Method of guaranteeing at least one characteristic of a fluid used for producing food products

• US 7,393,380 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Air Liquide SA
• Original Assignee: L'Air Liquide SA
• Inventors: Ledon, Henry, Girardon, Philippe, Vie, Jean-François, Girault, Christel
• Primary Examiner(s): Greene; Jason M.
• Application Number:
  US10/497,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20050106062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,036 Days
• Field of Search: 95/1, 95/8, 95/11, 95/90, 95/96, 951/06, 952/67, 952/73, 952/78, 959/00, 961/08, 961/09, 961/10, 961/11, 961/12, 961/13, 961/14, 964/17, 964/19, 964/20, 964/21, 964/22, 964/18, 210/661, 210/662, 210/670, 210/690, 210/739, 210/767, 210/787, 210/85, 210/188
• US Class Current: 95/8
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/003 Control or safety devices for sterilisation or pasteurisation systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/405 by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/02 Food
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 21/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

A method for guaranteeing at least one characteristic of a fluid used for producing food products. This method utilizes a system for piping and delivering the fluid, combined with means for producing the products, in order to use the fluid for producing the products; the measuring a value of the characteristic; the comparing the measured value with a predetermined threshold value; the act of executing an action if the measured value departs from the threshold value; the combining the measured value with first information for identifying at least one product; and then the storing the associated value and the associated information.

Claims

1. A method for guaranteeing at least one characteristic of a fluid used for producing food products, comprising:

a) providing a system for piping and delivering the fluid, combined with means for producing the products, in order to use the fluid for producing the products;

b) measuring a value of the characteristic;

c) comparing the measured value with a predetermined threshold value;

d) executing an action if the measured value departs from the threshold value;

e) combining the measured value with first information for identifying at least one product; and

f) storing the combined measured value and first information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said action comprises issuing an alarm signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said action comprises at least one step carried out on at least one part of the system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said action comprises a step of cleaning and sterilizing at least one part of the system.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said action comprises a step of removing one part of the system and then replacing the removed part with a new part.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said action comprises a step of substituting one part of the system with another part of the system.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said part of the system is a source of the fluid.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said part of the system is a source of the fluid.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said action comprises a step of stopping the delivery of the fluid.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said system competes a device for purifying the fluid, wherein said characteristic is a characteristic relating to the purity, and the value of the characteristic is measured downstream of the purification device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said characteristic relates to the content of a physical, chemical, or microbiological impurity.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first identification information is intermediate and temporal identification information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said first identification information is delivered by a first clock, and further compulsion a step of associating second, intermediate and temporal, identification information delivered by a second clock with third, final identification information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first identification information is final identification information.