US 12,317,901 B2
Automated monitoring and control of food processing systems
Tim Yeaman, Russellville, AR (US)
Assigned to SAFE FOODS CORPORATION, North Little Rock, AR (US)
Filed by SAFE FOODS CORPORATION, North Little Rock, AR (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/524,285.
Application 18/524,285 is a continuation of application No. 17/533,863, filed on Nov. 23, 2021, granted, now 11,832,622.
Application 17/533,863 is a continuation of application No. 16/481,022, granted, now 11,213,040, issued on Jan. 4, 2022, previously published as PCT/US2018/015042, filed on Jan. 24, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/452,214, filed on Jan. 30, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0090518 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A22C 21/06 (2006.01); A22B 7/00 (2006.01); A22C 21/00 (2006.01); A23B 4/06 (2006.01); A23B 4/20 (2006.01); A23B 4/30 (2006.01); G05B 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC A22C 21/06 (2013.01) [A22B 7/008 (2013.01); A22C 21/0061 (2013.01); A23B 4/06 (2013.01); A23B 4/20 (2013.01); A23B 4/30 (2013.01); G05B 15/02 (2013.01); A23V 2002/00 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
receiving, via a communication network, data from one or more controllers of each food processing system of a remote food processing facility during operation of the food processing system, wherein the food processing systems each comprise a plurality of subsystems corresponding to different stages of a workpiece treatment process;
based on the received data, monitoring values of one or more operating parameters for each subsystem as workpieces are processed by that subsystem over one or more stages of the workpiece treatment process, wherein the one or more operating parameters are selected by the user from a list of available operating parameters provided via an options menu of the GUI of the client application executable at the user's computing device, and the GUI includes a dashboard view for presenting information related to the operation of the food processing system over a specified time period and, 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 workpieces over one or more stages of the workpiece treatment process;
detecting at least one event of interest occurring during the operation of at least one subsystem of the remote food processing facility over at least one stage of the workpiece treatment process, based on the monitored values of the one or more operating parameters;
sending a notification of the detected event to a computing device of a user associated with the at least one subsystem, wherein the notification is sent to the user's computing device for display via a graphical user interface (GUI) of a client application executable at the user's computing device, and the user interacts with the GUI for controlling the configuration of the at least one subsystem; and
responsive to receiving a command from the user's computing device for adjusting the configuration of the at least one subsystem based on the detected event, transmitting, via the communication network to the corresponding one or more controllers of the at least one subsystem at the remote food processing facility, control signals for adjusting a configuration of the at least one subsystem 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 such that the dilution ratio stays within a predetermined range for the at least one stage of the workpiece treatment process.