In-lined ware wash and food preparation system and method

Abstract

A combination food preparation table and ware cleaning device has a frame, a food preparation table top portion and a multi-sided tub. The food preparation table top portion is supported upon the frame and defines a substantially horizontal food preparation surface. The tub has an upper opening for moving wares into and out of the tub and a spray system for cleaning. The tub is configured to receive and hold food preparation wares such as cutting boards, bowls or food preparation utensils, and is movably supported on the frame for movement between a closed position in which the upper opening is completely beneath the food preparation table and an open position in which the upper opening is at least partly exposed beyond a perimeter of the food preparation table. In the open position side portions of the tub aid in inhibiting any liquid from escaping the tub arrangement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A commercial kitchen unit assembly for enabling food preparation activity and food preparation ware cleaning activity to be integrated into a common location within a commercial kitchen environment, the assembly comprising:
 a combination food preparation table and ware cleaning device including:
 a frame; 
 a food preparation table top portion supported upon the frame and defining a substantially horizontal food preparation surface; 
 a multi-sided tub having an upper opening for moving wares into and out of the tub and a spray system for cleaning of wares, the tub configured to receive and hold food preparation wares such as cutting boards, bowls or food preparation utensils for cleaning, the tub movably supported on the frame for movement between a closed position in which the upper opening is completely beneath the food preparation table and an open position in which the upper opening is at least partly exposed beyond a perimeter of the food preparation table, wherein in the open position side portions of the tub aid in inhibiting any liquid from escaping the tub arrangement. 
   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the combination food preparation table and ware cleaning device is between about 40 inches and about 140 inches wide and between about 24 inches and 48 inches deep, and the food preparation surface is between about 32 inches and about 38 inches high;   the tub is supported on the frame such that a space of between about 4 inches and about 8 inches below the tub and above a bottom of the frame is accessible for cleaning.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tub is a pivot type tub, a pull type tub or a pull and pivot type tub;   the tub includes a lower drain outlet that moves when the tub is pivoted, pulled or pivoted and pulled from the closed position to the open position.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the drain outlet leads to an outlet conduit that is at least one of a flexing conduit, a sliding conduit or a flexing and sliding conduit to facilitate movement of the drain outlet.   
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the outlet conduit is connected to the drain outlet or a pump is connected to the drain outlet and the outlet conduit is connected to the pump.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ware cleaning device includes a control system within a control compartment alongside the tub.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the combination food preparation table and ware cleaning device includes one or more of shelving and or hooks above the food preparation surface for storage of food preparation wares after cleaning and removal from the tub.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the combination food preparation table and ware cleaning device includes an integrated scrapping zone, the scrapping zone includes an upper surface portion that is aligned with or is an extension of the food preparation surface, the upper surface portion including an opening through which food scraps can be delivered during scrapping operations.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the frame is configured to provide a space below the opening in the upper surface portion, the space accessible from a side of the combination food preparation and ware cleaning device to enable a capture bin to be placed beneath the upper opening in the upper surface portion to receive scraps delivered downward through the upper opening.   
     
     
         10 . A commercial kitchen unit assembly for enabling food preparation activity and food preparation ware cleaning activity to be integrated into a common location within a commercial kitchen environment, the assembly comprising:
 a combination food preparation table and ware cleaning device including:
 a frame; 
 a food preparation table top portion supported upon the frame and defining a substantially horizontal food preparation surface that is between about 40 inches and about 140 inches wide, between about 24 inches and 48 inches deep and between about 32 inches and about 38 inches high; 
 a multi-sided tub having an upper opening for moving wares into and out of the tub and a spray system for cleaning of wares, the tub configured to receive and hold food preparation wares such as cutting boards, bowls or food preparation utensils for cleaning, the tub movably supported on the frame for movement between a closed position in which the upper opening is completely beneath the food preparation table and an open position in which the upper opening is at least partly exposed beyond a perimeter of the food preparation table, wherein in the open position side portions of the tub aid in inhibiting any liquid from escaping the tub arrangement, 
   wherein the tub is supported on the frame such that a space of between about 4 inches and about 8 inches below the tub and above a bottom of the frame is accessible for cleaning;   wherein the tub is a pivot type tub, a pull type tub or a pull and pivot type tub;   wherein the tub includes a lower drain outlet that moves when the tub is pivoted, pulled or pivoted and pulled from the closed position to the open position;   wherein the drain outlet leads to an outlet conduit that is at least one of a flexing conduit, a sliding conduit or a flexing and sliding conduit to facilitate movement of the drain outlet;   wherein the outlet conduit is connected to the drain outlet or a pump is connected to the drain outlet and the outlet conduit is connected to the pump;   wherein the ware cleaning device includes a control system within a control compartment alongside the tub;   wherein the combination food preparation table and ware cleaning device includes one or more of shelving and or hooks above the food preparation surface for storage of food preparation wares after cleaning and removal from the tub;   wherein the combination food preparation table and ware cleaning device includes an integrated scrapping zone;   wherein the scrapping zone includes an upper surface portion that is aligned with or is an extension of the food preparation surface, the upper surface portion including an opening through which food scraps can be delivered during scrapping operations;   wherein the frame is configured to provide a space below the opening in the upper surface portion, the space accessible from a side of the combination food preparation and ware cleaning device to enable a capture bin to be placed beneath the upper opening in the upper surface portion to receive scraps delivered downward through the upper opening.   
     
     
         11 . A method of preparing food and handling one or more food cooking wares such as trays, pots or pans or food preparation wares such as cutting boards, bowls or food preparation utensils, the method comprising:
 utilizing a ware cleaning device configured to handle one or more specific ware types, the ware cleaning device located proximate to a cooking device that is used to cook food items using the one or more food receptacle types, such that the ware cleaning device is alongside, above, below or otherwise near the cooking device;   retrieving a food cooking ware or food preparation ware from the ware cleaning device in proximity to the cooking unit;   preparing a food item for cooking using the food cooking ware or food preparation ware at a food preparation table located proximate to the cooking device   washing the food cooking ware or food preparation ware using the ware cleaning device that is alongside, above, below or otherwise near the cooking device in preparation for next use.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the ware cleaning device is one of:
 a door-type ware machine integrated below a combination oven; or 
 a door-type ware machine integrated below a convection oven; or 
 a door-type ware machine integrated below a hybrid oven; or 
 a drawer-type or door-type ware machine integrated below a mini-rack oven; or 
 a pull-out drawer-type ware machine integrated beneath the food preparation table; or 
 a drawer-type ware machine integrated below a rotisserie oven; or 
 a drawer-type ware machine integrated beneath a steam sink; or 
 a top-door type ware machine integrated alongside a stove top unit. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 the ware cleaning device is integrated with the food preparation table and comprises a multi-sided tub that is one of a pivot type tub, a pull type tub or a pull and pivot type tub. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the integrated ware cleaning device and food preparation table is located alongside the cooking device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the integrated ware cleaning device and food preparation table is located in an opposed relationship to the cooking device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein:
 the tub includes a lower drain outlet that moves when the tub arrangement is pivoted, pulled or pivoted and pulled from a ware cleaning closed position to a ware access open position, and the drain outlet leads to an outlet conduit that is at least one of a flexing conduit, a sliding conduit or a flexing and sliding conduit to facilitate movement of the drain outlet. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the outlet conduit is connected to the drain outlet or a pump is connected to the drain outlet and the outlet conduit is connected to the pump. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein a control system for the ware cleaning device is located in a control compartment alongside the tub. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the integrated ware cleaning device and food preparation table includes one or more of shelving and or hooks above a food preparation surface for local storage of food cooking wares or food preparation wares after cleaning and removal from the tub. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the integrated ware cleaning device and food preparation table includes an integrated scrapping zone, the scrapping zone includes an upper surface portion that is aligned with or is an extension of the food preparation surface, the upper surface portion including an opening through which food scraps can be delivered during scrapping operations, wherein the frame is configured to provide a space below the opening in the upper surface portion, the space accessible from a side of the combination food preparation and ware cleaning device to enable a capture bin to be placed beneath the upper opening in the upper surface portion to receive scraps delivered downward through the upper opening. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 in the retrieving step a food cooking ware is retrieved; 
 in the preparing step an uncooked food item and food cooking ware combination is produced, the method further includes:
 transferring the uncooked food item and food cooking ware combination to the cooking device; 
 cooking the uncooked food item at the cooking device, producing a cooked food item and food cooking ware combination; 
 transferring the cooked food item and food cooking ware combination to a serving table spaced from the ware cleaning device, the cooking unit and the food preparation table; 
 upon completion of serving, transferring the food cooking ware back to the ware cleaning device for the washing step. 
 
 
     
     
         22 . A commercial kitchen cooking arrangement adapted to aid in reduction of labor and time associated with cleaning, transport and storage of food preparation wares used to prepare food items for cooking, the arrangement comprising:
 multiple cooking devices located side-by-side within a commercial kitchen to define a row of cooking devices that are each accessible for cooking operations from a first side of the row;   a combination food preparation table and ware cleaning device having an elongated shape that extends substantially parallel to the row of cooking devices, wherein:
 the combination food preparation table and ware cleaning device includes a frame, food preparation table top portion supported upon the frame and defining a substantially horizontal food preparation surface, and a multi-sided tub having an upper opening for moving wares into and out of the tub and an internal spray system for cleaning of wares, the tub configured to receive and hold food preparation wares such as cutting boards, bowls and food preparation utensils for cleaning, the tub movably supported on the frame for movement between a closed position in which the upper opening is completely beneath the food preparation table and an open position in which the upper opening is at least partly exposed beyond a perimeter of the food preparation table, wherein in the open position side portions of the tub aid in inhibiting any liquid from escaping the tub; 
 the combination food preparation table and ware cleaning device located to the first side of the row, wherein a distance between the row of cooking devices and the combination food preparation table and ware cleaning device is between about 30 inches and about 60 inches to provide a working space that facilitates kitchen personnel preparing food products atop the combination food preparation and ware cleaning device and then readily transferring such food products to one of the cooking devices for a cooking operation. 
   
     
     
         23 . A method of integrating a ware cleaning device and a cooking device, the method comprising:
 utilizing a common frame structure;   mounting the cooking device to the common frame structure; and   mounting the ware cleaning device to the common frame structure and below or alongside the cooking device.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the ware cleaning device is mounted below the cooking device and the ware cleaning device and the cooking device have similar profiles and appearances. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 producing the cooking device and the ware cleaning device with a common footprint.