A system (10) for loading at least one conveyor warewasher (1, 1′) with washware includes a feed conveyor belt (11) for delivering washware to at least one loading region of the conveyor warewasher (1, 1′) and a detection system (15), in particular an optical one, configured to detect at least one of the following parameters of the washware on the feed conveyor belt (11) when delivering the washware (9a, 9b, 9c) to the loading region: (i) a type of the washware, (ii) a degree of soiling of the washware, and/or (iii) an order of the washware and/or an alignment of the washware relative to the feed conveyor belt (11). The detection system (15) has an assigned evaluation device, which is configured to control the delivery of the washware to the at least one loading region as a function of at least one of the detected parameters.

A conveyor type ware washing machine uses a heat pump to reduce exhaust heat and to heat incoming water. A modulating valve is used to control incoming water flow through a heat exchanger of the heat pump. Processing circuitry automatically dynamically adjusts the modulating valve between a plurality of open states based on the sensed refrigerant head pressure of the heat pump, so that the refrigerant head pressure is maintained in a predefined range. The ware washing machine is efficient, and reduces the amount of heat exhausted to ambient. Related methods are also disclosed.

A conveyor type ware washing machine uses a heat pump to reduce exhaust heat and to heat incoming water. A modulating valve is used to control incoming water flow through a heat exchanger of the heat pump. Processing circuitry automatically dynamically adjusts the modulating valve between a plurality of open states based on the sensed refrigerant head pressure of the heat pump, so that the refrigerant head pressure is maintained in a predefined range. The ware washing machine is efficient, and reduces the amount of heat exhausted to ambient. Related methods are also disclosed.

A dishwashing apparatus comprises a housing containing a series of zones, each zone adapted for performing a step of a dishwashing cycle. A drive means transports a shuttle loaded with a soiled item in a loop from a loading/unloading area atop the housing, into the housing, through each of the wash-step zones and out of the housing back to the loading/unloading area. Different shuttle types are provided, each type adapted to carry one of: an individual item of plateware, an individual item of cupware or an individual place setting of cutlery. A method of washing dishes utilising the apparatus is described. The apparatus is compact for installation flush with countertop adjacent to a kitchen sink. The apparatus and method permit rapid and efficient washing of small numbers of items such as a single place setting.

A conveyor dishwashing machine (1) has at least one washing zone (7), and at least one final rinse zone (8) which is connected downstream (as viewed in the transport direction (T) of the wash items) of the at least one washing zone (7). The conveyor dishwashing machine (1) has a transport apparatus for transporting the wash items through the treatment zones (6, 7) of the conveyor dishwashing machine (1) so that the wash items are situated at least in regions in a washing plane (5) which runs horizontally. The washing plane (5) is configured as a main washing plane, and there is at least one additional washing plane (6) in at least one of the treatment zones (7, 8) of the conveyor dishwashing machine (1), in which additional washing plane (6) wash items can be treated.

A device for recovering energy from hot wares includes a standalone cabinet structure having a housing that defines an internal rack receiving space and an energy recovery system associated with the cabinet structure. The rack receiving space is sized to receive and hold multiple racks of hot wares at the same time. The energy recovery system is configured to transfer heat from the hot wares to a fluid passing through the cabinet structure. A method of recovering heat from wares, and a warewash machine that includes an energy recovery system are also described.

A device for recovering energy from hot wares includes a standalone cabinet structure having a housing that defines an internal rack receiving space and an energy recovery system associated with the cabinet structure. The rack receiving space is sized to receive and hold multiple racks of hot wares at the same time. The energy recovery system is configured to transfer heat from the hot wares to a fluid passing through the cabinet structure. A method of recovering heat from wares, and a warewash machine that includes an energy recovery system are also described.

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.

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.

A system (10) for loading different conveying tracks (2, 3, 4) of at least one in particular commercial conveyor dishwasher (1, 1′). The system (10) includes a feed conveyor belt (11) for delivering washware (9a, 9b, 9c) to loading regions of the at least one conveyor dishwasher (1, 1′). The system (10) further includes a sorting arrangement for sorting the washware (9a, 9b, 9c) delivered to the loading regions of the at least one conveyor dishwasher (1, 1′) via the feed conveyor belt (11) according to previously defined or definable washware groups. The sorting arrangement is associated with at least one loading arrangement (13a, 13b, 13c) for automatically loading the different conveying tracks of the at least one conveyor dishwasher (1, 1′) with washware (9a, 9b, 9c) of one of the previously defined or definable washware groups.