CLEANING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLEANING ITEMS TO BE CLEANED

Abstract

A cleaning system (110) and a method for cleaning items to be cleaned (112) are proposed. The cleaning system (110) comprises: a) at least one cleaning apparatus (114), having at least one at least partially closed cleaning chamber (116) with at least one loading apparatus (118) for loading the items to be cleaned (112) with at least one cleaning liquid; and b) at least one transport system (144) for the automatic transport of the items to be cleaned (112), the transport system (144) comprising: a. at least one first conveying apparatus (146) for the inward transport of dirty items to be cleaned (112); b. at least one second conveying apparatus (148) for the transport of the dirty items to be cleaned (112) to the cleaning apparatus (114); c. at least one transfer apparatus (150) for the transfer of at least one part of the dirty items to be cleaned (112) from the first conveying apparatus (146) onto the second conveying apparatus (148); and d. at least one buffer store (152) for the buffer storage of at least one part of the dirty items to be cleaned (112),
the transfer apparatus (150) being set up to selectively transfer the dirty items to be cleaned (112) from the first conveying apparatus (146) directly onto the second conveying apparatus (148), or to buffer store them in the buffer store (152) and to subsequently transfer them onto the second conveying apparatus (148).

Claims

1. A cleaning system for cleaning items to be cleaned, comprising a) at least one cleaning apparatus, having at least one at least partially closed cleaning chamber with at least one loading apparatus for loading the items to be cleaned with at least one cleaning liquid; and b) at least one transport system for the automatic transport of the items to be cleaned, the transport system comprising: a. at least one first conveying apparatus for the inward transport of dirty items to be cleaned; b. at least one second conveying apparatus for the transport of the dirty items to be cleaned to the cleaning apparatus; c. at least one transfer apparatus for the transfer of at least one part of the dirty items to be cleaned from the first conveying apparatus onto the second conveying apparatus; and d. at least one buffer store for the buffer storage of at least one part of the dirty items to be cleaned, the transport system being set up to selectively transfer the dirty items to be cleaned from the first conveying apparatus directly onto the second conveying apparatus, or to buffer store them in the buffer store and to subsequently transfer them onto the second conveying apparatus.

2. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, the transfer apparatus comprising at least one receiving element for receiving items to be cleaned.

3. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 2, the receiving element having at least one element, selected from the group consisting of: a gripper; a sucker; a magnet.

4. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 2, the transfer apparatus having at least one positioning apparatus for positioning the receiving element.

5. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, the cleaning apparatus comprising at least one dishwasher, the buffer store comprising at least one tray buffer store, the tray buffer store being configured to receive a plurality of food trays.

6. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, the first conveying apparatus and the second conveying apparatus running offset in parallel with respect to one another at least in a transfer region, the transfer apparatus being arranged at least partially in the transfer region and being set up to transfer the items to be cleaned perpendicularly with respect to a conveying direction of the first conveying apparatus and perpendicularly with respect to a conveying direction of the second conveying apparatus from the first conveying apparatus to the second conveying apparatus.

7. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, the cleaning chamber being configured at least partially as a cleaning tunnel, the cleaning apparatus having at least two cleaning zones in the cleaning tunnel, the transport system being set up to transport the items to be cleaned sequentially through the cleaning zones.

8. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, the cleaning apparatus having at least one third conveying apparatus, the third conveying apparatus being set up to transport items to be cleaned through the cleaning chamber.

9. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, the cleaning system comprising, furthermore, a controller, the controller being set up in terms of program technology to control operation of the cleaning system.

10. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 9, comprising, furthermore, at least one sensor for the detection of items to be cleaned, the controller being set up in terms of program technology to detect various degrees of utilization of the cleaning system on the basis of signals of the sensor, and to use the buffer store differently in accordance with the degrees of utilization.

11. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 10, the controller being set up to collect at least one part of the items to be cleaned automatically in the buffer store in the case of a high utilization, and to subsequently transfer them in a collected manner onto the second conveying apparatus.

12. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 10, the sensor being set up to distinguish between different types of items to be cleaned, the controller being set up to store at least one certain type of items to be cleaned in the buffer store.

13. A method for cleaning items to be cleaned, with the following method steps: I. providing of at least one cleaning system as claimed in claim 1; II. inward transport of dirty items to be cleaned by means of the first conveying apparatus; III. transfer of at least one part of the dirty items to be cleaned, the transfer taking place either directly from the first conveying apparatus onto the second conveying apparatus, or from the first conveying apparatus onto the second conveying apparatus after buffer storage in the buffer store.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, a distinction being made between at least two types of dirty items to be cleaned, at least one first type of dirty items to be cleaned being transferred directly from the first conveying apparatus onto the second conveying apparatus, and at least one second type of dirty items to be cleaned being transferred from the first conveying apparatus onto the second conveying apparatus after buffer storage in the buffer store.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, the transfer taking place in such a way that, during phases with a high quantity of dirty items to be cleaned, at least one part of the dirty items to be cleaned is stored in the buffer store and is subsequently transferred in a collected manner onto the second conveying apparatus, operation of the cleaning apparatus being synchronized with the collected transfer of the dirty items to be cleaned.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0110] Further details and features result from the following description of exemplary embodiments, in particular in conjunction with the subclaims. Here, the respective features can be implemented per se on their own or combined severally with one another. The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments are shown diagrammatically in the figures. Here, identical designations in the individual figures denote identical or functionally identical elements or elements which correspond to one another with respect to their functions.

[0111] In the drawing, in detail:

[0112] FIG. 1 shows one exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system in a perspective view;

[0113] FIG. 2 shows a detail from one exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system in a front view;

[0114] FIG. 3 shows a detail from one exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system in a plan view; and

[0115] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of one exemplary embodiment of a method for cleaning items to be cleaned.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0116] FIG. 1 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system 110 in a perspective view. The cleaning system 110 is set up, in particular, to clean items to be cleaned 112, and comprises at least one cleaning apparatus 114. Here, the cleaning apparatus 114 comprises at least one at least partially closed cleaning chamber 116 with at least one loading apparatus 118 for loading the items to be cleaned 110 with at least one cleaning liquid. Here, the cleaning chamber 116 of the cleaning apparatus 114 can be configured, for example, as a cleaning tunnel, as is illustrated in FIG. 1. Here, the cleaning tunnel can have, for example, a plurality of cleaning zones. For example, the items to be cleaned 112 can first of all be cleaned roughly in a pre-clearing zone 120. For example, a pre-clearing nozzle system 122 which can be part of the loading apparatus 118 can be situated within the pre-clearing zone 120. The pre-clearing zone 122 can be adjoined by a washing zone 124, within which, for example, at least one main cleaning nozzle system 126 can be situated which can likewise be part of the loading apparatus 118. The pre-clearing zone can be adjoined, for example, by a rinsing zone 128 which, for example, can be divided into a pump rinsing zone and a freshwater rinsing zone. A rinsing nozzle system 130, for example a pump rinsing nozzle system and/or a freshwater rinsing nozzle system, can be situated within the rinsing zone 128, for example. The nozzle systems 122, 126 and 130 can be loaded with cleaning fluid, for example, via pumps (not shown in FIG. 1) from corresponding tanks 132 to 136. The cleaning zones 120, 124 and 128 can be separated among one another and/or toward the outside in each case by way of curtains 138. The cleaning zones 120, 124 and 128 can be adjoined, for example, by at least one drying zone 140. In the latter, the items to be cleaned 112 can be loaded with air, preferably with heated air, in particular by means of a fan 142, for example in order to dry the items to be cleaned 112.

[0117] In addition, the cleaning system 110 has a transport system 144 for the automatic transport of the items to be cleaned 112. The transport system 144 comprises at least one first conveying apparatus 146 for the inward transport of dirty items to be cleaned 112. Furthermore, the transport system 144 comprises at least one second conveying apparatus 148 for the transport of the dirty items to be cleaned 112 to the cleaning apparatus 114. Furthermore, the transport system 144 comprises at least one transfer apparatus 150 for the transfer of at least one part of the dirty items to be cleaned 112 from the first conveying apparatus 146 onto the second conveying apparatus 148. In addition, the transport system 144 comprises at least one buffer store 152 for the buffer storage of at least one part of the dirty items to be cleaned 112. In particular, the transport system 144 is set up to selectively transfer the dirty items to be cleaned 112 from the first conveying apparatus 146 directly onto the second conveying apparatus 148, or to buffer store them in the buffer store 152 and to subsequently transfer them onto the second conveying apparatus 148. For example, the second conveying apparatus 148 can be set up to transport the dirty items to be cleaned 112 to the cleaning apparatus 114, for example to an inlet region 154 of the cleaning apparatus 114. In particular, the cleaning apparatus 114 can optionally comprise at least one third conveying apparatus 156 which is set up to transport the items to be cleaned 112 through the cleaning chamber 116. The cleaning system 110 can be set up to transfer the items to be cleaned 112 from the second conveying apparatus 148 onto the third conveying apparatus 156, for example by the second conveying apparatus 148 adjoining the third conveying apparatus 156, with the result that the items to be cleaned 112 are transferred directly or else indirectly from the second conveying apparatus 148 onto the third conveying apparatus 156, as illustrated in FIG. 1, for example. In particular, a conveying direction of the respective conveying apparatuses 146, 148 and 156 can be illustrated in the figures by way of arrows.

[0118] Furthermore, the cleaning system 110 can have a controller 158. The controller 158 can be set up in terms of program technology, in particular, to control operation of the cleaning system 110. For example, furthermore, the cleaning system 110 can comprise at least one sensor 160 for the detection of items to be cleaned 112. For example, the controller 158 can be set up in terms of program technology to detect various degrees of utilization of the cleaning system 110 on the basis of signals of the sensor 160, and to utilize the buffer store 152 differently in accordance with the degrees of utilization. In particular, the controller 158 can be set up, for example, to automatically collect at least one part of the items to be cleaned 112 in the buffer store 152 in the case of a high utilization, for example in order to subsequently transfer the items to be cleaned 112, in a collected manner, onto the second conveying apparatus 148, in particular when the collected items to be cleaned 112 have reached a predefined quantity. Furthermore, the sensor 160 can be set up to distinguish between different types of items to be cleaned 112. For example, the controller 158 is set up to store at least one certain type of items to be cleaned, for example trays as shown in FIG. 1, in the buffer store 152.

[0119] FIG. 2 shows a detail from one exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system 110. In particular, one exemplary embodiment of the buffer store 152, in particular a tray buffer store 162, is illustrated in a front view, it being possible for the tray buffer store to be configured to receive a plurality of food trays 164. In particular, the tray buffer store 162 can have, for example, a sprung supporting surface 166. For example, the sprung supporting surface 166 can be set up to hold in each case one uppermost food tray 164 in a stack of food trays 164 which is stacked on the supporting surface 166 at a constant height, in particular regardless of the number of food trays 164 in the stack; for example, at the level of the first conveying apparatus 146, with the result that an automatic transfer of the items to be cleaned 112 from the first conveying apparatus 146 into the tray buffer store 162 can take place. For example, the tray buffer store 162 can have a sensor 168 which can be set up, for example, to detect a filling level of the tray buffer store 162. In particular, a swap of the tray buffer store 162 can be initiated by means of the sensor 168, for example by way of the controller 158. As an alternative, it can preferably be initiated with the aid of the controller 158 that, for example, the food trays 164 are transferred onto the second conveying apparatus 148 by means of the transfer apparatus 150, in order to empty the tray buffer store 162 completely or partially in the short term.

[0120] The transfer apparatus 150 can comprise, in particular, at least one receiving element 170 for receiving the items to be cleaned 112. In particular, the receiving element 170 can have, for example, at least one sucker 172 for this purpose. For example, the sucker 172 can receive the items to be cleaned 112, in particular by way of generation of a negative pressure. Furthermore, the transfer apparatus 150 can have at least one positioning apparatus 174 for positioning the receiving element 170. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the positioning apparatus 174 can have a rail system, in order to position the receiving element 170 spatially, for example by way of movement of the receiving element 170 in the directions which are symbolized by way of arrows.

[0121] In particular, a distinction can be made, for example, between at least two types of dirty items to be cleaned. For example, a first type 175 of dirty items to be cleaned 112 can be transferred directly from the first conveying apparatus 146 onto the second conveying apparatus 148. For example, a second type 176 of dirty items to be cleaned 112 can be transferred from the first conveying apparatus 146 onto the second conveying apparatus 148 after buffer storage in the buffer store 152.

[0122] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of one exemplary embodiment of a method for cleaning items to be cleaned 112. The method comprises the following method steps: [0123] I. (labeled by way of designation 178) providing of at least one cleaning system 110 as proposed in the present case, for example in accordance with one or more of the embodiments which are described in greater detail above or below; [0124] II. (labeled by way of designation 180) inward transport of dirty items to be cleaned 112 by means of the first conveying apparatus 146; [0125] III. (labeled by way of designation 182) transfer of at least one part of the dirty items to be cleaned 112, in particular by means of the transfer apparatus 150, the transfer taking place either directly from the first conveying apparatus 146 onto the second conveying apparatus 148, or from the first conveying apparatus 146 onto the second conveying apparatus 148 after buffer storage in the buffer store 152.

[0126] For example, the transfer, in particular in method step III., can take place in such a way that, during phases with a high quantity of dirty items to be cleaned 112, at least one part of the dirty items to be cleaned 112, for example in a manner which is sorted according to the type, for example separated in each case according to a first type 175 and a second type 176, is stored in the buffer store 152. Thus, for example, in phases, in which the quantity of dirty items to be cleaned 112 lies above a threshold value for a frequency of an inward transport of dirty items to be cleaned 112, for example in a manner which is dependent on a cleaning line of the cleaning apparatus 114, at least one part of the dirty items to be cleaned 112 can be buffer stored. Subsequently, for example, a transfer of the collected dirty items to be cleaned 112 onto the second conveying apparatus 148 can take place. For example, operation of the cleaning apparatus can be synchronized with the collected transfer of the dirty items to be cleaned 112.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0127] 110 Cleaning system [0128] 112 Items to be cleaned [0129] 114 Cleaning apparatus [0130] 116 Cleaning chamber [0131] 118 Loading apparatus [0132] 120 Pre-clearing zone [0133] 122 Pre-clearing nozzle system [0134] 124 Washing zone [0135] 126 Main cleaning nozzle system [0136] 128 Rinsing zone [0137] 130 Rinsing nozzle system [0138] 132 Tank [0139] 134 Tank [0140] 136 Tank [0141] 138 Curtain [0142] 140 Drying zone [0143] 142 Fan [0144] 144 Transport system [0145] 146 First conveying apparatus [0146] 148 Second conveying apparatus [0147] 150 Transfer apparatus [0148] 152 Buffer store [0149] 154 Inlet region [0150] 156 Third conveying apparatus [0151] 158 Controller [0152] 160 Sensor [0153] 162 Tray buffer store [0154] 164 Food tray [0155] 166 Supporting surface [0156] 168 Sensor [0157] 170 Receiving element [0158] 172 Sucker [0159] 174 Positioning apparatus [0160] 175 First type of dirty items to be cleaned [0161] 176 Second type of dirty items to be cleaned [0162] 178 Step I. providing of at least one cleaning system [0163] 180 Step II. inward transport of dirty items to be cleaned by means of the first conveying apparatus [0164] 182 Step III. transfer of at least one part of the dirty items to be cleaned by means of the transfer apparatus