Cleaning and sanitizing assembly for clean in place food and beverage automatic dispensing machines and method for use thereof

Abstract

A cleaning and sanitizing assembly for automatic food and beverage dispensing machines is provided. The dispensing machine may be manufactured or retrofitted with the assembly. The assembly may also be a stand-alone assembly. The assembly includes at least one water line and at least one sanitizer line to introduce at least one sanitizer to conditioned water from the at least one water line. The at least one sanitizer may be ozone generated by an ozone generator from air filtered and dried in an air filter/dryer and then added to the water in an air flow apparatus. Other sanitizers may be added to the ozonated water or the conditioned water without the ozone. The sanitized water is introduced into the dispensing machine typically through a reservoir which normally contains the produce mix. The sanitized water is dispersed into the reservoir through a rinse tube or a spray nozzle extending across the top of each reservoir. Both the rinse tube and spray nozzle may be moved away from the reservoir should access to the reservoir become necessary. A cover over the rinse tube and spray nozzle prevents splashing of the sanitized water. From the reservoir, the sanitized water proceeds throughout the dispensing machine to self-clean food and beverage contact surfaces.