US-12623897-B1 - Clean in place system for a beverage dispenser

US12623897B1US 12623897 B1US12623897 B1US 12623897B1US-12623897-B1

Abstract

A system and method to automatically clean the lines of a beverage dispenser system by purging the beverage lines, then cleaning with detergent, purging again, sanitizing, and recharging the lines. The present invention has a series of reservoirs, pumps and solenoid operated valves all run by an automated controller which carries out the cleaning process without human intervention.

Inventors

Peter Ward
David James Keener

Assignees

Peter Ward
David James Keener

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20231027

Claims (10)

1 . A line cleaning system for a beverage dispenser, said line cleaning system comprising: a beverage dispenser system with a plurality of dispensing heads each head having a beverage reservoir, a dispensing conduit, a head valve, a solenoid operated cleaning isolation valve and a beverage pump and a head switch configured to operate the head valve, the solenoid operated cleaning isolation valve, and the beverage pump, wherein upon activations of the head switch the dispensing conduit is placed in fluid communication with the dispensing head, the solenoid operated cleaning isolation valve, the beverage reservoir and the beverage pump; a detergent reservoir, and solenoid operated detergent valve, all in fluid communication with each dispensing head, the solenoid operated detergent valve configured to selectively isolate the detergent reservoir from the dispensing conduit; a sanitizer reservoir, and solenoid operated sanitizer valve, all in fluid communication with each dispensing head and the solenoid operated sanitizer valve configured to selectively isolate the sanitizer reservoir and pump from the dispensing heads; a nitrogen reservoir; a plurality of nitrogen injectors, each nitrogen injector in fluid communication with the nitrogen reservoir, each dispensing head in fluid communication with one of the nitrogen injectors, the nitrogen injectors being configured to selectively isolate their respective dispensing head from the nitrogen reservoir; and a dispenser controller; wherein when one of the head switches is activated the dispenser controller opens the head valve of the respective dispenser head and activates the respective beverage pump, putting the dispenser head in fluid communication with the respective beverage reservoir, and following a timed delay the controller opens the nitrogen injector of the respective dispensing head, placing the nitrogen reservoir in fluid communication with the respective dispensing head.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising: wherein when the respective head switch is deactivated, the dispenser controller closes the dispensing solenoid operated valve, beverage solenoid operated valve and nitrogen injector of the respective dispensing head and stops the beverage pump of the respective dispensing head.
3 . The system of claim 1 further comprising: a water supply with a solenoid operated valve configured to selectively place the water supply in fluid communication with the dispensing conduits, a cleaner controller, wherein the cleaner controller is configured to, upon activation, communicate with the dispenser controller to lock out head switch control and nitrogen injection; the cleaner controller will then confirm water, detergent, and sanitizer reservoir are available, open the dispensing solenoid operated valve, open the water supply solenoid operated valve to flush the dispensing conduits for a predetermined length of time, then closes the water supply solenoid operated valve and open the detergent solenoid operated valve to allow detergent infused water to fill the dispensing conduit for a predetermined length of time, then close the dispensing solenoid operated valve, and the detergent solenoid operated valve, then after a predetermined length of time open the dispensing solenoid operated valve and the water supply solenoid operated valve for a predetermined time, then close the water supply solenoid operated valve and open the sanitizer solenoid operated valve for a predetermined length of time, then close the dispensing solenoid operated valve and the sanitizer solenoid operated valve, then after a predetermined length of time open the dispensing solenoid operated valve for a predetermined length of time, then close the dispensing solenoid operated valve.
4 . The system of claim 3 further comprising: a magnetic operated switch located on the dispensing head, and a shield, wherein when the shield is mounted adjacent to one of the dispensing heads, it blocks access to the dispensing head and triggers the magnetic operated switch allowing for the dispenser controller to know and to communicate shield presence to the cleaning controller.
5 . The system of claim 3 further comprising: a full sensor and an empty sensor on the sanitizer reservoir; and a solenoid operated water supply valve controlled by the cleaning controller configured to selectively put the water supply in fluid communication with the sanitizer reservoir.
6 . The system of claim 5 further comprising: a sanitizer storage bin connected to the sanitizer reservoir, and an auger mechanism controlled by the cleaning controller; wherein the auger mechanism is capable of moving sanitizer from the sanitizer storage bin to the sanitizer reservoir.
7 . The system of claim 6 further comprising: an agitator located in the sanitizer reservoir and controlled by the cleaning controller; wherein the when the empty sensor does not sense the presence of a liquid in the sanitizer reservoir, the cleaning controller adds water to the sanitizer reservoir by opening the water supply valve for the sanitizer reservoir, adds sanitizer by operating the auger mechanism and mixes the sanitizer and water by operating the agitator; and wherein when the full sensor senses liquid in the sanitizer reservoir the cleaning controller closes the water supply valve and stops operation of the auger mechanism and agitator.
8 . The system of claim 3 further comprising: a full sensor on the detergent reservoir; a container of detergent concentrate and a pump controlled by the cleaning controller and capable of pumping detergent concentrate from the detergent concentrate container to the detergent reservoir; and a solenoid operated water supply valve controlled by the cleaning controller configured to selectively put the water supply in fluid communication with the detergent reservoir; wherein the cleaning controller adds water to the detergent reservoir by opening the water supply valve for the detergent reservoir and fills the detergent reservoir with water until the level reaches the full sensor which then triggers the controller to close the water fill solenoid and turn on the detergent concentrate pump for a predetermined amount of time and then shuts off the detergent concentrate pump.
9 . The system of claim 8 further comprising: a level sensor on the detergent concentrate container; wherein the cleaner controller halts operation of the system when the level sensor on the detergent concentrate container does not sense liquid in the detergent concentrate container.
10 . The system of claim 3 further comprising: a water reservoir; a high level sensor on the water reservoir; and a solenoid operated water supply valve controlled by the cleaning controller configured to selectively put the water supply in fluid communication with the water reservoir; wherein if the high level sensor senses liquid in the water reservoir the cleaning controller closes the water supply valve.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY The present application is a Continuation in Part Application of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 18/081,866, filed on Dec. 15, 2022, entitled a Clean In Place System For A Beverage Dispenser which claims the priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/290,490, filed on Dec. 16, 2021, entitled a Clean in Place System For A Beverage Dispenser, which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a beverage dispenser system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clean in place system for a beverage dispenser. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Consumers are becoming more accustomed to an increasing array of premium flavored beverages. These beverages range from hot and cold coffees infused with nitrogen and cream-based flavoring to flavored teas and a wide range of premium beers. Regardless of the type of beverage, the dispenser must be maintained. One of the most neglected parts of this maintenance is cleaning the supply lines. These are the conduits which carry the beverage from their storage reservoir to the dispensing head. They often run from a refrigerated storage reservoir through an ambient temperature area to the dispensing head. Ideally these lines should be cleaned every few days. The exact interval between cleaning depends on a number of factors such as the type of beverage, sugar content, dairy content, hardness of the water used, temperature of the beverage and ambient temperature. If cleaning maintenance is delayed or ignored the taste and texture of these beverages can be negatively impacted. In extreme cases it can become a health issue and/or prevent the efficient operation of the dispenser. Manual cleaning of these lines requires a significant amount of labor to carry out the various steps. In a complete cleaning the line is purged with water. The line is then charged with a detergent solution, also known as a detergent, which is allowed to sit in the line to loosen and remove lime deposits. Next the line is rinsed with water to remove the loosened debris. The line is then charged with a sanitizing solution which is allowed to sit in the line to kill any germs and bacteria. The sanitizer is then rinsed from the line with water. Finally, the line is recharged with beverage prior to being put back in service. As can be imagined it takes a significant amount of time and effort to ensure these steps are carried out and the lines are properly cleaned. Most dispensers typically have several lines so that labor is further increased. What is needed, therefore, is a system that can automatically clean and sanitize these beverage dispensers without constant human intervention. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention achieves its objections by providing a system and method to automatically clean these lines by purging the beverage lines, then cleaning with detergent, purge again, sanitize, and recharge the lines. The exact cleaning sequence may vary depending upon product dispensed, product temperature, ambient temperature and various other service conditions. The present invention has a series of reservoirs, pumps and solenoid operated valves all run by an automated controller which carries out the cleaning process without human intervention. While the present invention can be used on any number of beverage dispensing systems, it is explained here on a system that dispenses a nitrogen infused beverage. Likewise, it can be used on hot or cold beverages dispenser. Often the difference between a hot or cold dispenser is the presence of a flash heater near the dispensing head. The flash heater raises the temperature of the beverage to an acceptable temperature for a “steaming” cup of coffee, cocoa or tea just prior to it being dispensed into a cup or other serving container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in further detail. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings (which are not to scale) where: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage dispenser system with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic of one dispensing head and its related equipment. FIG. 3 is a schematic of an alternate embodiment cleaning system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) The present invention is a system and method for automatically cleaning the supply lines on a beverage dispenser 20. Such dispensers 20 could have a single dispensing head or multiple dispensing heads 22. Similarly, it could be used to dispense hot or cold beverages. These could be uncarbonated, carbonated or infused with other gases such as nitrogen. In short, the present invention should not be viewed to be limited to a specific type of beverage or beverage dispenser system 20. For