Method and assembly for washing wares for food and filling wares with food

An assembly, for washing soiled wares and providing the wares for refilling in use, the assembly comprising:

• a first line for receiving soiled wares, washing soiled wares, drying washed wares, refilling the wares and providing refilled wares on trays and stacking the trays in first carts;
• a second line for washing first carts for the wares;
• and
• a commissary zone for at least restocking second carts with commissary goods.

An assembly for washing soiled wares and providing the wares for refilling and reuse, the assembly comprising:

• a sorter station for receiving soiled wares and for sorting the wares into baskets;
• a discharge station for removing clean wares from the baskets and reassembling wares into sets;
• a substantially continuous conveyor means extending between the sorter station and the discharge station and back from the discharge station to the sorter station, for conveying baskets with wares;
• a washing and drying means provided on the conveyor means between the sorter station and the discharge station;
• a cooling means provided on the conveyor means between the washing and drying means and the discharge station;
• a refilling station for refilling the wares;
• wherein the conveyor means includes, at the sorter station, a first, input end, and a second, return end, provided vertically stacked and spaced apart relative to one another;
• and wherein the sorter station, conveyor means, washing and drying means, and cooling means are arranged such that baskets containing sets of wares are sequentially subject to washing, drying and cooling between the sorter and discharge stations.

An assembly for washing soiled wares and providing the wares for refilling and reuse, the assembly comprising:

• a sorter station, for receiving soiled wares, and for placing the soiled wares in baskets;
• a discharge station for removing clean wares from the baskets and reassembling the wares into sets of wares;
• a substantially continuous conveyor means extending between the input sorter station and the discharge station and back from the discharge station to the sorter station, for conveying the wares in the baskets;
• a washing and drying means and a cooling means provided on the conveyor means between the sorter station and the discharge station, with the cooling means being located downstream from the washing and drying means;
• and
• a refilling station, at the discharge station, for refilling the wares;
• wherein the conveyor means includes at least one corner extending through at least ninety degrees.

A method of washing wares for food and filling the wares with food, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving sets of soiled wares, each set comprising a plurality of wares intended to be used together for one individual;
• (b) passing the wares through a washing and drying means, in which the wares are washed and dried;
• (c) ensuring that the wares are cooled down to a temperature low enough to permit immediate refilling of the wares with food;
• (d) dividing the wares based on food to be filled on the wares;
• (e) reassembling the wares into sets;
• and
• (f) refilling the wares with food, whereby each set is ready for delivery to an individual;
• wherein steps (a) to (c) are carried out substantially sequentially, and steps (a) to (f) are carried out substantially continuously.