CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application makes reference to and claims the benefit of the following copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/436,415 filed December 19, 2016. The entire disclosure and contents of the foregoing U. S. Provisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated by reference.

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to cleaning compositions which are toxicologically safe for contact with beverage making machines, especially the beverage ingredient dispensers of such machines, and which comprise one or more nonionic alkylpolyglycoside surfactants, one or more anionic alkyl hydroxyalkyl glucoside phosphate or anionic alkyl hydroxyalkyl glucoside sulfonate co-surfactants, one or more builders, one or more antibacterial quaternary ammonium chlorides or triamines, one or more pH adjusting agents, optionally one or more organic solvents for the antibacterial quaternary ammonium chloride, and when present, the balance being water. The present invention also generally relates to a method for cleaning all or a portion of the structural components, for example, the beverage ingredient dispenser {e.g., the structural component that dispenses, flavors, flavorants, syrups, etc) of a beverage making machine {e.g., coffee beverage making machine) with such compositions.

Background

[0003] Beverage making machines may be used to prepare, for example, flavored coffee beverages, "froth milk' beverages, etc. These beverage making machines may include various structural components for rapidly dispensing beverage ingredients, such as different flavored syrups, etc., into such beverages. Variations in the levels of these different ingredients in these flavored syrups may give these flavored beverages a broad spectrum of pleasant flavor and aroma experiences.

[0004] One such machine for making "froth milk" beverages dispenses milk and/or milk froth from a container of milk into which an extraction line is inserted. That extraction line may be connected, via a further line, to an emulsifying device through which the milk is dispensed and reaches a discharge nozzle. Steam may also be introduced into emulsifying device such that the milk is thus heated up and/or frothed up as it is dispensed and reaches the discharge nozzle. Such "froth milk" machines may be used in connection with coffee making machines, whether as a device functioning independently of the coffee making machine, or as a module integrated into the coffee making machine. The coffee making machine may be able to supply automatically different kinds of coffee beverages such as milk coffee, cappuccino, macchiato, unflavored black coffee, espresso, etc. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,475,628 (Lussi), issued January 13, 2009; U.S. Pat. No. 8,444,016 (Lussi), issued May 21, 2013.

SUMMARY

[0005] According to a first broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a product which is in the form of a cleaning composition, the cleaning composition comprising: from about 0.1 to about 30% w/w (exclusive of water) of a nonionic surfactant selected from one or more of: nonionic C8-C ₂₂ alkyl glycosides; or nonionic C ₈ -C ₂₂ hydroxyalkyl glycosides, wherein the glycosides have from about 1 to about 20 glycoside units; from about 0.1 to about 20% w/w (exclusive of water) of an anionic co-surfactant selected from one or more: alkali metal salts of C ₈ -C ₂₂ alkyl glycoside Ci-C ₆ hydroxyalkyl phosphates, or alkali metal salts of C ₈ -C ₂₂ alkyl glycoside Ci-C ₆ hydroxyalkyl sulfonates, wherein the glycoside has from about 1 to about 10 glycoside units; from about 20 to about 65% w/w (exclusive of water) of a builder selected from one or more of: poly(dicarboxylic acid co styrene) sulfonic acids; alkali metal salts of poly(dicarboxylic acid co styrene) sulfonic acids; citric acid; alkali metal citrates; gluconic acid; or alkali metal gluconates; from about 0.01 to about 5% w/w (exclusive of water) of an antibacterial agent selected from one or more of: C ₈ -Ci ₈ dialkyl C ₁ -C4 dialkyl ammonium chlorides; C ₈ - Ci ₈ monoalkyl benzyl Ci-C ₄ dialkyl ammonium chlorides; C ₈ -Ci ₆ monoalkyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; C ₈ -Ci ₈ monoalkenyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; C ₈ -Ci ₆ monoalkynyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; or C ₈ -Ci ₈ moncycloalkyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; and a pH adjusting agent in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH of the cleaning composition when in an aqueous liquid form to within a pH range of from about 8 to about 11.4.

[0006] According to a second broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a product which is in the form of an aqueous liquid concentrate cleaning composition and which is toxicologically safe for contact with structural components of a beverage making machine, the aqueous liquid concentrate cleaning composition comprising: from about 0.1 to about 20% w/w of a nonionic surfactant selected from one or more C12-C16 alkyl glycosides, wherein the glycosides have from about 1 to about 10 glycoside units; from about 0.1 to about 18% w/w of an anionic co-surfactant selected from one or more of: alkali metal salts of C12-C16 alkyl glucoside C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl phosphates; or alkali metal salts of C12-C16 alkyl glucoside C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl sulfonates, wherein the glucoside has from about 1 to about 10 glucoside units; from about 1 to about 12% w/w of a builder selected from one or more of: poly(itaconic co styrene) sulfonic acids; alkali metal salts of poly(itaconic co styrene) sulfonic acids; citric acid; alkali metal citrates; gluconic acid; or alkali metal gluconates; from about 0.2 to about 2% w/w of an antibacterial agent selected from one or more of: C12-C16 dialkyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides; or C12-C16 monoalkyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides; from about 0.1 to about 10% w/w of a pH adjusting agent selected from of one or more of: di-alkali metal salts of silicic acid; alkali metal carbonates; alkali metal hydroxides; alkali metal bicarbonates; or alkali metal silicate pentahydrates; from about 0.01 to about 2% w/w of an organic solvent selected from one or more Ci- C ₆ alcohols; and from about 35 to about 90% w/w water.

[0007] According to a third broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for cleaning all or a portion of the structural components of a beverage making machine, the method comprising the following steps: providing an aqueous liquid cleaning composition which is toxicologically acceptable for contact with the beverage making machine, the aqueous cleaning composition comprising: from about 0.1 to about 30% w/w (exclusive of water) of a nonionic surfactant selected from one or more of: nonionic C8-C ₂₂ alkyl glycosides; or nonionic C ₈ -C ₂₂ hydroxyalkyl glycosides, wherein the glycosides have from about 1 to about 20 glycoside units; from about 0.1 to about 20% w/w (exclusive of water) of an anionic co-surfactant selected from one or more of: alkali metal salts of C ₈ -C ₂₂ alkyl glycoside Ci-C ₆ hydroxyalkyl phosphates, or alkali metal salts of C ₈ -C ₂₂ alkyl glycoside Ci-C ₆ hydroxyalkyl sulfonates, wherein the glycoside has from about 1 to about 10 glycoside units; from about 5 to about 10% w/w (exclusive of water) of a builder selected from one or more of: poly(dicarboxylic acid co styrene) sulfonic acids; alkali metal salts of poly(dicarboxylic acid co styrene) sulfonic acid; citric acid; alkali metal citrates; gluconic acid; or alkali metal gluconates; from about 0.01 to about 5% w/w (exclusive of water) of an antibacterial agent selected from one or more of: C ₈ -Ci ₆ dialkyl C ₁ -C4 dialkyl ammonium chlorides; C ₈ -Ci ₈ monoalkyl benzyl Ci-C ₄ dialkyl ammonium chlorides; C ₈ -Ci ₆ monoalkyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; C ₈ -Ci ₈ monoalkenyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; C ₈ -Ci ₈ monoalkynyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; or C ₈ -Ci ₈ moncycloalkyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; and a pH adjusting agent in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH of the aqueous liquid cleaning composition to within a pH range of from about 8 to about 11.4; the balance of the aqueous liquid cleaning composition being water; and contacting all or a portion of the structural components of the beverage making machine in a manner and with an amount of the aqueous liquid cleaning composition of step (a) which is effective to clean that portion of the structural components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] It is advantageous to define several terms before describing the invention. It should be appreciated that the following definitions are used throughout this application.

Definitions

[0009] Where the definition of terms departs from the commonly used meaning of the term, applicant intends to utilize the definitions provided below, unless specifically indicated.

[0010] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "aliphatic" refers to a carbon- containing moiety other than an aromatic moiety. Aliphatic moieties may be straight chain, branched chain, cyclic (cycloaliphatic), or any combination thereof, may be substituted or unsubstituted, may include one or more heteroatoms {e.g., oxygen atoms, nitrogen atoms, sulfur atoms, etc.) in the carbon chain {i.e., may be heterocyclic), may be unsaturated {i.e., one, two or more double bonds, such as, for example, alkenyl, etc) or saturated {e.g., alkyl, etc), etc, and may have any desired number of carbon atoms, e.g., from 1 to 30 carbon atoms (which may be referred to interchangeably as Ci-C ₃ o). The term "long chain aliphatic" {e.g., "long chain alkyl," etc) normally refers herein to aliphatic moieties having from 14 to 24 carbon atoms (which may be referred to interchangeably as C ₁₄ -C ₂₄ ), etc. The term "medium chain aliphatic" {e.g., "medium chain alkyl," etc) normally refers herein to aliphatic moieties having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms (which may be referred to interchangeably as C ₈ -C ₁₂ ), etc. The term "short chain aliphatic" {e.g., "medium chain alkyl," etc) normally refers herein to aliphatic moieties having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms (which may be referred to interchangeably as Ci-C ₆ ), etc. These aliphatic moieties may include, but are not limited to, unsubstituted alkyl or substituted alkyl {e.g., hydroxyalkyl), alkenyl, alkadienyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, etc., and may include, straight or branched chain alkyl {e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, etc) and substituted alkyl {e.g., hydroxylmethyl, hydroxy ethyl, trifluoromethyl, alkoxymethyl, etc.), alkoxy, substituted amino {e.g., dimethylamino, etc), carboxy, ester, amide, sulfonamide, carbamate, acyl {i.e., aldehyde or keto), etc., or any combination thereof.

[0011] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "aromatic" refers to an unsaturated cyclic arene moiety containing one or more unsaturated cyclic rings (for example, 5 and/or 6 atoms per ring) that may be substituted, unsubstituted, or a combination thereof, may be heterocyclic (i.e., including one or more oxygen atoms, nitrogen atoms, sulfur atoms, etc.), nonheterocyclic, or a combination thereof, may have any desired number of carbon atoms, e.g., from 3 to 30 carbon atoms, for example, from 3 to 18 carbon atoms, e.g., from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, etc. Aromatic moieties may include, but are not limited to, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, binaphthyl, phenanthenryl, anthracenyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, pyrinyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, dibenzofuranyl, dibenzothiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolinyl, indolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzoquinolinyl, phenanthrolinyl (e.g., 1, 10-phenanthrolyl), carbazolyl, etc., and may include aromatics substituted with straight or branched chain alkyl (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, etc.) and substituted alkyl (e.g., hydroxymethyl, hydroxy ethyl, trifluoromethyl, alkoxymethyl, etc.), amino and substituted amino (e.g., dimethylamino, etc.), hydroxy (e.g., a phenolic), carboxy, sulfonate, ester, amide, sulfonamide, carbamate, acyl (i.e., aldehyde or ketone), nitro, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0012] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "glycoside" refers to organic compounds comprising one or more sugar groups known as glycones (hereafter referred to as "glycoside units"). Glycosides wherein two or more glycoside units are connected together are hereafter referred to as "polyglycosides." Glycosides may be in the form of glucosides, mannosides, galactosides, entosides, xylosides, arabanosides, etc.

[0013] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "nonionic surfactant" refers to those organic surfactants which have an uncharged polar end or head (e.g., a hydroxy group). Suitable nonionic surfactants for use in embodiments of the cleaning composition of the present invention may include one or more of: C8-C ₂₂ alkyl glycosides (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ alkyl glycosides); C ₈ -C ₂₂ hydroxyalkyl glycosides (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ alkyl glycosides), wherein the glycoside moiety of these glycosides has from about 1 to about 20 glycoside units, such as from about 1 to about 15 glycoside units. The glycoside units may be a glucoside units, a mannoside units, a galactoside units, entoside units, xyloside units, arabinoside units, etc. Commercial sources of these alkyl glycosides or hydroxyalkyl glycosides may include, for example, those sold/distributed by BASF under the trade names Glucopon 600Up (a C ₁₂ -C ₁₄ alkyl polyglucoside); APG® 325N (a C9-C11 alkyl polyglucoside), etc. See also, for example, U.S. Appln. No. 200801030383 (Dailey et al.), published May 1, 2008; U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,237 (Hei et al), issued August 9, 2005; U.S. Pat. No. 6,593,283 (Hei et al), issued July 15, 2003; U.S. Appln. No. 20030228996 (Hei et al ), published December 11, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,685 (Kravitz et al), issued January 31, 2006; U. S. Pat. No. 6,953,507 (Kravitz et al), issued October 11, 2005; U. S. Appln. No. 20040182425 (Kravitz et al), published September 30, 2004, the entire contents and disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference, which describe nonionic alkyl glycoside and hydroxyalkyl glycoside surfactants which may be suitable for use in embodiments of the cleaning compositions of the present invention.

[0014] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "anionic co-surfactant" refers to those organic surfactants which are negatively charged {e.g. , have anionic group such as phosphate, a sulfonate, etc). Suitable anionic co-surfactants for use in embodiments of the cleaning composition of the present invention may include one or more of: alkali metal salts {e.g., sodium salt, potassium salt, etc) of C8-C ₂₂ (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) alkyl Ci-C ₆ (such as C1-C4) hydroxyalkyl glycoside phosphates, wherein the glycoside phosphate moiety has from about 1 to about 10 glycoside units, such as from about 1 to about 5 glycoside units; or alkali metal salts {e.g. , sodium salt, potassium salt, etc) of C ₈ -C ₂₂ (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) alkyl Ci-C ₆ (such as Ci-C ₄ ) hydroxyalkyl glycoside {e.g. , glucoside) sulfonates, wherein the glycoside {e.g. , glucoside) has from about 1 to about 10 glycoside {e.g., glucoside) units, such as from about 1 to about 5 glycoside {e.g. , glucoside) units. Commercial sources of these anionic alkyl glycoside {e.g. , glucoside) hydroxyalkyl phosphates or anionic alkyl glycoside {e.g. , glucoside) hydroxyalkyl sulfonates may include, for example, those sold/distributed by Colonial Chemical under the trade name Suga®Fax D-10 (sodium decylglucoside hydroxypropyl phosphate), etc. See also, for example, U. S. Pat. No. 6,627,612 (O'Lenick, Jr. et al), issued September 30, 2016, the entire contents and disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference, for sources of suitable alkyl hydroxyl glycoside phosphate or anionic alkyl hydroxyl glycoside sulfonate anionic co- surfactants for use in embodiments of the cleaning compositions of the present invention.

[0015] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "builders" (also known as and referred to interchangeably herein as "water softening agents" and "water conditioning agents") refers to one or more compounds having the functional ability to sequester divalent cations, such as calcium, magnesium, etc., which may be present in water, or other aqueous liquids. Besides the ability to sequester divalent cations, suitable builders for use in embodiments of the cleaning composition of the present invention should sufficient hydrolytic and thermal stability under the conditions of use, as well as sufficient solubility in aqueous liquids, and may include one or more of: poly(dicarboxylic acid co styrene) sulfonic acids, wherein "poly (dicarboxylic acid co styrene)" refers to a co-polymer of the dicarboxylic acid (e.g., maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, malonic acid, sorbic acid, cinnamic acid citraconic acid, methylenemalonic acid, sorbic acid, cinnamic acid, etc.) with styrene, such as poly(itaconic co styrene) sulfonic acid ("poly(itaconic co styrene" refers to a co-polymer of itaconic acid and styrene); alkali metal (e.g., sodium, potassium, etc.) salts of such poly(dicarboxylic acid co styrene) sulfonic acids (e.g., the sodium salt of poly(itaconic co styrene) sulfonic acid, sold/distributed by Itaconix Corp., of Stratham, H, under the trade name Itaconix® CHT 121); citric acid; an alkali metal (e.g., sodium, potassium, etc.) citrate; gluconic acid; or an alkali metal (e.g., sodium, potassium, etc.) gluconate. See also, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,512,368 (Mussman et al), issued December 6, 2016, the entire contents and disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference, for sources of suitable builders, in particular, poly (dicarboxylic acid co styrene) sulfonic acids and alkali metal salts of poly(dicarboxylic acid co styrene) sulfonic acids for use in embodiments of the cleaning compositions of the present invention.

[0016] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "antibacterial agent" (also referred to interchangeably as "antibiotic agent") refers to those compounds, materials, ingredients, etc., which are effective in preventing, minimizing, inhibiting, etc., the growth of bacteria, and may also be effective in killing, destroying, etc., such bacteria. Suitable antibacterial agents for use in embodiments of the present invention may include one or more of: quaternary ammonium chlorides; or triamines.

[0017] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "quaternary ammonium chloride" refers to the chloride salt of an organic nitrogen compound wherein the cationic central nitrogen atom has joined to it four organic groups. Suitable quaternary ammonium chlorides for use in embodiments of the cleaning composition of the present invention may include one or more of: C ₈ -Ci ₈ (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) dialkyl C ₁ -C4 dialkyl (e.g., dimethyl) ammonium chlorides (e.g., octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, etc.); C ₈ -Ci ₈ (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) monoalkenyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; C ₈ -Ci ₈ (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) monoalkynyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; or C ₈ -Ci ₈ (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) monoalkyl benzyl Ci-C ₄ dialkyl (e.g., dimethyl) ammonium chlorides. See also, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,685 (Kravitz et al), issued January 31, 2006; U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,507 (Kravitz et al), issued October 11, 2005; U.S. Appln. No. 20040182425 (Kravitz et al), published September 30, 2004; U.S. Appln. No. 20030216281 (DeLeo et al), published November 20, 2003; U.S. Appln. No. 20120122747 (Nekmard et al), published May 17, 2012; U.S. Appln. No. 2009111724 (Kaaret), published April 30, 2009, the entire contents and disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference, which describe quaternary ammonium chlorides which may be suitable for use in embodiments of the cleaning compositions of the present invention.

[0018] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "triamine" refers to organic nitrogen compounds wherein the central nitrogen atom has joined to it three organic groups, one of those organic groups being a long chain (C ₈ -Ci ₈ ) aliphatic group, the other two of those organic groups being short chain (C ₁ -C4) aminoaliphatic groups. Suitable triamines for use in embodiments of the cleaning composition of the present invention may include one or more of: C ₈ -Ci ₈ monoalkyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines {e.g., N,N-bis(3-aminopropyl)- dodecylamine, N,N-bis(3-aminopropyl)-octylamine, etc.); C ₈ -Ci ₈ monoalkenyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; C ₈ -Ci ₈ monoalkynyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; or C ₈ -Ci ₆ moncycloalkyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines.

[0019] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "alkali metal" refers to monovalent cations of, for example, salts, such as sodium, potassium, etc.

[0020] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "pH adjusting agents" refers to agents capable of adjusting the pH of an aqueous liquid to within the pH range of from about 8 to about 11.4, such as from about 9 to about 10. Suitable pH adjusting agents for use in embodiments of the cleaning composition of present invention may include one or more of: di-alkali metal salts of silicic acid {e.g., sold/distributed by PQ Corp. under the trade name Metso Beads® 2048 Sodium Metasilicate); alkali metal carbonates; alkali metal hydroxides; alkali metal bicarbonates; alkali metal silicate pentahydrates; alkali metal tripolyphosphates {e.g., sodium tripolyphosphates); alkali metal sesquicarbonates; tri-alkali metal phosphates {e.g., sodium phosphate); etc. In some embodiments of the cleaning compositions of the present invention, these pH adjusting agents may also function as builders, either alone or in combination with other builders, and may also function to help emulsify fats and oils by breaking up these fats and oils into tiny globules, and thus enable those globules to be peptized.

[0021] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "organic solvents" refers to those solvents which are capable solubilizing of the antibacterial quaternary ammonium chlorides in an aqueous liquid, in particular in embodiments of aqueous liquid cleaning compositions of the present invention. Suitable organic solvents for solubilizing these quaternary ammonium chlorides in embodiments of the cleaning compositions present invention may include one or more of: Ci-C ₆ (such as C ₁ -C4) alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, pentanol, isopentanol, hexanol, isohexanol, etc; etc.

[0022] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "toxicologically safe," when used in reference to embodiments of the cleaning compositions, formulations, etc., of the present invention, as well as their respective compounds, components, ingredients, materials, etc., refers to the conventional sense of this term {e.g., Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), etc) of being safe for contact with beverage making machines, and the respective structural components of such machines, including but not limited to beverage ingredient dispensers, etc., for the purpose of cleaning such machines and their respective structural components.

[0023] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "beverage making machine" refers to those machines which may be used to make consumable beverages, such as coffee beverages (including espresso coffee beverages, etc), flavored coffee beverages, fruit beverages {e.g., smoothies, etc), "frothy milk" beverages, chocolate drinks, etc. Beverage making machines for which embodiments of the cleaning compositions of the present invention may be suitable for use are illustrated by and may include those described in, for example: U.S. Pat. No. 7,475,628 (Lussi), issued January 13, 2009; U.S. Pat. No. 8,444,016 (Lussi), issued May 21, 2013; U.S. Pat. No. 9,380,908 (Aeberhard et al), issued July 15, 2016; U.S. Appln. No. 20010311694 (Broennimann et al), published January 13, 2009; U.S. Appln. No. 20060230943 (Stieger et al), published October 19, 2016; U.S. Appln. No. 20090214742 (Peden et al), published August 27, 2009; and U.S. Appln. No. 20100162898 (Mahlich et al), published July 1, 2010, the entire contents and disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0024] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "structural components" refers to those components of the beverage making machine that have a physical structure which may be either mechanical {i.e., have at least some moving parts such as a dispenser, pump, dispensing head, etc), or which may be non-mechanical {i.e., do not normally have moving parts, such as storage containers, tubes, hoses, pipes, etc). [0025] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "beverage ingredient dispenser" refers to those structural components of a beverage making machine which dispenses, distributes, mete outs, etc., beverage ingredients useful in preparing beverages.

[0026] For purposes of the present invention, the term "contacting" refers to washing, rinsing, passing, bathing, wetting, soaking, dousing, dipping, immersing, submerging, etc., with the cleaning composition all or a portion of the structural components of the beverage making machine, such as the beverage ingredient dispenser, to be cleaned.

[0027] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "beverage ingredient" refers to those ingredients useful in preparing beverages, and which may include flavors, flavorants, syrups, sweeteners (e.g., sugars), milk, chocolate drink syrup, etc.

[0028] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "aqueous liquid" refers to those compositions, formulations, etc., which are liquid and which comprise measurable amount of water.

[0029] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "% w/w" refers to the weight percentage of each ingredient, compound, component, material, etc. {e.g., nonionic surfactant, anionic co-surfactant, builder, antibacterial agent, pH adjusting agent, etc.), relative to the total weight of the composition, formulation, etc., including the weight amount contributed by any water that may be present in the composition, formulation, etc.

[0030] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "% w/w (exclusive of water)" refers to the weight percentage of each ingredient, compound, component, material, etc. {e.g., nonionic surfactant, anionic co-surfactant, builder, antibacterial agent, pH adjusting agent, etc.), relative to the total weight of the composition, formulation, etc., excluding any weight amount which may contributed by any water that may be present in the composition, formulation, etc. {e.g., only the amounts by weight of the nonionic surfactant, anionic co- surfactant, builder, antibacterial agent, pH adjusting agent, etc., are reflected in such total weights).

[0031] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "liquid" refers to compositions, formulations, etc., which are liquid {i.e., not solid) at room temperature.

[0032] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "the balance being water" refers to the conventional sense of that term such that, with respect to those compositions, formulations, etc., which may comprise some measurable amount of water, whatever weight percentage remains that is required to achieve a composition, formulation, etc., having 100% total weight of ingredients (i.e., the total ingredients are 100% w/w), whatever remaining percentage is required represents water (i.e., water provides the balance of the composition, formula, etc.).

[0033] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "solid" refers to compositions, formulations, etc., which are solid (i.e., not liquid) at room temperature.

[0034] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "aqueous liquid concentrate" refers to compositions, formulations, etc., which are liquids, comprise a measurable amount of water and may be used, as is, as cleaning compositions in embodiments of the method of the present invention for cleaning structural components of beverage making inventions, or which may be diluted with water (i.e., not liquid) at room temperature in a volume ratio of concentrate to added water, of, for example, from about 1 :5 to about 1 :50, such as from about 1 : 10 to about 1 :40, to form a less concentrated aqueous liquid compositions, including, for example, a "ready-to-use" supply of the aqueous cleaning composition to be used, for example, for multiple cleaning sessions.

[0035] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "room temperature" refers to the commonly accepted meaning of room temperature, i.e., an ambient temperature of 20° to 25°C.

[0036] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "comprising" means various compounds, components, ingredients, substances, materials, layers, steps, etc., may be conjointly employed in embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, the term "comprising" encompasses the more restrictive terms "consisting essentially of and "consisting of."

[0037] For the purposes of the present invention, the terms "a" and "an" and similar phrases are to be interpreted as "at least one" and "one or more." References to "an" embodiment in this disclosure are also not necessarily to the same embodiment.

[0038] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "and/or" means that one or more of the various compositions, compounds, ingredients, components, elements, members, capabilities, steps, etc., may be employed in embodiments of the present invention.

Description

[0039] Beverage making beverage, such as "froth milk" beverage making machines have various mechanical, as well as non-mechanical components, including the beverage ingredient dispensers, such as automatic beverage syrup dispensers. For example, beverage syrup dispensers may include a storage container for storing the syrup, a pump for cycling the syrup, tubes, hoses, pipes, etc., for transferring the cycled syrup, a dispensing head (nozzles), etc. These syrups may be dispensed separately from the rest of the beverage preparation, and then allowed to mix within, for example, a cup placed beneath the dispensing head.

[0040] These syrups may include, for example, a mixture of sugars, water, and minerals. In addition to these three ingredients, these flavored syrups may also contain small amounts of various other organic compounds such as organic acids, amino acids, proteins, phenolic compounds, vitamins, etc. Because of the ingredients present in these flavored syrups which may come into contact with these various structural components, these components may require periodic maintenance to keep such components clean, free of bacteria and mold, etc. In addition, these structural components may become coated, for example, with other contaminants, including calcium, magnesium, etc., due to the water hardness which may be present in the source of water supplied to these beverage making machines, or, may, for example, be used in preparing the flavored beverage syrups.

[0041] Embodiments of the present invention relate to cleaning compositions for cleaning the various structural components, including beverage ingredient {e.g., flavored beverage syrup) dispensers to remove, for example, any beverage syrup residue present in these (automatic) beverage syrup dispensers, as well as a method for carrying out the cleaning of all or a portion of these structural components, especially beverage ingredient {e.g., flavored beverage syrup) dispensers using such cleaning compositions. For example, embodiments of the cleaning compositions and methods of the present invention are effective in cleaning various types of contaminants, residues, etc,, which may be present in, coated on, etc., such components. For example, besides beverage syrup residues, bacteria and mold, etc., which may be present in, coated on, etc., such components, other contaminants, residues, etc,, which may be removed by the cleaning compositions and methods of the present invention may include calcium, magnesium, etc., due to water hardness present in the water supplied to the beverage making machine, present in the water used to the prepare the flavored beverage syrups, etc.

[0042] Embodiments of the cleaning compositions of the present invention may include: from about 0.1 to about 30% w/w (exclusive of water), such as from about 5 to about 15% w/w (exclusive of water), of a nonionic surfactant selected from one or more of: nonionic C8-C22 (such as C12-C16) alkyl glycosides; or nonionic C8-C22 (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) hydroxyalkyl glycosides, wherein the glycoside moiety has from about 1 to about 20 glycoside units, such as from about 1 to about 10 glycoside units; from about 0.1 to about 20% w/w (exclusive of water), such as from about 5 to about 15% w/w (exclusive of water), of an anionic co- surfactant selected from one or more: alkali metal salts of C8-C ₂₂ alkyl (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) glycoside Ci-C ₆ (such as C ₁ -C4) hydroxyalkyl phosphates, or alkali metal salts of C ₈ -C ₂₂ alkyl (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) glycoside Ci-C ₆ (such as Ci-C ₄ ) hydroxyalkyl sulfonates, wherein the glycoside moiety has from about 1 to about 10 glycoside units, such as from about 1 to about 5 glycoside units; from about 20 to about 65% w/w (exclusive of water), such as from about 35 to about 55% w/w (exclusive of water), of a builder selected from one or more of: poly(dicarboxylic acid co styrene) sulfonic acids; alkali metal salts of poly(dicarboxylic acid co styrene) sulfonic acids; citric acid; alkali metal citrates; gluconic acid; or alkali metal gluconates; from about 0.01 to about 5% w/w (exclusive of water), such as from about 0.1 to about 2% w/w (exclusive of water), of an antibacterial agent selected from one or more of: C ₈ -Ci ₈ (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) dialkyl Ci-C ₄ dialkyl ammonium chlorides; C ₈ -Ci ₈ monoalkyl (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) Ci-C ₄ dialkyl ammonium chlorides; C ₈ -Ci ₈ (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) monoalkyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; C ₈ -Ci ₈ (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) monoalkenyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; C ₈ - Ci ₈ (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) monoalkynyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; or C ₈ -Ci ₈ (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) moncycloalkyl Ci-C ₄ diaminoalkyl amines; a pH adjusting agent in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH of the cleaning composition when in an aqueous liquid form to within a pH range of from about 8 to about 11.4, such as from about 9 to about 10, for example, in amounts of from about 20 to about 45% w/w (exclusive of water), such as from about 25 to about 35%) w/w (exclusive of water); optionally for those cleaning compositions comprising a quaternary ammonium chloride, from about 0.01 to about 2% w/w (exclusive of water), such as from about 0.03 to about 1% w/w (exclusive of water), of an organic solvent selected from one or more of: Ci-C ₆ (such as Ci-C ₄ ) alcohols.

[0043] Some embodiments of the cleaning compositions of the present invention in the form of aqueous liquid concentrates may include: from about 0.1 to about 20% w/w, such as from about 1 to about 10% w/w, of a nonionic surfactant selected from one or more C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ alkyl glycosides, wherein the glycosides have from about 1 to about 10 glycoside units; from about 0.1 to about 18% w/w, such as from about 1 to about 8% w/w, of an anionic co- surfactant selected from one or more of: alkali metal salts of C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ alkyl glucoside Ci-C ₄ hydroxyalkyl phosphates; or alkali metal salts of C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ alkyl glucoside Ci-C ₄ hydroxyalkyl sulfonates, wherein the glucoside has from about 1 to about 5 glucoside units; from about 1 to about 12% w/w, such as from about 5 to about 10% w/w, of a builder selected from one or more of: poly(itaconic co styrene) sulfonic acids; alkali metal salts of poly(itaconic co styrene) sulfonic acids; citric acid; alkali metal citrates; gluconic acid; or alkali metal gluconates; from about 0.1 to about 2% w/w, such as from about 0.5 to about 1% w/w, of an antibacterial agent selected from one or more of: C ₈ -Ci ₈ (such as C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) dialkyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides; or C ₈ -Ci ₈ monoalkyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides; from about 0.1 to about 10% w/w, such as from about 3 to about 8% w/w, of a pH adjusting agent selected from of one or more of: di-alkali metal salts of silicic acid; alkali metal carbonates; alkali metal hydroxides; alkali metal bicarbonates; or alkali metal silicate pentahydrates; from about 0.01 to about 2% w/w, such as from about 0.03 to about 1% w/w, of an organic solvent selected from one or more Ci-C ₆ (such as C ₁ -C4) alcohols; and from about 35 to about 90% w/w, such as from about 70 to about 85% w/w, of water.

[0044] Embodiments of the cleaning compositions of the present invention described herein may comprise a single mixture, blend, etc., of compounds, components, ingredients material, etc., may comprise two or more separate mixtures, blends, etc., of compounds, components, ingredients material, etc., which may be subsequently combined, united, blended, etc., together to form a single composition, formulation, etc., may be in solid form such as tablets, powders, granules, particulates, etc., may be in liquid form (e.g., as aqueous liquids) such as solutions, suspensions, emulsions, etc., may be in the form of undiluted concentrates, may be in the form of diluted (e.g., with water, etc.), or undiluted single- strength, "ready-to-use" aqueous liquids, etc.

[0045] The embodiments of the cleaning compositions of the present invention may be used to clean variety of beverage making machines, and, in particular, to clean all or a portion of the various structural components of such machines, such as, for example, the beverage ingredient dispensers, beverage ingredient containers, discharge nozzles, pumps, tubes, hoses, pipes, etc., etc. In embodiments of the method of the present invention for using these cleaning compositions to clean all or a portions of the structural components (e.g., the beverage ingredient dispenser, etc.) of these beverage making machines, the cleaning composition in an aqueous liquid form contacts (e.g., washes, rinses, bathes, wets, soaks, douses, etc. at least a portion of the beverage making machine to clean that portion thereof. While contacting that portion of the structural components (e.g., the beverage ingredient dispenser, etc.) of the beverage making machine to be cleaned with the aqueous liquid cleaning composition, the aqueous liquid cleaning composition may be subjected to agitation, turbulent flow, etc., by, for example, pumping the aqueous liquid cleaning composition into, through, etc., the beverage making machine, and in particular, into, through, etc., to contact, wash, etc., any structural components thereof that need to be cleaned, by using, for example, a pump {e.g., a peristaltic pump), a source of an aqueous liquid {e.g., water) which is supplied under pressure, etc., to create such agitation, turbulent flow, etc. The aqueous liquid cleaning composition may also be warmed or heated to a temperature in the range of, for example, from about 100° to about 180°F by pre-warming or pre-heating the aqueous liquid cleaning composition before contacting {e.g., pumping in) the portion of the beverage making machine {e.g., beverage ingredient dispenser) to be cleaned with the cleaning composition, by pre- warming or pre-heating that portion of the structural components, such as the beverage ingredient dispenser, etc., of the beverage making machine to be cleaned before contacting that portion of the structural components of the beverage making machine to be cleaned, etc.

EXAMPLES

[0046] Example 1. The ingredients and amounts of an illustrative cleaning composition (in the form of an aqueous liquid concentrate) according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in the following Table 1 :

Table 1

¹ Glucopon 6000UP or APG® 325N

² Suga®Fax D-10

3 Itaconix CHT 212

⁴ Mead Beads® 2048

[0047] The aqueous liquid concentrate of the cleaning composition shown in Table 1 may be prepared, for example, by mixing together the ingredients, in the order shown, in water with sufficient stirring to insure that the resulting aqueous liquid concentrate has a substantially uniform dispersion of these ingredients. Alternatively, portions of the ingredients may be mixed with the water form to two or more mixtures which may then be combined and mixed together with sufficient stirring to insure that the resulting aqueous liquid concentrate has a substantially uniform dispersion of these ingredients. The resulting aqueous liquid concentrate may be used as is to clean all or a portion of the structural components of the beverage making machine, such as, for example, the beverage ingredient dispensers, beverage ingredient containers, discharge nozzles, pumps, tubes, hoses, pipes, etc., etc., of the beverage making machine, or the aqueous liquid concentrate may be diluted with an addition quantity of water in a volume ratio of concentrate to additional water, of, for example, from about 1 :5 to about 1 :50, such as from about 1 : 10 to about 1 :40, to form a less concentrated, "ready-to-use" supply of the aqueous cleaning composition to be used, for example, for multiple cleaning sessions.

[0048] Any and all documents, patents, journal articles and other materials cited in the present application are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0049] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been fully described, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, unless they depart therefrom.

[0050] Further, the purpose of the Abstract of the Disclosure in this application is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, as well as the public generally, including any scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or other legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Accordingly, while the Abstract of the Disclosure may be used to provide enablement for the following claims, it is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of those claims in any way.

[0051] This application may also incorporate material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of this application or any portion of this disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent/patent application file or records, for the limited purposes required by law, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.