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US 12,691,195 B2Granted
Tray sanitization systems and methods
AssigneeSmiths Detection Inc.
InventorBrian Lee Bures
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein is a tray sanitization assembly including a tray sanitization source positioned within a tray return system and configured to sanitize a baggage handling tray conveyed therethrough. Also described is a tray return system including a conveyor assembly including a conveyor for translating a baggage handling tray in a tray transfer direction, and the tray sanitization assembly.
Claims15
A tray sanitization assembly comprising:
- a tray sanitization source positioned within a tray return system and configured to sanitize a baggage handling tray conveyed therethrough, wherein said tray sanitization source comprises a plasma discharge source comprising a pair of electrodes configured to generate plasma discharge therebetween.
A tray return system comprising:
- a conveyor assembly comprising a conveyor for translating a baggage handling tray in a tray transfer direction;
- and
- a tray sanitization assembly comprising a tray sanitization source positioned within the tray return system and configured to effectively sanitize the tray as the tray is conveyed by said conveyor, wherein the tray sanitization source comprises a plasma discharge source comprising a pair of electrodes configured to generate plasma discharge therebetween.
A method for sanitizing baggage handling trays, the method comprising:
- conveying a baggage handling tray through a tray sanitization assembly including a tray sanitization source positioned within a tray return system;
- and
- operating the tray sanitization source to effectively sanitize the baggage handling tray as the baggage handling tray is conveyed through the tray sanitization assembly, wherein operating the tray sanitization source comprises operating one of:
- (i) a direct plasma discharge source including a pair of electrodes configured to generate plasma discharge therebetween and to cause the plasma discharge to directly contact an outer surface of the tray to inactivate biological contaminants thereon,
- (ii) a direct plasma discharge source including an array of point or edge electrodes spaced from a plane electrodes and configured to generate plasma discharge between the array of point or edge electrodes and the plane electrode, the direct plasma discharge source further configured to cause the plasma discharge to directly contact an outer surface of the tray to inactivate biological contaminants thereon;
- (iii) an indirect plasma discharge source including a pair of electrodes configured to generate plasma discharge therebetween, wherein an airflow source is configured to direct a stream of air between the pair of parallel electrodes to generate a jet of activation products configured to contact an outer surface of the tray to inactivate biological contaminants thereon, and
- (iv) an ultraviolet (UV) light source configured to emit UV light rays towards an outer surface of the tray to inactivate biological contaminants thereon.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.