DE202020002065U1 - Disinfection device for handle elements - Google Patents

Abstract

Disinfection device (3) for handle elements (2), comprising
a first hollow element (4a);
a second hollow element (4b) movably connected to the first hollow element; and
at least one disinfection element arranged in the first and / or in the second hollow element, wherein
the first and the second hollow element are arranged and designed to at least partially enclose at least part of a grip element, and wherein
the disinfection element is set up to disinfect a part of the grip element which is at least partially enclosed by the first and the second hollow element.

Description

background

A, in particular portable, disinfection device for handle elements, for example on transport or shopping trolleys, is described here. Features and properties of the device and their use are defined in the claims; the description and the figures also reveal characteristics of the device and its use, as well as its different aspects and relationships.

State of the art

Transport trolleys (shopping trolleys, baggage trolleys, etc.) are usually used in different versions in retail (for example, in grocery stores, hardware stores or discounters) and when transporting people (for example, at airports or train stations). The wagon is moved by the respective customer or passenger, i.e. he must grip and push the car by the handles provided. When the use is finished, the trolley is parked and used by the next customer or passenger.

As a result, viruses, bacteria or fungi can accumulate in particular on the handle elements of the transport trolleys, which can possibly also be transmitted to a further customer / passenger in each case. This can promote the spread of infectious diseases.

Regular cleaning or disinfection of the handles, if possible after each use, can significantly reduce the risk of infection and reduce the spread of diseases.

Also known are self-service stations at central points (for example at market entrances) at which the customer / passenger can remove disinfectants and / or wipes in order to manually clean or disinfect the handle elements. The result of the disinfection depends on how accurately the user cleans the handle himself. It is also disadvantageous that the customer / passenger usually has to move the not yet disinfected transport vehicle to the self-service station and thus comes into contact with the handle elements of the transport vehicle before disinfection.

Furthermore, it is known to disinfect the handle elements by specially assigned service personnel. Such regular disinfection of the handle elements is very personnel-intensive and therefore expensive. The result of the disinfection also depends on how accurately the service personnel carry out the disinfection work.

Mobile washing stations are also known for cleaning a plurality of transport wagons, which have to be transported to the respective place of use by lorries or trailers. These washing machines mostly work on a water basis and spray, brush and rinse the trolleys so that they have to dry first after cleaning and cannot be used again immediately. Furthermore, such mobile washing stations are very large and expensive and are not suitable for rolling disinfection of large quantities of trolleys. The task of such washing stations is not so much a disinfection, but a regular basic cleaning of entire wagon fleets.

Technical task

Despite known devices for cleaning transport or shopping trolleys, there is therefore still a need for an improved device which enables targeted disinfection of the handle elements of the transport or shopping trolleys, with the disinfection being intended to bind little or no personnel and to be inexpensive to implement. Furthermore, the transport or shopping trolleys should be available for use by users (customers / passengers) as soon as possible after disinfecting the handle elements.

Proposed solutions, designs and advantages

To solve the technical problem, a device according to claim 1 is proposed. Embodiments of the device according to claim 1 are defined by the further claims.

A disinfection device for handle elements, for example for the handle elements of a shopping or transport cart, has at least a first hollow element and a second hollow element which is connected to the first hollow element so as to be movable, in particular pivotable and / or displaceable. Furthermore, the disinfection device comprises at least one disinfection element arranged in the first and / or in the second hollow element. The first and the second hollow element are arranged and designed to at least partially enclose at least a part of a grip element, the disinfection element being set up to disinfect a part of the grip element at least partially enclosed by the first and the second hollow element.

A hollow element in the sense of this disclosure is a component of the device that at least partially reshapes an interior. A hollow element can be formed, for example, by a semi-tubular or trough-shaped device element. The interior of the hollow element does not have to be completely formed or enclosed by the hollow element. The first and / or the second hollow element can also at least partially enclose an interior space in cooperation or together.

A movable connection of the hollow elements here denotes a coupling or connection of the hollow elements to one another or to one another, the hollow elements being movable, in particular pivotable and / or displaceable, with respect to one another. Such a movable connection of the hollow elements to one another or to one another can be established, for example, with the aid of a hinge or an articulated element.

An at least partial encirclement of a grip element here denotes an at least partial encirclement of the grip element with the hollow elements, the respective interior spaces of the hollow elements at least partially accommodating the grip element.

A disinfection element is arranged in a hollow element if at least part of the disinfection element is arranged or positioned in an interior of the hollow element.

Advantages of the disinfection device are, on the one hand, a compact design, which allows the disinfection device to be designed as a portable device, and, on the other hand, the possibility of performing many disinfection processes in a short time. The disinfection device can be handled manually by an operator or can be implemented partially or fully automatically. If the disinfection device is implemented partially or fully automatically, the disinfection device can be supplied with manual or (partially) automated shopping or transport trolleys with handle elements to be disinfected.

In one variant, the disinfection element has a UV light emitter and / or a reflector.

An advantage here is that the handle elements disinfected by means of UV light can be used again immediately after disinfection by users of shopping or transport trolleys, since in particular drying of the disinfected handle elements is not necessary.

Optionally, the disinfection element can also have a device for dispensing a disinfectant. The device for dispensing a disinfectant can in particular comprise a nozzle for dispensing liquid disinfectants. As an alternative or in addition, the disinfection element can furthermore have a cleaning brush which is arranged and designed for mechanical cleaning of at least part of the handle element.

The disinfectant can be an antibacterial and / or antiviral disinfectant. In particular, the disinfectant can be suitable for removing enveloped and / or non-enveloped viruses. The disinfectant can also contain a fungicide and / or be effective against fungi.

Furthermore, the disinfection element can have a device for dispensing steam or an aerosol, in particular a steam or aerosol nozzle.

The disinfection of handle elements with steam, in particular with hot steam (above 100 ° C.) has the advantage that no substances have to be applied to the handle elements that could possibly cause allergic reactions of some users of the shopping or transport trolleys.

In a variant of the disinfection device, at least one disinfection element can be arranged both in the first and in the second hollow element. In particular, the first and the second hollow element and / or the disinfection devices arranged in the two hollow elements can be of the same type or corresponding to one another or even symmetrical to one another. In this way, for example, the manufacture of the hollow elements with the disinfection devices can also be simplified.

In a further development, the disinfection device comprises a detection sensor system, which is arranged and designed to identify a handle element to be disinfected and / or a device, for example a shopping or transport trolley, which is detachably or permanently connected to a handle element to be disinfected. For this purpose, the detection sensor system can have a DM code sensor, a QR code sensor and / or a UPC code sensor, which is used to detect and / or evaluate a DM code, a QR code or a UPC code is set up. As an alternative or in addition, the detection sensor system can also have an RFID readout sensor, which is used to detect and / or read out an RFID tag and / or is set up to evaluate a read information of an RFID tag.

The DM codes, QR codes, UPC codes and / or RFID tags can be arranged on a shopping or transport trolley, in particular in the region of the handle element or on the handle element of the shopping or transport trolley. The DM codes, QR codes, UPC codes and / or RFID tags can also show and / or read out individual information assigned to the respective shopping or transport trolley, which enables individual identification of the respective shopping or transport trolley.

An advantage here is that the disinfection device can identify an object to be disinfected with the aid of the detection sensor system and can forward the result of this identification to an internal or external data processing system. In this way, on the one hand, a disinfection process can be documented for each handle element and, on the other hand, a statistical evaluation of the frequency of use or disinfection of individual shopping or transport trolleys can be made possible.

Furthermore, the disinfection device can comprise an additional carrier device which is designed and arranged to lift and / or fix the first and / or the second hollow element at a predetermined distance from a floor.

Fixing here means the permanent or temporary arrangement of a hollow element at a distance from the floor. The floor can be the floor of a building or shelter for the shopping or transport trolley or part of the earth's surface.

The carrier device can fix the hollow element (s) at a distance from the floor in such a way that it is possible to enclose the grip elements of a predetermined type of a shopping or transport trolley with the hollow elements which are movable relative to one another.

An advantage here is that for the disinfection of a handle element of a shopping or transport cart, it only has to be moved (manually or automatically) into an area in front of the disinfection device, with the grip elements being enclosed with the hollow elements and / or disinfection manually and / or ( partially) can be done automatically.

For (partially) automated operation of the disinfection device, the disinfection device can have a proximity sensor that detects an approaching shopping or transport trolley. Depending on this detection, the at least partial enclosing of the grip elements and / or the disinfection of at least some of the grip elements can be initiated by the proximity sensor and / or by an internal or external electronic data processing system connected to the proximity sensor.

The disinfection device can be configured in such a way that the first and / or the second hollow element and / or the disinfection element and / or the carrier device can be repositioned manually or at least partially automatically and / or the spatial extent thereof can be adapted. A repositioning and / or adaptation of the first and / or the second hollow element and / or the disinfection element and / or the carrier device can, depending on the shape of a handle element to be disinfected and / or depending on the shape of a detachably or permanently connected to the handle element to be disinfected Device, for example a shopping or transport trolley, may be possible.

In other words, the individual device elements of the disinfection device can be designed to be changeable or their extent adjustable. In particular, the carrier device can have telescopic elements and / or threaded elements for flexible or changeable adjustment of a distance of the hollow elements from the floor, so that the handle elements of different types of shopping or transport trolleys can be disinfected.

Furthermore, the hollow elements can in particular also be designed as telescopic tubes or telescopic half tubes, so that the disinfection device can be adapted to different handle element widths / handle element lengths of different types of shopping or transport trolleys.

• - Anordnen eines zu desinfizierenden Griffelements und/oder einer mit dem zu desinfizierenden Griffelement lösbar oder dauerhaft verbundenen Vorrichtung in einem Bereich zwischen dem ersten und dem zweiten Hohlelement.
• - Zumindest teilweises Umschließen zumindest eines Teils des Griffelements mit dem ersten und dem zweiten Hohlelement.
• - Desinfizieren zumindest eines Teils des Griffelements mit dem Desinfektionselement.
• - Lösen der zumindest teilweisen Umschließung zumindest eines Teils des Griffelements mit dem ersten und dem zweiten Hohlelement.
• - Entfernen des Griffelements und/oder einer mit dem zu desinfizierenden Griffelement lösbar oder dauerhaft verbundenen Vorrichtung aus dem Bereich zwischen dem ersten und dem zweiten Hohlelement.

A method for disinfecting a handle element, in particular a handle element of a shopping or transport cart, comprises at least the following steps:

• - Arranging a handle element to be disinfected and / or a device releasably or permanently connected to the handle element to be disinfected in a region between the first and the second hollow element.
• - At least partially enclosing at least a part of the grip element with the first and the second hollow element.
• - Disinfect at least part of the handle element with the disinfection element.
• - Detaching the at least partial enclosure of at least a part of the grip element with the first and the second hollow element.
• - Removing the grip element and / or a device that is detachably or permanently connected to the grip element to be disinfected from the area between the first and the second hollow element.

Disinfection can be carried out in particular with the aid of UV light, with liquid or gaseous disinfectants, with steam or aerosols, with mechanical cleaning processes and / or with thermal cleaning processes.

• - Anordnen eines zu desinfizierenden Griffelements und/oder einer mit dem zu desinfizierenden Griffelement lösbar oder dauerhaft verbundenen Vorrichtung in einem Bereich zwischen dem ersten und dem zweiten Hohlelement;
• - zumindest teilweises Umschließen zumindest eines Teils des Griffelements mit dem ersten und dem zweiten Hohlelement;
• - Desinfizieren zumindest eines Teils des Griffelements mit dem Desinfektionselement;
• - Lösen der zumindest teilweisen Umschließung zumindest eines Teils des Griffelements mit dem ersten und dem zweiten Hohlelement;
• - Entfernen des Griffelements und/oder einer mit dem zu desinfizierenden Griffelement lösbar oder dauerhaft verbundenen Vorrichtung aus dem Bereich zwischen dem ersten und dem zweiten Hohlelement;

eingerichtet sein.A disinfection system with at least one disinfection device according to the preceding description can in particular be used to carry out a method with the steps

• Arranging a handle element to be disinfected and / or a device which is detachably or permanently connected to the handle element to be disinfected in a region between the first and the second hollow element;
• - At least partially enclosing at least a part of the grip element with the first and the second hollow element;
• - Disinfect at least part of the handle element with the disinfection element;
• - releasing the at least partial enclosure of at least part of the handle element with the first and the second hollow element;
• - Removing the handle element and / or a device releasably or permanently connected to the handle element to be disinfected from the area between the first and the second hollow element;

be set up.

The features of the disinfection device described above can optionally be combined completely or partially with one another, the claimed subject matter being defined by claim 1. However, this object can have any further of the features described above in order to further improve grip disinfection and / or to achieve further advantages described above.

Figure list

• 1 zeigt schematisch einen Einkaufswagen mit einem Griffelement und einem RFID-Tag sowie eine Anordnung von mehreren teilweise ineinander angeordneten Einkaufswagen.
• 2 zeigt schematisch ein Beispiel für eine Desinfektionsvorrichtung sowie deren Anordnung an einem Einkaufswagen.
• 3 zeigt schematisch ein Beispiel für eine Desinfektionsvorrichtung mit einer UV-Lichtquelle und Reflektionsspiegeln sowie deren Anordnung an einem Einkaufswagen.
• 4 zeigt schematisch ein Beispiel für eine Desinfektionsvorrichtung mit einem Desinfektionsmittelspender und einer Bürstenanordnung sowie deren Anordnung an einem Einkaufswagen.
• 5 zeigt schematisch ein Beispiel für eine Desinfektionsvorrichtung mit Dampfdüsen sowie deren Anordnung an einem Einkaufswagen.

Further features, properties, advantages and possible modifications will become apparent to a person skilled in the art from the description below, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings. The drawings schematically show variants of the disinfection device without restricting the variants of the objects described to them.

• 1 shows schematically a shopping cart with a grip element and an RFID tag as well as an arrangement of several shopping carts partially arranged one inside the other.
• 2nd shows schematically an example of a disinfection device and its arrangement on a shopping cart.
• 3rd shows schematically an example of a disinfection device with a UV light source and reflection mirrors and their arrangement on a shopping cart.
• 4th shows schematically an example of a disinfection device with a disinfectant dispenser and a brush arrangement and their arrangement on a shopping cart.
• 5 shows schematically an example of a disinfection device with steam nozzles and their arrangement on a shopping cart.

Detailed description of the figures

Corresponding or functionally similar components are provided with corresponding reference numerals in the figures.

1 shows a shopping cart schematically and by way of example 1 with a grip element 2nd . Like in the 1 indicated, several shopping carts can be interlaced or partially positioned one inside the other, or stored.

He also has in the 1 shown shopping cart an RFID tag 14 , which is an individual identifier of the shopping cart 1 saves. The RFID tag can be disinfected before, during or after the handle elements 2nd of the shopping cart 1 can be read out in order to identify the shopping cart using an individual identifier and, optionally, to document the disinfection of the shopping cart. Furthermore, certain access areas, for example shop spaces, can only be released for previously successfully disinfected shopping carts.

2nd shows schematically and by way of example a partial enclosing of the handle element 2nd of the shopping cart 1 with a disinfection device 3rd . The disinfection device 3rd has a first hollow element for this 4a and a second hollow element 4b , the hollow elements 4a , 4b , are connected. The hollow elements shown can be pivoted more precisely ( S ) connected with each other. However, other embodiments (not shown) can also be pivoted ( S ) and / or movable ( V ) have interconnected hollow elements.

Like in the 2nd Shown schematically, the first and the second hollow element are arranged and designed to at least partially enclose at least part of a grip element or at least partially to accommodate it in an interior space formed by the hollow elements. This can be initiated manually or by the operator or (partially) automated, for example when the shopping cart is approaching 1 to the disinfection device 3rd happen.

The 3rd to 5 each show schematically examples of disinfection elements that can be arranged in the first and / or in the second hollow element.

3rd schematically shows an example of the disinfection device with a UV light source 5 and additional reflectors 6 that is from the UV light source 5 UV light emitted on the handle element 2nd or on a part of the handle element 2nd judge.

4th shows schematically an example of the disinfection device with nozzles 8th that are set up for dispensing a disinfectant, as well as with roller brushes 7 used for mechanical cleaning of the handle element 2nd as well as for the distribution of the disinfectant on the handle element 2nd are set up.

5 schematically shows an example of a disinfection device for disinfecting a handle element 2nd with hot steam 10 is set up. The disinfection device 3rd did this in 5 example shown the steam nozzles 9 , which are set up, each a jet of hot steam at least on a part of the handle element 2nd of the shopping cart 1 to judge.

The disinfection device can further comprise a carrier device (not shown) which fixes the hollow elements in the region of the handle elements of the shopping trolleys or at the height of the handle elements of the shopping trolleys.

In a variant, the shopping cart can be set manually in a disinfection device fixed in this way, the partial encirclement of the handle elements and the disinfection process as such being also initiated manually and the trolley can then be manually removed and made available again.

In another variant, the shopping cart can only be moved manually into a transfer position, the steps for disinfecting the handle elements being carried out automatically by the disinfection device and / or a conveyor device coordinated with it or corresponding to it. In one variant, the conveyor device can have, for example, a rotating conveyor belt for moving the shopping trolleys.

An entire wagon arrangement can also be used as an option 13 , as shown schematically in the 1 is shown, positioned or lined up in a storage section, an automated disinfection system with at least one disinfection device 3rd the handle elements of the individual trolleys are disinfected simultaneously or one after the other.

The variants of the product described above and their construction aspects only serve to better understand the structure, the functioning and the properties; they do not restrict the disclosure to the exemplary embodiments. The figures are schematic, with essential properties and effects being shown in a partially enlarged manner in order to clarify the functions, operating principles, technical configurations and features. Every function, every principle, every technical design and every feature, which is / are disclosed in the figures or in the text, with all claims, every feature in the text and in the other figures, other functions, principles, technical designs and features that are contained in or result from this disclosure can be freely and arbitrarily combined, so that all conceivable combinations can be assigned to the described procedure. Combinations between all the individual versions in the text, that is to say in each section of the description, in the claims and also combinations between different variants in the text, in the claims and in the figures are also included. The claims also do not limit the disclosure and thus the possible combinations of all the features shown. All disclosed features are explicitly disclosed here individually and in combination with all other features.

Claims (10)

Disinfection device (3) for handle elements (2), comprising a first hollow element (4a); a second hollow element (4b) movably connected to the first hollow element; and at least one disinfection element arranged in the first and / or in the second hollow element, the first and the second hollow element being arranged and designed for this purpose, at least a part of a grip element at least partially, and wherein the disinfection element is set up to disinfect a part of the grip element at least partially enclosed by the first and the second hollow element. Disinfection device after Claim 1 , wherein the disinfection element has a UV light emitter (5) and / or the disinfection element has a reflector (6). Disinfection device after Claim 1 or 2nd , wherein the disinfection element has a device (8) for dispensing a disinfectant, and / or the device for dispensing a disinfectant comprises a nozzle for disinfectant, and / or the disinfection element has a cleaning brush (7). Disinfection device according to one of the Claims 1 to 3rd , wherein the disinfection element has a device (9) for dispensing steam (10), and / or the device for dispensing steam has a steam nozzle. Disinfection device according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th , wherein at least one disinfection element is arranged in the first and in the second hollow element. Disinfection device according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , further comprising a detection sensor system (14) which is arranged and designed to identify a handle element to be disinfected and / or a device which is detachably or permanently connected to a handle element to be disinfected. Disinfection device after Claim 6 , wherein the detection sensor system has a DM code sensor that is set up to detect and / or evaluate a DM code, and / or the detection sensor system has a QR code sensor that is used to detect and / or evaluate a QR Code is set up, and / or the detection sensor system has a UPC code sensor that is set up for detecting and / or evaluating a UPC code, and / or the detection sensor system has an RFID readout sensor that is used for detection and / or is set up for reading out an RFID tag and / or for evaluating read-out information from an RFID tag. Disinfection device according to one of the Claims 1 to 7 , further comprising a carrier device which is designed and arranged to lift and / or fix the first and / or the second hollow element at a predetermined distance from a floor. Disinfection device according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th , wherein the first and / or the second hollow element and / or the disinfection element and / or the carrier device are manually or at least partially automated repositionable and / or adaptable in their spatial extent, and / or a repositioning and / or adaptation of the first and / or second hollow element and / or the disinfection element and / or the carrier device as a function of a shape of a handle element to be disinfected and / or as a function of a shape of a device detachably or permanently connected to a handle element to be disinfected. A disinfection system with at least one disinfection device according to one of the Claims 1 to 9 , wherein the disinfection system for performing a method with the steps - arranging a handle element to be disinfected and / or a device releasably or permanently connected to the handle element to be disinfected in a region between the first and second hollow elements; - At least partially enclosing at least a part of the grip element with the first and the second hollow element; - Disinfect at least part of the handle element with the disinfection element; - releasing the at least partial enclosure of at least part of the handle element with the first and the second hollow element; - Removing the handle element and / or a device releasably or permanently connected to the handle element to be disinfected from the area between the first and the second hollow element; is set up.

Images