Abstract

The present invention provides a proximity detection system (10) for detecting an object (O) in a detection volume (V) comprising: a first and a second boundary member (11,12), defining a plane (P); The first boundary member (11) facing and movable relative to the second boundary member (12) and; the first boundary member (11) comprising a detector (20); the detector (20) comprising one or more directional emitters (30) and one or more directional receivers (40); wherein the one or more emitters (30) are positioned facing an acute angle α to the plane P, measured in the horizontal plane, to direct electromagnetic radiation at an angle α to the plane P and the one or more receivers (40) are positioned facing at an acute angle θ relative to the plane P.

IPC Classes  ?

• B66B 13/26 - Safety devices in passenger lifts, not otherwise provided for, for preventing trapping of passengers between closing doors
• G01S 17/04 - Systems determining the presence of a target

Goods & Services

Apparatus and installations for heating; Apparatus and installations for drying; Drying apparatus and installations; Hand driers; Hair driers; Heaters; Hot air curtains; Hot air blowers; Air purification machines; Air purifiers; Purification machines (Air -); Air purification apparatus; Air purification installations; Air purifying apparatus; Air sterilizers; Air sterilising apparatus; Sterilizers; Room fans; Room heaters; Hand drying apparatus [heat drying]; Drying apparatus; Hand drying apparatus incorporating blowers.

Goods & Services

Apparatus and installations for heating; Apparatus and installations for drying; Drying apparatus and installations; Hand driers; Hair driers; Heaters; Hot air curtains; Hot air blowers; Air purification machines; Air purifiers; Purification machines (Air -); Air purification apparatus; Air purification installations; Air purifying apparatus; Air sterilizers; Air sterilising apparatus; Sterilizers; Room fans; Room heaters; Hand drying apparatus [heat drying]; Drying apparatus; Chimney blowers; Air fryers.

Abstract

The present invention provides a sanitiser (10) for sanitising a user, having a plasma generator (20), for generating a plasma (22), a reservoir (30), for storing plasma (22) generated by the plasma generator 20 and having one or more inlets (32) connected to the plasma generator (20) and a first and second outlet (34), (36). One or more fluid movers (40), (42) cause movement of the plasma (2) from the first and second outlets under the control of a controller (50) such as to cause the flow of plasma (22) out of one or other or both of said outlets (34), (36).

IPC Classes  ?

• A61L 2/14 - Plasma, i.e. ionised gases
• A47K 10/48 - Drying by means of hot air
• A61L 2/00 - Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lensesAccessories therefor

Abstract

The present invention provides a sanitiser (10) for sanitising a user, having a plasma generator (20), for generating a plasma (22), a reservoir (30), for storing plasma (22) generated by the plasma generator 20 and having one or more inlets (32) connected to the plasma generator (20) and a first and second outlet (34), (36). One or more fluid movers (40), (42) cause movement of the plasma (2) from the first and second outlets under the control of a controller (50) such as to cause the flow of plasma (22) out of one or other or both of said outlets (34), (36).

IPC Classes  ?

• A61L 9/22 - Ionisation
• A61L 2/24 - Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• A61L 2/14 - Plasma, i.e. ionised gases

Abstract

The present invention provides a sanitiser 10 for sanitising a user, having a plasma generator 20, for generating a plasma 22, a reservoir 30, for storing plasma 22 generated by the plasma generator 20 and having one or more inlets 32 connected to the plasma generator 20 and a first and second outlet 34, 36. One or more fluid movers 40, 42 cause movement of the plasma 2 from the first and second outlets under the control of a controller 50 such as to cause the flow of plasma 22 out of one or other or both of said outlets 34, 36.

IPC Classes  ?

• A61L 2/00 - Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lensesAccessories therefor
• A47K 10/48 - Drying by means of hot air
• A61L 2/14 - Plasma, i.e. ionised gases

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention provides a sliding door monitoring system comprising a time-of-flight ranging sensor (10) and a retroreflector (80), wherein the time-of-flight ranging sensor comprises a transmitter of electromagnetic radiation and a receiver of electromagnetic radiation, and the retroreflector is positioned to reflect electromagnetic radiation from the transmitter to the receiver. In another aspect, the present invention also provides a method of monitoring a sliding door in a door opening, wherein the method comprises transmitting electromagnetic radiation across a gap in the door opening, reflecting the electromagnetic radiation from across the gap, receiving the reflected electromagnetic radiation on the same side of the gap as its transmission, measuring a time of flight of the electromagnetic radiation from its transmission to its reception and, optionally,an amount of the reflected electromagnetic radiation, and determining a size of the gap from both the time of flight and the amount of reflected electromagnetic radiation thus measured.

IPC Classes  ?

• B66B 13/22 - Operation of door or gate contacts
• B66B 13/18 - Door or gate locking devices controlled or primarily controlled by condition of cage, e.g. movement or position without manually-operable devices for completing locking or unlocking of doors
• B66B 13/24 - Safety devices in passenger lifts, not otherwise provided for, for preventing trapping of passengers

Goods & Services

Electrical and electronic equipment, namely, electric controllers for controlling operation of elevator doors; electronic and signaling apparatus and instruments, namely, electronic speech annunciator to communicate to elevator users; data processing equipment and computers; computer hardware and firmware for detection of persons in elevator doorways and for sending speech messages to persons in elevator; computer software for detection of persons in elevator doorways and for sending speech messages to persons in elevators and lift installations and control equipment therefor; parts and fittings for all the aforesaid goods

Goods & Services

Electrical and electronic equipment, namely, electric controllers for controlling operation of elevator doors; electronic and signaling apparatus and instruments, namely, electronic speech annunciator to communicate to elevator users; data processing equipment and computers; computer hardware and firmware for detection of persons in elevator doorways and for sending speech messages to persons in elevator; computer software for detection of persons in elevator doorways and for sending speech messages to persons in elevators and lift installations and control equipment therefor; parts and fittings for all the aforesaid goods

Abstract

A method and sensing apparatus for elevators that detects an intrusion into a volume defined relative to a path across an opening. The sensing apparatus has a closure member for the opening that can be controllably displaced to define a gap in the opening. A first group of at least two emitters of electromagnetic signals located on either the closure member or a boundary member are directed into the volume and a second group of at least two receivers for electromagnetic signals located on the opposite side of the gap to the emitters. The method causes at least one of the emitters to emit a primary beam along a first axis into the volume, allows at least one of the receivers to receive a secondary beam of radiation, and enables one or more of the receivers to provide an output signal into the network.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01V 8/20 - Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers using multiple transmitters or receivers
• B66B 13/26 - Safety devices in passenger lifts, not otherwise provided for, for preventing trapping of passengers between closing doors

Abstract

A method of, and apparatus for, detecting an intrusion into a volume defined relative to a path across an opening along which path a closure member for the opening can be controllably displaced to define a gap in the opening, the gap being bounded on one side by the closure member and on the other side to the one side by a boundary member; the volume including at least one threshold region on at least one side of the path; the volume having as a base the threshold region and rising above the threshold region; a first group of at least two emitters of electromagnetic signals located on either the closure member or the boundary and directed into the volume and a second group of at least two receivers for electromagnetic signals located on the opposite side of the gap to the emitters; emissions from the emitters being directed into the volume but not directly towards the receivers; the emitters and receivers forming part of a network including processing means which form a compound sensor for use in monitoring operation of the closure member and for defining sensitivity to an intrusion into a region or regions of the volume; each emitter being adapted to direct a primary beam of e.m. radiation into the volume; each receiver being adapted to receive a secondary beam generated by the reflection of a primary beam from a target intruding into the volume; the method comprising the steps of: causing at least one of the emitters to emit a primary beam along a first axis into the volume; allowing for at least one of the receivers to receive a secondary beam of radiation along a second axis from the volume; the secondary beam being generated by reflection of a primary beam from a target intruding into the volume; the secondary beam being generated in the volume by way of, but not constituted by, the or any primary beam from an emitter;and enabling one or more of the receivers to provide an output signal into the network of the compound receiver characteristic of the, or each, secondary beam detected by at least one of the receivers in the second group;and providing that where the compound sensor serves to establish: that when an excess gain ratio is relatively small in an output signal from a single receiver caused by reception by the receiver of a secondary beam and the size of the gap is relatively large then the compound sensor functions so as to increase sensitivity of detection existing within a given predetermined region of the volume by comparison with sensitivity in another region or regions in the volume; that when an excess gain ratio is relatively large in an output signal from a single receiver caused by reception by the receiver of a secondary beam and the size of the gap is reducing or small then the sensor functions so as to increase sensitivity of detection within more than one region of the volume by comparison with sensitivity in another region or regions in the volume.

IPC Classes  ?

• B66B 13/26 - Safety devices in passenger lifts, not otherwise provided for, for preventing trapping of passengers between closing doors

Abstract

A method of hazard highlighting for drawing visual attention to the alignment of first and second members, the first member having a first plane working surface and a first working edge; the second member having a second plane working surface and a second working edge; the first and second working edges being separated by a working clearance; the first and second members being displaceable relative to one another wherein, in a first operating configuration, the first and second plane working surfaces lie in a common plane with the first and second working edges juxtaposed with the working clearances separated by a minimum distance; and, in a second configuration, the first and second plane working surfaces do not lie in the common plane and the first and second working edges are displaced from one another to a greater or lesser degree with the working edges being separated by a distance greater than minimum; the method including the step of projecting a light ray or pattern from a location associated with the first working surface towards the second working surface and across the working clearance so that to an observer situated above the first and second working surfaces and in the first configuration the projected light ray or pattern appears as a continuous image extending across both working surfaces; and in the second configuration the projected light ray or pattern becomes an image visually interrupted in the vicinity of the working clearance by comparison with the continuous image of the first configuration.

IPC Classes  ?

• B66B 5/02 - Applications of checking, fault-correcting or safety devices in elevators responsive to abnormal operating conditions
• B66B 13/24 - Safety devices in passenger lifts, not otherwise provided for, for preventing trapping of passengers
• B66B 13/30 - Constructional features of doors or gates

Abstract

A drier unit comprising a housing with an air Inlet and an air outlet, a flow duct through the housing linking the air inlet to the air outlet; a fan disposed in the flow duct so as to displace air along the duct from the inlet to the outlet characterised in that the air outlet includes more than one outlet aperture, each aperture being directed to provide for the passage of air into a drying region adjacent the housing, air flow from one aperture being caused to interact with air flow from another aperture to generate swirling of air in the drying region. The invention further envisages means providing for air flow through the apertures to be coupled so that in the event of one or some of the apertures being blocked flow through the remaining unblocked aperture or apertures is increased.

IPC Classes  ?

• A47K 10/48 - Drying by means of hot air

Abstract

A drier information system is provided including display means relating to a given region of the system which means serves, at least while a drying cycle is in operation, to provide a visual display indicating at least one of the following parameters: the extent of the region; a boundary of the region; direction or example of manipulation of a pair of hands or other article while in the region to provide for a preferred drying sequence. The visual display can represent the parameters as a two dimensional array within or adjacent the region. Alternatively the visual display can represent the parameters as a virtual or actual three dimensional array within or adjacent the region.

IPC Classes  ?

• F26B 19/00 - Machines or apparatus for drying solid materials or objects not covered by groups