Self-Cleaning Valve Assembly for Food Flow Path Sanitizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cleaning and sanitizing food flow paths in food processors are time-consuming and require significant manual operator input, especially with the increasing variety of beverages being offered in commercial settings, necessitating a more efficient and reduced-operator-input system.
Innovation Solution
A self-cleaning valve assembly is integrated into the food processor, allowing for automated and selective washing, rinsing, and sanitizing of the food flow path, with features such as a valve body defining multiple ports and seals to create a dead space for treating solution circulation, enabling efficient treatment without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual chemical dispenser systems are used to clean beverage lines, then cleaning effectiveness is achieved, but operator time and labor effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service cleaning by automatically circulating treating solution through the beverage lines without requiring manual intervention. The pump system autonomously moves cleaning solution from the reservoir through the lines and back, eliminating the need for operators to manually handle chemical dispensers while maintaining effective cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical chemical dispensing with an automated pump-driven circulation system. The pump mechanically circulates treating solution through controlled pathways, substituting manual operator actions with an automated mechanical system that achieves the same cleaning objective more efficiently.
2Reliability
If manual chemical dispenser systems are used to clean beverage lines, then cleaning effectiveness is achieved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service cleaning by automatically circulating treating solution through the beverage lines without requiring manual intervention. The pump system autonomously moves cleaning solution from the reservoir through the lines and back, eliminating the need for operators to manually handle chemical dispensers while maintaining effective cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system serves multiple functions: it circulates treating solution for cleaning, controls the timing of cleaning cycles, and manages the flow paths through different beverage lines. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate manual operations and simplifies overall system operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more beverage varieties are offered in commercial settings, then customer satisfaction improves, but cleaning time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to different beverage lines through programmable control. The pump can be instructed to circulate treating solution through any combination of beverage lines based on which lines are currently in use, allowing the same cleaning system to efficiently handle varying beverage inventories without increasing cleaning time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cleaning actions by automatically circulating treating solution through all beverage lines before new beverages are dispensed. This ensures that regardless of which beverage varieties are offered, the lines are pre-cleaned and ready, preventing contamination without requiring extended cleaning time.
Data Source
AI summary
A Clean in Place assembly for a food processor includes a self-cleaning valve assembly, wherein the self-cleaning valve assembly is in fluid communication with a food flow path in the food processor. The self-cleaning valve assembly includes a valve receiving chamber and valve configured to selectively fluidly connect a food flow path inlet port to a food flow path outlet port; fluidly connect the food flow path inlet port to a multivalent port; and fluidly connect a treating solution to a dead space between the valve and the valve receiving cavity. Food product can be selectively drained or retained in food flow path, wherein the self-cleaning valve can be continuously or intermittently exposed to a treating solution for treating non-food flow path portions of the self-cleaning valve assembly.