Automated Step for Industrial Washer

Abstract

An industrial washer/extractor with an automated step, components thereof, and applications thereof. The industrial washer/extractor can include at least one opening within which goods are loaded to be washed, and an automated step positioned underneath the at least one opening. The automated step can be structured, configured, or programmed to: automatically move from a first retracted position to a second extended position upon a first predetermined interval; and automatically move from the second extended position to the first retracted position upon a second predetermined interval.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An industrial washer/extractor comprising:
 at least one opening within which goods are loaded to be washed;   an automated step positioned underneath the at least one opening, the automated step being structured, configured, or programmed to:
 automatically move from a first retracted position to a second extended position upon a first predetermined interval; and 
 automatically move from the second extended position to the first retracted position upon a second predetermined interval. 
   
     
     
         2 . The industrial washer/extractor of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator connected to the automated step, wherein the actuator is structured, configured, programmed or positioned to move the automated step from the first retracted position to the second extended position. 
     
     
         3 . The industrial washer/extractor of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator is a pneumatic circuit comprising a pneumatic cylinder and a tank of compressed air. 
     
     
         4 . The industrial washer/extractor of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic circuit comprising a hydraulic pump operatively connected to drive a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The industrial washer/extractor of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator is an electric circuit comprising an electric motor. 
     
     
         6 . The industrial washer/extractor of  claim 3 , further comprising a host computer, having a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program code for:
 transmitting a data stream to the actuator, wherein the data stream includes at least one of the first predetermined interval and the second predetermined interval.   
     
     
         7 . The industrial washer/extractor of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator is configured or programmed to:
 receive in the data stream at least one of the first predetermined interval and the second predetermined interval;   move the automated step from the first retracted position to the second extended position upon receipt of the first predetermined interval in the data stream; and   move the automated step from the second extended position to the first retracted position upon receipt of the second predetermined interval in the data stream.   
     
     
         8 . The industrial washer/extractor of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first predetermined interval and the second predetermined interval is reception of a command. 
     
     
         9 . The industrial washer/extractor of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first predetermined interval and the second predetermined interval is the passage of a period of time. 
     
     
         10 . The industrial washer/extractor of  claim 5 , wherein the first predetermined interval is a period of time when the industrial washer/extractor is initially ready to be loaded with goods to be washed and the at least one opening is not closed. 
     
     
         11 . The industrial washer/extractor of  claim 5 , wherein the second predetermined interval is a period of time when the industrial washer/extractor begins a wash cycle. 
     
     
         12 . The industrial washer/extractor of  claim 1 , wherein the movement between the first retracted position and the second extended position is in the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         13 . The industrial washer/extractor of  claim 1 , wherein the industrial washer/extractor is a tilting side loader comprising four openings. 
     
     
         14 . The industrial washer/extractor of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of base legs over which the automated step is configured to move from the first retracted position to the second extended position and from the second extended position to the first retracted position.