A conveyor ware washer (1), having a conveying device for conveying wash ware through treatment zones, has at least two wash zones (11, 12, 13), arranged one after the other and at least one final rinse zone (14) arranged downstream of the wash zones. An exhaust air system (20) removes exhaust air from the conveyor ware washer. The wash zone which is arranged closer to the final rinse zone has a heating device (40) for heating the wash liquid, which is to be sprayed in the relevant wash zone, to a minimum process temperature. A heat pump system transmits at least part of the thermal energy of the exhaust air, which has been removed or is to be removed from the conveyor ware washer, as useful heat to the wash liquid of the wash zone which is arranged further away from the at least one final rinse zone.

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning articles to be cleaned includes at least one cleaning chamber; at least one conveying device configured to convey the articles to be cleaned in a conveying direction through the cleaning chamber, the at least one conveying device comprising a plurality of tracks arranged side by side; at least one nozzle system configured to act upon the articles to be cleaned with at least one cleaning fluid; at least one sensor configured to detect a loading of the conveying device with articles to be cleaned; and at least one control means programmed to select at least one operating mode of the cleaning apparatus corresponding to the loading of the conveying device detected by the sensor, and to propose the selected operating mode to a user of the cleaning apparatus by providing a visual indicator on one or several tracks of the conveying device.

A conveyor dishwasher includes at least one wash zone and at least one final rinse zone, wherein the at least one wash zone is designed to spray wash liquid, wherein the wash liquid is, at least proportionally, liquid which has already been used for final rinsing in the at least one final rinse zone and to which a wash chemical is added in a metered manner or is fresh water to which a wash chemical is added in a metered manner, wherein the conveyor dishwasher has a metering pump for adding the wash chemical in a metered manner to the liquid to be sprayed in the at least one wash zone, and wherein a controller is associated with the conveyor dishwasher in order to actuate the metering pump and a wash pump or final rinse pump of the dishwasher.

A method for cleaning items to be cleaned is disclosed. A cleaning device is used that has at least one cleaning chamber and at least one applicator for applying at least one cleaning fluid to the items to be cleaned in the cleaning chamber. A desired hygiene value is prespecified. The method further includes time-resolved recording of at least two influencing variables which influence hygienization of the items to be cleaned. Hygiene share values are determined from the influencing variables using a prespecified relationship between each influencing variable and the respective hygiene value share of said influencing variable. An expected actual hygiene value at the end of the cleaning from the hygiene value shares is ascertained and compared with the desired hygiene value. At least one of the influencing variables is changed based on the comparison. An inventive cleaning device is also disclosed.

A warewash machine includes in-situ tank soil load reduction that involves at least one of: (i) prior to addition of fresh water, draining the collection tank via a path that exits the collection tank at a location lower than a primary overflow path until wash liquid level in the collection tank drops below a standard operating level, and thereafter adding fresh water; or (ii) draining the collection tank via a path that exits the collection tank at a location lower than a primary overflow path while simultaneously adding fresh water; or (iii) adding fresh water such that wash liquid level in the collection tank rises above a standard operating level, and thereafter carrying out draining of the collection tank.

A warewash machine for washing wares includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone with an associated spray system for spraying liquid onto wares passing therethrough, wherein a downstream drying zone includes a blower for blowing air onto wares passing therethrough. The blower includes an ambient intake operatively connected to an ambient air flow path, a machine intake operatively connected to an internal machine air flow path and an exhaust intake operatively connected to a machine exhaust air flow path.

Example intelligent dishwashing systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a system includes an imaging system configured to capture at least one image of an article of dishware. A processing system analyzes the at least one image to determine a presence and a location of a stain on the article of dishware. Responsive to determining the presence of a stain, a cleaning system is configured to clean the location of the stain on the article of dishware.

Example intelligent dishwashing systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a system includes a light source that is configured to illuminate an article of dishware. An imaging system is configured to capture at least one image of the article of dishware. A processing system is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a presence of a stain on the article of dishware.

A warewash machine for washing wares includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one spray zone. A spray system is provided in the spray zone for spraying liquid onto wares for cleaning. A tank captures sprayed liquid that falls within the spray zone. The tank includes a primary recirculation path for delivering liquid from the tank to the spray system, and a secondary recirculation path for delivering water out of the tank and back into the tank, without spraying within the spray zone, in order promote mixing within the tank.

Disclosed is a cleaning device for cleaning washware. The cleaning device may be a conveyor dishwasher. The cleaning device has at least one cleaning chamber and at least one transportation device. The transportation device transports the washware through the cleaning chamber in a transportation direction. The cleaning device has at least one final-rinse nozzle system for applying at least one final-rinse fluid, in particular fresh water, to the washware. The final-rinse nozzle system has at least two final-rinse nozzle units which are arranged in different positions transverse to the transportation direction. The final-rinse nozzle units can be switched independently of one another in order to apply the final-rinse fluid to the washware in the different positions independently of one another.