Patent Application
20240245817
The present invention concerns a plant and a method for treating objects, such as medical instruments for hospital departments, operating theatres, possibly laboratories, and the pharmaceutical industry. In particular, the treatment plant comprises one or more pre-treatment stations and one or more machines for treating the aforementioned objects, which are disposed in object-holding baskets moved by means of an unmanned shuttle.
Hospital facilities are known to be provided with a plant for treating objects, as specified above.
These plants can be part of treatment centers for carrying out the pre-wash, wash, thermal disinfection and sterilization of the aforementioned objects, which are divided into several areas, isolated from each other for hygienic reasons and called, respectively, “septic” or “dirty” area, or reception, “clean” area and “sterile” area.
In particular, baskets arrive in the first area which contain the dirty objects to be subjected to the various treatments, including a pre-wash with cold water only, a possible wash in an ultrasonic bath, a wash with hot water and possible detergents, the necessary rinses, a thermal disinfection and a final drying.
Usually, the pre-wash is carried out by means of one or more pre-washing stations, or machines, for example two or three, disposed aligned according to a certain axis of alignment, so as to operate in series with each other.
The cycle that provides the wash, rinse, thermal disinfection and drying, on the other hand, is carried out in an array of washing and thermal disinfection machines, for example five or six, according to the productivity required, which are aligned according to a respective axis of alignment, so as to operate in parallel with each other.
Each washing and thermal disinfection machine has a washing chamber with an aperture facing the septic area and an opposing aperture facing the clean area; therefore, the baskets with the pre-washed objects are fed into a washing and thermal disinfection machine in a direction orthogonal to its axis of alignment with the other machines.
In particular, the baskets are picked up at the exit of the last pre-washing machine and fed to the washing and thermal disinfection machine available at that time.
Normally, this feed is carried out by means of one or more autonomous shuttles that receive the baskets containing the objects to be washed from the outlet of the pre-washing stations and transport them in correspondence with the inlet of one of the washing machines, selected on each occasion as a function of the washing program set, or depending on availability.
After having been thermally disinfected and dried the objects pass into the clean area, where they are packaged in specific packaging stations and, from here, are fed by means of other autonomous shuttles to an array of sterilization machines, generally autoclaves, which provide to sterilize them, operating in parallel, and which are typically aligned in a direction parallel to the pre-washing and thermal disinfection array.
The sterilization machines also have an aperture facing the clean area and an opposing aperture facing the sterile area and, once the sterilization has been carried out, the objects pass to the next sterile area where they are stored or once again sent to be used in the operating theatre.
There are example embodiments of such treatment plants and/or centers in European patent applications EP-A-1.787.662 and EP-A-1.787.731, filed in the name of the Applicant.
In addition, treatment plants are known in which, for the correct and optimized movement of the shuttles, both the latter and also each pre-washing station and washing and thermal disinfection machine are provided with respective control devices, even of different types, communicating with each other directly, or indirectly by means of a central control unit connected to them.
However, the large number of control devices, even of different types, can lead to the disadvantage that problems of interaction and/or software and/or hardware connection can occur between the shuttles, the pre-washing stations and washing and thermal disinfection machines, for example related to the proportional number of communications that have to be generated.
In addition, in such known plants the movement of the autonomous shuttle toward the pick-up bench of the pre-washing machines is started through an input from an operator, therefore not in an automated manner. Therefore, if the operator is not careful, or is unable to start such movement, slowdowns or interruption of the cycle of treatment operations can occur.
There is therefore the need to perfect a plant and method for treating objects that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.
One purpose of the present invention is to provide a plant and perfect a method for treating objects which are highly efficient and automated.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a plant and perfect a method for treating objects which allow to reduce the operating times of the treatment cycle of the aforementioned objects, and which also allow for significant economic savings.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a plant and perfect a method for treating objects in which it is possible to track both the objects to be treated and also the baskets in which they are disposed.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.
The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with the above purposes and to resolve the technical problem disclosed above in a new and original way, also achieving considerable advantages compared to the state of the prior art, a plant according to the present invention for treating objects comprises a plurality of pre-treatment stations, a plurality of pick-up benches for picking up baskets containing already pre-treated objects, associated with the pre-treatment stations, a plurality of treatment machines for treating the pre-treated objects, and at least one mobile unmanned shuttle provided on board with a first control device for receiving and executing movement information relating to least one path between the pick-up benches and respective inlet apertures of the treatment machines.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the plant comprises a supervision system provided with visual acquisition means connected to a central control unit which is communicating at least with the first control device.
In particular, the visual acquisition means are configured to frame at least the pick-up benches on which baskets of pre-treated objects are provided, and to acquire visual information about a pick-up condition thereof.
The central control unit is configured to receive and process both the visual information and also information on the availability status of the treatment machines, to generate the movement information in order to command the movement of the at least one shuttle along the at least one path, in order to pick-up the basket in the pick-up condition and transport it to a respective treatment machine.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the acquisition means—which comprise at least one video camera-are configured to also frame the treatment machines in order to acquire information on the availability status thereof, usable for the central control unit.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the first control device is provided with a communication interface to communicate with at least the central control unit, and the treatment machines each comprise second control devices provided with respective communication interfaces to communicate with at least the central control unit.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, visual indication means are associated with the pick-up benches and/or with each basket, to indicate the presence of a basket, loaded on the respective pick-up bench, in the pick-up condition. Moreover, the visual acquisition means are also able to detect the indication of the visual indication means in order to obtain information usable for the central control unit.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the indication means are status light elements associated with the pick-up benches and configured to selectively emit a light radiation able to indicate the pick-up condition of a corresponding basket.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the indication means are coding elements which are associated with respective baskets, and which are readable and/or detectable by the visual acquisition means in order to give an indication of the pick-up condition of a corresponding basket.
Other embodiments also comprise a method for treating objects by means of said plant, comprising a pre-treatment step, in which the objects are pre-treated in one or more of the pre-treatment stations, a positioning step, in which the pre-treated objects are positioned in respective baskets suitably disposed on the pick-up benches, a movement step, in which at least one shuttle, by means of the first control device which executes received movement information relating to the path, moves between the pick-up benches and respective inlet apertures of the treatment machines, and a treatment step, in which the pre-treated objects disposed in the baskets are treated in one of the treatment machines.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the method comprises a control and supervision step in which, in an acquisition sub-step, the visual acquisition means frame at least the pick-up benches to acquire visual information on a pick-up condition of a basket provided with pre-treated objects which is positioned on one of the pick-up benches in a certain pick-up position, and in which, in a processing sub-step, the central control unit receives and processes both the visual information and also information on the availability status of the treatment machines, to generate the movement information in order to command the movement of the at least one shuttle along the at least one path, to pick up the basket in the pick-up condition and transport it to a respective treatment machine.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in the acquisition sub-step the visual acquisition means also frame the treatment machines to acquire information on the availability status thereof, making it usable for the central control unit.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the control and supervision step comprises, in addition or alternatively, a transmission sub-step in which the second control devices transmit information on the availability status relating to the treatment machines to the central control unit.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in the acquisition sub-step, the visual acquisition means detect and acquire information, usable for the central control unit, which is obtained, or generated, by visual indication means associated with the pick-up benches and/or with respective baskets, wherein the information indicates the presence of a basket in a pick-up condition.
Other embodiments also concern a treatment center for carrying out the complete treatment of pre-washing, washing, thermal disinfection and sterilization of objects, which comprises at least a first septic area, a second clean area, and a third sterile area, which are separated from each other by separation means.
In particular, the first area is defined by a plant according to the present invention, wherein the pre-treatment stations are stations for pre-washing the objects and the treatment machines are machines for washing and thermally disinfecting the already pre-washed objects, and wherein the second area is defined by another plant according to the present invention, wherein the pre-treatment stations are stations for packaging the washed and thermo-disinfected objects and the treatment machines are machines for sterilizing the objects, in order to prepare them for a subsequent storage in the third area.
These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
We must clarify that the phraseology and terminology used in the present description, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also in relation as to how described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their purpose being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.
To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.
With reference to
The objects G can be fed to the plant 10 manually by an operator, semi-automatically, or automatically by means of suitable feed means, not shown in the drawings.
The plant 10 comprises a plurality of pre-treatment stations 11, 12, 13 for pre-treating the objects G, a plurality of pick-up benches 15 associated with the pre-treatment stations 11, 12, 13 and on which baskets 100 able to contain the already pre-treated objects G can be positioned, and a plurality of treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 for treating the pre-treated objects G contained in the baskets 100.
By way of example, the objects G can be disposed on trays, or containers, not shown in the drawings. In addition, the baskets 100 are able to contain the objects G disposed on such trays, or containers, and can be of different types depending on requirements or on the type of treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 in which they are inserted.
The plant 10 comprises at least one unmanned, that is, autonomous, shuttle 21 mobile along at least one path between the pick-up benches 15 and the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, as will be described in detail below. Preferably, the plant 10 comprises a plurality of shuttles 21 mobile between the pick-up benches 15 and the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
It should be noted that each shuttle 21 can be mobile in contact with the floor of the plant 10 along the aforementioned path, for example by using means on wheels, or suchlike. Alternatively, each shuttle 21 can be mobile, along the aforementioned path, without contacting the floor of the plant 10, that is, being raised therefrom by a certain distance.
According to possible embodiments, shown in
According to other possible embodiments, the pre-treatment stations 11, 12, 13 can be disposed in a different manner, therefore not aligned with each other, or they may not operate in series.
Furthermore, each pre-treatment station 11, 12, 13 can be provided with two or more modules, not shown in the drawings, which allow to perform the pre-treatment operations in series.
The pick-up benches 15 are associated with the pre-treatment stations 11, 12, 13 and are external to, or preferably separate from, them; preferably, they can be disposed to the side of the latter and facing the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
It should be noted that the configuration of the pick-up benches 15 can be different from the one shown, solely by way of example, in the drawings, that is, that with each pre-treatment station 11, 12, 13 there is associated a pick-up bench 15. In particular, one pick-up bench 15 can be associated with two or more pick-up stations 11, 12, 13, also in relation to their number.
In particular, the pick-up benches 15 are provided with a rest plane 22 on which the baskets 100, with the pre-treated objects G inside them, can be positioned. In the example given here, each rest plane 22 can be defined by a plurality of feed rollers 23 to make the baskets 100 advance and position them, one at a time, in a certain pick-up position, in order to be picked up by a respective shuttle 21, which is located, or positioned, at a certain pick-up point next to the corresponding pick-up bench 15.
For example, the pick-up point can be a free area in front of the corresponding pick-up bench 15, able to allow appropriate approaching and positioning maneuvers of the corresponding shuttle 21.
According to possible embodiments, shown in
Each treatment machine 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 is provided with a tunnel treatment chamber 25 having an inlet aperture 26 and an opposing outlet aperture 27. Both the inlet aperture 26 and also the outlet aperture 27 are selectively closable by means of respective inlet doors 26a and outlet doors 27a, preferably of the shutter type. Specifically, the inlet apertures 26 face the pick-up benches 15.
We must clarify that by the expression “operate in parallel” we mean that the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 are side by side to each other and have their respective inlet apertures 26 disposed in parallel to each other and on the same plane, to facilitate the insertion of the baskets 100 containing the pre-treated objects G, which are transported by the shuttles 21.
Specifically, each shuttle 21 is mobile along a path between the pick-up benches 15 and respective inlet apertures 26 of the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
Each shuttle 21 comprises movement means for moving it along the aforementioned path and at least one housing plane 28 for the baskets 100 containing the objects G.
A possible example of a shuttle 21 is described in European patent application EP-A-1.787.731 in the name of the Applicant.
In addition, each shuttle 21 is provided on board with a first control device 29 configured to receive and execute movement information relating to the aforementioned path.
We must clarify that the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 also each comprise respective second control devices 30 for controlling and acquiring information on the availability status and/or operating status thereof.
According to some embodiments, the pre-treatment stations 11, 12, 13 are stations for pre-washing the dirty objects G to prepare them for the subsequent washing and thermal disinfection treatment. For example, the pre-wash can be obtained by means of a cold pre-wash, wash with possible chemical detergents and/or wash in an ultrasonic bath. In these embodiments, the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 are machines for washing and thermally disinfecting the pre-washed objects G to prepare them for a subsequent treatment, for example sterilization.
According to other embodiments, the pre-treatment stations 11, 12, 13 are stations for packaging the washed and thermally disinfected objects G, to arrange them in packages for the subsequent sterilization treatment. In these embodiments, the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 are machines for sterilizing the packaged objects G to prepare them for a subsequent storage.
The plant 10 comprises a supervision system 35 provided with visual acquisition means 36 connected to a central control unit 37. Specifically, the supervision system 35 is external to the pre-treatment stations 11, 12, 13 and the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
The visual acquisition means 36 are configured to frame at least the pick-up benches 15 in order to acquire visual information about a pick-up condition of a basket 100 loaded with pre-treated objects G and disposed on one of the pick-up benches 15.
According to possible embodiments, the visual acquisition means 36 comprise at least one video camera 39 positioned above the pre-treatment machines 11, 12, 13 to frame at least the area of the plant 10 in which the pick-up benches 15 are present.
In addition, the video camera 39 can be disposed in such a way as to be able to also frame the area in which the inlet apertures 26 of the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 are present, to obtain visual information on the availability and/or operating status of the latter. For example, the availability status can be visually identified when the inlet door 26a is in an open position, so as to make the inlet aperture 26 accessible.
According to other possible embodiments, not shown in the drawings, the visual acquisition means 36 comprise one or more video cameras 39 disposed for example at least above the pick-up benches 15 and the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
The central control unit 37 is communicating at least with the first control device 29. In particular, the first control device 29 is provided with a communication interface capable of communicating with the central control unit 37, for example in wireless mode.
The central control unit 37 is configured to receive and process both the visual information and also the information on the availability status of the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 to generate the aforementioned movement information in order to command the movement of the shuttles 21 to pick up a certain basket 100 in the pick-up condition, and transport it to a respective treatment machine 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. In particular, the central control unit 37 is able to process the visual information and/or the status information received from the visual acquisition means 36 and/or from the second control devices 30 in order to generate movement information to be communicated to the first control devices 29 present on each shuttle 21.
We must clarify that by the expression “pick-up condition” we mean that a basket 100 is loaded with the pre-treated objects G and is correctly positioned on a pick-up bench 15 ready to be picked up by means of a respective shuttle 21.
According to some embodiments, the central control unit 37 is also communicating with the second control devices 30 of the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Specifically, the second control devices 30 can also be provided with a communication interface for communicating with the central control unit 37 in order to transmit status information relating to the availability and/or operation of the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
In accordance with other embodiments, in the plant 10 there are visual indication means 40 capable of indicating the presence of a basket 100 loaded on the respective pick-up bench 15 in a correct pick-up condition.
This is particularly useful for a greater usability of the pick-up bench 15 by an operator, who can easily and quickly be updated on the operating or availability status of a corresponding pick-up bench 15.
Advantageously, the acquisition means 36 are also capable of detecting the indication generated by the visual indication means 40 to obtain information usable for the central control unit 37. Specifically, the visual indication means 40 can be associated with the pick-up benches 15 and/or with respective baskets 100.
As shown in
According to possible embodiments, the light radiation can be activated automatically, or manually by an operator.
According to other embodiments, not shown in the drawings, the visual indication means 40 can also be physical signaling elements associated with the pick-up benches 15 and mechanically drivable, for example batons or suchlike, possibly colored, capable of being selectively activated to signal to at least one video camera 39 that the basket 100 is in a correct pick-up condition.
According to other possible embodiments, the visual indication means 40 can be coding elements 101 associated with each basket 100. Each coding element 101 is preferably a graphic code identifying the same basket 100 and is readable by the visual acquisition means 36 to give usable information to the central control unit 37. It should be noted that in this case the visual acquisition means 36 are configured to frame the pick-up benches 15, and in particular the corresponding coding elements 101 of the baskets 100.
The coding element 101, that is, the graphic identification code, can give information on the status of the respective basket 100, in particular if it is in the respective pick-up condition, or information relating to its position. For example, the coding element 101 can be a barcode, in particular a linear barcode or a 2D barcode, such as a QR code.
This achieves the advantage of being able to track the movement of the baskets 100 and of the objects G inside the plant 10.
In accordance with possible preferred embodiments, a treatment center 200 for carrying out the complete treatment of pre-washing, washing, thermal disinfection and sterilization of objects G comprises at least two treatment plants 10 according to the present invention.
In particular, the treatment center 200 comprises a first area 201, or “septic” or “dirty” area, a second area 202, or “clean” area, and a third area 203, or “sterile” area, which are separated from each other by means of separation means 205.
The first area 201 can be defined by a plant 10 in which the pre-treatment stations 11, 12, 13 are stations for pre-washing the dirty objects G and the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 are machines for washing and thermally disinfecting the pre-washed objects G.
The second area 202 can be defined by another plant 10 in which the pre-treatment stations 11, 12, 13 are stations for packaging the washed and thermally disinfected objects G, and the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 are machines for sterilizing the packaged objects G, in order to prepare them for a subsequent storage.
In the third area 203 the objects G arrive sterilized, preferably in packets, and can be stored for subsequent use. By way of example, the objects G can be also disposed on trays, or containers.
According to possible embodiments, there can be a supervision system 35 also inside the third area 203 and one or more shuttles 21 can be present to pick-up the baskets 100 from the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and transport them into one or more storage or sorting zones, in which storage members are present, not shown in the drawings.
The separation means 205 of each area 201, 202, 203 can be defined by at least two opposing separation walls 206 and by the overall dimensions of the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 associated with the separation walls 206. Specifically, the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 substantially constitute a communication interface between the first area 201 and the second area 202, and between the second area 202 and the third area 203.
The operation of the plant 10 described heretofore, which corresponds to the method according to the present invention, comprises the following steps.
An initial preparation step, in which the objects G to be treated, possibly disposed in trays, or containers, are arranged in a known manner in correspondence with the pre-treatment stations 11, 12, 13 to be pre-treated.
A subsequent pre-treatment step, in which the objects G present in the baskets 100 are pre-treated in one or more of the pre-treatment stations 11, 12, 13.
Subsequently, in a positioning step, the pre-treated objects G are suitably positioned in baskets 100 disposed on one or more pick-up benches 15. These baskets 100, once properly loaded, are suitably moved into a certain pick-up position on the corresponding pick-up bench 15, thus defining a corresponding pick-up condition.
Then, in a control and supervision step, the supervision system 35 carries out the control of the operating, or status, conditions of the pick-up benches 15 and of the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
The control and supervision step comprises an acquisition sub-step, in which the visual acquisition means 36 frame at least the pick-up benches 15 to acquire visual information on the pick-up condition of a basket 100 provided with pre-treated objects G, present on one of the pick-up benches 15. Specifically, in this step the video camera 39 frames the correct positioning of the basket 100 provided with pre-treated objects G on the rest plane 22 of the pick-up bench 15.
In the acquisition sub-step, the visual acquisition means 36 detect and acquire information, usable for the central control unit 37, which is detectable by the visual indication means 40, wherein said information indicates the presence of a basket 100 in a pick-up condition.
According to some embodiments, this information is detectable by the coding element 101 of a basket 100 which is in the pick-up condition.
According to a first operating variant, in the visual acquisition sub-step the visual acquisition means 36 also frame the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 to acquire information on the availability and/or operating status of the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. For example, in this step the video camera 39 frames whether the inlet door 26a is open and/or whether the inlet aperture 26 is accessible.
Then, the visual and/or status information is transmitted to the central control unit 37 which, in a processing sub-step, processes the visual information to obtain movement information to be communicated to a respective first control device 29 of an available shuttle 21, for the corresponding movement.
In particular, in the first operating variant, the central control unit 37 processes both the visual information relating to the pick-up benches 15 and also the availability status information relating to the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 acquired by means of the video camera 39 to transmit the movement information to an available shuttle 21.
In a second and third operating variant, the control and supervision step also comprises a transmission sub-step, in which the second control devices 30 transmit information on the availability and/or operating status relating to the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 because the visual acquisition means 36, that is, the video camera 39, acquire visual information only of the pick-up benches 15.
In this operating situation, in the processing sub-step the central control unit 37 processes the visual information relating to the pick-up benches 15 and the status information relating to the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 in order to transmit suitable movement information to a respective first control device 29 of an available shuttle 21, for the corresponding movement.
In accordance with the third variant, during the acquisition sub-step the visual acquisition means 36 frame the pick-up benches 15, in particular the visual indication means 40 to acquire visual information on a pick-up condition of a basket 100 loaded with already pre-treated objects G.
Specifically, according to some embodiments, the video camera 39 frames the status light element 41 which in that moment signals a pick-up condition of a corresponding basket 100 and acquires visual information usable for the central processing unit 37 for the next processing sub-step.
Then, once the movement information has been communicated, a movement step begins, in which by means of the first control device 29 at least one shuttle 21 executes received movement information, relating to the path, so that it moves between the pick-up benches 15, in correspondence with certain pick-up points close to the latter and respective inlet apertures 26 of the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
In particular, during the movement step, one of the shuttles 21 is disposed in correspondence with one of the pick-up benches 15 to receive a basket 100 which is in the pick-up condition, and which is subsequently disposed on the housing plane 28 of the same shuttle 21. Subsequently, this shuttle 21 transports the basket 100 in correspondence with an available treatment machine 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 to position it inside the corresponding treatment chamber 25.
A treatment step then begins, in which the objects G contained in a corresponding basket 100 are treated in one of the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
Considering the operation of the treatment center 200, in the first of the two plants 10, during the pre-treatment step the dirty objects G present in the baskets 100 are pre-washed, and in the treatment step the pre-washed objects G are washed and thermally disinfected. Instead, in the second of the two plants 10, during the pre-treatment step the washed and thermally disinfected objects G are packaged, and in the treatment step the washed, thermally disinfected and packaged objects G are sterilized.
We must clarify that the movement of the objects from the outlet apertures 27 of the treatment machines 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 of the first of the two plants 10 to the pre-treatment stations 11, 12, 13 of the second of the two plants 10 can occur in any suitable manner whatsoever. For example, it can be done manually by means of an operator, semi-automatically or automatically with one or more shuttles 21.
It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the plant 10 and to the method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of plants and methods for treating objects, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.
In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102023000000960 | Jan 2023 | IT | national |
