GB2243285A - Industrial equipment cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Cleaning apparatus has structure 10 defining side-by-side cleaning enclosures 16, 18 enabling two different sizes or types of equipment to be passed along parallel but separate feed paths from one end to the other. The first enclosure 16 may be larger to accommodate racks or trolleys while the other enclosure 18 may be provided with conveyor means 24 for carrying smaller equipment such as trays or other utensils used with the trolleys or racks. Each enclosure has washing, sterilising or other cleaning means preferably providing washing and rinsing water from tanks and pumps housed in a base portion 12 below the enclosures and sunk below floor level. Further washing and rinsing tanks 48, 50 may be employed to clean smaller utensils in a basket 52. <IMAGE>

Description

INDUSTRIAL E0LlIPMENT CLEANING APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning industrial equipment, more specifically for washing, sterilisingor otherwise cleaning utensils and other povable equipment used for food processing or possibly other industrial processes.

The object of the invention is to provide cleaning apparatus which is effective in meeting high standards of hygiene particularly as regards efficiency of cleaning and segregation of clean and dirty equipment to avoid risk of cross-infection or contamination; yet which is simple and reliable in construction and operation; which is economical to manufacture and operate; and is of compact construction so as to save space while providing facility for cleaning a range of sizes or types of equipment.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for cleaning a variety of utensils and other movable equipment used in industrial production of foodstuffs or other industrial processes, said apparatus comprising structure including first and second cleaning enclosures disposed in parallel relationship for respective throughput of two different sizes or types of said equipment along separate feed paths each extending from an input end of the apparatus to an output end thereof remote from the input end, each enclosure being equipped with washing, sterilising or other cleaning means adapted to act on the size or type of equipment passing through that enclosure in use.

Where the equipment comprises racks or trolleys, and trays or other utensils for use therewith, the first enclosure may be dimensioned for the passage of the racks or trolleys therethrough, and the second enclosure may be dimensioned for the passage of the trays or other utensils therethrough, their separation from the racks or trolleys facilitating the more effective cleaning of both said sizes and types of equipment.

The apparatus may further include conveyor means respective to either or both enclosures for the transport or movement of the respective equipment along the respective feed path therethrough.

The cleansing means conveniently includes means operatively providing a pressurized supply of hot wash water to a washing zone or section of each enclosure and a pressurized supply of hot rinse water to a rinsing zone or section of each enclosure downstream of the washing zone.

The cleansing means may operate in unison under common control for both the first and second enclosures, or may be arranged to be controlled independently with respect to each said enclosure.

The apparatus may further include facilities for cleaning further sizes or types of equipment separately from those passing through the first and second enclosures, for example agitated or other washing and rinsing tanks for cleaning small items of equipment handled in batches in baskets or other portable containers.

Conveniently pumps, hot water supply tanks and other components of the cleansing means are located in said structure below floor level and beneath one or both of the wash enclosures for the most economical use of floor space.

An example of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of cleaning apparatus for food trays, racks and other equipment; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of said apparatus from an opposite side; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic part sectional side elevation thereof; and Figure 4 is a cross-section on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The apparatus is constructed as a self-contained unit requiring only installation at a convenient and appropriate location which, as it occupies only a small floor area, can usually be accommodated in existing facilities and buildings, e.g. in upgrading them to modern standards, and connection to services (power, water supply, ventilation, and drainage).

The main structure 10 of the apparatus is a cabinet constructed to provide a base or service portion 12 operatively sunk below floor level indicated at 14 in Figure 3, and parallel elongate first and second cleaning enclosures 16, 18 disposed side by side on the service portion 12 so that respective feed paths therethrough are in parallel relationship.

First enclosure 16 is of much larger cross-sectional dimensions than enclosure 18 and is provided with double doors 20, 22 at its opposite ends being respectively input and output ends.

Second enclosure 18 is provided with powered conveyor means 24 operable to carry equipment therethrough from the input to the output ends 26, 28, the direction of travel through the two enclosures being indicated by arrows in the drawings.

Said first and second enclosures 16, 18 are primarily intended for cleaning racks or trolleys 30 (indicated diagrammatically in Figures 3 and 4) while the second cleanig enclosure 1E is primarily intended for cleaning batches of trays 32 (also indicated diagrammatically in Figures 3 and 4) used in combination with said racks or trolleys but being separated therefron for the cleaning process.

Cleaning means of the apparatus includes tanks 34, 3 holding respective supplies of washing and rinsing water within the service portion 12, the washing water tank 34 being towards the inlet end and the rinsing water tank 36 being towards the outlet end. The tanks are heated by gas or electric heaters and respective delivery pumps 36, 40 supply pressurised water to sprays 42, 42a in the cleaning enclosures 16, 18 respectively (shown diagrammatically in Figure 4) to act on the equipment passing therethrough. An upstream zone of each enclosure is provided with hot washing water and a downstream zone thereof with rinsing water. Provision may be made for the addition of detergents or other cleaning aids to the water supplies.Hot air and steam is vented from the larger enclosure 16 by way of an extractor vent 44 in its top and provision may also be incorporated for recirculation of water within the system and/or the draining away of dirty water.

Both enclosures 16, 18 are conveniently provided with washing and rinsing water from common pumps 38, 40 though for some applications separate pumps for each enclosure might be provided.

An electrical control panel 46 will incorporate stop/start switches, temperature and pump regulation and other controls necessary for ease of operation which will conveniently be automatic or semi-automatic in that a washing and rinsing cycle will take place once the equipment has been loaded at the input end during its passage or transfer through the respective enclosures 16, 18. Safety cut-outs may be incorporated to ensure that said cycles only start or continue when the doors 20, 22 of the first enclosure 16 are secured.

An additional washing facility is provided in that, along the side of the apparatus remote from the second enclosure 18, agitated washing and rinsing tank sections 46, 50 are provided, e.g. open top sub-divisions of the main tank 4, 36, for the cleaning of miscellaneous smaller utensils and items of other equipment which can be grouped in batches and placed in baskets 52 for transfer into and between said tank sections 48, 50.

This process can conveniently be carried out manually while the other equipment is being cleaned in the main enclosures 16, 16.

As all the equipment is transferred from the input end to the output end of the apparatus in parallel it is easy to provide for segregation of dirty and clean work areas as is now increasingly required by practice and regulations to avoid cross-infection and contamination particularly where high risk food products such as meat is being processed, the input end of the apparatus will open to the 'dirty" area to receive soiled equipment and the output end will open into the controlled clean area where only sterile equipment will be handled.

moreover very thorough cleaning of the equipment is assured in that the spray pattern and arrangement of the respective enclosures 16, 18 will be arranged for thorough action on the racks or trolleys 30 and the trays 32 treated separately in the most appropriate way. This is in contrast to some cleaning systems in which the trays remain on the racks or trolleys to be passed through common cleaning apparatus together, with the risk that parts of the equipment in this assembled condition will be masked from the full effect of the sprays or other cleaning means. The invention renders unnecessary the need to provide separate apparatus for handling different types or sizes of equipment with consequent higher capital cost and increased utilization of floor space and services. The use of the invention may reduce capital cost by up to around 40cup compared with known systems and apparatus and is expected to give enhanced results with more economical and convenient operation.

The second enclosure 18, which is smaller in height, may conveniently be provided with removable top cover panels 56 for access to its interior, e.g. for maintenance and servicing.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for cleaning a variety of utensils and other movable equipment used in industrial production of foodstuffs or other industrial processes, said apparatus comprising structure including first and second cleaning enclosures disposed in parallel relationship for respective throughput of two different sizes or types of said equipment along separate feed paths each extending from an input end of the apparatus to an output end thereof remote from the input end, each enclosure being equipped with washing, sterilising or other cleaning means adapted to act on the size or type of equipment passing through that enclosure in use.

2. Apparatus as in Claim 1 wherein the first enclosure is dimensioned for passage of racks or trolleys therethrough and the second enclosure is dimensioned for passage of trays for use with said racks or trolleys and/or other utensils.

3. Apparatus as in Claim 1 or 2 including conveyor means respective to either or both enclosures for transport or movement of the respective equipment along the respective feed path or paths therethrough.

4. Apparatus as in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the cleansing means includes means operatively providing a pressurised supply of hot wash water to a washing zone or section of each enclosure and a pressurised supply of hot rinse water to a rinsing zone or section of each enclosure downstream of the washing zone.

5. Apparatus as in Claim 4 wherein said cleansing means includes one or more hot water supply tanks and pumping means providing said pressurised supplies housed in a base portion of the apparatus below the cleaning enclosures.

6. Apparatus as in Claim 5 wherein said base portion is operatively sunk below floor level.

7. Apparatus as in any preceding claim including facilities for cleaning further sizes or types of equipment separately from those passing through said enclosures.

8. Apparatus as in Claim 7 wherein said facilities include washing and rinsing tanks for cleaning items of equipment handled in batches.

9. Apparatus as in any preceding claim including automatic or semi-automatic control means governing a washing and rinsing cycle relative to each enclosure during the passage of equipment therethrough.

10. Apparatus for cleaning utensils and other movable equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.