GB2337921A - Apparatus for cleaning items used in the food processing industry - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for the washing and decontamination of items used in the food processing industry is described, the apparatus including: conveyor means 14 for transporting tray means 192,194,196, adapted to hold items to be cleaned through washing chamber means; said tray means having an upstanding wall portion 90 which engages with fluid seal means 44, around an entry aperture in a first wall of said washing chamber means in a first position and with fluid seal means 46, around an exit aperture in a second wall of said washing chamber means in a second position; means such as sprayers 50 to apply a chemical cleaning agent to said items within said washing chamber means; means such as lances 62 to apply washing water to said items within said washing chamber means; and, control system means to control transport of said trays carrying said items through said chamber by said conveyor to enable said trays to be stopped at predetermined positions in said washing chamber and have cleaning or washing water applied. When the trays stop, the entering one seals the entrance and the leaving one seals the exit, as shown.

Description

2337921 WASHING APPARATUS The present invention relates to washing

apparatus for washing the likes of protective gloves and aprons and cutting implements used in the food processing industry for example.

In the food processing industry example where raw meat is processed, hygiene cleanliness are of paramount importance due possibility contamination and food poisoning due to e-coli, bacteria for example. People working in the meat processing industry are required to wear protective clothing which is resistant to both cutting and stabbing by sharp knives for example. Protective clothing such as gloves and aprons is frequently made from stainless steel chain-mail type material. Due to the nature of the chainmail material, particles of meat, and indeed any food material being processed, is easily entrained and is difficult to remove by washing to a degree which ensures that the clothing is substantially completely free of pathogens. In the prior art, washing apparatus is known which comprises a circular indexing table having a plurality of stations thereon for mounting jigs which hold articles such as gloves, knives or knife sharpening steels for example, the stations and articles being indexed round and through a washing chamber which doses the articles with a biocide solution at one position and then subjects the dosed articles to a high pressure water washing spray at the next position and which literally blasts off any food debris held by the article. However, such as in abattoirs for and to the danger to the public by salmonella and lysteria 1 due to the nature of the water spray and the very high pressure employed, articles which have already been washed at the water spray position may be recontaminated by food debris removed from following articles and which 5 is clearly unacceptable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for the washing of items used in the food processing industry which removes substantially all pathogens and does not permit the recontamination of such washed items.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus used for the washing and decontamination of items used in the food processing industry, the apparatus including: conveyor means for transporting tray means adapted to hold items to be cleaned through washing chamber means; said tray means having an upstanding portion which engages with fluid seal means around an entry aperture in a first wall of said washing chamber means in a first position and with fluid seal means around an exit aperture in a second wall of said washing chamber means in a second position; means to apply a chemical cleaning agent to said items within said washing chamber means; means to apply washing water to said items within said washing chamber means; and, control system means to control transport of said trays carrying said items through said chamber by said conveyor to enable said trays to be stopped at predetermined positions in said washing chamber and have cleaning or washing water applied.

The term cleaning agent" is used in its most general sense to include biocides, detergents and any other 2 chemical used in the food processing industry for cleaning and decontamination.

The tray means may include a horizontal base portion having fluid drain holes therein, the baseportion supporting the items on the conveyor means during their passage through the washing chamber. The upstanding portion may be a substantially vertical wall extending upwardly from the base portion and be of generally rectangular shape. Gussets or side walls joining the base portion and the upstanding portion may also be provided to strengthen the tray means and also to limit the splashing of water or debris back onto the tray means.

The tray means are conveyed through the washing chamber means on a conveyor such as a grid-link belt. The conveyor belt may have upstanding drive dogs to engage the tray means at predetermined spacing so as to correspond to control signals from a control program means when the tray means reach predetermined positions within the chamber. In one embodiment of the present invention, there are two predetermined stations within the chamber: a first station corresponding to a position where the items are dosed with the cleaning agent adjacent the chamber entry; and, a second station, adjacent the chamber exit, where the dosed items are washed with a water spray to remove debris. However, apparatus according to the present invention also envisages a washing cycle where additional steps are included. Such steps may include repeat dosing and washing steps or stations and a drying station for example.

The apparatus of the present invention also envisages a 35 cleaning cycle where the dirty items held on the tray 3 means are dosed with cleaning fluid and then washed with water in a sequential manner whilst the tray means is maintained in a single position within the washing chamber means.

A particular feature of the present invention is the seal formed by the upstanding portion of the tray means and the entry and exit apertures in the walls of the washing chamber. The entry and exit walls of the chamber are spaced apart so as to correspond to the spacing of the drive dogs on the conveyor belt and/or the dimensions of the tray means base portion. Thus, when the upstanding portion of a leading tray means reaches and engages the seal means around the exit aperture of the washing chamber, the upstanding portion of a following tray means is reaching and engaging with the seal means around the entry aperture of the chamber. When this situation is reached, the conveyor is stopped in response to signals from position transducers sensing the positions of the tray upstanding portions, or any other suitable feature or parameter, and feeding appropriate signals to the control system governing the overall washing cycle. Thus, the apparatus of the present invention forms a substantially closed chamber when fluid is being sprayed consequently limiting the amount of fluid which finds its way to the outside. It should be noted that the engagement between the upstanding portion of the tray means and the seal around the chamber apertures does not form a seal in the sense that no liquid can pass through but a seal in the sense that water spray inside the chamber splashing about is prevented from passing through the seal.

The seal means around the chamber apertures may be affixed to the chamber per se or to the tray means.

4 The seal means may comprise rubber or flexible plastics material flap seals or any other type of seal suited to the purpose.

The conveyor drive belt may comprise a single wide belt passing through the chamber or two separate belts passing through the chamber on either side and leaving a gap in the middle through which debris containing water may drain unhindered. The drive belts may be slidingly supported on side rails within the chamber.

The items may be supported on jig means either standing on or fixed to the tray means. However, in a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, such jig means are provided with shroud means which enclose the items being cleaned and which are supported on the jig means in an orientation which is conducive to enabling the items to be washed in the most efficient manner. The jig and shroud means assembly have at least one aperture in a top surface thereof to enable the cleaning agent. or washing water to be sprayed inside the interior thereof to contact all surfaces of the items being cleaned and at least one aperture in a bottom surface thereof to enable draining of fluid into a sink portion of the washing chamber. Preferably, the base portion of the tray means is provided with corresponding apertures therein so that fluid may drain substantially directly from the jig and shroud assembly into the sink portion. By providing the jig means with a surrounding shroud, the items which have been cleaned by spraying with water are even further prevented from being recontaminated by being splashed with water which may contain debris. Furthermore, debris being removed from dirty items by the washing water spray is prevented from being splashed around the inside of the washing chamber as it is contained within the shroud means and drains away into the sink portion. Thus, the shroud means fulfil two functions in firstly preventing debris washed from dirty items from being splashed around the chamber; and, secondly in preventing debris in the chamber from being redeposited on clean items.

The jig means may comprise a base member having vertical pillars extending upwardly therefrom to a top member. The bottom and top members each have an aperture therein to allow draining and access of fluid respectively. The jig means may also include a first intermediate support member to enable knives, sharpening steels and the like to be held and supported in an upstanding orientation. The jig means may also include a second intermediate support member which is movable in the vertical direction. The second intermediate member may be adapted to slide on the vertical pillars and be able to be positioned at any desired level within the jig means between the first intermediate member and the top member. The second intermediate member may comprise a plate having an aperture therein and collar means adapted to be able to expand and contract to engage the cuff portion of a glove for example. The purpose of the second intermediate member being movable is to allow for items of different lengths to be suspended therefrom within the jig means and to place them in the most advantageous position with regard to the application of cleaning agent and washing water. Hand protection in the food processing industry may comprise relatively short gloves just covering the wrists or relatively much longer gauntlettype gloves which also protect the user's forearms. Thus, it is beneficial to be able to place either type of item in the most advantageous position within the jig means.

6 The expanding and contracting collar means are to accommodate different hand sizes of glove. The plate of the second intermediate support member and the vertical pillars may also be provided with mutual latching means to enable the plate to be held in one of several predetermined positions. Such latching means may comprise peripheral grooves and resiliently biased balls for example, However, any suitable form of latching means may be employed.

The tray means may also include a removable upper horizontal member having a grid base for fluid drainage to support a chain mail protective apron for example, such an item being relatively large and not amenable to being suspended. The purpose of the upper support member is to enable the item to be positioned nearer to spray nozzles, support the item away from the base of the tray to allow free draining with minimal splash back and the wire grid base of the upper support member allowing all debris to fall away from the item without being trapped thereunder.

The washing chamber may comprise a substantially rectangular chamber having fluid spray means in the upper portion thereof. The fluid spray means may comprise at least one first spray nozzle positioned above a first station adjacent the chamber entry aperture for dosing the dirty items with cleaning agent; and, at least one second spray nozzle positioned above a second station to spray water onto the dosed items to remove debris.

Alternatively, the first and second sprays may be mounted on a carousel or indexing arrangement for example to bring them sequentially into register with items to 7 cleaned whilst the tray means is maintained in the same position.

Where more than one individual jig means are employed to hold items, and more so if the individual jigs are provided with shroud means as described hereinabove, there are preferably a corresponding number of spray nozzles and jig means. In one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, there are four dosing and four water spray nozzles arranged in substantially rectangular array above the tray and jig means.

The dosing spray nozzles may be in a fixed position with regard to height. The dosing nozzles may however, be movable vertically in response to signals from a control system or merely height adjustable and remaining in a fixed position during a washing cycle.

Suitable pump means for supplying the dosing nozzles is 20 also included within the apparatus according to the present invention.

The water washing spray nozzles are preferably movable in the vertical plane and have drive means to move them in response to control signals in a washing cycle control program. Such drive means may include pneumatic cylinder means and suitable actuator means for example. The washing water spray nozzles are preferably mounted on the ends of elongate conduits or lances enabling the water sprays to extend into the jigs supporting the items being cleaned and, in the case of gloves for example, extend into the interior of the glove to enable debris to be blasted in a direction outwardly of the glove. Preferably, water is sprayed during descent of the spray 8 nozzle and also during retraction thereof to allow maximum spraying time and coverage.

The water washing sprays are preferably high pressure sprays operating at a pressure in the region of about 200 bar. Suitable high pressure pump means and electric motor drive means are also included in the apparatus according to the present invention.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided jig means for the cleaning apparatus according to the first aspect.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood, an example will now be described by way of illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation, partially cutaway, of an embodiment of cleaning apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a front elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 viewed in the direction of the arrow 'W' of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic simplified side view of tray means passing through the cleaning apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 indicating the sequence of events during a cleaning cycle; Figures 4A to 4C show a front view of a tray for supporting items, a side view and a plan view, respectively; 9 Figures 5A and 5B show side elevations of an item supporting jig from two mutually orthogonal directions; and Figures 6A to 6E which show the various horizontal support members of the jig of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings and where the same features are denoted by common reference numerals.

Apparatus for cleaning dirty cutting implements and protective clothing used in the food processing industry is indicated generally at 10. The apparatus comprises a base unit 12 the component parts of which will be explained in greater detail below; a conveyor 14 for transporting items held in trays 16 (only one of which is shown in the interests of clarity) through a washing chamber 18 (the tray 16 is omitted from Fig. 2); a cleaning agent and water spray unit 20; and, a control system 22 which is actually housed in an integral cabinet on the apparatus 10 but for sake of explanation is indicated as a separate unit. The base unit 12 supports the conveyor 14 which comprises a roller 26 on the input side and a roller 28 on the output side between which rollers are two grid-link belts 30 passing through the washing chamber 18 on side support rails 32 on either side. The belts 30 are provided with tray drive pegs 31 at predetermined intervals which are related to the axial length of each tray and the distance between the two end walls of the chamber 20. Side fences 34 are provided on either side of the conveyor to maintain the trays in line and in a desired orientation with regard to the direction of travel. The conveyor 14 is driven by an electric motor (not shown) which is under the control of the control system 22. Beneath the conveyor 14 is a sink 36 which receives waste drain outlet 38 to waste. Enclosing a water and debris from the cleaning cycle, the sink 36 having a drain outlet 38. A central portion of the conveyor belt 30 is within the washing chamber 18 which has an input aperture 40 and an output aperture 42 having flexible rubber flap seals 44, 46 around three sides, respectively to engage the trays 16 as will be explained below. The central portion contains two trays 16 in a washing cycle in a manner to be explained below. Above the washing chamber 18 is an enclosed cleaning dosing and washing water spraying arrangement 20. Four spray nozzles 50 in rectangular array are provided above and adjacent the input aperture 40, the sprays 50 being connected to a reservoir 52 of cleaning agent via a pump 54 under the control of the control system 22. The spray nozzle array is mounted on a column 56 to enable height adjustment. Adjacent the output aperture 42 is a rectangular array of four high pressure washing water spraying nozzles 60, the spacing thereof corresponding to that of the array of cleaning agent nozzles 50 and of jigs on the tray 16, the nozzles 60 being mounted on the ends of lances 62. The lance and nozzle array 60, 62 is mounted on a frame 64 which is movable in the vertical direction on a slider column 66 by a pneumatic cylinder 70 in response to signals from the control system 22. The lances 62 are connected to a manifold 72 by flexible hoses 74. The manifold 72 is connected to a high pressure pump 78 and valve block 80 driven by an electric motor 82 via a coupling 84, the valves in the valve block 80 being under the control of the control system 22.

Referring now to Figures 4A to 4C, each tray 16 comprises an upstanding rectangular back panel 90 of dimensions corresponding to the inlet and outlet apertures 40, 42 and seals 44, 46; a base panel 92 having main drain 11 apertures 94 and subsidiary drain apertures 96 therein; and, side panels 98 which serve to strengthen the joint between the back panel 90 and the base panel 92 and also provide a measure of protection against splashing from the sides onto cleaned items. In this embodiment, the pitch of the drain apertures 94 corresponds to that of the cleaning agent and water spray nozzles 50, 60.

Each tray holds four jigs 100 (see Figures 5A and 5B and Figures 6A to 6E), again in corresponding rectangular array, the jigs 100 holding the items to be cleaned, in this case a chain- mail gauntlet 102 and cutting knives 104 (only one of which being shown and only in Fig.5B). Other elongate items than the knives, e.g. sharpening steels may be contained in the jig. The jig has four support members or plates comprising: a top plate 110 having a fluid inlet aperture 112 therein (see also FigAA); a bottom plate 114 having a fluid drain aperture 116 therein and a spigot 118 which locates in the main drain aperture 94 in the tray base panel and an annular groove 120 to receive knife handles and the like and retain them against slipping out during assembly (see also FigAB); a first fixed intermediate plate 122 having a larger central aperture 124 and radially directed slots 126 (see also FigAC); and, a second, movable intermediate plate 128 (see also FigAD). The four plates are retained by two vertical pillars 130 extending between plates 110 and 114 to which the pillars 130 are also fixed; and two shorter vertical pillars 132 extending between the plates 114 and 122 to which the pillars 132 are fixed. The movable plate 128 is slidable on the upper portion of the pillars 130. The plate can be retained in any position but grooves 136 which engage with resiliently biased 138 detent balls 140 are provided at predetermined spacing. The gauntlet 102 is supported 12 by the cuff portion 144 thereof on an expandable collar 150 comprising two segments 152 supported on plastics material slider pins 154 which are movable on stainless steel rods 156 and are retained in position thereon by friction. The plate 128 is movable in the vertical direction to enable gloves of different lengths to be retained thereon in the most efficient position with regard to cleaning by the water sprays 60. The larger hole 124 in the plate 122 is to enable the glove 102 to hang down in an unconstricted manner. A shroud member 160 is provided to cover the jig 100 on four sides. Due to the shroud member 160, all cleaning agent and washing water entering the jig and shroud assembly is constrained therewithin and must drain out of the lower drain 116 thereby not only making efficient use of the fluids being sprayed but also substantially eliminating the recontamination of already cleaned items by splashing with dirty water from other Jig assemblies as happens with prior art apparatus.

Figures 5 and 6 describe jig means for washing knives and gloves for example. However, it is often necessary to wash larger items of protective clothing such as chainmail aprons for example which are too large to be suspended within a jig of the type described above. In this case, Figure 4B shows a tray member 16 modified to accept a washing support dish 170 shown in dashed lines. The support dish has four side walls 172 and a wire grid base 174 to allow free draining. A hook 176 on the tray 16 engages with holes in the back wall of the dish and a support pillar 178 is provided at the front edge to maintain the dish in a substantially horizontal attitude with the apron 180 to be washed folded on the base 174.

13 The operation of the apparatus during a washing cycle will now be explained with reference to Figure 3. In order to start a washing cycle, an empty tray 190 is placed on the belt 30 and is carried into the washing chamber 18; another tray 192 having dirty items to be cleaned and held in jig and shroud assemblies 100 as described above is placed on the belt behind tray 190 and carried into the chamber 18; and, a further tray 194 also with items to be washed is placed behind the second tray 192. When the tray 190 reaches station "'B", the tray 192 is at station "C", the tray 194 is at station "'D" and the program in the control system stops the conveyor 14 and activates the cleaning agent jets 50 to dose the interior of the jigs on tray 192 with a predetermined volume of cleaning agent and/or for a predetermined time. The conveyor is then started and tray 190 moves to station "A", tray 192 moves to station "B" and tray 194 moves to station "C". At these positions the back of tray 190 forms a seal with the flap seals 46 around the washing chamber exit aperture 42 and the back of tray 194 forms a seal around the entry aperture 40 with the seals 44. The control system then simultaneously activates the washing water sprays 60 to clean the items in tray 192 which has previously been dosed with cleaning agent and to dose the dirty items in tray 194 with cleaning agent, excess cleaning agent and water draining out of the jig assemblies 100 into the sink 36 and draining away to waste via the drain 38. During this step the water washing lances 62 are activated by the control system 22 to descend into the jigs 100 and inside any gloves which may be suspended therein to clean them in the most efficient manner. The water sprays are activated both during descent into and retraction out of the jigs 100.

The dosing/washing step is continued for a predetermined time or for a predetermined volume of water. The lances 14 62 are then retracted and the conveyor started again to move tray 192 to station "A", tray 194 to station "B" and tray 196 to station "C" and so on, further trays of dirty items being loaded onto the conveyor 14 as required. The positions of a suitable part of the trays (in this case the backs) are detected by sensors 200, 202 fixed in the washing chamber and which send signals to the control system 22 which is programmed to carry out a washing cycle as described above. To end the cycle, an empty tray is finally placed on the conveyor 14 to enable the entry aperture 40 to be sealed whilst the last tray of dirty items is being washed with the sprays 60.

In the case of washing larger items in a dish 170 such as described above for example with reference to Figure 4B, the program in the control system 22 is modified to stop the washing water lances 62 from descending to the same level as with jigs 100.

Clearly the apparatus may be modified to enclose say three trays for example within the washing chamber 18 to allow for an additional step such as dosing with a sterilising fluid for example after the washing water step or applying a compressed air blast for drying purposes for example.

Alternatively, the washing chamber 18 may contain only one tray and the sprays 50 and 60 are brought into register with the jigs 100 sequentially by being mounted on a carousel or other suitable carrier. The back of a first tray will seal the exit aperture 42 and the back of the following tray will seal the entry aperture 40 in this embodiment.

Clearly features such as the tray and jig structures may be changed to suit particular items to be cleaned or to cooperate with shapes or features of the apparatus itself such as entry and exit apertures shapes and spacing therebetween.

The control system may be any suitable system which is known for controlling process steps in process plant.

The trays 16 as shown in Figures 1 and 3 have been shown with the back member 90 being the last portion of the tray to leave the exit aperture 42 and the last portion thereof to enter the entry aperture 40 when travelling from right to left as viewed in Figures 1 and 3. However, the apparatus will function with the trays 16 being turned through 180' so that the upstanding back portion 90 is the f irst part of the tray to seal with the entry 40 and exit 42 of the washing chamber. Only minor changes to the control system program and of course dimensional requirements such as for example that the cleaning agent and water spray nozzles are in correct register with the apertures in the jig assemblies for admitting fluid are needed; such changes being immediately apparent to any person normally skilled in the relevant art. Trays in this latter orientation may be more resistant to tipping when engaging with sealing means.

16 CLAn-IS 6.

1. Apparatus for the washing and decontamination of items used in the food processing industry, the apparatus including: conveyor means for transporting tray means adapted to hold items to be cleaned through washing chamber means; said tray means having an upstanding portion which engages with fluid seal means around an entry aperture in a first wall of said washing chamber means in a first position and with fluid seal means around an exit aperture in a second wall of said washing chamber means in a second position; means to apply a chemical cleaning agent, as hereinbefore defined, to said items within said washing chamber means; means to apply washing water to said items within said washing chamber means; and, control system means to control transport of said trays carrying said items through said chamber by said conveyor to enable said trays to be stopped at predetermined positions in said washing chamber and have cleaning or washing water applied.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the upstanding portion is a substantially vertical wall extending upwardly from a base portion.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the 25 upstanding portion is of generally rectangular shape. 4. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the conveyor belt has upstanding drive dogs to engage the tray means at predetermined spacing.

5. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim having sensors to detect when the tray means reach predetermined positions within the chamber.

Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein there is a combined cleaning agent and water washing station within the washing chamber means.

17 7 12.

8.

9.

Apparatus according to any one preceding claim f rom 1 to 5 wherein there are two predetermined stations within the chamber: a first station corresponding to a position where the items are dosed with the cleaning agent adjacent the chamber entry aperture; and, a second station, adjacentthe chamber exit, where the dosed items are washed with a water spray to remove debris.

Apparatus according to any one preceding claim from 1 to 5 wherein more than two cleaning step stations are provided.

Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the entry and exit walls of the chamber are spaced apart so as to correspond to the spacing of the drive dogs on the conveyor belt and/or the dimensions of the tray means base portion such that, when the upstanding portion of a leading tray means reaches and engages the seal means around the exit aperture of the washing chamber, the upstanding portion of a following tray means reaches and engages with the seal means around the entry aperture of the chamber.

Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the seal means around the chamber apertures are affixed to the chamber entry and exit aperture edges.

11. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim from 1 to 9 wherein the seal mean are affixed to the tray means.

Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the seal means comprise rubber or flexible plastics material flap seals.

13. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the conveyor drive belt comprises two separate belts passing through the chamber on either 18 side and leaving a gap in the middle through which debris containing water drains.

14. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the items are supported on jig means either standing on or fixed to the tray means.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the jig means are provided with shroud means which enclose the items being cleaned.

16. Apparatus according to either claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the jig and shroud means assembly have at least one aperture in a top surface thereof to enable the cleaning agent or washing water to be sprayed inside the interior thereof and at least one aperture in a bottom surface thereof to enable draining of fluid into a sink portion of the washing chamber.

17. Apparatus according to any one of preceding claims 14 to 16 wherein the base portion of the tray means is provided with corresponding apertures therein so that fluid may drain substantially directly from the jig and shroud assembly into the sink portion.

18.

19.

20.

21.

Apparatus according to any one preceding claim from 14 to 17 wherein the jig means comprises a base member having vertical pillar members extending upwardly therefrom to a top member.

Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the bottom and top members each have an aperture therein to allow draining and access of fluid respectively.

Apparatus according either claim 18 or claim 20 wherein the jig means also includes a first intermediate support member and a second intermediate support member which is movable in the vertical direction.

Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the second intermediate member is adapted to slide on the 19 is 27.

vertical pillars and be able to be positioned at any desired level within the jig means between the first intermediate member and the top member.

Apparatus according to either claim 20 or claim 21 wherein the second intermediate member comprises a plate member having an aperture therein and collar means adapted to be able to expand and contract to engage the cuff portion of a glove.

23. Apparatus according to any one of preceding claims 1 to 13 wherein the tray means has a removable upper horizontal member having a grid base to support an item to be cleaned.

24. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the fluid spray means comprises at least one first spray nozzle positioned above a first station adjacent the chamber entry aperture for dosing the dirty items with cleaning agent; and, at least one second spray nozzle positioned above a second station to spray water onto the dosed items to remove debris.

25. Apparatus according to any one of preceding claims 1 to 23 wherein first and second spray means are mounted on a carousel or indexing arrangement to bring them sequentially into register with items to cleaned whilst the tray means is maintained in the same position.

26. Apparatus according to any one of preceding claims 14 to 25 wherein there are a corresponding number of spray nozzles and jig means.

Apparatus according to any one of preceding claims from 14 to 24 wherein there are four dosing and four water spray nozzles arranged in substantially rectangular array above the tray and jig means.

28. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the water washing spray means is arranged to be movable in the vertical direction in response to signals from the control system.

29. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the water washing sprays are high pressure sprays operating at a pressure in the region of about 200 bar.

30. Jig means for supporting dirty items to be cleaned, said jig means being according to any one preceding claims 15 to 23.

31. Apparatus for the washing and decontamination of items used in the food processing industry as hereinbefore described with the accompanying description and substantially reference to drawings.

32. Jig means for supporting dirty items to be cleaned substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description and Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

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