US3798065A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tray washing system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-11-13
•
Granted: 1974-03-19
•
Expires: 1990-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A tray washing system includes conveyors which transport compartmented food service trays from a tray receiving mechanism to inverting and scrapping mechanisms and through washing, rinsing and drying mechanisms to a stacking mechanism. The receiving mechanism restricts trays to insertion in a predetermined orientation in which the food receiving surfaces face upwardly, and the inverting mechanism inverts each tray so that the feed receiving surface faces downwardly. As each tray is inverted, the scrapping mechanism discharges substantially the entire contents of a cleaning fluid reservoir onto the food receiving surface of the tray, and thereby dislodges refuse and silverware that may be on the tray. The washing, rinsing and drying mechanism apply a water-detergent solution, rinse water, and drying air to the trays, respectively, and the stacking mechanism deposits the trays onto a mobile self-depressing tray receiver. The tray washing system further includes a silverware separating and soaking mechanism comprising a chute which receives cleaning fluid and refuse and silverware entrained therein, a dam which removes the heavier silverware from the cleaning fluid, and a door in the bottom of the chute for dropping the silverware into a soaking sink.
Inventors
- 👤 L Kitterman
- 👤 H Rice
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:28
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L15/00; A47L15/0092; A47L15/24; A47L15/241; A47L15/245
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
35 words
The methoD of washing ware according to claim 1 wherein the pouring step is carried out by dumping substantially the entire contents of a cleaning fluid reservoir onto the food receiving surface of each ware.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of washing ware according to claim 2 wherein the cleaning fluid dumping step is carried out while the ware is in a substantially vertical orientation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of washing ware according to claim 1 wherein the pouring step is further characterized by moving a plurality of pieces of ware in sequence along a predetermined path, sequentially orienting each piece of ware substantially vertically during the movement thereof, and pouring the cleaning fluid over the food receiving surface of each piece of ware while it is oriented vertically.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of washing ware according to claim 4 wherein the washing, rinsing and drying step is carried out by sequentially applying washing, rinsing and drying fluids to the ware.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of washing food service trays each having a food receiving surface comprising: receiving a plurality of trays in a predetermined orientation with the trays supported on the bottom surfaces the food receiving surfaces thereof facing upwardly; tilting each tray through substantially 90* to position its food receiving surface generally vertically; pouring under the action of gravity and in the absence of pressure a predetermined quantity of cleaning fluid onto the food receiving surface of each tray while it is oriented substantially vertically, and subsequently sequentially applying washing, rinsing and drying fluids to each tray.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of washing food service trays according to claim 6 wherein the pouring step is carried out by dumping a predetermined quantity of cleaning fluid onto the food receiving surface of each tray.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of washing food service trays according to claim 6 wherein the pouring step is characterized by dumping substantially the entire contents of a cleaning fluid reservoir onto the food receiving surface of each tray.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of washing food service trays according to claim 6 further including the subsequent step of stacking the trays with the food receiving surfaces thereof facing the same direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of washing food service trays according to claim 6 including the additional step of moving the trays in sequence along a predetermined path, and wherein the tilting step is carried out during the movement of the trays along the path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of washing food service trays according to claim 10 further characterized by maintaining a predetermined spacing between the trays as the trays are moved along the path.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of washing compartmented food service trays each having a food receiving surface comprising: receiving compartmented food service trays directly from the users thereof and in a predetermined orientation characterized by the trays resting on their bottom surfaces and with the food receiving surfaces thereof facing upwardly; subsequently tilting each tray through about 90* to position the tray substantially vertically; automatically pouring under the action of gravity and in the absence of pressure a predetermined quantity of cleaning fluid onto the food receiving surface of each tray to dislodge refuse therefrom while the tray is oriented substantially vertically; subsequently tilting each tray through about 90* so that the tray is substantially inverted; subsequently sequentially automatically washing, rinsing and drying each tray while the tray is inverted, and finally automatically stacking the trays in a predetermined orientation characterized by the tray being upside down.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of washing compartmented food surface trays each having food receiving surfaces arranged in a particular pattern comprising: receiving the trays directly from the users thereof and in a predetermined orientation characterized by: the trays being horizontally disposed and unstacked, the food receiving surfaces of the trays facing upwardly, and the pattern of the food receiving surfaces of each tray being oriented in a particular manner; tilting each tray through about 90* to position the tray substantially vertically; pouring under the action of gravity and in the absence of pressure a predetermined quantity of cleaning fluid onto the food receiving surface of each tray while the food receiving surfaces are oriented substantially vertically; tilting each tray through about 90* so that it is inverted; and subsequently sequentially washing, rinsing, drying and stacking the inverted trays.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |