Patent Grant
9565870
This disclosure relates generally to a dispensing nozzle with an ultrasound activator for dispensers of free-flowing materials, e.g., free-flowing food dispensers, such as beverage dispensers for cafeterias, restaurants (including fast food restaurants), theatres, convenience stores, gas stations, and other entertainment and/or food service venues.
Use of ultrasound for pasteurization and sterilization of liquids is known. For example, in an existing method ultrasonic waves are emitted into a fluid with the goal of sterilizing the fluid, and killing and inactivating organisms within the fluid. In existing methods, ultrasonic waves are typically emitted into the laminar flow of the treated liquid, with an ultrasound transducer being mounted on a tank wall, where the laminar flow is arranged.
However, use of ultrasound treatment of fluids for their sterilization or pasteurization inside a dispenser nozzle presents different challenges than those addressed by existing apparatuses and methods. It would be desirable to achieve high efficiency of cavitation excitation in a liquid flow and a more compact design so that ultrasound treatment of fluids can be used for sterilization or pasteurization inside a dispenser nozzle.
In one aspect of the disclosure a dispensing nozzle comprising an ultrasound emitter is provided. The ultrasound emitter includes a wall, wherein the wall defines a channel. The ultrasound emitter further includes an inlet at a side of the ultrasound emitter. The ultrasound emitter comprises a top and a bottom, wherein the bottom of the ultrasound emitter has a conical outlet. In an embodiment, the conical outlet has an outer diameter that decreases in size in a direction towards an outlet opening defined by the conical outlet. The channel extends from the inlet to the conical outlet. The dispensing nozzle further comprises a tube, the tube configured to deliver free-flowing material to the inlet of the ultrasound emitter. The ultrasound emitter is configured to deliver ultrasound waves to the free-flowing material flowing through channel.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiments thereof which are to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
An aseptic nozzle with an ultrasound applicator or emitter for a dispenser for a free-flowing material is disclosed in various embodiments of the disclosure. The disclosure provides a compact design that can be integrated within a dispenser nozzle and high efficiency of cavitation excitation in the free-flowing material to significantly reduce bacteria contamination of the dispensed product. The free-flowing material may be any material that freely flows, and thus comprises free-flowing foods, including but not limited to beverages and beverage components.
In order to eliminate potential risk of bacterial contamination of a beverage in a beverage dispenser, a nozzle with an integrated ultrasound emitter is provided. Bacterial contamination may result either from inherent contamination of the beverage component(s) or from the contamination in the inner volume of the dispensing machine.
In an aspect of the disclosure, channel 106 may have a substantially uniform diameter. In an embodiment, ultrasound emitter 102 may have a wall 110, the wall 110 comprising a portion 117 wherein the thickness of the portion 117 reduces in a direction towards the outlet edge 109 of conical outlet 105 to increase the mechanical activation of the beverage flow. At conical outlet 105, cavitation in the passing flow may be induced. The cavitation may lead to physical destruction of microorganisms, thus reducing microbial contamination of the dispensed beverage.
A protective collar 104 may be provided to reduce ability of a consumer to touch conical outlet 105 of ultrasound emitter 102 by hand, as well as to prevent a beverage cup or glass from touching conical outlet 105, thereby avoiding contamination of conical outlet 105 and to shield the consumer from ultrasound energy. The protective collar 104 may comprise a longitudinal length 111 that is greater than a longitudinal length 112 of section 118 of wall 110. Protective collar 104 may have at least a portion 119 having a conical shape. As shown in
Protective collar 104 may define an opening 113 positioned underneath and aligned with opening 114 of the conical outlet 105.
Arrow 122 shows the direction of flow of a free-flowing material or liquid through tube 103. Arrow 123 shows the direction of flow of a free-flowing material or liquid exiting outlet opening 114 defined by the conical outlet 105.
Another embodiment of the disclosure is shown in
In accordance with the present disclosure, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the dispensing nozzle 200 may be configured to deliver a number of different beverages and/or beverage components at different times as may be desired. For example, dispensing nozzle 200 may be configured to receive a first beverage from tube 103, subject the first beverage to ultrasound treatment by the emitter 102, and deliver the treated first beverage into a first cup or glass placed under dispensing nozzle 200. At a later time, dispensing nozzle 200 may receive a second beverage from tube 203, subject the second beverage to ultrasound treatment by emitter 102, and deliver the treated second beverage into a second cup or glass placed under dispensing nozzle 200.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that in accordance with the present disclosure, the dispensing nozzle 200 may be configured receive a first beverage component from tube 103 and receive a second beverage component from tube 203 at the same time or relatively the same time to be mixed with the first beverage component in dispensing nozzle 200, subject the first and second beverage components to ultrasound treatment at the same time or relatively same time, and deliver the treated first and second components into a cup or glass placed under dispensing nozzle 200 at the same time or relatively same time. In this embodiment, multiple inlets may deliver different beverage components, and these different beverage components may be mixed as they pass through nozzle 200. In this embodiment, applied ultrasound excitation provided by emitter 102 may provide increased mixing of the components than without the applied ultrasound excitation provided by emitter 102.
Arrow 122 shows the direction of flow of a free-flowing material or liquid through tube 103. Arrow 222 shows the direction of flow of a free-flowing material or liquid through tube 203. Arrow 123 shows the direction of flow of a free-flowing material or liquid exiting outlet opening 114 defined by the conical outlet 105.
In an aspect of the disclosure, a dispensing nozzle comprising an ultrasound emitter is provided. The ultrasound emitter may include a wall, wherein the wall defines a channel. The ultrasound emitter may further include an inlet at a side of the ultrasound emitter. The ultrasound emitter may also have a top and a bottom, wherein the bottom of the ultrasound emitter has a conical outlet. In an embodiment, the conical outlet may have an outer diameter that decreases in size in a direction towards an outlet opening defined by the conical outlet. The channel may extend from the inlet to the conical outlet. The dispensing nozzle may further comprise a tube, the tube configured to deliver free-flowing material to the inlet of the ultrasound emitter. The ultrasound emitter may be configured to deliver ultrasound waves to the free-flowing material flowing through channel.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the dispensing nozzle may comprise an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer may be configured to generate ultrasound waves. The ultrasound transducer may be coupled to the ultrasound emitter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the ultrasound transducer may be selected from the group consisting of a magnetostriction-based transducer and a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, an opening defined by the inlet of the ultrasound emitter may be provided, wherein the opening is substantially perpendicular to an opening defined by the conical outlet of the ultrasound emitter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the inlet of the ultrasound emitter may be placed at a position that corresponds to a node of ultrasound waves delivered by the ultrasound emitter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the conical outlet of the ultrasound emitter may be placed at a position that corresponds to an anti-node of ultrasound waves delivered by the ultrasound emitter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the inlet of the ultrasound emitter is placed at a position that corresponds to a node of ultrasound waves delivered by the ultrasound emitter, and wherein the conical outlet of the ultrasound emitter is placed at a position that corresponds to an anti-node of ultrasound waves delivered by the ultrasound emitter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the ultrasound emitter may be configured to induce cavitation in a free-flowing material passing through the conical outlet, the cavitation sufficient to destroy microorganisms and reduce microbial contamination of the free-flowing material dispensed from the dispensing nozzle.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the channel may be substantially uniform diameter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the dispensing nozzle may comprise a protective collar. The protective collar may define an opening. The protective collar may have a longitudinal length. The longitudinal length of the protective collar may be greater than a longitudinal length of a portion of the wall that defines the channel.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the protective collar may define an opening positioned underneath and aligned with the outlet opening defined by the conical outlet of the ultrasound emitter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the protective collar may comprise a portion having an upper section and a lower section, the protective collar tapering from the upper section to the lower section.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a dispensing nozzle having an ultrasound emitter may be provided, and the dispensing nozzle may have more than one inlet. The ultrasound emitter may include a wall that defines a channel. The ultrasound emitter may have at least a first inlet at a first side of the ultrasound emitter and at least a second inlet at a second side of the ultrasound emitter. The ultrasound emitter may also have a top and a bottom, wherein the bottom of the ultrasound emitter has a conical outlet. In an embodiment, the conical outlet may have an outer diameter that decreases in size in a direction towards an outlet opening defined by the conical outlet. The channel may extend from each of the at least first inlet and the at least second inlet of the ultrasound emitter to the conical outlet. The dispensing nozzle may further comprise a first tube, the first tube configured to deliver free-flowing material to the at least first inlet of the ultrasound emitter, and a second tube, the second tube configured to deliver a free-flowing material to the at least second inlet of the ultrasound emitter. The ultrasound emitter may be configured to deliver ultrasound waves to the free-flowing material flowing through channel.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the dispensing nozzle may comprise an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer may be configured to generate ultrasound waves. The ultrasound transducer may be coupled to the ultrasound emitter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the ultrasound transducer may be selected from the group consisting of a magnetostriction-based transducer and a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, an opening defined by the inlet of the ultrasound emitter may be provided, wherein the opening is substantially perpendicular to an opening defined by the conical outlet of the ultrasound emitter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the inlet of the ultrasound emitter may be placed at a position that corresponds to a node of ultrasound waves delivered by the ultrasound emitter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the conical outlet of the ultrasound emitter may be placed at a position that corresponds to an anti-node of ultrasound waves delivered by the ultrasound emitter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the inlet of the ultrasound emitter is placed at a position that corresponds to a node of ultrasound waves delivered by the ultrasound emitter, and wherein the conical outlet of the ultrasound emitter is placed at a position that corresponds to an anti-node of ultrasound waves delivered by the ultrasound emitter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the ultrasound emitter may be configured to induce cavitation in a free-flowing material passing through the conical outlet, the cavitation sufficient to destroy microorganisms and reduce microbial contamination of the free-flowing material dispensed from the dispensing nozzle.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the channel may be substantially uniform diameter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the dispensing nozzle may comprise a protective collar. The protective collar may define an opening. The protective collar may have a longitudinal length. The longitudinal length of the protective collar may be greater than a longitudinal length of a portion of the wall that defines the channel.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the protective collar may define an opening positioned underneath and aligned with the outlet opening defined by the conical outlet of the ultrasound emitter.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the protective collar may comprise a portion having an upper section and a lower section, the protective collar tapering from the upper section to the lower section.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a method is provided that comprises receiving free-flowing material at an inlet of an ultrasound emitter of a dispensing nozzle. The method comprises emitting ultrasound waves by the ultrasound emitter. The method comprises subjecting the free-flowing material to the ultrasound waves received in the ultrasound emitter. The subjecting may comprise subjecting the free-flowing material to the ultrasound waves at a node of the ultrasound waves and followed by subjecting the free-flowing food to the ultrasound waves at an anti-node of the ultrasound waves. The method may further comprise dispensing the free-flowing material through an outlet of the ultrasound emitter of the dispensing nozzle.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, in the above the method, the node of the ultrasound waves may be at the inlet of the ultrasound emitter of the dispensing nozzle.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, in the above the method, the anti-node of the ultrasound waves may be at the outlet of the ultrasound emitter of the dispensing nozzle.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, in the above the method, the node of the ultrasound waves may be at the inlet of the ultrasound emitter of the dispensing nozzle, and the anti-node of the ultrasound waves may be at the outlet of the ultrasound emitter of the dispensing nozzle.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, in the above the method, the free-flowing material comprises a food.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, in the above the method, the food comprises a beverage component.
As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the above described embodiments may be configured to be compatible with fountain system requirements, and can accommodate a wide variety of fountain offerings, including but not limited beverages known under any PepsiCo branded name, such as Pepsi-Cola®, and custom beverage offerings. The embodiments described herein offer speed of service at least and fast or faster than conventional systems. The embodiments described herein may be configured to be monitored, including monitored remotely, with respect to operation and supply levels. The embodiments described herein are economically viable and can be constructed with off-the-shelf components, which may be modified in accordance with the disclosures herein.
Those of skill in the art will recognize that in accordance with the disclosure any of the features and/or options in one embodiment or example can be combined with any of the features and/or options of another embodiment or example.
The disclosure herein has been described and illustrated with reference to the embodiments of the figures, but it should be understood that the features of the disclosure are susceptible to modification, alteration, changes or substitution without departing significantly from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, the dimensions, number, size and shape of the various components may be altered to fit specific applications. Accordingly, the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein are for illustrative purposes only and the disclosure is not limited except by the following claims and their equivalents.
This application is a non-provisional of and claims priority to provisional U.S. Application No. 61/554,299, filed Nov. 1, 2011, and entitled “Dispensing Nozzle with an Ultrasound Activator,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.
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