Patent ID: 7520020

Claim:
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a top of a beverage can, said top of said beverage can having a lip therearound and a lip groove concentric with said lip and adjacent thereto, said cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an apparatus body, said apparatus body having a can-receiving cavity therein adapted for receipt of said top of said beverage can, said cavity having an outwardly-opening mouth and having an inner cavity end remote from said mouth with an inner cavity sidewall around said inner cavity end; said apparatus body having a plurality of first air jets opening into said inner cavity end, said first air jets being in communication with a source of pressurized air and being arranged substantially in a first circle having a first diameter; said apparatus body further having a plurality of venting ports substantially adjacent said inner cavity end and extending radially through said inner cavity sidewall from within said cavity to said apparatus body's exterior to permit escape of air from said cavity; (b) a valve interposed between said first air jets and said source of pressurized air for selectively allowing air to pass from said source of pressurized air through said first air jets into said inner cavity end; and (c) an axially-disposed actuator pin mounted for reciprocation with respect to said apparatus body and extending into said cavity and operably connected to said valve for reciprocating actuation thereof when said actuator pin is contacted by said can; said first air jets being oriented to expel air from said source of pressurized air onto said lip groove when said beverage can is contacting said actuator pin.