Shopping cart sanitizing system

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method for removing contaminates from the surface of a shopping cart such as a grocery cart. The method includes subjecting the cart to multiple stages of disinfection, including washing, sanitizing, and drying stages. A shopping cart is subjected to these stages by conveying the cart on a conveyor system past a plurality of nozzles, which are configured to provide a disinfecting fluid such as water, sanitizer or air.

1 . A method for sanitizing a shopping cart, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of stages, wherein at least one of the plurality of stages disinfects a surface of the shopping cart;    providing a conveyer for transporting the shopping cart through the plurality of stages;    providing a processor that operatively controls the conveyer;    providing a plurality of sensors that sense the location of the shopping cart; and    adjusting the movement of the conveyer belt and the location of the shopping cart based on information received from the sensors.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising, removing debris from the shopping cart surface.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2  further comprising, applying a drying agent to the surface of the shopping cart as at least one of the plurality of stages.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the processor further controls the plurality of stages according to the position of the shopping cart.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyer propels the shopping cart with radially positioned ribs of sufficient length that contact the shopping cart.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of stages functions on a plurality of shopping carts simultaneously.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the disinfecting stage disinfects the surface of the shopping cart in accordance with an ambient temperature.  
   
   
       8 . A method for sanitizing a shopping cart, the method comprising: 
 directing a fluid at the shopping cart;    transporting the shopping cart from a first end of an enclosure to a second end of the enclosure using a conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt is operatively controlled by a processor;    detecting a location of the shopping cart using a plurality of sensors and sending a signal to the processor indicating the location of the shopping cart in the enclosure; and    wherein the processor starts and stops the conveyer belt based on the signal received from the plurality of sensors.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the fluid is a least one of a sanitizing fluid, a washing fluid, a rinsing fluid, or air.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the stages is a disinfecting stage.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the stages is a cleaning stage.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the stages is a drying stage.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the processor controls the activity of at least one of the plurality of stages, based on the location of the shopping cart.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the conveyer propels the shopping cart with radially positioned ribs of sufficient length to contact the shopping cart.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a user can set the speed of the conveyer.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein a user can interact with the processor through an input device.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the disinfecting stage disinfects the surface of the shopping cart in accordance with an ambient temperature of the enclosure.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the step of heating the fluid.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of stages functions on a plurality of shopping carts simultaneously.  
   
   
       20 . A method for sanitizing a shopping cart, the method comprising: 
 cleaning, sanitizing, and drying a surface of the shopping cart with a plurality of stages wherein each stage performs a separate activity; wherein one of the plurality of stages ejects a cleaning fluid on a surface of the shopping cart to remove debris; wherein one of the plurality of stages ejects a disinfecting fluid on the surface of the shopping cart; wherein at least a portion of the disinfecting fluid contains a sanitizing agent; and wherein one of the plurality of stages ejects a drying agent on the surface of the cart;    transporting the shopping cart through the plurality of stages using a conveyer; wherein the conveyer propels the shopping cart with radially positioned ribs of sufficient length to contact the shopping cart;    determining a location of the shopping cart in the enclosure using a plurality of sensors; and    starting and stopping the conveyer and the separate activities of the plurality of stages using a processor; wherein the processor starts and stops the conveyer and the separate activities of the plurality of stages based on information received from the plurality of sensors.