| 摘要 |
Methods and apparatus for sterilizing or disinfecting irregularly-shaped objects. The invention is directed to an apparatus including a substantially light-tight housing (1), at least one ultraviolet light-emitting lamp (5) disposed within the housing (1), and a drum (3) to change the orientation of the object in the housing so that light emitted by the at least one lamp (5) contacts substantially all of the exterior surfaces of the object. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a batch process that includes enclosing an object within a substantially light-tight housing, and changing the orientation of the object in the housing while irradiating the object with ultraviolet light so that the light contacts all exterior surfaces of the object. A further embodiment is directed to an apparatus having a mechanism for moving the object in the housing, wherein the mechanism forms at least part of the light seal. Another embodiment is directed to a method including the steps of introducing the object into the housing, causing the object to move through the housing, detecting the object with a sensor, and activating a lamp based on a detection of the object, the lamp illuminating the object as it moves through the housing.
|
