Beverage can cleaning apparatus and method of use thereof
OwnerPeter Chapmaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A beverage can cleaning apparatus for cleaning beverage cans before they are dispensed from vending machines. The apparatus has a can holder, a hinged platform, tubes, a first nozzle, a second nozzle and a sensing block that matches the profile of the can top periphery. The sensing block is depressed a compressed distance, the distance being dependent on the orientation of the can, and cleaning fluid or compressed air is selectively directed through the first or second nozzle. Subsequent to air or cleaning fluid being dispensed against the top of the beverage can, the can holder releases the hinged platform sending the beverage can into the vending machine's dispenser.
Claims10
A beverage can cleaning apparatus for a beverage can having a can top with an upper perimeter of a specific shape and a can bottom, said beverage can cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a holder configured to hold the beverage can, wherein said holder comprises a first holder end and a second holder end, said first holder end and said second holder end positioned proximate one of the can top and the can bottom;
- a pair of nozzles, said pair of nozzles comprises a first nozzle positioned proximate said first holder end and a second nozzle positioned proximate said second holder end;
- a sensing apparatus positioned proximate said first holder end, wherein said sensing apparatus further comprises a rod having a first end and a second end, wherein said rod is configured with a sensing block fixedly secured to said first end of said rod, wherein said sensing block comprises a surface dimensioned to match the shape of the upper perimeter of the can top;
- and a sensor positioned proximate said second end of said rod, wherein said rod is forced a compressed distance into said sensor;
- and
- a controller configured to activate one of said pair of nozzles, wherein said controller is in electrical communication with said sensing apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.