Spray head

• US 20040118948A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asept International AB (Lagercrantz Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Asept International AB (Lagercrantz Group AB)
• Inventors: Drennow, Sten
• Granted Patent: US 7,040,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/548
• 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. Spray head for spreading liquid or semi-liquid products, preferably foodstuff,

wherein 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

wherein spraying nozzles (18) are provided to spread the product (2) when it is discharged from the spray head (1),

characterized in

that 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,

that the upper coupling member (7) is connected to the lower coupling member (8) and to the feed conduit (3),

that the nozzle member (9) and/or the upper coupling member (7), when the upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) are interconnected, define distributing spaces (13) for distributing product (2) which through the feed conduit (3) is fed into the spray head (1), to different spraying nozzles (18),

that the spraying nozzles (18) of the nozzle member (9) are provided to open for discharging product (2) when they are subjected to pressure by product (2) which is fed thereto, and to close when said pressure ceases, and

that the nozzle member (9) is removable from the upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) when these members have been disconnected from each other.

2. Spray head according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper coupling member (7) and the nozzle member (9) define said distributing spaces (13) by

a) the upper coupling member (7) including an upper wall (10) at which an inlet (11) for the product (2), connected to the feed conduit (3), is provided,

b) said wall (10) being provided with a downwardly directed collar (12) which defines an outer wall for said distributing spaces (13),

c) said collar (12) closely engaging, down below, a disc-like member (21) of the nozzle member (9), and

d) distributing walls (31) being located to extend in a radial direction outwards from an axially directed, geometric centre line (CL) through the spray head (1) and defining distributing spaces (13) for the spraying nozzles (18).

3. Spray head according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) and the nozzle member (9) are attached or tightened to each other when the upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) are interconnected.

4. Spray head according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) are designed as coupling halves of a bayonet mount (15).

5. Spray head according to claim 4, characterized in

that the lower coupling member (8) is designed as a ring having a lower wall (16) and an upwardly directed wall (19) which is located about a geometrical centre line (CL) which is directed axially relative to the spray head, said wall (19) further being directed axially relative to said centre line (CL),

that the upwardly directed wall (19) at the top is provided with, relative to said centre line (CL), radially inwards directed coupling portions (20), and

that the upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) can be joined together and rotated relative to each other such that their coupling portions (14, 20) are brought to cooperate with each other for attaching or tightening the coupling members (7, 8) and the nozzle member (9) to each other.

6. Spray head according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the nozzle member (9), distributing walls (31) provided thereon for defining distributing spaces (13) and spraying nozzles (18) provided thereon, are designed as a unit of elastic polymer material.

7. Spray head according to claim 6, characterized in that the nozzle member (9) is a unit of polymer material in the form of silicone material.

8. Spray head according to any preceding claim, characterized in

that each spraying nozzle (18) includes two elastic lips (23, 24), of which lower parts (25, 26) engage each other and define, when the spraying nozzle (18) is closed, a sealed discharge gap (27),

that said lips (23, 24), when subjected to pressure from product. (2) which is fed to the spraying nozzle (18), are brought to spring apart from each other such that the discharge gap (27) is opened, whereby said product (2) can be fed or discharged from the spraying nozzle (18), and

that said lips (23, 24) are provided to spring towards each other for sealing the discharge gap (27) when said pressure thereon ceases.

9. Spray head according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it consists of only three members, namely of upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) and a nozzle member (9).

10. Spray head according to claim 9, characterized in that the upper and lower coupling members (7, 8) are releasable or disconnectable from each other for permitting removal therefrom of the nozzle member (9) such that each member can be cleaned separately.