A cleaning device according to the present disclosure includes a first infinite belt assembly and a second infinite belt assembly disposed along a first plane and a second plane, respectively, where each plane is parallel to a longitudinal plane of the cleaning device. The second infinite belt assembly is disposed proximal to the first infinite belt assembly such that a gap is defined therebetween to receive a kitchen tool. Each of the first infinite belt assembly and the second infinite belt assembly includes bristles extending from respective outer surfaces to contact the kitchen tool. A water supply manifold of the device supplies water onto at least one of the kitchen tool, the infinite belts assemblies, and the gap. A drive unit counter rotates the first infinite belt assembly with respect to the second infinite belt assembly.

A cleaning device according to the present disclosure includes a first infinite belt assembly and a second infinite belt assembly disposed along a first plane and a second plane, respectively, where each plane is parallel to a longitudinal plane of the cleaning device. The second infinite belt assembly is disposed proximal to the first infinite belt assembly such that a gap is defined therebetween to receive a kitchen tool. Each of the first infinite belt assembly and the second infinite belt assembly includes bristles extending from respective outer surfaces to contact the kitchen tool. A water supply manifold of the device supplies water onto at least one of the kitchen tool, the infinite belts assemblies, and the gap. A drive unit counter rotates the first infinite belt assembly with respect to the second infinite belt assembly.

The invention relates to an improved system, device and method for optimized, high volume cleaning of pans, related brush modules, and methods of operating and processing same A pan cleaning system having one or more modular swing arms for cleaning a flow of pans is provided. The system having a frame with a mounting point for each of the modular swing arms and the swing arm pivots about a pivoting element freely motivated by a swing arm actuator and controlled with a swing arm limiter coupled to one or more controllers. The modular swing arm is positioned by the one or more controllers by activating the swing arm actuator to position and to engage a dirty pan from the flow of pans at a pressure range exerted by the actuator and limited by the swing arm limiter such that the pan is cleaned. On one of the modular swing arms, a cleaning module mounting a staggered set of two or more brush heads is provided in offset rows provides overlap during cleaning to overcome compression issues in the brush heads during movement of the pan. Each of the brush heads also having bristles specifically spaced and angled so that they provide consistent contact without laying over one another when compression does occur. Each of the brush heads also rotating so that the rotational moments of each of the brush heads in the two or more brush heads is offset by the equal or paired rotating brush heads. Finally, the controller is provided so that it can sense numerous conditions in the cleaning process, including things like pan height, pan type, the amount of contaminants on the pan, the size of the pan, how much agitation or pressure to apply to the pan, when the pan is passing the cleaning module, whether a jam may be occurring under the module, and similar variables during the cleaning process.

The invention relates to an improved system, device and method for optimized, high volume cleaning of pans, related brush modules, and methods of operating and processing same A pan cleaning system having one or more modular swing arms for cleaning a flow of pans is provided. The system having a frame with a mounting point for each of the modular swing arms and the swing arm pivots about a pivoting element freely motivated by a swing arm actuator and controlled with a swing arm limiter coupled to one or more controllers. The modular swing arm is positioned by the one or more controllers by activating the swing arm actuator to position and to engage a dirty pan from the flow of pans at a pressure range exerted by the actuator and limited by the swing arm limiter such that the pan is cleaned. On one of the modular swing arms, a cleaning module mounting a staggered set of two or more brush heads is provided in offset rows provides overlap during cleaning to overcome compression issues in the brush heads during movement of the pan. Each of the brush heads also having bristles specifically spaced and angled so that they provide consistent contact without laying over one another when compression does occur. Each of the brush heads also rotating so that the rotational moments of each of the brush heads in the two or more brush heads is offset by the equal or paired rotating brush heads. Finally, the controller is provided so that it can sense numerous conditions in the cleaning process, including things like pan height, pan type, the amount of contaminants on the pan, the size of the pan, how much agitation or pressure to apply to the pan, when the pan is passing the cleaning module, whether a jam may be occurring under the module, and similar variables during the cleaning process.

Proposed is a cleaning device (110) for cleaning articles (112) to be cleaned, a cleaning basket (114) for use in a cleaning device (110), a method for cleaning articles (112) to be cleaned and a use of a cleaning device (110). The cleaning device (110) comprises at least one cleaning chamber (116) for stationarily receiving at least one cleaning basket (114) with the articles (112) to be cleaned contained therein. Furthermore, the cleaning device (110) comprises at least one application device (118) for applying at least one cleaning fluid (120) to the articles (112) to be cleaned. The cleaning device (110) also comprises a plurality of movable cleaning elements (154), wherein: the movable cleaning elements (154) are arranged to move relative to the cleaning basket (114); the movable cleaning elements (154) are configured to remain in the cleaning chamber (116) while the cleaning fluid (120) is being applied to the articles (112) to be cleaned; the movable cleaning elements (154) are configured to be set in motion by the cleaning fluid (120); and the movable cleaning elements (154) are configured to exercise a mechanical cleaning effect on the articles (112) to be cleaned while the cleaning fluid (120) is being applied to the articles (112) to be cleaned.

A pan cleaning system is provided having a support carriage with one or more track supports and one or more track guides. An indexing conveyor provides a stream of baking pans and indexes the pans onto the support carriage as single pans. One or more twists in the track supports are provided such that the pans admitted by the indexing conveyor are turned at least substantially perpendicular relative to the horizontal plane of the machine. One or more frame assemblies having one or more sets of swing arms mounted on it is provided. With one or more secondary conveyors coupled to th frame assemblies. One or more cleaning subsystems are releasably coupled to the swing arms. A controller is provided where the single baking pan is admitted via the indexing conveyor based on signals from the controller into the one or more track guides as supported by the one or more supports and conveyed by the support carriage along the track guides and into the one or more frame assemblies after the twist turns the pan at least substantially perpendicular and the pan engages the one or more secondary conveyors and the pans is conveyed by the support carriage and the secondary conveyor to one or more cleaning subsystems.

A pan cleaning system is provided having a support carriage with one or more track supports and one or more track guides. An indexing conveyor provides a stream of baking pans and indexes the pans onto the support carriage as single pans. One or more twists in the track supports are provided such that the pans admitted by the indexing conveyor are turned at least substantially perpendicular relative to the horizontal plane of the machine. One or more frame assemblies having one or more sets of swing arms mounted on it is provided. With one or more secondary conveyors coupled to th frame assemblies. One or more cleaning subsystems are releasably coupled to the swing arms. A controller is provided where the single baking pan is admitted via the indexing conveyor based on signals from the controller into the one or more track guides as supported by the one or more supports and conveyed by the support carriage along the track guides and into the one or more frame assemblies after the twist turns the pan at least substantially perpendicular and the pan engages the one or more secondary conveyors and the pans is conveyed by the support carriage and the secondary conveyor to one or more cleaning subsystems.

The invention is directed to an improved pan cleaning machine that has a cleaning section that comprises a plurality of frames for mounting a sequence of interchangeable modular cleaning mechanisms. It can include quick-release mounting arrangements so that cleaning mechanisms can be quickly changed for cleaning different types of pans or to replace brushes or other wearing parts of cleaning mechanisms when they require replacement. In some embodiments, the frames for mounting the cleaning mechanisms can comprise swing arms so that the cleaning mechanisms can be swung away from the cleaning position so that the cleaning mechanism can be removed and replaced without interrupting the operation of the machine. If the machine is stopped, the swing arm can still be used to facilitate access to the cleaning mechanism to reduce the time needed to complete the maintenance or replacement. This also allows the position of the cleaning mechanism in relation to the baking pans to be adjustable during the cleaning process which can permit increased application of brushing forces or prevent overloading and also permits easy jam removal. In addition, the swing arm makes the pan cleaning machine more adaptable for cleaning pans with different depths and customizable. A method of operation and control, including pre-programmed cleaning cycles and various control paradigms is also provided.

The invention is directed to an improved pan cleaning machine that has a cleaning section that comprises a plurality of frames for mounting a sequence of interchangeable modular cleaning mechanisms. It can include quick-release mounting arrangements so that cleaning mechanisms can be quickly changed for cleaning different types of pans or to replace brushes or other wearing parts of cleaning mechanisms when they require replacement. In some embodiments, the frames for mounting the cleaning mechanisms can comprise swing arms so that the cleaning mechanisms can be swung away from the cleaning position so that the cleaning mechanism can be removed and replaced without interrupting the operation of the machine. If the machine is stopped, the swing arm can still be used to facilitate access to the cleaning mechanism to reduce the time needed to complete the maintenance or replacement. This also allows the position of the cleaning mechanism in relation to the baking pans to be adjustable during the cleaning process which can permit increased application of brushing forces or prevent overloading and also permits easy jam removal. In addition, the swing arm makes the pan cleaning machine more adaptable for cleaning pans with different depths and customizable. A method of operation and control, including pre-programmed cleaning cycles and various control paradigms is also provided.

A cleaning device according to the present disclosure includes a first infinite belt assembly and a second infinite belt assembly disposed along a first plane and a second plane, respectively, where each plane is parallel to a longitudinal plane of the cleaning device. The second infinite belt assembly is disposed proximal to the first infinite belt assembly such that a gap is defined therebetween to receive a kitchen tool. Each of the first infinite belt assembly and the second infinite belt assembly includes bristles extending from respective outer surfaces to contact the kitchen tool. A water supply manifold of the device supplies water onto at least one of the kitchen tool, the infinite belts assemblies, and the gap. A drive unit counter rotates the first infinite belt assembly with respect to the second infinite belt assembly.