Food processing plant controlled on the basis of set-point parameters

• US 5,946,922 A
• Filed: 08/26/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude (L'Air Liquide SA)
• Original Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude (L'Air Liquide SA)
• Inventors: Germain, Jean-Pierre, Fraysse, Sylvie, Viard, Nicolas, Gammal, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US08/917,703
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 236/51, 62/126-127, 62/50.2, 62/223, 62/64, 165/209, 340/825.06
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/36 Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/361 the materials being transported through or in the apparatus, with or without shaping, e.g. in form of powder, granules, or flakes moving on the spot only A23L3/363
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/375 with direct contact between the food and the chemical, e.g. liquid nitrogen, at cryogenic temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/001 for cryogenic fluid systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/008 Alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/11 with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space

Abstract

A food processing plant includes a food processing apparatus. The food processing apparatus including a device for setting set-point parameters for operation of the apparatus and a device for controlling operation of the apparatus based on the set-point parameters. The plant also includes a device for acquiring information relating to actual operation of the food processing apparatus, a unit for monitoring the apparatus, the unit being located remote from the apparatus and including a device for detecting anomalies in operation of the apparatus, and a device for communicating the information relating to the actual operation of the apparatus from the apparatus to the remote monitoring unit.

Claims

1. A food processing plant, comprising:

a food processing apparatus, the food processing apparatus including means for setting set-point parameters for operation of the apparatus and means for controlling operation of the apparatus based on the set-point parameters;

means for acquiring information relating to actual operation of the food processing apparatus;

a unit for monitoring the apparatus, the unit being located remote from the apparatus and including means for detecting anomalies in operation of the apparatus; and

means for communicating the information relating to the actual operation of the apparatus from the apparatus to the remote monitoring unit,

wherein the apparatus is a cryogenic type deep-freezing tunnel and the information acquiring means includes means for acquiring at least one of a temperature in a chamber of the tunnel, a quantity of cryogenic fluid consumed, a rate of outflow of vaporized cryogenic fluid and a state of operation of at least one function device of the tunnel.

2. Plant according to claim 1, wherein the tunnel includes a conveyor for transporting food to be processed and the information acquiring means includes a sensor for detecting movement of the conveyor.

3. Plant according to claim 1, wherein the at least one function device is a valve.

4. A food processing plant, comprising:

a food processing apparatus, the food processing apparatus including means for setting set-point parameters for operation of the apparatus and means for controlling operation of the apparatus based on the set-point parameters,

means for acquiring information relating to actual operation of the food processing apparatus;

a unit for monitoring the apparatus, the unit being located remote from the apparatus and including means for detecting anomalies in operation of the apparatus; and

means for communicating the information relating to the actual operation of the apparatus from the apparatus to the remote monitoring unit,

wherein the apparatus is an apparatus for dispensing precise quantities of a cryogenic liquid, and the information acquiring means includes means for detecting a state of operation of at least one functional device of the apparatus.

5. Plant according to claim 4, wherein the cryogenic liquid is liquid nitrogen.

6. Plant according to claim 5, wherein the at least one functional device is a valve.

7. Plant according to claim 4, wherein the at least one functional device is a valve.