Cleaning apparatus and associated methods

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus and method is used with industrial kitchen articles. The apparatus includes a cleaning tank for immersing kitchen articles having a generally rectangular configuration, with two opposing major sides and two opposing minor sides. There is an openable and closable lid, which may be pivotably openable and closable from one of the minor sides of the tank to allow access to the tank and to cover the tank in use. A retaining device can be positioned within the tank in use and configured to support kitchen articles in immersion within the tank. A lifting mechanism for lifting and lowering the retaining device is coupled or connected between the lid and retaining device such that as lid is openable and closable, the retaining device raises and lowers within the cleaning tank, respectively. The lid includes an extendable handle portion configured to extend the effective length of the lid.

1 . A cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a cleaning tank for immersing kitchen articles, the tank having a generally rectangular configuration having two opposing major sides and two opposing minor sides;   an openable and closable lid, the lid being pivotably openable and closable from one of the minor sides of the tank to allow access to the tank and to cover the tank in use;   a retaining device positioned within the tank in use and configured to support kitchen articles in immersion within the tank; and   a lifting mechanism for lifting and lowering the retaining device, the lifting mechanism coupled or connected between the lid and the retaining device such that as lid is openable and closable, the retaining device raises and lowers within the cleaning tank, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a handle portion configured to permit manual opening and/or closing of the lid. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the handle portion has a stowed configuration and an operable configuration, and in the operable configuration, the handle extends to extend the effective pivot length of the lid. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the handle portion is hingably coupled to the tank to provide the stowed configuration and the operable configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein, in a stowed configuration, the handle portion depends along some of a height of the tank. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein in an operable configuration, the handle portion extends from the lid in a plane common to the lid. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the handle portion comprises a lifting member configured to be operable by hand, the lifting member being attached to one or more connecting arms, pivotably connecting the member to the remainder of the lid. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the or each connecting arm is pivotably connected to a pivot mount provided at the edge region of the lid, the pivot mount configured to extend beyond the edge region of the lid. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising an assisted-lift mechanism attached between the lid and the tank to assist an operator when moving the lid between a closed configuration and an open configuration 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the assisted-lift mechanism is biased to assist opening of the lid. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the assisted-lift mechanism comprises one or more extendable struts, the or each strut coupled between a major side of the tank and the lid. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a lid portion and a retaining device portion, the lid portion being attached or mounted with the lid, while the retaining device portion of the lifting mechanism being attached or mounted with the retaining device, the lid portion and retaining device portion being movably coupled together. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the lid portion and the retaining device portion of the lifting mechanism are rotatably coupled. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising one of more lifting guides, the lifting guides being provided with the tank and/or the retaining device and configured to assist with linearly raising and lowering of the retaining device. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the lifting guides are provided by one or more defined recesses or channels together with complementary guide elements. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the recesses or channels are provided with the tank and depend along one or more internal sides of the tank, while the guide elements are provided with the retaining device. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a circulation system configured to circulate cleaning fluid within the tank. 
     
     
         18 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the circulation system is contained within an outer housing of the tank. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the circulation system comprises a fluid outlet from the tank, the fluid outlet being provided at a bottom region of the tank and being in fluid communication with a pump provided at the bottom region of the tank. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the outlet of the pump is in fluid communication with a fluid splitter configured to split the flow into two or more streams, each stream being in fluid communication with a respective inlet nozzle. 
     
     
         21 . The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein each inlet nozzle is provided at one or more sides of the tank. 
     
     
         22 . A cleaning apparatus for kitchen articles comprising:
 a cleaning tank for immersing kitchen articles   a pivotably openable and closable lid configured to cover the tank in use, wherein the lid comprises an extendable handle portion configured to extend the effective length of the lid;   a movable retaining device positioned within the tank and configured to permit retaining of kitchen articles; and   a lifting mechanism coupled between the lid and movable tray, the lid being openable and closable using the extendable handle portion so as to raise and lower the retaining tray within the cleaning tank.