Aseptic dosing system
The present application provides an aseptic dosing system for dispensing a micro-ingredient. The aseptic dosing system may include a micro-ingredient source adapted to dispense the micro-ingredient, a sterilizer downstream of the micro-ingredient source configured to sterilize the micro-ingredient, and a nozzle downstream of the sterilizer configured to reconstitute the micro-ingredient in or downstream thereof.
1. An aseptic dosing system for dispensing a plurality of micro-ingredients, comprising:
a micro-ingredient source adapted to dispense the plurality of micro-ingredients;
wherein the plurality of micro-ingredients comprises a reconstitution ratio of about ten to one or greater;
a sterilizer downstream of the micro-ingredient source;
wherein the sterilizer is configured to sterilize the plurality of micro-ingredients;
a nozzle downstream of the sterilizer;
wherein the nozzle is configured to reconstitute the plurality of micro-ingredients in or downstream thereof;
a macro-ingredient source in communication with the nozzle; and
a diluent source in communication with the nozzle.
2. The aseptic dosing system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of macro-ingredient sources in communication with the nozzle.
3. The aseptic dosing system of claim 1 , further comprising a pump downstream of the sterilizer.
4. The aseptic dosing system of claim 1 , further comprising a pump upstream of the sterilizer.
5. The aseptic dosing system of claim 1 , further comprising a sterilized container downstream of the nozzle.
6. The aseptic dosing system of claim 1 , further comprising a sterile zone and wherein the nozzle is positioned within the sterile zone.
7. The aseptic dosing system of claim 1 , wherein the sterilizer comprises a mesh.
8. The aseptic dosing system of claim 7 , wherein the mesh comprises openings of less than about 0.45 microns.
9. The aseptic dosing system of claim 1 , wherein the sterilizer comprises a pasteurizer.
10. The aseptic dosing system of claim 9 , wherein the pasteurizer comprises a microwave pasteurizer.
11. The aseptic dosing system of claim 1 , wherein the sterilizer comprises an electron beam sterilization system.
12. The aseptic dosing system of claim 1 , wherein the sterilizer comprises an ultraviolet light system.
13. The aseptic dosing system of claim 1 , wherein the sterilizer comprises a high pressure system.
14. An aseptic filling method, comprising:
providing a plurality of micro-ingredients;
wherein the plurality of micro-ingredients comprises a reconstitution ratio of about ten to one or greater;
passing the micro-ingredients through a sterilizer;
flowing the sterilized micro-ingredients to a nozzle;
reconstituting the sterilized micro-ingredients in or downstream of the nozzle with a diluent; and
mixing one or more macro-ingredients in or downstream of the nozzle.
15. The aseptic filling method of claim 14 , wherein the step of passing one of the micro-ingredients through a sterilizer comprises passing one of the micro-ingredients through a mesh.
16. The aseptic filling method of claim 14 , wherein the step of passing one of the micro-ingredients through a sterilizer comprises passing one of the micro-ingredients through a pasteurizer.
17. The aseptic filling method of claim 14 , wherein the step of passing one of the micro-ingredients through a sterilizer comprises passing one of the micro-ingredients through an electron beam sterilization system.
18. The aseptic filling method of claim 14 , wherein the step of passing one of the micro-ingredients through a sterilizer comprises passing one of the micro-ingredients through an ultraviolet light system.
19. The aseptic filling method of claim 14 , wherein the step of passing one of the micro-ingredients through a sterilizer comprises passing one of the micro-ingredients through a high pressure system.