Anti-microbial application equipment with controls

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10368556-B2
Application number	US-201615349789-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2016
Priority date	Sep 9, 2014
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A control system for monitoring an antimicrobial application system may include a controller having a monitoring program including an operations unit and an interface unit. The operations unit may include a sensor module operatively coupled to a plurality of sensors positioned to detect operation data associated with the application system in real-time. An adjustment module may adjust the operation of the application system. An analysis module may analyze real-time operation data and initiate a specified response when the analysis indicates that a trigger event has occurred. The response may include issuing a notification to a notification device or initiating the adjustment module to perform a control operation to modify the operation of the antimicrobial application system. A remote monitoring center may control multiple and remote application systems. Mobile devices and a control panel may be operable to interface with operations of the antimicrobial application system via the control system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for monitoring operations of antimicrobial application equipment of an application treatment system, the control system comprising:
a controller configured to execute a monitoring program comprising an operations unit and an interface unit, the operations unit comprising:
a sensor module operatively coupled to a plurality of sensors positioned to detect real-time operation data associated with operation of the antimicrobial application equipment,
an adjustment module operatively coupled to the antimicrobial application equipment and configured to adjust the operation of the antimicrobial application equipment, and
an analysis module configured to analyze the real-time operation data and initiate a specified response when the analysis indicates that a trigger event has occurred, wherein the response comprises at least one of issuing a notification to one or more notification devices or initiating the adjustment module to perform a control operation to modify the operation of the antimicrobial application equipment; and

wherein the antimicrobial application equipment comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of:
a rotary screen filter comprising a rotatable, cylindrical body defined by a screen and into which antimicrobial treatment solution is received for filtration of solid components;
a plurality of spray nozzles positioned to direct antimicrobial treatment solution onto work pieces as the work pieces are conveyed through a spray cabinet;
a dip tank for containing antimicrobial treatment solution and a conveyer for conveying work pieces through the antimicrobial treatment solution contained in the dip tank;
a suction box configured to fluidically couple to a dip tank and including a sensor for sensing a level of antimicrobial treatment solution in the dip tank;
a capture unit comprising a series of activated carbon filters to filter antimicrobial component from an antimicrobial treatment solution; and
a capture unit comprising a series of activated carbon filters each including a header having a plurality of arms defining fluid ports for distributing antimicrobial treatment solution over the activated carbon.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the notification comprises one of an audible alarm, visual alarm, text message, and email.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein analysis of the real-time operation data comprises a comparison of the real-time operation data or an operational condition derived therefrom with a set point pre-defined in the monitoring program.

4. The control system of claim 3 , wherein the set point comprise one of depth of antimicrobial treatment solution in a dip tank, depth of work pieces submerged in the dip tank during treatment, duration of treatment of work pieces conveyed through the dip tank, number of work pieces treated, and agitation jet pressure supplied to the dip tank.

5. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a plant controller and a multi-plant controller, wherein the multi-plant controller is configured to remotely monitor and control operations of multiple anti-microbial treatment systems, wherein the plant controller comprises the sensor module and the adjustment module and the multi-plant controller comprises the analysis module, and wherein the plant controller is configured to transmit the real-time operation data to the multi-plant controller for remote analysis by the analysis module.

6. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the interface unit is configured to provide a remote interface to authorized access devices to access the monitoring program, and wherein the remote interface is operable to allow authorized access devices to define or control operations of the operation unit including at least one of collecting real-time operation data with the sensor module and performing an adjustment of an operation of the antimicrobial application equipment with the adjustment module.

7. The control system of claim 6 , wherein the remote interface is operable to allow authorized access devices to one or more of adjust an operation of the antimicrobial application equipment, define administrative parameters used by the analysis module to analyze operation data, define set points, and define administrative decision rules.

8. The control system of claim 6 , wherein the interface unit comprises multiple access levels providing different functionalities to authorized access devices for each access level.

9. The control system of claim 8 , wherein the access levels are limited by location of the access device.

Assignees

• Safe Foods Corp

Inventors

• Massey Justin
• Yeaman Tim

Classifications

• A23B4/30 Primary

  by spraying of liquids · CPC title

• G01N33/00

  Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00 · CPC title

• G01F23/0015

  with a whistle or other sonorous signal · CPC title

• G01F23/00

  Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm · CPC title

• A23V2002/00

  Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs · CPC title