DISHWASHER FOR CLEANING ITEMS OF WASHWARE IN THE FORM OF DRINKING VESSELS

Abstract

A dishwasher (1) for cleaning drinking vessels, wherein the dishwasher (1) has a treatment zone (3) and a conveyor apparatus (6) for conveying the items of washware (2) to be cleaned from an introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1) through the treatment zone (3) to a removal region (5) of the dishwasher (1). The conveyor apparatus (6) is configured to convey a previously defined or definable group of items of washware (2) to be cleaned in batches from the introduction region (4) through the treatment zone (3) and then to feed the group of items of washware (2) as cleaned items of washware (2) to the removal region (5).

Claims

1. A dishwasher (1) for cleaning items of washware (2) in the form of drinking vessels, wherein the dishwasher (1) has at least one treatment zone (3) and at least one conveyor apparatus (6) for conveying the items of washware (2) to be cleaned from an introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1) through the at least one treatment zone (3) of the dishwasher (1) to a removal region (5) of the dishwasher (1), characterized in that the conveyor apparatus (6) is configured to convey a previously defined or definable group of items of washware (2) to be cleaned in batches from the introduction region (4) through the at least one treatment zone (3) and then to feed the group of items of washware (2) as cleaned items of washware (2) to the removal region (5); or in that the conveyor apparatus (6) is configured to convey the items of washware (2) to be cleaned individually from the introduction region (4) through the at least one treatment zone (3) and then to feed them to the removal region (5) as a cleaned item of washware (2).

2. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dishwasher (1) has a control device that is configured to activate the at least one conveyor apparatus (6) in such a way that, selectively, the conveyor apparatus (6) conveys a previously defined or definable group of items of washware (2) to be cleaned in batches from the introduction region (4) through the at least one treatment zone (3) and then feeds the group of items of washware (2) as cleaned items of washware (2) to the removal region (5), or conveys the items of washware (2) to be cleaned individually from the introduction region (4) through the at least one treatment zone (3) and then feeds them to the removal region (5) as a cleaned item of washware (2).

3. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveyor apparatus (6) has at least one conveying track, wherein the at least one conveying track has an effective width of at most 30 cm, wherein the conveyor apparatus (6) has at least two conveying tracks extending parallel to one another, wherein each conveying track has an effective width of at most 30 cm.

4. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveyor apparatus (6) has a first conveying track, and at least one second conveying track, wherein the first conveying track is assigned individualized items of washware (2) and wherein the at least one second conveying track is assigned other items of washware (2), wherein the first conveying track is configured to output the items of washware (2) conveyed thereby through the at least one treatment zone (3) of the dishwasher (1) in the removal region (5) of the dishwasher (1) in a manner spatially separated from the items of washware (2) conveyed by the at least one second conveying track through the at least one treatment zone (3) of the dishwasher (1).

5. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dishwasher (1) has a control device that is configured to activate the at least one conveyor apparatus (6) in such a way that, by way of the at least one conveyor apparatus (6), the items of washware (2) to be cleaned are conveyed discontinuously from the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1) through the at least one treatment zone (3) to the removal region (5) of the dishwasher (1); or wherein the dishwasher (1) has a control device that is configured to activate the at least one conveyor apparatus (6) in such a way that, by way of the at least one conveyor apparatus (6), the items of washware (2) to be cleaned are conveyed continuously and at a previously defined or definable conveying speed through the at least one treatment zone (3).

6. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dishwasher (1) is configured to output an item of washware (2) input into the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1) and treated in the at least one treatment zone (3) of the dishwasher (1) in such an individualized manner in the removal region (5) of the dishwasher (1) that the item of washware (2) treated in the at least one treatment zone (3) is unambiguously assignable to an individual in the removal region (5).

7. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the dishwasher (1) has in or at the introduction region (4) a system (7) for identifying washware, wherein the system (7) for identifying washware is configured to assign to an item of washware (2) in or at the introduction region (4) an identifier that allows unambiguous identification of the item of washware (2) fed into the introduction region (4) in the removal region (5) of the dishwasher (1).

8. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the system (7) for identifying washware has an RFID device for the automatic and contactless identification of an item of washware (2) in the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1); and/or wherein the system (7) for identifying washware has a barcode reader device for the automatic and contactless identification of an item of washware (2) in the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1); and/or wherein the system (7) for identifying washware has a laser scanner device for the automatic sensing of at least one surface-specific feature characterizing an item of washware (2) and thus for the contactless identification of the item of washware (2) in the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1); and/or wherein the system (7) for identifying washware has a QR code reader device for the automatic and contactless identification of an item of washware (2) in the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1); and/or wherein the system (7) for identifying washware has an identification device based on the YUV colour model for the automatic and contactless identification of an item of washware (2) in the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1).

9. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the system (7) for identifying washware is configured to sense, automatically or selectively automatically, at least one feature of an item of washware (2) fed in the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1), and wherein the system (7) for identifying washware is also configured to use the at least one feature sensed in the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1) to recognize the corresponding item of washware (2) in the removal region (5) of the dishwasher (1) and to tag it appropriately or to individualize, singularize or separate it from other items of washware (2) in the removal region (5).

10. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one treatment zone (3) is configured to subject at least one item of washware (2) fed to the at least one treatment zone (3) via the at least one conveyor apparatus (6), temporally in succession, to a washing treatment and a downstream final rinse treatment.

11. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dishwasher (1) has at least one first treatment zone (3), which is in the form of a washing zone, and at least one second treatment zone (3), which is downstream of the at least one first treatment zone (3)—as seen in the conveying direction of the items of washware (2)—and is in the form of a a final rinse zone, wherein the dishwasher (1) also has at least one third treatment zone (3), which is in the form of a drying zone and is downstream of the at least one second treatment zone (3)—as seen in the conveying direction of the items of washware (2).

12. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one treatment zone (3) is assigned a suction-extraction device for the suction extraction of water vapour; and/or wherein the at least one treatment zone (3) is assigned a splash guard (9) for preventing water vapour and/or liquid from escaping from the at least one treatment zone (3).

13. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dishwasher (1) has a further conveyor apparatus (6) for automatically and selectively conveying a cleaned item of washware (2) from the removal region (5) of the dishwasher (1) to a dispenser, to a dispenser for a cold or hot drink of a drinks machine or a coffee machine, wherein the dishwasher (1) also has a device for positioning and/or orienting the item of washware (2) with respect to the dispenser; and/or wherein the dishwasher (1) is assigned a deposit system for returning an item of washware (2) introduced or to be introduced into the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1), to an operator of the dishwasher (1), or for reusing the item of washware (2) introduced or to be introduced into the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1).

14. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dishwasher is embodied as an under-counter or top-counter machine and has dimensions adapted to a counter size, wherein the footprint of the dishwasher (1) has dimensions of at most 700 mm×1000 mm.

15. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dishwasher has a door (8), in the form of a tambour door, for closing as required an access opening to the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1), wherein the access opening has a height of at most 300 mm and a width of at most 500 mm, wherein the dishwasher has a first door (8), in the form of a tambour door, for closing as required the access opening to the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1) and also has a second door (8), in the form of a tambour door, for closing as required an access opening to the removal region (5) of the dishwasher (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0076] The invention will be described in more detail below on the basis of the appended drawing.

[0077] In the drawing:

[0078] FIG. 1 shows, schematically and in a side view, a first exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention;

[0079] FIG. 2A shows, schematically and in an isometric view, a second exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which a door of the dishwasher to the introduction region is open and no item of washware has been received in the introduction region;

[0080] FIG. 2B shows, schematically and in a view of the introduction region, the second exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention as per FIG. 2a;

[0081] FIG. 2C shows, schematically and in an isometric view, the second exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which a door of the dishwasher to the introduction region is closed;

[0082] FIG. 2D shows, schematically and in a view of the introduction region, the second exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention as per FIG. 2c;

[0083] FIG. 2E shows, schematically and in a side view, the second exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention;

[0084] FIG. 2F shows, schematically and in an isometric view, the second exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which a door of the dishwasher to the introduction region is open and at least one item of washware has been received in the introduction region;

[0085] FIG. 2G shows, schematically and in a view of the introduction region, the second exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention as per FIG. 2f;

[0086] FIG. 2H shows, schematically and in a sectioned side view, the second exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which at least one item of washware is present in the introduction region, in the at last one treatment zone and in the removal region of the dishwasher in each case;

[0087] FIG. 3A shows, schematically and in an isometric view, a third exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which a door of the dishwasher to the introduction region is open and no item of washware has been received in the introduction region;

[0088] FIG. 3B shows, schematically and in a view of the introduction region, the third exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention as per FIG. 3a;

[0089] FIG. 3C shows, schematically and in an isometric view, the third exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which a door of the dishwasher to the introduction region is closed;

[0090] FIG. 3D shows, schematically and in a view of the introduction region, the third exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention as per FIG. 3c;

[0091] FIG. 3E shows, schematically and in a side view, the third exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention;

[0092] FIG. 3F shows, schematically and in an isometric view, the third exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which a door of the dishwasher to the introduction region is open and at least one item of washware has been received in the introduction region;

[0093] FIG. 3G shows, schematically and in a view of the introduction region, the third exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention as per FIG. 3f;

[0094] FIG. 3H shows, schematically and in a sectioned side view, the third exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which at least one item of washware is present in the introduction region, in the at last one treatment zone and in the removal region of the dishwasher in each case;

[0095] FIG. 4A shows, schematically and in an isometric view, a fourth exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which a door of the dishwasher to the introduction region is open and no item of washware has been received in the introduction region;

[0096] FIG. 4B shows, schematically and in a view of the introduction region, the fourth exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention as per FIG. 4a;

[0097] FIG. 4C shows, schematically and in an isometric view, the fourth exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which a door of the dishwasher to the introduction region is closed;

[0098] FIG. 4D shows, schematically and in a view of the introduction region, the fourth exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention as per FIG. 4c;

[0099] FIG. 4E shows, schematically and in a side view, the fourth exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention;

[0100] FIG. 4F shows, schematically and in an isometric view, the fourth exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which a door of the dishwasher to the introduction region is open and at least one item of washware has been received in the introduction region;

[0101] FIG. 4G shows, schematically and in a view of the introduction region, the fourth exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention as per FIG. 4F;

[0102] FIG. 4H shows, schematically and in a sectioned side view, the fourth exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which at least one item of washware is present in the introduction region, in the at last one treatment zone and in the removal region of the dishwasher in each case;

[0103] FIG. 5A shows, schematically and in an isometric view, a fifth exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which one item of washware has been received in the removal region of the dishwasher;

[0104] FIG. 5B shows, schematically and in an isometric view, the fifth exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, specifically in a state in which two items of washware have been received in the removal region of the dishwasher; and

[0105] FIG. 5C shows, schematically and in a sectioned plan view, the fifth exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention as per FIG. 5B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0106] FIG. 1 shows, schematically and in a side view, a first exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention. The dishwasher 1 is suitable in particular for cleaning items of washware 2 in the form of drinking vessels, in particular in the form of mugs, cups, glasses or bottles.

[0107] For this purpose, the dishwasher 1 has at least one treatment zone 3 and at least one conveyor apparatus 6 for conveying the items of washware 2 to be cleaned from an introduction region 4 of the dishwasher 1 through the at least one treatment zone 3 of the dishwasher 1 to a removal region 5 of the dishwasher 1.

[0108] Here, the conveyor apparatus 6 is configured to convey a previously defined or definable group of items of washware 2 to be cleaned in a batchwise manner from the introduction region 4 through the at least one treatment zone 3 and then to feed the group of items of washware 2 as cleaned items of washware 2 to the removal region 5, or to convey the items of washware 2 to be cleaned individually from the introduction region 4 through the at least one treatment zone 3 and then to feed them to the removal region 5 as a cleaned item of washware 2.

[0109] Specifically, the dishwasher 1 has a housing in which a washing zone and a final rinse zone are accommodated as treatment zones 3.

[0110] The final rinse zone is a fresh-water final rinse zone, in which fresh water with final rinse agent possibly added is sprayed onto the washware to be treated.

[0111] In this context, it is conceivable for yet a further treatment zone 3, in the form of a pump-action final rinse zone, to be provided between the washing zone and the final rinse zone. In said pump-action final rinse zone, the liquid sprayed previously in the fresh-water final rinse zone is sprayed onto the washware with recirculating action.

[0112] The individual treatment zones 3 of the dishwasher 1 may be arranged in a manner spatially separated from one another, wherein a corresponding splash guard, for example in the form of a curtain, may be provided between the treatment zones 3 so as to prevent liquid from splashing excessively and the washware from becoming dirty again.

[0113] In order, however, to achieve as compact a design of the dishwasher 1 as possible, it is advantageous that the treatment zones 3 or at least some treatment zones 3 of the dishwasher 1 are formed in a common treatment chamber of the dishwasher 1. In this case, the dishwasher 1 should have a control device that is configured to activate the at least one conveyor apparatus 6 in such a way that, by way of the at least one conveyor apparatus 6, the items of washware 2 to be cleaned are conveyed discontinuously from the introduction region 4 of the dishwasher 1 through the at least one treatment zone 3 to the removal region 5 of the dishwasher 1.

[0114] The exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention, as is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 1, is distinguished in that it has an introduction region 4 into which the washware to be cleaned in the dishwasher 1 can be input/inserted manually. Provision is furthermore made of a removal region 5 which is formed separately from said introduction region and via which the washware treated/cleaned in the treatment zones 3 of the dishwasher 1 is output.

[0115] The introduction region 4 and the removal region 5 are formed in particular on opposite sides of the housing of the dishwasher 1.

[0116] The dishwasher 1 also has the aforementioned at least one conveyor apparatus 6, by way of which the (dirty) washware input into the introduction region 4 is conveyed through the treatment zones 3 of the dishwasher 1 to the removal region 5.

[0117] Owing to the compactness of the dishwasher 1, the loading opening of the introduction region 4 may be correspondingly small. If—as is the case in the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings—the dishwasher 1 serves for cleaning drinking vessels, in particular reusable drinking vessels, such as coffee cups, the loading opening of the introduction region 4 may be a little higher than the drinking vessel 2 to be treated.

[0118] Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, the access opening of the introduction region 4 of the dishwasher 1 may be assigned a guideway corresponding to the drinking vessel 2 to be cleaned, so as to predefine an orientation of the drinking vessel 2 during the introduction of the drinking vessel 2 into the introduction region 4.

[0119] The removal region 5 of the dishwasher 1 as per FIG. 1 is in the form of a storage region and serves for the temporary storage of a previously defined or definable number of cleaned drinking vessels 2. In the same way, the introduction region 4 of the dishwasher 1 may likewise be in the form of a storage region, so as to temporarily store a previously defined or definable number of drinking vessels 2 to be cleaned. This makes possible so-called batch operation of the dishwasher 1.

[0120] Preferably, the dishwasher 1 has a control device for correspondingly activating the conveyor apparatus 6 and the activatable components assigned to the washing zone and final rinse zone. The control device is configured to activate the conveyor apparatus 6 of the dishwasher 1, and possibly the activatable components of the washing zone and final rinse zone, in a manner dependent on a presence or absence, or in a manner dependent on a number, of drinking vessels 2 in the introduction region 4 and/or removal region 5.

[0121] Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, it is conceivable for the dishwasher 1 to be in the form of a reverse vending machine for reusable drinking vessels 2, in particular coffee cups, and preferably to have a corresponding refund device.

[0122] The dishwasher 1 according to the invention, if used in combination with a drinks machine, in particular hot drinks machine, makes possible the use of reusable crockery and thereby avoids waste, etc.

[0123] The solution according to the invention allows time used for handling to be saved. Dirty washware (drinking vessels 2) pass directly into the dishwasher 1, that is to say dirty drinking vessels 2 are not conveyed into a kitchen and clean drinking vessels 2 are not conveyed from the kitchen back to the hot drinks machine.

[0124] The invention furthermore provides for saving of space, since no space around the hot drinks machine is required for storing clean and dirty drinking vessels 2.

[0125] The dishwasher 1 according to the invention is suitable in particular as a special-purpose dishwasher 1 for coffee cups that is situated in a coffee shop or similar setup location, ideally in the direct vicinity of the coffee machine or even as a constituent part thereof. The dishwasher 1 has an input location in which the dirty crockery is introduced and has an output location, separated from said input location, where the clean crockery can be removed. The cups, glasses, etc. can be fed, and also removed, individually (that is to say one after the other); loading in relatively small groups should, if appropriate, also be possible.

[0126] Preferably, the input location is situated on a dirty side and the output location is situated on a spatially separated clean side. For example, a cup can be introduced on one side by a customer and removed on the opposite side by the same customer or by another customer or even by a server.

[0127] For example, the dishwasher 1 according to the invention is suitable for use in coffee shop chains, such as for example Starbucks: A customer enters the coffee shop with “his” or “her” cup and wishes to have “his” or “her” cup refilled.

[0128] The cup is automatically washed by the dishwasher 1 and is then refilled. In order that the customer also really gets “his” or “her” own cup back, this is tagged—either in an analog or digital manner.

[0129] For realizing this embodiment, it is conceivable for the dishwasher 1 to have, preferably in or at the introduction region 4, a system 7 for identifying washware, wherein the system 7 for identifying washware is configured to assign to an item of washware 2 in or at the introduction region 4 an identifier that allows unambiguous identification of the item of washware fed into the introduction region 4 in the removal region 5 of the dishwasher 1.

[0130] In this respect, it is conceivable for the dishwasher 1 to have, preferably in or at the introduction region 4, a system 7 for identifying washware, wherein the system 7 for identifying washware is configured to assign to an item of washware 2 in or at the introduction region 4 an identifier that allows unambiguous identification of the item of washware fed into the introduction region 4 in the removal region 5 of the dishwasher 1.

[0131] It is basically advantageous that the system 7 for identifying washware is configured to sense, preferably automatically or selectively automatically, at least one feature of an item of washware fed in the introduction region 4 of the dishwasher 1, wherein the system 7 for identifying washware is also configured to use the at least one feature sensed in the introduction region 4 of the dishwasher 1 to recognize the corresponding item of washware 2 in the removal region 5 of the dishwasher 1 and preferably to tag it appropriately or to individualize, singularize or separate it from other items of washware 2 in the removal region 5.

[0132] In particular, the dishwasher 1 according to the invention is configured, on account of its structural shape and structural size, to be integrated into the counter area of, for example, a coffee shop, such that the dirty cup can be put into the machine by a customer in a region in front of the counter, and the clean cup, after completion of a rinsing process, can then be removed from the machine by a member of staff behind the counter in order then to use it directly for refilling according to the customer's order.

[0133] The removal region 5 of the dishwasher 1 may additionally be equipped with a type of conveyor belt/conveying device by way of which it is possible for the clean washware to be transported from the actual removal region 5 into an additional storage region, for example next to the dishwasher 1 or on the other side of the coffee machine, in order in this way for the capacity, or the maximum possible number of cups and glasses which can be circulating, to be increased by an arbitrary amount without the size of the actual dishwasher 1 having to be enlarged for this purpose.

[0134] In particular, in this respect, it is conceivable that the clean washware is not conveyed, by the additional conveyor belt/conveying device, into a separate storage region, but rather there is a direct connection to a coffee machine (the cup also being rotated through 180° so that the opening faces upward), with the result that the clean cup, directly after completion of a rinsing process, can be filled with the drink according to the customer's order in a fully automatic manner.

[0135] Further embodiments of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the illustrations in FIGS. 2A-2H, 3A-3H, 4A-4H and 5A-5C.

[0136] Specifically, these embodiments are each in the form of top-counter machines, and so these can be placed on the counter of, for example, a coffee shop without any problems. The embodiments of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention are configured to convey items of washware 2 in a batchwise manner from the introduction region 4 through the at least one treatment zone 3 and then to feed the items of washware 2 as cleaned items of washware 2 to the removal region 5.

[0137] Here, the dishwasher may have a door 8, in particular tambour door, for closing as required an access opening to the introduction region 4 of the dishwasher. The door 8 may be manually or automatically actuatable. In the case of automatic actuation of the door 8, the introduction region may be assigned a sensor system which is configured to sense the presence of an item of washware 2 in the introduction region 4, wherein, upon sensing an item of washware 2 in the introduction region 4, the sensor system activates a door mechanism in order for the door 8 to be closed and for a treatment program of the dishwasher 1 to be started.

[0138] The dishwashers according to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A-2H, 3A-3H, 4A-4H and 5A-5C are consequently suitable in particular for coffee shops where the customers bring along their own cup, with said cup however still having to be cleaned at the location prior to being filled with, for example, a hot drink. Then, the cup to be cleaned can, individually, be conveyed from the introduction region 4 through the treatment zone 3 and then fed to the removal region 5.

[0139] On the other hand, the dishwashers 1 are also suitable for situations in which multiple items of washware have to be cleaned at the same time, as is the case for example if there is an accumulation of washware 2 which is not to be individualized. In this case, the items of washware 2 to be cleaned can be passed in a batchwise manner as a group through the treatment zone 5.

[0140] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A-2H, 3A-3H and 4A-4H, it is provided that the conveyor apparatus 6 of the dishwasher 1 has a conveying track, in particular in the form of a conveyor belt, wherein said conveyor track is configured to guide the items of washware 2 individually or in pairs through the at least one treatment chamber 3 of the dishwasher 1. Here, the width of the conveying track is selected to be correspondingly narrow. In preferred realizations of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention, the conveying track has an effective width of preferably at most 30 cm and preferably of at most 15 cm.

[0141] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A-2H, 3A-3H, 4A-4H and 5A-5C of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention have a control device that is configured to activate the conveyor apparatus 6 in such a way that, by way of the conveyor apparatus 6, the items of washware 2 to be cleaned are conveyed discontinuously from the introduction region 4 of the dishwasher 1 through the at least one treatment zone 3 to the removal region 5 of the dishwasher 1.

[0142] Here, with the aid of the conveyor apparatus 6, the items of washware 2 to be cleaned are conveyed from the introduction region 4 into the at least one treatment zone 3, wherein then, the conveyor apparatus 6 stops and the items of washware 2 are cleaned in the treatment zone 3 (washing phase and final rinse phase and optionally subsequent drying phase) while fixed in position, wherein afterwards, the cleaned washware 2 is conveyed to the removal region 5 with the aid of the conveyor apparatus 6.

[0143] FIGS. 5A-5C show an embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention in which use is made of a carousel-type conveying device 6 as the conveyor apparatus 6. A revolving plate, for example, is suitable as a carousel-type conveying device, for allowing circular conveyance of the washware 2.

[0144] The access opening of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention preferably has a height of at most 300 mm and a width of at most 500 mm and preferably at most 350 mm.

[0145] The preferred dimensions of the dishwashers 1 shown in FIGS. 2A-2H, 3A-3H, 4A-4H and 5A-5C are grouped together in the following table.

TABLE-US-00001 A 140 to 340 mm Preferably 200 to 280 mm B 285 to 485 mm Preferably 345 to 425 mm C 400 to 850 mm Preferably 500 to 600 mm D 100 to 250 mm Preferably 120 to 200 mm E 150 to 300 mm Preferably 180 to 240 mm F 100 to 250 mm Preferably 120 to 200 mm G 300 to 650 mm Preferably 350 to 550 mm H 285 to 485 mm Preferably 345 to 425 mm I 150 to 300 mm Preferably 180 to 240 mm

[0146] The dishwasher 1 is preferably also provided with a splash guard 9, in order to screen the introduction region 4 off from the at least one treatment chamber 3 and in particular also to prevent vapors from escaping.

[0147] The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, but rather results from a joint consideration of all the features disclosed herein.