Method and apparatus for washing wares for food and filling wares with food, and a basket for holding the wares

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for cleaning and refilling wares for delivering food, e.g. trays, plates, bowls and cutlery, as might be used on airlines and in the health care industry. The wares are provided in sets and kept together in sets. After washing of each set, it is cooled if necessary and immediately refilled, for reuse. This can be achieved by providing a conveyor line along which are arranged a washer, dryer and cooling unit to keep the wares together. The invention provides a basket, configured to hold a number of sets of wares, the exact number depending upon the types of wares.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of washing wares for food and filling the wares with food, the method comprising: 
 (1) receiving sets of soiled wares, each set comprising a plurality of wards intended to be used together for one individual;    (2) passing the wares through a washing and drying means, in which the wares are washed and dried;    (3) ensuring that the wares are cooled down to a temperature low enough to permit immediate refilling of the wares with food; and    (4) reassembling the wares into sets and refilling the wares with food, whereby each set is ready for delivery to an individual;    wherein steps (2), (3) and (4) are carried out substantially continuously and sequentially.    
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein, in steps (2) and (3) the wares are kept together in sets.  
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in    claim 2   , wherein each set of wares comprises a tray and other wares carried by the tray.  
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in    claim 3   , which includes providing a plurality of baskets, each of which is intended to hold at least one complete set of wares, wherein step (1) includes loading each set of wares into a basket, steps (2) and (3) comprise sequentially passing the baskets loaded with sets of wares through a washing and drying means and through a cooling means, and step (4) comprises removing each set of wares from the baskets and returning the baskets for reuse.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in    claim 4   , wherein each basket is adapted to hold two sets of wares, and wherein step (1) includes loading two sets of wares into each basket and step (4) includes unloading two sets of wares from each basket.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in    claim 4   , wherein each basket is adapted to hold four sets of wares, and wherein step (1) includes loading four sets of wares into each basket and step (4) includes unloading four sets of wares from each basket and reassembling each set of wares.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in    claim 4   , wherein each basket includes a first retention means for retaining food containers in position, the first retention means being moveable between open and closed positions, wherein step (1) includes placing the retention means in the open position, loading the basket with food containers and moving the retention means to the closed position and step (4) includes moving the first retention means to the open position and removing the food containers from the basket.  
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in    claim 7   , wherein the basket includes slots for trays, food containers and lids, wherein step (1) includes filling the slots with trays and food containers.  
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in    claim 8   , wherein the basket includes a lid holding area and second retention means for holding lids in position, the second retention means being movable between open and closed positions, wherein step (1) includes loading the lid holding area with lids with the second retention means in the open position and moving the second retention means into the closed position, and step (4) includes moving the second retention means to the open position and removing the lids from the lid holding area.  
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in    claim 9   , wherein each basket includes an insert container for cutlery, wherein step (1) includes loading the insert container with cutlery and step (4) includes removing the cutlery from the insert container.  
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in    claim 10   , wherein each basket includes a fixed retention member for retaining open containers, wherein step (1) includes sliding containers under the fixed retention member and step (4) includes sliding the containers out from under the fixed retention member and removing the containers from the basket.  
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in    claim 4   , which includes providing a substantially continuous conveyor means, including an input station at one point on the conveyor means and a discharge station at another point on the conveyor means, the washing and drying means and the cooling means being provided along the conveyor means, wherein step (1) comprises receiving sets of soiled wares at the input station, loading soiled wares into baskets at the input station and loading the baskets with the soiled wares onto the conveyor means, whereby the baskets are transported by the conveyor means through the washing and drying means and then through the cooling means, and wherein step (4) comprises receiving the baskets at the discharge station and removing and reassembling the sets of wares from the baskets and then returning the baskets along the conveyor means to the input station.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for washing soiled wares and providing the wares ready for refilling and reuse, the apparatus comprising: 
 an input station for receiving soiled wares;    a discharge station for removing clean wares and reassembling wares into sets of wares;    a substantially continuous conveyor means extending between the input station and the discharge station and back from the discharge station to the input station;    a washing and drying means provided on the conveyor means; and    a cooling means provided on the conveyor means, the arrangement being such that baskets containing sets of wares are sequentially subject to washing, drying and cooling between the input and discharge stations.    
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 13   , wherein the washing and drying means comprises a separate washing unit and a separate drying unit.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 14   , wherein the input station comprises two input locations on either side of a conveyor.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 15   , wherein the conveyor means is adapted to convey baskets, each holding at least one set of wares, wherein the basket and the conveyor means are adapted to permit free flow of water for washing and air for drying.  
     
     
         17 . A basket for conveying at least one set of wares comprising a tray, and containers for food, the basket having a generally open structure to permit free flow of water and air and the basket comprising: 
 a base adapted for supporting the basket on a conveying means;    a compartment for holding the tray of each set; and    a compartment for holding each food container, the arrangement being such that the wares are maintained spaced apart from one another, to enable the wares to be washed and dried.    
     
     
         18 . A basket as claimed in    claim 17   , which includes retention means for holding lighter food containers in position.  
     
     
         19 . A basket as claimed in    claim 18   , which is adapted for holding a plurality of sets of wares, each set of wares including a tray, the basket including a plurality of slots arranged parallel to one another, for holding the trays.  
     
     
         20 . A basket as claimed in    claim 19   , wherein the slots for the trays are provided adjacent one edge of the basket, and a basket additionally includes slots for larger wares, provided adjacent the slots for the trays.  
     
     
         21 . A basket as claimed in    claim 20   , which includes: a first area for food containers to be placed in an inverted position, to ensure draining of the food containers; first retention means for retaining the food containers in position in the first area; a second area for holding lids for food containers; and a second retention means, for ensuring the lids are retained in position in the second area.  
     
     
         22 . A basket as claimed in    claim 21   , wherein the first area includes a portion not covered by the first retention means and the basket includes a fixed retention member above said portion of the first area under which open containers can be placed so as to be retained in position.  
     
     
         23 . A basket as claimed in    claim 22   , which includes at least one of: 
 an insert container for receiving cutlery; and    locations for receiving tray dividers.    
     
     
         24 . A basket as claimed in    claim 19   , which includes at least one holding area for holding wares in position.  
     
     
         25 . A basket as claimed in    claim 24   , wherein the basket is generally symmetrical about a center line of the basket, wherein the basket includes first and second holding areas positioned along the center line of the basket.  
     
     
         26 . A basket as claimed in    claim 25   , which further includes first and second retention frames, on either side of the basket, for holding wares in position on either side of the first and second holding areas.  
     
     
         27 . A basket as claimed in    claim 26   , which additionally includes frame elements above the first and second retention frames, for holding trays above the retention frames.