Food preparation assemblies and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9560878-B2
Application number	US-201414268710-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2014
Priority date	Oct 14, 2008
Publication date	Feb 7, 2017
Grant date	Feb 7, 2017

Abstract

A food preparation assembly for use in cleaning food products generally includes a tank for holding washing fluid for use in cleaning food products positioned within the tank, and a pump in fluidic communication with the tank to provide movement of the washing fluid within the tank for use in cleaning the food products when positioned within the tank. A processing module is configured to receive settings from a user for cleaning the food products, and to monitor and adjust, as necessary, parameters of the washing fluid based on the user input settings. The processing module is also configured to report and/or store measured values of the parameters of the washing fluid in addition to select user defined input information (e.g., user defined wash settings, etc.). Labels may also be generated indicative of completion of cleaning of the food products by the food preparation assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A food preparation assembly for cleaning food products, the food preparation assembly comprising:
a tank for holding washing fluid for use in cleaning food products positioned within the tank;
a pump in fluidic communication with the tank to provide movement of the washing fluid within the tank for use in cleaning the food products when positioned within the tank; and
a processing module configured to receive wash cycle selections associated with cleaning the food products, a first wash cycle selection pertaining to at least one of the food products and a second wash cycle selection pertaining to at least another one of the food products, wherein the first wash cycle overlaps with the second wash cycle such that the at least one of the food products and the at least another one of the food products can be disposed in the washing fluid in the tank at the same time for cleaning.

2. The food preparation assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an intake and a discharge coupled to the tank in fluidic communication with the pump, the pump operable to remove washing fluid from the tank through the intake and then introduce the removed washing fluid back into the tank through the discharge.

3. The food preparation assembly of claim 2 , wherein the discharge includes a cover plate defining openings for introducing the removed washing fluid back into the tank through the discharge.

4. The food preparation assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first basket for holding the at least one of the food products and a second basket for holding the at least another one of the food products.

5. The food preparation assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a printing device in communication with the processing module, the processing module configured to:
direct the printing device to generate a first label, when the first wash cycle is complete, indicative of completion of cleaning of the at least one of the food products; and
direct the printing device to generate a second label, when the second wash cycle is complete, indicative of completion of cleaning of the at least another one of the food products.

6. The food preparation assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first basket and the second basket are each configured to releasably couple to the food preparation assembly at one or more different locations relative to the tank.

7. The food preparation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the processing module is configured to associate a first basket for holding the at least one of the food products with the first wash cycle, and to associate a second basket for holding the at least another one of the food products with the second wash cycle.

8. The food preparation assembly of claim 7 , wherein the processing module is configured to activate a first indicator when cleaning of the at least one of the food products in the first basket is complete, and to activate a second indicator when cleaning of the al last another one of the food products in the second basket is complete.

9. The food preparation assembly of claim 7 , further comprising the first and second baskets.

10. The food preparation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the processing module includes a user interface configured to receive at least one input setting corresponding to a type of food product to be cleaned.

11. The food preparation assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor in fluidic communication with the washing fluid for measuring a value of at least one or more parameters of the washing fluid.

12. The food preparation assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a system operable to adjust the value of the at least one or more parameters of the washing fluid.

13. The food preparation assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least one or more parameters includes pH and/or conductivity, and wherein the system includes an injection device in fluidic communication with the tank for adding wash agent into the washing fluid in the tank for adjusting the pH and/or conductivity of the washing fluid.

14. The food preparation assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least one or more parameters includes temperature, and wherein the system includes an evaporator coil in communication with the tank for adjusting the temperature of the washing fluid.

15. The food preparation assembly of claim 12 , wherein the processing module is in communication with the sensor and the system for operation to automatically adjust the at least one or more parameters of the washing fluid.

16. The food preparation assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a rinsing chamber for rinsing the cleaned food products after being cleaned.

17. The food preparation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pump is a first pump, the assembly further comprising a second pump in fluidic communication with the tank and operable to add wash agent to the washing fluid.

18. The food preparation assembly of claim 17 , wherein the processing module operates to activate the second pump to add the wash agent to the washing fluid based on a measured value of one or more parameters of the washing fluid.

19. The food preparation assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a third pump in fluidic communication with the tank and operable to add antifoaming agent to the washing fluid, the processing module being operable to activate the third pump to add the antifoaming agent to the washing fluid based on a measured value of one or more parameters of the washing fluid.

20. The food preparation assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cooling device for adjusting temperature of the washing fluid in the tank to a desired value, as determined by the processing module based at least partially on a measured temperature of the washing fluid; and
an injection device for adjusting pH and/or conductivity of the washing fluid in the tank to a desired value, as determined by the processing module based at least partially on a measured pH and/or conductivity of the washing fluid.

Assignees

• Duke Mfg Co

Inventors

• Bigott James W

Classifications

• A23N12/02 Primary

  for washing or blanching (A23N12/06 takes precedence; blanching methods A23B7/06) · CPC title

• A23L5/57

  Chemical peeling or cleaning of harvested fruits, vegetables or other foodstuffs (mechanical aspect A23N, A23P) · CPC title

• A23V2002/00

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

• B08B3/102

  with means for agitating the liquid (by agitating the container B08B3/042, B08B3/044, B08B3/045, B08B3/06) · CPC title

• B08B3/02

  Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays · CPC title