to one or both of the aforementioned possibilities, the reactive components may each strike the container separately one after the other and react there. For example, the cleaning chamber may first be filled with a gas or plasma containing, for example, a first reactive component, and the second reactive component may, for example, be sprayed into the cleaning chamber. For example, the cleaning chamber may first be filled with a plasma containing hydrogen peroxide, whereupon, for example, sodium nitrate may then be sprayed in.
Again as an alternative or in addition to one or more of the abovementioned possibilities, the reactive components may each strike the container separately and one after the other. This operation may also be carried out repeatedly, and so, for example, the reactive components each strike the container separately and one after the other in alternation. The different reactive components may have the same state of matter or else different states of matter. Thus, for example, a first reactive component may be applied first, for example sodium nitrate.
After the application, the second reactive component may, for example, then be applied, for example in the form of a gas, in particular a plasma. Thus, for example, the cleaning chamber may be filled with plasma-treated air containing, for example, ozone and/or hydrogen peroxide, which is used for impingement on the container. For example, the first component can then react with the second component on the container surface. Alternatively, the two reactive components may also, for example, be applied to the container one after the other once or multiple times as liquids.
The impingement of one or more of the reactive components on the container may also be wholly or partly combined with another method step. Thus, for example, at least one of the reactive components may already be applied to the container in the washing step and/or in the downstream and optional final-rinsing step. For example, sodium nitrate could be present in a film of water on the container after the final-rinsing. In the context of the disinfection step, which may also be wholly or partly combined with a drying step for example, ozone and/or hydrogen peroxide-containing gas could, for example, be introduced into the cleaning chamber, with, for example, ozone being able to react with the air humidity in the cleaning chamber.
Contact with the sodium nitrate on the container could trigger the reaction.
If the reactive components comprise at least one oxidizing agent, said oxidizing agent may comprise, for example, ozone and/or hydrogen peroxide. As discussed above, ozone can, for example, react with steam or water and form hydrogen peroxide. Ozone may, for example, be provided separately and/or may be produced in situ within the washer-disinfector, for example 24739401.1

-44 -electrically and/or optically, for example by means of a UV lamp. The reducing agent, for example sodium nitrate, may, for example, be applied in advance, for example in an aqueous solution, or may be sprayed into the cleaning chamber.
Again as an alternative or in addition to one or more of the above-described possibilities, the reactive components may be premixed, but may be kept in an inactive form in order to prevent the formation of the disinfectant. This may, for example, as discussed above, be effected by means of setting the pH. Thus, for example, an alkaline state can prevent or at least slow down a reaction between hydrogen peroxide and nitrite. Activation may, for example, be effected just before the impingement, during the impingement or else just after the impingement. Said activation may, for example, by effected by a pH change, by irradiation with UV light, by heating, by means of a catalyst or chemical initiator, by spraying with acid and/or alkaline solution or in some other way or by means of a combination of the stated possibilities and/or other possibilities. If at least one chemical activator is used, for example an acid, an alkaline solution, an initiator or a catalyst, they may be applied in various ways. Thus, impingement may, for example, be effected by spraying.
Alternatively or additionally, said activators may, however, also, for example, be mixed into wax balls, which may then, for example, be broken up mechanically, for example in a circulation pump and/or a nozzle. Various other possibilities are conceivable.
As discussed above, there are various ways in which the method steps can be combined, modified or advantageously adapted in another way. For washer-disinfectors, a method comprising the following sequence of steps may in particular be used:
- emptying step a., - at least one prewashing step, in which cold prewashing is carried out, - washing step b., which may comprise, for example, warm washing - disinfection step c., - optional final-rinsing step d., - optional steam disinfection step e., - optional drying step, optionally also including or in combination with the at least one optional displacement step.
In the displacement step, gas may be discharged from the cleaning chamber into the drain downstream of the odor trap.
24739401.1

-45 -Alternatively or additionally, the gas may, however, also, for example, be discharged into a surrounding area of the washer-disinfector via at least one filter and/or catalyst.
Overall, the present invention can be used to realize a simple, fast and yet highly effective disinfection method which offers considerable advantages, especially in the area of the cleaning of care products, because of its universal spectrum of activity and its ease of integration into existing devices and methods.
In summary and without restricting further possible configurations, the following embodiments are proposed:
Embodiment 1 Method for treating at least one container for human waste, comprising the following steps:
a. at least one emptying step, comprising emptying of the container contents within at least one cleaning chamber into at least one drain, wherein the drain comprises at least one odor trap;
b. at least one washing step, comprising at least one impingement of at least one cleaning liquid on the container in the cleaning chamber; and c. at least one disinfection step, comprising at least one mixing of at least two reactive components to produce at least one disinfectant and impingement of the disinfectant on the container.
Embodiment 2 Method according to the preceding embodiment, further comprising:
d.at least one final-rinsing step, comprising at least one impingement of at least one rinse aid liquid on the container.
Embodiment 3 Method according to either of the preceding embodiments, further comprising:
e. at least one steam disinfection step, in particular downstream of the final-rinsing step and/or the disinfection step, comprising at least one impingement of steam on the container.
Embodiment 4 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the mixing in step c. comprises at least one mixing of the reactive components selected from the group consisting of:
24739401.1

-46 --the reactive components are mixed, wherein the disinfectant is formed in the mixture and the mixture is applied to the container;
the reactive components are applied to the container and mixed on the container, wherein the disinfectant is formed in the mixture on the container;
at least one first reactive component of the reactive components is applied to the container, and the container with the first reactive component applied thereto is exposed in the cleaning chamber to an atmosphere which comprises at least one second reactive component of the reactive components, such that the reactive components are mixed on the container, wherein the disinfectant is formed in the mixture on the container.
Embodiment 5 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the disinfectant is contained in at least one carrier, in particular in at least one solvent, in particular water.
Embodiment 6 Method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the disinfectant and the carrier, in particular the solvent, form an active solution, wherein the container is impinged on by the active solution, in particular in method step c.
Embodiment 7 Method according to either of the two preceding embodiments, wherein step c. comprises mixing of at least one of the reactive components with the carrier.
Embodiment 8 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the reactive components comprise at least one oxidizing agent and at least one anion of an acid.
Embodiment 9 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the disinfectant comprises at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of: a reactive nitrogen compound (reactive nitrogen oxide species, RNOS), in particular a reactive nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of: peroxynitric acid (ONOOH);
peroxynitrite (ON00-); a reactive oxygen compound (reactive oxygen species, ROS), in particular 11202; a peroxycarboxylic acid, in particular peroxyacetic acid (CH3C000H); an anion of a peroxycarboxylic acid, in particular peroxyacetic acid (C113C000-); and a chlorine compound, in particular a chlorine compound selected from the group consisting of hypochlorous acid (HC10), an anion of hypochlorous acid (C10-), chlorous acid (HC102), an anion of chlorous acid (C102-), 24739401.1

-47 -chloric acid (HC103), an anion of chloric acid (C103-), a chlorine oxide, in particular chlorine dioxide.
Embodiment 10 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the reactive components comprise at least one component selected from the group consisting of:
hydrogen peroxide (H202); ozone (03); 11 ; and an acid, in particular at least one acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid and acetic acid.
Embodiment 11 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the reactive components comprise at least one component selected from the group consisting of: nitrate (NO3); nitrite (NO2); a carboxylic acid, in particular acetic acid (CH3COOH);
an anion of a carboxylic acid, in particular acetic acid (CH3C00-); hypochlorite (C10);
chlorite (C102); and chlorate (C103).
Embodiment 12 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the reactive components comprise at least one combination selected from the group consisting of:
hydrogen peroxide (H202) and nitrite (NO2); hydrogen peroxide (H202) and nitrate (NO3); a carboxylic acid and an oxidizing agent, in particular hydrogen peroxide, in particular acetic acid (CH3COOH) and hydrogen peroxide (H202); hypochlorite (C10) and an acid, in particular hypochlwite (C10) and an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid and nitric acid; chlorite (C102-) and an acid, in particular chlorite (C102-) and an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid and nitric acid; chlorate (C103) and an acid, in particular chlorate (C103) and an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid and nitric acid.
Embodiment 13 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the disinfectant exhibits at least one effect selected from the group consisting of: a sporicidal effect; a virucidal effect, in particular a full virucidal effect; a fungicidal effect;
a bactericidal effect.
Embodiment 14 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the impingement in method step c. comprises at least one type of impingement selected from the group consisting of: spraying; jetting; dripping; gas treatment; vapor treatment;
fogging, in particular cold fogging.
24739401.1

-48 -Embodiment 15 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising at least one displacement step, wherein the displacement step comprises discharging gases, in particular nitrogen oxide-containing gases, from the cleaning chamber, in particular forcibly.
Embodiment 16 Method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the displacement step comprises discharging the gases from the cleaning chamber through at least one bypass into the drain downstream of the odor trap, in particular forcibly.
Embodiment 17 Method according to the preceding embodiments, wherein the displacement step is carried out at least once after the disinfection step and preferably before an optional steam disinfection step.
Embodiment 18 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising at least one conversion step, wherein the conversion step comprises supplying gases, in particular nitrogen oxide-containing gases, from the cleaning chamber to at least one conversion device for chemical and/or physical and/or biological processing of at least a portion of the gases.
Embodiment 19 Method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the conversion device comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of a catalyst, a filter and a scrubber.
Embodiment 20 Method according to either of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the gases, after processing by the conversion device, are passed on in a way selected from the group consisting of: the gases are returned to the cleaning chamber; the gases are released into a surrounding area; the gases are discharged into an exhaust system; the gases are discharged into the drain downstream of the odor trap.
Embodiment 21 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the method further comprises the use of at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is arranged in at least one way selected from the group consisting of:
a) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one component selected from the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the reactive components 24739401.1

-49 -mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components;
b) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one reaction product within the cleaning chamber or on the surface of the container selected from the group consisting of: an acid which is formed; a gas formed from the reaction; a reaction by-product.
Embodiment 22 Method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the disinfection step comprises influencing at least one parameter of the disinfection step in accordance with at least one sensor signal of the sensor.
Embodiment 23 Method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of: a mixing ratio of the reactive components; a concentration of at least one of the reactive components; a concentration of the disinfectant.
Embodiment 24 Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises use of at least one filter element, wherein the filter element is disposed in at least one line system through which at least one component flows, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components.
Embodiment 25 Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the method further comprises measurement of at least one pressure in the line system upstream and downstream of the filter element by means of at least one pressure sensor, in particular at least one differential pressure.
Embodiment 26 Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the method is arranged in at least one of the following ways:
- the disinfection step is controlled in accordance with the at least one pressure signal;
the pressure signal is monitored and at least one item of information, in particular at least one warning, is output to a user in the event of deviations of the pressure signal from at least one specified normal value, at least one specified normal profile or at least one specified normal range.
24739401.1

- 50 -Embodiment 27 Washer-disinfector for treating at least one container for human waste, comprising at least one cleaning chamber, further comprising at least one drain having at least one odor trap, in particular a siphon bend, wherein the washer-disinfector further comprises at least one impingement device for impingement of at least one cleaning fluid on the container in the cleaning chamber, wherein the washer-disinfector further comprises at least two reservoirs for accommodation of reactive components, wherein the washer-disinfector further comprises at least one controller for control of at least one cleaning program, wherein the washer-disinfector is arranged to carry out the method according to any of the preceding embodiments.
Embodiment 28 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the controller is arranged to carry out at least method steps b. and c., and optionally methods steps d.
and/or e., in particular as program steps of the cleaning program.
Embodiment 29 Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding embodiments relating to a washer-disinfector, further comprising at least one mixing device, wherein the mixing device is arranged to mix the reactive components.
Embodiment 30 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the mixing device is arranged to mix the reactive components before the impingement on the container, in particular in at least one device selected from the group consisting of: a mixing chamber; a mixing section; a nozzle, in particular a mixing nozzle; a pump, in particular a centrifugal pump.
Embodiment 31 Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding embodiments relating to a washer-disinfector, wherein the washer-disinfector comprises at least one processing tank for processing of at least one of the reactive components, wherein the processing tank is connected to at least one of the reservoirs and wherein the processing tank is also connected to at least one reservoir for at least one carrier, in particular a reservoir for water, wherein the washer-disinfector is arranged to mix the at least one reactive component with the carrier in the processing tank.
24739401.1

- 51 -Embodiment 32 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the washer-disinfector comprises at least one metering pump, wherein the metering pump is arranged to introduce a specifiable amount of the at least one reactive component into the processing tank.
Embodiment 33 Washer-disinfector according to either of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the processing tank is connected to the reservoir via at least one supply line having at least one valve, wherein the washer-disinfector is arranged to introduce the carrier into the processing tank via the supply line.
Embodiment 34 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the supply line protrudes into the processing tank, such that a mouth of the supply line is immersible within an amount of the reactive component contained in the processing tank.
Embodiment 35 Washer-disinfector according to any of the four preceding embodiments, further comprising at least one steam generator for generation of steam, wherein the reservoir for the carrier is at least partly identical to a reservoir of the steam generator.
Embodiment 36 Washer-disinfector according to any of the five preceding embodiments, wherein the washer-disinfector comprises at least two of the processing tanks, wherein different reactive components are processable in the processing tanks.
Embodiment 37 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the washer-disinfector is arranged to bring together the reactive components from the processing tanks that have been mixed with the at least one carrier and to form the disinfectant.
Embodiment 38 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, further comprising at least one pump, wherein the pump is arranged to pump the reactive components mixed with the at least one carrier out of the processing tanks and to apply them to the container.
Embodiment 39 Washer-disinfector according to one of the preceding embodiments relating to a washer-disinfector, further comprising at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is arranged in at least one way selected from the group consisting of:
a) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one component selected from the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the 24739401.1

- 52 -disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components;
b) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one reaction product within the cleaning chamber or on the surface of the container selected from the group consisting of: an acid which is formed; a gas formed from the reaction; a reaction by-product.
Embodiment 40 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the sensor comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: a conductivity sensor;
a level sensor; a pressure sensor; a flow sensor; an optical sensor, in particular an optical sensor for detection of yellowing; a sensor for detection of spectroscopic properties, for example a spectrometer and/or a hyperspectral camera; a sensor having one or more light-emitting diodes, in particular having a defined wavelength, and/or a multicolor light-emitting diode and in particular one or more light detectors, in particular corresponding light detectors; a level sensor; a gas sensor;
a pH sensor.
Embodiment 41 Washer-disinfector according to either of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the sensor is at least partly arranged in the way a), wherein the sensor is disposed in at least one line system through which the component flows, in particular in at least one disinfection line system.
Embodiment 42 Washer-disinfector according to any of the three preceding embodiments, wherein the sensor comprises at least one optical absorption sensor, in particular at least one optical absorption sensor having at least one light source and at least one photodetector, in particular a light source emitting in the ultraviolet spectral range and at least one photodetector sensitive in the ultraviolet spectral range.
Embodiment 43 Washer-disinfector according to any of the four preceding embodiments, wherein the sensor is connected to the controller.
Embodiment 44 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the controller is arranged to control, in particular to control by feedback control, the disinfection step by means of at least one sensor signal of the sensor.
24739401.1

- 53 -Embodiment 45 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the controller is arranged to influence at least one parameter of the disinfection step in accordance with the sensor signal, in particular at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: a mixing ratio of the reactive components; a concentration of at least one of the reactive components;
a concentration of the disinfectant.
Embodiment 46 Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding embodiments relating to a washer-disinfector, further comprising at least one filter element, wherein the filter element is disposed in at least one line system through which at least one component flows, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components;
at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components.
Embodiment 47 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, further comprising at least one pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is arranged to measure a pressure in the line system upstream and downstream of the filter element, in particular at least one differential pressure.
Embodiment 48 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the controller is arranged to capture at least one pressure signal of the pressure sensor.
Embodiment 49 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the controller is arranged in at least one of the following ways:
- the controller is arranged to control the disinfection step in accordance with the at least one pressure signal;
- the controller is arranged to monitor the pressure signal and to output at least one item of information, in particular at least one warning, to a user in the event of deviations of the pressure signal from at least one specified normal value, at least one specified normal profile or at least one specified normal range.
Embodiment 50 Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding embodiments relating to a washer-disinfector, wherein the washer-disinfector is arranged to use the impingement device for the at least one washing step, wherein the washer-disinfector further comprises at least 24739401.1

- 54 -one disinfection impingement device, wherein the disinfection impingement device is separate from the impingement device and wherein the washer-disinfector is arranged to use the disinfection impingement device in the disinfection step.
Embodiment 51 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the disinfection impingement device comprises at least one spray nozzle, wherein the washer-disinfector is arranged to apply at least one component to the container by means of the spray nozzle, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of the reactive components, the disinfectant and at least one auxiliary, in particular a carrier.
Embodiment 52 Washer-disinfector according to either of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the disinfection impingement device comprises at least one atomizer, wherein the atomizer is arranged to generate at least one fluid medium selected from the group consisting of a vapor and an aerosol, wherein the fluid medium comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of the reactive components, the disinfectant and at least one auxiliary, in particular a carrier, wherein the disinfection impingement device optionally further comprises at least one fan, in particular a circulation fan, to circulate the fluid medium generated by the atomizer, in particular within the cleaning chamber.
Embodiment 53 Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding embodiments relating to a washer-disinfector, wherein the cleaning chamber comprises at least one flap door having at least one mount for the container, wherein the washer-disinfector is arranged in such a way that, when the flap door is closed, contents of the container are emptied into the drain.
Embodiment 54 Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding embodiments relating to a washer-disinfector, further comprising at least one bypass, wherein gases are dischargeable from the cleaning chamber through the bypass into the drain downstream of the odor trap.
Embodiment 55 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, further comprising at least one displacement device, wherein the displacement device is arranged to conduct gases from the cleaning chamber through the bypass into the drain, in particular a displacement device selected from the group consisting of a blower, a suction device, a fan and a compressed gas source.
24739401.1

- 55 -Embodiment 56 Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising at least one conversion device, wherein the conversion device is arranged to chemically and/or physically and/or biologically process gases from the cleaning chamber, in particular nitrogen oxide-containing gases.
Embodiment 57 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the conversion device comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of a catalyst, a filter and a scrubber.
Embodiment 58 Washer-disinfector according to either of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the washer-disinfector is arranged to pass on the gases, after processing by the conversion device, in a way selected from the group consisting of: the gases are returned to the cleaning chamber; the gases are released into a surrounding area; the gases are discharged into an exhaust system; the gases are discharged into the drain downstream of the odor trap.
Brief description of the figures Further details and features will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments, in particular in conjunction with the dependent claims. In this case, the respective features may be implemented on their own or several may be implemented together in combination. The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments are represented schematically in the figures. In this case, the same reference signs in the individual figures denote elements that are the same or have the same function or elements that correspond to one another in terms of their functions.
In detail:
Figure 1 shows one exemplary embodiment of a washer-disinfector for treating at least one container for human waste;
Figure 2 shows a detail of a further exemplary embodiment of a washer-disinfector;
24739401.1

- 56 -Figure 3 shows a flow chart of one exemplary embodiment of a method for treating at least one container for human waste;
Figure 4 shows a plot against time of the concentration of the disinfectant peroxynitric acid;
Figure 5 shows measurement results for the inactivation of C.
difficile in a bedpan washer by disinfection with peroxynitric acid produced in situ; and Figure 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a washer-disinfector having an optical sensor and a filter element.
Description of the exemplary embodiments Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of one exemplary embodiment of a washer-disinfector 110 for treating at least one container 112 for human waste. Said exemplary embodiment of the washer-disinfector 110 is depicted in a cleaning position. The washer-disinfector 110 is in particular arranged to carry out a method for treating the at least one container 112 for human waste. One possible exemplary embodiment of such a method is depicted in Figure 3 and will be described in greater detail below.
The washer-disinfector 110 comprises at least one cleaning chamber 114. In the exemplary embodiment depicted, the washer-disinfector 110 is by way of example a single-chamber washer, with performance of all the treatment steps in the same cleaning chamber 114.
Furthermore, the washer-disinfector 110 comprises at least one drain 116 having at least one odor trap 118, in particular a siphon bend. As depicted in Figure 1, the drain 116 may comprise at least one opening 120 in the floor region of the cleaning chamber 114 and/or may open into an opening 120. Furthermore, the drain 116 may comprise at least one drain pipe 122 which is connected to the opening 120. Said drain pipe 122 may have, for example, a mouth at the opening 120 in the floor of the cleaning chamber 114. Said mouth may in particular be open in such a way that the container contents can flow into the drain 116 without any obstacles and solely on the basis of their weight.
24739401.1

- 57 -Furthermore, the washer-disinfector 110 comprises at least one impingement device 124 for impingement of at least one cleaning fluid on the container 112 in the cleaning chamber 114. For example, the at least one impingement device 124 may comprise at least one washing system 126, for example having at least one washing nozzle 128. Furthermore, the washing system 126 may comprise at least one washing tank 130 and at least one washing line system 132. The washing line system 132 may in particular connect the washing nozzle 128 to the washing tank 130, so that a cleaning fluid stored in the washing tank 130 can be supplied to the washing nozzle 128 via the washing line system 132. For example, at least one pump 133 may be further provided in the washing tank 130 and/or in the washing line system 132 in order to supply the cleaning fluid to the at least one washing nozzle 128 under pressure. The washing system 126 may be usable for a washing step in which, for example, the container 112 is impinged on by at least one cleaning liquid in the form of at least one washing liquid.
For an optional final-rinsing step, the impingement device 124 may comprise, for example, optionally at least one final-rinsing system 134, for example having at least one final-rinsing nozzle 136. The final-rinsing system 134 may comprise at least one final-rinsing tank 138 and at least one final-rinsing line system 140. The final-rinsing line system 140 may fluidly connect the final-rinsing nozzle 136 to the final-rinsing tank 138, so that the container 112 can be impinged on by a final-rinsing liquid stored in the final-rinsing tank 138 via the final-rinsing nozzle 136. As depicted in Figure 1, the washing system 126 and the final-rinsing system 134 may be combined in whole or in part. Thus, for example, the washing tank 130 may also be used as a final-rinsing tank 138.
Likewise, the washing nozzle 128 may be used as the final-rinsing nozzle 136 and the washing line system 132 may be used as the final-rinsing line system 140. However, other designs are also conceivable, for example designs in which the washing system 126 and the final-rinsing system 134 are wholly or partly separate from one another.
Furthermore, the impingement device 124 may comprise at least one steam system 142 for at least one optional steam disinfection step. The steam system 142 may comprise, for example, at least one steam nozzle 144, at least one steam generator 146 and at least one steam line 148. The washer-disinfector 110 may thus further comprise the at least one steam generator 146 for generation of steam. The steam generator 146 may in particular comprise at least one reservoir 150, in particular for water, and at least one heating device 152 for generation of the steam, for example at least one heating coil. The steam generator 146 may be connected, for example, to the at least one steam nozzle 144 on the cleaning chamber 114 via the at least one steam line 148. In this exemplary 24739401.1

- 58 -embodiment, the steam system 142 is at least partly separate from the washing system 126 and the final-rinsing system 134. However, other configurations are also possible here, for example a steam system 142 completely separate from the washing system 126 and the final-rinsing system 134 or a complete combination of these systems. Thus, for example, the final-rinsing line system 140 may also be wholly or partly used as the steam line 148 as well, just as for example the final-rinsing nozzle 136 may be wholly or partly used as the steam nozzle 144.
The washer-disinfector 110 further comprises at least two reservoirs 154 for accommodation of at least two reactive components. These may in particular be reservoirs 154 for liquids. Said reservoirs 154 may be completely or partially closed, for example as canisters and/or other types of reservoirs 154. In particular, a reactive component A and a reactive component B may each be provided with a reservoir 154.
Furthermore, the impingement device 124 may comprise at least one disinfection system 156 for carrying out at least one disinfection step, in particular a disinfection step c. of the method for treating the at least one container 112 that is described in greater detail in Figure 3. The disinfection system 156 may comprise, for example, the at least two reservoirs 154 for the reactive components and at least one disinfection nozzle 158 for impingement of one or both of the reactive components on the container 112, wherein the impingement may be effected in liquid form and/or in gaseous form. Furthermore, the disinfection system 156 may comprise at least one disinfection line system 160 which, for example, may supply the reactive components and optionally one or more carriers to the at least one disinfection nozzle 158. Thus, the disinfection system 156 may comprise, for example, at least one pump 161 which may be arranged to supply one or more of the reactive components from the reservoirs 154 to the disinfection nozzle 158 via the disinfection line system 160 under pressure.
The washer-disinfector 110 further comprises at least one controller 162 for control of at least one cleaning program. For possible configurations of the cleaning program, reference is made to the method for treating the at least one container 112 for human waste that is described in greater detail in Figure 3. The controller 162 may be centralized or else decentralized and/or may comprise, for example, at least one data processing device 164 programmed to control the cleaning program. For example, the data processing device 164 may be arranged to set one or more or all of the program parameters of the cleaning program, for example in a specified order and/or with a specified time schedule. The controller 162 may be centralized and/or in the form of one component or may else 24739401.1

- 59 -be decentralized and comprise multiple control components. For example, the controller 162 may comprise one or more processors 166, which may optionally be connected to one another wirelessly or nonwirelessly in order to exchange information and/or commands.
The at least one controller 162, for example the at least one optional data processing device 164, may in general be wholly or partly integrated into a common module with the at least one cleaning chamber 114, for example into a common housing. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one controller 162, for example the at least one data processing device 164, may also be wholly or partly disposed outside a module of the washer-disinfector that comprises the cleaning chamber 114, for example outside a housing that encloses the cleaning chamber 114, for example as an external controller. The at least one controller 162 may comprise one or more control components, for example multiple data processing devices 164, which, for example, may be connected to one another via at least one interface and/or at least one data connection 168 in order, for example, to exchange data and/or general information and/or control commands.
The controller 162 may in particular be arranged to carry out at least method steps b. and c., and optionally method steps d. and/or e. of the method for treating the at least one container 112 for human waste that is described in greater detail in Figure 3, in particular as program steps of the cleaning program.
The washer-disinfector 110 may further comprise at least one mixing device 170. The mixing device 170 may be arranged to mix the reactive components. In particular, the mixing device 170 may be arranged to mix the reactive components before the impingement on the container 112, in particular in at least one device selected from the group consisting of a mixing chamber, a mixing section, a pump and a mixing nozzle. In this exemplary embodiment, the mixing device 170 comprises at least one mixing section 172. The mixing section 172 may in particular comprise at least one fluidic conductor through which the reactive components, alone or with the addition of one or more carriers and/or additives for example, can flow, for example at least one flow tube and/or at least one flow nozzle. Alternatively or additionally, the mixing device 170 may also comprise at least one mixing nozzle 174. The mixing nozzle 174 may in general be at least one nozzle arranged to atomize at least one of the reactive components or else the at least two reactive components, alone or else with the addition of one or more carriers and/or additives for example, together, and so they strike the container 112 and, for example, come into contact with one another over a stretch between the mixing nozzle 174 and the container 112 and, for example, can react 24739401.1

- 60 -with one another over this stretch or can else react with one another on the surface of the container 112.
In addition, the washer-disinfector 110 may in particular comprise at least one door 176 to the cleaning chamber 114. In this exemplary embodiment, the door 176 is a flap door 178. For example, the flap door 178 may have a horizontal swivel axis. The flap door 178 may in particular comprise at least one mount 180 for the at least one container 112, so that, for example, said container 112 can be connected to the door 176. The washer-disinfector 110 may in particular be arranged in such a way that, when the flap door 178 is closed, contents of the container 112 are emptied into the drain 116, for example as a result of tipping of the container 112.
Furthermore, the washer-disinfector 110 may comprise at least one bypass 182.
As depicted in Figure 1, the bypass 182 may comprise, for example, at least one pipeline 184 which connects the cleaning chamber 114 and the drain 116 downstream of the odor trap 118, in particular the siphon.
Gases may be dischargeable from the cleaning chamber 114 through the bypass 182 into the drain 116 downstream of the odor trap 118. The washer-disinfector 110 may further comprise at least one displacement device, which is not depicted in Figure 1. The displacement device may be arranged to discharge, in particular to displace, gases from the cleaning chamber 114 through the bypass 182 into the drain 116. The displacement device may in particular comprise at least one device selected from the group consisting of a blower, a fan, a suction device and a compressed gas source. The bypass 182 may further comprise at least one check valve 186 and/or at least one other type of valve which prevents gases from flowing back into the cleaning chamber 114 from the drain 116.
The washer-disinfector 110 may further comprise, in particular, at least one conversion device 189 for chemical and/or physical and/or biological processing of at least a portion of the gases from the cleaning chamber 114. Said conversion device 189 may comprise, for example, at least one device selected from the group consisting of a catalyst, a filter and a scrubber. For example, the conversion device 189 may be disposed in a processing pipe 191 which branches off from the cleaning chamber 114 and which may be separate from the bypass 182 or may else be wholly or partly combined with the bypass 182. A pump 193, for example, may be provided, for example a circulation pump which draws in gases from the cleaning chamber 114 and conducts them across the conversion device 189. Thereafter, the gases processed in this way may be returned to the cleaning chamber 114, as depicted in Figure 1, may be discharged into the drain 116 or may else 24739401.1

- 61 -be discharged into the surrounding area or into an exhaust system. This can reduce, for example, nitrogen oxides in the gases. The device shown in Figure 1 may be operated, for example, in a circulation mode. The pump 193 may be controlled, for example, by the controller 162, and so processing of the gases by the conversion device 189 may be integrated into the method as one or more conversion steps, for example after disinfection step c. has been carried out.
The washer-disinfector 110 may comprise at least one disinfection impingement device 183. The disinfection impingement device 183 may be part of the impingement device 124.
Alternatively, the disinfection impingement device 183 may also be separate from the impingement device 124, as shown in the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1. Thus, for example, the disinfection impingement device 183 may comprise the at least one disinfection nozzle 158 which, for example, may be separate from the at least one washing nozzle 128. In this way, mixing of washing liquid with one or more fluids of the disinfection step can be avoided for example.
The washer-disinfector 110 may in particular be arranged to use the disinfection impingement device 183 in a disinfection step.
The disinfection impingement device 183 may in particular comprise at least one spray nozzle 185 as part of the at least one disinfection nozzle 158. The washer-disinfector 110 may be arranged to apply at least one component to the container 112 by means of the spray nozzle 185. The component may be selected from the group consisting of the reactive components, a disinfectant and at least one auxiliary, in particular at least one carrier. The disinfection impingement device 183 may in particular further comprise, as an alternative or in addition to the at least one spray nozzle 185, at least one atomizer 187 which, for example, may be arranged to generate at least one fluid medium selected from the group consisting of a vapor and an aerosol. The fluid medium may also be circulated by at least one optional fan, in particular at least one circulation fan, in particular in the cleaning chamber 114. The fluid medium may in particular comprise at least one component selected from the group consisting of the reactive components, the disinfectant and at least one auxiliary, in particular at least one carrier.
Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a detail of a further alternative exemplary embodiment of the washer-disinfector 110. In this exemplary embodiment, the structure of the impingement device 124 and the structure of the disinfection impingement device 183 have been varied in particular.
The rest of the configuration of this washer-disinfector 110 substantially corresponds to the 24739401.1

- 62 -exemplary embodiment from Figure 1, and so reference may be made here to the description of Figure 1.
As depicted in Figure 2, the washer-disinfector 110, in particular the disinfection impingement device 183, may comprise at least one processing tank 188 for processing of at least one of the reactive components. Said processing tank 188 may in general be a tank which is connected to at least one of the reservoirs 154. For example, reactive component A and reactive component B may each be provided with a processing tank 188, which may be connected to the corresponding reservoir 154. The processing tank 188 may also be connected to at least one reservoir 190 for at least one carrier, in particular a reservoir for water. The reservoir 190 for the at least one carrier may also be wholly or partly combined with the washing tank 130, the final-rinsing tank 138 and/or the reservoir 150 of the steam generator 146. Thus, as shown in this exemplary embodiment, the washing system 126, the final-rinsing system 134, the steam system 142 and optionally the disinfection system 156 may be partly combined or even completely combined.
The washer-disinfector 110, in particular the disinfection impingement device 183, may be arranged to mix the at least one reactive component with the carrier in the processing tank 188.
Therefore, the processing tank 188 may serve to introduce the reactive component or at least one of the reactive components into the at least one carrier, thereby making it possible, for example, to set a concentration in a specific manner and thereby also making it possible, for example, to facilitate atomization or misting of the at least one reactive component.
Alternatively or additionally, the at least one reactive component may also be mixed with the at least one carrier in another way, for example in at least one common line and/or pump, for example in a common supply line to the processing tank 188 and/or in a line downstream of the processing tank 188.
The washer-disinfector 110, in particular the disinfection impingement device 183, may in particular comprise at least one metering pump 192 arranged to introduce a specifiable amount of the at least one reactive component into the processing tank 188. For example, the metering pump 192 may be controlled by the controller 162, especially also, for example, with respect to the time of metered addition and/or with respect to the specified amount of the at least one reactive component and/or the additive. The metering pump 192 may be, for example, time-controlled.
The processing tank 188 may in particular be connected to the reservoir 190 via at least one supply line 194 optionally having at least one valve 196. The valve 196 may comprise, for example, a 24739401.1

- 63 -2/2-way valve. As an alternative to using the valve 196, constructions without a valve are, for example, also conceivable, for example with an overflow, for example by filling the treatment tank 188 from the washing tank 130 by means of an overflow.
The washer-disinfector 110 may in particular be arranged to introduce the carrier into the processing tank 188 via the supply line 194. This introduction may be, for example, gravity-driven or else driven by at least one further metering pump. For example, the washer-disinfector 110 may be arranged, in particular by means of the controller 162, to control the valve 196 accordingly in order, for example, to introduce a specified amount of the carrier into the processing tank 188 via the supply line 194. For example, a timer may accordingly be provided to define the amount of carrier.
In this exemplary embodiment, the washer-disinfector 110 may thus comprise at least two of the processing tanks 188, wherein different reactive components are processable in the processing tanks 188 by introducing them into at least one carrier.
Furthermore, the washer-disinfector 110 may comprise at least one sensor 198.
The sensor 198 may be disposed, for example, in the at least one processing tank 188. As depicted in Figure 2, one sensor 198 each may in particular be disposed in each of the processing tanks 188. In this exemplary embodiment, the sensor 198 in the processing tank 188 may comprise a level sensor 200. For example, the sensor 198 may comprise a conductivity sensor 202 arranged to detect a fill level in the processing tank 188. However, additional sensors and/or other configurations of the sensor 198 are also possible.
The washer-disinfector 110 may further comprise at least one pump 204 arranged to pump the reactive components mixed with the at least one carrier out of the processing tanks 188 and to apply them to the container 112. The pump 204 may also itself serve as a mixing device 170 or be part of the mixing device 170. The pump 204 may in particular be a centrifugal pump in order to achieve a sufficient mixing effect. The pump 204 may in particular be part of the impingement device 124. Here, a separate disinfection pump 206 may be provided which, for example, generates a required pressure and/or which supplies the processed reactive components to the at least one disinfection nozzle 158.
24739401.1

- 64 -After one or more of the reactive components have been processed, they may be mixed. Thus, the washer-disinfector 110 may in particular be arranged to bring together the reactive components from the processing tanks 188 that have been mixed with the at least one carrier and to form a disinfectant. This bringing together may comprise mixing of the reactive components. The bringing together may take place outside the container 112, for example in the mixing device 170 or else for example on the container 112, for example by bringing together the processed reactive components on the container surface. In this exemplary embodiment as well, the mixing device 170 may comprise the mixing section 172 and/or the mixing nozzle 174 and/or the pump 204.
The washer-disinfector 110 may additionally comprise one or more further sensors 198 which, for example, are disposed on the mixing device 170, in particular on the mixing section 172, as shown in Figure 2. Other dispositions of the sensor 198 are also conceivable, for example in a bypass in relation to the mixing section 172 and/or a branch in relation to the mixing section 172. Here, the sensor 198 may in particular comprise an optical sensor 208. The optical sensor 208 may be arranged to detect yellowing. Yellowing of water in the presence of nitrate, nitrite, nitrogen oxides, peroxynitric acid or peroxynitrite may therefore be qualitatively and/or quantitatively optically detected. Other sensors 198 may also be disposed here, for example a pressure sensor and/or a flow sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor 198 may also be installed directly in a chamber wall of the cleaning chamber 114, for example in order to analyze and/or monitor the status of the disinfection process. Opening of the door 176 may, for example, be released depending on the contents of the cleaning chamber 114, for example by the controller 162 monitoring a sensor signal of the sensor 198, in particular the sensor 198 in the wall of the cleaning chamber 114, and releasing the door 176 when one or more release conditions have been met.
Thus, for example, it is possible prevent harmful substances from reaching the surrounding area from the cleaning chamber 114. Alternatively or additionally, the controller 162 may also monitor the course of the disinfection step in the cleaning chamber 114. However, other configurations of the sensor 198 are also possible.
As shown by way of example in Figure 2, the washer-disinfector 110 may further optionally comprise at least one filter 210. The filter 210 may be arranged to filter the cleaning fluid, the final-rinsing liquid, the carrier containing the reactive components, and/or the disinfectant. The filter 210 may in particular be part of the impingement device 124 and/or the disinfection impingement device 183.
24739401.1

- 65 -Figure 3 shows a flow chart of one exemplary embodiment of a method for treating the at least one container 112 for human waste. In general, the method may be carried out in at least one washer-disinfector 110, in particular according to one or more of the exemplary embodiments described in Figures 1 and 2. However, other designs of the washer-disinfector 110 are also possible.
The method comprises the steps specified in more detail below. These steps may be carried out in the sequence specified. However, a different sequence is also possible as a matter of principle.
Furthermore, two or more of the specified method steps may be carried out with a time overlap or simultaneously. Furthermore, one or more of the specified method steps may be carried out once or else repeatedly. In addition to the specified steps, the method may comprise further method steps not mentioned here.
The method comprises the following steps:
a. (identified by reference sign 212) at least one emptying step, comprising emptying of the container contents within the at least one cleaning chamber 114 into the at least one drain 116, wherein the drain 116 comprises the at least one odor trap 118;
b. (identified by reference sign 214) at least one washing step, comprising at least one impingement of at least one cleaning liquid on the container 112 in the cleaning chamber 114; and c. (identified by reference sign 216) at least one disinfection step, comprising at least one mixing of at least two reactive components to produce at least one disinfectant and impingement of the disinfectant on the container 112.
The emptying of the container 112 in method step a. may be effected especially by a change in position and/or orientation of the container 112, for example by completely or partially tipping the contents of the container 112 into the drain 116. This change in position and/or orientation may be effected, for example, as a result of attachment of the container 112 to the mount 180 of the door 176 of the washer-disinfector 110 that is swivelable, and so the change in position occurs upon swiveling. Emptying may therefore be effected through the weight of the container contents.
Furthermore, the impingement on the container 112 in method step b. may be effected by means of the at least one impingement device 124 of the washer-disinfector 110. In particular, a cleaning 24739401.1

- 66 -fluid stored in the washing tank 130 may be applied to the container 112 via the impingement device 124.
In method step c., the mixing of the at least two reactive components may be effected, in particular by means of the mixing device 170 of the washer-disinfector 110. The disinfectant produced in this way may be applied to the container 112 via the impingement device 124, in particular via the disinfection impingement device 183.
The method may further comprise the following step:
d.
(identified by reference sign 218) at least one final-rinsing step, comprising at least one impingement of at least one rinse aid liquid on the container 112.
In this exemplary embodiment, final-rinsing step d. is preferably carried out before disinfection step c. However, it is also possible to carry out final-rinsing step d. after disinfection step c.
Multiple final-rinsing steps are also possible, for example one final-rinsing step d. before disinfection step c. and one after.
The method may further comprise the following method step:
e.
(identified by reference sign 220) at least one steam disinfection step, in particular downstream of the final-rinsing step and/or the disinfection step, comprising at least one impingement of steam on the container 112.
In particular, the method may further comprise at least one displacement step (identified by reference numeral 222). In the displacement step, gases, in particular nitrogen oxide-containing gases, can be discharged from the cleaning chamber 114, in particular forcibly. The displacement step may be carried out after the end of method step c., but, for example, before carrying out optional method step e.
The displacement step may, however, also be carried out multiple times, for example once after carrying out method step c. and at least one more time after carrying out optional method step e.
Thus, for example, in a first displacement step downstream of method step c., gases containing nitrogen oxides (N0x) can be discharged from the cleaning chamber 114, whereas in a second displacement step downstream of method step e., steam is discharged from the cleaning chamber 114.
24739401.1

- 67 -Accordingly, in this exemplary embodiment, the method may comprise, for example, method steps a. to c. and optionally d., followed by a first displacement step, which in turn is followed by method step e., which in turn is followed by the second displacement step. In this way, disinfection step c.
and optional steam disinfection step e. can be clearly separated, and at least one displacement step can be carried out between said disinfection steps c. and e. and at least one displacement step can optionally also be carried out after steam disinfection step e. This means, for example, that harmful gases from method step c. and also optionally vapors and moist air disagreeable to the operating personnel can be discharged in the displacement steps before the door 176 of the cleaning chamber 114 is opened, and their release into the room air can be prevented. In the displacement step, the gases can be discharged from the cleaning chamber 114, in particular forcibly, via the bypass 182 of the washer-disinfector 110 into the drain 116 downstream of the odor trap 118.
As discussed above, as an alternative or in addition to the displacement step, the at least one optional conversion step may also be carried out, for example by means of the conversion device 189, it may accordingly also be carried out at the times in the method that have been described in relation to the displacement step. However, other configurations are also possible.
Furthermore, the method may comprise at least one drying step (identified by reference numeral 224). Said drying step may be, for example, downstream of the disinfection step and/or the steam disinfection step. As depicted in Figure 3, the method may comprise, for example, initially method steps a. to c. and optionally method step d., method step d. being preferably upstream of method step c. After carrying out method step c., a first displacement step may then be carried out, optionally followed by steam disinfection step e. and optionally the at least one second displacement step and the drying step. The second displacement step and the drying step may be common method steps in whole or in part. Other configurations are also possible, for example a configuration in which the second displacement step and the drying step are separate method steps.
Exemplary embodiment 1: Measurement of the concentration plot of the disinfectant:
For microbiological tests, the disinfectant used was peroxynitric acid. The carrier and solvent used was water. The active solution used was therefore an aqueous solution of peroxynitric acid.
The formation of peroxynitric acid was tested by using a device analogous to the washer-disinfector 110 shown in Figure 1, comprising the disinfection system 156 and the disinfection 24739401.1

- 68 -impingement device 183. In general, check valves may optionally be provided in each case between the pump 161 and the reservoirs 154. Furthermore, for the test, some of the mixed liquid was discharged between the pump 161 and the disinfection nozzle 158 and supplied via a throttle valve and a delay line to an optical sensor not depicted in Figure 1, for example a UV-VIS
spectrometer, in order to monitor the concentration. Since a direct, time-dependent measurement of the concentration of the disinfectant is in general difficult, in particular the concentration on the surface of the container 112 to be cleaned, the optical sensor, which spectroscopically detects yellowing in a flow cuvette for example, is used to determine an approximate value of this concentration. This makes it possible to quantify the concentration of the disinfectant, for example ONOOH, in particular by means of UV spectroscopy. Here, optionally as a result of the use of an additional valve or other components, it must be ensured that the nozzles in the measurement setup are operated at the same pressure and at the same flow rate as in the usual washing process. If the flight time of the disinfection liquid from the nozzle to the items to be washed is not negligible, it may be simulated in the measurement setup by a delay line. The time-dependent absorbance A can be measured using the UVNIS flow cuvette having an absorption length L
suitable for the respective process and using a time resolution At sufficiently fine for the respective process.
The quantification of the disinfectant, for example the concentration of ONOOH
on the surface of the container 112, can then be carried out by curve fitting, in which the concentration of the disinfectant, for example ONOOH, and possibly other absorbing species i are used as free parameters. Here, for example, a model function AMod = ([10NOOME
-ONOOH +Edilfi)L
(3) can be fitted to the absorbance A for each measurement time. Here, E
-ONOOH and Ei are the respective extinction coefficients for the disinfectant, for example ONOOH
here, and for the species i, which can be found in the literature for example or can be determined for the respective test setup by appropriate calibration measurements.
By way of example, Figure 4 depicts a reaction profile which arises when using starting liquid A
(110 mM H202 and 140 mM 113PO4 in distilled water) and starting liquid B (100 mM NaNO2 in distilled water) and an injection time of 0.8 s. Said figure depicts the plot of the concentration c of ONOOH against the measurement time t, the concentration c being determined optically in accordance with the above description. The injection time can be seen in Figure 4 from the 24739401.1

- 69 -concentration plateau at the start of the process. In this example, the efficacy parameter H in accordance with equation (2) above and the measurement depicted in Figure 4 is 37.2 mM s . To further increase the efficacy parameter, when using the same starting liquids, the injection time can be extended and/or the reaction time in the hose system can be adjusted such that the plateau forms at a higher ONOOH concentration.
Exemplary embodiment 2: Quantification of efficacy:
For microbiological tests, the active solution was prepared by using an aqueous solution A of 300 mM H202 (corresponding to 300 x 0.001 mo1/1) as a first reactive component.
Water was therefore also used as the carrier and solvent for the first reactive component. As an additive, phosphoric acid (H3PO4) was further added to the solution of the first reactive component in a concentration of 60 mM (corresponding to 60 x 0.001 mo1/1), yielding overall a solution with a pH of 1.8.
Furthermore, 0.1% of a slightly acidic rinse aid and softener (Doyen SK22E , from the manufacturer etol Eberhard Tripp GmbH, 77728 Oppenau, Germany) was added to the first solution. This yielded a first reactive solution.
The second reactive component used was an aqueous solution of 100 mM NaNO2, with a calculated pH of 8.
The efficacy parameter used for the tests carried out was a value of 144 mM s.
For the microbiological tests, test specimens in the form of bedpans were inoculated with C.
clifficile spores. To this end, 20 j.tl of the spore solution were applied in each case to 5 different positions, followed by drying for 60 minutes.
Thereafter, the disinfection step was carried out with the active solution in the above-described device analogous to Figure 1. The suction hoses were brought together via the T-piece in front of the pump 161 and connected to the pump 161. The two starting materials were mixed for the first time in the T-piece. The reaction was started from this time. By way of example, the rest of the hose system was designed in such a way that, from the time of first contact between the two components up to the striking of the items to be washed, approximately 2 s elapsed.
24739401.1

- 70 -The microorganisms on the items to be washed were sprayed continuously with the active solution over a period T. Depending on the amount applied, the period T in the experiment was either 6 s in the case of a spray volume of 90 ml of active solution or 12 s in the case of a spray volume of 180 ml of active solution.
Without restricting other possibilities, the efficacy parameter was determined in the following way.
Thus, from the perspective of the microorganisms, a liquid element having a constant ONOOH
concentration always initially reaches the surface of the items to be washed over the spraying period T. The concentration is determined from the time delay between first contact of the disinfection components and the time of impact on the surface. In the example investigated, the mixed disinfectant strikes the surface after 2 s. The ONOOH concentration is approx. 12 mM after 2 s. This results in Haber's efficacy parameters of 12 mM x 6 s = 72 mM = s and 12 x 12 s = 144 mM = s for the two spray times tested.
After the disinfection step, the cleaning chamber 114 was filled with fresh air for 10 seconds, and the bedpan was then removed from the cleaning chamber 114.
As control, spraying was carried out with 180 ml of distilled water.
In a next step, immediately after the bedpan had been removed from the cleaning chamber 114, the spores were covered and detached using 30 ml of neutralizing agent. This was followed by carrying out detachment and providing a cover using a lid, followed by agitation for 30 minutes on a horizontal shaker at 200 rpm.
The reduction factor was then quantified. To this end, the recovery solution obtained as described above was incubated on a nutrient medium at 36 C for 5 days. Finally, the colony-forming units CFU were counted at the different dilution levels, and the reduction factors were determined.
The results of these tests for inactivation of C. difficile spores in the washer-disinfector 110 with peroxynitric acid are depicted in Figure 5 as a bar chart. There, the logarithmic reduction log R is plotted for three different conditions: reference number 510 shows results of tests in which the samples were subjected to rinsing only, reference number 512 shows results of tests with a spray volume of the above-described active solution of 90 ml and an action time of 6 s, and reference 24739401.1

- 71 -number 514 shows the corresponding results in the case of a spray volume of 180 ml of active solution and an action time of 12 s.
The reductions are each divided into a pure depletion component 516 and a disinfection component 518. Both components add up to the action component.
Furthermore, two limit values are drawn in as dashed lines in Figure 5. Thus, line 520 denotes the depletion requirements in accordance with the European standards EN 17126 and EN 13697. Line 522 denotes the reduction detection limit.
The results clearly show that even the stubborn hospital pathogen C. difficile can be efficiently eliminated by the described method of in situ production of the disinfectant ONOOH, with the relevant standards being exceeded.
Figure 6 schematically depicts a further exemplary embodiment of a washer-disinfector 110. This is only a partial depiction; regarding the remaining parts of the washer-disinfector 110, reference may be made to other exemplary embodiments for example, in particular to the example according to Figure 1 or else the example according to Figure 2. Again, the washer-disinfector 110 comprises a disinfection impingement device 183 with reservoirs 154. They may be connected to at least one disinfection nozzle 158 of the washer-disinfector 110 via a disinfection line system 160 and optionally a pump 161 and also, as in the other exemplary embodiments as well, via at least one optional distributor 610. Regarding the possible options for mixing the components from the reservoirs 154, reference may be made to the above description of Figures 1 and 2. In principle, any of the abovementioned options for mixing the components are also realizable in the present exemplary embodiment, and/or the present exemplary embodiment may, for example, also be integrated into the exemplary embodiments of Figures 1 and/or 2.
In the exemplary embodiment of the washer-disinfector 110 shown in Figure 6, two optional features are implemented, which features may be used cumulatively or else individually in the example of the washer-disinfector 110 that is depicted or else in other washer-disinfectors 110 according to the invention. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 6, a sensor 198 is again provided as a first option and a filter element 612 is provided as a second option usable as an alternative or in addition. In the exemplary embodiment depicted, both of these elements 198, 612 are provided in the disinfection line system 160, the exemplary embodiment depicted 24739401.1

- 72 -showing positioning between the pump 161 and the distributor 610.
Alternatively or additionally, positioning of one or both of these elements 198, 612 at a different location is, however, also conceivable, for example at a different location in the disinfection line system 160.
In the exemplary embodiment depicted, the sensor 198 is arranged, for example, to detect at least one property of the active solution comprising the disinfectant, in particular in the disinfection line system 160.
By way of example, in the exemplary embodiment depicted, the sensor 198 is an optical sensor 614, for example an absorption sensor, which, for example, can measure absorption properties of the active solution in the disinfection line system 160. For this purpose, the optical sensor 614 may comprise, for example, at least one flow cell 616 which, for example, can be fluidically integrated into the disinfection line system 160 and through which the active solution can flow. The flow cell may be, for example, completely or partially transparent. Furthermore, the optical sensor 614 may comprise at least one light source 618 and at least one photodetector 620. A
connecting line between the light source 618 and the photodetector 620 may cross the flow cell 616, so that light emitted by the light source 618 passes through the flow cell 616, interacts with the active solution there, and is finally detected by the photodetector 620. The wavelength of the light source 618 and/or its spectral properties may be tailored to the nature of the active solution and/or the relevant component to be detected. For example, an ultraviolet light source 618, for example a light-emitting diode emitting in the ultraviolet spectral range, may be used for the above-described active ingredient peroxynitric acid (ONOOH) or peroxynitrite (ON00-). As an alternative or in addition to light-emitting diodes, other types of light sources may, however, also be used, for example lasers, incandescent lamps or other types of light sources. In principle, the photodetector 620 may comprise at least one arbitrary light-sensitive element which, for example, is tailored to the spectral properties of the light source 618. For example, this may be a photosensitive semiconductor detector, for example a photodiode, a photoresistor or similar photosensitive semiconductor detectors. Other types of light-sensitive elements may also be used as an alternative or in addition.
The light source 618 may, for example, be electrically connected to a constant current source 622 via at least one electrical line 621 and have a constant electric current applied thereto by said constant current source 622. How the light source 618 is electrically controlled may, however, be tailored to the type of light source 618.
24739401.1

- 73 -As also shown by way of example in Figure 6, the photodetector 620 may, for example, be connected via at least one electrical line 623 to at least one signal converter, for example to at least one signal amplifier 624. Alternatively or additionally, other types of signal conversion are also possible, for example analog-to-digital conversions or similar types of signal conversion.
At least one sensor signal of the sensor 198, for example the optical sensor 614, may be transmitted, for example, to the controller 162. In the example exemplary embodiment according to Figure 6, the optical sensor 614 may, for example, be connected to the controller 162 directly or else via the signal amplifier 624 wirelessly or via at least one electrical line 626.
For example, the controller 162, as shown by way of example in Figure 6, may be in multiple parts.
Thus, the controller 162 may comprise, for example, at least one disinfection controller 628, for example a microcontroller, which is arranged to control the disinfection step.
Said disinfection controller 628 may be wholly or partly a software component and/or wholly or partly a hardware component as well. Optionally, it may be separate from a central machine controller 630 which is also associated with the controller 162 and which, for example, controls the other functions of the washer-disinfector 110, for example the washing step. The central machine controller 630, which may also be referred to as a CPU (central processing unit), may be connected, for example, to the disinfection controller 628 via one or more intermediate components 632, for example via at least one input/output board (I/0 board).
As discussed above, the controller 162 may be arranged to generate corresponding control signals in accordance with the at least one sensor signal of the at least one sensor 198. Thus, the controller 162 may, for example, be connected to the pump 161 and/or to other components wirelessly and/or electrically via at least one control line 634. This can produce, for example, a controlled system for control, regulation or adjustment of one or more parameters of the disinfection step.
As also discussed above, Figure 6 implements an option which is realizable as an alternative or in addition to the sensor element 198 and in which at least one filter element 612 is provided. As can be seen in the figure, what are also provided in this exemplary embodiment upstream and downstream of the filter element 612 are pressure sensors 636, 638 which, for example, may be fluidically connected via pressure lines 640, 642 to the disinfection line system 160 upstream and downstream, respectively, of the filter element 612. Instead of two pressure sensors 636, 638, a single differential pressure sensor may also be used, for example.
24739401.1

- 74 -Sensor signals of the pressure sensors 636, 638 may in turn be transmitted to the controller 162, for example, as also depicted in Figure 6. For example, this may be achieved wirelessly or else, for example, via electrical lines 644, 646. Again, this may be carried out, for example, to the specific disinfection controller 628 responsible for control of the disinfection step.
In this way, the controller 162 can, for example, monitor the function of the at least one filter element 612. As the filter element 612 ages and/or if the filter element 612 becomes clogged, the differential pressure falling across the filter element 612 may rise, for example, and so the controller 162 can, for example, detect this situation and, for example, output a corresponding warning. Alternatively or additionally, the differential pressure may also provide, for example, information about the composition of the active solution in the disinfection line system 160 and/or of the at least one component in said disinfection line system 160. Thus, the composition may have, for example, an effect on the viscosity, which in turn is reflected in the differential pressure.
In this way too, the controller 162 can generate, for example, at least one corresponding control signal, for example in order to adjust the viscosity to a target value by appropriate adjustment of the composition of the active solution. Various types of control are possible.
The washer-disinfector 110 in one or more of the stated variants as shown in Figure 6 can be used, for example, for treating or avoiding spores or other pathogens, as discussed above. Various use strategies are conceivable here.
The multipart configuration of the controller 162 shown in Figure 6 may in particular be used for advantageous communication. Thus, the controller may be, for example, a primary computer/secondary computer system (master/slave system). For example, the disinfection controller 628, for example the microcontroller, may be used as the secondary computer, whereas the central machine controller 630 may act as the primary computer, for example. The disinfection controller 628 can then be controlled by the central machine controller 630.
However, the communication may, for example, not be achieved directly, but, as discussed above, optionally via at least one further module, in this case for example the at least one intermediate component 632, for example the so-called input/output (I/0) board. This may be due to, for example, the structure of the overall system of the washer-disinfector 110, for example the hospital disinfector.
A bus system 648, for example, may be used for the communication between the intermediate component 632, in particular the I/0 board, and the central machine controller 630 or CPU. The 24739401.1

- 75 -communication between the intermediate component 632, in particular the 1/0 board, and the disinfection controller 628, for example the microcontroller, may be realized, for example, via wireless communication and/or via at least one digital signal line 650.
In particular, at least two separate data lines may be available for a communication direction from the intermediate component 632, in particular the 1/0 board, to the disinfection controller 628, in particular the microcontroller. They may be read in, for example, at defined digital inputs of the disinfection controller 628, for example the microcontroller. For example, as a result of switching of the signal levels (0 or 1) on the signal lines and binary evaluation in the disinfection controller 628, different states may be detected and/or processed, for example four or twenty-two different states. The different states may be detected and/or processed, for example, as start release, stop, error or similar commands or information. The decision about the states of the outputs of the intermediate component 632, in particular the 1/0 board, and therefore of the data lines may be made, for example, by the central machine controller 630 or CPU.
The reverse communication direction, i.e., from the disinfection controller 628, in particular the microcontroller, to the intermediate component 632, in particular the I/0 board, may be achieved analogously or according to the same principle. However, at least four separate signal lines, for example, may be available for this purpose. They allow the signaling of 16 or 24 different states, results, fill levels, error states or similar information. In order for the central machine controller 630 or CPU to be able to decide on how to proceed, the signal levels present at the inputs of the intermediate component 632, in particular the I/O board, may be evaluated in particular. In particular, the result may then be transmitted to the central machine controller 630 or CPU by means of the bus system 648. The result may then in particular form the basis of further decisions.
By means of the structure described in Figure 6, a measurement method may be realized, for example, which may be used, for example, for process validation of the method for treating the at least one container 112 that takes place in the washer-disinfector 110. In general, the process validation may also be, for example, part of documentation, for example in an electronic logbook of the washer-disinfector 110.
In particular, the sensor 198, in particular the optical sensor 614, may be used for process validation. As discussed above, it may be based, for example, on the use of a light source 618 in the form of a UV light-emitting diode (UV-LED), including a corresponding optoelectronic sensor 24739401.1

- 76 -or photodetector 620. By using the photodetector 620, the incident light can be converted into an electrical quantity.
For example, the disinfection controller 628, in particular the microcontroller, may start a measurement by means of the sensor 198, in particular by means of the optical sensor 614, at a defined time which, for example, may be specified by the central machine controller 630 or CPU.
This may in particular be an intensity measurement and/or absorption measurement. For example, as a result of the absorption properties of the active-ingredient solution, for example of the chemical constituents in the fluid mixture, that change over time, a specific output voltage profile can be established at the output of the photodetector 620. Said voltage profile may depend, for example, on the composition of the contents of the flow cell 616 and/or of the active-ingredient solution. In particular, this can mean that, in the event of one or both of components A and/or B
being absent and/or the concentration of one or both of said components being incorrect, in particular deviating from targets, this error is reflected in the output voltage or the signal of the photodetector 620 or in the profile thereof. Through the use of the optional signal amplifier 624 which, for example, amplifies the output signal of the photodetector 620 many times over, even small deviations may be reliably detected, for example.
The controller 162, for example the disinfection controller 628, may check, for example, whether the sensor signal of the at least one sensor 198, for example the signal of the photodetector 620, meets one or more targets and/or may use said signal as an input signal for control. For example, actual values of the sensor signal may be compared with corresponding values stored in at least one database. From the evaluation of the sensor signal, the controller 162 may then, for example, make decisions about the process sequence. For example, corresponding control signals may be generated, which, for example, may be transmitted via the control line 634.
Alternatively or additionally, information and/or decisions may also be transmitted to the central machine controller 630, for example via the at least one intermediate component 632.
There, they may be used, for example, to influence the process sequence of the method.
As discussed above, various types of sensors 198 may be provided in the washer-disinfector 110.
Furthermore, the disinfection controller 628, in particular the microcontroller, may take on additional tasks, in particular tasks in connection with the disinfection step. Thus, for example, the disinfection controller 628 may take on further evaluation tasks especially because of the typically limited number of analog inputs of the intermediate component 632, for example on the at least 24739401.1

- 77 -one I/0 board. Thus, the disinfection controller 628 may monitor, for example, at least one fill level, for example in at least one of reservoirs 154. Here, for example, at least one fill level in at least one of the reservoirs 154 and/or in at least one processing tank 188 may be monitored;
reference may be made to the example in Figure 2, for example. At least one level sensor 200, for example, may be used for this purpose, for example in at least one reservoir 154 and/or in at least one processing tank 188. The level sensor 200 may comprise, for example, at least one conductivity sensor, so that the fill level can be measured, for example, by means of one or more conductivity electrodes. They can signal the fill level within the respective container monitored. This can ensure that the required fill quantities are available for each cleaning process. The monitoring may be effected by means of the disinfection controller 628.
As discussed above, one or more pressure sensors, for example the pressure sensors 636, 638, may also be monitored by the disinfection controller 628. Said pressure sensors 636, 638 may be, for example, piezoresistive pressure sensors. They may be wholly or partly separate from the sensor 198 or may else be wholly or partly integrated into the sensor 138, in particular the optical sensor 614, for example into a sensor housing. As discussed above, the pressure sensors 636, 638 may be used to detect and evaluate pressure changes in the disinfection line system 160, for example in a hose system, before and after the filter element 612. These pressure conditions may provide, for example, information about various system states, for example about a state of the filter element 612 itself, about properties of the active-ingredient solution or else about a state of the disinfection impingement device 183, for example the spray nozzles 185. If, for example, the pressure rises, this may be, for example, an indication of increasing contamination within the disinfection impingement device 183 and/or within the filter element 612. Alternatively or additionally, as discussed above, a differential pressure may be used, for example, to make statements about a viscosity and/or a composition of the active-ingredient solution. Furthermore, signs of the differential pressure may also be evaluated, since they may provide, for example, information about the location of contamination, for example upstream of the filter element 612 or downstream of same, in particular at the spray nozzles 185. If increasing contamination is detected early, appropriate measures may be taken, for example by the disinfection controller 628. This can prevent, for example, insufficient cleaning and/or insufficient disinfection of the container 112.
Thus, it is possible in particular to continuously ensure that the active ingredients used reach the container 112 in the required amount.
24739401.1

- 78 -List of reference signs 110 Washer-disinfector 112 Container 114 Cleaning chamber 116 Drain 118 Odor trap 120 Opening 122 Drain pipe 124 Impingement device 126 Washing system 128 Washing nozzle 130 Washing tank 132 Washing line system 133 Pump 134 Final-rinsing system 136 Final-rinsing nozzle 138 Final-rinsing tank 140 Final-rinsing line system 142 Steam system 144 Steam nozzle 146 Steam generator 148 Steam line 150 Reservoir 152 Heating device 154 Reservoir 156 Disinfection system 158 Disinfection nozzle 160 Disinfection line system 161 Pump 162 Controller 164 Data processing device 166 Processor 168 Data connection 24739401.1

- 79 -170 Mixing device 172 Mixing section 174 Mixing nozzle 176 Door 178 Flap door 180 Mount 182 Bypass 183 Disinfection impingement device 184 Pipeline 185 Spray nozzle 186 Check valve 187 Atomizer 188 Processing tank 189 Conversion device 190 Reservoir 191 Processing tube 192 Metering pump 193 Pump 194 Supply line 196 Valve 198 Sensor 200 Level sensor 202 Conductivity sensor 204 Pump 206 Disinfection pump 208 Optical sensor 210 Filter 212 Emptying step 214 Washing step 216 Disinfection step 218 Final-rinsing step 220 Steam disinfection step 222 Displacement step 224 Drying step 24739401.1

- 80 -510 Rinsing only 512 90 ml of active solution and an action time of 6 s 514 180 ml of active solution and an action time of 12 s 516 Depletion component 518 Disinfection component 520 Requirement for EN 17126 and EN 13697 522 Detection limit 610 Distributor 612 Filter element 614 Optical sensor 616 Flow cell 618 Light source 620 Photodetector 621 Electrical line 622 Constant current source 623 Electrical line 624 Signal amplifier 626 Electrical line 628 Disinfection controller 630 Central machine controller 632 Intermediate component 634 Control line 636 Pressure sensor 638 Pressure sensor 640 Pressure line 642 Pressure line 644 Electrical line 646 Electrical line 648 Bus system 650 Digital signal line 24739401.1

Claims

1. A
method for treating at least one container (112) for human waste, comprising the following steps:
a. at least one emptying step, comprising emptying of the container contents within at least one cleaning chamber (114) into at least one drain (116), wherein the drain (116) comprises at least one odor trap (118);
b. at least one washing step, comprising at least one impingement of at least one cleaning liquid on the container (112) in the cleaning chamber (114); and c. at least one disinfection step, comprising at least one mixing of at least two reactive components to produce at least one disinfectant and impingement of the disinfectant on the container (112);
wherein the method involves in situ formation of the disinfectant from the at least two reactive components within a washer-disinfector (110), wherein the disinfectant is formed in the washer-disinfector (110) itself.

2. The method as claimed in the preceding claim, further comprising:
d.
at least one final-rinsing step, comprising at least one impingement of at least one rinse aid liquid on the container (112).

3. The method as claimed in either of the preceding claims, further comprising:
e. at least one steam disinfection step, comprising at least one impingement of steam on the container (112).

4. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the mixing in step c.
comprises at least one mixing of the reactive components selected from the group consisting of:
- the reactive components are mixed, wherein the disinfectant is formed in the mixture and the mixture is applied to the container (112);
- the reactive components are applied to the container (112) and mixed on the container (112), wherein the disinfectant is formed in the mixture on the container (112);
- at least one first reactive component of the reactive components is applied to the container (112), and the container (112) with the first reactive component applied thereto is exposed in the cleaning chamber (114) to an atmosphere which comprises at 24739401.1 least one second reactive component of the reactive components, such that the reactive components are mixed on the container (112), wherein the disinfectant is formed in the mixture on the container (112).

5. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the disinfectant is contained in at least one carrier, wherein the disinfectant and the carrier form an active solution, wherein the container (112) is impinged on by the active solution.

6. The method as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein step c. comprises mixing of at least one of the reactive components with the carrier.

7. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the reactive components comprise at least one oxidizing agent and at least one anion of an acid.

8. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the disinfectant comprises at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of: a reactive nitrogen compound, in particular a reactive nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of: peroxynitric acid (ONOOH); peroxynitrite (ON00-); a reactive oxygen compound, in particular H202; a peroxycarboxylic acid, in particular peroxyacetic acid (CH3C000H); an anion of a peroxycarboxylic acid, in particular peroxyacetic acid (CH3C000-);
and a chlorine compound, in particular a chlorine compound selected from the group consisting of hypochlorous acid (HC10), an anion of hypochlorous acid (C10-), chlorous acid (HC102), an anion of chlorous acid (C102-), chloric acid (HC103), an anion of chloric acid (C103-), a chlorine oxide, in particular chlorine dioxide.

9. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the reactive components comprise at least one component selected from the group consisting of:
hydrogen peroxide (H202); ozone (03); H+; and an acid, in particular at least one acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid and acetic acid.

10. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the reactive components comprise at least one component selected from the group consisting of: nitrate (NO3-); nitrite (NO2-); a carboxylic acid, in particular acetic acid (CH3COOH); an anion of a carboxylic 24739401.1 acid, in particular acetic acid (CH3C00-); hypochlorite (C10-); chlorite (C102-); and chlorate (C103-).

11. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one displacement step, wherein the displacement step comprises discharging gases from the cleaning chamber (114), wherein the displacement step comprises discharging the gases from the cleaning chamber (114) through at least one bypass (182) into the drain (116) downstream of the odor trap (118).

12. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one conversion step, wherein the conversion step comprises supplying gases from the cleaning chamber (114) to at least one conversion device (189) for chemical and/or physical and/or biological processing of at least a portion of the gases.

13. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises the use of at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is arranged in at least one way selected from the group consisting of:
a) the sensor (198) is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one component selected from the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components;
b) the sensor (198) is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one reaction product within the cleaning chamber (114) or on the surface of the container (112) selected from the group consisting of: an acid which is formed; a gas formed from the reaction; a reaction by-product.

14. The method as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the disinfection step comprises influencing at least one parameter of the disinfection step in accordance with at least one sensor signal of the sensor (198).

15. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises use of at least one filter element (612), wherein the filter element (612) is disposed in at least one line system (160) through which at least one component flows, wherein the component 24739401.1 is selected from the group consisting of the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components.

16. A washer-disinfector (110) for treating at least one container (112) for human waste, comprising at least one cleaning chamber (114), further comprising at least one drain (116) having at least one odor trap (118), wherein the washer-disinfector (110) further comprises at least one impingement device (124) for impingement of at least one cleaning fluid on the container (112) in the cleaning chamber (114), wherein the washer-disinfector (110) further comprises at least two reservoirs (154) for accommodation of reactive components, wherein the washer-disinfector (110) further comprises at least one controller (162) for control of at least one cleaning program, wherein the washer-disinfector (110) is arranged to carry out the method as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

17. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in the preceding claim, further comprising at least one mixing device (170), wherein the mixing device (170) is arranged to mix the reactive components.

18. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the mixing device (170) is arranged to mix the reactive components before the impingement on the container (112).

19. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in any of the preceding claims relating to a washer-disinfector (110), wherein the washer-disinfector (110) comprises at least one processing tank (188) for processing of at least one of the reactive components, wherein the processing tank (188) is connected to at least one of the reservoirs (154) and wherein the processing tank (188) is also connected to at least one reservoir (190) for at least one carrier, wherein the washer-disinfector (110) is arranged to mix the at least one reactive component with the carrier in the processing tank (188).

20. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the washer-disinfector (110) comprises at least one metering pump (192), wherein the metering pump (192) is arranged to introduce a specifiable amount of the at least one reactive component 24739401.1 into the processing tank (188), wherein the processing tank (188) is connected to the reservoir (190) via at least one supply line (194) having at least one valve (196), wherein the washer-disinfector (110) is arranged to introduce the carrier into the processing tank (188) via the supply line (194), wherein the supply line (194) protrudes into the processing tank (188), such that a mouth of the supply line (194) is immersible within an amount of the reactive component contained in the processing tank (188).

21. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in either of the two preceding claims, wherein the washer-disinfector (110) comprises at least two of the processing tanks (188), wherein different reactive components are processable in the processing tanks (188), wherein the washer-disinfector (110) is arranged to bring together the reactive components from the processing tanks (188) mixed with the at least one carrier and to form the disinfectant.

22. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in any of the preceding claims relating to a washer-disinfector (110), further comprising at least one sensor (198), wherein the sensor (198) is arranged in at least one way selected from the group consisting of:
a) the sensor (198) is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one component selected from the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components;
b) the sensor (198) is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one reaction product within the cleaning chamber (114) or on the surface of the container (112) selected from the group consisting of: an acid which is formed; a gas formed from the reaction; a reaction by-product.

23. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the sensor (198) is at least partly arranged in the way a), wherein the sensor (198) is disposed in at least one line system (160) through which the component flows.

24. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in either of the two preceding claims, wherein the sensor (198) comprises at least one optical absorption sensor (614).
24739401.1

25. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in any of the three preceding claims, wherein the controller (162) is arranged to control the disinfection step by means of at least one sensor signal of the sensor (198).

26. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one filter element (612), wherein the filter element (612) is disposed in at least one line system (160) through which at least one component flows, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive components.

27. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in the preceding claim, further comprising at least one pressure sensor (636, 638), wherein the pressure sensor (636, 638) is arranged to measure a pressure in the line system (160) upstream and downstream of the filter element (612), wherein the controller (162) is arranged to capture at least one pressure signal of the pressure sensor (636, 638).

28. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the controller (162) is arranged in at least one of the following ways:
- the controller (162) is arranged to control the disinfection step in accordance with the at least one pressure signal;
- the controller (162) is arranged to monitor the pressure signal and to output at least one item of information to a user in the event of deviations of the pressure signal from at least one specified normal value, at least one specified normal profile or at least one specified normal range.

29. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in any of the preceding claims relating to a washer-disinfector (110), wherein the washer-disinfector (110) is arranged to use the impingement device (124) for the at least one washing step, wherein the washer-disinfector (110) further comprises at least one disinfection impingement device (183), wherein the disinfection impingement device (183) is separate from the impingement device (124) and wherein the washer-disinfector (110) is arranged to use the disinfection impingement device (183) in the disinfection step.
24739401.1

30. The washer-disinfector (110) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the disinfection impingement device (183) comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of:
- a spray nozzle (185), wherein the washer-disinfector (110) is arranged to apply at least one component to the container (112) by means of the spray nozzle (185), wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of the reactive components, the disinfectant and at least one auxiliary;
- an atomizer (187), wherein the atomizer (187) is arranged to generate at least one fluid medium selected from the group consisting of a vapor and an aerosol, wherein the fluid medium comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of the reactive components, the disinfectant and at least one auxiliary.
24739401.1