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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 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An automated food product dispenser comprising: a housing; 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

What is claimed is: 1. An automated food product dispenser comprising: a housing; 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 to the nozzle and a product flowpath configured to direct the milk based product to flow from the mixing device to the nozzle, and a clean-in-place flowpath assembly physically located within the dispenser housing 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 fluid and product flowpaths. 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, further comprising a central controller including a timer to control a full cleaning-in-place process. 4. The automated food product dispenser of claim 3, further comprising a control panel, wherein the central controller is programmed to run the full cleaning-in-place process in response to user demand. 5. The automated food product dispenser of claim 3, wherein the central controller is programmed to automatically run a time-controlled delivery of one cleaning cycle of chemical cleaning agent through the product flowpath or at least one sanitizing cycle of heated fluid through the product flowpath. 6. The automated food product dispenser of claim 5, 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. 7. 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. 8. 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 product flowpath configured to direct 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 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 product flowpath, wherein the clean-in-place flowpath assembly further includes a buffer reservoir configured to receive a buffer volume of the cleaning or sanitizing fluid, and a line associated with the reservoir and configured to direct the fluid from the buffer reservoir through the product flowpath, wherein the fluid cleans the product flowpath through which it flows. 9. 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 product flowpath configured to direct the milk based product to flow from the interface connection through the mixing device to the nozzle, 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 product flowpath, and a water supply for producing the cleaning or sanitizing fluid. 10. 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 product flowpath configured to direct 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 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 product flowpath, further comprising a removable container that contains the source 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 to the product flowpath. 11. 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 product flowpath configured to direct 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 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 product flowpath, wherein the interface connection is 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; and connection means at the product inlet configured for hygienically and removably connecting the fitment of the milk based fluid reservoir to the fluid chamber. 12. The automated food product dispenser of claim 11, which further comprises 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. 13. The automated food product dispenser of claim 11, which further comprises projection means for promoting cleaning of the fitment and flexible hose portion up to the closing point. 14. 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 product flowpath configured to direct 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 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 product flowpath, wherein the mixing device includes a mixing bowl configured to collect the milk based fluid, water and other beverage forming components; and a mixer to mix the milk based fluid, water and other beverage forming components together to form the milk based product. 15. The automated food product dispenser of claim 14, 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. 16. The automated food product dispenser of claim 15, 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. 17. The automated food product dispenser of claim 14, 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. 18. The automated food product dispenser of claim 14, wherein the mixer 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. 19. 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 product flowpath configured to direct 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 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 product flowpath, wherein the nozzle is controlled by the controller to be positioned in either: a dispensing position wherein the milk based product is dispensed to a dispensing zone, or a cleaning position wherein the nozzle recirculates cleaning or sanitizing fluid or drains cleaning fluid from the mixing bowl. 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; 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 product flowpath configured to direct 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 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 product flowpath, wherein the interface connection comprises a fluid chamber that includes a cleaning fluid inlet for allowing the cleaning fluid to enter the chamber, a product inlet for the milk based fluid to enter the chamber and a product outlet for the product to exit the chamber to the product flow path.