Automated monitoring and control of food processing systems
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Publication Number
US-11213040-B2
Publication Date
2022-01-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods for automated monitoring and control of food processing systems are disclosed. Data from one or more controllers of a food processing system is received during operation of the food processing system at a remote food processing facility. Values of one or more operating parameters of the food processing system are monitored, based on the received data. At least one event of interest occurring during the operation of the food processing system is detected, based on the monitored values of the one or more operating parameters. Control signals for adjusting a configuration of the food processing system are transmitted to the one or more controllers, based on the detected event.
Core Innovation
A control system receives, via a communication network, data from one or more controllers of each food processing system of a remote food processing facility during operation. The remote food processing facility includes a plurality of poultry processing systems corresponding to different zones for processing poultry over different stages of a poultry treatment process, including at least one of an evisceration system or a chiller system. The control system monitors values of one or more operating parameters for each poultry processing system as the poultry is processed over the stages within the corresponding zone, based on the received controller data.
The one or more operating parameters include a dilution ratio representing a concentration of antimicrobials relative to water within an antimicrobial composition applied to poultry carcasses by one or more antimicrobial treatment systems of the poultry processing system corresponding to the stages. The control system detects at least one event of interest occurring during operation of at least one poultry processing system over at least one stage of the poultry treatment process, based on the monitored values of the one or more operating parameters. The control system sends a notification of the detected event to a computing device of a user associated with the at least one poultry processing system for display via a graphical user interface (GUI) of a client application executable at the user's computing device.
The user interacts with the GUI for controlling the configuration of the at least one poultry processing system. Responsive to receiving a command from the user's computing device for adjusting the configuration based on the detected event, the control system transmits, via the communication network, control signals to the corresponding one or more controllers of the at least one poultry processing system. The control signals include signals for making appropriate adjustments to the concentration of antimicrobials relative to water within the antimicrobial composition such that the dilution ratio stays within a predetermined range for the stage of the poultry treatment process.
Claims Coverage
The provided partial set includes three independent claims: a method for monitoring and remote control (clm-00001), a system for monitoring and control (clm-00009), and a non-transitory computer-readable medium (clm-00015). Across the independent claims, the main inventive features are five.
Remote monitoring of poultry processing zones via controller data
receiving, via a communication network, data from one or more controllers of each food processing system of a remote food processing facility during operation, wherein the food processing systems include a plurality of poultry processing systems corresponding to different zones of the remote food processing facility for processing poultry over different stages, and wherein the poultry processing systems include at least one of an evisceration system or a chiller system
Monitoring antimicrobial dilution ratio as an operating parameter across stages
monitoring values of one or more operating parameters for each poultry processing system as the poultry is processed over one or more stages within a corresponding zone, wherein the one or more operating parameters include a dilution ratio representing a concentration of antimicrobials relative to water within an antimicrobial composition applied to the poultry carcasses by one or more antimicrobial treatment systems corresponding to the stages
Detecting events of interest based on monitored operating parameter values
detecting at least one event of interest occurring during operation of at least one poultry processing system over at least one stage based on the monitored values of the one or more operating parameters
GUI notification and user-controlled configuration command
sending a notification of the detected event to a computing device of a user associated with the at least one poultry processing system for display via a graphical user interface (GUI) of a client application executable at the user's computing device, wherein the user interacts with the GUI for controlling the configuration of the at least one poultry processing system; and receiving a command from the user's computing device for adjusting the configuration based on the detected event
Transmitting control signals to keep dilution ratio within a predetermined range
responsive to receiving the command, transmitting, via the communication network to the corresponding one or more controllers, control signals for adjusting a configuration of the at least one poultry processing system based on the detected event, wherein the control signals include signals for making appropriate adjustments to the concentration of antimicrobials relative to water within the antimicrobial composition applied during the stage such that the dilution ratio stays within a predetermined range for the stage of the poultry treatment process
Across clm-00001, clm-00009, and clm-00015, the independent claims cover remote receipt of controller data from poultry processing systems mapped to zones and stages, monitoring including an antimicrobial dilution ratio, detection of events of interest from the monitored values, GUI notification to a user and receipt of a user command, and transmitting control signals to adjust antimicrobial concentration so the dilution ratio stays within a predetermined range.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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