# US 12,178,932 B2 · Disinfection apparatus for transport containers of an inspection arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,932 B2 - Document ID: US12178932B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/923,457 - Filed: 2021-05-05 - Published: 2023-06-22 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-07 - Assignees: Smiths Detection Germany GmbH - Applicants: Smiths Detection Germany GmbH - Inventors: Gregor Hess - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178932B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/18: Liquid substances - A61L 2/22: Phase substances, e.g. smokes or aerosols - G01N 23/04: and forming images of the material - G01N 23/083: the radiation being X-rays - G01N 23/10: the material being confined in a container, e.g. in a luggage X-ray scanners - A61L 2103/23: {Containers other than laboratory or medical, e.g. bottles or mail} - A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps - A61L 2202/15: Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers - A61L 2202/17: Combination with washing or cleaning means - B65G 47/248: by turning over or inverting them (B65G47/244 takes precedence) - G01N 2223/643: object on conveyor - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract Proposed is a disinfection device for automatically disinfecting a transport container intended for transporting one or more inspection objects through an inspection apparatus and non-destructively inspecting them in the inspection apparatus, the disinfection device including: an input point connected to a pick-up point, an output point connected to a lay-up point, and at least one return device extending from the input point to the output point, and at least one automatic disinfection device arranged at the return path for disinfecting the emptied transport containers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Disinfection device for the automatic disinfection of a transport container intended for the transport of one or more inspection objects through an inspection apparatus and their non-destructive inspection in the inspection apparatus, the disinfection device comprising: an input point at which emptied transport containers arrive and which is connected to a pick-up point of an inspection arrangement at which inspected inspection objects can be picked up from the transport containers, an output point which is connected to a lay-up point of the inspection arrangement at which the transport containers can be placed and filled with one or more inspection objects, at least one return device for conveying the emptied transport containers along a return path extending from the input point to the output point, and at least one automatic disinfection device arranged at the return path for disinfecting the emptied transport containers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The disinfection device according to claim 1, wherein the disinfection device comprises at least one UV radiation unit for irradiating the emptied transport containers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The disinfection device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one radiation unit comprises one or more UV light units and one or more reflector units arranged for irradiating the surfaces of the transport containers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The disinfection device according to claim 3, wherein the one or more UV light units and one or more reflector units are arranged for irradiating the entire inner and outer surfaces of the transport containers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The disinfection device according to claim 1, wherein the disinfection device comprises at least one spray unit with at least one spray nozzle, which are configured for spraying the surfaces of the transport containers with a liquid or vaporous disinfection solution. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The disinfection according to claim 5, wherein the disinfection device further comprises a brush arrangement comprising static and/or rotating brushes arranged to mechanically act on the surface of the transport containers sprayed with disinfection solution. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The disinfection device according to claim 5, wherein the disinfection device further comprises at least one heat radiation unit for irradiating and evaporating the disinfection solution present on the sprayed or vaporized surface of the transport containers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The disinfection device according to claim 5, wherein the disinfection device further comprises at least one drying unit for drying disinfection solution remaining on the surfaces of the transport containers, wherein the at least one drying unit comprises at least one heating device and/or a blower. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The disinfection device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one drying unit comprises at least one blower that is a hot air blower. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The disinfection device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one spray nozzle is configured for spraying the entire inner and outer surfaces of the transport containers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The disinfection device according to claim 1, wherein the return device extends through the disinfection device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The disinfection device according to claim 1, wherein the disinfection device further comprises a tilting device for changing the position of the transport containers during a disinfection process. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The disinfection device according to claim 1, wherein the disinfection device further comprises a control unit for controlling the activation of the disinfection device according to a predetermined sequence or selectively or in dependence of a degree of contamination of the surfaces of individual transport containers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An inspection arrangement for inspecting inspection objects, such as carry-on luggage and other objects carried by persons, the inspection arrangement comprising: a lay-up point on which a transport container can be placed and filled with one or more inspection objects; a pick-up point at which the one or more inspection objects can be picked up from the transport container; and an inspection apparatus, for the non-destructive inspection of the one or more inspection objects, the inspection apparatus arranged between the lay-up point and the pick-up point, an outward path extending through the inspection apparatus for conveying the transport containers through the inspection apparatus along an outward path extending from the lay-up point to the pick-up point, and a disinfection device for automatic disinfection of the transport containers according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The inspection arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the return path extends at least partially below or next to the outward conveyor device leading through the inspection apparatus and further comprises a lifting device which lifts the transport containers from the return path to a transfer path for the transport containers extending parallel to the lay-up point. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The inspection arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the disinfection device is arranged at the return path below or next to the outward conveyor and/or in the lift device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The inspection arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the return path runs wholly or partly as an inclined plane next to the outward conveyor device leading through the inspection device and is configured for conveying the transport containers by means of gravity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The inspection arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the transport containers are transport bins, and/or the transport containers each have an identification element that can be detected without contact, such as an optically detectable coding and/or an RFID transponder that can be read by radio. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The inspection arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the inspection apparatus is an X-ray inspection apparatus. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The disinfection device according to claim 1, wherein the transport containers are transport bins, and/or the transport containers each have an identification element that can be detected without contact.