Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Process disinfecting – preserving – deodorizing – or sterilizing – Using direct contact with electrical or electromagnetic...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-04
2001-09-11
Warden, Sr., Robert J. (Department: 1744)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Process disinfecting, preserving, deodorizing, or sterilizing
Using direct contact with electrical or electromagnetic...
C422S022000, C422S026000, C422S028000, C422S186070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287515
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a cleaning and sanitizing assembly for food and beverage machines and more specifically to an in-place cleaning and sanitizing assembly for food and beverage automatic dispensing machines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ozone has been awarded GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status by the FDA as a food preservative and disinfectant to increase product yield and shelf life. Ozone's utility as a chemical replacement to chlorine and its related compounds for disinfecting food contact surfaces has also been recognized. Ozone is a stronger oxidant than chlorine and acts faster over a wider spectrum of organisms than does chlorine and its related compounds. Moreover, there are proposed new regulations tightening limits on disinfection by-products (DBPs) on food surfaces and discharged process water. The use of ozone for disinfecting food contact surfaces presents less potential for generating undesirable residues and DBPs than does chlorine. Despite these recognized benefits, the use of ozone for disinfecting food contact surfaces has been limited.
Dispensing machines, including frozen dessert dispensing machines, are subject to bacterial contamination. Food and Drug Administration regulations require that frozen dessert dispensers in commercial use be cleaned at least once per day. To thoroughly clean these machines, it has been necessary to completely disassemble substantial portions of the machine prior to cleaning. This disassembly can be time consuming and labor intensive requiring extensive training. Moreover, some of the disassembled parts have been left soaking in disinfecting solution sometimes causing pitting or other damage to the part thus shortening its life. Disassembly also poses a risk to the operator because of contact with the cleaning chemicals. Importantly, the consequences of improper or incomplete cleaning by an operator can be hazardous. For example, if the operator “misses a spot”, the cleaning solution is too weak, etc., there can be unchecked bacterial contamination. The cleanliness of the operator doing the cleaning is also significant.
Accordingly, there has been a need for a cleaning and sanitizing assembly and method that are simple to use and effective for cleaning and sanitizing automatic food and beverage dispensing machines. There is further a need for a cleaning and sanitizing assembly and method that permit the automatic dispensing machines to remain assembled during the cleaning process for cleaning and sanitizing in place. There is an additional need for a cleaning and sanitizing assembly and method that are fully automated to substantially prevent contamination caused by human error. There is a still further need for a cleaning and sanitizing assembly and method that may be added to an automatic dispensing machine as a stand-alone unit or as part of the manufactured or retrofitted automatic dispensing machine. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, it is an object of this invention to provide a cleaning and sanitizing assembly and method that are simple to use and effective for cleaning and sanitizing automatic food and beverage dispensing machines.
It is another object of this invention to provide a cleaning and sanitizing assembly and method that permit the automatic dispensing machines to remain assembled during the cleaning process for cleaning and sanitizing in place.
It is another object of this invention to provide a cleaning and sanitizing assembly and method that are fully automated to substantially prevent contamination caused by human error.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a cleaning and sanitizing assembly and method that may be added to an automatic dispensing machine as a stand-alone unit or as part of the manufactured or retrofitted automatic dispensing machine.
The cleaning and sanitizing assembly comprises, generally, at least one water line and at least one sanitizer line for introducing at least one sanitizer into the water from at least one water line to produce sanitized water for delivery to automatic food and beverage dispensing machines for in-place cleaning and sanitizing thereof. The assembly may also include means for dispersing the sanitized water into the automatic dispensing machine.
The at least one water line preferably includes both a hot and a cold water line from at least one water supply. Each of the hot and cold water lines flow through a valve, preferably an electronically-controlled solenoid valve, into a water metering device and then through a water conditioner before being added to the at least one sanitizer.
The at least one sanitizer line preferably is an ozone generation line. The ozone generation line includes an air filter/dryer, an ozone generator, and an air flow apparatus to introduce the ozone into the conditioned water.
The ozone generation line may be used alone or in combination with one or more other sanitizer lines that introduce a sanitizer other than ozone to the ozonated water through a pump before delivery to the automatic dispensing machine. Alternatively, such sanitizer lines may be used alone without the ozone generation line. Such other sanitizers include chlorine or other FDA-approved sanitizer.
The sanitized water, ozonated or otherwise, is delivered to the automatic dispensing machine and dispersed therein usually initially to at least one reservoir of the automatic dispensing machine and then to other areas of the machines. In a preferred embodiment, the sanitized water is dispersed into the reservoir through a rinse tube extending over the top of each of the at least one reservoir. Each rinse tube includes a plurality of slits for flowthrough of the sanitized water. The rinse tube is connected to the water supply line through a swivel union. The swivel union permits an operator to lift the rinse tube away from the reservoir should access to the reservoir become necessary.
Each of the at least one reservoir also includes an overlying cover placed over the at least one reservoir and rinse tube to substantially prevent splashing of the sanitized water. The cover may be fully removable or movably hinged to the top of each of the least one reservoir.
In an alternative embodiment, the sanitized water is dispersed into the reservoir through a spray nozzle extending downwardly into an upper portion of each of the at least one reservoir through an opening in the cover. The spray nozzle may be connected to the cover in a manner substantially blocking the opening so as to substantially prevent splashing of the sanitized water when using the spray nozzle. Along with the cover, the spray nozzle may also be moved away from the reservoir by the swivel union. In the alternative embodiment, the swivel union is connected to a spray nozzle inlet tube terminating at about a 90 degree angle in the spray nozzle.
Although dispersion into the at least one reservoir of the automatic dispensing machine has been described, it is to be understood that sanitized water from the cleaning and sanitizing assembly may be delivered to places other than the reservoirs of automatic food and beverage dispensing machines. For example only, sanitized water from the cleaning and sanitizing assembly may be delivered to hoses, etc. i.e. to any food and beverage contact surfaces.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4836420 (1989-06-01), Kromrey
patent: 5016446 (1991-05-01), Fieldler
patent: 5082558 (1992-01-01), Burris
patent: 5329950 (1994-07-01), Barinas
patent: 5636763 (1997-06-01), Furness
patent: 5690151 (1997-11-01), Rutter et al.
patent: 5706720 (1998-01-01), Goch et al.
patent: 5799832 (1998-09-01), Mayo
Koosman Jerome M.
Rudesill Brian R.
Mesa Technologies, Inc.
Soubra Imad
Warden, Sr. Robert J.
Weiss Harry M.
Weiss Jeffrey
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