# US 12,758,663 B2 · Ultraviolet disinfector and related methods for disinfecting articles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,758,663 B2 - Document ID: US12758663B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/390,081 - Filed: 2021-07-30 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-31 - Assignees: Pulse RX Disinfection Corp. - Applicants: Anram Holdings - Inventors: Jose Miguel Barrios Sierra; Romil Hitenbhai Dalvadi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12758663B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - A61L 2/26: Accessories - A61L 2103/00: Materials or objects being the target of disinfection or sterilisation - 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) ## Abstract Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and a method for disinfecting an article. The method includes providing a disinfection container inside a cabinet having an opening. The disinfection container includes an ultraviolet (UV) source, a tray moveable between a first position outside the cabinet for placement and retrieval of an article and a second position within the disinfection container for article disinfection, and a barrier. The method also includes moving the tray (i) outwards from the disinfection container to pivot the barrier away from the opening for extending the tray to the first position and (ii) towards the second position to pivot the barrier towards the opening for blocking the opening to prevent access to the tray in the second position through the opening, and projecting UV light from the UV source on to the article in the second position until a disinfection cycle is complete. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of disinfecting an article, the method comprising: providing a disinfection container inside a cabinet having an opening, the disinfection container including an ultraviolet (UV) source, a tray moveable between a first position outside the cabinet for placement and retrieval of an article in the tray and a second position within the disinfection container for disinfection of the article, and a barrier pivotally coupled to the tray; moving the tray by a controller via an actuator, the tray upon moving (i) outwards from the disinfection container, mechanically drives the barrier to move to a set position above or below the disinfection container within the cabinet and away from the opening for extending the tray to the first position via the opening and (ii) towards the second position, mechanically drives the barrier to move within the cabinet and towards the opening for blocking the opening to prevent access to the tray in the second position through the opening, wherein the tray is moved towards (i) the first position based on a first sensor input and completion of a disinfection cycle and (ii) the second position based on a second sensor input and a set duration; and projecting UV light from the UV source on to the article in the second position of the tray until the disinfection cycle is complete. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving further comprises pivoting the barrier (i) upwards when the tray is moved outwards from the disinfection container and (ii) downwards when the tray is moved towards to the second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the tray includes a base for supporting the article and walls surrounding the base, wherein the base is optically permeable to the UV light and the walls include one or more reflectors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the UV source projects pulsed UV light. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of projecting further comprises operating the UV source along with an additional UV source, wherein the UV source and the additional UV source are triggered alternately by the controller to collectively emit UV light in a pulsed manner on to the article. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving further comprises receiving the first sensor input and the second sensor input from a proximity sensor, and wherein a predetermined distance moved by the tray towards the first position is managed by the controller based on a combination of inputs from at least two sensors including the proximity sensor. ### Claim 7 A method of disinfecting an article, the method comprising: providing a cabinet enclosing a moveable tray and a barrier pivotally coupled to the tray, wherein the cabinet includes an opening configured for the tray to pass therethrough; moving, using a controller and upon completion of a set duration, the tray to transition between a first position outside the cabinet for placement and retrieval of an article in the tray and a second position within the cabinet for disinfection of the article, the tray upon being moved causing the barrier to move within the cabinet, wherein the tray moving (i) towards the first position mechanically drives the barrier to move to a set position above or below a container inside the cabinet and at least in-part unblock the opening and (ii) towards the second position mechanically drives the barrier to at least in-part block the opening; and projecting a germicide from a germicide source on to the article in the second position of the tray, wherein the germicide source includes an ultraviolet (UV) source and wherein the tray is moved towards the first position upon completion of a disinfection cycle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the germicide includes UV light. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the germicide is projected in a pulsed manner. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the tray includes an optically-permeable surface for receiving the article. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the tray includes a reflector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the step of moving further comprises receiving, using the controller, an input from a proximity sensor for controlling a movement of the tray, and wherein a predetermined distance moved by the tray towards the first position is managed by the controller based on a combination of inputs from at least two sensors including the proximity sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the tray is moved towards the first position further based upon receiving a first input from the proximity sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the tray is moved towards the second position further based upon receiving a second input from the proximity sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the step of moving further comprises pivoting the barrier (i) upwards when the tray is moved towards the first position and (ii) downwards when the tray is moved towards to the second position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the step of projecting further comprises initiating the germicide source or the projection of germicide therefrom when the tray is located in the second position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the step of projecting further comprises operating the germicide source in combination with an additional UV source, wherein the germicide source and the additional UV source are triggered simultaneously or alternately by the controller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the tray is moveable within the container located inside the cabinet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the germicide source is attached to the container. ### Claim 20 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a mobile body configured for supporting the cabinet.