Ecolab USA Inc.

3M Innovative Properties Company

Paul Dominic Christian

Paul R Kraus

Conor Sylvester Smith

Victor Fuk-Pong Man

Derrick Richard Anderson

Rachel Marie McGinness

Elizabeth Minhee Han

Charles Allen Hodge

Amanda Ruth Blattner

Benjamin Crew

Xinyu C Huang

Rachel Marie Mcginness

Altony J Miralles

Alissa R Ellingson

Meghan Babcock

Nancy H Phillips

Jonathan Charles Butwinick

Peter A Voss

Teresa C Podtburg

Steven R Hatch

Amani Babekir

Gina McDowell

Anna Starobin

Victor Fuk Pong Man

Image classification is used to dynamically control one or more wash parameters in an automated cleaning machine. An imaging device installed in the wash chamber of the cleaning machine captures one or more image(s) of articles to be cleaned at various times throughout a cleaning process. A computing device analyzes the captured image(s) to classify the images as to an article type and a rack volume. Based on the article type classification and the rack volume, the computing device dynamically controls one or more parameters of the cleaning process to achieve a satisfactory cleaning and/or sanitizing result.

Control of cleaning machine cycles using machine vision

Systems and/or methods for the monitoring and/or control of thermal sanitization in automated cleaning machines are described. A cleaning machine controller may predict a number of heat unit equivalents that will be delivered during a cleaning process based on a sump temperature difference (i.e., a change in the temperature of the cleaning solution in the sump) experienced at or near the beginning of the cleaning process. One or more cleaning process parameters may be adjusted and/or controlled based on the sump temperature difference in order to ensure that a target number of heat unit equivalents are delivered in order to achieve thermal sanitization of the wares subjected to the cleaning process.

Monitoring and control of thermal sanitization in automated cleaning machines

An automated cleaning machine may include one or more short cleaning cycles in which the duration of a cleaning cycle is shortened relative to the duration of a default cleaning cycle. During a short cleaning cycle, other cleaning cycle parameters may also be adjusted to ensure that the articles subjected to the short cleaning cycle are adequately cleaned and sanitized. For example, the wash temperature, rinse temperature, and/or cleaning product amounts or concentrations, may be adjusted to account for the shortened duration of the cleaning cycle. The automated cleaning machine may further include one or more short cycle mode(s) during which short cleaning cycle parameters are used and one or more default cycle mode(s) during which default cleaning cycle parameters are used.

Automated cleaning machine processing using shortened cycle times

An antimicrobial lighting system includes an antimicrobial lighting array that emits antimicrobial light within one or more antimicrobial wavelength ranges to inactivate one or more microorganisms on common touch surfaces. The common touch surfaces may include, for example, restaurant menus, airline safety instructions, pamphlets, instruction cards, or other common touch objects having a generally flat form factor, or that can be reduced to a flat form factor. Application of the antimicrobial light to the common touch surfaces may improve hygiene of such common touch surfaces and may help maintain microbial growth below acceptable levels.

Microbial decontamination of common touch articles

An antimicrobial lighting system is used to reduce microbial growth on surfaces in or on air conditioning and/or heating equipment. In some examples, antimicrobial light within one or more antimicrobial wavelength ranges is applied to inactivate one or more microorganisms on target surface(s) within or on a packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC). The antimicrobial light may include light within a first antimicrobial wavelength range and/or light within a second antimicrobial wavelength range. The antimicrobial lighting system may include an array of individually controllable antimicrobial light segments. An array controller may individually control activation of the one or more antimicrobial light segments based on the status information or commands received from a PTAC controller or from an external computing device.

Reducing microbial growth on packaged terminal air conditioners

Experimental color data obtained from a plurality of cleaning process verification coupons is used to determine optimized cleaning process parameters in an automated cleaning machine. Color data may also be obtained from cleaning process verification coupon(s) to verify the efficacy of a real-world cleaning processes in an automated cleaning machine and/or to obtain one or more suggested corrective action(s) in the event the cleaning process yields an unsatisfactory cleaning result. Based on the optimized cleaning process parameters, an automated cleaning machine may automatically adjust one or more cleaning process parameters to correct for non-optimized parameters sensed during execution of a cleaning process to help prevent an unsatisfactory cleaning result.

Verification of cleaning process efficacy

Solid rinsing, cleaning and/or sanitizing compositions for various applications are provided. In particular, solid compositions include a complex of urea and an acid having desirable storage stability previously unavailable in solid urea/acid compositions. Stable solid compositions are disclosed and methods of making the same to overcome conventional limitations associated with forming kinetically and thermodynamically stable solids that utilize urea/acid compositions.

Mechanism of urea/solid acid interaction under storage conditions and storage stable solid compositions comprising urea and acid

A lighting array including one or more antimicrobial light segments configured to emit light sufficient to inactivate one or more microorganisms at a target surface may be installed within identified contamination zones of food or beverage preparation, processing, storing or packaging equipment or machinery. In an ice machine, for example, an array controller is configured for communication with an ice machine controller to receive ice machine status information signals. The status information signals are usable by the array controller to determine cycle, state, and/or usage information associated with the ice machine. The array controller may individually control activation of the one or more antimicrobial light segments based on the status information signals received from the machine controller to achieve inactivation of one or more microorganisms on target surfaces within the machine.

Reducing microbial growth on food preparation, storage, or processing apparatus

Solid rinsing, cleaning and/or sanitizing compositions for various applications are provided. In particular, solid compositions include a complex of urea and an acid having desireable storage stability previously unavailable in solid urea/acid compositions. Stable solid compositions are disclosed and methods of making the same to overcome conventional limitations associated with with forming kinetically and thermodynamically stable solids that utilize urea/acid compositions.

Alkaline sprayable aqueous compositions for cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting are disclosed. In particular, the sprayable compositions include an inverse emulsion polymer for modifying the viscosity of the composition and provide numerous benefits over dispersion polymer compositions used for rheology modification to reduce misting and respiratory inhalation of cleaning compositions. Compositions and methods of cleaning using the compositions having reduced amounts of airborne particulates of the composition during spray applications are provided.

Reduced misting alkaline and neutral cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting compositions via the use of high molecular weight water-in-oil emulsion polymers

Acidic sprayable aqueous compositions for cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting are disclosed. In particular, the sprayable compositions include an inverse emulsion polymer for modifying the viscosity of the composition and provide numerous benefits over dispersion polymer compositions used for rheology modification to reduce misting and respiratory inhalation of cleaning compositions. Compositions and methods of cleaning using the compositions having reduced amounts of airborne particulates of the composition during spray applications are provided.

Growing community of inventors

Apple Valley, MN, United States of America

Paul Dominic Christian