FR3108038A1 - Disinfection facility - Google Patents

Abstract

Installation for disinfecting a set of supermarket trolleys, the installation comprising: - a shelter (12) comprising an entrance (22) for introducing the trolleys into the shelter and a bottom (20f) facing said entrance (22) ); - a disinfection circuit (14) comprising: - a reservoir (30) of disinfectant product (32), - a network of pipes (36) equipped with spray nozzles (38) and in fluid connection with the reservoir ( 30), - a circulator (34) configured to extract disinfectant product from the reservoir and bring it, through the network of pipes, to the nozzles, and - a controller (40) for controlling the circulator. Abstract figure: Figure 1

Description

Disinfection facility

The invention relates to a disinfection installation for supermarket trolleys.

Prior art

The spread of viral diseases such as the flu occurs, in 80% of cases, by the hands. This is why, especially in an epidemic situation, it is recommended to wash your hands regularly, but also to disinfect objects through which viruses are likely to be transmitted, such as door handles or elevator buttons.

There is an ongoing need to further reduce the risk of spreading viruses.

The present invention aims to at least partially satisfy this need.

The invention proposes a disinfection installation for a set of supermarket trolleys, the installation comprising:
- A shelter having an entrance for introducing the trolleys into the shelter and a bottom facing said entrance;
- a disinfection circuit comprising:
- a tank of disinfectant,
- a network of pipes equipped with spray nozzles and in fluid connection with the reservoir,
- a circulator configured to extract disinfectant from the tank and bring it, through the network of pipes, to the nozzles, and
- a circulator control controller.
Advantageously, such a disinfection installation makes it possible, by spraying disinfectant through the nozzles, to disinfect, at least partially, the trolleys, and in particular the handles of the trolleys which allow them to be handled. The risk of contamination via these handles is thus considerably reduced, if not eliminated.

In addition, the controller allows disinfection without operator intervention. In particular, disinfection can be carried out overnight, automatically.

Finally, disinfection is carried out simultaneously for all the trolleys and is therefore very fast.

The inventors have also made several major improvements to this installation.

According to a first main aspect of the invention, the reservoir and/or the circulator and/or the controller are fixed to the bottom, at a height greater than 1.0 m from the ground.

Advantageously, the inventors have identified that this location is conventionally unused in storage shelters. It is thus possible to equip such shelters without increasing their size and without reducing the number of trolleys that they can receive, even by installing the tank and/or the circulator and/or the controller inside the shelter. .

According to a second main aspect of the invention, the shelter defines an interior space delimited by
- the bottom,
- a left side,
- a right side, preferably parallel to the left side, the bottom connecting the left and right sides and preferably extending perpendicular to the left and right sides, and
- a vault placed on the left side, the right side and the bottom so as to protect the interior space of the shelter from the rain,
the left side and/or the right side and/or the bottom comprising a protective wall against the wind, the surface of said protective wall preferably representing more than 50%, more than 70%, more than 90%, preferably 100% of the surface of the left side and/or the right side and/or the bottom, respectively. Preferably, this wall is also configured to prevent rain and snow from entering the shelter.

Preferably, the protective wall is made of Plexiglas or glass.

Preferably again, the left side, the right side and the bottom each comprise such a protective wall.

Advantageously, the quality of the spraying is thus substantially independent of the climatic conditions, and in particular of the wind. The circulation of the sprayed jets can be advantageously optimized, which limits the consumption of disinfectant and improves the homogeneity of the sprayed jets.

According to a third main aspect of the invention, at least one nozzle, preferably each nozzle has an outlet orifice having a diameter greater than 0.6 mm, preferably greater than 0.7 mm and preferably less than 0, 9mm.

Tests have shown that such a diameter makes it possible to obtain the spraying of a jet presenting an optimal compromise between coverage rate (percentage of the surface of the trolleys covered by the disinfectant product during a disinfection operation), consumption of disinfectant and clogging resistance.

According to a fourth main aspect of the invention, a nozzle, preferably each nozzle comprises a valve adapted to selectively open or close its outlet orifice depending on whether the pressure inside the pipe carrying said nozzle, i.e. i.e. upstream of the nozzle valve, is higher or lower, respectively, than an opening pressure. Preferably, the opening pressure is greater than 1.5 bar and preferably less than 3 bar, preferably less than 2.5 bar.

Advantageously, between two disinfection operations, the pipe can be kept filled. Furthermore, at the end of a disinfection operation, no drops fall from the nozzles. Finally, the consumption of disinfectant product is reduced and the spraying is more homogeneous, the sprayed jet being substantially the same throughout the disinfection operation.

According to a fifth main aspect of the invention, the disinfection circuit comprises several ramps, preferably parallel to each other, provided with said nozzles and is configured so that, during a disinfection operation, the pressure of the disinfectant at the level of the first nozzle carried by a ramp, considering the direction of the flow of the disinfectant product, is the same regardless of the ramp considered.

Thus, during a disinfection operation, the spraying is advantageously particularly homogeneous.

A disinfection installation according to the invention may also include one or more of the following preferred and optional characteristics:

• the reservoir comprises a gauge for measuring the level of disinfectant liquid in the reservoir, said gauge being monitored by the controller, the controller preferably integrating a communication module suitable for transmitting, preferably by radio, information according to said level;
• the shelter is equipped with a shutter device for the entrance through which the trolleys are introduced into the shelter, preferably is equipped with a shutter or a door;
• the controller is configured to control the opening and closing of the shutter member, preferably at predetermined times, preferably during the night;
• at least one nozzle has an exit orifice having a diameter less than 0.6 mm so as to spray a mist;
• the installation includes a battery supplying the controller and/or the circulator, and a solar panel for recharging said battery.

Brief description of drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the detailed description which follows and on examining the appended drawing in which:

• Figure 1 [Fig 1] schematically illustrates, in perspective, an example of a disinfection installation according to the invention;
• Figure 2 [Fig 2] schematically illustrates a disinfection circuit of a disinfection installation according to the invention;
• figure 3 [Fig 3] schematically illustrates, seen from the side, an example of a disinfection installation according to the invention.

In the various figures, identical references are used to designate identical or similar members.

detailed description

FIG. 1 represents an example of a disinfection installation 10 according to the invention. This installation comprises a shelter 12 for receiving supermarket trolleys 18, commonly called "caddies", and a disinfection circuit 14.

The shelter 12 comprises a left side 20g, a right side 20d, a bottom 20f and a vault 20v which, with the ground, delimit a substantially rectangular parallelepipedic interior space, in which rows 16 of carriages are housed. Shelter 12 opens outward through an entrance 22 which faces the bottom 20f. In one embodiment, the entrance 22 can be equipped with a door or a shutter allowing the shelter to define a substantially enclosed interior space.

The carriages 18 are conventionally nested one inside the other so as to form the rows 16, the first carriage of a row being conventionally pushed to the bottom 20f, and preferably attached to the bottom 20f. The trolleys in a row can be attached to each other, for example by means of chains. The number of carriages in a row is conventionally less than 100 carriages.

The width of the interior space can be adapted so that the shelter receives 1, 2, 3, or even more than three, and/or less than 10, less than 5 or less than 4 rows 16 of trolleys.

Rows 16 of carriages typically extend parallel to the right and left sides of the shelter.

The base structure of the shelter is conventionally made up of an assembly of beams 24. Preferably, panels 26 are fixed to the beams 24 so as to constitute, with said beams, walls for protection against bad weather. Preferably, the shelter opens outwards substantially only through the entrance 22.

Panels 26 may or may not be transparent. The panels 26 may in particular be made of Plexiglas or glass. In a preferred embodiment, they carry information, for example advertisements.

The disinfection circuit 14, illustrated in detail in Figure 2, comprises a tank 30 containing a disinfectant 32, a circulator 34, a network of pipes 36 carrying nozzles 38, and a controller 40 for controlling the circulator 34.

The tank 30, the circulator 34 and the controller 40 are preferably arranged in a cabinet 42.

As shown in Figure 1, the cabinet 42 is preferably at a height h , measured between the ground and the bottom of the cabinet 42, greater than 1 m, preferably greater than 1.5 m and / or less than 3 m, preferably less than 2 m.

Cabinet 42 is preferably attached to bottom wall 20f.

The cabinet 42 is preferably fixed inside the shelter.

Such a positioning of the cabinet 42 advantageously makes it possible to use a space which is not used in conventional shelters. Furthermore, advantageously, equipping the existing shelter with a disinfection circuit does not involve increasing its size.

The tank 30 can be for example made of plastic, for example polyethylene. Its capacity is preferably greater than 0.5 l, preferably greater than 1 l, preferably greater than 2 l and/or less than 50 l, preferably less than 20 l, preferably less than 10 l.

The disinfectant product 32 is preferably approved for food contact. In one embodiment, in particular when the disinfection installation is used in winter, the disinfectant product preferably contains alcohol, preferably more than 3% alcohol.

The circulator 34 is preferably a pump whose inlet 43 is in fluid communication, via a tube 44, with an outlet 46 of the tank 30, and whose outlet 48 is connected to the pipe network 36. The circulator 34 may in particular be a diaphragm pump.

Preferably, the circulator 34 operates under a voltage of 12 V. Advantageously, no connection to the public electrical network is therefore necessary.

Alternatively, circulator 34 may be a pressure source, such as a compressed air cylinder, selectively in fluid communication with the interior of reservoir 30 through a regulator controlled by controller 40.

The power of the circulator 34 is adapted to the pipe network, preferably so as to be able to impose, in the pipes, a pressure greater than 1.5 bar and/or less than 5 bar.

In a preferred embodiment, the installation comprises a power supply configured to supply electricity to the electrical consumers, and in particular the circulator 34 and the controller 40.

Preferably, the power supply comprises solar panels, not shown, preferably fixed to the vault of the shelter.

Preferably, the energy produced by the power supply is temporarily stored in a battery 49 to which the electrical consumers are electrically connected.

The network of pipes 36 preferably comprises a manifold 50 and ramps 58. An inlet 52 of the manifold 50 is in fluid relation with an outlet 48 of the circulator and the outlets of the manifold 50 are each connected to a proximal end 54 d a respective ramp 58, the other end 60 of the ramp, or “distal end” being plugged.

The number of ramps 58 is preferably identical to the number of rows 16 of trolleys that the shelter can accommodate. Each ramp 58 preferably extends above a respective row of carriages 16, preferably in a median vertical plane of the row of carriages, that is to say extends above the median longitudinal plane of each carriage. The distribution of the disinfectant 32 is more homogeneous.

The ramps 58 are preferably straight and preferably extend parallel to each other, preferably in a common plane, preferably horizontal. Preferably, each ramp is fixed at a height greater than 2 m, preferably greater than 2.2 m, preferably greater than 2.3 m and/or less than 4 m, preferably less than 3 m, preferably less to 2.8 m, preferably less than 2.6 m. Preferably, the ramps 58 are fixed to the vault 20v.

The length of a ramp 58, preferably of each ramp 58, is preferably greater than 50%, preferably greater than 70%, preferably greater than 90% of the length L ₁₂ of the shelter 12.

Preferably, the network of pipes 36 is configured so that the pressure drop from the first nozzle 38 to the last nozzle 38 of a ramp 58, that is to say between the nozzle closest to the proximal end of the ramp and the nozzle closest to the distal end of the ramp, or the same regardless of the ramp considered. For example, in Figure 1, the central ramp has an overlength 59 before being connected to the manifold 50.

Two adjacent ramps 58 are preferably separated from each other by a distance d greater than 40 cm and/or less than 1 m. Preferably, the distance between two adjacent ramps is the same regardless of the pair of two adjacent ramps considered.

Each ramp carries a plurality of nozzles 38, preferably regularly spaced. The distance between two successive nozzles, along a ramp 58, is preferably greater than 50 cm and/or less than 1.5 m.

A nozzle 58, preferably each nozzle 58 has an outlet orifice whose diameter is preferably between 0.6 and 0.9 mm.

Preferably, each nozzle 38 also comprises a valve which opens under the effect of a pressure, in the network of pipes 58, greater than a predetermined opening pressure.

The controller 40 is preferably an automaton programmed to control the circulator 34 according to a predetermined cycle, preferably so that the circulator is active for a duration greater than five seconds and/or less than 15 seconds, preferably approximately 8 seconds, preferably at night.

Preferably again, the tank 30 comprises a level gauge monitored by the controller 40 and the latter incorporates a communication module suitable for transmitting corresponding information to an operator, in particular in the event of an insufficient level.

The operation of a disinfection installation according to the invention follows directly from the preceding description.

At the end of the day, the trolleys 18 are nested one inside the other in the form of rows 16, which are housed in the interior space of the shelter 12. More precisely, the first trolley 18 of each row is pushed up to at the bottom of the shelter and the length of the row is limited so that the last trolley is protected in the shelter.

After the supermarket has closed, preferably at night, the controller 40 can be activated manually, or, preferably, by a clock.

In one embodiment, the controller 40 first commands the closing of the shutter member of the entrance 22 of the shelter, preferably a shutter, or an operator manually closes this shutter member. The rows of carriages 16 are then well insulated from the outside, which allows particularly homogeneous spraying.

Controller 40 then controls circulator 34 to perform a disinfection operation. Powered by the battery 49, the circulator 34 then extracts disinfectant from the tank 30 and injects it into the network of pipes 36. The action of the circulator 34 makes it possible to increase the pressure inside the ramps 58 above beyond the opening pressure, which causes the valves of the nozzles 38 to open. Each nozzle 38 then projects a jet, preferably vertically, in the direction of the rows of carriages. The valve advantageously allows regulation of the spray pressure, and therefore homogeneity of the microdroplets of the projected jet.

The arrangement of the nozzles and the ramps advantageously allows a projection on all the trolleys present in the shelter.

The panels 26, and if necessary the shutter member of the entrance 22 of the shelter, advantageously limit the effect of bad weather, and in particular of drafts, on the spray jets. The spraying is therefore advantageously homogeneous and reaches all of the carriages. In one embodiment, one or more fans, not shown, can be arranged in the shelter so as to direct the jets in predetermined directions.

Furthermore, the pressure loss profiles, from the outlet 48 of the circulator, being identical regardless of the ramp considered, all the rows of carriages are treated in the same way.

In one embodiment, a mist can be formed in the interior space of the shelter by spraying through nozzles having a diameter less than 0.6 mm. Advantageously, such a mist makes it possible to reach surfaces of the carriages that are difficult to access by direct spraying.

A luminous warning device, for example in the form of a flashing light, can be controlled by the controller 40 in order to warn that a disinfection operation is in progress.

The disinfection operation preferably lasts less than one minute, preferably less than 30 seconds, preferably less than 10 seconds, typically about 8 s.

At the end of the operation, the controller 40 controls the stopping of the circulator 34. The pressure in the ramps 58 decreases, which leads to the closure of the nozzle valves. The ramps 58 however remain filled with disinfectant, which makes it possible, during the following disinfection operation, to guarantee immediate spraying in the form of a predetermined jet.

The next day, the battery 49 can be recharged using solar energy captured by the solar panels fixed to the shelter.

Preferably, the controller regularly checks the filling level of the tank 30 and, if necessary, sends an alert message to an operator. The latter can thus maintain a minimum level of disinfectant liquid in the tank 30.

As is now clear, the invention provides an effective and rapid solution to limit the spread of viruses. Advantageously, the disinfection circuit can also be installed on existing shelters, without increasing their size.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented, provided by way of illustration only.

"Behave" or "understand" or "present" shall be construed without limitation.

Claims (10)

Disinfection installation for a set of supermarket trolleys, the installation comprising:
- a shelter (12) comprising an entrance (22) for introducing the trolleys into the shelter and a bottom (20f) facing said entrance (22);
- a disinfection circuit (14) comprising:
- a tank (30) of disinfectant (32),
- a network of pipes (36) equipped with spray nozzles (38) and in fluid relation with the tank (30),
- a circulator (34) configured to extract disinfectant from the tank and bring it, through the pipe network, to the nozzles, and
- a circulator control controller (40). Installation according to claim 1, in which the tank and/or the circulator and/or the controller are fixed on the bottom (20f), inside the shelter, at a height greater than 1.0 m from the ground. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the shelter defines an interior space delimited by
- the background (20f),
- a left side (20g),
- a right side, (20f), the bottom connecting the left and right sides, and
- a vault (20v) placed on the left side, the right side and the bottom so as to protect the interior space of the shelter from the rain,
the left side and/or the right side and/or the bottom comprising a protective wall (26) against the wind, the surface of said protective wall representing more than 50% of the surface of the left side and/or of the right side and/or background, respectively. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one nozzle (38) comprises an outlet orifice and a valve adapted to selectively open or close said outlet orifice depending on whether the pressure upstream of the valve is higher or lower, respectively, at an opening pressure greater than 1.5 bar and less than 3 bar. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the disinfection circuit comprises several ramps (58) provided with said nozzles (38) and is configured in such a way that, during a disinfection operation, the pressure of the disinfectant product at the level of the first nozzle carried by a ramp, considering the direction of flow of the disinfectant product, is the same regardless of the ramp considered. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the reservoir (30) comprises a gauge for measuring the level of disinfectant liquid in the reservoir, said gauge being monitored by the controller (40), the controller incorporating a communication module adapted to transmit information according to said level. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the shelter is equipped with a member for closing the entrance by which the trolleys are introduced into the shelter. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one nozzle (38) has an outlet orifice having a diameter greater than 0.6 mm and less than 0.9 mm. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one nozzle (38) has an outlet orifice having a diameter of less than 0.6 mm so as to spray a mist. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:
- a controller and/or circulator supply battery and
- A solar panel for recharging said battery.