Improvements in Washing Crockery and similar Articles and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1807
Complete Specification Left. 27th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 21st Sept., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Crockery and similar Articles and in
Apparatus therefor.
We, MOSES AFLALO, Commercial Manager, of 12 Abercorn Place, St. John's
Wood, and PHILIP JOSHUA ORMISTON, of 25 and 27, Old Street, St. Lukes, Manu-
facturer, both in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of, and apparatus applicable for use
in, cleansing crockery and similar articles. particularly the china or earthenware
utensils commonly employed by tea-tasters in the conduct of their business.
It is well known that in tasting teas, especially the finer kinds, it is a matter of
great importance for the utensils employed in the preparation of the infusions to be
perfectly clean and free from the deposit which is apt to cling with some persistence
to such vessels, and which prejudicially affects the delicate flavour of the tea under
examination.
According to the usual mode of procedure, the tea-tasting pots, their covers and
the cups or basins into which the liquor is poured for tasting purposes, are immersed
in a pan of water and having been rinsed are severally removed and wiped or placed
on a rack to drain. Under such circumstances, the cleansing is not only imperfectly
effected, but the process is a tedious one, and much breakage and chipping of the
various pieces occurs.
According to our improved method of treatment, a series of tea-tasting pots and
basins, such as are usually arranged together upon a tea-taster's tray, are placed in
a cage, constructed by preference of tinned wire, wherein they may be secured upon
the lid of the said cage being closed. Provision is also made for the reception of the
covers in the same cage with the pots; or the covers may, if preferred, be placed in
separate cages of a similar description. The cage with its contents is then immersed
in or subjected to the action of a stream of water, which may be cold and which is
merely intended to dislodge and wash away the tea-leaves and prevent their producing
a cooling effect upon the hot liquid subsequently applied. The cage with its contents
is then subjected to the action of a strong jet or spray of hot water in which by

page_text: preference a little curd soap or other suitable cleansing agent has been dissolved;
such jet or spray effectually removing the adherent tea deposit, and leaving the utensils
in a clean state. The cage with its contents is then rinsed in clean warm water for
the purpose of removing all traces of soap or similar agent employed; such final
washing being, by preference, finished with the aid of boiling water applied as a
strong spray, the same serving to polish as well as to heat the ware. A rapid rotative
movement is thereupon imparted to the cage with the result that the surplus moisture
is thrown off by centrifugal force; and the ware, being hot, rapidly dries with a bright
surface. The drying may, if preferred, be completed by the application of heat. The
utensils are now ready for re-use; but, if not immediately required, we prefer to store
them in a hot closet, whence they may be served warm to the tea-taster's table.
It will be perceived that each series of tea-tasting pots, covers and basins may be
permanently retained in their own cage and need not be transferred to the tea-taster's
tray when required for use.
is
In large establishments where the number of sets of tea-tasting utensils in daily use
very considerable, instead of treating each cage separately, we place a number of
the charged cages in a frame, which is mounted in bearings and provided with means
whereby it may be rapidly rotated during the washing process as hereinbefore described
with reference to the treatment of an individual cage.
It will be obvious that our invention, although described with special reference to
the cleansing of tea-tasting utensils, is adapted for use in hotels and other establish-
ments for treating cups, saucers and certain other descriptions of crockery or articles
whereof large numbers of similar pieces are in frequent use.
Dated this 28th day of October 1887.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Crockery and similar Articles and in
Apparatus therefor.
We, MOSES AFLALO, of 12, Abercorn Place, St. John's Wood, Commercial
Manager and PHILIP JOSHUA ОRMISTON, of 25 and 27, Old Street, St. Luke's,
Manufacturer, both in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to an improved method of, and apparatus applicable for use
in, cleansing crockery and similar articles, particularly the china or earthenware
utensils commonly employed by tea-tasters in the conduct of their business; whereby
a more perfect result than hitherto commonly attained is effected, fewer breakages
occur and the use of drying cloths is dispensed with.
It is well known that in tasting teas, especially the finer kinds, it is a matter of
great importance for the utensils employed in the preparation of the infusions to be
perfectly clean and free from the deposit which is apt to cling with some persistence
to such vessels, and which prejudically affects the delicate flavour of the tea under
examination.
According to the usual mode of procedure, the tea-tasting pots, their covers and the
cups or basins into which the liquor is poured for tasting purposes, are immersed in a
pan of water and having been rinsed are severally removed and wiped or placed on a
rack to drain. Under such circumstances, the cleansing is not only imperfectly
effected, but the process is a tedious one, and much breakage and chipping of the
various pieces occurs.
According to our improved method of treatment, a series of tea-tasting pots and
cups such as are usually arranged together upon a tea-taster's tray are placed in a
cage constructed by preference of tinned wire, wherein they may be secured upon
the lid of the said cage being applied. For convenience in handling, however, we
prefer to employ separate cages for the pots and cups respectively, as we will now
proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figs. 1 and 1"
represent in side and end elevation respectively and Fig. 2 in.plan a series of tea-
tasting pots a, arranged, without their covers, in a tray or cage b, wherein they
are enclosed and secured upon the lid of the cage being applied. Figs. 3 and 4 are a
side elevation and a plan of the corresponding series of tea-tasting cups or basins c
similarly arranged upon or enclosed within a tray or cage b². Provision may also be
made for the reception of the covers d in or upon the same cage with the pots or
cups or the covers, if preferred, may either be placed in a separate cage or cages of
a similar description or attached to a rack or framework of wire 2, such as illustrated
in side elevation and in plan in Figs. 5 and 6. The covers d are securely held by
means of the knobs d' with which they are provided and which are inserted between
adjacent wires in the framework; the latter springing slightly to admit them. The

page_text: cage bis furnished with a lid 3, such as illustrated in plan in Fig. 7; the two central
longitudinal wires in the said lid being arranged sufficiently far apart to permit the
lid to pass over the knobs d' after the covers d have been placed on the pots a in the
cage b
Where it is found expedient to employ the aid of brushes in the washing
process (hereinafter described) the wires, whereof the cages and their lids are formed,
may be disposed at greater distances apart, or otherwise differently arranged, in order
to permit of such cleansing appliances being inserted with facility. The lid ³ is,
owing to its length and the character of its construction, of a flexible nature, and
advantage is taken of this feature in attaching the said lid to the cage b. A loop or
slot is provided at each extremity of the latter into which the projections on the
extremities of the lid are sprung; the ends of the lid being thereby firmly secured.
A perforated upright is mounted in the centre of the cage the same being adapted
to enter a slot or orifice in the centre of the lid 63. By passing a split ring 7, or
equivalent device, through that part of the perforated upright & which projects above
the lid, the latter is held down centrally, and, being also secured at its extremities,
becomes, for the time being, a rigid part of the cage band serves to keep the tea-
tasting pots in their proper positions during the process of washing. A similar lid is
attached in a similar way to the tray or cage . The lids for the two cages band b
are interchangeable and may be used indiscriminately. The central bar 65 in the
cage is provided with two perforations for the reception of the fastening device; the
lower perforation being appropriate for use when the pots are without their covers,
and the upper perforation being brought into requisition when the pots are furnished.
with their covers.
In the cage b the side wires are disposed longitudinally in order to
prevent the pot-handles from protruding beyond the sides of the cage. In the cage
two cups are placed in one partition, but it will be obvious that a separate partition
may if preferred. be provided for each cup. In each cage, the side wires are only
carried high enough to keep the pots or cups in position, so that the operator may not
be impeded in lifting out the different utensils from the respective compartments in.
which they are contained or in replacing them therein.
Figs. S and 9 represent in side elevation and plan respectively one form in which
the revolving holder e, employed for the reception of the cages during the washing
and drying processes, may be constructed. Such holder is furnished with spindles for
enabling the same to be mounted in suitable bearings and rotated; motion being
imparted through the instrumentality of a strap applied to the pulley el, or by
equivalent meais. Each cage, when placed in the holder, is secured therein in any
convenient way. In the drawings, a fixed rod e² is shewn at one extremity of the
holder and a sliding rod eat the other extremity. In this construction, one end of
the cage
is passed under the rod e and the rod e³ is afterwards caused to slide over
the other end the cage, in this manner, being adequately secured in position.
:
Each lid, if preferred, may be hinged to its cage and fastened by means of a hasp
passing over a projecting loop of wire attached to the cage and secured by any suitable
device the hasp being adapted to engage in two positions with the loop, according to
whether the covers of the pots are present or otherwise. The latter end may, however,
be accomplished with an ordinary hasp and two projecting loops instead of one. If
preferred, each series of tea-tasting pots and the corresponding series of tea-lasting
cups may, as before mentioned, be placed in one tray or cage instead of two; the
number of partitions in the larger cage being equal to the number of partitions in the
two smaller cages. It is, however, more convenient to employ separate cages for the
.pots and cups in order that either series of utensils may be readily placed immediately
in front of the operator, as desired; the whole number of pieces in each series being
moved together instead of, as under the ordinary system, each pair of utensils being
transposed separately.
The apparatus is used in the following manner-The tray or cage containing the
series of tea-tasting pots, with a sample of tea in each pot, is placed before the tea-
taster and the requisite quantity of boiling water added to the several pots. The
covers or lids having been applied, the pots, after the requisite interval has elapsed,
are arranged sideway's on a framework or rack, clear of the cups and in such a way as

page_text: to permit the different infusions to drain into the latter; the tray containing the
cups being afterwards withdrawn from under the rack, or the rack being removed, so
that the several infusions may be tasted by the tea-taster. If preferred, however, the
pots may be laid in the cups to drain in the usual way.
The operation of tea-tasting having been completed, the washing process is pre-
ferably conducted in the following way-The cage or cages containing the series of pots,
cups and lids is or are immersed in or subjected to the action of a stream of water,
which may be cold and is merel intended to dislodge and wash away the tea-leaves
and prevent their producing a cooling effect upon the hot liquid subsequently applied.
The cage or cages with its or their contents is or are then subjected to the action of a
strong jet or spray of hot water in which, by preference, a little curd soap, or other
suitable cleansing agent, has been dissolved; such jet or spray effectually removing
the adhrent tea deposit, and leaving the utensils in a clean state. Each cage with its
contents is then rinsed in clean warm water for the purpose of removing all traces of
soap or similar purifying agent employed; such final washing being, by preference,
finished with the aid of boiling water applied as a strong jet or spray, the same serving
to polish as well as to heat the ware. Each cage is then placed within the revolving
holder so that a rapid rotative movement may be imparted to the same, with the result
that the surplus moisture is thrown off by centrifugal force; and the ware, being hot,
rapidly dries with a bright surface. The drying may, if preferred, be completed with
the application of heat. The utensils are then ready for re-use; but, if not immediately
required, we prefer to store them in a hot closet, whence they may be taken whilst
warm to the tea-taster's table.
It will be perceived that each complete series of tea-tasting utensils may be per-
manently retained in its own cage or pair of cages and that the pots and cups do not
require to be transferred to a tea-taster's tray when required for use.
In large establishments where the number of sets of tea-tasting utensils in daily use
is very considerable, instead of treating each cage separately, we place a number of
the charged cages in a frame which is mounted in bearings and provided with means
whereby it may be rapidly rotated during the drying process as herein before described
with reference to the treatment of an individual cage. A considerable number of lids
may be placed in a rack of the kind illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, but made correspond-
ingly larger the lids being arranged in rows one above another. Such a rack is
preferably of rectangular form and is mounted in suitable bearings with a view to
being rotated and the surplus moisture driven off by centrifugal force.
It will be obvious that our invention, although described with special reference
to the cleansing of tea-tasting utensils, is adapted for use on board ship or in hotels
and other establishments for treating cups, saucers and certain other descriptions of
crockery or articles whereof large numbers of similar pieces are in frequent use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim
--
1. The improved method of washing tea-tasting utensils and similar articles in
multiple substantially as herein described.
2. The manufacture of trays or cages adapted for containing tea-tasting pots and
cups whilst in use by the tea-taster, and for enclosing the same whilst undergoing the
process of washing.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.