Patent Publication Number: US-2007113876-A1

Title: Cleaning Apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is a continuation of copending International Application No. PCT/GB2005/001363 filed Apr. 8,  2005  which designates the United States, and claims priority to Great Britain application No. 0408622.9 filed Apr. 17, 2004. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus, and in particular to an apparatus for use in cleaning used crockery, cutlery and trays in eating establishments such as restaurants, workplaces, hospitals and other similar places.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      It is a known arrangement in establishments in which large numbers of people eat to have apparatus for conveying the used crockery, cutlery and trays from a collection station in the eating area to a washing area remote from the eating area. Such apparatus comprises tray carriers supported on a carousel. The carousel is driven to move the tray carriers from the collection station to the washing area, through an opening in a wall separating the eating area from the washing area. In the collection area, trays of soiled crockery and cutlery are loaded onto the tray carriers. In the washing area, the soiled crockery, cutlery and trays are removed from the tray carriers for loading into dishwashers. To make this unloading task ergonomically efficient, the tray carriers must be at a convenient minimum height. This height governs the design of the carousel and determines the height of the tray carriers while in the collection station. However, this height of the tray carrier in the collection station may not be convenient for some people, in particular disabled people in wheelchairs and the like.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus of the above-described type that overcomes the disadvantage of the known arrangement.  
      The invention provides a cleaning apparatus comprising a carousel, a tray carrier, and a support plate, wherein the tray carrier is supported on the carousel for movement therewith, the support plate is operably connected to the tray carrier and engages the carousel, and wherein the tray carrier slides vertically relative to the support plate.  
      The carousel may comprise a track engaged by the tray carrier, and the track may have inclined sections whereby the tray carrier is raised and lowered relative to the support plate and the carousel. The tray carrier may travel between a collection station and a washing area through openings in a wall separating the collection station and the washing area. The inclined track sections may be placed in the openings. The track may be inclined in the washing area, the collection station, or both.  
      The tray carrier may have a roller connected thereon in contact with the track. The roller may be connected on an arm extending through a slot in the support plate. The slot may be vertical. Alternatively, the slot may be inclined rearwardly towards the top in the direction of movement of the tray carrier. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
      An embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the appended drawings in which  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of a tray carrier and support plate,  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic front view of the tray carrier and support plate of  FIG. 1 ,  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic plan view of the cleaning apparatus, and  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic end view of the cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a tray carrier  10  having three tray supports  11  disposed one above another. The tray supports  11  are mounted on a back plate  12 . Secured to and extending rearwardly of the back plate  12  is an arm or spigot  13  on which is connected a roller  14 . The spigot  13  passes through a vertical slot  15  in a support plate  16 . By this means, the tray carrier  10  may slide vertically relative to the support plate  16  within the limits imposed by the length of the slot  15 . Alternatively, the slot  15  may be inclined rearwardly towards the top in the direction of movement of the tray carrier  10  to reduce the friction between the spigot  13  and the sides of the slot  15 .  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , at the rear of the support plate  16  are one or more hooks  17 , which engage a chain  18  of a carousel  19 . The hook or hooks  17  are secured to the support plate  16  in a manner that allows the support plate  16  and attached tray carrier  10  to traverse the comers in the path of the carousel  19 . The carousel  19 , which supports several tray carriers  10 , extends through a collection station  21  and a washing area  22 . The carousel  19  extends through openings  23  in a wall  24  separating the collection station  21  and the washing area  22 . The chain  18  is driven to move the support plates  16  and tray carriers  10  around the collection station  21  and the washing area  22 . Throughout the collection station  21 , the washing area  22  and the openings  23 , the rollers  14  of the tray carriers  10  ride on a track  25 . In the openings  23 , the track  25  is inclined upwardly from the collection station  21  towards the washing area  22 . This causes the roller  14  and the tray carrier  10  attached thereto to rise as a tray carrier  10  passes from the collection station  21  towards the washing area  22 . The weight of the tray carrier  10  causes it to descend as the tray carrier  10  moves through the other opening  23  from the washing area  22  to the collection station  21 .  
      By this means, the tray supports  11  are at the required height in the washing area  22 , but are lower in the collection station  21  to suit the needs of disabled persons such as those in wheelchairs. If desired, the track  25  may be inclined in the collection station  21 , the washing area  22 , or both. This will enable one group of people conveniently to load or unload the tray supports  11  at the higher end of the collection station  21  or washing area  22 , while another group of people can use the lower end of the collection station  21  or washing area  22 .