Immersion Systems & Methods for Pre-Washing or Washing Silverware

Abstract

A silverware pre-washing and washing system made up of a unitary basin with one to five, and preferably three, vertically movable porous baskets arranged radially around a central vertical lifting and lowering mechanism. The base with unitary basin contains a quantity of washing fluid(s) into which each of the vertically movable porous baskets may be repeatedly immersed. The base cover defines cylindrical ports through which the baskets are raised and lowered. The porous baskets include perforation arrays to allow washing fluid to flow in non-linear paths through the silverware contained in the basket, thereby washing all sides of the silverware and beneficially re-arranging the silverware in the basket as the washing process proceeds.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A mechanical system for creating a cycling, substantially vertical, linear motion for introducing and removing a mass of objects to and from a body of fluid;
 said mechanical system positioned in proximity to a structure for holding the body of fluid;   a substantially vertical structure associated with the mechanical system;   at least one permeable structure for holding a mass of objects;   said at least one permeable structure being associated with the substantially vertical structure; and   said at least one permeable structure being open to accept the loading of objects during the cycling operation of the mechanical system.   
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1  including a control means in operable communication with the mechanical system. 
     
     
         3 . The system as in  claim 2  wherein objects are introduced to and removed from the body of fluid as determined by a control means that is programmable. 
     
     
         4 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one permeable structure becomes partially submersed during the washing process. 
     
     
         5 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one permeable structure becomes fully submersed during the washing process. 
     
     
         6 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one permeable structure is raised above the body of washing fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein multiple masses of objects in the at least one permeable structure are introduced to and removed from the body of fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein the body of fluid is temperature controlled. 
     
     
         9 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein the entire system is of a size and shape where it will fit onto, and be in operation on, existing dish tabling. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising indicator displays associated with each permeable structure to provide process control information to the user. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the temperature is controlled with a heating element positioned in thermal contact with the body of fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an overflow prevention means to drain away excess fluid from the structure for holding fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a means for introducing chemical additives into the body of fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a means for controlling a flow of fluid into the structure for holding fluid and a flow of fluid out from the structure for holding fluid. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  further incorporating indicator lights to direct the sequential loading of the permeable structures. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  further incorporating indicator lights to indicate cycle completion, full load and overload conditions. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the level of the body of fluid, its temperature, and its chemical composition are controlled by a programmable means as objects are introduced and/or removed.