Sanitary manifold system and method for hygienically dispensing fluids
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B08B-009/02
B08B-009/04
B08B-009/32
출원번호
UP-0488754
(2006-07-19)
등록번호
US-7708838
(2010-06-03)
발명자
/ 주소
Carhuff, Peter W.
Dickinson, Edward L.
Harvey, Andrew C.
Kolvek, Edward M.
Masu, Takeshi
출원인 / 주소
Nestec S.A.
대리인 / 주소
Winston & Strawn LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
10
초록▼
The present invention relates to a method for dispensing of a microbiologically sensitive fluid, in particular low acid food fluid, in a hygienic manner so as to avoid micro-organism growth in the line dispensing the fluid as well as in any mechanical components of a dispensing unit that may enter i
The present invention relates to a method for dispensing of a microbiologically sensitive fluid, in particular low acid food fluid, in a hygienic manner so as to avoid micro-organism growth in the line dispensing the fluid as well as in any mechanical components of a dispensing unit that may enter into contact with the fluid. The invention hygienically supplies microbiologically sensitive fluid from a removable container that has a terminal connecting portion to a dispensing unit. The unit includes a coupling mechanism adapted to connect the terminal connecting portion and a component for delivering a cleaning or rinsing fluid within the terminal connecting portion. Thus, during cleaning or rinsing, the cleaning or rinsing fluid can be discharged within the terminal connecting portion up to a closing point of the container assembly, thus demarcating a closing point, downstream of which is a part that is maintained clean, and upstream of which is a part of the container that is maintained sterile.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A method for cleaning a microbiologically sensitive fluid dispenser, comprising: connecting a container assembly having a fluid passage that extends to a cleaning manifold at a terminal connecting portion of the container assembly, wherein the cleaning manifold has a discharg
What is claimed is: 1. A method for cleaning a microbiologically sensitive fluid dispenser, comprising: connecting a container assembly having a fluid passage that extends to a cleaning manifold at a terminal connecting portion of the container assembly, wherein the cleaning manifold has a discharge line and an interface port for establishing fluid flow between the fluid passage and the terminal connecting portion of the container assembly to the discharge line; providing a cleaning or rinsing fluid for cleaning or rinsing of the discharge line, providing a cleaning fluid line to supply the cleaning or rinsing fluid to the discharge line, providing a closing point within the fluid passage upstream of the terminal connecting portion of the container assembly to fluidly separate upstream and downstream parts of the container assembly, wherein the downstream part is to be cleaned, and the upstream part is maintained sterile; allowing the cleaning or rinsing fluid to flow within the terminal connecting portion up to the closing point; mounting within the terminal connecting portion a projection member that is able to protrude past the interface port within the terminal connecting portion; moving the projection member to an inserted position past the interface port and terminal connecting portion and into the downstream part to deliver cleaning or rinsing fluid therein so that the microbiologically sensitive fluid can be removed as the cleaning or rinsing fluid passes through the interface port and terminal connection portion and into the fluid passage up to the closing point before exiting through the discharge line; and reciprocating the projection member from the inserted position to a retracted position whereby the projection member is inset relative to the interface port to enable delivery of the microbiologically sensitive fluid from the container to the discharge line, wherein the projection member can be returned back to the inserted position when cleaning or rinsing of the interface port, terminal connection portion and downstream part is desired. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising cleaning an outside, non-sterile part of the container which interfaces with the cleaning manifold using the cleaning fluid before opening the container, wherein the projection member is in a retracted position during cleaning of the outside, non-sterile part. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising connecting the cleaning fluid line to a supply of cleaning or rinsing fluid. 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising cleaning or rinsing the discharge line periodically. 5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising automatically controlling the cleaning or rinsing fluid in order to run a cleaning cycle at regular intervals. 6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising manually conducting the cleaning or rinsing. 7. The method according to claim 3, further comprising introducing a chemical solution into the discharge line followed by subsequently rinsing the discharge line with water to remove all micro-organisms. 8. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises promoting return of the cleaning or rinsing fluid through the terminal connecting portion by extending the discharge line from a chamber located about the projection member. 9. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises reciprocating the projection member by means of an actuator to move the projection between the retracted and inserted positions. 10. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises providing a milk-based concentrate as the microbiologically sensitive fluid. 11. A method for cleaning a microbiologically sensitive fluid dispensing system, which comprises: providing a container having a microbiologically sensitive fluid therein and a fluid delivery tube connected to the container, wherein the fluid delivery tube has a terminal connecting portion; providing a dispensing and cleaning system for receiving the microbiologically sensitive fluid from the terminal connecting portion of the fluid delivery tube and delivering such fluid to a dispensing line, the dispensing and cleaning system including a cleaning fluid line that engages the terminal connecting portion; forming a closing point in the fluid delivery tube, thereby preventing microbiologically sensitive fluid from moving through the fluid delivery tube at the closing point, wherein the closing point separates the terminal connecting portion and a terminal portion of the fluid delivery tube from a remainder of the fluid delivery tube; mounting within the terminal connecting portion a projection member to protrude within the terminal connecting portion; moving the projection member to an inserted position into the terminal connecting portion and past the terminal portion of the fluid delivery tube to deliver cleaning or rinsing fluid so that the microbiologically sensitive fluid can be removed as the cleaning or rinsing fluid circulates through the terminal portion of the fluid delivery tube, flushes the closing point, and passes through the dispensing line; providing a cleaning or rinsing fluid in the cleaning fluid line when the projection member is in the inserted position; moving the cleaning or rinsing fluid through the cleaning fluid line to clean or rinse the terminal connecting portion and the fluid delivery tube up to the closing point, while maintaining the remainder of the fluid delivery tube and container in a sterile state; and reciprocating the projection member from the inserted position to a retracted position whereby the projection member is inset relative to the interface port to enable delivery of the microbiologically sensitive fluid from the container to the discharge line, and back to the inserted position when cleaning or rinsing of the terminal connection portion is desired. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the microbiologically sensitive fluid is blocked from moving through the fluid delivery tube by applying a first force to a blocking member to compress at least a portion of the fluid delivery tube. 13. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises applying a second force to the blocking member to further assure closure of the fluid delivery tube when the cleaning or rinsing fluid is cleaning and rinsing the terminal portion and which second force is released after the supply of cleaning or rinsing fluid ceases, wherein the second force is greater than the first force. 14. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises connecting the cleaning fluid line to a source of the cleaning or rinsing fluid and fluidly blocking the fluid delivery tube at the closing point while the cleaning or rinsing fluid flows within the terminal connecting portion. 15. The method according to claim 14, which further comprises cleaning or rinsing the discharge line periodically. 16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising automatically controlling the cleaning or rinsing fluid in order to run a cleaning cycle at regular intervals. 17. The method according to claim 14, which further comprises manually conducting the cleaning or rinsing. 18. The method according to claim 14, which further comprises introducing a chemical solution into the discharge line followed by subsequently rinsing the discharge line with water to remove all micro-organisms. 19. The method according to claim 11, which further comprises providing a milk-based concentrate as the microbiologically sensitive fluid.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (10)
Schroeder Alfred A., Aseptic product dispensing system.
Carhuff, Peter W.; Masu, Takeshi; Clyde, Gene; Dickinson, Edward L.; Harvey, Andrew C.; Kolvek, Edward M.; Lago, Michael H., Clean-in-place automated food or beverage dispenser.
Hicks Robert C. (273 Green Hill Rd. Telford PA 18969) Benyaker Raymond M. (117 Cantebury La. Lansdale PA 19446), Cleaning system for beverage delivery conduits.
Jamgochian Ralph (Dallas PA) Oley Leonard (Hunlock Creek PA) Stachnik Joseph (Moscow PA) Tutella Alfred L. (Plains PA), Combination hot and cold drink machine.
Phallen, Iver J.; Vogt, Douglas N.; Comfort, Robert; Jezuit, Jr., Richard J.; Messing, David C.; McIlhagga, Scott; Carroll, David J., High speed beverage dispensing method and apparatus.
Mueller Martin J. (Palm Harbor FL) Mueller Martin (Wonder Lake IL), Sterilizable valve assembly for dispensing fluid materials and a method of operating the valve assembly.
Smeller, Donald W.; Jennings, III, Jarrell L.; Robinson, Robert L.; Good, Merrill R.; Hernandez, George E., Method and apparatus for dispensing a beverage from a liquid concentrate.
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