GB2142224A

GB2142224A - Device for washing ice-cream spoons

Info

Publication number: GB2142224A
Application number: GB08415230A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Roulin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-06-30
Filing date: 1984-06-14
Publication date: 1985-01-16
Also published as: GB8415230D0; CH654195A5

Abstract

A device for washing ice-cream spoons (20) comprises a vessel (1) and washing ducts (7, 8) connected to a water supply pipe (3) and formed with openings through which water is sprayed onto the spoons (20) and side walls (5). The bottom (16) of the vessel is inclined so as to convey waste water towards orifice (17) of discharge duct (4). The vessel may be provided with partitions (18, 19) and a cover (21) having openings (25) for the spoons. It may also have a detector (31) which causes valve (35) to open when a spoon is placed on plate (33). The washing ducts may be integral with the side walls of the vessel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for washing ice-cream spoons The invention relates to a deviceforwashing ice-cream spoons and comprising a vessel having a washing watersupply pipe and a waste water discharge duct.

Known devices of this kind usually comprise a washing vessel filled with water and having an overflow duct preventing the water level from exceeding an upper limit. The washing water is contaminated with grease and particles which rapidly form athick layer on the water and are only partly discharged, since they are held back bythe edges of the overflow duct. These impurities are subsequently recaptured by the spoons and deposited in ice creams, which is very unhygienic.

The invention aims to obviate this disadvantage and is accordingly characterised in that the vessel has washing ducts connected to the water supply pipe, the washing ducts being formed with a number of openings disposed so as to sprinkle the spoons when disposed substantially vertically in the vessel, the bottom of the vessel being shaped so as to convey the waste watertowards the orifice of the discharge duct in the lowest part of the vessel.

As a result of this continuous rinsing by a number of jets of water, remains of ices are removed from the spoons and immediately entrained in the discharge ductwithoutformingthe harmful layer of grease and particles in the vessel.

By way of example, an embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the device, Fig. 2 is a partly cut-away plan view and Fig. 3 shows a detail in section, illustrating the washing ducts integral with the vessel walls.

The illustrated device for washing ice-cream spoons comprises a plastics vessel 1 fitted into a table 2.

Washing water is supplied by a pipe 3 and waste water is discharged through a discharge duct 4. On each inner surface of its two side walls 5,6, the vessel has two parallel washing ducts 7-10 integral with the vessel walls (Fig. 3).The ducts areformed with a number of perforations 11 disposed in two or three parallel rows so as to direct fine jets of washing water on to the inner walls of the vessel and on to ice-cream spoons 20 disposed substantially vertically. Ducts 7 10 are closed at one end by plugs 12 and connected at the other end by flexible pipes 13to a connecting member 14 secu red to the su pply pipe 4. The supply pipe has a manual shut-off valve 15 for stopping the water supplywhen the device is not in use.

The vessel bottom 16 has a slight inclination so asto convey waste water towards orifice 7 of the discharge duct4 at the lowest part of the vessel 1. Two partitions 18, 19 connect the two side walls 5, 6 so as to form three recesses 22 - 24 each adapted to receive a spoon 20. Recesses 18,19 are spaced away from vessel bottom 1 6 so that waste water can flow towards the discharge orifice 17.

The device also comprises a removable cover 21 over the top part of vessel 1 and formed with three openings 25 opposite recesses 22-24. The openings are shaped so as to hold spoons 20 in a substantially vertical position. Cover 21 is placed in position by sliding in slideways 26,27, the cover being held with its sectional edge 28 against the top edge 29 of vessel 1. A rib 30 on the bottom surface of cover 21 holds it in position. Cover 21 can be removed simply by slightly raising itat opening 25 near rib 30 and sliding the covertowardsthe right in Fig. 1.

To save washing water, the device can have a monitoring means 31 which connects the water supply when at least one spoon is placed in the vessel, whereas washing is stopped when the vessel is empty. To this end, the installation comprises a detector 32 for detecting when a spoon 20 is inserted.

Detector 32 comprises a plate 33 and pressuresensitive contacts 34 connected to a solenoid valve 35.

When a spoon 20 is placed on plate 34, one contact is triggered and opens valve 35. Sprinkling continues as long as the weight of a spoon actuates one of the contacts 34.

In a variant, detector 32 can comprise an optoelectronic barrier for sensing when a spoon 20 is inserted and opening valve 35 for a time determined by a timer.

Of course, the monitoring installation is not necessary for the washing device to operate efficiently, and can therefore be omitted without interfering with the washing performance.

Instead of being rectangular, the vessel may alterna tivelybecircularand have only one recess for an ice-cream spoon.

1. A device forwashing ice-cream spoons, the device comprising a vessel having a washing-water supply pipe and a waste-water discharge duct, characterised in that the vessel has washing ducts connected to the water supply pipe, the washing ducts being formed with a number of openings disposed so asto sprinkle the spoons when disposed substantially vertically in the vessel, the bottom of the vessel being shaped so as to convey the waste water towards the orifice of the discharge duct in the lowest part of the vessel.

2. Adeviceaccordingtoclaim 1, characterised in that the washing ducts are integral with the vessel walls.

3. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the vessel has separating partitions disposed so as to form recesses in which the ice-cream spoons are held in a substantially vertical position,the partitions being spaced apartfromthevessel bottomsothatthe waste water can flow away.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterised in that it comprises a removable cover sliding in slideways disposed at the top of the vessel, the cover being formed with openings opposite the recesses.

5. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a detectorforsensing when a spoon The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A device for washing ice-cream spoons The invention relates to a deviceforwashing ice-cream spoons and comprising a vessel having a washing watersupply pipe and a waste water discharge duct. Known devices of this kind usually comprise a washing vessel filled with water and having an overflow duct preventing the water level from exceeding an upper limit. The washing water is contaminated with grease and particles which rapidly form athick layer on the water and are only partly discharged, since they are held back bythe edges of the overflow duct. These impurities are subsequently recaptured by the spoons and deposited in ice creams, which is very unhygienic. The invention aims to obviate this disadvantage and is accordingly characterised in that the vessel has washing ducts connected to the water supply pipe, the washing ducts being formed with a number of openings disposed so as to sprinkle the spoons when disposed substantially vertically in the vessel, the bottom of the vessel being shaped so as to convey the waste watertowards the orifice of the discharge duct in the lowest part of the vessel. As a result of this continuous rinsing by a number of jets of water, remains of ices are removed from the spoons and immediately entrained in the discharge ductwithoutformingthe harmful layer of grease and particles in the vessel. By way of example, an embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the device, Fig. 2 is a partly cut-away plan view and Fig. 3 shows a detail in section, illustrating the washing ducts integral with the vessel walls. The illustrated device for washing ice-cream spoons comprises a plastics vessel 1 fitted into a table 2. Washing water is supplied by a pipe 3 and waste water is discharged through a discharge duct 4. On each inner surface of its two side walls 5,6, the vessel has two parallel washing ducts 7-10 integral with the vessel walls (Fig. 3).The ducts areformed with a number of perforations 11 disposed in two or three parallel rows so as to direct fine jets of washing water on to the inner walls of the vessel and on to ice-cream spoons 20 disposed substantially vertically. Ducts 7 10 are closed at one end by plugs 12 and connected at the other end by flexible pipes 13to a connecting member 14 secu red to the su pply pipe 4. The supply pipe has a manual shut-off valve 15 for stopping the water supplywhen the device is not in use. The vessel bottom 16 has a slight inclination so asto convey waste water towards orifice 7 of the discharge duct4 at the lowest part of the vessel 1. Two partitions 18, 19 connect the two side walls 5, 6 so as to form three recesses 22 - 24 each adapted to receive a spoon 20. Recesses 18,19 are spaced away from vessel bottom 1 6 so that waste water can flow towards the discharge orifice 17. The device also comprises a removable cover 21 over the top part of vessel 1 and formed with three openings 25 opposite recesses 22-24. The openings are shaped so as to hold spoons 20 in a substantially vertical position. Cover 21 is placed in position by sliding in slideways 26,27, the cover being held with its sectional edge 28 against the top edge 29 of vessel 1. A rib 30 on the bottom surface of cover 21 holds it in position. Cover 21 can be removed simply by slightly raising itat opening 25 near rib 30 and sliding the covertowardsthe right in Fig. 1. To save washing water, the device can have a monitoring means 31 which connects the water supply when at least one spoon is placed in the vessel, whereas washing is stopped when the vessel is empty. To this end, the installation comprises a detector 32 for detecting when a spoon 20 is inserted. Detector 32 comprises a plate 33 and pressuresensitive contacts 34 connected to a solenoid valve 35. When a spoon 20 is placed on plate 34, one contact is triggered and opens valve 35. Sprinkling continues as long as the weight of a spoon actuates one of the contacts 34. In a variant, detector 32 can comprise an optoelectronic barrier for sensing when a spoon 20 is inserted and opening valve 35 for a time determined by a timer. Of course, the monitoring installation is not necessary for the washing device to operate efficiently, and can therefore be omitted without interfering with the washing performance. Instead of being rectangular, the vessel may alterna tivelybecircularand have only one recess for an ice-cream spoon. CLAIMS

is placed in the vessel and also comprises a solenoid valve mounted on the supply pipe, the detector being connected to the solenoid valve so asto open it when a spoon is placed in the vessel.

6. Adevicesubstantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.