Dishwashing apparatus and method
OwnerMichael Di Lilloinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dishwashing apparatus comprises a housing containing a series of zones, each zone adapted for performing a step of a dishwashing cycle. A drive means transports a shuttle loaded with a soiled item in a loop from a loading/unloading area atop the housing, into the housing, through each of the wash-step zones and out of the housing back to the loading/unloading area. Different shuttle types are provided, each type adapted to carry one of: an individual item of plateware, an individual item of cupware or an individual place setting of cutlery. A method of washing dishes utilising the apparatus is described. The apparatus is compact for installation flush with countertop adjacent to a kitchen sink. The apparatus and method permit rapid and efficient washing of small numbers of items such as a single place setting.
Claims6
A dishwashing apparatus comprising:
- a housing containing a series of zones, each zone adapted for performing a step of a dishwashing cycle;
- a loading/unloading area atop the housing;
- a plurality of shuttles for receiving and conveying soiled items, the shuttles arranged in rows, each row containing shuttles of a different type to each other row, the rows comprising:
- a row of plateware shuttles, each plateware shuttle configured to receive and carry an individual item of plateware,
- a row of cutlery shuttles, each cutlery shuttle configured to receive and carry an individual place-setting of cutlery and/or utensils,
- a row of cupware shuttles, each cupware shuttle configured to receive and carry an individual item of cupware;
- and
- a drive means comprising a plurality of independently operable drive mechanisms, each of said drive mechanisms configured for transporting a shuttle from one of said rows of shuttles in a loop from the loading/unloading area, through an ingress flap into the housing, through each zone, and through an egress flap out of the housing back to the loading/unloading area, wherein the drive means is operable to transport a shuttle from one row of shuttles independently of other shuttles from the same row and independently of shuttles from each other row of shuttles, and wherein each drive mechanism is configured to permit a shuttle that is transported out of the housing to free roll and stack up in a row with shuttles of like type in the loading/unloading area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.