Spray head

• US 7,040,554 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asept International AB (Lagercrantz Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Asept International AB (Lagercrantz Group AB)
• Inventors: Drennow, Sten
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHRISTOPHER S
• Application Number:
  US10/325,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20040118948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 239/195, 239/196, 239/349, 239/451, 239/452, 239/455, 239/533.1, 239/533.13, 239/533.14, 239/536, 239/546, 239/602, 239/331
• US Class Current: 239/546
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 20/15 Apparatus or processes for coating with liquid or semi-liquid products
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/14 with multiple outlet openings B05B1/02, B05B1/26 take precedence; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/185 characterised by their outlet element; Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/323 the valve member being actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed B05B11/0062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 5/027 Coating heads with several outlets, e.g. aligned transversally to the moving direction of a web to be coated B05C5/0254 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spray head for spreading liquid or semi-liquid products, preferably foodstuff. A product feeder (5) is provided to feed or convey a product (2) through a feed conduit (3) from a product container (4) to the spray head (1) and spraying nozzles (18) are provided to spread the product (2) when it is discharged from the spray head (1). The spray head (1) comprises three separate members, namely an upper coupling member (7), a lower coupling member (8) and a nozzle member (9) provided therebetween. The upper coupling member (7) is connected to the lower coupling member (8) and to the feed conduit (3). The nozzle member (9) and/or the upper coupling member (7) define, when the upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) are interconnected, distributing spaces (13) for distributing product (2). The spraying nozzles (18) of the nozzle member (9) are provided to open and to close. The nozzle member (9) is removable from the upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) when these members have been disconnected from each other.

Claims

1. An apparatus for spreading a flowable product (2), said apparatus comprising:

a product container (4) for containing the flowable product (2); and

a spray head (1) for receiving the flowable product (2) from the product container (4) through a product feeder (5), said spray head (1) discharging and spreading the flowable product (2),

said spray head (1) having an upper coupling member (7) connected to a feed conduit (3), a lower coupling member (8), and a nozzle member (9) disposed between said upper coupling member (7) and said lower coupling member (8), said upper coupling member (7) and said lower coupling member (8) being tightly attached and interconnected to each other when spreading the flowable product (2),

said upper coupling member (7) and said nozzle member (9) together defining a space (13) for distributing the flowable product (2) being fed through the feed conduit (3) into said spray head (1) to said nozzle member (9),

said nozzle member (9) having spraying nozzles (18) for discharging the product (2) when said spraying nozzles (18) are subjected to pressure by the product (2), said spraying nozzles (18) being closed when said spraying nozzles (18) are not subject to pressure by the flowable product (2),

said upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) being disconnectable from each other, said nozzle member (9) being removable from said upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) when said upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) have been disconnected from each other,

said upper coupling member (7) including an upper wall (10) having an inlet (11) for the product (2), said upper wall (10) having a downwardly directed collar (12) defining an outer wall of said space (13), said collar (12) engaging a disc member (21) of the nozzle member (9), said nozzle member (9) having distributing walls (31) extending in a radial direction outwards from an axially directed, geometric centre line (CL), said axially directed, geometric centre line (CL) extending through said spray head (1), said distributing walls (31) defining said space (13).

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said distributing walls (31) define said space (13) and said spraying nozzles (18) are formed as a unit with said nozzle member (9).

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said nozzle member (9) is formed of a polymer material.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spraying nozzles (18) each include two elastic lips (23, 24), each said elastic lip (23, 24) having lower parts (25, 26) engaging each other and defining, when said spraying nozzle (18) is closed, a sealed discharge gap (27), said lips (23, 24), when subjected to pressure from the flowable product (2), springing apart from each other such that said sealed discharge gap (27) is opened, said lips (23, 24) springing toward each other for sealing said discharge gap (27) when pressure from the flowable product (2) ceases.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spray head (1) consists of only said upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) and said nozzle member (9).

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) are releasable from each other for permitting removal of said nozzle member (9) for cleaning.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lower coupling member (8) defines a ring having a lower wall (16) and an upwardly directed wall (19) disposed about said geometrical centre line (CL), said geometric center line (CL) extending axially relative to said spray head (1), said upwardly directed wall (19) extending axially relative to said centre line (CL), said upwardly directed wall (19) having radially extending coupling portions (20), said upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) being joined together to form a bayonet mount (15).