EP3530361A1

EP3530361A1 - Dishwashing basket for cleaning bottles and method for cleaning bottles

Info

Publication number: EP3530361A1
Application number: EP19158146.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sylvester Maria DE SMET
Original assignee: Syls Beheer BV
Current assignee: Syls Beheer BV
Priority date: 2018-02-27
Filing date: 2019-02-19
Publication date: 2019-08-28
Also published as: NL2020498B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a dishwasher basket for cleaning bottles, the dishwashing basket comprising a bottom part, at least one side wall that is connected to the bottom part and that extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall, a connection opening extending substantially parallel to the bottom part and having a circumference that formed by an end portion of the at least one side wall, wherein the connection opening of the dishwashing basket is further configured for cooperation with a bottle crate in that at least part of the bottle crate is receivable in the connection opening or in that the dishwashing basket is at least partially placeable in an opening of the bottle crate and a number of projections extending from the bottom part in the direction of the connection opening towards a first end, wherein each projection is insertable into the neck of a bottle that is to be cleaned, and wherein the first end is provided with a number of flow openings that are configured for the passage of cleaning fluid into the bottle. The invention also relates to a method for cleaning bottles.

Description

The invention relates to a dishwashing basket for cleaning bottles and a method for cleaning bottles.
Catering establishments, such as restaurants, cafeterias and food trucks, often provide beverages, such as soft drinks and beer, to their consumers in glass bottles.
After being used, the glass bottles need to be stored for retrieval by the supplier of the bottles. Due to the limited space available in many establishments, the bottles are stored on any available location. This may be inside the building or even outside in the open. If the bottles are stored without cleaning, this attracts insects, especially in the (warm) summer period. From a hygiene point of view, it is therefore necessary to clean the empty bottles before storing them.
However, often each bottle is manually cleaned, which process is very time-consuming and labour-intensive. As a result, empty bottles are not always properly cleaned. In order to expedite and/or partially automate the process of cleaning empty bottles several solutions have been provided in practice. The known solutions either comprise providing a specifically adapted cleaning crate in which the bottles are placeable or comprise providing a cover or grating that is placed over an existing bottle crate after which crates are upturned and subjected to a cleaning spray or jet by moving the crate over the jet/spray.
A disadvantage of a specifically adapted cleaning crate is that the bottles have to be transferred from a 'standard' crate into the cleaning crate and subsequently have to be removed after cleaning. This process is (still) labour-intensive and time-consuming, and (thus) costly. A disadvantage of using a cover or grating however is that the bottles are not aligned properly with the sources of cleaning fluid, which often results in insufficient cleaning of the bottles. As a result, the residue in the (not sufficiently cleaned) bottles still attract insects.
The invention is aimed at providing an improved dishwasher basket for cleaning bottles in which these disadvantages are obviated or at least reduced.
To this end, the invention provides a dishwasher basket for cleaning bottles, the dishwashing basket comprising:

a bottom part;
at least one side wall that is connected to the bottom part and that extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall;
a connection opening that extends substantially parallel to the bottom part and having a circumference that formed by an end portion of the at least one side wall, wherein the connection opening of the dishwashing basket is further configured for cooperation with a bottle crate in that at least part of the bottle crate is receivable in the connection opening or in that the dishwashing basket is at least partially placeable in an opening of the bottle crate;
a number of projections extending from the bottom part in the direction of the connection opening towards a first end, wherein each projection is insertable into the neck of a bottle that is to be cleaned, and wherein the first end is provided with a number of flow openings that are configured for the passage of cleaning fluid into the bottle.

An advantage of the dishwashing basket according to the invention is that the basket is usable in conjunction with existing, standard bottle crates, which obviates the need of transferring bottles to be cleaned between different crates and thus reduces processing time. Simultaneously, the use of projections having a number of flow openings that are positioned inside the bottle during the cleaning process allows cleaning fluid to be applied specifically to the location that requires cleaning.
Another advantage is that the projections also serve to provide additional stability to the bottles. During a cleaning process using the basket according to the invention, the basket is placed partially on or in the crate and both crate and basket are turned upside down (i.e. the bottom of the crate pointing upwards). Due to the fact that the projections extend at least partially into the bottle necks, the bottles are substantially locked against movement.
Yet another advantage of the dishwashing basket according to the invention is that the projections allow the dishwashing basket to be useable for bottles of different sizes. This is mainly due to the fact that the projections are slidable into the neck of a bottle and slide upto a point that the projection and the bottle neck (opening) lockingly enage with each other.
The projections of the dishwashing basket according to the invention are preferably at least partially hollow, such that an inner space is formed, which is delineated by the projection wall, the first end and a second end near the bottom. Cleaning fluid is guidable from the second end near the bottom towards the flow opening in the first end of the projection through the inner space.
It is noted that in a preferred embodiment of the basket according to the invention, the connection opening is configured for receiving a bottle crate containing bottles to be cleaned. In this embodiment, the dishwashing basket is placed over the crate with the projections being positioned inside the crate and extending into the neck of the bottles contained in the crate.
In an alternative embodiment, the basket is configured to be placed at least partially into the crate. In this embodiment the projections are also positioned to extend into the neck of the bottles contained in the crate.
In an embodiment according to the invention, the projection may be substantially cone- or pyramid-shaped, and wherein the projection preferably may have the shape of a truncated cone or pyramid.
An advantage of a pyramid- or cone-shaped projection is that it automatically centres the bottle neck over the projection, thus ensuring that the cleaning fluid is provided substantially evenly into the bottle for cleaning. As a result, all inner surfaces of the bottle are cleaned without incurring the risk of residues remaining in the bottle.
In an embodiment according to the invention, the projection may comprise a support part extending from the bottom part towards the connection opening, wherein the support part is configured for supporting the bottle neck of a bottle to be cleaned and wherein the support part is shaped as a truncated cone or pyramid, and an inserting part extending from the support part towards the connection opening, wherein the inserting part is configured to be at least partially inserted in the bottle neck of a bottle to be cleaned and wherein the support part is shaped as a truncated cone or pyramid.
By providing a support part that engages a lower end of the bottle neck, the bottles are provided with additional support when the crate is in an upturned position (i.e. the bottom of the crate is facing upward and the bottom part of the dishwashing is facing downward).
It is preferred that a height of the truncated part of the support part has a height h1 that is smaller than the height h2 of the inserting part. In other words, the upwardly extending wall of the support part is smaller angle than the upwardly extending wall of the inserting part. The bottle neck preferably rests on the transition between the inserting part and the support part.
In an embodiment according to the invention, each projection may be provided with one or more longitudinal grooves and/or longitudinal ribs.
Longitudinal grooves and/or longitudinal ribs result in a profiled projection surface. As a result, the bottle neck opening is not closed off by the projection and openings remain through which the cleaning fluid can flow out of the bottle more easily. This result in a more efficient cleaning process.
In an embodiment according to the invention, the longitudinal grooves and/or longitudinal ribs may extend over substantially an entire length of the inserting part.
An advantage of providing the longitudinal grooves and/or longitudinal ribs over substantially an entire length of the inserting part is that the grooves and/or ribs also serve to guide the flow of cleaning fluid out of the bottle towards the bottom part of the dishwashing basket.
In an embodiment according to the invention, at least one projection delineates a projection inner space that extends from the first end towards a second end near the bottom, wherein the inner space is provided with a number of flow guides that are configured for guiding a flow of cleaning fluid along a flow path that extends from the second end through the inner space towards the first end.
By providing the inner space with at least one flow guide, an enhanced flow of cleaning fluid towards the first end and the flow opening is achieved. A flow guide in the inner space reduces the amount of reflection by the projection walls and forces the flow to be directed upwardly in the inner space towards the flow opening. As a result, an enhanced flow of cleaning fluid is injected into a bottle to be cleaned.
In an embodiment according to the invention, the at least one flow guide is configured for dividing the inner space in a number of flow guiding compartments, wherein the at least one flow guide, when viewed in a direction along the flow path, is substantially cross-shaped for providing the projection with four flow guiding compartments.
In a preferred embodiment, the flow guide divides the inner space in compartments, for example four compartments when using a cross-shaped flow guide. The formation of different compartments having a limited volume reduces the amount of cleaning fluid that is reflected back towards the bottom and therewith results in an enhanced flow of cleaning fluid through the flow opening, and thus an improved cleaning of the bottle to be cleaned that is positioned on the projection.
In an embodiment according to the invention, the bottom part may be provided with outflow openings that may be configured for the outflow of cleaning fluid, wherein the outflow openings may preferably be provided between or near the projections.
In order to provide an efficient removal of cleaning fluid, the dishwashing basket is preferably provided with outflow openings that are provided near the projections. An advantage is that the dishwashing basket and the bottles positioned therein retain hardly any cleaning fluid if it is removed from the cleaning device after a cleaning cycle. Preferably, the outflow openings and the longitudinal grooves and/or longitudinal ribs are adapted to cooperate in that the longitudinal grooves and/or longitudinal ribs are also adapted to guide the flow of cleaning fluid out of the bottles towards the outflow openings in the bottom part.
In an embodiment according to the invention, the projections may be provided with outflow openings that may be positioned in the projections near the bottom part and that may be configured for the outflow of cleaning fluid.
In addition or alternatively, the projections may be provided with outflow openings. Preferably, the outflow openings are provided in a lower part, for example the support part if present, of the projections. It is preferred in this case that the outflow openings and the longitudinal grooves and/or longitudinal ribs are adapted to cooperate in that the longitudinal grooves and/or longitudinal ribs are also adapted to guide the flow of cleaning fluid out of the bottles towards the outflow openings in the projections.
In an embodiment according to the invention, the dishwashing basket may have a first section that is configured for receiving a bottle crate and a second section that may be configured for receiving differently sized bottles, preferably single bottles.
In a preferred embodiment, the dishwashing basket is provided with two sections used for different types of bottles. The first section is configured to receive a crate, preferably a standard bottle crate, containing bottles to be cleaned. The second section is usable for placing bottles, preferably larger bottles, that are not provided in crates. As a result, each cleaning operation may be used to clean both bottles in standard crates as well as differently sized bottles that are not provided in crates. Alternatively, both the first and the second section may be configured for receiving a bottle crate, wherein the sizes (and/or the number of bottles in the crate) differ from each other.
In an embodiment according to the invention, the dishwashing basket may be configured to be transferrable between a placement position in which the connection opening, when viewed in a vertical direction, is positioned below the bottom part and a cleaning position, in which the connection opening, when viewed in a vertical direction, is positioned above the bottom part, wherein the second section of the dishwashing basket is configured for placing bottles when the dishwashing basket is in the cleaning position.
If the second section is used for placing single bottles, the single bottles are advantageously placed after the dishwashing basket is turned from the placement position to the cleaning position. This way it is substantially prevented that the single bottles can fall out during transfer of the dishwashing crate from the placement position to the cleaning position.
In an embodiment according to the invention, the dishwashing basket is configured to be transferrable between a placement position in which the connection opening, when viewed in a vertical direction, is positioned below the bottom part and a cleaning position, in which the connection opening, when viewed in a vertical direction, is positioned above the bottom part, and wherein the bottom part is provided with a rounded corner and/or rounded edge, the dishwashing basket being configured for turning the dishwashing basket along the rounded corner and/or rounded edge from the placement position to the cleaning position and vice versa.
An advantage of a rounded corner and/or edge is that the dishwashing basket, during use, can more easily be turned over between the placement position and the cleaning position and vice versa. As a result, the processing speed of the cleaning process is increased.
In an embodiment according to the invention, the dishwashing basket is provided with coupling means for releasably coupling the dishwashing basket to a crate on or in which it is placed.
Preferably, the dishwashing basket is provided with coupling means that can be used for coupling and decoupling the dishwashing basket to a crate on or in which it is placed. This provides the advantage that the crate and the dishwashing basket will not disengage during the cleaning process, allowing a more efficient cleaning process. Several existing coupling means may be used, such as a click-and-release system, screws, magnetic coupling means, pin-and-hole coupling means or other suitable coupling means.
The invention also relates to a method for cleaning bottles, the method comprising:

providing a dishwashing basket according to any one of the previous claims;
placing the dishwashing basket on the bottles to be cleaned, preferably on or in a crate containing bottles to be cleaned, wherein during placing the bottom part, when viewed in a vertical direction, is positioned above the connection opening, and simultaneously inserting the projections in the bottle necks of the bottles to be cleaned;
turning the dishwashing basket and the bottles to be cleaned and/or the crate in which the bottles to be cleaned are placed from a placement position to a cleaning position, such that the bottom part, when viewed in a vertical direction, is positioned below the connection opening;
cleaning the bottles to be cleaned;
turning the dishwashing basket to the placement position; and
removing the dishwashing basket from the cleaned bottles and/or the crate containing the cleaned bottles.

The method according to the invention provides similar effects and advantages as the dishwashing basket according to the invention. An advantage of the method according to the invention is that the dishwashing basket according to the invention can be used in conjunction with existing bottle crates, while simultaneously providing cleaning fluid to the location that requires to be cleaned. As a result, the method according to the invention provides a cleaning process that efficiently cleaned bottles in a relatively short period of time, therewith reducing time and cost of cleaning.
In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method may further comprise releasably coupling the dishwashing basket to the bottles to be cleaned and/or the crate prior to turning the dishwashing basket to the cleaning position and decoupling the dishwashing basket from the bottles to be cleaned and/or the crate after turning the dishwashing basket to the placement position.
Coupling the dishwashing basket to the crate allows a more secure connection and reduces the risk of the crate being released from the dishwashing basket. As a result, the speed of cleaning may be increased.
In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method may further comprise placing additional bottles in the second section of the dishwashing basket after the basket has been transferred from the placement position to the cleaning position and, after the step of cleaning of the bottles and before the step of turning the dishwashing basket to the placement position, removing the additional bottles from the second section.
Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an example of a dishwashing basket according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the example of figure 1 in a placement position;
Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of a dishwashing basket according to the invention in a cleaning position;
Figure 4 shows a partial top view of an example of a dishwashing basket according to the invention;
Figure 5 shows a detailed view of a part of the bottom part of an example a dishwashing basket according to the invention.

In an example dishwashing basket 2 is provided with bottom part 4, side walls 6 and connection opening 8 (see figure 1). Dishwashing basket 2 is further provided with rounded edge 7 between bottom part 4 and one of side walls 6. Connection opening 8 of dishwashing basket 2 of this example is placeable over bottle crate 10 (see figure 2), dishwashing basket 2 being in the placement position. In the placement position bottle crate 10 is received in connection opening 8 and projections 12 on bottom part 4 extend partially into bottle necks 14a of bottles 14 that are contained in crate 10. In the shown example of dishwashing basket 2, dishwashing basket 2 comprises first section 16 and second section 18. Crate 10 is contained in an upside down position in first section 16, the bottles 14 being positioned on (and partially over) projections 14. In this example, single bottles 20 of a different size having a different size of bottle neck 20a, for example wine bottles, can be placed in second section 18. A flow F of cleaning fluid is, during cleaning operation, provided to projections 12 and to bottles 14, 20 (see figure 3).
Projections 12 of dishwashing basket 2 have a support part 22 and an inserting part 24 (see figures 4 and 5). In this example inserting part 24 is, near a first, upper end 26 thereof, provided with flow opening 28 for providing cleaning fluid to respective bottles 14, 20. As can be seen in figure 4, support part 22 has a pyramid-shaped configuration, whereas inserting part 24 has a cone-shaped configuration that is provided with grooves/ribs 30. Bottom part 4 of dishwashing basket 2 is furthermore provided with outflow openings 32 that are placed near a lower end of support parts 22 to allow cleaning fluid to be discharged from dishwashing basket 2 (see figure 5). Optionally, flow guide 34 may be positioned inside projection 12 for guiding a flow of cleaning fluid towards flow opening 28.
During operation, dishwashing basket 2 is placed over crate 10 with projections 12 extending into bottle necks 14a of bottles 14. Subsequently, dishwashing basket 2 and crate 10 are transferred from the placement position, in which bottom part 4 points upwardly, to the cleaning position in which bottom part 4 rests on an support surface, such as the ground or a part of a dishwashing device (not shown). Optionally, coupling means (not shown) may be used to couple dishwashing basket 2 and crate 10 to each other.
After transfer to the cleaning position, optionally additional bottles 20 may be placed in second section 18 of basket 2. Dishwashing basket 2 is subsequently inserted in (an industrial) dishwashing device in which a flow F of cleaning fluid is provided. Flow F of cleaning fluid is guided through the inside of projection 12 towards and through flow opening 28 into bottles 14, 20. Under influence of gravity, the flow of cleaning fluid in the bottle 14, 20 flows downwardly along an outer side of inserting part 24. Ribs and/or grooves 30 guide the flow of cleaning fluid through respective bottle necks 14a, 20a and onto support part 22. Subsequently, the flow of (used) cleaning fluid is discharged from outflow openings 32 in bottom part 4 of dishwashing basket 2.
After the cleaning process is completed, dishwashing basket 2 is removed from the dishwashing device and transferred from the cleaning position to the placement position, which is preferably done using rounded edge 7. If any additional bottles 20 are placed in second section 18, these bottles 20 are removed prior to the transfer from the cleaning position to the placement position.
After the transfer, dishwashing basket 2 is removed from crate 10, which now contains cleaned bottles 14, and is ready for use on a subsequent crate 10.
The present invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred embodiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged. It is thus possible according to the invention to make a combination of the described embodiments, features and measures.

Claims

Dishwasher basket for cleaning bottles, the dishwashing basket comprising:
- a bottom part;

- at least one side wall that is connected to the bottom part and that extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall;

- a connection opening extending substantially parallel to the bottom part and having a circumference that formed by an end portion of the at least one side wall, wherein the connection opening of the dishwashing basket is further configured for cooperation with a bottle crate in that at least part of the bottle crate is receivable in the connection opening or in that the dishwashing basket is at least partially placeable in an opening of the bottle crate;

- a number of projections extending from the bottom part in the direction of the connection opening towards a first end, wherein each projection is insertable into the neck of a bottle that is to be cleaned, and wherein the first end is provided with a number of flow openings that are configured for the passage of cleaning fluid into the bottle.
Dishwashing basket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one projection is substantially cone- or pyramid-shaped, and wherein the projection preferably has the shape of a truncated cone or pyramid.
Dishwashing basket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one projection comprises:
- a support part extending from the bottom part towards the connection opening, wherein the support part is configured for supporting the bottle neck of a bottle to be cleaned and wherein the support is shaped as a truncated cone or pyramid; and

- an inserting part extending from the support part towards the connection opening, wherein the inserting part is configured to be at least partially inserted in the bottle neck of a bottle to be cleaned and wherein the inserting part is shaped as a truncated cone or pyramid.
Dishwashing basket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one the projection is provided with one or more longitudinal grooves and/or longitudinal ribs.
Dishwashing basket according to claim 4, when dependent on claim 3, wherein the longitudinal grooves and/or longitudinal ribs extend over substantially an entire length of the second part.
Dishwashing basket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one projection delineates a projection inner space that extends from the first end towards a second end near the bottom part, wherein the projection inner space is provided with a number of flow guides that are configured for guiding a flow of cleaning fluid along a flow path that extends from the second end through the projection inner space towards the first end.
Dishwashing basket according to claim 6, wherein the at least one flow guide is configured for dividing the projection inner space in a number of flow guiding compartments.
Dishwashing basket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom part is provided with at least one outflow opening that is configured for the outflow of cleaning fluid, wherein the outflow openings are preferably provided between or near the number of projections.
Dishwashing basket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one projection is provided with outflow openings that are positioned in the projection near the bottom part and that are configured for the outflow of cleaning fluid.
Dishwashing basket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dishwashing basket has a first section that is configured for receiving a bottle crate and a second section that is configured for receiving single bottles.
Dishwashing basket according to claim10, wherein the dishwashing basket is configured to be transferrable between a placement position in which the connection opening, when viewed in a vertical direction, is positioned below the bottom part and a cleaning position, in which the connection opening, when viewed in a vertical direction, is positioned above the bottom part, wherein the second section of the dishwashing basket is configured for placing bottles when the dishwashing basket is in the cleaning position.
Dishwashing basket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dishwashing basket is configured to be transferrable between a placement position in which the connection opening, when viewed in a vertical direction, is positioned below the bottom part and a cleaning position, in which the connection opening, when viewed in a vertical direction, is positioned above the bottom part, and wherein the bottom part is provided with a rounded corner and/or rounded edge, the dishwashing basket being configured for turning the dishwashing basket along the rounded corner and/or rounded edge from the placement position to the cleaning position and vice versa.
Dishwashing basket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dishwashing basket is provided with coupling means for releasably coupling the dishwashing basket to a crate on or in which it is placed.
Method for cleaning bottles, the method comprising:
- providing a dishwashing basket according to any one of the previous claims;

- placing the dishwashing basket on the bottles to be cleaned, preferably on or in a crate containing bottles to be cleaned, wherein during placing the bottom part, when viewed in a vertical direction, is positioned above the connection opening;

- turning the dishwashing basket and the bottles to be cleaned and/or the crate in which the bottles to be cleaned are placed from a placement position to a cleaning position, such that the bottom part, when viewed in a vertical direction, is positioned below the connection opening;

- cleaning the bottles to be cleaned;

- turning the dishwashing basket to the placement position; and

- removing the dishwashing basket from the cleaned bottles and/or the crate containing the cleaned bottles.
Method according to claim 14, the method further comprising:
- releasably coupling the dishwashing basket to the bottles to be cleaned and/or the crate prior to turning the dishwashing basket to the cleaning position; and

- decoupling the dishwashing basket from the bottles to be cleaned and/or the crate after turning the dishwashing basket to the placement position; and/or

- placing additional bottles in the second section of the dishwashing basket after the basket has been transferred from the placement position to the cleaning position; and

- after the step of cleaning of the bottles and before the step of turning the dishwashing basket to the placement position, removing the additional bottles from the second section.