Ultrasonic vibration imparting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11807840-B2
Application number	US-202016746487-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 17, 2020
Priority date	Jul 21, 2017
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

This ultrasonic-wave vibration imparting device is configured so as to be attachable to a container that retains a beverage and that has a spout on an upper part thereof. The ultrasonic-wave vibration imparting device includes: an annular engagement part configured so as to engage with the upper part of the container; and an ultrasonic wave generating unit configured so as to be disposed at a position at which the unit comes into contact with a side surface of the container below the spout, as a result of the engagement between the container and the engagement part.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An ultrasonic vibration applying device configured to be mounted on a container that contains a beverage and includes a spout at an upper part of the container, the ultrasonic vibration applying device comprising:
an annular fitted portion having an opening through which the upper part of the container can be inserted and removed for attachment and detachment of the annular fitted portion over the upper part of the container; and
an ultrasonic generator configured to be arranged at a position in contact with a side surface of the container and directly below the spout when the annular fitted portion is in attachment with the container, wherein
when the annular fitted portion is in attachment with the container and the container is in a pouring tilt position, the annular fitted portion causes the ultrasonic generator to remain in contact with the side surface of the container and in position directed below the spout, for allowing foaming of the beverage by generating ultrasonics during pouring of the beverage from the spout.

2. The ultrasonic vibration applying device according to claim 1 , wherein
the container is a beverage can, and
the opening of the annular fitted portion has a shape that allows the annular fitted portion to be inserted over the upper part of the beverage can.

3. The ultrasonic vibration applying device according to claim 2 , wherein the annular fitted portion includes an upper end fitted portion having a projection that allows the projection to be fitted against a recess of the beverage can, the recess being recessed from an upper end of the beverage can toward an inner side of the beverage can.

4. The ultrasonic vibration applying device according to claim 1 , wherein
the ultrasonic generator includes an ultrasonic generation device and an ultrasonic propagation member that is in contact with the ultrasonic generation device, and
the ultrasonic generator is configured such that the ultrasonic propagation member is held between the ultrasonic generation device and the side surface of the container by fitting the container and the fitted portion to each other.

5. The ultrasonic vibration applying device according to claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic generator is part of the fitted portion and is configured to be located on a lower side of the remaining section of the fitted portion with respect to the spout.

6. The ultrasonic vibration applying device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a drive unit that generates a drive signal of an ultrasonic generation device incorporated in the ultrasonic generator; and
an operation part that receives an operation that instructs driving of the ultrasonic generation device, wherein
the drive unit and the operation part are located on an opposite side of a center of a ring of the fitted portion from the ultrasonic generator.

7. The ultrasonic vibration applying device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a drive unit that generates a drive signal of an ultrasonic generation device incorporated in the ultrasonic generator; and
a power supply unit that supplies the drive unit with power, wherein
the power supply unit is located on an opposite side of a center of a ring of the fitted portion from the ultrasonic generator.

8. The ultrasonic vibration applying device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a drive unit that generates a drive signal of an ultrasonic generation device incorporated in the ultrasonic generator; and
a power supply unit that supplies the drive unit with power, wherein
the power supply unit is configured to be arranged on an upper side of the container.

9. The ultrasonic vibration applying device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a drive unit that generates a drive signal of an ultrasonic generation device incorporated in the ultrasonic generator;
a power supply unit that supplies the drive unit with power; and
an accommodation portion that accommodates the power supply unit, wherein
the accommodation portion is configured to extend downward from the fitted portion such that a position of a lower end of the accommodation portion coincides with a position of a lower end of the container in a vertical direction.

10. The ultrasonic vibration applying device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a drive unit that generates a drive signal of an ultrasonic generation device incorporated in the ultrasonic generator;
a power supply unit that supplies the drive unit with power; and
an accommodation portion that accommodates the power supply unit, wherein
the accommodation portion is configured to extend downward from the fitted portion such that a length of the accommodation portion in the vertical direction is changeable.

11. The ultrasonic vibration applying device according to claim 1 , wherein
the ultrasonic generator includes an ultrasonic generation device, and
the ultrasonic vibration applying device protects the ultrasonic generation device from entry of liquid.

12. The ultrasonic vibration applying device according to claim 1 , wherein
the container is a beverage can, the beverage can including a body that has a fixed diameter and extends in a vertical direction, a diameter-decreasing part that decreases in diameter from the body toward an upper surface of the beverage can, and a boundary part between the body and the diameter-decreasing part,
the ultrasonic generator includes an ultrasonic generation device, and
the ultrasonic generation device is configured to overlap the boundary part as viewed in a sideward direction which opposes a surface of the body and in which the ultrasonic generation device is located frontward with the beverage can and the fitted portion fitted to each other.

13. The ultrasonic vibration applying device according to claim 12 , wherein the ultrasonic generation device is configured to overlap the body and the boundary part as viewed in the sideward direction with the beverage can and the fitted portion fitted to each other.

14. The ultrasonic vibration applying device according to claim 12 , wherein the ultrasonic generation device is further configured to overlap the diameter-decreasing part as viewed in the sideward direction with the beverage can and the fitted portion fitted to each other.

Assignees

• Toppan Printing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kano Hiroaki
• Kawano Kotaro
• Murakami Masaaki

Classifications

• C12H1/16 Primary

  by physical means, e.g. irradiation · CPC title

• B65D1/165

  Cylindrical cans · CPC title

• B06B1/0644

  using a single piezoelectric element (B06B1/0688 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B17/0607

  generated by electrical means, e.g. piezoelectric transducers · CPC title