US 12,232,676 B2
Method and cleaning device for cleaning items to be cleaned
Bruno Gaus, Offenburg (DE); Thomas Näger, Offenburg (DE); Thomas Peukert, Bühl (DE); Allen Jakway, Zell am Harmersbach (DE); Pamela Kasper, Willstätt (DE); and Werner Röderer, Friesenheim (DE)
Assigned to MEIKO Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG, Offenburg (DE)
Filed by MEIKO Maschinenbau Gmbh & Co. KG, Offenburg (DE)
Filed on Aug. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/391,485.
Application 17/391,485 is a division of application No. 16/410,618, filed on May 13, 2019, granted, now 11,109,736.
Application 16/410,618 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2017/079020, filed on Nov. 13, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2016 222 308.9 (DE), filed on Nov. 14, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0353122 A1, Nov. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. A47L 15/00 (2006.01); A47L 15/24 (2006.01); A47L 15/42 (2006.01); A47L 15/46 (2006.01); A61L 2/18 (2006.01); B08B 3/02 (2006.01); B08B 3/08 (2006.01); B08B 3/10 (2006.01); A61G 9/02 (2006.01); A61L 2/07 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 15/0055 (2013.01) [A47L 15/0049 (2013.01); A47L 15/241 (2013.01); A47L 15/4287 (2013.01); A47L 15/4289 (2013.01); A47L 15/46 (2013.01); A61L 2/18 (2013.01); B08B 3/02 (2013.01); B08B 3/08 (2013.01); B08B 3/10 (2013.01); A47L 15/0076 (2013.01); A47L 2401/023 (2013.01); A47L 2401/11 (2013.01); A47L 2401/12 (2013.01); A47L 2401/14 (2013.01); A47L 2401/20 (2013.01); A47L 2401/34 (2013.01); A47L 2501/04 (2013.01); A47L 2501/05 (2013.01); A47L 2501/06 (2013.01); A47L 2501/07 (2013.01); A47L 2501/20 (2013.01); A47L 2501/24 (2013.01); A47L 2501/30 (2013.01); A61G 9/02 (2013.01); A61L 2/07 (2013.01); A61L 2202/17 (2013.01); B08B 2203/007 (2013.01); B08B 2203/0217 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cleaning device for cleaning items to be cleaned, comprising:
at least one cleaning chamber and at least one applicator for applying at least one cleaning fluid to the items to be cleaned in the at least one cleaning chamber;
two sensors for time-resolved recording of two influencing variables which influence hygienization of the items to be cleaned; and
a controller having a data memory for storing a desired overall hygiene value to be achieved with the cleaning and being configured to receive input and/or data from the sensors, the controller configured to:
(i) record first and second influencing variables which influence hygienization of the items to be cleaned;
(ii) use a first calibration to derive a first hygiene value share from the first influencing variable and use a second calibration to derive a second hygiene value share from the second influencing variable;
(iii) adding the first and second hygiene value shares to determine an expected overall hygiene value at the end of the cleaning;
(iv) compare the expected overall hygiene value with the desired overall hygiene value; and
(v) change at least one of the first and second influencing variables based on the comparison, wherein the at least one of the first and second influencing variables that is configured to be changed is selected from the group consisting of:
a duration of the cleaning;
the temperature of the at least one cleaning fluid and/or the temperature of a rinse fluid;
a mechanical application comprising one or both of a pressure or a flow rate of the at least one cleaning fluid and/or the rinse fluid;
the concentration of at least one disinfectant in the at least one cleaning fluid;
the concentration of at least one detergent in the at least one cleaning fluid; and
the pH of the at least one cleaning fluid.