Patent ID: 7368139

Claim:
A method of separating two fluid products in an aseptic viscous food processing system comprising: a) pumping a first fluid product through a heat exchanger tube having an inner diameter and a plurality of 180 degree turns; b) injecting a first ball being formed from EPDM and having a round spherical shape with a constant diameter into the tube in a first region, wherein the diameter of the first ball is less than the inner diameter of the tube; c) pumping an amount of a different fluid through the tube behind the first ball; the difference between the diameter of the first ball and the inner diameter of the tube being sufficient to separate the first fluid and different fluid as well as permit free rotation of the first ball in all directions as the first ball travels through the tube, the first ball being formed of a material permitting sufficient deformation to allow the first ball to pass any variation in the inner diameter of the tube, d) placing a second ball being formed from EPDM and having a round spherical shape with a constant diameter into the tube behind the different fluid, wherein the diameter of the second ball is less than the inner diameter of the tube, the difference between the diameter of the second ball and the inner diameter of the tube being sufficient to permit free rotation of the second ball in all directions as the second ball travels through the tube, the second ball being formed of a material permitting sufficient deformation to allow the second ball to pass any variation in the inner diameter of the tube, and e) automatically returning the balls to the first region for subsequent use.