Abstract:
An washing machine for washing trays. The machine includes a housing, a frame, a water system, and an air system. The frame is rigidly mounted in the housing and holds the trays to be washed at a tilted angle so that fluids completely drain there from and accordingly facilitate the washing and drying processes. The water system is contained in the housing and supplies water to wash the trays. The air system is contained in the housing and supplies air to dry the trays.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to washing machine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a machine for washing trays. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous innovations for washing systems have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention. 
     A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,058 to Kitterman et al. teaches a tray washing system that includes conveyors which transport compartmented food service trays from a tray receiving mechanism to inverting and scrapping mechanisms and through washing, rinsing and drying mechanisms to a stacking mechanisms. The receiving mechanism restricts trays to insertion in a predetermined orientation in which the food receiving surfaces face upwardly, and the inverting mechanism inverts each tray so that the food receiving surface faces downwardly. As each try is inverted, the scrapping mechanism discharges substantially the entire contents of a cleaning fluid reservoir onto the food receiving surface of the tray, and thereby dislodges refuse and silverware that may be on the tray. The washing, rinsing and drying mechanism apply a water-detergent solution, rinse water, and drying air to the trays, respectively, and the stacking mechanism deposits the trays onto a mobile self-depressing tray receiver. The tray washing system further includes a silverware separating and soaking mechanism comprising a chute which receives cleaning fluid and refuse and silverware entrained therein, a dam which removes the heavier silverware from the cleaning fluid, and a door in the bottom of the chute for dripping the silverware into a soaking sink. 
     A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,258 to Brenner et al. teaches a dishwasher having a holder for holding silverware to be washed rotatably mounted on a dish holding rack in the washing chamber. The silverware basket is rotated on the dish holding rack so as to permit subjecting silverware carried thereby to a spray of washing liquid, with the spray striking the silverware in different angular positions as the silverware basket revolves. The spray itself may have movement relative to the dish holding rack and silverware holding basket, and in the illustrated embodiment is provided by a rotating spray arm. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the rotation of the silverware basket is effected by a supplemental spray acting against vanes on the rotatable silverware basket. 
     A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,065 to Kitterman et al. teaches a tray washing system that includes conveyors which transport compartmented food service trays from a tray receiving mechanism to inverting a scrapping mechanisms and through washing, rinsing and drying mechanisms to a stacking mechanism. The receiving mechanism restricts trays to insertion in a predetermined orientation in which the food receiving surfaces face upwardly, and the inverting mechanism inverts each tray so that the feed receiving surface faces downwardly. As each tray is inverted, the scrapping mechanism discharges substantially the entire contents of a cleaning fluid reservoir onto the food receiving surface of the tray, and thereby dislodges refuse and silverware that may be on the tray. The washing, rinsing and drying mechanism apply a water-detergent solution, rinse water, and drying air to the trays, respectively, and the stacking mechanism deposits the trays onto a mobile self-depressing tray receiver. The tray washing system further includes a silverware separating and soaking mechanism comprising a chute which receives cleaning fluid and refuse and silverware entrained therein, a dam which removes the heavier silverware from the cleaning fluid, and a door in the bottom of the chute for dropping the silverware into a soaking sink. 
     A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,854 to Kitterman et al. teaches a tray washing system includes conveyors which transport compartmented food service trays from a tray receiving mechanism to inverting and scrapping mechanisms and through washing, rinsing and drying mechanisms to a stacking mechanism. The receiving mechanism restricts trays to insertion in a predetermined orientation in which the food receiving surfaces face upwardly, and the inverting mechanism inverts each tray so that the food receiving surface faces downwardly. As each tray is inverted, the scrapping mechanism discharges substantially the entire contents of a cleaning fluid reservoir onto the food receiving surface of the tray, and thereby dislodges refuse and silverware that may be on the tray. The washing, rinsing and drying mechanism apply a water-detergent solution, rinse water, and drying air to the trays, respectively, and the stacking mechanism deposits the trays onto a mobile self-depressing tray receiver. The tray washing system further includes a silverware separating and soaking mechanism comprising a chute which receives cleaning fluid and refuse and silverware entrained therein, a dam which removes the heavier silverware from the cleaning fluid, and a door in the bottom of the chute for dropping the silverware into a soaking sink. 
     A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,571 to Kitterman et al. teaches a tray washing system that includes conveyors which transport compartmented food service trays from a tray receiving mechanism to inverting and scrapping mechanisms and through washing, rinsing and drying mechanisms to a stacking mechanism. The receiving mechanism restrict trays to insertion in a predetermined orientation in which the food receiving surfaces face upwardly, and the inverting mechanism inverts each tray so that the food receiving surface faces downwardly. 
     A SIXTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,266 to Kitterman et al. teaches a tray washing system that includes conveyors which transport compartmented food service trays from a tray receiving mechanism to inverting and scrapping mechanisms and through washing, rinsing and drying mechanisms to a stacking mechanism. The receiving mechanism restricts trays to insertion in a predetermined orientation in which the food receiving surfaces face upwardly, and the inverting mechanism inverts each tray so that the food receiving surface faces downwardly. As each tray is inverted, the scrapping mechanism discharges substantially the entire contents of a cleaning fluid reservoir onto the food receiving surface of the tray, and thereby dislodges refuse and silverware that may be on the tray. The washing, rinsing and drying mechanism apply a water-detergent solution, rinse water, and drying air to the trays, respectively, and the stacking mechanism deposits the trays onto a mobile self-depressing tray receiver. The tray washing system further includes a silverware separating and soaking mechanism comprising a chute which receives cleaning fluid and refuse and silverware entrained therein, a dam which removes the heavier silverware from the cleaning fluid, and a door in the bottom of the chute for dropping the silverware into a soaking sink. 
     A SEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,575 to Cushing teaches an arrangement for oscillating a rotating dishwasher spray arm about its longitudinal axis to direct the jet sprays at the dishware items at various differing angles including forward, reverse and vertical inclinations to increase coverage and to improve the jet spray washing action by reducing shadowing. The oscillation is produced by a drive gear and crank mechanism driven by a fixed reaction gear as the spray arm rotates. Jet reaction forces are utilized to rotate the spray arm and are related with respect to the axis of rotation of the spray arm so that the resultant torque causing rotation of the spray arm does not significantly vary as the spray arm is oscillated to insure the proper rotational speed of the spray arm. The frequency of oscillation relative to the frequency of rotation is selected to be such that a number of differing jet spray angles are produced for each rotational position of the spray arm in successive revolutions thereof to minimize shadowing effects. Particular mounting details for the spray arm accommodate the simultaneous rotation and oscillation and allow the supply of washing liquid via the mounting structure. 
     AN EIGHTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,835 to Olechow teaches a fluid spray jet drive system for a rotatably mounted turntable which include a plurality of closely spaced, radially extending vanes depending from the turntable. A fluid spray jet is disposed below the turntable. The spray jet is substantially vertically aligned thereby directing a jet fluid substantially vertically at the vanes. The fluid jet drive system, as described, provides a positive drive for slow rotation. 
     It is apparent that numerous innovations for washing systems have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a machine for washing trays that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a machine for washing trays that is simple to use. 
     BRIEFLY STATED, STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a machine for washing trays. The machine includes a housing, a frame, a water system, and an air system. The frame is mounted in the housing and holds the trays to be washed at an angle such that fluids always run off which accordingly facilitates the drying process. The water system is contained in the housing and supplies water to wash the trays. The air system is contained in the housing and supplies air to dry the trays. 
     The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally identified by arrow  3  in  FIG. 1  of a first embodiment of the water system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic cross sectional view, taken along line,  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1  of a second embodiment of the water system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally identified by arrow  5  in  FIG. 1  of the air system of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING 
     
         
           10  machine of present invention for washing trays  12   
           12  trays 
           14  housing 
           16  frame for holding trays  12  to be washed 
           18  water system for supplying water to wash trays  12   
           20  air system for supplying air to dry trays  12   
           21  color indicia coding 
           22  rear wall of housing  14   
           24  pair of side walls of housing  14   
           26  bottom wall of housing  14   
           27  top wall of housing  14   
           28  front wall of housing  14   
           30  interior of housing  14   
           31  door of housing  14   
           32  opening in front wall  28  of housing  14   
           34  first strip of frame  16   
           36  pair of ends of first strip  34  of frame  16   
           38  pair of second strips of frame  16   
           40  midpoint of each second strip of pair of second strips  38  of frame  16   
           42  pair of ends of each second strip of pair of second strips  38  of frame  16   
           44  pair of third strips of frame  16   
           46  pair of intermediate points  46  of each of third strip of pair of third strips  44  of frame  16   
           48  pair of ends of each of third strip of pair of third strips  44  of frame  16   
           50  pair of fourth strips of frame  16   
           52  pair of ends of each fourth strip of pair of fourth strips  50  of frame  16   
           54  two pair of rods of frame  16   
           56  pair of fifth strips of frame  16   
           58  pair of ends of each fifth strip of pair of fifth strips  56   
           60  pair of sixth strips of frame  16   
           62  pair of ends of each sixth strip of pair of sixth strips  60  of frame  16   
       
    
     First Embodiment of Water System  18   
     
         
           68  water pump of water system  18  for pumping heated water so as to form pumped heated water 
           70  water heater of water system  18  for fluidly communicating with source of water for heating water so as to form heated water 
           72  manifold of water system  18  for conducting pumped heated water so as to form conducted pumped heated water 
           74  spray heads of water system  18  for spraying conducted pumped heated water 
           78  air blower of air system  20  for blowing air so as to form blown air 
           80  manifold of air system  20  for conducting blown air 
           82  orifices in manifold  80  of air system  20  for exiting blown air 
           84  microprocessor 
       
    
     Second Embodiment of Water System  118   
     
         
           118  water system for supplying water to wash trays  12   
           172  manifold 
           174  spray heads 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the washing machine of the present invention is shown generally at  10  for washing trays  12 . 
     The washing machine  10  comprises a housing  14 , a frame  16 , a water system  18 , and an air system  20 . The frame  16  is rigidly mounted in the housing  14  and is for holding the trays  12  to be washed. The water system  18  is contained in the housing  14  and is for supplying water to wash the trays  12 . The air system  20  is contained in the housing  14  and is for supplying air to dry the trays  12 . 
     Color indicia coding  21 , best seen in  FIG. 2 , typically indicated by R for red, B for blue, and Y for yellow is provided on the frame at appropriate position for facilitating aligning the trays  12  properly when installing the tray in the frame  16 . This color coding is especially helpful because the trays are stored in the frame at a tilted orientation with respect to the horizontal and accordingly this tilt to facilitated fluids to drain therefrom and make the drying process efficient. 
     The housing  14  is generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped, has a rear wall  22 , a pair of side walls  24 , a bottom wall  26 , a top wall  26 , a front wall  28 , an interior  30 , and a door  31 . The front wall  28  of the housing  14  has an opening  32  therein that communicates with the interior  30  thereof. The door  31  of the housing  14  is hingedly attached to the front wall  28  thereof and selectively closes the opening  32  in the front wall  28  thereof. 
     The specific configuration of the frame  16  can best be seen in  FIG. 2 , and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     The frame  16  is rigidly and fixedly attached to the rear wall  22  of the housing  14  by a first strip  34 . The first strip  34  of the frame  16  is vertically attached to the rear wall  22  of the housing  14 , and has a pair of ends  36 . 
     The frame  16  further has a pair of second strips  38 . Each of the second strips  38  has a midpoint  40  that are rigidly attached to a respective end  36  of the first strip  34  so as to form a first set of rigid connections at a pair of ends  42 . 
     The frame  16  further has a pair of third strips  44 . Each of the third strips  44  has a pair of intermediate points  46  that are rigidly attached to a pair of adjacent ends  42  of the pair of second strips  38  so as to form a pair of a second set of rigid connections at a pair of ends  48 . 
     The frame  16  further has a pair of fourth strips  50 . Each fourth strip  50  has a pair of ends  52  that are rigidly attached to a pair of adjacent ends  48  of the pair of third strips  44  so as to form a pair of a third set of rigid connections, and in doing so, forms a rigid parallelogram about the pair of first connection points. 
     The frame  16  further has two pair of rods  54 . The two pair of rods  54  extend forwardly from the third connection points, respectively. 
     The frame  16  further has a pair of fifth strips  56 . Each fifth strip  56  is parallel to, and spaced in front of, an adjacent third strip  44 , and has a pair of ends  58 . 
     The frame  16  further has a pair of sixth strips  60 . Each sixth strip  60  is parallel to, and spaced in front of, an adjacent fourth strip  50 , and has a pair of ends  62  that are rigidly attached to a pair of adjacent ends  58  of the pair of fifth strips  56  so as to form a parallelogram. 
     The specific configuration of a first embodiment of the water system  18  can best be seen in  FIG. 3 , and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     The water system  18  comprises a water pump  68 , a water heater  70 , a manifold  72 , and spray heads  74 . 
     The water heater  70  is contained in the interior  30  of the housing  14 , is mounted to the bottom wall  26  of the housing  14 , and is for fluidly communicating with a source of water for heating the water so as to form heated water. 
     The water pump  68  is contained in the interior  30  of the housing  14 , is mounted to the bottom wall  26  of the housing  14 , is in fluid communication with the water heater  70 , and is for pumping the heated water so as to form pumped heated water. 
     The manifold  72  fluidly communicates with the water pump  68 , is contained in the interior  30  of the housing  14 , extends laterally along the bottom wall  26  of the housing  14  and along the side walls of the housing  14 , and is for conducting the pumped heated water so as to form conducted pumped heated water. 
     The spray heads  74  fluidly communicate with, and are operatively connected to, the manifold  72 , are contained in the interior  30  of the housing  14 , and are for spraying the conducted pumped heated water. 
     The spray heads  74  are rotatively connected to the manifold  72 . 
     The specific configuration of a second embodiment of the water system  118  can best be seen in  FIG. 4 , and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     The water system  118  is similar to the water system  18 , except the spray heads  174  are fixedly connected to the manifold  172 . 
     The specific configuration of the air system  20  can best be seen in  FIG. 5 , and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     The air system  20  comprises an air blower  78  and a manifold  80 . The air blower  78  is contained in the interior  30  of the housing, is mounted to the bottom wall  26  of the housing  14 , and is for blowing air so as to form blown air. 
     The manifold  80  fluidly communicates with the air blower  78 , is contained in the interior  30  of the housing  14 , extends laterally along the bottom wall  26  of the housing  14  and along the side walls  24  of the housing  14 , is for conducting the blown air, and has orifices  82  for exiting the blown air. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the oscillating machine  10  further comprises a microprocessor  84 . The microprocessor controls the water heater  70 , the water pump  68 , and the air blower  78 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an washing machine for washing trays, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.