Beverage dispenser cleaning methods and apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for automating the cleaning and sanitizing processes of a food dispensing machine. The systems and methods may be set to run automatically and may keep a dispensing system cleaned and sanitized for an extended time. The systems and methods disclosed are designed to make cleaning easier for the operator, shorten the overall cleaning time, reduce the amount of labor involved, and improve the convenience, reliability, and repeatability of the cleaning processes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for cleaning at least one food dispenser, comprising:
 at least one water inlet;   at least one fluid outlet in communication with at least one fluid inlet;   a pump disposed between and in fluid communication with the at least one fluid inlet and the at least one fluid outlet;   a cleaning product inlet configured to controllably supply a cleaning product to fluid between the at least one fluid inlet and the at least one fluid outlet;   a discharge outlet configured to controllably drain fluid from the at least one food dispenser;   a first hose configured to connect to the at least one fluid outlet and to removably connect to the at least one food dispenser at a first location;   a second hose configured to connect to the at least one fluid inlet and to removably connect to the at least one food dispenser at a second location;   a system controller configured to operate the system, and to operatively connect with the at least one food dispenser; and   wherein the system is configured and arranged to circulate fluid through the at least one food dispenser to clean the at least one food dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises water, a cleaning solution, and combinations of water and cleaning solution. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first hose is configured to removably connect to the at least one food dispenser. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first hose is configured to removably connect to a spray head associated with a hopper on the at least one food dispenser. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising an outlet attachment connected to the second hose and configured to removably attach to an outlet on the at least one food dispenser. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a nozzle attachment connected to the second hose and configured to removably attach to an outlet nozzle on the at least one food dispenser. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first hose is configured to removably connect to the food dispenser hopper, and further comprising a nozzle attachment connected to the second hose and configured to removably attach to a food dispenser nozzle. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , where in the system controller is configured to selectively operate the at least one food dispenser during cleaning. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a cold water inlet, and a mixing chamber configured to mix heated fluid with the cold water to lower a temperature of the heated fluid to at or below a predetermined temperature before the fluid is discharged from the system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a gas inlet controllably communicating with the fluid outlet and configured to inject a gas through the at least one food dispenser to purge fluid therefrom. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a compressor, and wherein the gas is filtered air. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the system controller is configured to fill the at least one food dispenser with water, to agitate the water within the at least one food dispenser, and to discharge the water from the at least one food dispenser. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the system controller is configured to fill the at least one food dispenser with a heated cleaning solution, to circulate the heated cleaning solution through the at least one food dispenser for a predetermined period, and to flush the heated cleaning solution from the at least one food dispenser. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid heater disposed between the at least one fluid inlet and the at least one fluid outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning solution is heated to a temperature between about 140° F. and about 175° F. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second fluid outlet and a second fluid inlet, each configured to connect to a second food dispenser. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the system is configured to clean a second food dispenser at the same time that the at least one food dispenser is being cleaned. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system controller is configured to selectively operate the at least one food dispenser during cleaning, and wherein the first hose is configured to removably connect to the food dispenser, and further comprising a nozzle attachment connected to the second hose and configured to removably attach to a food dispenser outlet;
 a cold water inlet;   a chamber configured to mix heated fluid with cold water to lower a temperature of the heated fluid to at or below a predetermined temperature before the fluid is discharged from the system;   a second fluid outlet and a second fluid inlet, each configured to removably connect to and clean a second food dispenser separately from or in conjunction with a first food dispenser; and   a gas inlet controllably communicating with the at least one fluid outlet and configured to inject a gas through the at least one food dispenser to purge fluid therefrom.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the system controller is configured to fill the at least one food dispenser with water, to agitate the water within the at least one food dispenser, and to discharge the water from the at least one food dispenser, and is configured to fill the at least one food dispenser with a heated cleaning solution, to circulate the heated cleaning solution through the at least one food dispenser for a predetermined period, and to flush the heated cleaning solution from the at least one food dispenser. 
     
     
         20 . A system for cleaning at least one food dispenser, comprising:
 at least one water inlet;   at least one fluid outlet in communication with at least one fluid inlet;   a pump disposed between and in fluid communication with the at least one fluid inlet and the at least one fluid outlet;   a fluid heater disposed between the at least one fluid inlet and the at least one fluid outlet;   a cleaning product inlet configured to controllably supply a cleaning product to fluid between the at least one fluid inlet and the at least one fluid outlet;   a discharge outlet configured to controllably drain fluid from the at least one food dispenser;   a first hose configured to connect to the at least one fluid outlet and to removably connect to the at least one food dispenser at a first location;   a second hose configured to connect to the at least one fluid inlet and to removably connect to the at least one food dispenser at a second location;   a system controller configured to operate the system, and to operatively connect with the at least one food dispenser; and   wherein the system controller is configured to fill the at least one food dispenser with water, to agitate the water within the at least one food dispenser, and to discharge the water from the at least one food dispenser, and is further configured to fill the at least one food dispenser with a heated cleaning solution, to circulate the heated cleaning solution through the at least one food dispenser for a predetermined period, and to flush the heated cleaning solution from the at least one food dispenser.