Cold plasma sanitation for a dispensing machine
US10159377B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 10, 2015 |
| Grant date | Dec 25, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 16, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB67D2210/00023
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a sanitizing system. The apparatus has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component, the at least one component having an inner surface. The first valve is opened to send a free-flowing material to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode. The first valve is closed when the apparatus is in the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit having a discharge cell configured to initiate a cold plasma discharge in an air flow. A tank may be configured to receive the air flow from the discharge cell of the processing unit and expose water in the tank to the air flow for a time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone from the air flow into the water and form ozone-containing water.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.