Patent Application
20050121057
The present invention is directed to shopping carts and, in particular, to the disinfection of shopping carts.
Presently, shopping carts are rarely disinfected. Consequently, a shopping cart can present a health risk to a shopper using the shopping cart. To elaborate, organisms that present health risks can be transferred to a shopping cart from leaking meat and poultry packages, poorly fitting baby diapers, a shopper's hand or nose, and the like. These organisms can then be transmitted from the shopping cart to a shopper that subsequently uses the cart.
To address the health risk associated with the transfer of an organism from a shopping cart to a shopper, various systems for cleaning or disinfecting shopping carts have been devised. Many of these systems include a cleaning or disinfecting station and a transport device for moving shopping carts through the station. One system includes a mobile trailer that supports a cleaning or disinfecting station and a transport device. Another system comprises a treatment station that has multiple treatment zones and a transport system for moving the carts through the treatment zones.
The present invention provides a system for disinfecting shopping carts that may be contaminated with an organism that presents a health risk to shoppers that utilize the carts.
In one embodiment, the system comprises a treatment station for applying a disinfectant to a shopping cart and a conveyor system for transporting shopping carts relative to the treatment station at two different speeds to facilitate a nesting operation. To elaborate, in many instances it is desirable to provide a string of nested shopping carts to the system for processing. However, it is also desirable that the shopping carts be “un-nested” or separated from one another so that those surfaces of the carts in a string of nested shopping carts that would not be sufficiently exposed for receiving the disinfecting treatment are exposed in time to receive the disinfecting treatment. In one embodiment, the conveyor system comprises two conveyors that operate at different speeds to facilitate the “unnesting” of a shopping cart from a string of nested shopping carts. To elaborate, the conveyor system comprises a first conveyor for moving a string of nested shopping carts at a first speed and a second conveyor for moving a shopping cart at a second speed that is greater than the first speed. Initially, a string of shopping carts is placed on the first conveyor. When the lead shopping cart of the string of nested shopping carts is transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, the difference in speeds of the two conveyors causes a force to be applied the lead cart that separates the lead shopping cart from the following shopping cart.
In other instances, it is desirable to create a string of nested shopping carts from carts that have been treated. Consequently, in another embodiment of the system, the conveyor system comprises two conveyors that operate at different speeds to facilitate the “nesting” of one treated shopping cart with another treated shopping cart. More specifically, the conveyor system comprises a first conveyor for moving an “un-nested” and treated shopping cart at a first speed and a second conveyor for moving another treated shopping cart at a second speed that is less than the first speed. In operation, the first and second conveyors are used to form a string of nested shopping carts. To elaborate, assume that a first shopping cart is on the first conveyor and a second shopping cart is on the second conveyor. When the first cart is transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, the difference in speeds of the two conveyors forces the first cart towards the second cart such that the first cart nests with the second cart.
In yet other instances, it is desirable to: (a) “un-nest” a string of nested shopping carts so that those surfaces of the carts in the string of nested shopping carts that would not be sufficiently exposed for receiving the disinfecting treatment are exposed in time to receive the disinfecting treatment; and (b) create a string of nested shopping carts from carts that have been treated. In one embodiment, two conveyors are utilized, one conveyor being a high speed conveyor and the other conveyor being a low speed conveyor that extends beyond the ends of the low speed conveyor. The conveyors are situated so as that a shopping cart is: (a) initially engaged by the low speed conveyor; (b) then transitioned from the low-speed conveyor to the high speed conveyor to facilitate separation of the shopping cart from a string of nested shopping carts and thereby expose surfaces of the shopping cart in time to receive the disinfecting treatment; and (c) then transitioned from the high speed conveyor back to the low speed conveyor to nest the shopping cart with any previously treated shopping cart that is being transported by the low speed conveyor. In yet a further embodiment, three conveyors are utilized, two low speed conveyors that are separated from one another and a high-speed conveyor that extends between the two low speed conveyors. In this embodiment, one of the low speed conveyors and the high speed conveyor are used to facilitate the “unnesting” of a lead shopping cart in a string of shopping carts. The high speed conveyor is also used in conjunction with the other low speed conveyor to facilitate the “nesting” of one treated shopping cart with another treated shopping cart. In another embodiment of the system, the conveyor system comprises four conveyors, two conveyors for un-nesting a string of nested shopping carts and the other two conveyors for forming a string of nested carts.
Another embodiment of a system for disinfecting shopping carts comprises a modular treatment station and a transport system for moving a shopping cart relative to the treatment station. The treatment station defines an entry for receiving a shopping cart, an exit for providing a treated cart, and a pathway extending between the entry and the exit and along which a shopping cart travels during operation of the system. The treatment station is comprised of first and second modular units that each define a portion of the pathway and that each have a ground engagement surface. The modularity of the first and second modular units arises from the relationship of the ground structure of each of the modular units to the pathway defining structure of each of the modular units. To elaborate, these relationships are such that when the ground structures of both of the modular units are in contact with a flat surface, the portions of the pathway defined by the two units can be readily aligned with one another, thereby facilitating the joining of one unit to another. The modularity feature allows modular units that perform different functions to be designed and then readily combined with one another to realize a treatment station with the desired features for a particular application.
In another embodiment, modular units that have a symmetrical interface structure are employed to realize a treatment station. The symmetrical interface structure allows the modules to be concatenated with one another in a number of different sequences. For example, if a first modular unit is adapted to apply a liquid disinfectant to a shopping cart and a second modular unit is adapted to dry a shopping cart after a liquid disinfectant has been applied to the shopping cart, the symmetrical interface structure of each of the modules allows a functional treatment station to be realized in which the left-to-right order of the modules from a given view point is first module second module or second module first module. Stated differently, the symmetry characteristic of each of the modules allows: (a) a treatment station to be realized that, when the station is viewed from the side, receives shopping carts from the right hand side of the treatment station; or (b) a treatment station to be realized that, when the station is viewed from the same side, receives shopping carts from the left hand side of the treatment station.
A further embodiment of the system comprises a treatment station for applying a disinfectant to a shopping cart that comprises a molded structure and a transport system for moving a shopping cart relative to the treatment station. In one embodiment, the molded structure forms two or more elements of the treatment station and thereby reduces the number of components that would otherwise be required to realize the station. For example, in one embodiment, the molded structure comprises a single-piece enclosure that defines at least a portion of the pathway along which a shopping cart travels during operation of the system and a reservoir for holding the liquid disinfectant that is applied to the shopping carts. In another embodiment, the molded section forms an element that is less susceptible to damage or vandalism. For example, in one embodiment, the molded structure forms an air nozzle that is less susceptible to damage or vandalism than, for instance, metal nozzles that are attached to a supporting structure via a threaded coupling mechanism.
Yet another embodiment of the system comprises a treatment station that employs a low-pressure pump that is used to move disinfectant from a reservoir to an application structure that dispenses the disinfectant onto a shopping cart during operation of the system and a transport system for moving shopping carts relative to the treatment station. In one embodiment, the low-pressure pump comprises a centrifugal pump that is located, during operation of the system, at substantially the same elevation as the reservoir. This orientation of the centrifugal pump relative to the reservoir facilitates a “gravity drain” design for the system in which the disinfectant in the circuit formed by the reservoir, pump, and application structure, during operation of the system, is drawn back to the reservoir by gravity after the pump is deactivated. This “gravity drain” facilitates use of the system in cold weather applications. To elaborate, the gravity drain characteristic allows disinfectant to drain back to the reservoir when the centrifugal pump is inoperative. A heater located in the reservoir then keeps the disinfectant from freezing. In contrast, if there was not a gravity drain and a significant amount of disinfectant remained in the circuit after the pump was deactivated, the entire circuit would need to be heated to prevent the disinfectant from freezing in the circuit and rendering the system inoperative.
The present invention is directed to a system for disinfecting shopping carts. Generally, the system is comprised of a treatment station for applying a disinfecting treatment to a shopping cart and a transport system for moving a shopping cart relative to the treatment station.
The treatment station 22 defines an entry threshold 28A, exit threshold 30B, and a pathway 30 that extends between the entry threshold 28A and exit threshold 28B and through which the shopping carts pass during treatment.
The transport system 24 is capable of: (a) receiving a single shopping cart and moving the shopping cart over the pathway 30 defined by the treatment station 22; (b) receiving multiple shopping carts that are sufficiently separated from one another so that no further separation is needed to sufficiently expose the surfaces of the cart to the disinfecting treatment provided by the treatment station 22 and moving each of the shopping carts over the pathway 30 defined by the treatment station 22; (c) receiving a string of nested shopping carts, separating the nested shopping carts from one another so that the surfaces of each of the shopping carts that would not otherwise be sufficiently exposed for receiving a disinfecting treatment are sufficiently exposed in time to receive the disinfecting treatment, nesting treated shopping carts with one another, and moving each of the shopping carts over the pathway 30 defined by the treatment station 22. It should be appreciated that when the term “nested” or a similar term is used with respect to shopping carts that have not been treated, the term means that the shopping carts are not sufficiently separated from one another so that the surfaces of each of the shopping carts is sufficiently exposed for receiving a disinfecting treatment. Consequently, nested shopping carts may or may not be in physical contact with one another. Concomitantly, the term “un-nesting” means that the untreated shopping carts are separated from one another such that the surfaces of each shopping cart are sufficiently exposed for receiving a disinfecting treatment. It should also be appreciated that when the term “nesting” or similar term is used with respect to treated shopping carts, the term means that the carts are sufficiently close to one another that the surfaces of each of the shopping carts are not sufficiently exposed for receiving a disinfecting treatment.
The transport system 24 comprises a floor structure 36 that defines the path over which a shopping cart travels during processing by the system 20 and a conveyor system 38 for moving a shopping cart over at least a portion of the floor structure 36. The floor structure 36 extends from a first floor end 40A to a second floor end 40B. Further, the floor structure 36 comprises an incline section 42A up which a shopping cart is moved prior to treatment, a decline section 42B down which a shopping cart rolls after treatment, and a raised section 42C that extends between the incline section 42A and decline section 42B. With reference to
With continuing reference to
With continuing reference to
The first conveyor belt system 48A comprises a pair of grooved pulleys 54A, 54B and a belt 56 that extends between the pulleys 54A, 54B and is used to engage a shopping cart. Similarly, the second conveyor 48B comprises a pair of grooved pulleys 58A, 58B and a belt 60 that extends between the pulleys 58A, 58B and is used to engage a shopping cart. Tensioning of each of the belts 56, 60 is accomplished with an idler pulley (not shown). As shown in
The drive system 50 comprises: (a) an electric motor 62 that is used to provide the power that is used to drive the first and second conveyor belt systems 48A, 48B; (b) a two-groove pulley 64 that is operatively attached to the drive shaft of the electric motor 62; (c) a first drive belt 66 for transmitting power from the electric motor 62 to the pulley 54A of the first conveyor belt system 48A to drive the belt 56 at the first speed; and (d) a second drive belt 68 for transmitting power from the electric motor 62 to the pulley 58A of the second conveyor belt system 48B to drive the belt 60 at the second speed. The electric motor 62, two-groove pulley 64, first drive belt 66 and second drive belt 66 operate so that the pulleys 54A, 58A each rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. As a consequence, the belt 56 and the belt 60 each rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. Further, any shopping cart engaged by the belt 56 will be driven away from the first floor end 40A and towards the second floor end 40B. Likewise, any shopping cart engaged by the belt 60 will be driven away from the first floor end 40A and towards the second floor end 40B. Other drive systems for moving two conveyor belts at different speeds are feasible. For example, in another embodiment, two electric motors are utilized, one to drive the first conveyor belt system 48A and the other to drive the second conveyor belt system 48B. In another embodiment, the drive shaft of an electric motor is coupled to a pulley of a conveyor belt system without the use of a belt or chain.
The housing 52 provides mounting surfaces for the pulleys associated with the first and second conveyor belt systems 48A, 48B. In addition, the housing 52 also supports first and second low-friction surfaces 70A, 70B on which the belts 56, 60 respectively ride. The pulleys associated with the first and second conveyor systems 48A, 48B and the first and second low-friction surfaces 70A, 70B are mounted to the housing 52 such that when the system 20 is operational, the belt 60 is a greater distance from the bottom surface 44 than the belt 56. In the illustrated embodiment, the pulleys 54A, 54B, 58A and 58B are all substantially the same size. Further, the pulleys 54A, 54B, 58A, 58B are mounted to the housing 52 such that when the system 20 is operational, the axes of rotation of the pulleys 58A, 58B are a greater distance from the bottom surface 44 than the axes of rotation of the pulleys 54A, 54B. Moreover, the low-friction surfaces 70A, 70B are of substantially the same thickness. As a consequence, a shim 72 is located between the housing 52 and the second low-friction surface 70B to assure that the belt 60 is supported at the noted greater distance. Other approaches for positioning the belt 60 at a greater distance from the bottom surface 44 than the belt 56 are feasible. For instance, in one embodiment, pulleys of different diameters and low-friction surfaces of different thickness are employed.
Based on the foregoing, it should be appreciated that a shopping cart being moved by the conveyor system 38 will move in a direction away from the pulley 54A and towards the pulley 54B. Further, in moving in this direction, the shopping cart will be subjected to: (a) a transition from the belt 54 to the belt 60 at a point adjacent to the pulley 58A; and (b) a transition from the belt 60 to the belt 54 at a point adjacent to the pulley 58B. When a string of nested shopping carts is being processed by the system 20, the transition adjacent to the pulley 58A results in a force being applied to a lead shopping cart in the string of nested shopping carts that facilitates separation of the lead shopping cart from the following shopping cart. There is also a slight rotation of the lead shopping cart at the transition adjacent to the pulley 58A due to the difference in heights of the belts 54, 60 that also facilitates the separation of the lead shopping cart from the following shopping cart. Separation of nested shopping carts is desirable so that the surfaces of each of the nested shopping carts that may not otherwise be sufficiently exposed for receiving the disinfecting treatment are sufficiently exposed in time to receive the disinfecting treatment. Consequently, the transition point adjacent to the pulley 58A is located relative to the treatment station 22 so that nested shopping carts are separated from one another such that the surfaces of each of the nested shopping carts that may not otherwise be sufficiently exposed for receiving the disinfecting treatment are sufficiently exposed in time to receive the disinfecting treatment. The nesting of treated shopping carts is also desirable. Consequently, the transition point adjacent to the pulley 58B is located relative to the treatment station 22 so that a treated shopping cart is forced to nest with any previously treated shopping cart that is being transported by the conveyor system 38.
With reference to
The staging bar assembly 76 comprises a staging bar 78 with a first end 80 that is pivotally attached to the floor structure 36, a second end 82, an upper surface 84 for engaging one or more shopping carts, and a hook 86 for engaging a surface associated with one shopping cart. The staging bar assembly 76 further comprises an actuator 86 that allows an operator to rotate the staging bar 78 between a position at which the staging bar 78 prevents a cart or carts from contacting the belt 56 and a position at which the staging bar 78 allows a cart or carts to contact the belt 56. The actuator 86 can be either a manual device or a device that employs electrical, hydraulic and/or pneumatic componentry.
The conveyor system 38 is capable of being used in several different ways. For example, the conveyor system 38 is capable of being used to: (a) receive a single shopping cart and move the shopping cart through the processing station 22; (b) receive multiple shopping carts that are sufficiently separated from one another on the conveyor system so that no “un-nesting” is needed and post treatment nesting may not be possible, and simultaneously move the shopping carts relative to the processing station 22; (c) receive a string of nested shopping carts, “un-nest” the shopping carts so that surfaces of each of the shopping carts that would not otherwise be sufficiently exposed for receiving the disinfecting treatment are exposed in time to receive the treatment, nest the treated shopping carts, and simultaneously move the shopping carts relative to the processing station 22. With respect to any of these ways of using the conveyor system 38, the staging bar assembly 76 may or may not be utilized. However, the staging bar assembly 76 is most likely to be used when the conveyor system 38 is used to process a sting of nested shopping carts when the string of nested shopping carts is built up over time.
It should be appreciated that other conveyor systems that are capable of “un-nesting” and nesting operations and that utilize belts that move at different speeds are feasible. For instance, a conveyor system that utilizes a high-speed conveyor belt located between two, low speed conveyor belts is feasible. The belts can overlap with one another and have elevational differences that facilitate the transfer of a shopping cart from one belt to another, as in the conveyor system 38. Alternatively, the belts can be placed end-to-end. In this case, elevational differences between the belts are unnecessary. Further, if necessary to prevent a shopping cart from getting stuck in the “valley” between the ends of the end-to-end conveyor belts, a rod or bar can be positioned in the “valley.” Another approach to address the “valley” between conveyors positioned end-to-end is for the second conveyor belt (i.e., the belt to which a cart is being transition) to have a “bumpy” surface that can engage the crossbar of a shopping cart that is positioned in the “valley” and thereby facilitate the transition of the shopping cart from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt. Yet another approach for addressing the “valley” between end-to-end conveyors is have the first conveyor positioned so that it slopes downward towards the second conveyor. Yet a further alternative to the placement of the belts overlaps two of the three belts and situates two of the three belts end-to-end. Also feasible is a conveyor system that utilizes a first pair of conveyors (one high speed and the other low speed) to facilitate “un-nesting” and a second pair of conveyors (one high speed and the other low speed) to facilitate nesting. Again, overlapping, end-to-end and combinations of overlapping and end-to-end belts are feasible.
It should also be appreciated that although the conveyor system 36 is capable of both “un-nesting” and nesting operations, certain applications may only require a conveyor system that is capable of facilitating one of the “unnesting” and nesting operations. For example, a conveyor system that is only capable of “un-nesting” untreated shopping carts would be appropriate when the user does not want the treated carts to be nested or the treated carts are nested in some other manner (e.g., by gravity). Similarly, a conveyor system that is only capable of “nesting” treated shopping carts would be appropriate when the carts are fed into the conveyor system such that the untreated carts are separated from one another by a distance that makes further separation unnecessary. In either case, a conveyor system that employs two belts that move at different speeds can be employed to achieve the desired nesting related function, i.e., “un-nesting” or nesting. The belts can be disposed end-to-end or overlap. If the belts overlap, the end points of the conveyor belt systems can be adjusted relative to those shown in
It should be further appreciated that a conveyor system that uses belts that move at different speeds to perform nesting and/or un-nesting operations is not limited to any particular treatment station but can be used with many different types of treatment stations.
With reference to
Further, while the first and second pathway defining surfaces 104A, 104B are shown as being closed-loop surfaces, it should be appreciated that modules with pathway defining surfaces that are not closed-loop surfaces are feasible. Stated differently, modules are feasible that when joined to one another do not form a tunnel-like pathway along which the shopping carts pass but form a pathway that is exposed to the environment. It should also be appreciated that a treatment station comprised of modular units is capable of being used with or adapted for use with a transport system other than a transport system that employs conveyors that move at different speeds.
The interface structures of at least two of the two or more modular units comprising a treatment station are symmetrical with respect to a lateral plane that is located midway between the ends of the modular units and that is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which shopping carts move along the pathway. As a consequence, the modular units have interface symmetry that allows the unit to be concatenated with one another in a number of different sequences. With reference to
One or more internal elements (i.e., a structure located between the ends of the module) of a module comprising a treatment station are also symmetric relative to a midlateral plane. Among these internal elements are those elements that if not symmetric relative to the plane would affect a shopping cart differently during operation of the system depending upon whether the cart entered the module unit through one end or the end of the module. In the case of the modular unit 100C, which is used in drying carts that have been treated with a liquid disinfectant, the elements of the unit that are symmetric relative to the plane 120 are those elements that if not symmetric relative to the plane would affect a shopping cart differently during operation of the system depending upon whether the shopping cart entered the unit through the first end 116A or the second end 116B. One element of the modular unit 100C that is symmetrically located is the group of nozzles that are used to disperse air onto treated shopping carts to dry the carts. If the group of nozzles was not symmetrically located relative to the plane, shopping carts would be engaged by the air stream projected by the nozzles at different times depending upon whether the cart entered the modular unit 1003 from the first end 116A or the second end 116B.
At least one of the modular units associated with a treatment station comprises a one-piece, molded plastic structure that comprises two or more elements needed to implement that function of the modular unit in a treatment station. For instance, a modular unit for use in applying a liquid disinfectant to a shopping cart may comprise a one-piece, molded plastic structure that comprises: (a) an enclosure that shields a shopping cart from wind, rain and other environmental factors that could adversely affect the application of a disinfectant to the cart; (b) a reservoir for holding the disinfectant that is to be applied to a cart; and (c) a structure for use in dispersing disinfectant onto a cart, such as a hanger that supports a manifold that is used to disperse disinfectant onto a cart. A modular unit for use in applying warm air to a shopping cart to dry the shopping cart after the application of a liquid disinfectant to the shopping cart may comprise a one-piece, molded plastic structure that comprises: (a) an enclosure that shields a shopping cart from wind, rain and other environmental factors that could adversely affect the application of air to the cart; and (b) one or more nozzles that are used to apply air to a cart. The use of a one-piece, molded plastic structure to realize two or more element reduces the part count of a module and, in some cases, renders the module less susceptible to vandalism.
Potentially associated with a modular unit is a component cabinet for housing certain components that are used in conjunction with the modular unit to provide a function associated with treating a shopping cart. With reference to
One or more modular units can be combined with components that are not integral to a modular unit and one or more enclosures to form a treatment system for use in a treatment station. A treatment station is comprised of one or more treatment systems. If a treatment station is comprised of two treatment systems, the systems can be modular and have symmetrical interfaces that allow the systems to be concatenated in different orders. For example, the treatment system 22 is comprised of: (a) a liquid disinfectant delivery system comprised of modular units 100A-100B, enclosure 130A, and related components; and (b) a drying station comprised of modular unit 100C, enclosure 130B, and related components. As shown in
The following describes a number of embodiments of systems that are suitable for use in a treatment station. Each system is comprised of at least one modular unit, an enclosure, and related components that are not integral to a modular unit. Each modular unit has interface symmetry. As a consequence, each system has interface symmetry. Further, each modular unit is comprised of a molded plastic structure that provides at least two components or elements relating to the function of the module.
With reference to
The modular unit 142 comprises a pathway defining surface 148 that defines a pathway 150. The pathway of 150 of modular unit 142 is capable of being readily aligned with the pathway associated another modular unit (as exemplified in
The modular unit 142 comprises: (a) an enclosure 158 for shielding a shopping cart from environmental factors that could adversely affect the application of disinfectant to a shopping cart; (b) a reservoir 160 for holding the liquid disinfectant that is to be applied to a cart; and (c) a hanger 162 for supporting a perforated tube that is used to disperse the liquid disinfectant onto a shopping cart. The enclosure 158, reservoir 160, and hanger 162 are each symmetrical about the lateral plane 154. Further, the modular unit 142 is a one-piece plastic structure that provides the enclosure 158, reservoir 160 and hanger 162.
The cabinet 144 houses components of the closed-loop, liquid disinfectant transport system 146 and is attached to the modular unit 142 at mounting points 164A-164C.
The closed-loop, liquid disinfectant transport system 146 for moving liquid disinfectant from a reservoir to a structure for dispersing disinfectant onto a shopping cart is comprised of: (a) a filter 166 located in the space defined by the reservoir 160; (b) a suction tube 168 with a first end that is operatively attached to the filter 166 and a second end for operatively engaging a pump; (c) a low-pressure centrifugal pump 170 with an inlet for operatively engaging the second end of the suction tube 168 and an outlet for operatively engaging a spray tube; and (d) a spray tube 172 for dispersing liquid disinfectant onto a shopping cart and having one end operatively connected to the outlet of the pump 170 and a second end that is operatively connected to the hanger 162. The pump 170 is substantially located within the cabinet 144. Further, the inlet of the pump 170 is located adjacent to the ground contact surface 156 to assure that, during operation, the inlet is below the surface of the liquid disinfectant held in the reservoir 160. In operation, the pump 170 pulls liquid disinfectant out of the reservoir 160 via the filter 166 and suction tube 168 and pushes the liquid disinfectant drawn out of the reservoir 160 through the spray tube 172. The liquid disinfectant is discharged through rations 174 in the spray tube 172 and onto a shopping cart located between the first and second ends 152A, 152B. Liquid disinfectant that either does not engage a shopping cart or drips off of a shopping cart passes through holes in the floor structure and a hole 176 defined by the reservoir 160 to be returned to the reservoir 160 and reused. Consequently, the system 140 operates to recycle the disinfectant.
It should also be appreciated that the centrifugal pump 170 and the location of the inlet of the centrifugal pump 170 below the surface of the disinfectant facilitates self-draining of the system 140 when the system is not in operation. To elaborate, when the pump 170 is deactivated, gravity forces the disinfectant remaining in the spray tube 172 to drain back through the pump 170 and into the reservoir 160. Some of the disinfectant remains in the pump 170. As a consequence, the pump 170 is “primed” for subsequent operation. The self-draining feature is particularly beneficial in cold weather applications because the disinfectant is isolated to the reservoir 160 and the pump 170, which has fairly intimate thermal contact with the disinfectant in the reservoir 160 via the suction tube 168. Consequently, to prevent damage to the system 140, it is only necessary to prevent freezing of the disinfectant present in the reservoir 160 and the pump 170. If this were not the case, freezing would need to be prevented throughout the system. In some applications, the thermal mass of the liquid disinfectant is sufficient to keep the disinfectant in the reservoir 160 and the pump 170 from freezing. However, in other applications, it is necessary to heat the disinfectant. For such applications, the system 140 further comprises a heating element 178 for heating the disinfectant in the reservoir. If needed, a heat sink can be attached to the suction tube 168 to conduct heat from the reservoir to the pump 170. The heating element 178 is also useful in applications in which freezing of the disinfectant is of little or no concern. In such applications, the heating element 178, by keeping the disinfectant at or above a certain temperature, promotes the sanitizing action of the disinfectant applied to the cartsand reduces the time needed to dry a cart.
With reference to
The modular unit 182 comprises a reservoir 186 for receiving and storing disinfectant and a plurality of holes 188 for dispersing disinfectant from the reservoir 186 onto a shopping cart. The reservoir 186 and the holes 188 are symmetrical relative to the lateral plane 154. Otherwise, the modular unit 182 is substantially identical to the modular unit 142 associated with the system 140.
The cabinet 144 associated with the system 180 is substantially identical to the cabinet 144 associated with the system 140.
The closed loop, liquid disinfectant transport system 184 comprises a delivery tube 190 for transporting liquid disinfect from the pump 170 to the reservoir 186. Otherwise, the closed-loop transport system 184 is substantially identical to the system 146 associated with the system 140. In operation, the pump 170 pulls liquid disinfectant out of the reservoir 160 via the filter 166 and suction tube 168 and pushes the liquid disinfectant drawn out of the reservoir 160 through the delivery tube 190 to the reservoir 186. Liquid disinfectant stored in the reservoir 186 is discharged through holes 188 and onto a shopping cart located between the first and second ends 152A, 152B. Liquid disinfectant that either does not engage a shopping cart or drips off of a shopping cart passes through holes in the floor structure 36 and a hole 176 defined by the reservoir 160 to be returned to the reservoir 160 and reused. Consequently, the system 180 operates to recycle the disinfectant. The system 180 also provides self-draining and can include a heating element 178.
With reference to
The first and second modular units 198A, 198B are each substantially identical to the modular unit 142. A reservoir 202 associated with the first modular unit 198A is used to hold unused liquid disinfectant. A reservoir 204 associated with the second modular unit 198B is used to hold liquid disinfectant after the liquid disinfectant has been dispersed onto a shopping cart. The system 200 is used to pull unused liquid disinfectant from the reservoir 202 and push the disinfectant through a spray tube 206 that disperses the liquid disinfectant onto carts that are passing over the reservoir 204. Liquid disinfectant that either does not engage a shopping cart or drips off of the shopping cart passes through holes in the floor structure 36 and a hole 208 defined by the reservoir 204 to be collected in the reservoir 204. In other respects, the system 200 is substantially identical to the system 140 and will not be described further.
It should be appreciated that modular unit 182 could be used in place of either or both of first and second modular units 198A, 198B. Further, if modular unit 182 is used in place of modular unit 198B, the system 200 is modified so as be substantially identical to the liquid disinfectant transport system 184.
With reference to
The modular unit 222 comprises a pathway defining surface 228 that defines a pathway 230. The pathway of 230 of modular unit 222 is capable of being readily aligned with the pathway associated another modular unit (as exemplified in
The modular unit 222 comprises: (a) an enclosure 238 for shielding a shopping cart from environmental factors that could adversely affect the application of warm air to a shopping cart; (b) a plenum 240 for receiving warm air from the heater-blower device 226; and (c) a plurality of outlet nozzles 242 that receive warm air from the plenum 242 and direct the warm air onto a shopping cart. The plenum 242 assures that each of the nozzles 242 receives warm air at substantially the same pressure. The enclosure 238, plenum 242, and plurality of outlet nozzles 242 are each symmetrical about the lateral plane 234. Further, the modular unit 222 is a one-piece plastic structure that provides the enclosure 238, plenum 242, and plurality of nozzles 242.
The cabinet 224 houses components of the heater-blower device 226 and is attached to the modular unit 222 at mounting points 244A-244C.
The heater-blower device 226 is comprised of a blower 246, a heater 248, and a duct 250 for directing heated and blown air into the plenum 240. The blower 246 is comprised of an electric motor 252, a fan 254, and a fan belt 256 that couples the motor 252 to the fan 254. In operation, the blower 246 drives air across the heater 248, which heats the air, and through the duct 250 into the plenum 240. The plenum 240 then provides the pressurized and warm air to the plurality of nozzles 242, which direct the air onto any shopping cart that is in the passageway 230.
It should be appreciated that other kinds of treatment systems are feasible. For instance a treatment system that irradiates a shopping cart with electromagnetic radiation, such as ultraviolet light, is feasible.
As should be appreciated, a treatment system can be combined with other treatment systems to form a treatment station, such as treatment station 22. If a treatment station is comprised of two treatment systems, the systems can be modular and have symmetrical interfaces that allow the systems to be concatenated in different orders. For example, the treatment system 22 is comprised of: (a) a liquid disinfectant delivery system comprised of modular units 100A-100B, enclosure 130A, and related components; and (b) a drying station comprised of modular unit 100C, enclosure 130B and related components. As shown in
The following describes a number of embodiments of a treatment station comprised of two or more treatment systems. Each system is comprised of at least one modular unit, an enclosure, and related components that are not integral to a modular unit. Each modular unit has interface symmetry. As a consequence, each treatment system has interface symmetry.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
As can be appreciated from the foregoing, treatment stations that have two or more recycling liquid disinfectant delivery systems and/or two or more non-recycling liquid disinfectant delivery systems are feasible. Further, treatment stations with two or more dryer systems are feasible. Typically, at least one of the dryer systems would be located between two liquid disinfectant delivery systems. If open, air-drying of treated shopping carts is feasible, a treatment station without a dryer system is also feasible.
With reference to
The removal of used liquid disinfectant from a liquid delivery system and replenishment of the system with new liquid disinfectant is occasionally necessary. To facilitate removal of used liquid disinfectant from a recycling liquid disinfectant delivery system, a diverter valve is placed on the outlet side of the pump so that the liquid disinfectant can be diverted away from the dispersal device and into a suitable container. With reference to
Often the wheels of shopping carts pick up particles, such as rock pebbles, from the parking lot and similar area. The particles frequently damage the floor of the store. With reference to
With reference to
In certain applications, the shopping carts that are to be processed by a system for disinfecting shopping carts may be particularly dirty. For instance, shopping carts may become caked with mud when used to transport goods to automobiles located in dirt parking lots that become muddy after a rain or snow storm. In such situations, it is desirable to remove the mud or other debris from the shopping cart and to do so before subjecting the cart to a disinfecting treatment. For such applications, the system for disinfecting shopping carts further comprises a power wash system before the first disinfectant system. On embodiment of the power wash system comprises a reservoir, a hand held spray wand for use by an operator, and pressurization system to pressurize the water for the spray wand. In another embodiment, a power spray station positioned adjacent to the transport system is used to power wash carts as they move along the transport system. For cold weather applications, the water can be treated with anti-freeze.
