Destruction of airborne pathogens, and microorganisms on grains and dried food using ultrasound
AssigneeAWB Technologies, LLC
InventorDipen N. Sinha
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An acoustic apparatus and method for using a combination of low-frequency and high-frequency vibration of dried food, grain being an example, such that there are a large number of collisions among the individual grain particles for destroying microorganisms that reside on the surface or just below the surface of the grain, are described. Embodiments of the invention permit bulk and continuous processing of the food. It is expected that such collisions do not produce any chemical changes in the food, nor should it have any adverse effects on the taste thereof. Embodiments of the apparatus are applicable to destruction of airborne microorganisms.
Claims12
Apparatus for destruction of microorganisms residing on the surfaces of grains and dried food, comprising:
- a conveyor belt having a trough-shaped carrying side onto which are deposited grains or dried food, and a lower side supported by at least one set of 3-roller trough idlers, each idler having an axle;
- a first source of vibration for applying a first periodic vibrational excitation having a first amplitude to the at least one set of 3-roller trough idlers, effective for creating a fluidized bed of the grains or dried food above the surface of said conveyor belt;
- and
- a second source of periodic vibrational excitation having a second amplitude spaced apart from, and above said conveyor belt for vibrating the fluidized grains or dried food, effective for causing the grains or dried food to undergo increased collisions therebetween;
- whereby the microorganisms are destroyed by collisions of the grain or dried food.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.