IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0328826
(2002-12-24)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Carhuff, Peter W.
- Masu, Takeshi
- Clyde, Gene
- Dickinson, Edward L.
- Harvey, Andrew C.
- Kolvek, Edward M.
- Lago, Michael H.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
28 인용 특허 :
13 |
초록
▼
The invention relates to an automated food product dispenser comprising an interface connection configured to establish a supply of a milk-based fluid from a reservoir (for example, a container or a bag), a mixing device configured to receive the milk-based fluid and prepare a milk based product, a
The invention relates to an automated food product dispenser comprising an interface connection configured to establish a supply of a milk-based fluid from a reservoir (for example, a container or a bag), a mixing device configured to receive the milk-based fluid and prepare a milk based product, a nozzle in fluid association with the mixing device for dispensing the milk based product, a product flowpath configured for directing the milk based product to flow from the interface connection through the mixing device to the nozzle, and a clean-in-place flowpath assembly located in the dispenser and comprising a supply of cleaning or sanitizing fluid and a flowpath which is configured to deliver the cleaning or sanitizing fluid to or through the product flowpath. The invention also relates to a method of using and machine readable program for controlling the automated food product dispenser of the invention.
대표청구항
▼
1. An automated food product dispenser comprising:an interface connection configured to receive a supply of a milk-based fluid from a milk-based fluid reservoir; a mixing device configured to receive the milk-based fluid and prepare a milk-based product; a nozzle in fluid association with the mixing
1. An automated food product dispenser comprising:an interface connection configured to receive a supply of a milk-based fluid from a milk-based fluid reservoir; a mixing device configured to receive the milk-based fluid and prepare a milk-based product; a nozzle in fluid association with the mixing device to dispense the milk-based product, a milk-based flowpath configured to direct the milk-based fluid to flow from the interface connection through the mixing device and a product flow path configured to direct the milk-based product to flow from the mixing device to the nozzle, and a clean-in-place flowpath assembly located in the dispenser and including a supply of cleaning or sanitizing fluid and a flowpath which is configured to deliver the cleaning or sanitizing fluid to or through the milk-based and product flowpaths, a buffer reservoir configured to receive a buffer volume of the cleaning or sanitizing fluid, a loop line associated with the reservoir and configured to provide circulation of the fluid from the buffer reservoir through the product flowpath and back to the buffer reservoir, wherein the fluid cleans the product flowpath through which it flows, and a drain associated with the assembly to remove fluid therefrom. 2. The automated food product dispenser of claim 1, wherein the supply of cleaning or sanitizing fluid is produced within the dispenser by mixing a chemical cleaning concentrate, supplied from a concentrate supply, with water supplied from a water supply to generate a chemical cleaning agent for use as the cleaning or sanitizing fluid.3. The automated food product dispenser of claim 1, which is intended for operation at room temperature and which does not include a refrigeration or freezing unit associated with the milk-based fluid reservoir.4. The automated food product dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a clean-in-place system that includes:a buffer reservoir configured to initially retain the rinsing, cleaning or sanitizing fluid, wherein the clean-in-place flowpath assembly is configured in a loop to recirculate at a desired velocity the rinsing; cleaning or sanitizing fluid from the buffer reservoir in or through all or part of the product flowpath and then back to the buffer reservoir; a drain for selectively draining the rinsing, cleaning or sanitizing fluid; and a controller and a timer to time control the circulation of the rinsing, cleaning or sanitizing fluid through the clean-in-place flowpath assembly and to recirculate it to the buffer reservoir or to evacuate it to the drain. 5. The automated food product dispenser according to claim 1 further comprising a machine readable program containing instructions for controlling a dispenser to dispense a milk-based product, wherein the program comprises:means for preparing a rinsing, cleaning or sanitizing fluid within the dispenser, means for circulating the fluid at a predetermined velocity to or through the product flowpath of the dispenser to clean it, and means for recirculating the fluid through the clean-in-place flowpath. 6. The automated food product dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the machine readable program further comprises means for recirculating the rinsing, cleaning or sanitizing fluid in a loop from the product flowpath back to a buffer reservoir that receives a buffer volume of the fluid.7. The automated food product dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the machine readable program further comprises means for periodically draining and discarding the recycled rinsing, cleaning or sanitizing fluid from the dispenser.8. The automated food product dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the machine readable program further comprises means for directly directing the rinsing, cleaning or sanitizing fluid to a mixing bowl within the dispenser for cleaning the mixing bowl and the product flowpath that is arranged downstream of the mixing bowl.9. The automated food product dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the machine readable program further comprises:means for cleaning the mixing bowl by filling the filling the bowl to overflow with the rinsing, cleaning or sanitizing fluid; means for collecting fluid that overflows the bowl; and means for selectively directing the collected fluid back to the buffer reservoir to recirculate the cleaning fluid or to a drain to remove the collected fluid from the dispenser. 10. The automated food product dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the machine readable program further comprises means for automatically conducting circulation of the rinsing, cleaning or sanitizing fluid at periodic intervals of non-use of the dispenser or upon demand by a user.11. The automated food product dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the machine readable program further comprises means for pre-rinsing the product flowpath prior to circulation of the rinsing, cleaning or sanitizing fluid.12. The automated food product dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the machine readable program further comprises means for closing off a portion of the product flowpath so that remaining portions of the product flowpath can receive the rinsing, cleaning or sanitizing fluid.13. An automated food product dispenser comprising:an interface connection configured to receive a supply of milk-based fluid from a milk-based fluid reservoir; a mixing device configured to receive the milk-based fluid and prepare a milk-based product; a nozzle in fluid association with the mixing device to dispense the milk-based product, a milk-based flowpath configured to direct the milk-based fluid to flow from the interface connection through the mixing device and a product flow path configured to direct the milk-based product to flow from the mixing device to the nozzle, a clean-in-place flowpath assembly located in the dispenser and including a supple of cleaning or sanitizing fluid and a flowpath which is configured to deliver the cleaning or sanitizing fluid to or through the milk-based and product flowpaths, and a water supply and a heater, wherein the cleaning or sanitizing fluid can be produced by heating water from the water supply in the heater at a temperature effective to provide a cleaning or sanitizing effect. 14. The automated food product dispenser of claim 13, further comprising a central controller including a timer to control a full cleaning-in-place process.15. The automated food product dispenser of claim 14, further comprising a control panel, wherein the central controller is programmed to run the full cleaning-in-place process in response to user demand.16. The automated food product dispenser of claim 14, further comprising a removable container that contains the supply of chemical cleaning concentrate and is connected in the clean-in-place flowpath assembly to a shut-off valve that is controlled by the controller to deliver and, to optionally meter, an amount of cleaning concentrate that is delivered to a buffer reservoir for preparing the cleaning or sanitizing agent for the product flowpath.17. The automated food product dispenser of claim 14, wherein the nozzle is controlled by the controller to be positioned in eithera dispensing position wherein the milk-based product is dispensed to a dispensing zone, or a cleaning position wherein the nozzle is in fluid communication a buffer reservoir to recirculate cleaning or sanitizing fluid or to drain cleaning fluid from the mixing bowl. 18. An automated food product dispenser comprising:an interface connection configured to receive a supply of a milk-based fluid from a milk-based fluid reservoir; a mixing device configured to receive the milk-based fluid and prepare a milk-based product; a nozzle in fluid association with the mixing device to dispense the milk-based product, a milk-based flowpath configured to direct the milk-based fluid to flow from the interface connection through the mixing device and a product flow path configured to direct the milk-based product to flow from the mixing device to the nozzle, a clean-in-place flowpath assembly located in the dispenser and including a supple of cleaning or sanitizing fluid and a flowpath which is configured to deliver the cleaning or sanitizing fluid to or through the milk-based and product flowpaths, and a central controller programmed to automatically run a time-controlled delivery of one cleaning cycle of chemical cleaning agent through the product flowpath, followed by a time-controlled delivery of at least one sanitizing cycle of heated fluid through the product flowpath. 19. The automated food product dispenser of claim 18, wherein the controller is programmed to provide a pre-rinsing cycle in the full cleaning-in-place process that takes place just before the cleaning cycle.20. An automated food product dispenser comprising:an interface connection configured to receive a supply of a milk-based fluid from a milk-based fluid reservoir and being adapted to engage the milk-based fluid reservoir wherein the milk-based fluid reservoir includes a flexible hose portion and a fitment, the interface connection including: a fluid chamber having a cleaning or sanitizing fluid inlet that allows the cleaning or sanitizing fluid to enter the fluid chamber, a product inlet for the milk-based fluid to enter the fluid chamber and a product outlet for a milk-based product to exit the fluid chamber to the product flowpath; connection means at the product inlet configured for hygienically and removably connecting the fitment of the milk-based fluid reservoir to the fluid chamber; a valve adapted to be controlled by the controller to operatively engage the flexible hose portion to selectively block flow of the milk-based fluid at a closing point, and projection means for promoting cleaning of the fitment and flexible hose portion up to the closing point; a mixing device configured to receive the milk-based fluid and prepare a milk-based product; a nozzle in fluid association with the mixing device to dispense the milk-based product, a milk-based flowpath configured to direct the milk-based fluid to flow from the interface connection through the mixing device and a product flow path configured to direct the milk-based product to flow from the mixing device to the nozzle, and a clean-in-place flowpath assembly located in the dispenser and including a supple of cleaning or sanitizing fluid and a flowpath which is configured to deliver the cleaning or sanitizing fluid to or through the milk-based and product flowpaths. 21. An automated food product dispenser comprising:an interface connection configured to receive a supply of a milk-based fluid from a milk-based fluid reservoir; a mixing device configured to receive the milk-based fluid and prepare a milk-based product and including: a mixing bowl configured to collect the milk-based fluid, water and other beverage forming components; and a whipper to mix the milk-based fluid, water and other beverage forming components together to form the milk-based product; a nozzle in fluid association with the mixing device to dispense the milk-based product, a milk-based flowpath configured to direct the milk-based fluid to flow from the interface connection through the mixing device and a product flow path configured to direct the milk-based product to flow from the mixing device to the nozzle, and a clean-in-place flowpath assembly located in the dispenser and including a supple of cleaning or sanitizing fluid and a flowpath which is configured to deliver the cleaning or sanitizing fluid to or through the milk-based and product flowpaths. 22. The automated food product dispenser of claim 21, wherein the clean-in-place flowpath assembly further includes a mixing bowl feed line for directly directing cleaning or sanitizing fluid to the mixing bowl to clean the mixing bowl and the product flowpath that is arranged downstream of the mixing bowl.23. The automated food product dispenser of claim 22, wherein the clean-in-place flowpath assembly further includes one or more valves controlled by the controller to selectively open or close either the mixing bowl feed line or a portion of the product flowpath.24. The automated food product dispenser of claim 21, wherein the mixing bowl further includes an outer skirt that surrounds the mixing bowl and a fluid outlet connected to a downstream cleaning fluid evacuation conduit of the clean-in-place flowpath assembly,wherein the outer skirt is configured in a manner to collect fluid that overflows the bowl, and wherein the downstream cleaning fluid evacuation conduit is configured to selectively direct the collected fluid to the buffer reservoir to recirculate the cleaning or sanitizing fluid, or to the drain. 25. The automated food product dispenser of claim 21, wherein the whipper can be controlled to:run intermittently to assist in making the cleaning fluid overflow the mixing bowl when the whipper is in a turn-off mode and, to assist in driving the cleaning or sanitizing fluid through the bowl and product flowpath to the nozzle when the whipper is in a turn-on mode.
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