Dishwashing apparatus

Claim 2

A dishwashing apparatus comprising: a. an endless foraminous conveyor having substantial flexability in a longitudinal direction to bend on a small radius and substantial rigidity in a transverse direction; b. means supporting said conveyor with an elongated substantially horizontal upper run and a lower run adjacent and under the upper run, said upper run being adapted to independently support and carry each of a plurality of articles to be washed; c. means operatively connected to said conveyor for moving same and articles carried thereon over wash and rinse positions; and d. means below said conveyor and operative to direct washing and rinsing liquid upwardly through the conveyor runs to impinge on articles carried thereby and moved over the respective wash and rinse positions, said liquid directing means comprising an elongated shaft rotatably mounted in the liquid chamber and having drive means operatively connected thereto for rotating same and a plurality of sets of blades mounted on said shaft and longitudinally spaced therealong and adapted to move through the liquid within the liquid chamber and a plurality of chutes mounted in said liquid chamber with one chute for each set of blades and adapted to receive liquid from the respective set of blades and direct the liquid upwardly through the conveyor runs and onto articles carried by said conveyor upper run.

Claim 3

A dishwashing apparatus comprising: a. a housing having spaced ends; b. an endless foraminous conveyor mounted on said housing for travel between the ends of said housing, said conveyor having a run adapted to support articles to be washed while travelling between the ends of said housing; c. said conveyor having a plurality of longitudinally spaced laterally extending rods; d. means operably connected with said conveyor for effecting movement thereof between the ends of said housing; e. said means for effecting movement of said conveyor includes a drive motor having a driven shaft extending therefrom and a cam mounted thereon and an elongated arm pivotally mounted on said housing and engageable by the cam intermediate the ends of said arm and having means on said arm engageable with the rods of said conveyor whereby movement of the cam effects movement of the arm and thereby movement of said conveyor; f. a liquid supply; g. first means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a cleansing liquid to a cleansing area; h. second means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a rinsing liquid to a rinsing area; i. means directing the cleansing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the cleansing area; j. means for directing the rinsing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the rinsing area.

Claim 4

A dishwashing apparatus comprising: a. a housing having spaced ends; b. an endless foraminous conveyor mounted on said housing for travel between the ends of said housing, said conveyor having a run adapted to support articles to be washed while travelling between the ends of said housing; c. said conveyor having a plurality of longitudinally spaced laterally extending rods; d. means operably connected with said conveyor for effecting movement thereof between the ends of said housing; e. said means for effecting movement of said conveyor includes a drive motor having a driven shaft extending therefrom and a cam mounted thereon and an elongated arm pivotally mounted on said housing and engageable by the cam intermediate the ends of said arm and having means on said arm engageable with the rods of said conveyor whereby movement of the cam effects movement of the arm and thereby movement of said conveyor; f. a liquid supply; g. first means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a cleansing liquid to a cleansing area; h. second means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a rinsing liquid to a rinsing area; i. means directing the cleansing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the cleansing area; j. means for directing the rinsing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the rinsing area.

Claim 5

means operatively connected to said elongated shaft for selectively effecting rotation thereof;

Claim 6

means operatively connected to said elongated shaft for selectively effecting rotation thereof;

Claim 7

A dishwashing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein: a. said arm is positioned below said conveyor and has a planar portion substantially parallel with said conveyor and spaced flanges depending from the planar portion and engageAble by the cam; b. said means on said arm engageable with said rods of said conveyor comprises an upstanding projection adjacent each end of the planar portion of said arm; c. the upstanding projections are each generally arcuate members and face in the same direction; and d. said elongated arm is pivotally mounted on a shaft positioned centrally of the planar portion and said cam is positioned between the shaft and one end of said arm.

Claim 8

a plurality of sets of blades mounted on said elongated shaft and longitudinally spaced therealong and a portion of said sets of blades being positioned within the cleansing area and an other portion of said sets of blades being positioned within the rinsing area and each blade extending outwardly from said shaft, said sets of blades each being adapted to move through liquid and urge a portion of the liquid upwardly;

Claim 9

a plurality of sets of blades mounted on said elongated shaft and longitudinally spaced therealong and a portion of said sets of blades being positioned within the cleansing area and an other portion of said sets of blades being positioned within the rinsing area and each blade extending outwardly from said shaft, said sets of blades each being adapted to move through liquid and urge a portion of the liquid upwardly;

Claim 10

a plurality of chutes positioned with one chute for each set of blades, said chutes being channel shaped members defining an arcuate path having a generally circular portion corresponding to a portion of the path travelled by a free end of each of the blades in said respective set of blades and an end portion extending toward said conveyor and articles thereon.

Claim 11

a plurality of chutes positioned with one chute for each set of blades, said chutes being channel shaped members defining an arcuate path having a generally circular portion corresponding to a portion of the path travelled by a free end of each of the blades in said respective set of blades and an end portion extending toward said conveyor and articles thereon.

Claim 12

A dishwashing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. said housing has walls defining a liquid chamber positioned below said conveyor; b. the liquid chamber has a drain for flow of liquid outwardly therethrough; c. the drain has a portion extending above normal liquid level in the liquid chamber and an opening positioned below normal liquid level; and d. one of said sets of blades is positioned adjacent the opening in the drain whereby rotation of said elongated shaft effects movement of liquid away from the opening to substantially reduce draining of liquid from the liquid chamber and thereby control the amount of liquid flowing through the drain.

Claim 13

A dishwashing apparatus comprising: a. a housing having spaced ends; b. an endless foraminous conveyor mounted on said housing for travel between the ends of said housing, said conveyor having a run adapted to support articles to be washed while travelling between the ends of said housing; c. means operably connected with said conveyor for effecting movement thereof between the ends of said housing; d. a liquid supply; e. first means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a cleansing liquid to a cleansing area; f. second means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a rinsing liquid to a rinsing area; g. means directing the cleansing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the cleansing area; h. means for directing the rinsing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the rinsing area; i. said means for directing cleansing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon and said means for directing rinsing liquid for said conveyor and articles thereon comprising:

Claim 14

A dishwashing apparatus comprising: a. a housing having spaced ends; b. an endless foraminous conveyor mounted on said housing for travel between the ends of said housing, said conveyor having a run adapted to support articles to be washed while travelling between the ends of said housing; c. means operably connected with said conveyor for effecting movement thereof between the ends of said housing; d. a liquid supply; e. first means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a cleansing liquid to a cleansing area; f. second means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a rinsing liquid to a rinsing area; g. means directing the cleansing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the cleansing area; h. means for directing the rinsing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the rinsing area; i. said means for directing cleansing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon and said means for directing rinsing liquid for said conveyor and articles thereon comprising:

Claim 15

A dishwashing apparatus comprising: a. a housing having spaced ends; b. an endless foraminous conveyor mounted on said housing for travel between the ends of said housing, said conveyor having a run adapted to support articles to be washed while travelling between the ends of said housing; c. means operably connected with said conveyor for effecting movement thereof between the ends of said housing; d. side, end and bottom walls in said housing defining a liquid chamber positioned below said conveyor, said liquid chamber being of less length than said conveyor with a portion of the conveyor extending beyond one end wall of the liquid chamber and forming a loading portion thereof, said liquid chamber having an open drain at a predetermined level and Adjacent said one end wall thereof for flow of liquid outwardly from the liquid chamber; e. walls in said housing defining a garbage receiving station below said loading portion of said conveyor and sloping toward the liquid chamber and discharging therein at said one end wall adjacent said open drain; f. a liquid supply; g. first means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a cleansing liquid to a cleansing area; h. second means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a rinsing liquid to a rinsing area; i. means in the liquid chamber directing the cleansing liquid upwardly toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the cleansing area; j. means in the liquid chamber for directing the rinsing liquid upwardly toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the rinsing area; k. means including a liquid directing chute in the liquid chamber adjacent said one end wall for receiving a portion of the upwardly directed cleaning liquid and directing same into the garbage receiving station to flush garbage therefrom to the liquid chamber.

Claim 16

A dishwashing apparatus comprising: a. a housing having spaced ends; b. an endless foraminous conveyor mounted on said housing for travel between the ends of said housing, said conveyor having a run adapted to support articles to be washed while travelling between the ends of said housing; c. means operably connected with said conveyor for effecting movement thereof between the ends of said housing; d. side, end and bottom walls in said housing defining a liquid chamber positioned below said conveyor, said liquid chamber being of less length than said conveyor with a portion of the conveyor extending beyond one end wall of the liquid chamber and forming a loading portion thereof, said liquid chamber having an open drain at a predetermined level and Adjacent said one end wall thereof for flow of liquid outwardly from the liquid chamber; e. walls in said housing defining a garbage receiving station below said loading portion of said conveyor and sloping toward the liquid chamber and discharging therein at said one end wall adjacent said open drain; f. a liquid supply; g. first means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a cleansing liquid to a cleansing area; h. second means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a rinsing liquid to a rinsing area; i. means in the liquid chamber directing the cleansing liquid upwardly toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the cleansing area; j. means in the liquid chamber for directing the rinsing liquid upwardly toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the rinsing area; k. means including a liquid directing chute in the liquid chamber adjacent said one end wall for receiving a portion of the upwardly directed cleaning liquid and directing same into the garbage receiving station to flush garbage therefrom to the liquid chamber.

Claim 17

A dishwashing apparatus comprising: a. a housing having spaced ends; b. an endless foraminous conveyor mounted on said housing for travel between the ends of said housing, said conveyor having a run adapted to support articles to be washed while travelling between the ends of said housing; c. means operably connected with said conveyor for effecting movement thereof between the ends of said housing; d. a liquid supply; e. first means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a cleansing liquid to a cleansing area; f. second means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a rinsing liquid to a rinsing area; g. means directing the cleansing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the cleansing area; h. means for directing the rinsing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the rinsing area; i. walls in said housing defining a liquid chamber positioned below said conveyor; j. walls in said housing defining a garbage receiving station below a portion of said conveyor and adjacent the liquid chamber; k. means communicating with the liquid chamber for directing liquid into the garbage receiving station to flush garbage therefrom; l. a hood assembly mounted on said housing and positioned above said conveyor and having an entrance portion positioned above the garbage receiving station and an unloading portion; m. means on said hood assembly for substantially enclosing a portion thereof above the liquid chamber to retain liquid therein; n. said means for supporting and moving articles comprises an endless foraminous conveyor mounted on said housing and positioned above the liquid chamber; o. said means for directing water and mixture of cleansing agent and water toward the articles to be washed comprises an elongated shaft rotatably mounted on certain of the walls defining the liquid chamber and extending substantially parallel with the direction of travel of said conveyor and having drive means operatively connected thereto for rotating same and a plurality of sets of blades mounted on said elongated shaft and longitudinally spaced therealong and positioned within the first portion and within the second portion of the liquid chamber and adapted to move through liquid within the liquid chamber and move a portion thereof upwardly and a plurality of chutes mounted in the liquid chamber and positioned with one chute for each set of blades and shaped and arranged to receive liquid from said respective sets of blades and direct the liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon; p. the liquid chamber having a drain for flow of liquid outwardly therethrough and having a portion extending to normal liquid level within the liquid chamber and an opening positioned below normal liquid level; and q. one of said sets of blades is positioned adjacent the opening in the drain whereby Rotation of said elongated shaft effects movement of liquid away from the opening to substantially reduce draining of liquid from the liquid chamber and thereby control the amount of liquid flowing through the drain.

Claim 18

A dishwashing apparatus comprising: a. a housing having spaced ends; b. an endless foraminous conveyor mounted on said housing for travel between the ends of said housing, said conveyor having a run adapted to support articles to be washed while travelling between the ends of said housing; c. means operably connected with said conveyor for effecting movement thereof between the ends of said housing; d. a liquid supply; e. first means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a cleansing liquid to a cleansing area; f. second means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a rinsing liquid to a rinsing area; g. means directing the cleansing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the cleansing area; h. means for directing the rinsing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the rinsing area; i. walls in said housing defining a liquid chamber positioned below said conveyor; j. walls in said housing defining a garbage receiving station below a portion of said conveyor and adjacent the liquid chamber; k. means communicating with the liquid chamber for directing liquid into the garbage receiving station to flush garbage therefrom; l. a hood assembly mounted on said housing and positioned above said conveyor and having an entrance portion positioned above the garbage receiving station and an unloading portion; m. means on said hood assembly for substantially enclosing a portion thereof above the liquid chamber to retain liquid therein; n. said means for supporting and moving articles comprises an endless foraminous conveyor mounted on said housing and positioned above the liquid chamber; o. said means for directing water and mixture of cleansing agent and water toward the articles to be washed comprises an elongated shaft rotatably mounted on certain of the walls defining the liquid chamber and extending substantially parallel with the direction of travel of said conveyor and having drive means operatively connected thereto for rotating same and a plurality of sets of blades mounted on said elongated shaft and longitudinally spaced therealong and positioned within the first portion and within the second portion of the liquid chamber and adapted to move through liquid within the liquid chamber and move a portion thereof upwardly and a plurality of chutes mounted in the liquid chamber and positioned with one chute for each set of blades and shaped and arranged to receive liquid from said respective sets of blades and direct the liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon; p. the liquid chamber having a drain for flow of liquid outwardly therethrough and having a portion extending to normal liquid level within the liquid chamber and an opening positioned below normal liquid level; and q. one of said sets of blades is positioned adjacent the opening in the drain whereby Rotation of said elongated shaft effects movement of liquid away from the opening to substantially reduce draining of liquid from the liquid chamber and thereby control the amount of liquid flowing through the drain.

Claim 19

A dishwashing apparatus comprising: a. a housing having spaced ends; b. an endless foraminous conveyor mounted on said housing for travel between the ends of said housing, said conveyor having a run adapted to support articles to be washed while travelling between the ends of said housing; c. means operably connected with said conveyor for effecting movement thereof between the ends of said housing; d. a liquid supply; e. first means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a cleansing liquid to a cleansing area; f. second means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a rinsing liquid to a rinsing area; g. means directing the cleansing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the cleansing area; h. means for directing the rinsing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the rinsing area; i. walls in said housing defining a liquid chamber positioned below said conveyor; j. walls in said housing defining a garbage receiving station below a portion of said conveyor and adjacent the liquid chamber; k. means positioned within the liquid chamber and communicating with the garbage receiving station for directing liquid into same to flush garbage therefrom; l. a hood assembly mounted on said housing and positioned above said conveyor and having an entrance portion positioned above the garbage receiving station and an unloading portion; m. means on said hood assembly for substantially enclosing a portion thereof above the liquid chamber to retain liquid therein; n. said hood assembly is defined by spaced side walls and spaced end walls extending between respective opposite ends of the side walls and top wall positioned above the liquid chamber; o. said means for substantially enclosing a portion of said hood assembly includes spaced curtains extending substantially normal to the side walls and depending from the top wall of said hood assembly and positioned adjacent respective opposite ends of the liquid chamber; p. said conveyor has a plurality of longitudinally spaced laterally extending rods; q. a drive motor is mounted on said housing and has a driven shaft extending upwardly therefrom with a cam mounted thereon; r. an elongated arm is pivotally mounted on said housing and engageable by the cam intermediate the ends of said arm to effect movement thereof; s. said arm has means thereon engageable with the rods of said conveyor whereby movement of the cam effects movement of the arm and thereby movement of said conveyor; t. said garbage receiving station being positioned below the loading portion of said hood assembly.

Claim 20

A dishwashing apparatus comprising: a. a housing having spaced ends; b. an endless foraminous conveyor mounted on said housing for travel between the ends of said housing, said conveyor having a run adapted to support articles to be washed while travelling between the ends of said housing; c. means operably connected with said conveyor for effecting movement thereof between the ends of said housing; d. a liquid supply; e. first means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a cleansing liquid to a cleansing area; f. second means communicating with the liquid supply for supplying a rinsing liquid to a rinsing area; g. means directing the cleansing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the cleansing area; h. means for directing the rinsing liquid toward said conveyor and articles thereon in the rinsing area; i. walls in said housing defining a liquid chamber positioned below said conveyor; j. walls in said housing defining a garbage receiving station below a portion of said conveyor and adjacent the liquid chamber; k. means positioned within the liquid chamber and communicating with the garbage receiving station for directing liquid into same to flush garbage therefrom; l. a hood assembly mounted on said housing and positioned above said conveyor and having an entrance portion positioned above the garbage receiving station and an unloading portion; m. means on said hood assembly for substantially enclosing a portion thereof above the liquid chamber to retain liquid therein; n. said hood assembly is defined by spaced side walls and spaced end walls extending between respective opposite ends of the side walls and top wall positioned above the liquid chamber; o. said means for substantially enclosing a portion of said hood assembly includes spaced curtains extending substantially normal to the side walls and depending from the top wall of said hood assembly and positioned adjacent respective opposite ends of the liquid chamber; p. said conveyor has a plurality of longitudinally spaced laterally extending rods; q. a drive motor is mounted on said housing and has a driven shaft extending upwardly therefrom with a cam mounted thereon; r. an elongated arm is pivotally mounted on said housing and engageable by the cam intermediate the ends of said arm to effect movement thereof; s. said arm has means thereon engageable with the rods of said conveyor whereby movement of the cam effects movement of the arm and thereby movement of said conveyor; t. said garbage receiving station being positioned below the loading portion of said hood assembly.