U.S. patent application number 15/597873 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-28 for warewasher with air assisted washing and/or rinsing.
The applicant listed for this patent is ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.. Invention is credited to Alexander R. Anim-Mensah, Thomas J. Ashworth, Mary E. Paulus, Michael T. Watson.
Application Number | 20170367557 15/597873 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59055144 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170367557 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anim-Mensah; Alexander R. ;
et al. |
December 28, 2017 |
WAREWASHER WITH AIR ASSISTED WASHING AND/OR RINSING
Abstract
A warewash machine carries out at least one of (i) delivering
both compressed air and rinse liquid to a plurality of wash spray
nozzles of the warewash machine for spraying onto the wares during
at least part of a washing operation of a ware cleaning cycle,
wherein the wash liquid is recirculated from a wash tank below the
spray zone; or (ii) lowering wares from the spray zone into a wash
tank below the spray zone to submerge the wares within wash liquid
of the wash tank and delivering compressed air into the wash tank
during at least part of a washing operation of a ware cleaning
cycle; or (iii) delivering both compressed air and rinse liquid to
a plurality of rinse spray nozzles of the warewash machine for
spraying onto the wares during at least part of a rinsing operation
of a ware cleaning cycle.
Inventors: |
Anim-Mensah; Alexander R.;
(Centerville, OH) ; Watson; Michael T.;
(Beavercreek, OH) ; Ashworth; Thomas J.; (Troy,
OH) ; Paulus; Mary E.; (Sidney, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. |
Glenview |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59055144 |
Appl. No.: |
15/597873 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62353808 |
Jun 23, 2016 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 15/4225 20130101;
A47L 2501/11 20130101; A47L 2401/04 20130101; A47L 15/28 20130101;
A47L 15/0078 20130101; A47L 15/241 20130101; A47L 15/10 20130101;
A47L 15/0047 20130101; A47L 2301/04 20130101; A47L 2601/03
20130101; A47L 15/0034 20130101; A47L 2401/18 20130101; A47L
2501/20 20130101; A47L 2401/19 20130101; A47L 15/0076 20130101;
A47L 15/4278 20130101; A47L 15/0026 20130101; A47L 15/486 20130101;
A47L 2501/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 15/28 20060101
A47L015/28; A47L 15/42 20060101 A47L015/42; A47L 15/10 20060101
A47L015/10; A47L 15/48 20060101 A47L015/48; A47L 15/00 20060101
A47L015/00 |
Claims
1. A warewash machine for cleaning wares, comprising: a chamber for
receiving wares, the chamber having at least one spray zone; a
rinse system associated with the spray zone and including one or
more spray nozzles and a feed system connected to the spray
nozzles, wherein the feed system includes both a rinse liquid line
and a compressed air line.
2. The warewash machine of claim 1, wherein the feed system is
operable to feed a combination of the rinse liquid and the
compressed air to the spray nozzles during at least part of a
rinsing operation carried during a ware cleaning cycle.
3. The warewash machine of claim 2 wherein a ratio of rinse liquid
flow to compressed air flow that is fed to the spray nozzles is
variable by adjustment of one or more flow control devices.
4. The warewash machine of claim 1 wherein the feed system includes
a first flow control device for selectively controlling flow of
rinse liquid from the rinse liquid line to the spray nozzles and a
second flow control device for selectively controlling flow of
compressed air from the compressed air line to the spray nozzles,
and a controller operatively connected to control both the first
flow control device and the second flow control device, the
controller configured to control the first flow control device and
the second flow control device so as to feed a combination of the
rinse liquid and the compressed air to the spray nozzles during at
least part of a rinsing operation of a ware cleaning cycle.
5. The warewash machine of claim 3 wherein the first flow control
device comprises a first valve and the second flow control device
comprises a second valve.
6. The warewash machine of claim 4 wherein the controller is
configured to control the first flow control device and the second
flow control device to feed only compressed air to the spray
nozzles during a ware drying step of the ware cleaning cycle.
7. The warewash machine of claim 4 wherein the controller is
configured to control the first flow control device and the second
flow control device to feed only rinse liquid to the spray nozzles
during at least part of the rinsing operation.
8. The warewash machine of claim 1 wherein the chamber includes a
wash tank below the spray zone, and a mechanism from moving wares
from the spray zone down into the wash tank for a washing operation
and back up to the spray zone for a rinsing operation.
9. The warewash machine of claim 8 wherein the wash tank holds wash
liquid in which the wares are submerged during the washing
operation, and the compressed air line is selectively connectable
to deliver compressed air into the wash liquid during at least part
of the washing operation.
10. The warewash machine of claim 1 wherein the chamber includes a
wash tank and an associated recirculation system for recirculating
wash liquid from the wash tank for spraying the wash liquid in the
spray zone onto wares during a washing operation, wherein the
compressed air line is selectively connectable to the recirculation
system for delivering a combined spray of wash liquid and
compressed air onto the wares during the washing operation.
11. A warewash machine for cleaning wares, comprising: a chamber
for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one spray zone;
wherein the chamber includes a wash tank below the spray zone and
at least one of: (i) a mechanism from moving wares from the spray
zone down into the wash tank for a washing operation and back up to
the spray zone for a rinsing operation, wherein the wash tank holds
wash liquid in which the wares are submerged during the washing
operation, and a compressed air line is connected to deliver
compressed air into the wash liquid during at least part of the
washing operation; or (ii) a recirculation system for recirculating
wash liquid from the wash tank to spray nozzles of the spray zone
for spraying the wash liquid onto wares during a washing operation,
and a compressed air line is connected to the recirculation system
to deliver a combined spray of wash liquid and compressed air from
the spray nozzles onto the wares during the washing operation.
12. The warewash machine of claim 11, wherein the compressed air
line is selectively connectable to one or more rinse spray nozzles
of the warewash machine such that a combined spray of rinse liquid
and compressed air is delivered to the rinse spray nozzles during
at least part of a rinsing operation of a ware cleaning cycle.
13. A method of cleaning wares in a warewash machine that includes
a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one
spray zone, the method comprising: carrying out at least one of the
following steps: (i) delivering both compressed air and rinse
liquid to a plurality of wash spray nozzles of the warewash machine
and spraying a combination of the compressed air and the wash
liquid from the rinse spray nozzle onto the wares during at least
part of a washing operation of a ware cleaning cycle, wherein the
wash liquid is recirculated from a wash tank below the spray zone;
or (ii) lowering wares from the spray zone into a wash tank below
the spray zone to submerge the wares within wash liquid of the wash
tank and delivering compressed air into the wash tank during at
least part of a washing operation of a ware cleaning cycle, and
thereafter raising the wares back up into the spray zone for a
rinsing operation; or (iii) delivering both compressed air and
rinse liquid to a plurality of rinse spray nozzles of the warewash
machine and spraying a combination of the compressed air and the
rinse liquid from the rinse spray nozzle onto the wares during at
least part of a rinsing operation of a ware cleaning cycle.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein both steps (i) and (iii) are
carried out during a common ware cleaning cycle.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein both steps (ii) and (iii) are
carried out during a common ware cleaning cycle.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This application relates generally to warewashers such as
those used in commercial applications such as cafeterias and
restaurants and, more particularly, to systems and methods to
utilize air for ware cleaning in such warewashers.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Commercial warewashers commonly include a housing which
defines one or more internal washing and rinsing zones for dishes,
pots pans and other wares. In conveyor-type machines wares are
moved through multiple different spray zones within the housing for
cleaning (e.g., pre-wash, wash, post-wash (aka power rinse) and a
rinse zone or zones). One or more of the zones include a tank in
which liquid to be sprayed on wares is heated in order to achieve
desired cleaning. In batch-type machines wares are typically
manually moved into a generally stationary location within a
chamber for cleaning, and then manually removed from the machine
upon completion of all operations/steps of the cleaning cycle.
[0003] Reduced water consumption is becoming more important in
certain areas in view of the growing demands for water as well as
an increase in the number of drought stricken areas.
[0004] It would be desirable to provide a warewasher system and
method that reduces water consumption.
SUMMARY
[0005] In one aspect, a warewash machine for cleaning wares
includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least
one spray zone. A rinse system associated with the spray zone
includes one or more spray nozzles and a feed system connected to
the spray nozzles. The feed system includes both a rinse liquid
line and a compressed air line.
[0006] In one implementation of the foregoing aspect, the feed
system is operable to feed a combination of the rinse liquid and
the compressed air to the spray nozzles during at least part of a
rinsing operation carried during a ware cleaning cycle.
[0007] In one instance of the foregoing implementation, a ratio of
rinse liquid flow to compressed air flow that is fed to the spray
nozzles is variable by adjustment of one or more flow control
devices.
[0008] In another implementation of the foregoing aspect, the feed
system includes a first flow control device for selectively
controlling flow of rinse liquid from the rinse liquid line to the
spray nozzles and a second flow control device for selectively
controlling flow of compressed air from the compressed air line to
the spray nozzles. A controller is operatively connected to control
both the first flow control device and the second flow control
device. The controller is configured to control the first flow
control device and the second flow control device so as to feed a
combination of the rinse liquid and the compressed air to the spray
nozzles during at least part of a rinsing operation of a ware
cleaning cycle.
[0009] In one instance of the immediately preceding implementation,
the first flow control device comprises a first valve and the
second flow control device comprises a second valve.
[0010] In another instance of the immediately preceding
implementation, the controller is configured to control the first
flow control device and the second flow control device to feed only
compressed air to the spray nozzles during a ware drying step of
the ware cleaning cycle. Alternatively, or in addition, the
controller is configured to control the first flow control device
and the second flow control device to feed only rinse liquid to the
spray nozzles during at least part of the rinsing operation.
[0011] In another implementation of the foregoing aspect, the
chamber includes a wash tank below the spray zone, and a mechanism
from moving wares from the spray zone down into the wash tank for a
washing operation and back up to the spray zone for a rinsing
operation. In such a case, the wash tank holds wash liquid in which
the wares are submerged during the washing operation, and the
compressed air line is selectively connectable to delivered
compressed air into the wash liquid during at least part of the
washing operation.
[0012] In another implementation of the foregoing aspect, the
chamber includes a wash tank and an associated recirculation system
for recirculating wash liquid from the wash tank for spraying the
wash liquid in the spray zone onto wares during a washing
operation. The compressed air line is selectively connectable to
the recirculation system for delivering a combined spray of wash
liquid and compressed air onto the wares during the washing
operation.
[0013] In another aspect, a warewash machine for cleaning wares
includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least
one spray zone, wherein the chamber includes a wash tank below the
spray zone and at least one of: (i) a mechanism from moving wares
from the spray zone down into the wash tank for a washing operation
and back up to the spray zone for a rinsing operation, wherein the
wash tank holds wash liquid in which the wares are submerged during
the washing operation, and a compressed air line is connected to
deliver compressed air into the wash liquid during at least part of
the washing operation, or (ii) a recirculation system for
recirculating wash liquid from the wash tank to spray nozzles of
the spray zone for spraying the wash liquid onto wares during a
washing operation, and a compressed air line is connected to the
recirculation system to deliver a combined spray of wash liquid and
compressed air from the spray nozzles onto the wares during the
washing operation.
[0014] In implementations of the immediately preceding aspect, in
the case of either (i) or (ii), the compressed air line is
selectively connectable to one or more rinse spray nozzles of the
warewash machine such that a combined spray of rinse liquid and
compressed air is delivered to the rinse spray nozzles during at
least part of a rinsing operation of a ware cleaning cycle.
[0015] In a further aspect, a method is provided for cleaning wares
in a warewash machine that includes a chamber for receiving wares,
the chamber having at least one spray zone. The method involves
carrying out at least one of the following steps: (i) delivering
both compressed air and rinse liquid to a plurality of wash spray
nozzles of the warewash machine and spraying a combination of the
compressed air and the wash liquid from the rinse spray nozzle onto
the wares during at least part of a washing operation of a ware
cleaning cycle, wherein the wash liquid is recirculated from a wash
tank below the spray zone; or (ii) lowering wares from the spray
zone into a wash tank below the spray zone to submerged the wares
within wash liquid of the wash tank and delivering compressed air
into the wash tank during at least part of a washing operation of a
ware cleaning cycle, and thereafter raising the wares back up into
the spray zone for a rinsing operation; or (iii) delivering both
compressed air and rinse liquid to a plurality of rinse spray
nozzles of the warewash machine and spraying a combination of the
compressed air and the rinse liquid from the rinse spray nozzle
onto the wares during at least part of a rinsing operation of a
ware cleaning cycle.
[0016] In one implementation of the immediately preceding aspect,
both steps (i) and (iii) are carried out during a common ware
cleaning cycle.
[0017] In another implementation of the immediately preceding
aspect, both steps (ii) and (iii) are carried out during a common
ware cleaning cycle.
[0018] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the
accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,
objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and
drawings, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of one embodiment of a
warewasher; and
[0020] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of exemplary process/logic for the
warewasher of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation of another embodiment
of a warewasher; and
[0022] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of exemplary process/logic for the
warewasher of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary warewash machine 10 is
shown, with a housing 12 and an internal chamber 14 with a spray
zone 20 that can receive a rack 16 (or racks) of soiled wares 18
for cleaning (e.g., through an access opening closeable by a door
or hood or, in some cases, through an access opening without a
door). The machine includes a wash tank 22 below the spray zone. A
mechanism 24 for lowering wares from the spray zone 20 down into
the wash tank 22, and raising the wares from the wash tank 22 back
up into the spray zone 20 is shown schematically. By way of
example, the mechanism 24 could be a lift platform (e.g., open wire
frame type) that is raised or lowered by way of a motor and belt or
chain drive, or by way of one or more linear actuators. However,
other mechanism configurations are possible.
[0024] The spray zone 20 includes one or more rinse arms 26
(stationary and/or moving depending upon machine type) with
associated spray nozzles 28 for spraying rinse liquid onto wares
when the wares are up in the spray zone 20. A feed system 30 feeds
to the spray arms 26 and includes a rinse liquid line 32 and a
compressed air line 34, each of which is connected, or selectively
connectable, by a respective valve 36 and 38 to the rinse arm input
path 40. The rinse liquid could, for example, come from a hot water
booster and may or may not include a rinse agent. The compressed
air could come from an external source as a standalone unit, from
the facility utility or from a compressor installed on the machine.
The compressed air line 34 is also connected, or selectively
connectable, to the wash tank 22 by a valve 42 and feed path 44,
where the feed path 44 includes multiple inputs to the wash tank
22. A controller 50 is operatively connected to each of the valves
36, 38, 42, the mechanism 24, an air sensor 46 (e.g., temperature
and/or humidity and/or other air quality characteristics) and an
air heater 48 (e.g., an electric heater). As used herein, the term
controller is intended to broadly encompass any circuit (e.g.,
solid state, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an
electronic circuit, a combinational logic circuit, a field
programmable gate array (FPGA)), processor(s) (e.g., shared,
dedicated, or group--including hardware or software that executes
code), software, firmware and/or other components, or a combination
of some or all of the above, that carries out the control functions
of the machine or the control functions of any component
thereof.
[0025] Referring to the schematic machine 10 of FIG. 1 and the
process flow diagram 60 of FIG. 2, in an automatic mode, the wash
tank 22 is filled with the required volume of wash liquid (e.g.,
water with detergent either predosed or dosed at the beginning of a
cleaning cycle). The valves 36, 38 and 42 are all closed at this
time. Per step 62, the machine 10 receives rack(s) in the upper
position in the spray zone per dashed line form of rack 16, and a
door of machine is closed at step 64 to activate a switch/sensor to
initiate cleaning. Alternatively, or in addition to door closure, a
user interface button could be manually pressed to initiate
cleaning. The rack transport/shift mechanism 24 then operates to
submerge the rack(s) into the wash tank water per solid line form
of rack 16'. When the rack is moved to submerged position (e.g., as
determined by an activated switch or sensor of the mechanism 24)
per step 66, the controller 50 initiates the wash operation of the
cleaning cycle at step 68, which includes opening valve 42 to
deliver compressed air from line 34 into the washing liquid for
washing for a predetermined time (while valves 36 and 38 remain
closed). The compressed air may be introduced directly into the
volume of water in which the wares are submerged as suggested, and
may be introduced during the entire washing operation of the
cleaning cycle or during only part of the washing operation. The
introduction of the compressed air aids in cleaning by creating
turbulent conditions in the washing tank.
[0026] At the end of the washing operation of the cycle (e.g.,
after a set time period or after a sensor indicates sufficient
washing) per step 70, the rack transport/shift mechanism 24 moves
the rack back into the upper position in the spray zone 20 per step
72 for rinsing (e.g., via sprays from nozzles 28 in the one or more
rinse arms 26). Per step 74, for purpose of rinsing, valve 42 is
closed and valves 38 and 36 are opened to deliver a combined rinse
water and compressed air mixture that is directed onto the wares
through the spray nozzles 28, such as a combined flow through the
same nozzle(s) 28 for rinsing for a predetermined time (e.g., which
predetermined time can be set or varied). The compressed air may be
introduced during the entire rinsing operation of the cleaning
cycle or during only part of the rinsing operation.
[0027] At the end of the rinsing operation of the cleaning cycle as
determined at step 76, the valve 42 remains closed and valve 36 is
also closed such that compressed air is delivered into the ware
chamber (without any water) through the spray nozzles 28 for a
drying operation (e.g., for a predetermined time for a time as
determined by a sensor that detects how dry the wares are) per step
78. The heater 48 may be activated or otherwise controlled during
the drying period based on air temperature and air quality
factors/conditions such as humidity, moisture, etc. as indicated by
the sensor(s) 46. Moreover, the flowrate or amount of compressed
air for drying may be controlled or set based upon, for example,
the type of ware, shape, weight, etc. The valves 36, 38 and 42 (or
other flow control devices) can be regulated/controlled (e.g., by
the controller 50) to achieve various compressed air flows F1 and
F2 and various rinse water flows F3 to achieve different
water-to-air ratios and flows (e.g., F1 only for the wash, F3/F2
for rinsing and F2 for drying, where the level of each of F1, F2
and F3 can be controlled) as necessary for desired wash, rinse and
drying of the various wares types, such as heavy or light duty
loads.
[0028] While the above description primarily contemplates and
automated machine 10, in a manual machine or mode of the FIG. 1
machine manual button presses may be used for initiating rack
submersion, raising the rack back into the upper position, starting
the rinsing, starting the drying, etc. Moreover, the valves 36, 38
and 42 could be controlled manually as well.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, another exemplary warewash machine 100
is shown, where similar features/components to machine 10 are shown
with similar number designations. Here, compressed air line 34 is
connected through a valve 102 to the rinse input path 40, which can
also form part of the wash liquid path as shown. However, it is
recognized that separate wash arms 104 with wash nozzles 106 may
also be provided, in which case an additional valve 108 may be
provided so that separate compressed air flows to the wash path and
the rinse path are possible. The wash tank 22 includes a
recirculation system with pump 110, line 112 and valve 114 which
can feed to the spray nozzles 28 in one embodiment, or could feed
to the spray nozzles 106 in an embodiment with separate wash arm(s)
104. The machine may be a rack-type machine or may be a
conveyor-type with a conveyance mechanism for moving wares through
various spray zones of the machine. A controller 150 is operatively
connected to each of the valves 36, 102, 108, 114, and the pump
110, air sensor(s) 46 and heater 48.
[0030] Referring to the schematic machine 100 of FIG. 3 and the
process flow diagram 160 of FIG. 4, in an automatic mode, the wash
tank 22' is filled with the required volume of water with detergent
either predosed or dosed at the beginning of washing. The valves
36, 102, 108 and 114 are all closed at this time, and the pump 110
is off. Per step 162, the machine 10 receives rack(s) in the
chamber, and a door of machine is closed at step 164 to activate a
switch/sensor to initiate cleaning. Alternatively, or in addition
to door closure, a user interface button could be manually pressed
to initiate cleaning per step 166. At step 168, the valve 114 is
opened and the pump 110 is then operated to circulate the wash
fluid from the tank 22' up to the spray arms/nozzles 26/28 or
104/106 of the spray zone 20, while valves 36 and 102 (and if
applicable 108) are closed. In some cases valve 102 (or 108 if
applicable) could also be opened during washing operation, or part
of the washing operation, to deliver a combination of compressed
air and washing liquid through the spray nozzles during the washing
operation.
[0031] At the end of the washing operation as determined at step
170, per step 172 the pump 110 stops and the valve 114 is closed,
and the valves 102 and 36 are opened for the rinse operation. The
open state of valves 102 and 36 allow a water and compressed air
mixture to be delivered onto the wares (e.g., combined flow through
the same nozzle(s) for rinsing for a predetermined time (e.g.,
which predetermined time can be set or varied). The compressed air
may be introduced during the entire rinsing operation of the
cleaning cycle or during only part of the rinsing operation.
[0032] At the end of the rinsing as determined at step 174, valve
36 is closed and valve 102 remains open so that compressed air
(without any water) for drying is directed onto the wares for a
drying operation of the cleaning cycle (e.g., for a predetermined
time for a time as determined by a sensor that detects how dry the
wares are) per step 176. The heater 48 may be activated or
otherwise controlled during the drying period based on air
temperature and air quality factors/conditions such as humidity,
moisture, etc. as indicated by the sensor(s) 46. Moreover, the
flowrate or amount of compressed air for drying may be controlled
or set based upon, for example, the type of ware, shape, weight,
etc. The valves 36, 114, 102 (and 108 if applicable) can be
regulated/controlled (e.g., by the controller 150) to achieve
various compressed air flows F5 and/or F5', various wash liquid
flows F4 and various rinse water flows F6 to achieve different
water-to-air ratios and flows as necessary for desired wash, rinse
and drying of the various wares types, such as heavy or light duty
loads.
[0033] While the above description primarily contemplates and
automated machine 100, in a manual machine or mode of the FIG. 3
machine manual button presses may be used for initiating rack
cleaning and/or any of initiating washing, starting the rinsing,
starting the drying, etc. Moreover, the valves 36, 114, 102 (and
108 if applicable) could be controlled manually as well.
[0034] It is to be clearly understood that the above description is
intended by way of illustration and example only and is not
intended to be taken by way of limitation, and that changes and
modifications are possible. Accordingly, other embodiments are
contemplated and modifications and changes could be made without
departing from the scope of this application.
* * * * *