Back to results
US 12,022,852 B2Granted
Automated clean in process (CIP) system
AssigneeCms Technology, LLC
InventorsJordan Koerwitz, Daniel Marken, Douglas Kroitsch, Mark Bramlett, Drew Dalton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided are foodstuff treatment systems that are convertible between a processing mode in which foodstuffs are processed (e.g., disinfected) and a clean-in-place mode in which the system operates to clean material (e.g., biological buildup) that has accumulated within the system.
Claims10
A foodstuff treatment system, comprising:
- a first foodstuff treatment module, the first foodstuff treatment module configured to receive a foodstuff, a foodstuff disinfecting fluid, and a cleaning fluid;
- and
- a fluidic pathway, the fluidic pathway comprising:
- a delivery section configured to communicate fluid within the fluidic pathway in a direction toward the first foodstuff treatment module,
- a first supply section in fluid communication with the delivery section and associated with the first foodstuff treatment module, and
- a return section configured to communicate fluid within the fluidic pathway in a direction away from the first foodstuff treatment module, and
- the fluidic pathway being configurable for any one or more of:
- (State 1) communicating a foodstuff disinfecting fluid to the first foodstuff treatment module via the delivery section and the first supply section while the first foodstuff treatment module is in fluidic isolation from the return section;
- (State 2) communicating a cleaning fluid to the first foodstuff treatment module via the delivery section and the first supply section while the first foodstuff treatment module is in fluidic isolation from the return section;
- and
- (State 3) communicating the cleaning fluid to the first foodstuff treatment module via the delivery section and the first supply section while the first foodstuff treatment module is in fluidic communication with the return section,
- a controller configured to (a) modulate delivery of foodstuff treatment fluid via the delivery section to the first foodstuff treatment module, (b) modulate delivery of cleaning fluid via the delivery section to the first treatment module, or both (a) and (b), the controller includes logic that when executed causes the foodstuff treatment system to perform operations including any one or more of:
- (State 1) communicating the foodstuff disinfecting fluid to the first foodstuff treatment module via the delivery section and the first supply section while the first foodstuff treatment module is in fluidic isolation from the return section;
- (State 2) communicating the cleaning fluid to the first foodstuff treatment module via the delivery section and the first supply section while the first foodstuff treatment module is in fluidic isolation from the return section;
- and
- (State 3) communicating the cleaning fluid to the first foodstuff treatment module via the delivery section and the first supply section while the first foodstuff treatment module is in fluidic communication with the return section.
13 more elements
A foodstuff treatment system, comprising:
- a first foodstuff treatment module, the first foodstuff treatment module configured to receive a foodstuff, a foodstuff disinfecting fluid, and a cleaning fluid;
- and
- a fluidic pathway, the fluidic pathway comprising:
- a delivery section configured to communicate fluid within the fluidic pathway in a direction toward the first foodstuff treatment module,
- a first supply section in fluid communication with the delivery section and associated with the first foodstuff treatment module, and
- a return section configured to communicate fluid within the fluidic pathway in a direction away from the first foodstuff treatment module, and
- a second foodstuff treatment module, the second foodstuff treatment module configured to receive a foodstuff, a foodstuff disinfecting fluid, and a cleaning fluid,
- the fluidic pathway being configurable for any one or more of:
- (State 1) communicating a foodstuff disinfecting fluid to the first foodstuff treatment module via the delivery section and the first supply section while the first foodstuff treatment module is in fluidic isolation from the return section;
- (State 2) communicating a cleaning fluid to the first foodstuff treatment module via the delivery section and the first supply section while the first foodstuff treatment module is in fluidic isolation from the return section;
- and
- (State 3) communicating the cleaning fluid to the first foodstuff treatment module via the delivery section and the first supply section while the first foodstuff treatment module is in fluidic communication with the return section.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.