Warewash machine with submersible cutlery basket

Abstract

A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having a spray zone with an associated spray system for spraying liquid onto wares passing therethrough and a collection tank below the spray zone. A strainer pan is located atop the collection tank and includes an optional first opening with an optional removable strainer bucket mounted therein and a second opening with a removable cutlery basket mounted therein. A method of washing cutlery with such a warewash machine is also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A warewash machine for washing wares, comprising:
 a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having a spray zone with an associated spray system for spraying liquid onto wares passing therethrough and a collection tank below the spray zone; and   a strainer pan located atop the collection tank and having a first opening with a removable strainer bucket mounted therein and a second opening with a removable cutlery basket mounted therein.   
     
     
         2 . The warewash machine of  claim 1 , wherein the cutlery basket is spaced apart from the strainer basket. 
     
     
         3 . The warewash machine of  claim 1 , wherein the strainer bucket comprises one or more sidewalls having a plurality of openings sized for capturing falling food debris, wherein the cutlery basket includes one or more sidewalls having a plurality of openings sized for allowing free passage of water into and out of the cutlery basket, wherein an average size of the openings of the cutlery basket is larger than an average size of the openings of the strainer bucket. 
     
     
         4 . The warewash machine of  claim 1 , wherein the cutlery basket includes a removable lid or cover, the lid or cover being solid. 
     
     
         5 . The warewash machine of  claim 1 , wherein the cutlery basket includes a plurality of openings for receiving cutlery. 
     
     
         6 . The warewash machine of  claim 1 , wherein at least 50% of a height of the cutlery basket is positioned below an operating liquid level of the collection tank and the cutlery basket includes a plurality of openings for allowing the liquid to flow into and out of the cutlery basket. 
     
     
         7 . The warewash machine of  claim 1 , wherein the cutlery basket includes a bottom wall portion that is movable between a cutlery retention position and a cutlery dropout position. 
     
     
         8 . The warewash machine of  claim 7 , wherein the cutlery basket includes a latch system for releasably holding the bottom wall portion in the cutlery retention position. 
     
     
         9 . The warewash machine of  claim 8 , wherein the latch system includes a latch trigger located toward a top portion of the cutlery basket. 
     
     
         10 . The warewash machine of  claim 9 , wherein the latch trigger is positioned proximate a carrying handle of the cutlery basket. 
     
     
         11 . The warewash machine of  claim 1  wherein the strainer pan is configured to direct water flow toward the strainer bucket. 
     
     
         12 . A method of cleaning cutlery, the method comprising:
 loading the cutlery into a cutlery basket;   removably mounting the cutlery basket within an opening in a strainer pan located atop a collection tank of a wash chamber of a warewash machine such that the cutlery basket extends into the collection tank;   running one or more cleaning cycles of the warewash machine, wherein, in each cleaning cycle, a wash liquid is recirculated between the collection tank and a spray system for spraying the wash liquid onto wares in a spray zone of the wash chamber, the spray zone being located above the strainer pan and cutlery basket, followed by spraying of a rinse liquid onto the wares within the spray zone, wherein the cutlery in the cutlery basket is substantially submerged in the wash liquid in the collection tank during the one or more cleaning cycles;   after completion of the one or more cleaning cycles, removing the cutlery basket from the strainer pan.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 removing the cutlery from the cutlery basket;   placing the cutlery in the spray zone of the warewash machine; and   running an additional cleaning cycle of the warewash machine.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cutlery basket includes a bottom wall portion that is movable between a cutlery retention position and a cutlery dropout position; and wherein the removing the cutlery from the cutlery basket comprises moving the bottom wall portion to the cutlery dropout position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the strainer pan includes an additional opening with a removable strainer bucket mounted therein. 
     
     
         16 . A warewash machine for washing wares, comprising:
 a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having a spray zone with an associated spray system for spraying liquid onto wares passing therethrough and a collection tank below the spray zone; and   a strainer pan located atop the collection tank and having an opening with a removable cutlery basket mounted therein.   
     
     
         17 . The warewash machine of  claim 16 , wherein at least 70% of a height of the cutlery basket is positioned below an operating liquid level of the collection tank and the cutlery basket includes a plurality of openings for allowing the liquid to flow into and out of the cutlery basket. 
     
     
         18 . The warewash machine of  claim 16 , wherein the cutlery basket includes a bottom wall portion that is movable between a cutlery retention position and a cutlery dropout position, wherein the cutlery basket includes a latch system for releasably holding the bottom wall portion in the cutlery retention position. 
     
     
         19 . The warewash machine of  claim 18 , wherein the latch system includes a latch trigger located toward a top portion of the cutlery basket, wherein the latch trigger is positioned proximate a carrying handle of the cutlery basket.