US 12,274,409 B2
Through opening air knife for high speed reusable beverage container washing system
Joel Boyer, Louisville, KY (US); and Robert M. Digman, Goshen, KY (US)
Assigned to MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD., Guangdong (CN)
Filed by Midea Group Co., Ltd., Foshan (CN)
Filed on Sep. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/934,061.
Application 17/934,061 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/490,888, filed on Sep. 30, 2021, granted, now 12,201,257.
Application 17/934,061 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/490,884, filed on Sep. 30, 2021, granted, now 12,035,865.
Prior Publication US 2023/0095081 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. A47L 15/48 (2006.01); A47L 15/00 (2006.01); A47L 15/42 (2006.01); A61L 2/10 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 15/486 (2013.01) [A47L 15/0065 (2013.01); A47L 15/0076 (2013.01); A47L 15/4242 (2013.01); A47L 15/4257 (2013.01); A61L 2/10 (2013.01); A61L 2202/17 (2013.01); A61L 2202/23 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for washing a beverage container, comprising:
first and second concentric housing members, each of the first and second concentric housing members including an opening, and one of the first and second concentric housing members being disposed inwardly from the other of the first and second concentric housing members and defining at least a portion of a wash chamber, wherein the first concentric housing member is rotatable about an axis of rotation between first and second positions, wherein when in the first position, the opening of the first concentric housing member is aligned with the opening of the second concentric housing member to provide external access to the wash chamber, and wherein when in the second position, the opening of the first concentric housing member is unaligned with the opening of the second concentric housing member to restrict external access to the wash chamber; and
an air knife positioned to direct air flow through the opening of the one of the first and second concentric housing members that is disposed inwardly from the other of the first and second concentric housing members and into the wash chamber when the first concentric housing member is disposed in the second position.