Patent US3370594A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4456022A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flatware washing machine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-01-05
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Granted: 1984-06-26
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Expires: 2003-01-05
Abstract
Abstract Flatware apparatus comprises a support platform, mechanical arrangements for mounting the platform, and respective washing and rinsing sprays. The platform is adapted to receive a cylindrical cup or holder for grouping a plurality of flatware pieces in a shock; and a drive arrangement is provided for causing rotation of the platform, or the cup or holder, so that the flatware pieces experience agitated movement. The wash spray is positioned to direct jets of washing and sanitizing fluid into the path of the churning flatware pieces. Mechanical arrangements are also provided for selectively lifting the flatware pieces in the cup in order to fully expose the food-contact surfaces thereof to the washing action.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald E. Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:38
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L15/00; A47L15/42; A47L15/50; A47L15/502; A47L15/26; A47L15/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
Flatware washing apparatus comprising: rotatable platform means adapted to receive and support a cylindrical cup for holding a plurality of flatware pieces in loosely shocked, substantially upright condition; mounting means for disposing said platform means at an angle inclined from the horizontal whereby the flatware pieces tend to cascade under gravitational influence upon rotation of said cup; drive means for causing rotation of said cup about its own individual axis; first spray means including first nozzle means positioned to direct jets of washing and sanitizing fluid into the path of the cascading flatware pieces generally downhill from the apogee of their orbiting transit; and second spray means including second nozzle means positioned to direct jets of rinse fluid into the path of the orbiting flatware pieces apart from the path of the jets of washing fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
Flatware washing apparatus comprising: rotatable platform means adapted to receive and support a cylindrical cup for holding a plurality of flatware pieces in loosely shocked, substantially upright condition; mounting means for disposing said platform means at an angle inclined from the horizontal whereby the flatware pieces tend to cascade under gravitational influence upon rotation of said cup; drive means for causing rotation of said cup about its own individual axis; first spray means including first nozzle means positioned to direct jets of washing and sanitizing fluid into the path of the cascading flatware pieces generally downhill from the apogee of their orbiting transit; and second spray means including second nozzle means positioned to direct jets of rinse fluid into the path of the orbiting flatware pieces apart from the path of the jets of washing fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A flatware washing apparatus according to claim 1 which further includes cabinet means for housing said rotatable platform means and said first and second spray means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A flatware washing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cabinet means includes reservoir means for supplying said washing and sanitizing fluid to said first nozzle means and pump means for recycling said fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A flatware washing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cabinet means includes a loading door and wherein said drive means includes drive roller means mounted within said cabinet means for drivable engagement with said cup and idler roller means mounted on the inside wall of said door for automatically urging said cup into frictional engagement with said drive roller means when said door is closed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A flatware washing apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises means for directing a flow of drying air against the shock of cascading flatware pieces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
Flatware washing apparatus comprising: processing means for supporting a cylindrical, flatware-holding cup at an angle inclined from the horizontal and for rotating said cup about its own individual axis to cause the flatware pieces to cascade freely under the influence of gravity; and spray means for directing jets of washing fluid into the path of the cascading flatware pieces generally downhill from the apogee of their orbiting transit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
Flatware washing apparatus comprising: processing means for supporting a cylindrical, flatware-holding cup at an angle inclined from the horizontal and for rotating said cup about its own individual axis to cause the flatware pieces to cascade freely under the influence of gravity; and spray means for directing jets of washing fluid into the path of the cascading flatware pieces generally downhill from the apogee of their orbiting transit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
Flatware washing apparatus comprising: a cylindrical, flatware-holding cup; processing means for supporting said cup at an angle inclined from the horizontal; means for rotating said cup about its own individual axis to cause flatware pieces contained therein to cascade freely under the influence of gravity; spray means for directing jets of washing fluid into the path of the cascading flatware pieces; lifter platform means disposed within said cup for movement between a first, retracted position for the flatware pieces and a second, elevated position raising the food-contact surfaces of the flatware pieces above the lip of said cup and fully into exposure to said jets; and selectively operable, platform actuating means for relocating said lifter platform means from one to the other of said first and second positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
Flatware washing apparatus comprising: a cylindrical, flatware-holding cup; processing means for supporting said cup at an angle inclined from the horizontal; means for rotating said cup about its own individual axis to cause flatware pieces contained therein to cascade freely under the influence of gravity; spray means for directing jets of washing fluid into the path of the cascading flatware pieces; lifter platform means disposed within said cup for movement between a first, retracted position for the flatware pieces and a second, elevated position raising the food-contact surfaces of the flatware pieces above the lip of said cup and fully into exposure to said jets; and selectively operable, platform actuating means for relocating said lifter platform means from one to the other of said first and second positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
Flatware washing apparatus according to claim 7 which further comprises a plurality of radially inwardly projecting vanes on the inside wall of said cup, extending longitudinally thereof for transmitting generally rotative mixing forces to the flatware pieces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
Flatware washing apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said vanes include bottom end portions spaced above the bottom of said cup to define mechanical stop means for said platform means at said second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
Flatware washing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said spray means includes a first spray device focused toward said cup in a first direction and a second spray device focused toward said cup in a second direction rotationally spaced subsequent to said first direction whereby to create relatively quiet zones of reduced relative motion for the flatware pieces therebetween, transition of the flatware pieces from a relatively quiet zone to a zone of agitated motion caused by impinging jets of washing fluid enhancing the exposure of the flatware food-contact surfaces to the washing action.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
Flatware washing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said first spray device is focused generally downwardly toward the lip of said cup and wherein said second spray device is focused generally upwardly toward the lip of said cup.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
Flatware washing apparatus comprising: a cylindrical, flatware-holding cup; means for rotating said cup; spray means for directing jets of washing fluid into the path of the flatware pieces; lifter platform means disposed within said cup for movement between a first, retracted position for the flatware pieces and a second, elevated position raising the food-contact surfaces of the flatware pieces above the lip of said cup and fully into exposure to said jets; and selectively operable, platform actuating means for relocating said lifter platform means from one to the other of said first and second positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
95 words
Flatware washing apparatus comprising: a cylindrical, flatware-holding cup; means for rotating said cup; spray means for directing jets of washing fluid into the path of the flatware pieces; lifter platform means disposed within said cup for movement between a first, retracted position for the flatware pieces and a second, elevated position raising the food-contact surfaces of the flatware pieces above the lip of said cup and fully into exposure to said jets; and selectively operable, platform actuating means for relocating said lifter platform means from one to the other of said first and second positions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
Flatware washing apparatus according to claim 12 which further comprises a plurality of radially inwardly projecting vanes on the inside wall of said cup extending longitudinally thereof for transmitting generally rotative mixing forces to the flatware pieces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
Flatware washing apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said vanes include bottom end portions spaced above the bottom of said cup to define mechanical stop means for said platform means at said second position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
94 words
Flatware washing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said spray means includes a first spray device focused toward said cup in a first direction and a second spray device focused toward said cup in a second direction rotationally spaced subsequent to said first direction whereby to create relatively quiet zones of reduced relative motion for the flatware pieces therebetween, transition of the flatware pieces from a relatively quiet zone to a zone of agitated motion caused by impinging jets of washing fluid enhancing the exposure of the flatware food-contact surfaces to the washing action.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
Flatware washing apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said first spray device is focused generally downwardly toward the lip of said cup and wherein said second spray device is focused generally upwardly toward the lip of said cup.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
122 words
Flatware washing apparatus comprising: a cylindrical flatware-holding cup; processing means for supporting said cup at an angle inclined from the horizontal; means for rotating said cup about its own individual axis to cause flatware pieces contained therein to cascade under the influence of gravity; and spray means for directing jets of washing fluid into the path of the circulating flatware pieces, said spray means including a first spray device focused toward said cup in a first direction and a second spray device focused toward said cup in a second direction rotationally spaced subsequent to said first direction whereby to coact with the cascading motions of the flatware pieces to enhance the relative motion of the flatware pieces with respect to each other.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
122 words
Flatware washing apparatus comprising: a cylindrical flatware-holding cup; processing means for supporting said cup at an angle inclined from the horizontal; means for rotating said cup about its own individual axis to cause flatware pieces contained therein to cascade under the influence of gravity; and spray means for directing jets of washing fluid into the path of the circulating flatware pieces, said spray means including a first spray device focused toward said cup in a first direction and a second spray device focused toward said cup in a second direction rotationally spaced subsequent to said first direction whereby to coact with the cascading motions of the flatware pieces to enhance the relative motion of the flatware pieces with respect to each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
Flatware washing apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said first spray device is focused generally downwardly toward the lip of said cup and wherein said second spray device is focused generally upwardly toward the lip of said cup.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-06-26 | 1987-12-26 | 1988-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-06-26 | 1991-12-26 | 1992-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-06-26 | 1995-12-26 | 1996-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |