Patent Publication Number: US-2021186065-A1

Title: Electrostatic dispensing of an anti-microbial coating material

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a National Stage Application of International Patent App. No. PCT/US2019/035790, filed Jun. 6, 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62/681,162, filed Jun. 6, 2018, the entire disclosures of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entireties herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to sanitization of food products, and more particularly relates to sanitization of food products using electrostatic dispensing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Sanitization of food products is of critical importance in the food industry for the promotion of public health, the efficient processing of food products, and to comply with government regulations. Control of microbial pathogen growth, such as, e.g.,  Escherichia  col (i.e.,  E. coli ),  Salmonella , etc., is an important component of food product sanitization. Existing microbial pathogen control techniques involve coating antimicrobial agents onto the food product; however, the existing techniques suffer from inefficient utilization of the antimicrobial agents and/or are not well suited for high volume sanitization of food products. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for improved microbial pathogen growth control in the food industry that more efficiently utilizes antimicrobial agents and that is adapted for high volume sanitization of food products. 
     SUMMARY 
     These needs are met, to a great extent, by an electrostatic dispense system comprising a material supply that contains a coating material, and a voltage block configured to be in fluid communication with the material supply such that the voltage block is configured to receive the coating material from the material supply. The electrostatic dispense system further comprises a power supply that is configured to electrostatically charge the coating material received by the voltage block to provide an electrostatically charged coating material. The electrostatic dispense system further comprises a dispense assembly comprising at least one liquid outlet and an internal fluid pathway that is configured to provide fluid communication between the voltage block and the liquid outlet. The dispense assembly being configured to receive the electrostatically charged coating material from the voltage block and to dispense the electrostatically charged coating material from the at least one liquid outlet. The electrostatic dispense system further comprises a conveyor through or by which a food product is configured to be conveyed, the conveyor comprising an electrically conductive material that is electrically grounded and that is electrically isolated from the internal fluid pathway, and a support that supports the at least one liquid outlet at a position adjacent to the conveyor such that the at least one liquid outlet is configured to dispense the electrostatically charged coating material onto the food product. The voltage block is interposed between the material supply and the dispense assembly and is configured to electrically isolate the material supply and the dispense assembly. 
     The coating material can be an antimicrobial material, such as peracetic acid. The voltage block further can include a pump that is configured to continuously pump the electrostatically charged coating material to the at least one liquid outlet at a pressure that atomizes the coating material sprayed from the at least one liquid outlet. The at least one liquid outlet can be at least one airless atomizing spray nozzle. The voltage block can include a reservoir that is configured to contain the coating material received from the material supply, and a shuttle that is configured to selectively electrically isolate the material supply and the dispense assembly. 
     The electrostatic dispense system can further include a container containing the power supply and the voltage block. The at least one liquid outlet can include a plurality of liquid outlets spaced apart along the support within or over the conveyor. The support can include a cantilever. The position adjacent to the conveyor, at which the support supports the at least one liquid outlet, can be at least 15 inches away from the conveyor. 
     The dispense assembly can further include a manifold that is mounted to the support. The at least one liquid outlet can be mounted to the manifold and can be in fluid communication with the manifold, and the internal fluid pathway can extend within the manifold. The manifold can include an electrically nonconductive material. The manifold can include at least one of a metal and a chemical-resistant polymer. The dispense assembly can further include an electrically nonconductive hose and the internal fluid pathway at least partially extends within the electrically nonconductive hose. 
     The electrostatic dispense system can further include a sensor that is configured to sense a presence of the food product in the conveyor. The sensor can further be configured to communicate the sensed presence of the food product to a controller that is configured to control dispensing of the electrostatically charged coating material from the at least one liquid outlet in response to the sensed presence of the food product. 
     The conveyor can be a barrel, a dispense booth, or a conveyor belt. The electrostatic dispense system can further include a feeder that feeds the food product through the conveyor. The feeder can include a scale that is configured to determine a weight of the food product fed to the conveyor. The electrostatic dispense system can further include a flow meter that is configured to determine a flowrate of the electrostatically charged coating material pumped to the at least one liquid outlet. The electrostatic dispense system can further include a controller. The controller can receive a weight output corresponding to the weight of the food product fed to the conveyor, and control the flowrate of the electrostatically charged coating material to the at least one liquid outlet based on the weight output. 
     The support can be electrically nonconductive or electrically conductive and electrically isolated from the conveyor. 
     The electrostatic dispense system can further include a switch that is configured to selectively ground the support. The support can support a repulsion rod that is configured to be electrostatically charged to a polarity. The power supply can be configured to electrostatically charge the coating material received by the voltage block to provide the electrostatically charged coating material at a polarity. The polarity of the repulsion rod can be the same as the polarity of the electrostatically charged coating material such that the repulsion rod is configured to repel the electrostatically charged coating material. 
     A method of electrostatically dispensing coating material on a food product is also disclosed. The method includes supplying a coating material from a material supply, and electrically isolating the supplied coating material from the material supply to provide an isolated coating material. The method further includes forming an electrostatically charged coating material from the isolated coating material by electrostatically charging the isolated coating material, and dispensing the electrostatically charged coating material from at least one liquid outlet while the food product is conveyed through or by a conveyor. 
     Dispensing the electrostatically charged coating material from the at least one liquid outlet can include atomizing the electrostatically charged coating material to form a continuous atomized spray of electrostatically charged coating material. 
     The method can further include sensing a presence of the food product in the conveyor and controlling the dispensing of the food product based upon the sensed presence of the food product within the controller. 
     The method can further include determining a weight of the food product fed to the conveyor. The method can further include receiving a weight output corresponding to the determined weight of the food product fed to the conveyor and a flowrate output corresponding to a flowrate of the electrostatically charged coating material dispensed from the at least one liquid outlet, and controlling the flowrate of the electrostatically charged coating material dispensed from the at least one liquid outlet based upon the weight output. 
     Various additional features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following detailed description is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, examples are shown in the drawings; however, the subject matter is not limited to the specific elements and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic overview of an electrostatic dispense system in accordance with aspects of the invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system including a barrel in accordance with aspects of the invention; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate perspective views of a spray nozzle and a nozzle block in accordance with aspects of the invention; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system including the barrel in accordance with aspects of the invention 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  respectively illustrate a perspective view and a cross-section view of a spray manifold in accordance with aspects of the invention; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system including a dispense booth in accordance with aspects of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system including a conveyor belt in accordance with aspects of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system including an overhead conveyor in accordance with aspects of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system including a chain-on-edge conveyor in accordance with aspects of the invention; and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a process of electrostatic dispensing in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic overview of an electrostatic dispense system  100  according to aspects of the present invention. The electrostatic dispense system  100  may include a material supply  110  that contains a coating material. The material supply  110  may be a container (not shown) and the electrostatic dispense system  100  may further include a material supply pump  112 , in fluid communication with the material supply  110 , that may pump the coating material from the material supply  110 . Fluid communication, as used herein, may mean that two or more structures are connected, directly or indirectly, in a manner (e.g., via hoses, valves, conduits, connectors, etc.) that permits fluid to move from one structure to the other structure(s). The coating material may be an antimicrobial agent that may control and/or eliminate microbial growth. The antimicrobial agent may comprise (alone or in combination), for example, chlorine dioxide, acidified sodium chlorite, hypobromous acid, lactic acid, peracetic acid, percarboxylic acid, etc. 
     The electrostatic dispense system  100  may further include a voltage block  120  that may be in fluid communication with the material supply  110  and that may receive the coating material from the material supply  110 . The electrostatic dispense system  100  may also include a power supply  130  that may electrostatically charge the coating material received by the voltage block  120  to provide an electrostatically charged coating material. The power supply  130  may be adjustable such that the degree to which the coating material is electrostatically charged may be variably controlled. 
     The electrostatic dispense system  100  may also include a dispense assembly  140  that may have one or more liquid outlet  142  and an internal fluid pathway  144  that provides fluid communication between the voltage block  120  and the liquid outlet  142 . The power supply  130  may be operatively connected to the voltage block  120  and/or the dispense assembly  140  to electrostatically charge the coating material. The dispense assembly  140  may receive the electrostatically charged coating material from the voltage block  120  and may dispense the electrostatically charged coating material from the liquid outlet  142 . The voltage block  120  may be interposed between the material supply  110  and the dispense assembly  140  and may electrically isolate the material supply  110  and the dispense assembly  140 . Further, the voltage block  120  may include a pump  122  that may pump the electrostatically charged coating material to the liquid outlet  142 . In embodiments, the pump  122  may pump the electrostatically charged coating material at a pressure that atomizes the coating material dispensed or sprayed from the liquid outlet  142 . The electrostatically charged coating material may accordingly be dispensed continuously from the liquid outlet. 
     The electrostatic dispense system  100  may further include a conveyor  150  that a food product may be conveyed by or through. The term “conveyor,” as used herein, means any structure that the food product may be conveyed by or through. The conveyor  150  may have two ends  152   a ,  152   b  through or between which the food product FP may pass. The food product FP may be any food item having exposed surface areas at risk for microbial growth. For example, the food product FP may comprise (alone or in combination) produce such as vegetables, seafood such as fish, grains, and/or meat products such as whole or partial carcasses, and meat trimmings/other materials that may be subsequently ground or otherwise processed into, e.g., ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken, sausage, ground pork, etc. The food products may also include by-products such as bred animal-derived by-products including carcasses, hides, hoofs, heads, feathers, manure, offal, viscera, bones, fat and meat trimmings, and blood; seafood-derived by-products including skins, bones, oils, and blood; dairy-derived by-products including whey, curd, and milk sludge; vegetable-derived by-products including peelings, stems, seeds, shells, bran, trimmings residues after extraction of oil, starch, juice, and sugars. The conveyor  150  may comprise an electrically conductive material that may be electrically grounded and that may be electrically isolated from the internal fluid pathway  144 . 
     The electrostatic dispense system  100  may further include a support  160  that supports the liquid outlet  142  at a position adjacent to the conveyor  150  such that the liquid outlet  142  may dispense the electrostatically charged coating material onto the food product FP. The position adjacent to the conveyor  150 , at which the support  160  may support the liquid outlet  142 , may be a position above, below, to the side of, or within the conveyor  150 . The position adjacent to the conveyor  150 , at which the support  160  may support the liquid outlet  142 , may be a minimum distance from a surface of the conveyor  150 . The surface of the conveyor  150  may be any surface of the conveyor  150  that is nearest to the position adjacent to the conveyor  150 . The minimum distance may, for example, be at least 15 inches from away from the surface of the conveyor  150 . Maintaining the liquid outlet  142  the minimum distance away from the surface of the conveyor  150  reduces the chances that the electrostatically charged coating material may be prematurely discharged (i.e., discharged before contact with food product FP) by the surface of the conveyor  150 . The support  160  may include a cantilever that supports the liquid outlet  142  at the position adjacent to the conveyor  150 . 
     The liquid outlet  142  may dispense the electrostatically charged coating material onto the food product FP. For example, the liquid outlet  142  may dispense the electrostatically charged coating material onto the food product FP as the food product FP passes between the two ends  152   a ,  152   b  of the conveyor  150 . The support  160  may be electrically isolated from ground, from the conveyor  150 , and/or from the dispense assembly  140 . For example, the support  160  may be electrically nonconductive. Additionally and/or alternatively, the support  160  may comprise conductive materials. For example, the support  160  may support a repulsion rod that is electrostatically charged (e.g., via the power supply  130 ) at a polarity that is a same polarity as the electrostatically charged coating material. The repulsion rod may be electrically isolated from the support  160 . The repulsion bar, electrostatically charged at the same polarity as the electrostatically charged coating material, may repel the electrostatically charged coating material, which may direct the coating material away from the repulsion rod and towards the food product FP thereby improving the coating on the food product FP and reducing waste. Features of the repulsion rod and associated structures for implementing operation of the same in accordance with aspects of the invention may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,358, which is expressly incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
     According to aspects of the invention, the electrostatically charged coating material may be dispensed onto the food product FP as the food product FP is conveyed by or through the conveyor  150 . By electrostatically charging the coating material, the coating material may be attracted to the food product FP, which is not electrostatically charged, as the food product FP is conveyed by or through the conveyor  150 . The attraction between the electrostatically charged coating material and the food product FP may improve the coverage of the coating material on the exterior surfaces of the food product FP, which may improve the efficacy of the antimicrobial control and may improve efficiency by reducing waste/overspray. In addition, in embodiments of the invention the electrostatically charged coating material may be attracted to and coat the electrically conductive material of the conveyor  150 , which is grounded. By coating the conveyor  150 , a secondary means for coating the food product FP may be provided as a result of incidental contact with the coated conveyor  150  as the food product FP is conveyed. 
     As shown schematically in  FIG. 1 , the voltage block  120  may be any voltage block  120  capable of electrically isolating the material supply  110  and the dispense assembly  140 . Providing electrical isolation between the material supply  110  and the dispense assembly  140  enables electrostatic charging of the coating material dispensed from the dispense assembly  140  without necessitating electrical isolation of the entire material supply  110  from ground. The voltage block  120  may, for example, include a reservoir  124  that may contain the coating material received from the material supply  110  and a shuttle  126  that may selectively electrically isolate the material supply  110  and the dispense assembly  140 . The shuttle  126  may be interposed between the material supply  10  and the reservoir  124 . The shuttle  126  may include a shuttle coupling (e.g., a male or female coupling, not shown) that may connect to a complimentary material supply coupling (e.g., a female or male coupling, not shown) in fluid communication with the material supply  110 . 
     The shuttle  126  may be movable (e.g., via a rod/piston arrangement, not shown) such that the shuttle coupling may be physically disconnected from the material supply coupling to provide electrical isolation between the material supply  110  and structures downstream from the shuttle  126 , such as the reservoir  124 , the dispense assembly  140 , etc. For example, in a first position at which the shuttle coupling is connected to the material supply coupling, coating material may be pumped from the material supply  110  via the material supply pump  112  to fill the reservoir  124  of the voltage block  120 . In a second position at which the shuttle  126  is moved from the first position to physically disconnect and electrically isolate the shuttle coupling and the material supply coupling, the coating material in the reservoir  124  may be electrically isolated from the material supply  110  (i.e., from ground) and an electrostatic charge may be applied to the coating material via the power supply  130 . 
     According to embodiments of the invention (not shown), the voltage block  120  may include a plurality of shuttles, couplings, reservoirs, pumps, etc. to provide at least one parallel flow arrangement. The parallel flow arrangement may allow for continuous electrical isolation between the material supply  110  and the dispense assembly  140  and may allow the voltage block  120  to be continuously supplied with coating material from one or more parallel supply paths such that the fluid may be dispensed from the liquid outlet  142  continuously. Additional and/or alternative features of the voltage block  120  in accordance with aspects of the invention are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,896, which is expressly incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
     The dispense assembly  140  may include a hose  148  that may be in fluid communication with the voltage block  120  such that the hose  148  may receive the coating material from the voltage block  120 . The dispense assembly  140  may further include a connector  149  (e.g., a nozzle block  249  or a manifold  349  as discussed in detail below) in fluid communication with the hose  148  and with the liquid outlet  142  and that connects the hose  148  and the liquid outlet  142 . The connector  149  may transfer the coating material from the hose  148  to the liquid outlet  142 . The liquid outlet  142  may be a separate structure, such as a nozzle, that is mounted to (e.g., screwed into) the connector  149 . Alternatively, the liquid outlet  142  may be formed directly in the connector  149 . The liquid outlet  142  may be an airless atomizing spray nozzle, such as the atomizing spray nozzle disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,377, which is expressly incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. Airless atomization of the electrostatically charged coating material via the liquid outlet  142  may reduce overspray to improve the transfer efficiency and utilization of the coating material and reduce operating costs. 
     The internal fluid pathway  144  of the dispense assembly  140  may extend within/may comprise hollow regions within, e.g., the hose  148 , the connector  149  (e.g., the manifold  349  described below), the liquid outlet  142 , and/or any other structures that may form the dispense assembly  140 . That is, the hose  148 , the connector  149 , the liquid outlet  142 , and/or any other structures that may form the dispense assembly  140  may include internal hollow regions that are fluidly connected and that together may define at least portions of the internal fluid pathway  144 . The internal fluid pathway  144  may be electrically isolated from ground, and accordingly may electrically isolate the electrostatically charged coating material from ground such that the coating material remains electrostatically charged as the coating material is dispensed from the liquid outlet  142 . Any of the structures that the internal fluid pathway  144  extends within may comprise nonconductive materials (e.g., plastic, a chemical-resistant polymer such as polyether ether ketone etc.) that may isolate the charged coating material from ground. For example, the hose  148 , the connector  149 , and/or the liquid outlet  142  may each comprise electrically nonconductive materials. 
     Any of the structures that the internal fluid pathway  144  extends within, e.g. the manifold  349 , may additionally or alternatively comprise conductive materials (e.g., metal such as stainless steel) and nonconductive materials may be arranged in a manner that electrically isolates the internal fluid pathway  144  from ground to maintain the electrostatic charge of the coating material. For example, the internal fluid pathway  144  (including the manifold  349 ) that contacts the coating material may be formed of a corrosive-resistive material such as stainless steel, while remaining electrically isolated from a ground. In embodiments, the hose  148  may include a conductive reinforcement layer and may further include nonconductive inner and/or outer layers that provide the electrical isolation. In addition, the connector  149  (e.g., the manifold  349  described below) and/or the liquid outlet  142  may comprise a conductive material and may be supported by nonconductive materials (e.g., nonconductive fittings and/or the support  160  may comprise a nonconductive material) that isolate the connector  149  and/or the liquid outlet  142  from ground. According to aspects of the invention, structures (e.g., the connector  149  and/or the liquid outlet  142 ) of the dispense assembly  140  that may comprise conductive materials may be electrostatically charged by the electrostatically charged coating material. The dispense assembly  140  may be arranged in a manner to ensure that arcing does not occur from any electrostatically charged structures that comprise the dispense assembly  140 . For example, electrostatically charged structures (e.g., the connector  149  and/or the liquid outlet  142 ) may be spaced a predetermined safe distance from each other and from grounded structures to prevent arcing. 
     The electrostatic dispense system  100  may further include a controller  170 , e.g., a programmable controller, that may coordinate/automatically control aspects of the electrostatic dispense system  100 . The controller  170  may be a programmable logic controller (PLC), a microprocessor based controller, personal computer, or another conventional control device capable of carrying out the functions described herein as understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. For example, the controller  170  may control the pumping of the coating material, selective electrostatic isolation of the material supply  110  and the voltage block  120 , etc. The controller  170  may be in electrical communication (e.g., via wired and/or wireless connections) with any of the structures of the electrostatic dispense system  100  that may be subject to automatic control, including but not limited to, the material supply pump  112 , the voltage block  120 , the pump  122 , etc. A human machine interface (HMI) device (not shown) may be operatively connected to the controller  170  in a known manner. The HMI device may include input devices and controls, such as a keypad, pushbuttons, control knobs, a touch screen, etc., and output devices, such as displays and other visual indicators, that may be used by an operator to control the operation of the controller  170  and, thereby, control the operation of the electrostatic dispense system  100 . The HMI device may further include an audio output device, such as a speaker, by which an audio alert may be communicated to an operator. 
     The electrostatic dispense system  100  may further include a sensor  180  (e.g., a beam sensor and/or encoder(s)), or series of sensors (not shown), that may sense the presence of the food product FP in the conveyor  150  and/or may sense a rate of operation of a feeder  190 , described below. The sensor  180  may communicate the sensed presence of the food product FP to the controller  170 , and the controller  170  may control dispensing of the electrostatically charged coating material from the liquid outlet  142  in response to the sensed presence of the food product FP, as described below. The electrostatic dispense system  100  may also include a flow meter  182 , which may be provided, for example, within the voltage block  120 . The flow meter  182  may determine a flowrate of the electrostatically charged coating material pumped to the liquid outlet  142  and may communicate the determined flowrate to the controller  170 , e.g., for automatic feedback control. The electrostatic dispense system  100  may further include a valve  184  (e.g., a ball valve) that is electrically isolated from ground and that may manually or automatically initiate and/or terminate flow of the coating material to the liquid outlet  142 . 
     The electrostatic dispense system  100  may further include the feeder  190  that may feed the food product FP to the conveyor  150 . The feeder  190  may comprise, for example, a conveyor, a rail/trolley system, a chute, other aspects described in detail below, etc. Food product FP may additionally or alternatively be manually fed to the conveyor  150 . The feeder  190  may include a scale  192  that may determine a weight of the food product FP fed to the open end  152   a  of the conveyor  150 . The scale  192  may include a load cell. The electrostatic dispense system  100  may include other structures (not shown), such as a camera, that may be used to determine or estimate an amount of food product FP fed to the conveyor  150 . 
     The electrostatic dispense system  100  may include a container  118  that the power supply  130  and the voltage block  120  are each contained within. The voltage block  120  may receive the uncharged coating material from the material supply (not shown) via a material supply hose  113 . The container  118  may be sealed/wash-down rated to facilitate cleaning thereof and to protect the power supply  130  and the voltage block  120  from contaminants. The container  118  may be mounted on wheels  119  that facilitate movement of the voltage block  120  and the power supply  130 . 
       FIGS. 2A-3B  shows aspects of an exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system  200  in which the connector  149  that connects the liquid outlet  142  and the hose  148  is a nozzle block  249 , in accordance with the invention.  FIG. 2A  shows a top view of the electrostatic dispense system  200 .  FIG. 2B  shows a side view of the electrostatic dispense system  200  including a partial cut-away view of a conveyor  250  of the exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 3A  shows a view of the liquid outlet  142  and the nozzle block  249  of the exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system  200 .  FIG. 3B  shows another view of the liquid outlet  142  and the nozzle block  249  of the exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system  200 . In addition to features of the electrostatic dispense system  200  shown in  FIGS. 2A-3B  and/or the features described below, the electrostatic dispense system  200  may also include any of the features of the electrostatic dispense system  100  of  FIG. 1  (e.g., the material supply  110 , the controller  170 , the feeder  190 , etc.) that are not mutually exclusive with the features of the electrostatic dispense system  200 , and vice versa. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the conveyor  250  of the electrostatic dispense system  200  may have a barrel shape and two open ends  252   a ,  252   b . As a result of the two open ends  252   a ,  252   b , the conveyor  250  may have an at least partially open interior environment during the dispense operation, which may allow for continuous feeding of the food product FP and may improve the amount of food product FP that may be processed per unit time. The conveyor  250  may be mounted to a stand  210  that may support and may electrically ground the conveyor  250 . In embodiments not shown, the conveyor  250  may be mounted to the stand  210  at an incline to promote movement of the food product FP between the two open ends  252   a ,  252   b  of the conveyor  250 . The inclination of the conveyor  250  may be variable. For example, the stand  210  may include a mechanism (not shown) that permits at least one of the two open ends  252   a ,  252   b  to be raised and/or lowered relative to the other of the two open ends  252   a ,  252   b.    
     The conveyor  250  may further be movable relative to the stand  210  to further promote movement/agitation of the food product FP through the conveyor  250 , which may improve the coverage of the coating material on the food product FP. For example, the electrostatic dispense system  200  may include a motor (not shown) and associated transmission mechanism (not shown) that may rotate, vibrate, and/or spin the conveyor  250  relative the stand  210 . The conveyor  250  may include an internal surface having a topography that agitates the food product FP as the food product FP passes between the two open ends  252   a ,  252   b  of the conveyor  250 . In embodiments not shown, the topography of the internal surface of the conveyor  250  may include, for example, baffles, slots, fins, paddles, stops, etc. The topography of the internal surface of the conveyor  250  may be automatically varied, for example, internal fins and/or baffles that comprise the topography may be movable within the conveyor  250  to vary the topography of the internal surface of the conveyor  250 . 
     The dispense assembly  140  of the electrostatic dispense system  200  may include a plurality of liquid outlets  142  and/or nozzle blocks  249  spaced apart along the support  160  at the position adjacent to the conveyor  250 . The plurality of liquid outlets  142  and/or nozzle blocks  249  may be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other to prevent arcing and/or to enhance the distribution of liquid dispensed within the conveyor  250 . 
       FIG. 2B  includes a magnified view of one of the plurality of liquid outlets  142  attached to one of the plurality of nozzle blocks  249 , and  FIGS. 3A and 3B  shows a view of the liquid outlet  142  and nozzle block  249  isolated from the electrostatic dispense system  200 . The liquid outlet  142  may be fluidly connected (e.g., via a nozzle nut) to the nozzle block  249 . In embodiments not shown, a plurality of liquid outlets  142  may be fluidly connected to a single nozzle block. The nozzle block  249  may include, e.g., two openings  249   a ,  249   b  that may be in fluid communication with the hose  148  of the dispense assembly  140  to supply the nozzle block  249  and the liquid outlet  142  with the electrostatically charged coating material from the voltage block  120 . In embodiments not shown, the nozzle block  249  may include only one opening in fluid communication with the hose  148  such that the nozzle block  249  forms a dead head including a terminal liquid outlet  142 , at which the dispense assembly  140  terminates. 
     The nozzle block  249  may further include a fixture  214  that connects the nozzle block  249  to the support  160 . The fixture  214  may allow selective positional manipulation of the nozzle block  249  relative to the support  160 , which may accordingly permit manipulation of the dispense or spray direction of the liquid outlet  142 . The fixture  214  may include, for example, a through hole  214   a  extending through the nozzle block  249 . The support  160  may extend through the through hole  214   a  to mount the nozzle block  249  to the support  160 . The fixture  214  may also include a fastener  214   b , such as a hex bolt, that may fasten the nozzle block  249  to the support  160  and may selectively lock the nozzle block  249  in one or more radial positions on the support  160  to control the dispense or spray direction of the liquid outlet  142 . In embodiments not shown, the fixture  214  may automatically be movable to vary the dispense or spray direction during operation of the electrostatic dispense system  200 . 
     The electrostatic dispense system  200  may further include a switch  216  or disconnect that may selectively electrically ground the support  160  when the electrostatic dispense system  200  is not in use. By selectively grounding the support  160 , any electrostatic charge that may have built during use of the electrostatic dispense system  200  may be safely discharged to prevent injury to a user that may contact the support  160 . In embodiments not shown, switches/disconnects may be provided to selectively discharge any structures of the electrostatic dispense system  200  that may build charge during operation of the electrostatic dispense system  200  to improve the safety of the electrostatic dispense system  200 . 
       FIGS. 4A-5B  shows aspects of another exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system  300  in which the connector  149  that connects the liquid outlet  142  and the hose  148  is a manifold  349 , in accordance with the invention.  FIG. 4A  shows a top view of the electrostatic dispense system  300 .  FIG. 4B  shows a side view of the electrostatic dispense system  300  including a partial cut-away view of a conveyor  350  of the exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 5A  shows a view of the manifold  349  including a plurality of liquid outlets  142   a - 142   j . In addition to features of the electrostatic dispense system  300  shown in  FIGS. 4A-5B  and/or the features described below, the electrostatic dispense system  300  may also include any of the features of the electrostatic dispense systems  100  (e.g., the material supply  110 , the controller  170 , the feeder  190 , etc.) and/or  200  (e.g., the switch  216 ) that are not mutually exclusive with the features of the electrostatic dispense system  300 , and vice versa. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the conveyor  350  of the electrostatic dispense system  300  may have a barrel shape and two open ends  352   a ,  352   b . As a result of the two open ends  352   a ,  352   b , the conveyor  350  may have an at least partially open interior environment during the dispense operation, which may allow for continuous feeding of the food product FP and may improve the amount of food product FP that may be processed per unit time. The conveyor  350  may be mounted to a stand  310  that may support and may electrically ground the conveyor  350 . In embodiments not shown, the conveyor  350  may be mounted to the stand  310  at an incline to promote movement of the food product FP between the two open ends  352   a ,  352   b  of the conveyor  350 . The inclination of the conveyor  350  may be variable. For example, the stand  310  may include a mechanism (not shown) that permits at least one of the two open ends  352   a ,  352   b  to be raised and/or lowered relative to the other of the two open ends  352   a ,  352   b.    
     The conveyor  350  may further be movable relative to the stand  310  to further promote movement-agitation of the food product FP through the conveyor  350 , which may improve the coverage of the coating material on the food product FP. For example, the electrostatic dispense system  300  may include a motor (not shown) and associated transmission mechanism (not shown) that may rotate, vibrate, and/or spin the conveyor  350  relative the stand  310 . The conveyor  350  may include an internal surface having a topography that agitates the food product FP as the food product FP passes between the two open ends  352   a ,  352   b  of the conveyor  350 . In embodiments not shown, the topography of the internal surface of the conveyor  350  may include, for example, baffles, slots, fins, paddles, stops, etc. The topography of the internal surface of the conveyor  350  may be automatically varied, for example, internal fins and/or baffles that comprise the topography may be movable within the conveyor  350  to vary the topography of the internal surface of the conveyor  350 . 
     The dispense assembly  140  of the electrostatic dispense system  300  may include the manifold  349  having the plurality of liquid outlets  142   a - 142   j  spaced apart along the manifold  349  at the position adjacent to the conveyor  350 . The plurality of liquid outlets  142   a - 142   j  may be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other to prevent arcing and/or to enhance the distribution of liquid dispensed within the conveyor  350 . The plurality of liquid outlets  142   a - 142   j  may be airless atomizing spray nozzles. In addition, the support  160  may include a cantilever that supports the manifold  349 . 
     The plurality of liquid outlets  142   a - 142   j  may be fluidly connected to the manifold  349 . The manifold  349  may include, e.g., two conduits  348   a ,  348   b  that may be in fluid communication with the hose  148  of the dispense assembly  140  and with the plurality of liquid outlets  142   a - 142   j . The two conduits  348   a ,  348   b  may be supplied with coating material by the same system (e.g., including the material supply  110 , the voltage block  120 , the hose  148 , etc.). Alternatively, the conduits  348   a ,  348   b  may be supplied with coating material by two separate systems, each including a material supply  110 , voltage block  120 , a hose  148 , etc. By supplying the two conduits  348   a ,  348   b  with coating material separately, the flow rate of coating material through each conduit  348   a ,  348   b  may be improved to enable, for example, atomization at the plurality of liquid outlets  142   a - 142   j . The manifold  349  may include a hollow tube  351  that the conduits  348   a ,  348   b  extend within and the plurality of liquid outlets  142   a - 142   j  may be screwed into. The conduits  348   a ,  348   b  may supply the plurality of liquid outlets  142   a - 142   j  with the electrostatically charged coating material from the voltage block  120 . The conduits  348   a ,  348   b  may be a part of the internal fluid pathway  144  and may be electrically isolated from ground, and accordingly may electrically isolate the electrostatically charged coating material from ground such that the coating material remains electrostatically charged as the coating material is dispensed from the liquid outlet  142 . The manifold  349 , including the conduits  348   a ,  348   b  and/or the hollow tube  351 , may comprise nonconductive materials (e.g., plastic, a chemical-resistant polymer such as polyether ether ketone etc.) that may isolate the charged coating material from ground. In embodiments, the conduits  348   a ,  348   b  may be PVC pipes. The manifold  349 , conduits  348   a ,  348   b  and/or the hollow tube  351 , may additionally comprise conductive materials (e.g., metal) and nonconductive materials may be arranged in a manner that electrically isolates interior of the conduits  348   a ,  348   b  from ground to maintain the electrostatic charge of the coating material. For example, the conduits  348   a ,  348   b  may include a conductive reinforcement layer and may further include nonconductive inner and/or outer layers that provide the electrical isolation. For example, the conduits  348   a ,  348   b  may comprise a conductive material and may be supported by nonconductive materials (e.g., nonconductive fittings and/or the hollow tube  351  may comprise a nonconductive material) that isolate the conduits  348   a ,  348   b  and/or the liquid outlet  142  from ground. 
       FIGS. 6A and 68  show aspects of another exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system  400  having a dispense booth in accordance with aspects of the invention.  FIG. 6A  shows a side view of the electrostatic dispense system  400  including a partial cut-away view of the conveyor  450 .  FIG. 6B  shows another side view of the electrostatic dispense system  400 . In addition to features of the electrostatic dispense system  400  shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  and/or described below, the electrostatic dispense system  400  may also include any of the features of the electrostatic dispense systems  100  (e.g., the material supply  110 , the container  118 , the controller  170 , etc.),  200 , and  300  that are not mutually exclusive with the features of the electrostatic dispense system  400 , and vice versa. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 68 , the conveyor  450  of the electrostatic dispense system  400  may be a dispense booth with two open ends  452   a ,  452   b . As a result of the two open ends  452   a ,  452   b , the conveyor  450  may have an at least partially open interior environment during the dispense operation, which may allow for continuous feeding of the food product FP and may improve the amount of food product FP that may be processed per unit time. The conveyor  450  may include a sloped floor  454  such that excess coating material may be funneled to a drain (not shown) for collection and/or disposal. The dispense assembly  140  may include first and second manifolds  349   a ,  349   b  respectively mounted in a vertical orientation on first and second supports  160   a ,  160   b . The first and second manifolds  349   a ,  349   b  may each include the features of the manifold  349 , discussed above. The first and second manifolds  349   a ,  349   b  may be respectively mounted on the first and second supports  160   a ,  160   b  on both sides of the conveyor  450  to dispense the fluid onto the food product FP from both sides. The first and second supports  160   a ,  160   b  may include a cantilever. Further, the first and second supports  160   a ,  160   b  may support a repulsion rod or bar, as described above. The repulsion rod or bar may be electrically isolated from the support  160 . 
     The electrostatic dispense system  400  may include the container  118 , having the voltage block  120  and the power supply  130  contained therein. The container  118  may be provided adjacent to the conveyor  450  and may supply the electrostatic coating material to the hose  148  of the dispense assembly  140 . 
     The electrostatic dispense system  400  may include a feeder  490  that extends through the two open ends  452   a ,  452   b  of the conveyor  450 . The feeder  490  may, for example, include a motor operatively connected to a drive system  492  (having any of, e.g., a rail, a belt, a chain, etc.). The feeder  490  may further include a carriage  494  having a hook  496  that extends from the carriage  494 . The carriage  494  may be slideably connected to the drive system  492  and may be conveyed along the drive system  492  through the two open ends  452   a ,  452   b  of the conveyor  450 . The hook  496  may hold the food product FP suspended from the drive system  492 . Accordingly, the food product FP may be conveyed and fed through the two opens ends  452   a ,  452   b  of the conveyor  450  as the electrostatic coating material is dispensed onto the food product FP via the dispense assembly  140 , which may enable the coating of larger food products such as whole or half carcasses. The sensor  180  may be mounted within the conveyor  450  on the support  160  and may detect that the food product FP is conveyed through the conveyor  450 . The controller  170  may control dispensing such that the electrostatically charged coating material is only dispensed upon a sensing (via the sensor  180 ) of the food product FP within the conveyor  450 . 
       FIG. 7  shows aspects of another exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system  500  having a conveyor belt in accordance with aspects of the invention. In addition to features of the electrostatic dispense system  500  shown in  FIG. 7  and/or described below, the electrostatic dispense system  500  may also include any of the features of the electrostatic dispense systems  100  (e.g., the material supply  110 , the container  118 , the controller  170 , etc.),  200 ,  300 , and  400  that are not mutually exclusive with the features of the electrostatic dispense system  500 , and vice versa. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the conveyor  550  of the electrostatic dispense system  500  may be a flat conveyor belt that may receive a food product FP thereon and convey the food product forwards and/or backwards along a conveying direction of the conveyor  550 . The electrostatic dispense system  500  may include the manifold  349  mounted above the conveyor  550  and extending in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyor  550 . The manifold  349  may be mounted above the conveyor  550  via first and second supports  160   a ,  160   b  provided on both sides of the conveyor  550 . The first and second supports  160   a ,  160   b  may include a cantilever. The electrostatic dispense system  500  may include the container  118 , having the voltage block  120  and the power supply  130  contained therein. The container  118  may be provided adjacent to the conveyor  550  and may supply the electrostatic coating material to the hose  148  and from the hose  148  to the manifold  349  for dispensing on the food product FP. 
       FIG. 8  shows aspects of another exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system  600  having an overhead conveyor  650  in accordance with aspects of the invention. In addition to features of the electrostatic dispense system  600  shown in  FIG. 8  and/or described below, the electrostatic dispense system  600  may also include any of the features of the electrostatic dispense systems  100  (e.g., the material supply  110 , the container  118 , the controller  170 , etc.),  200 ,  300 ,  400 , and  500  that are not mutually exclusive with the features of the electrostatic dispense system  600 , and vice versa. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the conveyor  650  of the electrostatic dispense system  600  may be an overhead conveyor  650 . The electrostatic dispense system  600  may include the manifold  349  mounted below the conveyor  650  and extending in a direction parallel to a conveying direction of the conveyor  650 . The manifold  349  may be mounted below the conveyor  650  via first and second supports  160   a ,  160   b  that stand to the side of the conveyor  650 . The first and second supports  160   a ,  160   b  may include a cantilever. The electrostatic dispense system  600  may include the container  118 , having the voltage block  120  and the power supply  130  contained therein. The container  118  may be provided adjacent to the conveyor  650  and may supply the electrostatic coating material to the hose  148  and from the hose  148  to the manifold  349  for dispensing on the food product FP. 
     The overhead conveyor  650  may include a motor operatively connected to a drive system  692  (having any of, e.g., a rail, a belt, a chain, etc.). The overhead conveyor  650  may further include a plurality of carriages  694   a - 694   e , each having a respective hook  696   a - 696   e  that extend therefrom and that may hold food product FP thereon. The plurality of carriages  694   a - 694   e  may be slideably connected to the drive system  692  and may be conveyed along the conveying direction and above the manifold  349  via the drive system  692 . 
       FIG. 9  shows aspects of another exemplary embodiment of the electrostatic dispense system  700  having a chain-on-edge conveyor  750  in accordance with aspects of the invention. In addition to features of the electrostatic dispense system  700  shown in  FIG. 9  and/or described below, the electrostatic dispense system  700  may also include any of the features of the electrostatic dispense systems  100  (e.g., the material supply  110 , the container  118 , the controller  170 , etc.),  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500 , and  600  that are not mutually exclusive with the features of the electrostatic dispense system  700 , and vice versa. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the conveyor  750  of the electrostatic dispense system  700  may be a chain-on-edge conveyor  750 . The electrostatic dispense system  700  may include the manifold  349  mounted above the conveyor  750  and extending in a direction parallel to a conveying direction of the conveyor  750 . The manifold  349  may be mounted above the conveyor  750  via a support  160  that stands to the side of the conveyor  750 . The support  160  may include a cantilever. The electrostatic dispense system  700  may include the container  118 , having the voltage block  120  and the power supply  130  contained therein. The container  118  may be provided adjacent to the conveyor  750  and may supply the electrostatic coating material to the hose  148  and from the hose  148  to the manifold  349  for dispensing on the food product FP. 
     The chain-on-edge conveyor  750  may include a motor operatively connected to a drive system  792  (having any of, e.g., a rail, a belt, a chain, etc.). The chain-on-edge conveyor  750  may further include a plurality of stakes  799  that extend vertically from the drive system  792  and that may hold food product FP thereon. The plurality of stakes  799  may be slideably connected to the drive system  792  and may be conveyed along the conveying direction and below the manifold  349  via the drive system  792 . 
       FIG. 10  shows an exemplary process  1000  of electrostatically dispensing onto a food product FP. The process  1000  may be used with any of the embodiments of the electrostatic dispense system discussed above, and aspects of the process  1000  may be automatically implemented by the controller  170 . At step  1001  of the process  1000 , the coating material may be supplied from the material supply  110  to the voltage block  120 . For example, the coating material may be pumped from the material supply  110  via the material supply pump  112 . 
     At step  1002 , the process  1000  may include electrically isolating the supplied coting material from the material supply  110  to provide an isolated coating material. For example, the supplied coating material may be stored in the reservoir  124  of the voltage block  120  and may thereafter be electrically isolated from the material supply  110  via movement of the shuttle  116 . After forming the isolated coating material, step  1002  may including forming an electrostatically charged coating material from the isolated coating material by electrostatically charging the isolated coating material. For example, the isolated coating material may be electrostatically charged by the power supply  130  in the reservoir  124  of the voltage block  120  and/or in the internal fluid pathway  144 . 
     At step  1003 , food product FP may be conveyed through or by the conveyor (e.g., the conveyor  150 ,  250 ,  350 ,  450 ,  550 ,  650 , or  750 ) and the electrostatically charged coating material may be pumped to at least one liquid outlet  142  to dispense the electrostatically charged coating material onto the food product FP. The electrostatically charged coating material may be dispensed continuously. In embodiments, the liquid outlet  142  may be a spray nozzle and the pump  172  may be controlled to form an atomized spray of the electrostatically charged coating material to coat the food product FP. The pumping of the electrostatically charged coating material may be initiated by a user manually, or automatically via the controller  170 . For example, the pumping of the electrostatically charged coating material may be initiated by the controller  170  in response to a sensed presence of the food product FP from the sensor  180 . In addition, the controller  170  may automatically control the flowrate of the coating material pumped to the liquid outlet  142 . For example, the controller  170  may receive a weight output (e.g., an electrical output from the feeder  190  representing weight of the food product FP as measured by the scale  192 ) corresponding to the weight of the food product FP fed to the conveyor. The controller  170  may automatically control operation of the pump  122  (e.g., by varying power applied to the pump  122  to control the pump speed) in response to the received weight output. The controller  170  may control the flowrate of the electrostatically charged coating materials to the liquid outlet  142  based on the weight output. The controller  170  may further receive a flowrate output (e.g., from the flow meter  182 ) corresponding to the flowrate of the electrostatically charged coating material pumped to the liquid outlet  142  for feedback control. For example, the controller  170  may include stored target flowrates for the electrostatically charged coating material for various weights/quantities of food product FP, and may iteratively adjust the pump  122  until the flow meter  182  indicates that the target flowrate has been achieved. 
     Step  1003  may further include dispensing the electrostatically charged coating material on the food product FP, while the food product FP is conveyed through or by the conveyor. In embodiments, an atomized spray of electrostatically charged coating material may be sprayed onto the food product FP. Accordingly, the electrostatically charged coating material may be dispensed onto the food product FP as the food product FP passes through or between the two ends of the conveyor. By electrostatically charging the coating material, the coating material may be attracted to the food product FP, which is not electrostatically charged, as the food product FP is conveyed through or by the conveyor. The attraction between the electrostatically charged coating material and the food product FP may improve the coverage of the coating material on the exterior surfaces of the food product FP, which may improve the efficacy of the antimicrobial control and may improve efficiency by reducing waste. 
     It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed machine. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the invention may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the invention or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the invention more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the invention entirely unless otherwise indicated. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.