Reusable food or beverage container washing system
AssigneeSperry Product Innovation, Inc.
InventorLaurence B. Sperry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reusable food or beverage container washing system and method of operation automates tracking, returning, washing, and outputting of reusable food or beverage containers. A reusable food or beverage container has an identification device associated therewith. The reusable food or beverage container is used to supply a food or beverage to a customer and associated with a customer identifier. When the customer is done using the reusable food or beverage container, it is returned to a receptacle of the system, and automatically transported to a washing system where it is washed, sanitized, and dried, and then output to a stack or other organized storage structure of container.
Claims37
A reusable food or beverage container washing system, comprising:
- a reusable food or beverage container;
- a reusable food or beverage container receptacle;
- an automated washing system, comprising:
- a washing chamber;
- a reusable food or beverage container washing rack adapted to support the reusable food or beverage container during a washing cycle;
- one or more water nozzles adapted to spray water to wash the reusable food or beverage container during a washing cycle;
- and
- a first conveying mechanism adapted to transport the reusable food or beverage container from the food or beverage container receptacle to the automated washing system;
- a second conveying mechanism adapted to transport the reusable food or beverage container from the automated washing system;
- and
- an automated organizing and outputting subsystem disposed to receive the reusable food or beverage container from the second conveying system;
- wherein the reusable food or beverage container receptacle receives the reusable food or beverage container in a used and returned state and the reusable food or beverage container is conveyed to the automated washing system;
- wherein the automated washing system washes and sanitizes the reusable food or beverage container in used and returned state transforming it to a ready state;
- wherein the reusable food or beverage container in ready state is conveyed to the automated organizing and outputting subsystem;
- and
- wherein the automated organizing and outputting subsystem outputs the reusable food or beverage container in ready state and arranged for use.
A method of washing a reusable food or beverage container using a reusable food or beverage automated washing system, the method comprising:
- providing the reusable food or beverage container washing system comprising the reusable food or beverage container, a reusable food or beverage container receptacle, an automated washing system, and an automated organizing and outputting subsystem,
- the automated washing system receiving a returned reusable food or beverage container at reusable food or beverage container receptacle;
- the reusable food or beverage container is conveyed with a conveying mechanism to the automated washing system, comprising:
- a washing chamber;
- a reusable food or beverage container washing rack adapted to support the reusable food or beverage container during a washing cycle;
- and
- one or more water nozzles adapted to spray water to wash the reusable food or beverage container during a washing cycle;
- the automated washing system washing and sanitizing the reusable food or beverage container;
- and
- the automated organizing and outputting subsystem outputting the reusable food or beverage container cleaned and sanitized in ready state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.