Dishwasher, in particular in the form of a counter module for a counter system
11786100 · 2023-10-17
Assignee
Inventors
- Harald DISCH (Elzach, DE)
- Martin SCHREMPP (Biberach, DE)
- Adrian BOLDT (Offenburg, DE)
- Axel BECK (Offenburg, DE)
- Jeffrey R. NEWCOMER (Troy, OH, US)
Cpc classification
A47L15/0021
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A47L15/0089
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A47L15/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
A dishwasher (1) for cleaning washware items (2) in the form of drinking vessels is configured as a counter module of a counter system and includes at least one treatment zone (3) having a placement area (4) associated with the treatment zone (3) and a removal area (5) associated with the treatment zone (3), wherein the washware item (2) can be placed into the treatment zone (3) via the placement area (4) and the cleaned washware item (2) can be removed from the treatment zone (3) via the removal area (5), wherein the placement area (4) and the removal area (5) are disposed opposite one another with the interposition of the treatment zone (3). At least one bracket (15) is provided in the treatment zone (3) for in releasably securing and/or positioning the washware item (2) placed onto a placement surface (20) in the treatment zone (3).
Claims
1. A dishwasher for cleaning a washware item in the form of a drinking vessel, wherein the dishwasher is configured as a counter module of a counter system and comprises a housing with at least one treatment zone and having a placement opening for manually placing the washware item into the treatment zone and a removal opening for manually removing the washware item from the treatment zone, wherein the placement opening and the removal opening are disposed on opposite first and second sides of the housing, wherein at least one bracket is provided in the treatment zone for releasably securing and/or positioning the washware item placed onto a placement surface in the treatment zone; wherein the at least one bracket comprises first and second spring-loaded bracket parts arranged at opposing internal sidewalls of the housing, the first and second spring-loaded brackets being perpendicular to the placement opening and between which a holding region is formed, the first and second spring-loaded bracket parts biased toward the holding region into respective inward positions and movable outward, against the bias, upon contact with the washware item during placement of the washware item into the treatment zone and onto the placement surface, wherein, when the first and second spring-loaded bracket parts are in the inward positions, a gap between the first and second bracket parts is aligned along and provides a clear path from the placement opening to the removal opening; wherein each of the first and second spring-loaded bracket parts comprises: a depression or groove facing the holding region, and an angled entry surface that faces partly toward the placement opening and that angles outwardly and away from the depression or groove and the holding region so as to be configured to facilitate manual movement of the drinking vessel into the holding region by engaging with the entry surfaces to move the first and second spring-loaded bracket parts outwardly, against the bias, until the drinking vessel reaches the placement surface.
2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the first and second spring-loaded bracket parts are positioned and configured to independently position and/or orient the washware item in the treatment zone with respect to a jet direction, of at least one washing and/or spray nozzle of the dishwasher, wherein the first and second spring-loaded bracket parts are further configured such that the washware item can be brought, manually and with one hand, into operative connection with the first and second spring-loaded bracket parts.
3. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the placement surface is at least partly inclined relative to horizontal, by an angle of 5° to 35°; and/or wherein the placement surface is formed at least partly by a lattice-like strut structure.
4. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the dishwasher comprises an air-blowing system having at least one air-blowing nozzle, which, to optimize a drying result of the washware item, is configured and oriented with respect to the placement surface such that water droplets can be blown off the washware item with the air-blowing nozzle, wherein the air-blowing system is configured to automatically blow compressed air toward the washware item via the air-blowing nozzle after completion of a rinsing phase, or to automatically blow compressed air toward the washware item via the air-blowing nozzle as the washware item is removed from the treatment zone.
5. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein wherein the treatment zone is associated with at least one door, in the form of a revolving door, via which the placement opening and/or removal opening can be closed as needed and automatically after placement of the washware item into the treatment zone, wherein the at least one door is transferable in a horizontal plane relative to the treatment zone between an open position, in which the placement opening and the removal opening are open, and a closed position, in which the placement opening and the removal opening are closed.
6. The dishwasher according to claim 5, wherein the at least one door at least partly surrounds the treatment zone and comprises a first and a second through-opening and is movable relative to the placement opening and the removal opening such that at least a first state, in which the first through-opening is at least substantially aligned with the placement opening of the treatment zone and the second through-opening is at least substantially aligned with the removal opening of the treatment zone, and a second state, in which the at least one door at least substantially completely covers both the placement opening and the removal opening of the treatment zone, can selectively be implemented, wherein the at least one door is a peripheral revolving door which is disposed inside the housing and is mounted such that is displaceable or rotatable, about a horizontal or vertical central axis of the treatment zone, relative to the placement opening and the removal opening of the treatment zone, and wherein at least one window region is configured in the at least one door such that, in the second state of the door, the treatment zone can be visually inspected through the placement opening and/or removal opening.
7. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the dishwasher further comprises a washing and/or rinsing system having a washing and/or rinsing pump and washing and/or rinsing nozzles, via which cleaning liquid, can be sprayed onto the washware item in the treatment zone, wherein the dishwasher is spatially partitioned into an over table area, which, when the dishwasher is used as intended, is positioned above a counter level, and an under table area, which, when the dishwasher is used as intended, is positioned below the counter level, wherein the placement opening, the removal opening and at least partly the at least one treatment zone are respectively part of the over table area, and wherein at least the washing and/or rinsing pump of the washing and/or rinsing system is part of the under table area.
8. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the washing and/or rinsing system further comprises at least one of the following components: a rinse aid dosing system for selective and/or as needed dosing of rinse aid to the cleaning liquid to be sprayed in the at least one treatment zone; a cleaner dosing system for selective and/or as needed dosing a cleaner chemical to the cleaning liquid to be sprayed in the at least one treatment zone; a wash tank for at least temporarily storing the cleaning liquid to be sprayed in the at least one treatment zone and/or for temporarily storing the cleaning liquid sprayed in the at least one treatment zone; a rinsing liquid tank for providing rinsing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one treatment zone; a wastewater tank for at least temporarily storing wastewater produced during the cleaning of the washware items; a water heater for selective and/or as needed heating of the cleaning liquid to be sprayed in the at least one treatment zone; and/or a disinfectant dosing system for as needed dosing of a disinfectant to the cleaning liquid to be sprayed in the at least one treatment zone, wherein the at least one component of the washing and/or rinsing system is part of the under table area of the dishwasher.
9. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the dishwasher comprises a body having an upper horizontal plane, which is positioned below the counter level or which defines the counter level, wherein the under table area of the dishwasher is formed by the body, and wherein the body is supported by height-adjustable feet or castors or by an height-adjustable substructure, base or frame, wherein the upper horizontal plane of the body is configured at least partly as an upper floor, the surface of which is below the counter level or defines the counter level, wherein in a region of the at least one treatment zone the upper floor further comprises at least one passage or opening, via which cleaning liquid can be transferred from the under table area to the upper table area and vice versa, and wherein the placement surface is disposed below the counter level.
10. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the housing includes at least one wall region provided above the counter level and an upper roof region, wherein the dishwasher comprises a first display arrangement at the first side of the housing and disposed at the upper roof region for displaying customer-specific information, and comprises a second display arrangement at the second side of the housing and disposed at the upper roof region for displaying counter personnel-specific information, and wherein the treatment zone is associated with at least one door, in the form of a revolving door, via which the placement opening and/or the removal opening can be closed as needed and automatically after placement of the washware item into the treatment zone, wherein the at least one door is transferable in a horizontal or vertical plane relative to the treatment zone between an open position, in which the placement opening and the removal opening are open, and a closed position, in which the placement opening and the removal opening are closed, wherein, in the open position of the at least one door, said door does not project above the upper roof region of the dishwasher.
11. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the dishwasher has a dimension adapted to a counter size and includes a counter structure, wherein a footprint of the counter structure has a dimension of no more than 500 mm×500 mm, and wherein the footprint of a body below the counter structure has a dimension of no more than 400 mm×600 mm; and/or wherein the placement opening has a height of no more than 330 mm and a width of no more than 260 mm; and/or wherein the dishwasher comprises a control device, via which treatment parameters necessary and/or desired for cleaning the washware item can be selected and/or set, wherein the control device is configured to control a washing and/or rinsing system of the dishwasher for treating the washware item in the at least one treatment zone such that first at least one washing phase and then at least one rinsing phase, is carried out in chronological succession, wherein the control device is further configured to control the washing and/or rinsing system of the dishwasher for treating the washware items in the at least one treatment zone such that at least one disinfecting phase is carried out between the at least one washing phase and the at least one rinsing phase, wherein the at least one washing phase lasts between 5 to 30 seconds and wherein the rinsing phase lasts between 1 to 10 seconds.
12. A counter module for a counter system, wherein the counter system comprises a counter area having a horizontal counter surface, and wherein the counter module comprises a dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein an over table area of the dishwasher is disposed above the counter surface of the counter area and an under table area of the dishwasher is disposed below the counter surface of the counter area.
Description
(1) Example embodiments of the dishwasher according to the invention are described in more detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(2) The figures show:
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(26) A first example embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention is described in the following with reference to
(27) For cleaning the washware items, the dishwasher 1 comprises a treatment zone 3 (here: only one) having a placement area 4 and a removal area 5. The dishwasher 1 or the treatment zone 3 is configured to treat (clean) washware items 2 individually and in batches.
(28) The dishwasher 1 comprises a housing 14, in which the treatment zone 3 is accommodated. A first display arrangement 16, which is oriented in the direction of the placement area 4 of the dishwasher 1 and serves to display customer-specific information to a customer, is disposed in the upper region of the housing 14.
(29) A second display arrangement 17, via which information for the service personnel or the counter personnel is displayed, is disposed on the opposite side of the housing 14, preferably in the upper region. A switch 18, via which the service personnel or the counter personnel can activate the operation of the dishwasher 1, is provided in addition to the second display arrangement 17.
(30) In the design example shown, the treatment zone 3 accommodated in the housing 14 is used to carry out a washing phase, then optionally a disinfecting phase, then a rinsing phase with hot fresh water and optionally a rinsing phase with cold fresh water, in chronological succession. In this context, it is in principle also conceivable for an additional drying phase to subsequently take place in the treatment zone 3.
(31) The washing phase is a cleaning phase, in which the washware items 2 or the washware item 2 in the treatment zone 3 are washed with a washing liquid. The optional disinfecting phase is a cleaning or treatment phase, in which the washed washware item 2 is exposed to either a disinfectant chemical or hot fresh water or hot steam to effect appropriate disinfection. The rinsing phase is a cleaning phase, in which the washed washware item 2 and the possibly disinfected washware item 2 are rinsed with heated fresh water and optionally added rinse aid.
(32) To be able to carry out these process steps, the dishwasher 1 preferably comprises two independent liquid systems. A first liquid system is a washing water circuit which is responsible for washing the washware item, whereby washing is carried out with recirculated water from a wash tank 9 of the dishwasher 1.
(33) The other liquid system is a fresh water system, which is responsible for rinsing. As already mentioned, rinsing is carried out with fresh water, preferably fresh water from a water heater. After the spraying in the treatment zone 3, the fresh water is likewise taken into the wash tank 9 of the dishwasher 1.
(34) The primary task of rinsing is to remove any remaining suds on the washware item 2. The rinsing water flowing in the wash tank 9 during the rinsing phase is used to regenerate the washing water in the wash tank 9.
(35) Before fresh water is sprayed as a rinsing liquid by the rinsing phase and thereby fed into the wash tank 9 of the dishwasher 1, a quantity of washing liquid equal to the quantity of fresh water is preferably pumped out of the wash tank 9.
(36) The example embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention, as shown schematically in the drawings, is in particular characterized by the fact that it is spatially partitioned into an over table area 6 and an under table area 7. When the dishwasher 1 is used as intended, the over table area 6 is above a counter level 12, whereas, when the dishwasher 1 is used as intended, the under table area 7 is below the counter level 12.
(37) It is in particular provided that the components which are necessary and can be controlled to carry out the cleaning phases in the treatment zone 3 are accommodated in the under table area 7 of the dishwasher 1. These are in particular the washing and/or rinsing pump(s) 8 of a washing and/or rinsing system of the dishwasher 1, i.e. the pumps associated with the washing water circuit and the fresh water system of the dishwasher 1.
(38) The wash tank 9 of the dishwasher 1, and possibly a wastewater tank, are preferably likewise accommodated in the under table area 7 of the dishwasher 1. As already stated at the outset, the wash tank 9 is used to at least temporarily store the cleaning liquid to be sprayed in the treatment zone 3 of the dishwasher 1 or to temporarily store the cleaning liquid sprayed in the treatment zone 3.
(39) It is also advantageous if a fresh water tank or rinsing liquid tank 10, which provides at least a portion of the rinsing liquid or fresh water to be sprayed in the treatment zone 3, is accommodated in the under table area 7 of the dishwasher 1 as well.
(40) A rinse aid dosing system for in particular selective and/or as needed dosing of rinse aid to the cleaning liquid to be sprayed in the treatment zone 3 and/or a cleaner dosing system for in particular selective and/or as needed dosing of a cleaner chemical to the cleaning liquid to be sprayed in the treatment zone 3 can also be accommodated in the under table area 7 of the dishwasher 1.
(41) The same is true for an optionally provided disinfectant dosing system for as needed dosing of a disinfectant to the cleaning liquid to be sprayed in the at least one treatment zone 3.
(42) A water heater (booster) for selective and/or as needed heating of the cleaning liquid, in particular rinsing liquid, to be sprayed in the treatment zone 3 is preferably disposed in the under table area 7 of the dishwasher 1 as well.
(43) In the over table area 6 of the dishwasher 1, on the other hand, preferably only the placement area 4, the removal area 5 and at least partly the area of the treatment zone 3 of the dishwasher 1 are provided. The treatment zone 3, or a corresponding washing and/or spray nozzle system associated with the treatment zone 3, is fluidically connected to the washing liquid system and the rinsing liquid system and the corresponding components of the washing and/or rinsing system accommodated in the under table area 7 of the dishwasher 1.
(44) The washing or spray nozzle system is preferably disposed below the treatment zone 3, whereby a lateral arrangement of corresponding washing and/or spray nozzles and/or an arrangement of washing and/or spray nozzles above the treatment zone 3 is in principle conceivable too. In particular at least a portion of the washing and/or spray nozzles is disposed below the treatment zone 3 in a corresponding trough-shaped region, specifically with a spray direction oriented upward into the treatment zone 3.
(45) A bracket 15 is provided in the treatment zone 3 in order to releasably secure and in particular position a washware item 2 placed into the treatment zone 3 with respect to the washing and/or spray nozzles. The bracket 15 is in particular configured to position and/or true a drinking vessel independently and preferably in the middle and in particular centrally in the treatment zone 3.
(46) The bracket 15 should in particular be configured such that a drinking vessel can be brought, preferably manually and in particular with one hand, into operative connection with the bracket 15 via the placement area 4 and can be removed, preferably manually and in particular with one hand, from the bracket 15 via the removal area 5.
(47) In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the bracket 15 comprises two oppositely disposed, in particular spring-loaded holding elements 25, between which a holding region for the drinking vessel is formed. The bracket 15 is configured such that a drinking vessel can be introduced, in particular placed, manually into the holding region via the placement area 4, preferably in a horizontal movement, and can be removed preferably manually from the holding region via the removal area 5.
(48) Per
(49) The drawings also do not show that a cleaning system having at least one cleaning nozzle and configured to preferably automatically clean the placement area 4 is associated with the placement area 4 of the dishwasher 1.
(50) It can be seen from the drawings that, in the example embodiment, the dishwasher 1 comprises a body 11 having an upper horizontal plane which defines the counter level 12 or is positioned below the actual counter level 12. The under table area 7 of the dishwasher 1 is formed by the body 11, whereby, in this case, the body 11 comprises height-adjustable feet 13, with which the body 11 is supported.
(51) The body region is equipped with removable wall elements or a door 19, for example to allow access to the technology accommodated in the under table area 7 of the dishwasher 1 for maintenance reasons.
(52) Due to the compactness of the dishwasher 1, the placement opening of the placement area 4 can be correspondingly small. If the dishwasher 1 is used to clean drinking vessels, in particular reusable drinking vessels such as coffee cups, as in the example embodiment shown in the drawings, the placement opening of the placement area 4 can be slightly higher than the drinking vessel to be treated.
(53) Although not shown in the drawings, the placement opening of the placement area 4 of the dishwasher 1 can be associated with a guide slot corresponding to the drinking vessel to be cleaned in order to provide an orientation of the drinking vessel when the drinking vessel is placed into the placement area 4.
(54) Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the bracket 15 in the treatment zone 3 to be configured to only accommodate drinking vessels in a defined orientation.
(55) The dishwasher 1 preferably comprises a control device, which is not explicitly shown in the drawings, to appropriately control the at least one door, in particular the revolving door, as well as the controllable components associated with the treatment zone 3 and the display arrangements 16, 17. The control device is in particular configured to control the controllable components of the treatment zone 3 or the washing and rinsing system of the treatment zone 3 as a function of a presence or absence of a drinking vessel in the placement area 4, in the removal area 5 or in the area of the treatment zone 3.
(56) Due to its design and size, the dishwasher 1 according to the invention is in particular configured to be integrated into the counter concept of a coffee shop, for example, so that a dirty cup can be placed into the machine in an area in front of the counter by the customer, and the clean cup can then be removed from the machine by the personnel behind the counter after the cleaning process has been carried out, to then refill said cup directly in accordance with the customer's order. More specifically, it is in particular provided that the technology for the washing and/or rinsing system is accommodated in the under table area 7 of the dishwasher 1, so that as much space as possible is available in the over table area 6 of the dishwasher 1, so that the entire dishwasher 1 can easily be integrated into the counter concept of a coffee shop, for example.
(57) It is in particular advantageous for the dishwasher 1 to comprise a door, in particular a revolving or Tambour door, to close the access opening to the placement area 4 of the dishwasher 1 as needed. The door can be manually or automatically actuatable. If the door is automatically actuated, the placement area 4 can be associated with a sensor system, which is configured to detect the presence of a washware item in the placement area 4 or in the area of the treatment zone 3, whereby the sensor system actuates a door mechanism to close the door and start a treatment program of the dishwasher 1 when a washware item is detected.
(58) In the same way, it is advantageous if the removal area 5 is likewise associated with a corresponding door. The door should in particular be retractable in vertical direction into the body 11 of the dishwasher 1 when in the open position. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the door to be retractable in horizontal direction into the side wall region of the housing for the treatment zone 3.
(59) The over table area of a further example embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention is described in more detail in the following with reference to the illustrations in
(60) The over table area of this example embodiment is characterized by the fact that the placement surface 20 in the treatment zone 3 is inclined relative to the horizontal in the direction the removal area 5. Of course, it is also conceivable that the placement surface 20 is implemented to be inclined in the direction of the placement area 4 or in a different direction relative to the horizontal.
(61) It can also be seen in the drawings that the placement surface 20 is formed by a strut structure, in particular a lattice-like strut structure.
(62) The sectional views according to
(63) A corresponding motor 21 for actuating the revolving door 18 is accommodated in the upper region of the housing. The first and second display arrangement 16, 17 are disposed in the upper region of the housing 14 for the treatment zone 3 as well.
(64) In the example embodiment of the over table area 6 of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention shown in
(65) In the example embodiment of the over table area 6 of the dishwasher 1 shown in
(66) It should be noted here that the over table area is preferably releasably connectable to the body of the under table area 7 of the dishwasher 1 not shown in
(67) As a further development, it is further conceivable that an under table area 7 is used to serve two or a plurality of over table areas 6.
(68) The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but results when all of the features disclosed herein are considered together.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
(69) 1 Dishwasher 2 Washware item 3 Treatment zone 4 Placement area 5 Removal area 6 Over table area 7 Under table area 8 Washing and/or rinsing pump 9 Wash tank 10 Rinsing liquid tank 11 Body 12 Counter level 13 Height-adjustable feet 14 Housing for the treatment zone 15 Bracket 16 First display arrangement 17 Second display arrangement 18 Door/revolving door 19 Door of the body 20 Placement surface 21 Motor 22 Washing and/or spray nozzle