Silverware, flatware or parts washer apparatus and method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing systems, such as pot and pan washing machines and commercial dishwashers, are inefficient in cleaning smaller, heavy, or nested silverware/flatware due to fluid deflection and lack of mechanical wash action, leading to incomplete cleaning and soil bake-on issues.
Innovation Solution
A washing system utilizing a fluid-push/pull system with manifolding to direct fluid flow through a cavity containing silverware, ensuring the fluid travels through the entire mass of items, reducing deflection and enhancing surface exposure for effective debris removal, and incorporating a pumping system that can operate in both forward and reverse directions to optimize fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spray washing machines use high-temperature sanitizing rinse, then disinfection is achieved, but soil bakes onto the ware making it even more difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mechanical washing action with jets directed through the ware mass before the high-temperature sanitizing rinse is applied. This pre-cleaning removes loose soil and prevents it from baking onto surfaces during the thermal sanitizing phase, while still achieving effective disinfection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses high-velocity jet streams that rapidly penetrate through nested and stacked ware, forcing cleaning fluid through tight spaces and crevices that conventional spray washing cannot reach, thereby preventing soil accumulation in these difficult-to-clean areas.
2Productivity
If conventional spray washing machines use multiple jets from multiple angles, then cleaning coverage is improved, but deflection by flatware and racks prevents portions from becoming fully cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of spraying jets outward from fixed nozzles that get deflected by ware surfaces, the system directs jets inward through the mass of ware itself, using the ware configuration to channel and distribute the fluid flow throughout the load, ensuring all surfaces are exposed to cleaning action.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs high-pressure hydraulic jet streams that maintain their coherence and penetrating power as they pass through nested and stacked flatware, utilizing fluid dynamics to force cleaning solution through tight spaces and around all surfaces of the ware.
3Reliability
If staff members run racks of flatware through spray washing machine multiple times, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but operator time and energy increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous high-velocity jet flow through the entire ware mass throughout the wash cycle, ensuring that all surfaces are constantly exposed to cleaning action in a single pass, eliminating the need for multiple cycles and manual repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates mechanical agitation and vibration of the ware mass during washing, which helps to separate nested items and expose all surfaces to jet streams, achieving complete cleaning in one continuous operation rather than requiring multiple passes.
4Reliability
If pre-soaking flatware in soapy water is used, then soil removal is assisted, but mechanical wash action is still lacking and nested surfaces remain uncleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary soaking and loosening of soil with detergent solution, then immediately follows with high-velocity mechanical jet action that penetrates nested ware and provides the mechanical force needed to remove loosened soil and clean all surfaces effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the need for complex mechanical washing mechanisms with high-velocity fluid jets that provide sufficient mechanical cleaning force through hydraulic action alone, simplifying the system while maintaining effective soil removal from nested surfaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves thorough cleaning of silverware/flatware with reduced post-wash treatment, conserves water, minimizes operator time, and operates efficiently with a compact footprint, eliminating 'dead zones' and ensuring all surfaces are exposed to the cleaning fluid.
Implementation Method 1
A washing system utilizing a fluid-push/pull system with manifolding to direct fluid flow through a cavity containing silverware
Implementation Method 2
a pump is activated to draw fluid from within the wash tank and direct it through the jets to create a jet stream
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method of washing (or pre-washing) silverware/flatware, or one or more other objects/parts is provided. The apparatus and method utilizes a fluid-push/pull pumping system and method in which generally an entire volume of fluid is pushed or pulled through a cavity of a housing in which the silverware/flatware or other objects/parts are located. The housing is configured to hold a mass of silverware or other item(s) within the cavity. The pumping system is configured to pump generally an entire volume of fluid is out of the cavity, and to direct the pumped fluid back into the cavity to create a generally continuous flow of generally an entire volume of fluid through the cavity, thereby causing the fluid to flow through the mass of silverware or other item(s).