Sanitary manifold system and method for hygienically dispensing fluids

• US 20040001906A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Masu, Takeshi, Dickinson, Edward L., Carhuff, Peter W., Kolvek, Edward M., Harvey, Andrew C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,121,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/130
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0321 using pressurised, pulsating or purging fluid E04F17/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/07 Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus B67D1/0834, B67D1/0837 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4259 With separate material addition

Abstract

The present invention relates to the 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 relates to a device for hygienically supplying microbiologically sensitive fluid from a removable container that has a terminal connecting portion to a dispensing unit. The device 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.

Claims

1. A sanitary manifold system for hygienically supplying a microbiologically sensitive fluid from a container to a dispensing unit, wherein the container is adapted to be connected to the system by a terminal connecting portion, comprising:

a housing,

a discharge line for delivering the microbiologically sensitive liquid to the dispensing unit,

an interface port for establishing connection from the terminal connecting portion of the container to the discharge line, and

a cleaning fluid line assembly for supplying a cleaning or rinsing fluid to clean or rinse the discharge line, and which includes a projection member arranged to deliver cleaning or rinsing fluid within the terminal connecting portion.

2. The sanitary manifold system according to claim 1, wherein the projection member is reciprocally mounted in the housing to move from a retracted position whereby the projection member is positioned relative to the interface port to an inserted cleaning position whereby the projection member protrudes past the interface port within the terminal connecting portion of the container.

3. The sanitary manifold system according to claim 1, wherein the projection member has a terminal spear adapted to puncture a closing membrane of the terminal connecting portion.

4. The sanitary manifold system according to claim 3, wherein the projection member comprises a plurality of cutting spines on the external surface of the spear.

5. The sanitary manifold system according to claim 1, wherein the projection member includes a fluid inlet, a fluid port and a tubular hollow conduit that extends therebetween to supply cleaning or rinsing fluid within the terminal connecting portion.

6. The sanitary manifold system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge line extends from the interface port to a discharge outlet, at least partially, by a chamber located about the projection member to promote return of the cleaning or rinsing fluid through the terminal connecting portion of the container.

7. The sanitary manifold system according to claim 1, which further comprises coupling means to watertightly secure a fitment of the terminal connecting portion of the container at the interface port.

8. The sanitary manifold system according to claim 7, wherein the coupling means comprises a spring loaded holder that has a complementary fit to receiving means of the fitment, a seal between the interface port and fitment outlet, and a pressure means urging the receiving means of the fitment against the seal.

9. The sanitary manifold system according to claim 2, wherein the projection member is actuated by an actuator adapted to move the projection member between retracted and inserted cleaning/rinsing positions.

10. The sanitary manifold system according to claim 1, wherein an external valve is provided proximate the interface port to maintain the hose and package sterile and isolated from the terminal connecting portion to allow cleaning or rinsing of the hose from the interface port up to the closing point of the valve.

11. The sanitary manifold system according to claim 10, wherein the valve is a spring loaded pinch valve that that closes a portion of hose at a pinch point to demarcate a sterile part of the container at the pinch point.

12. The sanitary manifold system according to claim 11, which further comprises an actuator coupled to the spring loaded pinch valve to raise the threshold tension value acting on the hose that exceeds the pressure caused by flow of cleaning fluid discharged within the terminal connecting portion up to the pinch point.

13. A combination of a sanitary manifold system and a container adapted to be connected to the system by a terminal connecting for hygienically supplying microbiologically sensitive fluid from the container to a dispensing unit, wherein the container comprises:

an aseptic source of microbiologically sensitive product,

a fitment,

a portion of hose connecting the source to the terminal fitment, and wherein the sanitary manifold system comprises the system of claim 1.

14. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the flow of the microbiologically sensitive fluid is controlled by a pinch valve that closes a portion of hose at a pinch point and wherein the projection member delivers cleaning or rinsing fluid inside the fitment and hose up to the pinch point.

15. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the terminal fitment is free of an internal valve and is closed by a puncturable membrane, and wherein the sanitary manifold assembly includes puncturing means to puncture the membrane and open the fitment.

16. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the sanitary manifold assembly includes coupling means and the fitment includes receiving means to engage the coupling an securely engage and lock the fitment at the interface port.

17. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the container comprises a package that includes a shelf stable milk-based concentrate.

21. A container adapted for hygienically supplying microbiologically sensitive fluid from the container to a dispensing unit and adapted to be removably connected to a sanitary manifold system of claim 1 comprising:

an aseptic source of microbiologically sensitive product,

a fitment,

a portion of hose connecting the source to the terminal fitment and a closing means that maintains the source aseptic before the first opening of the container.

22. The container according to claim 21, wherein the source of microbiologically sensitive product is a shelf stable concentrate of milk.

18. A method for hygienically supplying microbiologically sensitive fluid from a container, wherein the container assembly is adapted to be connected to cleaning means by a terminal connecting portion of the container, and wherein the microbiologically sensitive liquid can be dispensed from the container through a tube of the container to a discharge line of the cleaning means and a cleaning fluid line can be supplied to clean or rinse the discharge line, which comprises, during cleaning or rinsing, discharging the cleaning or rinsing fluid 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.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the cleaning or rinsing fluid is discharged within the terminal connecting portion of the container by a moveable projection of the cleaning means that is capable of protruding within the terminal connecting portion for cleaning.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein before opening of the container, the outside, non-sterile part of the container assembly interfacing with the cleaning means is cleaned by the cleaning fluid in a retracted position of the projection.

23. A device for hygienically supplying microbiologically sensitive fluid from a removable container comprising a terminal connecting portion to a dispensing unit, wherein the device comprises

coupling means adapted to connect the terminal connecting portion and,

cleaning means for delivering a cleaning or rinsing fluid within the terminal connecting portion.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the cleaning means comprises a projection member arranged to protrude within the terminal connecting portion.

25. The device according to claim 23, wherein the cleaning means comprises cleaning lines adapted to deliver a cleaning fluid selected among the group consisting of hot water, a chemical sanitizing agent and steam.

26. The device according to claim 23, wherein it further comprises heat sealing means arranged to engage and permanently seal a portion of the container.

27. A method for hygienically supplying microbiologically sensitive fluid from a container through a terminal connecting portion and fluid delivery tube, which comprises:

fluidly blocking the fluid delivery tube at a closing point; and

connecting a discharge line of a cleaning fluid line to the terminal connecting portion to supply cleaning fluid to clean or rinse the terminal connecting portion and a portion of the discharge line up to the closing point, while maintaining that portion of the fluid delivery tube and container in a sterile state.