	US 12,102,277 B2
	Pan cleaning system and improved cleaning stations
Norman G. Schmidt, Denman Island (CA); and Orlando Janzen, Mission (CA)
Assigned to Food Machinery Engineering, LMTD, British Columbia (CA)
Filed by Food Machinery Ltd
Filed on Sep. 1, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/009,203.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/033,826, filed on Jun. 2, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/894,923, filed on Sep. 2, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0169303 A1, Jun. 10, 2021
Int. Cl. A47L 15/00 (2006.01); A47L 15/24 (2006.01); A47L 15/39 (2006.01); A47L 15/42 (2006.01); A47L 15/46 (2006.01); A46B 9/02 (2006.01); A46B 13/02 (2006.01); B65G 17/12 (2006.01)

CPC A47L 15/0092 (2013.01) [A47L 15/0076 (2013.01); A47L 15/241 (2013.01); A47L 15/39 (2013.01); A47L 15/4295 (2013.01); A47L 15/46 (2013.01); A46B 9/026 (2013.01); A46B 13/02 (2013.01); A46B 2200/3013 (2013.01); A47L 15/4282 (2013.01); A47L 2401/04 (2013.01); A47L 2401/17 (2013.01); A47L 2501/20 (2013.01); A47L 2501/24 (2013.01); B65G 17/12 (2013.01)]

22 Claims

1. A modular frame swing arm pan cleaning system, comprising:

an at least one frame having at least one frame element;

an at least one swing arm mounting point on the at least one frame element;

an at least one modular swing arm coupled to the at least one frame element at the at least one mounting point by an at least one pivot element such that the at least one modular swing arm rotates freely about the pivot element;

an at least one pan conveyor coupled to said frame;

an at least one unclean pan conveyed by said at least one pan conveyor;

an at least one pan cleaning subsystem coupled to the at least one swing arm;

an at least one swing arm actuator;

an at least one swing arm limiter; and

an at least one controller, whereby the at least one modular swing arm having the at least one cleaning subsystem mounted thereon is positioned by the at least one controller relative to the at least one pan conveyor to move the at least one pan cleaning subsystem from an open position to and engaged position an engage the at least one unclean pan with the at least one pan cleaning subsystem by activating the at least one swing arm actuator to swing the at least one modular swing arm from the open position and position the at least one pan cleaning subsystem to engage the pan at a pressure range exerted by the at least one swing arm actuator and limited by the at least one swing arm limiter while engaged with the at least one unclean pan such that the at least one unclean pan is cleaned.