IP Library Granted Patent US 8,882,929
Granted Patent B2
US 8,882,929 · App. 12/697,534 · Granted Nov 11, 2014

Silverware/flatware or parts washer apparatus and method thereof

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,882,929
App. No.
12/697,534
Granted
Nov 11, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

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 system and method in which generally an entire volume of fluid is pushed or pulled through a cavity in which the silverware/flatware or other objects/parts are located. A cavity is filled with fluid, a mass of silverware or other parts is located within the cavity, generally an entire volume of fluid is pumped out of the cavity, and the pumped fluid is directed back into the cavity to create a generally continuous flow of generally an entire volume of fluid through the cavity.

Claims (25)

1. A method of washing silverware, flatware or other parts, said method comprising the steps of:

filling a cavity and a manifolding section associated with said cavity with a fluid;

wherein said cavity, said manifolding section, or said cavity and said manifolding section is filled with a volume of fluid during said filling step;

locating a mass of silverware, flatware or one or more other parts within said cavity;

pumping generally instantaneously generally the entire volume of the fluid out of said cavity by creating a column of fluid that can blast through an entire flood plane created within said cavity; and

directing, simultaneously with the pumping step, fluid from said manifolding back into said cavity to create consistently a generally continuous flow of generally the entire volume of fluid through said cavity;

wherein said cavity remains substantially filled with fluid during said pumping and directing steps; and

wherein said flow of fluid is provided no alternative path of travel to circulate through said cavity other than generally evenly through said cavity and generally evenly through said mass of silverware, flatware or one or more other parts.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said directing step includes directing the pumped fluid through the manifolding section formed at least in part by a housing in which said cavity is located.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said manifolding section is formed at least in part by a wall of said cavity.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cavity is removable from said housing.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pumping step utilizes a centrifugal impeller-type pump.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pumping step utilizes a propeller-type pump.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said silverware, flatware or one or more other parts are located within a removable rack within said cavity.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said removable rack comprises a plurality of racks stacked on top of one another.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said removable rack comprises a plurality of racks located side by side of one another.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein in said directing step the pumped fluid is generally pushed through said cavity.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein in said directing step the pumped fluid is pushed generally upward from a bottom of said cavity, and wherein in said pumping step the pumped fluid is drawn generally from an upper portion of said cavity.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein in said pumping step the pumped fluid is at least partially pulled sideways generally from a lower portion and/or side of said cavity.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein in said pumping step the pumped fluid is generally pulled through said cavity.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein in said directing step the pumped fluid is pushed generally upward and into an upper portion of said cavity, and wherein in said pumping step the pumped fluid is pulled generally downward through a bottom of said cavity.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of oscillating the direction of flow of fluid through said cavity during a wash cycle from a forward direction to a reverse direction.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein either said directing step or said pumping step comprises creating a generally continuous flow of fluid across substantially an entire cross section of said cavity, where fluid is present.

17. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of oscillating said pumping and directing steps between a forward direction and a reverse direction.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of pulsating said pumping step.

Assignments (3)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 18, 2024
From: UNIFIED BRANDS, INC.; ELECTROLUX PROFESSIONAL, INC.
To: ELECTROLUX PROFESSIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 066351/0697 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2013
From: METCRAFT, INC.
To: UNIFIED BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 030907/0915 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2010
From: CANTRELL, JOHN; CHURCHILL, MARK; LICATA, MICHAEL P; GAST, DAVID
To: METCRAFT, INC.
Reel/Frame 024428/0932 →