Food preparation assemblies and related methods

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food preparation assembly for consistently cleaning batches of food products, the food preparation assembly comprising:
 a tank for holding washing fluid for use in cleaning a batch of 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 batch of food products when positioned within the tank; and   a processing module;   wherein the processing module is configured to receive at least one setting from a user for cleaning the batch of food products, and to report a measured value of at least one or more parameters of the washing fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The food preparation assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a printing device coupled to the tank for printing a label indicative of completion of cleaning of the batch of food products by the food preparation assembly. 
     
     
         3 . 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 the type of food product to be cleaned. 
     
     
         4 . 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. 
     
     
         5 . The food preparation assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a system operable to adjust the value of the at least one or more parameters of the washing fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The food preparation assembly of  claim 5 , 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. 
     
     
         7 . The food preparation assembly of  claim 5 , 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. 
     
     
         8 . The food preparation assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the processing module is in communication with the sensor and the system for operation to automatically adjust at least one or more parameters of the washing fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The food preparation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the processing module is pluggably coupled to the tank. 
     
     
         10 . 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 operating to remove washing fluid from the tank through the intake and then introduce the removed washing fluid back into the tank through the discharge. 
     
     
         11 . The food preparation assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a rinsing chamber for rinsing the cleaned food products after being cleaned. 
     
     
         12 . 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. 
     
     
         13 . The food preparation assembly of  claim 12 , 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. 
     
     
         14 . The food preparation assembly of  claim 13 , 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. 
     
     
         15 . 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.