Transport scheduling for low microbial bulk products

• US 8,577,492 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2012
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CF Am Holding, LLC
• 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:
  US13/343,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20120097191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 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:

comparing a low microbial wash (LMW) timing threshold for a low microbial (LM) bulk flour vessel against a next scheduled transport period for the LM bulk flour vessel, wherein the LM bulk flour vessel is located on a transportation vehicle, the LMW timing threshold being a maximum recommended amount of time between LM washes for the LM bulk flour vessel;

receiving an indication that the low microbial wash (LMW) timing threshold will be exceeded during the next scheduled transport period;

in response to the indication, causing a LMW process to be performed, wherein the LMW process includes;

removing vessel accessibility components from the LM bulk flour vessel, subjecting the vessel accessibility components to a sanitary solution bath, securing spinners to hopper openings of the LM bulk flour vessel, and actuating the spinners by forcing sanitary solution through the spinners to cause dispersion of the sanitary solution within the interior of the LM bulk flour vessel;

updating a LMW record for the LM bulk flour vessel to indicate a completion date of the LMW process.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising, after securing the spinners to the hopper openings, subjecting the LM bulk flour vessel to a rinse operation in association with a time threshold, wherein the rinse operation includes actuating the spinners by forcing hot water through the spinners to cause dispersion of the hot water within the interior of the LM bulk flour vessel.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the time threshold is at least 15 consecutive minutes and the hot water is at a temperature from about 140°

F. to about 215°

F.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the LM bulk flour vessel is located on a road vehicle.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the vehicle accessibility components include at least one member of a group comprising:

valves, caps, gaskets, lids, product lines and screens.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein causing a LMW process to be performed includes causing a computing device to schedule the LMW process.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein updating the LMW record includes causing a computing device to qualify the LM bulk flour vessel for transporting an LM bulk product.