DE102021125600A1 - Arrangement for charging, cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing everyday objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject matter of the application is an arrangement for charging, cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing commodities, in particular electrically operated medical devices, the arrangement comprising an ozone generator, an ozone sensor and a catalyst for ozone decomposition.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to an arrangement for charging, cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing utensils, in particular electrically operated medical devices, the arrangement comprising an ozone generator, an ozone sensor and a catalyst for ozone decomposition.

STATE OF THE ART

subject of WO 2020/249161 A1 is a device for cleaning and disinfecting at least one object such as clothing and/or protective masks and/or personal protective equipment, in particular for the medical or laboratory area, the device having a chamber surrounded by a housing, in which a base body for accommodating the object to be cleaned is arranged. This base body has a cavity and, on its outer circumference, a plurality of through-flow openings to the cavity, with an ozone-generating UV radiation source being arranged in the region of at least one through-flow opening.

From the utility model specification DE 20 2020 003 673 U1 a disinfection device equipped with an ozone generator is known, which has two chambers one above the other, with the items to be disinfected being arranged in the upper chamber, while the ozone generator and the power supply with an interface to the upper chamber are located in the lower chamber with electronics for controlling the ozone generator are located.

The utility model document DE 20 2020 102 434 U1 describes a disinfection device for disinfecting an object, the disinfection device having a housing, a loading opening in the housing and a closure unit. An ozone generator for generating ozone and an ozone destruction unit for destroying excess ozone are arranged in the interior of the housing, with the ozone generating unit and the ozone destruction unit being connected on the gas side in such a way that the ozone generated can be introduced into the disinfection chamber and, after the object has been disinfected, the remaining ozone is broken down by the ozone destruction unit.

Based on the prior art listed above, it is the object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for charging, cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing commodities, in particular electrically operated medical devices, which has advantages over the known arrangements from the prior art technology has.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

This object is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Further possible developments of the invention are specified in particular in the dependent claims.

• • eine abdichtbare Kammer, in der das Aufladen, die Reinigung, Desinfektion und Sterilisation des Gebrauchsgegenstandes erfolgt,
• • einen in die Kammer integrierten Ozon-Generator,
• • ein System zur gleichmäßigen Verteilung des von dem Ozon-Generator erzeugten Ozons in der Kammer,
• • einen Ozon-Sensor,
• • einen Katalysator für den Ozonabbau,
• • ein von der Konzentration des Ozons abhängiges Verriegelungssystem für die Kammer,
• • eine Energieversorgung für die Kammer und
• • einen Prozessor zur Steuerung der Anordnung.

The arrangement according to the invention for charging, cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing chargeable, electrically operated or controlled commodities comprises the following components:

• • a sealable chamber in which the charging, cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of the commodity takes place,
• • an ozone generator integrated in the chamber,
• • a system for even distribution of the ozone generated by the ozone generator in the chamber,
• • an ozone sensor,
• • a catalyst for ozone depletion,
• • a locking system for the chamber dependent on the concentration of ozone,
• • a power supply for the chamber and
• • a processor to control the arrangement.

Suitable receptacles and charging devices for the utensil to be cleaned are arranged in the chamber, with the receptacles comprising contacts for charging the utensil, which in turn are operatively connected to the charging devices integrated in the chamber.

A preferred embodiment of the arrangement described above provides that the item of daily use to be cleaned is a respirator and the appropriate receptacles are provided for receiving an electrically controlled respirator.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the system for the uniform distribution of the ozone generated by the ozone generator comprises at least one micro-fan integrated in the article of daily use.

The arrangement according to the invention preferably has a charging controller with a charging coil and a display visible on the outside of the chamber for showing the charging status of the commodity.

The locking system provided for the chamber advantageously has a locking mechanism monitored by a reed sensor.

A further advantageous embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention provides that the arrangement comprises a charging receptacle arranged on the outside of the chamber for charging an additional battery.

The chamber also advantageously has a mains connection with a switch and at least one current converter, with at least one AC/DC converter and several DC/DC converters being provided for converting the mains voltage into the voltage required for charging the utensil.

In an alternative configuration, the energy supply for the chamber is self-sufficient and takes place via a rechargeable battery integrated in the chamber.

As already mentioned above, a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides that the arrangement for accommodating a respirator mask as a separate mask box specially adapted to the respirator mask, comprising a storage container and a container lid, for storing, loading, cleaning and disinfecting the respirator mask is. This mask box has suitable receptacles for storing the respirator with contacts for the energy transfer for charging the battery required for using the mask and for operating micro-fans arranged in the mask when disinfecting the respirator.

In a preferred embodiment, the mask box includes a power connection, a switch, a processor, at least one current converter, a display for showing the state of charge, a charging controller with a charging coil, an ozone generator, at least one ozone sensor, an additional fan for even distribution as additional functional components of ozone in the chamber, a catalyst for ozone depletion, an interlock monitored with a reed sensor, several buttons for operating the mask box and a charging receptacle arranged on the outside of the mask box for charging an additional battery for operating the respirator.

The mask box is controlled via a processor equipped with appropriate software, with a system being advantageously used in which functionalities such as Bluetooth and Ethernet are integrated. The power supply should preferably come from the mains, with the mask box being switched on and off via a switch. The mains voltage is advantageously converted into the voltage required for charging the mask via an AC/DC converter and a plurality of DC/DC converters. When the mask box is switched on, the battery of the respiratory protection mask is charged automatically after the mask has been placed on the holders provided in the mask box, with the charging status being shown on a display arranged on the outside of the box. This process is advantageously regulated via a controller with a suitable charging coil. It is intended that the charging process itself will take a maximum of two hours, so that only a short period of time may have to be bridged without a breathing mask.

A preferred embodiment of the mask box provides that operation is possible directly on the mask box itself. For this purpose, for example, buttons can be provided which are arranged on the display and are connected to the microcontroller.

A further advantageous embodiment of the respirator box provides that the disinfection of the respirator is carried out with the aid of ozone, with an ozone generator integrated in the mask box being used to form the ozone, which is connected via transistors. The mounts in the mask box are advantageously designed in such a way that the micro-fans of the respirator can be used to evenly distribute the ozone-containing air in the mask box.

When operating the mask box, you must ensure that a maximum workplace concentration of 0.12 mg/m ³ ozone is not exceeded. To ensure this, an ozone sensor is advantageously used, which is combined with the locking of the box, which is electronically closed as soon as the limit value is exceeded. This prevents the box from being opened and a harmful amount of ozone escaping into the environment. A reed switch is preferably additionally provided, which monitors the disinfection process and ensures that the mask box is closed during disinfection. If the mask box is opened by force, the disinfection process is automatically interrupted.

In order to be able to use the charged, cleaned and disinfected breathing mask again soon, the aim is to open the mask box as quickly as possible, for which the ozone generated must be reduced to below the limit of 60 ppb within a few minutes. Since ozone has a half-life of 20 to 100 hours and a concentration of more than 5000 ppb is assumed in the box for cleaning and disinfecting the mask, a preferred embodiment of the mask box provides that it is equipped with a catalyst that is capable of accelerate the ozone decomposition process and actively reduce the ozone to oxygen. For this purpose, a catalytic converter is advantageously used, which is constructed as a filter and through which the ozone-containing air flows. In order to ensure the flow through the filter granules, the catalyst is preferably tubular and combined with an additional fan, which leads the ozone-containing air to the catalyst after cleaning and directs the gas flow through the catalyst.

According to the invention, the mask box is intended as a supplement to the breathing mask in order to ensure its function and readiness for use. In this context, a charging receptacle for an external battery is also advantageously formed on an outer wall of the mask box, into which the external battery provided for extending the operating time of the respirator can be inserted and charged there via the mask box. Charging takes place automatically when the battery is plugged in and ends when it is fully charged, which is shown on the display.

character list

• 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer geschlossenen Lade- und Reinigungskammer,
• 2 einen perspektivischen Einblick in die Kammer aus 1 ohne Deckel mit aufgenommener Atemschutzmaske,
• 3 eine Draufsicht auf die Maskenbox aus 2,
• 4 eine Draufsicht auf eine unbelegte Maskenbox,
• 5 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Deckels einer Maskenbox,
• 6 eine geöffnete unbelegte Maskenbox aus der Vogelperspektive und
• 7 einen Querschnitt durch eine geschlossene, mit einer Maske belegte Maskenbox.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to drawings, which are intended only as explanations and are not to be interpreted as restrictive. In the drawings, too, the focus is on the use of the arrangement according to the invention as a loading and cleaning chamber for a respiratory protective compound, although it should be pointed out once again in this context that this is not to be seen as a restriction, but that the system can of course also be used for other commodities can be used, whereby the cleaning and disinfection of larger, accessible rooms is also considered. In the drawings show:

• 1 a perspective view of a closed loading and cleaning chamber,
• 2 a perspective view of the chamber 1 without lid with attached respirator,
• 3 a top view of the mask box 2 ,
• 4 a top view of an unoccupied mask box,
• 5 a perspective view of a cover of a mask box,
• 6 an open unoccupied mask box from a bird's eye view and
• 7 a cross section through a closed mask box covered with a mask.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the 1 A closed respirator loading and cleaning chamber 100 is shown in perspective. The cover 120 and two outer walls 110 can be seen from the selected viewing angle. In the middle of the side wall 111, a lock 130 is arranged in operative connection with the cover 120, with the aid of which the mask box 100 can be locked in an airtight manner. A display 140 and a switch 150 can be seen on the front side 112. The mask box, which preferably has a mains connection, is put into operation with the switch 150, while the charging and disinfection processes in the mask box 100 are logged and displayed on the display 140 . On the right-hand side there is also an external charging receptacle 160 for an external rechargeable battery for the breathing mask, which can conveniently be charged in the same box as the mask itself.

The 2 shows the mask box 100 1 without a cover 120, so that a view into the receiving space 170 and a respirator mask 200 stored therein is possible, the inner wall 180 of the mask box 100 also being visible. In this representation, the locking magnets 131 distributed over the entire upper side of the chamber walls and the seal 132 covering the upper side should be mentioned in particular, with the locking magnets 131 intended to ensure the secure locking of the mask box 100 when the mask 200 is disinfected and the seal 132 also ensure should ensure that no disinfectant can escape from the mask box 100.

The 3 and 4 show the open mask box in a top view, once with the respirator 200 stored in it ( 3 ) and once without stored object ( 4 ), so that in the 4 in particular the recordings 190 for the breathing mask 200 can be seen. Next to it is in the 3 and 4 the housing 400 for the ozone generator and the catalyst can be seen, which is arranged centrally in the chamber 100 opposite the receptacles 190 .

subject of 5 is the perspective view of a cover 120 of a portable mask box 100 with a carrying handle 121. On the inside of the cover 120, the covers of two attached filter elements 210 for a respiratory mask 200 can be seen, which are accommodated there for the cleaning process.

In the 6 is an open mask box 100 shown in perspective from one of the 2 different viewing angles, in which the focus is on the housing 400 integrated in the mask box 100 for the ozone generator and the catalyst.

The 7 is a cross section through the mask box 100 equipped with a respirator mask 200 and two filter elements 210. The mask box 100 is closed with the cover 120, the handle 121 being folded in. Also visible in this section are the ozone generator 410 and the ozone depletion catalyst 420 . The entire arrangement is controlled by a processor 500 located on a circuit board. The other functional components for the mask box are advantageously also arranged on this circuit board, including, for example, the display, which is arranged in a corresponding receiving opening in the chamber wall.

Reference List

100

Sealable chamber (mask box)

110

outer wall

111

Lateral outer wall

112

Front outer wall

120

Lid

121

Handle

130

locking

131

locking magnet

132

poetry

140

screen

150

switch (power supply)

160

External loading bay

170

recording room

180

inner wall

190

Intake (respirator)

200

respirator

210

filter element

300

battery (external)

400

Housing

410

ozone generator

420

catalyst

500

processor

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• WO 2020249161 A1 [0002]
• DE 202020003673 U1 [0003]
• DE 202020102434 U1 [0004]

Claims (8)

Arrangement for charging, cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing chargeable, electrically operated or controlled utensils, the arrangement comprising the following components: • a sealable chamber (100) in which the charging, cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing of the commodity takes place, • an ozone generator (400) integrated into the chamber (100), • a system for the even distribution of the ozone generated by the ozone generator (410) in the chamber (100), • an ozone sensor, • a catalyst (420 ) for ozone depletion, • an ozone-dependent locking system (130) for the chamber (100), • a power supply (150) for the chamber (100) and • a processor (500) for controlling the arrangement, characterized in that in the chamber (100) suitable receptacles (190) and charging devices for the utensil are arranged, the receptacles (190) comprising contacts for charging the utensil, the contacts being operatively connected to the charging devices integrated in the chamber. arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the article of daily use to be cleaned is a breathing mask (200) and the matching receptacles (190) are provided for receiving an electrically controlled breathing mask (200). arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the system for evenly distributing the ozone generated by the ozone generator (410) comprises at least one micro-fan integrated in the article of daily use. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the arrangement has a charging controller with a charging coil and a display (140) visible on the outside of the chamber (100) for displaying the charge status of the commodity. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the locking system (130) has a locking device (130) monitored by a reed sensor. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the arrangement has a charging receptacle (160) arranged on the outside of the chamber (100) for charging an additional battery. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the chamber has a mains connection with a switch and at least one current converter, with at least one AC/DC converter and several DC/DC converters being provided for converting the mains voltage into the voltage required for charging the commodity. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the energy supply for the chamber is self-sufficient and takes place via a rechargeable battery integrated in the chamber.

Images