Method and apparatus for washing articles

• US 10,264,945 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2013
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JCS-Echigo Pte, Ltd. (JCS Group)
• Original Assignee: JCS-Echigo Pte, Ltd. (JCS Group)
• Inventors: Zhao, Liang
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Shamim
• Application Number:
  US14/408,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20150190031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,150 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0076 of non-domestic use type, e.g. commercial dishwashers for bars, hotels, restaurants, canteens or hospitals machines specially adapted for drinking glasses A47L15/0065; drawer-type dishwashers A47L15/0084; in-sink dishwashers A47L15/0086; miniature dishwashers A47L15/0089; conveyor-type dishwashers A47L15/24; machines with crockery cleaned by brushes A47L15/37
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/13 using sonic or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/241 the dishes moving in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/247 Details specific to conveyor-type machines, e.g. curtains
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/04 Crockery or tableware details, e.g. material, quantity, condition
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2601/17 Sonic or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/00 Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam B08B9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/12 by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware using sonic or ultrasonic waves A47L15/13; of natural teeth, of prostheses using ultrasonic techniques similar to those used for natural teeth A61C17/20; application of ultrasonic vibrations to chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general B01J19/10

Abstract

A device for washing articles includes a pre-wash section for the removal of particles from the articles, a wash section for the removal of residue from the articles, a pre-wash conveyor for conveying the articles in the pre-wash section, and a wash conveyor for conveying articles in the wash section. The pre-wash conveyor and the wash conveyors are separate with the pre-wash conveyor terminating at the commencement of the wash conveyor, and the articles are transferred from the pre-wash conveyor to the wash conveyor.

Claims

1. A device for washing consumer articles, the device comprising:

a pre-wash section for removal of particles from the consumer articles, the pre-wash section comprising a number of distinct pre-wash conveyors for conveying the consumer articles through a number of distinct pre-wash stages, the pre-wash stages arranged to be physically separated from each other such that particles from previous pre-wash stages are prevented from being transferred to subsequent pre-wash stages, eliminating cross-contamination;

a wash section succeeding the pre-wash section for removal of residue from the consumer articles conveyed from the pre-wash section; and

a wash conveyor for receiving the consumer articles from the pre-wash section and conveying the consumer articles through the wash section;

wherein the pre-wash conveyors and the wash conveyor are separate with the pre-wash conveyors terminating at a commencement of the wash conveyor.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pre-wash stages comprise successively a soaking stage, a high pressure spray stage and an ultrasonic stage.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein each pre-wash conveyor is arranged to convey the consumer articles from the respective pre-wash stage to the successive pre-wash stage.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one interrogation section for interrogating identification tags on the consumer articles.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyors are arranged to convey the consumer articles whilst the consumer articles are in crates.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a consumer article sorter located intermediate the pre-wash conveyors and the wash conveyor, the consumer article sorter arranged to receive the consumer articles from the pre-wash conveyors and sort the consumer articles by category into baskets for transfer to the wash conveyor.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wash section comprises a rinsing sprayer.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the wash section further comprises a sterilization sprayer and a blow dry station.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the consumer articles move upwardly on the pre-wash conveyor when traveling from the final pre-wash stage of the pre-wash section to the wash section.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the consumer articles in at least one of the pre-wash stages are not immersed in water.

11. A method for washing consumer articles, the method comprising the steps of:

conveying the consumer articles through a pre-wash section, wherein the pre-wash section comprising a number of distinct pre-wash conveyors for conveying the consumer articles through a number of distinct pre-wash stages;

removing particles from the consumer articles;

transferring the consumer articles from the final pre-wash stage of the pre-wash section to a wash conveyer;

conveying the consumer articles through a wash section; and

removing residue from the consumer articles,

wherein the pre-wash stages arranged to be physically separated from each other such that particles from previous pre-wash stages are prevented from being transferred to subsequent pre-wash stages, eliminating cross-contamination.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of removing particles further comprises the steps of:

soaking the consumer articles;

applying a pressurized spray to the consumer articles; and

immersing the consumer articles in an ultrasonic bath.