CLEANING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CLEANING ARTICLES TO BE CLEANED

Abstract

A cleaning device (110) for cleaning articles (112) to be cleaned is proposed. The cleaning device (110) includes at least one cleaning chamber (118) for receiving the articles (112) to be cleaned. In addition, the cleaning device (110) includes at least one application device (124) for acting upon the articles (112) to be cleaned with at least one cleaning fluid. The cleaning device (110) additionally comprises at least one cooling surface (158) which points to the cleaning chamber (118) and at least one cooling container (160) which is thermally coupled with the cooling surface (158) for receiving a cooling liquid. The cleaning device (110) comprises at least one control system (178) which is set up to control at least one regeneration step in the cleaning device (110). The regeneration step includes the following substeps: d) fill the cooling container (160) with cooling liquid; e) heat the cooling liquid in the cooling container (160); and f) remove the cooling liquid from the cooling container (160).

Claims

1. A cleaning device for cleaning articles to be cleaned, including at least one cleaning chamber for receiving the articles to be cleaned, in addition including at least one application device for acting on the articles to be cleaned with at least one cleaning fluid, wherein the cleaning device additionally comprises at least one cooling surface which points to the cleaning chamber and at least one cooling container which is thermally coupled with the cooling surface for receiving a cooling liquid, wherein the cooling surface includes an inner wall of the cleaning chamber which points to the cleaning chamber, wherein the inner wall is coolable by the cooling liquid on an outside which is arranged outside the cleaning chamber, wherein the cleaning device comprises at least one control system, wherein the control system is additionally set up to control at least one regeneration step in the cleaning device device, wherein the regeneration step includes the following substeps: a) fill the cooling container with cooling liquid; b) heat the cooling liquid in the cooling container; and c) remove the cooling liquid from the cooling container.

2. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system is set up in order to control the regeneration step in such a manner that the cooling container is acted upon with at least a predetermined minimum number of heat equivalents, wherein the heat equivalents are a variable which quantifies thermal hygienization or thermal germicide and which includes a temperature and a period of time of an effect of the temperature.

3. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control system is set up in order to establish at least one temperature of the cooling container as a function of time and to establish from this the accumulated heat equivalents, with which the cooling container is acted upon.

4. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system is set up in order to keep the cooling container at a temperature of at least 60 C. for at least 1 minute.

5. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system is set up in order to monitor reaching a predetermined required temperature in the cooling container, wherein the control system is additionally set up in order to wait for a predetermined time interval after reaching the required temperature before step c) is carried out.

6. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system is set up in order to heat the cooling liquid in the cooling container in method step b) as a result of heated cleaning fluid in the cleaning chamber.

7. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 6, wherein in method step b), a cleaning tank of the cleaning device is filled with cleaning fluid, the cleaning fluid is heated and the heated cleaning fluid is circulated in the cleaning chamber in circulation mode by means of the application device so that the heated cleaning fluid heats the cooling container and the cooling liquid located therein via the cooling surface.

8. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device is additionally set up in order to control at least one cleaning step in the cleaning device, wherein the articles to be cleaned are acted upon with the cleaning fluid in the cleaning step, wherein the regeneration step and the cleaning step are separate steps.

9. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system is additionally set up in order to control at least one drying step in the cleaning device, wherein the articles (112) to be cleaned are dried in the cleaning chamber in the drying step, wherein the regeneration step and the drying step are separate steps.

10. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning device additionally comprises at least one pressurized gas source and/or at least one pressurized gas connection, wherein the control system is set up in order to blow out the cooling container with pressurized gas after step c).

11. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling container comprises a shell, wherein the shell is fitted onto a wall of the cleaning chamber directly or by means of at least one seal, wherein an interior space of the cooling container is realized between the shell and the wall of the cleaning chamber, wherein cooling liquid is in contact with the wall of the cleaning chamber in the cooling container.

12. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling container comprises at least one germicidal coating on at least one inner wall.

13. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling container comprises at least one water-repellent micro-structuring on at least one inner wall.

14. A method for cleaning articles to be cleaned including the following steps: I. provide at least one cleaning device, including at least one cleaning chamber for receiving the articles to be cleaned, additionally including at least one application device for acting upon the articles to be cleaned with at least one cleaning fluid, wherein the cleaning device additionally comprises at least one cooling surface which points to the cleaning chamber and at least one cooling container which is thermally coupled with the cooling surface for receiving a cooling liquid, wherein the cooling surface includes an inner wall of the cleaning chamber which points to the cleaning chamber, wherein the inner wall is coolable by the cooling liquid on an outside which is arranged outside the cleaning chamber; II. carry out at least one regeneration step in the cleaning device, including the following substeps: a. fill the cooling container with cooling liquid; b. heat the cooling liquid in the cooling container; and c. remove the cooling liquid from the cooling container.

15. A computer program having program code, wherein the computer program is set up in order, once loaded in a control system of a cleaning device, to cause the control system to carry out the method steps II. a.-c. of the method as claimed in the preceding claim 14.

16. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the germicidal coating comprises a coating with silver ions.

17. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the water-repellent micro-structuring comprises a micro-structuring with lotus effect.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0108] Further details and features are produced from the following description of exemplary embodiments, in particular in connection with the subclaims. In this connection, the respective features can be realized on their own or in multiples in combination with one another. The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments are shown schematically in the figures. Identical reference numbers in the individual figures designate, in this case, identical elements or elements with the same functions or elements which correspond to one another as regards their functions.

[0109] The figures in detail are as follows:

[0110] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a cleaning device; and

[0111] FIG. 2 shows a sequence plan of a possible embodiment of a method for cleaning articles to be cleaned.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0112] FIG. 1 shows a possible exemplary embodiment of a cleaning device 110 according to the invention for cleaning articles 112 to be cleaned. The cleaning device 110, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is designed as an example as a chamber dishwashing machine 114, in particular for industrial use, and is designed in a particularly preferred manner as an automatic program machine 116.

[0113] The cleaning device 110 includes a cleaning chamber 118, in the interior 120 of which the articles 112 to be cleaned can be received, for example by means of one or multiple baskets 122. The articles 112 to be cleaned can be acted upon with cleaning fluid in the cleaning chamber 118 via at least one application device 124, for example via a wash nozzle system 126 and/or via a rinse nozzle system 128. The wash nozzle system 126 can be supplied in circulation mode, for example via a wash line 130 and a circulating pump 132, from a cleaning tank or wash tank 134, which can be heatable via a heating body 136 or another type of heating. The rinse nozzle system 128 can be supplied with rinse fluid, for example fresh water, from a rinse tank 142 via at least one rinse line 138 and one rinse pump 140. A further heating device 144 can be provided, for example, in the rinse tank 142 so that the rinse tank 142 can be designed, for example, as a boiler and/or a flow heater.

[0114] An outlet 146, via which cleaning fluid can be conveyed into a drain 150 by means of a drain pump 148, is additionally provided in the floor of the wash tank 134. The cleaning chamber 118 can comprise at least one door 152 and/or at least one other device for opening the cleaning chamber 118. For example, said door 152 can be arranged in a front wall of the cleaning chamber 118 pointing to the user.

[0115] In addition, at least one rear wall 154 and/or at least one side wall 156 of the cleaning chamber 118 can provide at least one cooling surface 158 which points to the cleaning chamber 118. As an example, the cooling surface 158 is arranged on the rear wall 154 in FIG. 1. A cooling container 160 is thermally coupled with the cooling surface 158, in this case, for example, via the metal rear wall 154 and/or in another manner Said cooling container 160 is mounted on an outside of the rear wall 154 and/or on at least one outside of at least one side wall 156, for example said cooling container 160 can comprise at least one shell 162 which is preferably fitted directly to the rear wall 154 and is connected thereto, for example, via a seal. The shell 162 can be screw-connected and/or welded and/or bonded, for example, to the rear wall 154. As a result, an interior 164, into which cooling liquid, for example fresh water, can be introduced via an inflow 166, is formed between the shell 162 and the rear wall 154. The cooling liquid can be removed from the interior 164 again via an outflow 168. The inflow 166 can be connected to a fresh water line 172, for example, via at least one inflow valve 170, and cooling liquid can be drained from the cooling container 160 via an outflow valve 174 and a outflow line 176, for example into the rinse tank 142, into the wash tank 134 or also into the drain 150.

[0116] The cleaning device 110 additionally includes a control system 178, by means of which a program sequence in the cleaning device 110 can be controlled. The control system 178 can include, for example, at least one computer and/or at least one processor as well as at least one user interface. The control system 178 can actuate, for example, the pumps 132, 140, 148 and/or the valves 170, 174 as well as further components of a cleaning device 110. In addition, the control system 178 can refer to sensor data, for example data of at least one optional temperature sensor 180 on the cooling container 160, data of at least one optional temperature sensor 182 on the rinse tank 142 and/or data of at least one level sensor 184 in the wash tank 134.

[0117] The cleaning device 110, in particular the control system 178, can be set up in order to allow at least one wash program or cleaning program in the cleaning device 110 to drain away, which wash program or cleaning program, as explained in more detail below, can include at least one cleaning step and at least one drying step. Whilst the at least one cleaning step can include, for example in a sequential manner, being acted upon with wash liquid via the wash nozzle system 126 and then being acted upon with rinse liquid via the rinse nozzle system 128, the drying step includes drying of the articles to be cleaned 112. For drying, the cooling container 160 can be filled with cooling liquid, for example cold fresh water, so that the cooling surface 158 is cooled as a result. Moisture which vaporizes from the articles 112 to be cleaned can condense on said cooling surface 158 and drain off into the wash tank 134. Said drying process can be promoted by at least one conveying device 186, for example a radial fan, by means of which air circulation in the cleaning chamber 118 is promoted so that air saturated regularly with moisture passes to the cooling surface 158.

[0118] FIG. 2 describes an exemplary embodiment of a possible method for cleaning articles to be cleaned. Said method initially includes a start 210 of the operation of the cleaning device 110, for example according to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1. Said start can be initiated, for example, by activating a main switch. The control system 178 can then be set up, for example as a result of a corresponding selection via a user interface, in order to carry out a start of a cleaning program (step 212 in FIG. 2). Said cleaning program, designated by way of reference number 214 in FIG. 2, includes, for example, one or multiple cleaning steps 216, for example the above-described at least one wash step and the above-described at least one rinse step. In addition, the cleaning program 214 can include, for example, at least one drying step 217 where the above-described drying is carried out.

[0119] Once the cleaning program 214 has finished, interrogation is possible, for example, (interrogation 218) as to whether the cleaning program 214 is to be carried out once again, for example once the cleaned articles 112 to be cleaned have been unloaded and the cleaning chamber 118 has been loaded with new, dirty articles 112 to be cleaned. If this is the case, (branch designated by way of J in FIG. 2), the cleaning program 214 is carried out once again. If this is not the case (branch N in FIG. 2), the operation, for example, can thus be terminated. This can be connected as an option to the start of a self-cleaning program (step 220 in FIG. 2). In the case of said self-cleaning program, designated by way of the reference number 222 in FIG. 2, first of all, for example, the contaminated cleaning fluid can be pumped off via the outlet 146 and the drain pump 148 into the drain 150, and the wash tank 134 can be filled with fresh cleaning fluid, for example fresh water, and heated, for example via the heating body 136. The fresh cleaning fluid can then be circulated in the self-cleaning program 222 via the circulation pump 134 and the wash nozzle system 126 so that parts of the cleaning device 110 lying on the inside are cleaned in circulation mode. In this case, sieves, for example, can also be removed or other parts washed.

[0120] A regeneration step 224 is preferably part of the self-cleaning program 222. In the case of said regeneration step 224, the cooling container 160 is thermally treated to reduce microorganisms in the cooling container 160 and consequently to avoid biofilms in said cooling container 160. In said regeneration step 224, the cooling container 160 is first of all filled with cooling liquid, for example fresh water, for example as a result of opening the inflow valve 170 (step 226). In this case, the outflow valve 174 is preferably closed. The cooling liquid is then heated 228. This is preferably effected as a result of the above-described circulation mode in the cleaning chamber 118. The cooling liquid can thus be heated, for example, as a result of the cleaning fluid in the cleaning chamber 118 contacting the cooling surface 158, as the cleaning fluid, as described above, is preferably heated by means of the heating body 136. Said heating is preferably effected to a temperature which is above the temperatures usually occurring in the cleaning program 214, for example to temperatures above 60 C., for example temperatures of at least 65 C., at least 70 C. or at least 74 C. The temperature in the cooling container 160 can be detected, for example, via the temperature sensor 180. The control system 178 can establish the heat equivalents transmitted to the cooling container 160 from this. As an alternative to this or in addition to it, the control system 178, however, can also be set up in order to keep the cooling container 160 at a described minimum temperature for at least a predetermined period of time so that a predetermined thermal effect can be ensured. The cooling liquid can then be removed, for example emptied, from the cooling container 160 in step 230, in particular into the rinse container 142. The control system 178 can open the outflow valve 174, for example, for this purpose. As an alternative to or in addition to monitoring the temperature by means of the temperature sensor 180, it is also possible to use the temperature sensor 182, for example, by way of which, for example, it is ensured that the cooling liquid transferred into the rinse container 142 comprises a predetermined minimum temperature so that, in this way too, it is possible to ensure being acted upon with a minimum number of heat equivalents and/or a minimum hygienization of the cooling container 160. Once again as an alternative to this or in addition to it, for example, it is also possible to use other methods in order to detect, for example, a temperature in the cooling container 160 during a heating process 228, for example estimated values, empirical values or similar methods.

[0121] Once the self-cleaning program 222, also designated as the self-cleaning step, has been carried out, the operation of the cleaning device 110 can then be terminated (step 232).

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0122] 110 Cleaning device [0123] 112 Articles to be cleaned [0124] 114 Single chamber dishwashing machine [0125] 116 Automatic program machine [0126] 118 Cleaning chamber [0127] 120 Interior [0128] 122 Basket [0129] 124 Application device [0130] 126 Wash nozzle system [0131] 128 Rinse nozzle system [0132] 130 Wash line [0133] 132 Circulation pump [0134] 134 Wash tank [0135] 136 Heating body [0136] 138 Rinse line [0137] 140 Rinse pump [0138] 142 Rinse tank [0139] 144 Heating device [0140] 146 Outlet [0141] 148 Drain pump [0142] 150 Drain [0143] 152 Door [0144] 154 Rear wall [0145] 156 Side wall [0146] 158 Cooling surface [0147] 160 Cooling container [0148] 162 Shell [0149] 164 Interior [0150] 166 Inflow [0151] 168 Outflow [0152] 170 Inflow valve [0153] 172 Fresh water line [0154] 174 Outflow valve [0155] 176 Outflow line [0156] 178 Control system [0157] 180 Temperature sensor [0158] 182 Temperature sensor [0159] 184 Level sensor [0160] 186 Conveying device [0161] 210 Start [0162] 212 Start cleaning program [0163] 214 Cleaning program [0164] 216 Cleaning step [0165] 217 Drying step [0166] 218 Interrogation [0167] 220 Start self-cleaning program [0168] 222 Self-cleaning program [0169] 224 Regeneration step [0170] 226 Fill with cooling liquid [0171] 228 Heat the cooling liquid [0172] 230 Remove the cooling liquid [0173] 232 End of the operation