UNLOADING ARRANGEMENT FOR UNLOADING ITEMS OF WASHWARE WHICH ARE ARRANGED, IN PARTICULAR, ON TRAYS OR TRAY-LIKE OBJECTS

Abstract

An unloading arrangement (10) for unloading items of washware (5a, 5b, 5c) which are arranged, in particular, on trays or tray-like objects (6), in particular items of washware (5a, 5b, 5c) from place settings. The unloading arrangement (10) has a feed conveyor belt (11) for feeding the items of washware. The unloading arrangement (10) also has a large number of unloading stations (12, 13, 14) arranged one behind the other—as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt (11). For successively unloading the feed conveyor belt (11) or for successively unloading the trays or tray-like objects (6), a predefined or predefinable washware group is preferably associated with each unloading station (12, 13, 14) and each unloading station is designed to unload preferably only items of washware of the associated washware group from the washware which is fed by the feed conveyor belt (11).

Claims

1. An unloading arrangement (10) for unloading items of washware (5a, 5b, 5c) which are arranged on trays or tray-like objects (6), wherein the unloading arrangement (10) has the following: a feed conveyor belt (11) for feeding the items of washware (5a, 5b, 5c) which are arranged on trays or tray-like objects (6) and are to be unloaded; and a large number of unloading stations (12, 13, 14) which are arranged one behind the other—as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt (11) wherein, for successively unloading the feed conveyor belt (11) or for successively unloading the trays or tray-like objects (6), a predefined or predefinable washware group is associated with each unloading station (12, 13, 14) and each unloading station (12, 13, 14) is designed to unload only items of washware of the associated washware group from the washware (5a, 5b, 5c) which is fed by means of the feed conveyor belt (11).

2. The unloading arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an actuable magnet is associated with at least one first unloading station (12) for the purpose of removing cutlery or items of cutlery (5a) which are produced from metal, from the feed conveyor belt (11) or the trays or tray-like objects (6) which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt (11), as required.

3. The unloading arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one second unloading station (13) is designed for unloading only items of washware (5b, 5c) of one washware group, which comprises plates, cups, bowls or other items of washware of this kind, from the feed conveyor belt (11) or from the trays or tray-like objects (6) which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt (11).

4. The unloading arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first unloading station (12) is connected downstream of the second unloading station (13)—as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt (11) or wherein the second unloading station (13) is connected downstream of the first unloading station (12)—as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt (11).

5. The unloading arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one unloading station (13) has a first region (13a) which is designed to unload only washware (5c), including cups and bowls, from the feed conveyor belt (11) or from the trays or tray-like objects (6) which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt (11).

6. The unloading arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one unloading station (13) has a second region (13b) which is connected downstream of the first region (13a) of the at least one unloading station (13)—as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt (11) -and is designed to unload only washware (5b), including plates or plate-like objects, from the feed conveyor belt (11) or from the trays or tray-like objects (6) which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt (11).

7. The unloading arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one unloading station (13) has a region (13b) which is designed to unload only washware (5b), including plates or plate-like objects, from the feed conveyor belt (11) or from the trays or tray-like objects (6) which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt (11).

8. The unloading arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one unloading station (13) is designed to successively unload from the trays or tray-like objects (6) which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt (11) washware (5b, 5c) of the washware group which comprises plates, cups and bowls or other items of washware of this kind, depending, on the size and/or the shape.

9. The unloading arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one wiping device (16, 17) is associated with at least one unloading station (13), wherein the at least one wiping device (16, 17) has a guide which is vertically spaced apart with reference to a plane in which the feed conveyor belt (11) runs at least in the region of the at least one unloading station (13) in such a way that, when conveyed through the at least one unloading station (13) by the feed conveyor belt (11), washware (5b, 5c) of the washware group which comprises plates, cups and bowls or other items of washware of this kind, but not trays or tray-like objects (6), hits the guide and is deflected out of the conveying direction which is prespecified by the feed conveyor belt (11), wherein the vertical spacing of the guide from the plane in which the feed conveyor belt (11) runs at least in the region of the at least one unloading station (13) is variably adjustable.

10. The unloading arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first wiping device (16) is associated with at least one unloading station (13), which first wiping device has a guide which is vertically spaced apart with reference to a plane in which the feed conveyor belt (11) runs at least in the region of the at least one unloading station (13) in such a way that, when conveyed through the at least one unloading station (13) by the feed conveyor belt (11), washware (5c) of the washware group which comprises cups and bowls or other items of washware of this kind, but not cutlery (5a), plates and saucers (5b), trays and tray-like objects (6) or other items of washware of this kind, hits the guide and is deflected out of the conveying direction which is prespecified by the feed conveyor belt (11), wherein the vertical spacing of the guide from the plane in which the feed conveyor belt (11) runs at least in the region of the at least one unloading station (13) is variably adjustable.

11. The unloading arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one second wiping device (17) is also associated with the at least one unloading station (13), which second wiping device is connected downstream of the first wiping device (16)—as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt (11)—and has a guide which is vertically spaced apart with reference to a plane in which the feed conveyor belt (11) runs at least in the region of the at least one unloading station (13) in such a way that, when conveyed through the at least one unloading station (13) by the feed conveyor belt (11), washware (5b) of the washware group which comprises plates, saucers or other items of washware of this kind hits the guide and is deflected out of the conveying direction which is prespecified by the feed conveyor belt (11), wherein the vertical spacing of the guide from the plane in which the feed conveyor belt (11) runs at least in the region of the at least one unloading station (13) is variably adjustable.

12. The unloading arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one washware pusher device is associated with at least one unloading station (12, 13, 14), wherein the at least one washware pusher device has a movable manipulator region which can be retracted into a region vertically above the feed conveyor belt (11) as required in order to deflect items of washware (5a, 5b, 5c), in a targeted manner, out of the conveying direction which is prespecified by the feed conveyor belt (11).

13. The unloading arrangement (10) as claimed claim 1, wherein at least one unloading station (13, 14) has a tilting region (18) in which trays or tray-like objects (6) which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt (11) are inclined or can be inclined in relation to the horizontal in such a way that items of washware (5a, 5b, 5c) slide off the trays or tray-like objects (6) due to the force of gravity.

14. The unloading arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a loading arrangement is associated with at least one unloading station (12, 13, 14) for the purpose of automatically sorting the items of washware which are unloaded from the feed conveyor belt (11) by the at least one unloading station (12, 13, 14) into a predefined or predefinable conveyor belt (2, 3, 4) of a conveyor dishwasher (1).

15. A belt conveyor dishwasher (1), wherein the conveyor dishwasher (1) has at least one conveyor belt (12, 13, 14) for conveying washware (5a, 5b, 5c, 6) through treatment zones of the conveyor dishwasher (1), and wherein the conveyor dishwasher (1) has an inflow or loading region in which the washware (5a, 5b, 5c, 6) which is to be treated in the treatment zones of the conveyor dishwasher (1) can be sorted into the at least one conveyor belt, wherein an unloading arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 1 is provided in the inflow or loading region, wherein at least one unloading station (12, 13, 14) of the unloading arrangement (10) is designed to automatically sort the items of washware (5a, 5b, 5c, 6) which are removed from the feed conveyor belt (11) of the unloading arrangement (10) in the at least one unloading station (12, 13, 14) into the at least one conveyor belt (12, 13, 14) of the conveyor dishwasher (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] In the following text, exemplary embodiments of the solution according to the invention are described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0050] In the drawings:

[0051] FIG. 1 schematically shows a plan view of one exemplary embodiment of the unloading arrangement according to the invention;

[0052] FIG. 2 schematically shows a plan view of one exemplary embodiment of an unloading station of the unloading arrangement according to FIG. 1;

[0053] FIG. 3 schematically shows a side view of the exemplary embodiment of the unloading station according to FIG. 2;

[0054] FIG. 4 schematically shows a plan view of a further exemplary embodiment of the unloading arrangement according to the invention; and

[0055] FIG. 5 schematically shows a side view of an unloading station of the unloading arrangement according to FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] The aim of the present invention is to reduce the number of manual handling steps as far as possible during operation of a conveyor dishwasher 1, in order to reduce the workload of the washing staff and ultimately make it possible to exploit the maximum capacity of the conveyor dishwasher 1.

[0057] For this purpose, an unloading arrangement 10 for unloading items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c which are arranged on trays or tray-like objects 6, in particular items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c from a place setting, is proposed. The unloading arrangement 10 is arranged preferably in the loading region of the conveyor dishwasher 1 and serves to make it possible to sort in particular plates and bowls 5b, 5c, or items of washware of this kind, automatically into a main conveyor belt 2 of the conveyor dishwasher 1. In this way, manual work steps and thus the amount of work for the washing staff is reduced, since the washing staff does not always have to manually load the conveyor dishwasher 1.

[0058] Furthermore, the solution according to the invention ensures operation of the conveyor dishwasher 1 that is as ergonomic and user-friendly as possible, since manual loading of the items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c, 6 into the conveyor dishwasher 1 is no longer necessary.

[0059] In particular, however the cleaning result of the conveyor dishwasher 1 is also improved, since it is possible to orient all of the washware 5a, 5b, 5c, 6 in a uniform manner for example on a main conveyor belt 2 of the conveyor dishwasher 1. In this way, spray shadows during the wetting of the items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c, 6 with liquid in the treatment zones of the conveyor dishwasher 1 can be effectively avoided or reduced.

[0060] Ultimately, with the solution according to the invention, it is also possible for the unloading process of the conveyor dishwasher 1 to be simplified, since it is possible for each kind of washware to be conveyed through the conveyor dishwasher 1 on a defined track or on a defined conveyor belt 2, 3, 4, and thus to arrive at the unloading region of the conveyor dishwasher 1 in an already presorted manner.

[0061] As is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1, the unloading arrangement 10 is provided preferably in a loading region of the conveyor dishwasher 1, which is shown only partially.

[0062] The conveyor dishwasher 1 has a conveyor apparatus (main conveyor belt 2, cutlery conveyor belt 3, tray conveyor belt 4) for transporting washware 5a, 5b, 5c, 6 in a conveying direction through the conveyor dishwasher 1. The conveyor apparatus is designed in particular to allow a plurality of washware types arranged alongside one another to be treated simultaneously in the treatment zones of the conveyor dishwasher 1, in order in this way to make the entire washing and rinsing process more efficient, with the result that in particular working time of the washing staff can be shortened and the resource consumption of the dishwasher reduced.

[0063] The conveyor dishwasher 1 considered herein has at least one washing zone, for example a pre-washing zone and a main washing zone, which is arranged after the pre-washing zone as seen in the conveying direction of the washware. As seen in the conveying direction, after the at least one washing zone preferably a post-washing zone is provided, and after the post-washing zone at least one final rinsing zone, for example a fresh water final rinsing zone and/or a pump final rinsing zone, is provided. As seen in the conveying direction of the washware, a drying zone follows the at least one final rinsing zone.

[0064] The respective zones of the conveyor dishwasher 1 can be separated from one another via separating curtains. It is also conceivable for the inflow tunnel of the conveyor dishwasher 1, which is provided after the loading region of the conveyor dishwasher 1 as seen in the conveying direction, to be separated from the inlet of the conveyor dishwasher 1 via a separating curtain. As a result of the provision of separating curtains, overspraying of washing liquid and final rinse liquid and the escape of vapors from the conveyor dishwasher 1 can be prevented.

[0065] The treatment zones of the conveyor dishwasher 1 have associated spray nozzles. These spray nozzles serve to spray liquid onto the washware 5a, 5b, 5c, 6 to be treated when the latter is conveyed through the respective treatment zones by the conveyor apparatus. The individual spray systems of the treatment zone ensure that the washware 5a, 5b, 5c, 6 to be treated is spray-washed from the top side and from the underside.

[0066] Provided in the loading region of the conveyor dishwasher 1 in the embodiment illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 is an unloading arrangement 10 for unloading items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c, which are fed to the loading region of the conveyor dishwasher 1 on a feed conveyor belt 11, and provided for loading the conveyor dishwasher 1 with these items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c.

[0067] The unloading arrangement 10 is also designed to sort the washware 5a, 5b, 5c, 6 which is fed to the loading region of the conveyor dishwasher 1 by means of the feed conveyor belt 11 into predefined or predefinable washware groups.

[0068] Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the unloading arrangement 10 is designed to sort the washware 5a, 5b, 5c, 6 which is fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11 into the following washware groups: [0069] a first washware group, which comprises cutlery and/or items of cutlery 5a which are produced from a metal, in particular stainless steel; [0070] a second washware group, which comprises trays and tray-like objects 6; [0071] a third washware group, which comprises cups, bowls 5c or items of washware of this kind; and [0072] a fourth washware group, which comprises plates, saucers 5b or items of washware of this kind.

[0073] The expression “cups, bowls 5c or items of washware of this kind” used herein should be understood as meaning generally items of washware which, in their state standing on a surface, have a height that corresponds at least substantially at least to the height that a cup or a bowl has. According to exemplary embodiments, these are items of washware which have a height of at least 20 mm, preferably at least 25 mm and more preferably at least 30 mm.

[0074] Alternatively or in addition, the expression “cups, bowls 5c or items of washware of this kind” should be understood as meaning generally items of washware which have a height that is greater than the height of a standard plate (flat).

[0075] By contrast, the expression “plates, saucers 5b or items of washware of this kind” used herein should be understood as meaning generally items of washware which, in their state standing on a surface, have a height that is less than the height that a cup or a bowl has. According to exemplary embodiments, these are items of washware which have a height of less than 20 mm and preferably less than 15 mm.

[0076] However, the expression “plates, saucers 5b or items of washware of this kind” used herein is not intended to cover trays or tray-like objects 6 or items of cutlery 5a.

[0077] The unloading arrangement 10 according to the invention, one exemplary embodiment of which is shown schematically in plan view for example in FIG. 1, has preferably a plurality of unloading stations 12, 13, 14, wherein a loading arrangement is associated with each of these in order to automatically load the conveyor dishwasher 1 and specifically appropriate tracks or regions of the conveyor belt (for example main conveyor belt 2, cutlery conveyor belt 3, tray conveyor belt 4) of the conveyor dishwasher 1 with washware 5a, 5b, 5c, 6 of one of the predefined or predefinable washware groups.

[0078] For example, in the solution schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, a first loading arrangement can be provided, which is designed to automatically load the conveyor dishwasher 1 and specifically a cutlery track 3 running parallel to a main conveyor belt 2 of the conveyor dishwasher 1 with washware of the first washware group (i.e. with cutlery and/or items of cutlery 5a which are produced from metal, in particular stainless steel).

[0079] Furthermore a second loading arrangement can be used, which is designed to automatically load the conveyor dishwasher 1 and specifically a tray track 4 running parallel to the main conveyor belt 2 of the conveyor dishwasher 1 with washware of the second washware group (i.e. with trays and tray-like objects 6).

[0080] In addition, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a third loading arrangement can be used, which is designed to automatically load the conveyor dishwasher 1 and specifically the main conveyor belt 2 of the conveyor dishwasher 1 with washware of the third and/or fourth washware group (i.e. with cups, bowls 5c and/or plates 5b).

[0081] In this case, it is possible for example for the third loading arrangement to be arranged upstream of the first and second loading arrangement—as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt 11. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it is possible for the first loading arrangement to be arranged upstream of the second loading arrangement.

[0082] The unloading arrangement 10 has the abovementioned feed conveyor belt 11, in order to feed the items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c, 6 to be cleaned to the loading region of the conveyor dishwasher 1. Preferably, the feed conveyor belt 11 is designed to feed items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c which are arranged on trays or tray-like objects 6 to the loading region of the conveyor dishwasher 1. In this way, corresponding place settings can be conveyed continuously into the loading region of the conveyor dishwasher 1.

[0083] However, the items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c (items of tableware and items of cutlery) can also be placed directly on the feed conveyor belt 11.

[0084] As schematically indicated in FIG. 1, the unloading arrangement 10 includes a large number of unloading stations 12, 13, 14 which are arranged one behind the other—as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt 11. In this connection, it is advantageous for each unloading station 12, 13, 14 of the unloading arrangement 10 to also be designed as a corresponding loading station. In other words, the respective unloading stations 12, 13, 14 of the unloading arrangement 10 preferably serve not only to successively unload the trays or tray-like objects 6 which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11 but also to sort the items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c unloaded from the trays or tray-like objects 6 preferably automatically into a corresponding conveyor belt 2, 3 of the conveyor dishwasher 1.

[0085] Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment of the unloading arrangement 10 according to the invention that is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, the individual unloading stations 12, 13, 14 are designed to unload preferably only items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c of a particular washware group which is associated with the corresponding unloading station 12, 13, 14 from the trays or tray-like objects 6 which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11, such that the unloading of the trays or tray-like objects 6 takes place in a manner “sorted by type”.

[0086] The expression “sorted by type” used herein should be understood as meaning in particular unloading of the trays or tray-like objects 6 which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11, wherein for each unloading station 12, 13, washware 5a, 5b, 5c of a particular washware group is removed from the trays or tray-like objects 6.

[0087] In the unloading arrangement 10 shown in the schematic FIG. 1, use is made of a first unloading station 13, 13a, which is designed to remove, in an automated manner, items of washware of a washware group which includes bowls or items of washware 5c of this kind from the tray 6 which is fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11 and to sort it automatically into the main conveyor belt 2 of the conveyor dishwasher 1.

[0088] Subsequently, the trays 6 are conveyed to a second unloading station 13, 13b with the aid of the feed conveyor belt 11. The second unloading station 13, 13b is designed to remove items of washware of the washware group which includes in particular plates or plate-like items of washware 5b from the tray 6 which is fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11 and preferably likewise to load them automatically into the main conveyor belt 2 of the conveyor dishwasher 1.

[0089] Subsequently, the partially unloaded trays or tray-like objects 6 are fed to a third unloading station 12, in which items of cutlery 5a that may be present on the trays 6 are unloaded from the trays 6. In this connection, it is conceivable for example for the third unloading station 12 to have an actuable magnet, in order to remove items of cutlery 5a which are produced from metal, in particular stainless steel, from trays or tray-like objects 6 which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11, as required.

[0090] The third unloading station 12 is furthermore designed to sort the items of cutlery 5a removed from the trays or tray-like objects 6 preferably automatically into a cutlery belt 3 of the conveyor dishwasher 1 or to deposit them on a corresponding cutlery belt 3 of the conveyor dishwasher 1.

[0091] In the exemplary embodiment of the unloading arrangement 10 according to the invention which is shown in FIG. 1, use is also made of a fourth unloading station 14, which is connected downstream of the third unloading station 12—as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt 11. In this fourth unloading station 14, waste that may be present on the trays 6, for example serviettes, is removed preferably automatically. Subsequently, the trays or tray-like objects 6 are sorted preferably automatically into a corresponding tray track 4 of the conveyor dishwasher 1.

[0092] FIG. 2 schematically shows a plan view of a further exemplary embodiment of the unloading arrangement 10 according to the invention. In this embodiment, use is made of an unloading station 13 which is designed to unload preferably only washware of one washware group, which comprises plates 5b, cups and bowls 5c or other items of washware of this kind, from the trays or tray-like objects 6 which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11, and to sort these unloaded items of washware 5b, 5c preferably automatically into a corresponding conveyor belt, in particular into a main conveyor belt 2, of the conveyor dishwasher 1. This unloading station 13 is, in the embodiment illustrated schematically in FIG. 2, the first unloading station of the unloading arrangement 10—as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt 11. This order should not be considered to be limiting, however.

[0093] In an embodiment of the unloading arrangement 10 that is not shown in the drawings, a second unloading station 12 is associated with the first unloading station 13—as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt 11—, with which the washware group that comprises plates 5b, cups and bowls 5c or other items of washware of this kind is associated, which second unloading station 12 is designed to remove items of cutlery 5a which are produced from metal, in particular stainless steel, from the trays or tray-like objects 6 which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11 (and to sort the removed items of cutlery 5a preferably automatically in particular in a cutlery belt 3 (cutlery track) of the conveyor dishwasher 1).

[0094] This second unloading station 12 can have for example in turn an actuable magnet.

[0095] Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable for the tray 6 which is fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11, or the tray-like object 6 which is fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11, to be inclined, in the second unloading station 12, appropriately in the direction of a conveyor belt of the conveyor dishwasher 1 and in particular in the direction of a cutlery belt 3 (cutlery track) of the conveyor dishwasher 1, in such a way that the items of cutlery 5a which are present on the tray or the tray-like object 6 slide onto the conveyor belt (the cutlery track 3) of the conveyor dishwasher 1 due to the force of gravity.

[0096] As seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt 11, downstream of the second unloading station 12, with which the washware group “items of cutlery 5a” is associated, an unloading station 14 is optionally arranged, in which waste is removed preferably automatically from the trays or tray-like objects 6 which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11. Subsequently, the unloaded, i.e. cleared, trays or tray-like objects 6 can then be sorted, likewise preferably automatically, into a corresponding tray track 4 of the conveyor dishwasher 1.

[0097] FIG. 2 schematically shows a plan view of one exemplary embodiment of an unloading station 13 of the unloading arrangement 10 according to the invention. This unloading station 13 is configured to successively unload first cups and bowls 5c and then plates 5b, or items of washware of correspondingly flat design, from the feed conveyor belt 11.

[0098] To this end, the unloading station 13 according to FIG. 2 has a first region 13a and a further, second region 13b which is arranged downstream of the first region 13a—as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt 11. The first region 13a of the unloading station 13 is in this case designed to unload preferably only washware which includes cups and bowls 5c from the trays or tray-like objects 6 which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11. The second region 13b of the unloading station 13, by contrast, is designed to unload preferably only washware which includes plates 5b or plate-like objects from the already partially unloaded trays or tray-like objects 6 which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11.

[0099] In particular—as is described in more detail below with reference to the illustration in FIG. 3—the unloading station 13 is designed to successively unload from the trays or tray-like objects 6 which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11 washware of the washware group which comprises in particular plates 5b, cups and bowls 5c or other items of washware of this kind, depending in particular on the size and/or shape.

[0100] According to one embodiment of the unloading station 13, the latter has at least one wiping device 16, 17, wherein this at least one wiping device 16, 17 has a guide which is vertically spaced apart with reference to a plane in which the feed conveyor belt 11 runs at least in the region of the unloading station 13 in such a way that, when conveyed through the unloading station 13 by the feed conveyor belt 11, washware of the washware group which comprises plates 5b, cups and bowls 5c or other items of washware of this kind, but not trays or tray-like objects 6 and/or items of cutlery 5a, hits the guide and is deflected out of the conveying direction which is prespecified by the feed conveyor belt 11.

[0101] In the embodiment illustrated schematically in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a first wiping device 16 is associated with a first region 13a of the unloading station 13, which first wiping device has a guide which is vertically spaced apart with reference to a plane in which the feed conveyor belt 11 runs at least in the first region 13a of the unloading station 13 in such a way that, when conveyed through the first region 13a of the unloading station 13 by the feed conveyor belt 11, washware of the washware group which comprises cups and bowls 5c or other items of washware of this kind, but not plates and saucers 5b, trays and tray-like objects 6, items of cutlery 5a or other items of washware of this kind, hits the guide and is deflected out of the conveying direction which is prespecified by the feed conveyor belt 11.

[0102] The unloading station 13 according to the exemplary embodiment schematically shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 furthermore has, in a second region 13b of the unloading station 13, at least one second wiping device 17, which is connected downstream of the first wiping device 16 and likewise has a corresponding guide.

[0103] The guide of the second wiping device 17 is vertically spaced apart with reference to a plane in which the feed conveyor belt 11 runs at least in the second region 13b of the unloading station 13 in such a way that, when conveyed through the second region 13b of the unloading station 13 by the feed conveyor belt 11, washware of the washware group which comprises plates and saucers 5b or other items of washware of this kind 5a, 5b, 5c, 6, but not trays and tray-like objects 6, (possibly) items of cutlery 5a, or other items of washware of this kind, hits the guide and is deflected out of the conveying direction which is prespecified by the feed conveyor belt 11.

[0104] The vertical spacing of the guides of the wiping devices 16, 17 with respect to the plane in which the feed conveyor belt runs is preferably settable in a variable manner, in order for it to be possible to react to different sizes (heights) of the items of washware to be unloaded.

[0105] Alternatively or in addition to the wiping device(s) 16, 17 which are used in the unloading station 13, it is also conceivable, however, for at least one washware pusher device to be associated with the unloading station 13, wherein this at least one washware pusher device has a movable manipulator region (for example a robot arm or the like) which can be retracted into a region vertically above the feed conveyor belt 11 as required in order to deflect items of washware 5b, 5c, preferably in a targeted manner, out of the conveying direction which is prespecified by the feed conveyor belt 11 and thus to unload the items of washware 5b, 5c from the tray or tray-like object 6.

[0106] In the further exemplary embodiment of the unloading arrangement 10 that is shown schematically in FIG. 4, a tilting region 18 is used for unloading the trays or tray-like objects 6 which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11. This tilting region 18 is—as indicated schematically in FIG. 5.—designed such that the trays or tray-like objects 6 which are fed by means of the feed conveyor belt 11 are raised laterally such that the items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c that may still be present on the tray or tray-like object 6 slide off the tray or tray-like object 6 due to the force of gravity and are unloaded in this way.

[0107] In summary, in embodiments of the unloading arrangement 10 according to the invention, the unloading of bowls 5c and plates 5b takes place with the aid of one or more wiping devices 16, 17. Here, use is made of the knowledge that bowls 5c generally have a greater height than plates 5b.

[0108] For this reason, first of all the bowls 5c or items of washware of this kind can be unloaded from the trays or tray-like objects 6 which are fed to the corresponding unloading station 13 by means of the feed conveyor belt 11 by means of a first wiping device 16. The wiping device 16 is set up so as to push the bowls 5c or items of washware of this kind from the tray or tray-like object 6.

[0109] After the bowl 5c or the corresponding item of washware has been pushed from the tray or tray-like object 6, this item of washware 5c can be sorted directly into a conveyor belt of the conveyor dishwasher 1. Alternatively, it is also possible for an additional loading apparatus to support the sorting operation for these items of washware 5c.

[0110] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the wiping device 16 for bowls 5c or similar washware is attached at such a height that plates 5b or other items of washware 5a, 6 can pass the wiping device 16. In the next step, the already partially unloaded tray 6 with the plates 5b still arranged on the tray 6 passes through a second wiping device 17. The wiping device 17 in the second wiping region is attached at the height of the plate 5b and likewise set up.

[0111] The advantage of using two or more wiping devices 16, 17 resides in the automatic separation of plates 5b and bowls 5c. Thus, plates 5b and bowls 5c can be sorted in a targeted manner into a respective conveying track (conveyor belt) of the conveyor dishwasher 1.

[0112] An alternative to unloading by means of wiping devices 16, 17 is unloading by tilting the tray or tray-like object 6. In this case, the tray or tray-like object 6 is raised laterally such that the items of washware, for example plates and bowls 5b, 5c, which are still arranged on the tray or tray-like object 6 can slide off the tray or tray-like object 6.

[0113] Before the tray or tray-like object 6 is tilted, first of all the cutlery (items of cutlery 5a) should be removed from the tray or tray-like object 6 by a clocking-in apparatus in the form of a cutlery lifting magnet, and be automatically sorted into the cutlery track 3 of the conveyor dishwasher 1. This takes place preferably in an unloading station 12, which is provided upstream of the tilting region 18—as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt 11.

[0114] In the next step, the raising or tilting of the tray or tray-like object 6 takes place in the tilting region 18 of the corresponding unloading station 13.

[0115] The (lateral) raising of the tray 6 can take place either actively by means of external application of force or passively by means of an inclined plane integrated in the feed conveyor belt 11.

[0116] It should be noted here that—if, apart from the cutlery unloading station 12, no further unloading stations are provided, all the items of washware that are still located on the tray or tray-like object 6, i.e. in particular plates and bowls 5b, 5c, slide down off the tray 6 in a disorderly fashion in the tilting region 18. For this reason, after the unloading of the washware, presorting is necessary. This has the object of sorting plates and bowls 5b, 5c into the appropriate conveying track of the conveyor dishwasher 1.

[0117] Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable to provide, upstream of the tilting region 18, as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt 11, at least one wiping device 16, 17 by means of which for example bowls 5c or washware of this kind are unloaded from the trays or tray-like objects 6, wherein only the items of washware that then remain, for example plates 5b or plate-like objects, slide down off the tray 6 due to the force of gravity in the tilting region 18.

[0118] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, but rather is the result of joint consideration of all of the features disclosed herein.

[0119] In particular, the invention is not limited to unloading items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c from trays or tray-like objects 6. Rather, these items of washware 5a, 5b, 5c can also be unloaded directly from the feed conveyor belt 11.