Dispensing nozzle with an ultrasound activator

摘要

A dispensing nozzle comprising an ultrasound emitter is disclosed. A wall of the ultrasound emitter defines a channel. The ultrasound emitter comprises an inlet, a top and a bottom. The bottom of the ultrasound emitter may comprise a conical outlet. The conical outlet comprises 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 further comprises a tube. The tube may be configured to deliver free-flowing material to the inlet. The ultrasound emitter may be configured to deliver ultrasound waves to free-flowing material flowing through channel. The ultrasound emitter may be configured to induce cavitation in free-flowing material passing through the conical outlet. The cavitation may be sufficient to destroy microorganisms and reduce microbial contamination of the free-flowing material dispensed from the dispensing nozzle.

主权项

1. A dispensing nozzle comprising:
a substantially vertically oriented, elongated ultrasound emitter, the ultrasound emitter having a wall, the wall having an outside surface, an inside surface, and a thickness between the outside surface and the inside surface, the inner surface of the wall defining a channel, the ultrasound emitter having an inlet at a side of the ultrasound emitter, the wall of the ultrasound emitter having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion of the wall having a conical outlet, wherein the conical outlet has an outer diameter that decreases in size in a downward direction towards an outlet opening defined by an outlet edge at a bottom of the conical outlet, wherein the thickness of the lower portion of the wall reduces at a rate that is non-exponential and in a direction towards the outlet edge, the channel extending from the inlet to the outlet edge of the conical outlet, and a tube, the tube configured to deliver free-flowing food material to the side inlet of the ultrasound emitter, the tube comprising a substantially vertical portion, a substantially horizontal portion, and an elbow between the substantially vertical portion and the substantially horizontal portion, wherein the substantially horizontal portion is attached to a horizontal surface of the side inlet at an end opposite the elbow, wherein the side inlet is placed at a position on the ultrasound emitter that corresponds to a node of ultrasound waves delivered by the ultrasound emitter, and wherein the conical outlet is placed at a position that corresponds to an anti-node of ultrasound waves delivered by the ultrasound emitter, the ultrasound emitter configured to deliver ultrasound waves to free-flowing food material flowing through the channel.