Transport scheduling for low microbial bulk products

• US 8,577,490 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ardent Mills LLC (CHS Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ConAgra Foods Food Ingredients Company Incorporated (Givaudan SA)
• Inventors: Mariniello, Robert, Akins-Lewenthal, Edith D., Warren, Benjamin, Grace, Ryan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): KWAK, DEAN P
• Application Number:
  US13/010,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20110307092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 700/1, 700/14, 700/90, 700/115, 700/216, 700/273, 702/1, 702/127, 705/330, 705/332, 705/7.21, 436/1, 436/8, 436/20, 436/183, 422/1, 422/3, 422/12, 422/13, 422/105, 422/119, 134/22.1
• US Class Current: 700/113
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/04 Cleaning involving contact with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/10 Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing

Abstract

Transport scheduling and transport processes for low microbial (“LM”) bulk products are described. The transport scheduling and processes facilitate low microbial activity in a LM bulk product during the transport of the LM bulk product.

Claims

1. A process comprising:

receiving a transportation request for the shipment of a low microbial (LM) bulk flour;

determining a vehicle transport period based on the transportation request, wherein the vehicle transport period begins on a load-out date and expires on a receipt date;

identifying an available vehicle for the transportation period;

obtaining a low microbial wash (LMW) timing threshold that is based on a predetermined microbial baseline for the LM bulk flour, wherein the LMW timing threshold is a maximum recommended amount of time between LM washes;

comparing the LMW timing threshold to a LMW record for the available vehicle to determine whether the LMW record for the available vehicle is within the LMW timing threshold for the transport period;

when the LMW record for the available vehicle is within the LMW timing threshold for the transport period, qualifying the available vehicle for the shipment of the LM bulk flour; and

when the LMW record for the available vehicle is not within the LMW timing threshold for the transport period, causing a LMW process to be performed, wherein the LMW process includes;

removing vessel accessibility components from the vehicle,

subjecting the vessel accessibility components to a sanitary solution bath,

securing spinners to hopper openings of the vehicle,

actuating the spinners by forcing sanitary solution through the spinners to

cause dispersion of the sanitary solution within the interior of the vehicle, and qualifying the vehicle for the shipment of the LM bulk flour.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the sanitary solution bath is an ammonia based sanitizer at a concentration from about 150 ppm to about 450 ppm.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the sanitary solution bath is a benzalkonium chloride compound at a concentration from about 150 ppm to about 450 ppm.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a road vehicle.