GB2033735A

GB2033735A - Crockery and cutlery cleaning machine

Info

Publication number: GB2033735A
Application number: GB7935363A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH; Licentia Oy
Current assignee: Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH; Licentia Oy
Priority date: 1978-10-17
Filing date: 1979-10-11
Publication date: 1980-05-29
Also published as: DE7830863U1; IT7926537A0; IT1123872B; SE7908459L; FR2438997B3; FR2438997A3

Abstract

A crockery and cutlery cleaning machine comprises a crockery basket which is arranged above a rotatable spray arm and which is provided with a cutlery container (1) having a spray device comprising a water feed channel (5) leading to a spray head (7) arranged to direct cleaning liquid from the rotatable spray arm onto the cutlery in the cutlery container. The spray head may be provided with a deflector 8, or it may have a closed end with apertures in its sides. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Crockery cleaning machine The present invention relates to a crockery and cutlery cleaning machine.

US-PS 3 468 486 discloses a machine in which a spray device associated with a cutlery insert comprises a smaller side spray arm arranged rotatably at a lower main spray arm underneath the cutlery insert. Since the cut lery insert has relatively small openings in order to prevent small objects falling through, it is advantageous that the spray jets of the rotating smaller side spray arm as well as the spray jets of the lower main spray arm pene trate into the cutlery insert for the largest part only weakened by the small openings, for which reason the cutlery is also cleaned only inadequately.

In order to improve the cleaning of the objects disposed in the cutlery insert, it has been proposed for the spray device to be arranged in the cutlery insert and connected to the water feed of the lower spray arm through a loose coupling as well as a water feed pipe.

According to the present invention there is provided a crockery and cutlery cleaning ma chine comprising a crockery container, a cut lery container disposed within the crockery container, a rotatable spray device disposed below the cutlery container, cleaning liquid passage opening means disposed in the base of the cutlery container to receive cleaning liquid, and at least one spray head mounted to the cutlery container, communicating with the passage means and extending upwardly within the cutlery container to impart a spray of cleaning liquid to cutlery when disposed in the cutlery container.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompa nying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a vertical section through a cutlery insert provided with a spray head constructed as a diffuser, Figure 2 shows a plan view onto the base of the cutlery insert shown in Fig. 1, which is provided with a water feed channel extending over the length of the base, Figures 3 to 7show embodiments of a spray head, and Figure 8 shows in schematic illustration, the arrangement of the inlet openings of the spray heads above the spray circles of spray nozzles or a rotatable spray arm, provided below a crockery basket or the cutlery insert.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a rinsing container, in which a crockery basket is provided, which is provided with a recepta cle for a grid-shaped or sieve-shaped cutlery insert 1, is disposed in a housing of a crock ery rinsing machine (not shown). A rotatably mounted spray arm 2, which carries spray nozzles 3 directed towards the crockery basket, is disposed below the crockery basket or the cutlery insert.

In order effectively to be able to spray with cleaning liquid the cutlery 4 standing relatively closely against one another in the cutlery insert, water feed channels 5, which guide the water sprayed against the cutlery insert by the spray nozzles 3 of the spray arm 2 re-inforced into the cutlery insert and against the cutlery parts, are provided in the base 6 of the cutlery insert. The cutlery insert 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a water feed channel 5, which extends over the length of the insert and is open at the underside of the insert so that the spray jets of the spray arm can pass into the central zones of the cutlery insert with little loss of flow not only through the perforated base 6, but also through the channel 5.

Spray heads, which are for example constructed as diffusers 7, can branch off from the water feed channel 5 for guiding the water to the upper region of the cutlery insert and against the cutlery.

The spray head may at its upper end carry a cap 8 which so covers the head that the water jet of the diffuser is deflected and conducted against the cutlery 4 from above through lateral openings 9.

Fig. 3 shows a spray head 10 which is closed off at the upper end by an end wall 11 and has exit openings 12 in the side wall.

Fig. 4 shows a spray head 13 comprising a conically narrowing pipe and a cap 14 for deflecting the water jet in the manner of an umbrella against the cutlery.

Fig. 5 shows a spray head 15 comprising an upwardly narrowing spray pipe closed off at the end face.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the spray heads 16 and 18 extend up to approximately half the height of the cutlery insert and have exit openings 17, which are directed obliquely upwards to spray the water directly between the cutlery 4.

In place of an elongate water feed channel, the spray heads may have inlet openings 19 enlarged in funnel shaped in the base 6 of the cutlery insert 1, the inlet openings being provided on the spray circles 20 of the spray nozzles 3 of the spray arm 2 so that they lie directly above the spray circles of the spray nozzles.

According to a further modification, a separate water feed duct can be provided to the water feed channel of the spray heads.

The above described embodiment enables more cleaning liquid to be guided into the chambers of the cutlery insert and towards the cutlery and the cleaning effect for the cutlery can be further improved.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Crockery cleaning machine The present invention relates to a crockery and cutlery cleaning machine. US-PS 3 468 486 discloses a machine in which a spray device associated with a cutlery insert comprises a smaller side spray arm arranged rotatably at a lower main spray arm underneath the cutlery insert. Since the cut lery insert has relatively small openings in order to prevent small objects falling through, it is advantageous that the spray jets of the rotating smaller side spray arm as well as the spray jets of the lower main spray arm pene trate into the cutlery insert for the largest part only weakened by the small openings, for which reason the cutlery is also cleaned only inadequately. In order to improve the cleaning of the objects disposed in the cutlery insert, it has been proposed for the spray device to be arranged in the cutlery insert and connected to the water feed of the lower spray arm through a loose coupling as well as a water feed pipe. According to the present invention there is provided a crockery and cutlery cleaning ma chine comprising a crockery container, a cut lery container disposed within the crockery container, a rotatable spray device disposed below the cutlery container, cleaning liquid passage opening means disposed in the base of the cutlery container to receive cleaning liquid, and at least one spray head mounted to the cutlery container, communicating with the passage means and extending upwardly within the cutlery container to impart a spray of cleaning liquid to cutlery when disposed in the cutlery container. Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompa nying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a vertical section through a cutlery insert provided with a spray head constructed as a diffuser, Figure 2 shows a plan view onto the base of the cutlery insert shown in Fig. 1, which is provided with a water feed channel extending over the length of the base, Figures 3 to 7show embodiments of a spray head, and Figure 8 shows in schematic illustration, the arrangement of the inlet openings of the spray heads above the spray circles of spray nozzles or a rotatable spray arm, provided below a crockery basket or the cutlery insert. Referring to the accompanying drawings, a rinsing container, in which a crockery basket is provided, which is provided with a recepta cle for a grid-shaped or sieve-shaped cutlery insert 1, is disposed in a housing of a crock ery rinsing machine (not shown). A rotatably mounted spray arm 2, which carries spray nozzles 3 directed towards the crockery basket, is disposed below the crockery basket or the cutlery insert. In order effectively to be able to spray with cleaning liquid the cutlery 4 standing relatively closely against one another in the cutlery insert, water feed channels 5, which guide the water sprayed against the cutlery insert by the spray nozzles 3 of the spray arm 2 re-inforced into the cutlery insert and against the cutlery parts, are provided in the base 6 of the cutlery insert. The cutlery insert 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a water feed channel 5, which extends over the length of the insert and is open at the underside of the insert so that the spray jets of the spray arm can pass into the central zones of the cutlery insert with little loss of flow not only through the perforated base 6, but also through the channel 5. Spray heads, which are for example constructed as diffusers 7, can branch off from the water feed channel 5 for guiding the water to the upper region of the cutlery insert and against the cutlery. The spray head may at its upper end carry a cap 8 which so covers the head that the water jet of the diffuser is deflected and conducted against the cutlery 4 from above through lateral openings 9. Fig. 3 shows a spray head 10 which is closed off at the upper end by an end wall 11 and has exit openings 12 in the side wall. Fig. 4 shows a spray head 13 comprising a conically narrowing pipe and a cap 14 for deflecting the water jet in the manner of an umbrella against the cutlery. Fig. 5 shows a spray head 15 comprising an upwardly narrowing spray pipe closed off at the end face. In the embodiments shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the spray heads 16 and 18 extend up to approximately half the height of the cutlery insert and have exit openings 17, which are directed obliquely upwards to spray the water directly between the cutlery 4. In place of an elongate water feed channel, the spray heads may have inlet openings 19 enlarged in funnel shaped in the base 6 of the cutlery insert 1, the inlet openings being provided on the spray circles 20 of the spray nozzles 3 of the spray arm 2 so that they lie directly above the spray circles of the spray nozzles. According to a further modification, a separate water feed duct can be provided to the water feed channel of the spray heads. The above described embodiment enables more cleaning liquid to be guided into the chambers of the cutlery insert and towards the cutlery and the cleaning effect for the cutlery can be further improved. CLAIMS

1. A crockery and cutlery cleaning machine comprising a crockery container, a cutlery container disposed within the crockery container, a rotatable spray device disposed below the cutlery container, cleaning liquid passage opening means disposed in the base of the cutlery container to receive cleaning liquid, and at least one spray head mounted to the cutlery container, communicating with the passage means and extending upwardly within the cutlery container to impart a spray of cleaning liquid to cutlery when disposed in the cutlery container.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each spray head comprises a tubular member.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular member diverges upwardly.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular member converges upwardly.

5. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising a cleaning liquid deflector disposed above the upper end of the tubular member.

6. A machine as claimed in any one of the claims 2 to 4, wherein the upper end of the tubular member is closed off and a plurality of spray openings are provided laterally the tubular member.

7. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the passage opening means being connected to duct means connected to cleaning liquid feed means of the spray device.

8. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the passage opening means facing the spray device.

9. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spray device comprises rotatable arm means provided with outlet means which in use describe a circle disposed below the passage opening means, the passage opening means diverging towards the circle.

10. A crockery and cutlery cleaning machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A machine as claimed in claim 10 and modified substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.