US 11,985,997 B2
Automated sanitization of robotic food equipment using antimicrobial light
Jeremy B. Finison, Rural Hall, NC (US)
Assigned to Ecolab USA Inc., Saint Paul, MN (US)
Filed by Ecolab USA Inc., St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed on Nov. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/101,449.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/940,543, filed on Nov. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0153529 A1, May 27, 2021
Int. Cl. A23L 3/00 (2006.01); A23L 3/28 (2006.01); A61L 2/08 (2006.01); A61L 2/10 (2006.01); A61L 2/24 (2006.01)
CPC A23L 3/28 (2013.01) [A23L 3/001 (2013.01); A23L 3/003 (2013.01); A61L 2/084 (2013.01); A61L 2/10 (2013.01); A61L 2/24 (2013.01); A23V 2002/00 (2013.01); A61L 2202/11 (2013.01); A61L 2202/122 (2013.01); A61L 2202/14 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
an antimicrobial lighting fixture including:
an enclosure forming a sanitization chamber; and
one or more antimicrobial lighting segments, each antimicrobial lighting segment including one or more elements, wherein each element emits light within the sanitization chamber at a wavelength, irradiance, and direction sufficient to inactivate one or more microorganisms on a target surface within the sanitization chamber; and
an automated food preparation apparatus including:
at least one mechanical component controllable to prepare at least one food item and comprising at least one food contact surface; and
a controller comprising computer readable instructions configured to be executed on one or more processors to control the at least one mechanical component to move at least one food contact surface from a food preparation position to a sanitization position within the sanitization chamber,
wherein the antimicrobial lighting fixture controls each antimicrobial light segment based on food preparation information received from the automated food preparation apparatus.