Cleaning device for commercial cooking devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaning device (200, 200) for commercial cooking devices (100, 100). The cleaning device (200, 200) has a connection unit (2), in particular a connection piece (2), for accommodating a container (B, BR, BKI) with a solid cleaning agent (1R), a liquefaction device (2a, 2b) for liquefying the solid cleaning agent (1R), if necessary using a solvent, and optionally at least one first supply tank (12, 12R, 12K, 13R, 13K). In addition, the invention relates to a commercial cooking device (100, 100) and the use of a cleaning device (200, 200) according to the invention in commercial cooking devices (100, 100). Finally, the present invention involves a method for cleaning commercial cooking devices (100, 100).

Claims

1. A cleaning device for commercial cooking devices, wherein the cleaning device has a connection unit configured to accommodate a container with a solid cleaning agent, a liquefaction device configured to liquefy the solid cleaning agent in the container and further configured to use a solvent if necessary, wherein the cleaning device is further configured for an optional at least one first supply tank.

2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the liquefaction device has a heating device and/or a rinsing nozzle.

3. The cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the heating device is designed in such a way as to be operated electrically and/or with warm water and/or condensing steam.

4. The cleaning device according to claim 1, with a number of pumps.

5. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the first supply tank contains a mixing device.

6. The cleaning device according to claim 1, with a line system, for transferring the liquefied solid cleaning agent into a cooking chamber of the cooking device.

7. The cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein a trace heater is arranged on the line system.

8. The cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein the line system comprises a pump.

9. The cleaning device according to claim 1, with an additional connection unit for accommodating an additional container, and optionally an additional liquefaction device allocated to this connection unit.

10. The cleaning device according to claim 9, wherein the additional container contains a rinsing agent.

11. A commercial cooking device comprising a cleaning device according to claim 1.

12. The commercial cooking device of claim 11, wherein the commercial cooking device is a cooking appliance, a grill, an oven, an automatic oven, a steam cooker, a combination steamer, a microwave oven, or a deep fryer.

13. The cleaning device according to claim 1, with an additional supply tank.

14. The cleaning device according to claim 13, wherein the additional supply tank contains a mixing device.

15. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit is a connection piece.

Description

(1) The invention will be explained in more detail once again with reference to the attached figures based on exemplary embodiments. The same components are here provided with identical reference numbers on the various figures. As a rule, the figures are not to scale. Shown on:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first exemplary embodiment of a commercial cooking device with an integrated cleaning device;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a second exemplary embodiment of a commercial cooking device with an integrated cleaning device;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a third exemplary embodiment of a commercial cooking device with a cleaning device having an external storage tank;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a third exemplary embodiment of a commercial cooking device with a cleaning device having an external storage tank.

(6) The figures each show a cooking device 100, 100, here a commercial combination steamer, with a cooking chamber 9, in which the product to be heated, in particular cooked, or the meals are introduced during operation through a door (not depicted).

(7) The cooking chamber 9 usually also contains (possibly removable) built-in components, such as rail systems, brackets or the like, so as to hold baking trays, casserole pans, etc. having a matching design. To improve clarity, these built-in components are not shown here.

(8) A line system 15 can be used to expose the cooking chamber 9 to water, generate steam in the cooking chamber 9 or expose it directly to steam. Both the cooking chamber itself, with or without built-in components, and the line systems for the water or steam must be regularly cleaned. For this purpose, the cooking devices 100, 100 each have a cleaning device 200, 200.

(9) The figures each only show the components essential for the cleaning device 200, 200 according to the invention. Such a combination steamer clearly can have all other conventional components, such as fans, heating devices for the walls of the cooking chamber, overhead grills, steam generators, along with a suitable controller to control the entire device in use while preparing the meals, but also when cleaning with the cleaning device 200, 200 according to the invention.

(10) FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment with a cleaning device 200 completely integrated into the cooking device 100. It can be used for the individual or multiple dosing of a solid cleaning agent 1R, as well as for the individual or multiple dosing of a rinsing agent 1K.

(11) The cleaning device 200 here has a connection unit 2 in the form of a connection piece 2 for accommodating a container BR, here a bottle BR, with an alkaline solid cleaning agent 1R, a liquefaction device 2a, 2b, a supply tank 12R for a cleaning solution, which is here the circulation container 12R of a circulating loop of the cooking device 100, and a fresh water supply 4.

(12) The bottle BR with the alkaline solid cleaner 1R, here in the form of a solid gel as described above, is here docked in an overhead position in the connection piece 2 in such a way as to create a largely tight connection, from which the alkaline solid cleaner 1R cannot laterally exit. Prior to placement in the connection piece 2, a usually present cover is removed from the bottle BR.

(13) The liquefaction device for liquefying the alkaline solid cleaner 1R in the bottle BR here has a heating device 2a around the connection piece 2, with which the container BR along with the solid cleaning agent 1R can be heated. In particular, such a heating device 2a can be electrical, designed for warm water or condensing steam. In addition, the liquefaction device is here equipped with a rinsing nozzle 2b, so as to expose the solid cleaning agent 1R (alternatively or additionally to heating the solid cleaning agent 1R) to a jet of solvent through the bottle neck (without loss of generality, it is assumed below that the solvent is water and/or steam), which dissolves the solid cleaning agent 1R.

(14) The connection piece 2 is here arranged at an upper end of the supply tank 12R or circulation container 12R, so that the liquefied cleaning agent 1R is moved out of the container BR and into the supply tank 12R by gravity as a kind of cleaning concentrate.

(15) Furthermore, a fresh water supply 4 can be used to feed additional fresh water into the supply tank 12R to further dilute the liquefied cleaning agent 1R. In order to better dissolve and mix the liquefied cleaning concentrate or cleaning agent for obtaining a cleaning solution with the desired concentration or alkalinity, the supply tank 12R has a mixing device 3, here an agitator unit 3. In order to clean the cooking chamber and line system, a pump 5 can be used to introduce the cleaning solution provided in the supply tank 12R into the cooking chamber 9 through the line system 15 and via inlet openings 8, in particular nozzles 8.

(16) An (optional) trace heater 60 (here a flow heater) is here additionally arranged on the line system 15, and can be used to set the cleaning solution to a desired temperature.

(17) While and after cleaning the cooking chamber 9, the expended cleaning solution can drain out of the cooking chamber 9 through an outlet opening 10 (the conventional outlet sieve) arranged in the floor of the cooking chamber 9, and can continue to be pumped thereafter by means of a pump 110. An outlet valve 11 setting can be adjusted to determine whether the cleaning solution coming out of the cooking chamber 8 is to be pumped back into the supply tank 12R or circulation container 12R for another pass, or removed through an outlet line 14 and properly disposed of. Additionally or alternatively, the cleaning solution can also be pumped out of the circulation container 12R via the pump 5, an outlet valve 50 and an outlet line 14. Once the cleaning process has ended, rinsing can optionally take place with fresh water.

(18) As illustrated on FIG. 1, the cleaning device 200 according to the invention integrated into the commercial cooking device 100 can also have a second connection piece 22 for accommodating a container BK, in particular a bottle BK, with rinsing agent 1K. Just as for the solid cleaning agent 1R, the connection piece 22 can in this case as well be heated with a heating device 22a arranged thereon and/or be equipped with a rinsing nozzle 22b. In a manner similar as for the solid cleaning agent 1R, the rinsing agent 1K can also essentially be emptied from its container BK, thereby ensuring a complete utilization, and thus an efficient rinsing process.

(19) In the case at hand, the rinsing agent 1K is a powder, a granule or a liquid. The outlet opening of the bottle BK is provided with a sealing layer VS, preferably in the form of a film or in the form of a gel/wax plug. The sealing layer VS can preferably be dissolved through a temperature increase and/or exposure to water or steam, with gravity moving the rinsing agent 1K into a supply tank 12K, at whose upper end the connection piece 22 is here arranged. The sealing layer can preferably also be secured in a cover (not depicted) of the bottle BK, so that the user only has to remove a cover layer, and the bottle can then be placed on the connection piece 22.

(20) The rinsing agent 1K is subsequently further liquefied in the supply tank 12K, possibly while supplying fresh water via a fresh water supply 44 and using an agitator unit 3. In the rinsing process, a pump 55 then introduces the rinsing agent into the cooking chamber 9 as needed via the line system 15 and via the nozzles 8. After the rinsing process is over, the expended rinsing agent is disposed of by way of the outlet opening 10 and pump 110, valve 11 and outlet line 14. Given a correspondingly configured line system, it would here also be possible to initially return the rinsing agent from the cooking chamber 9 into the supply tank 12K of the rinsing agent for another pass, i.e., the supply tank 12K then serves as a circulation container for the rinsing cycle (not shown).

(21) In a simplified alternative (also not shown), the cleaning device 200 only comprises the lower part depicted on FIG. 1 with the connection piece 2 for the solid cleaning agent 1R.

(22) In this variant, the bottles preferably contain portions for a cleaning process or rinsing process (individual dose).

(23) In an alternative embodiment shown on FIG. 2, the cleaning device 200 according to the invention integrated into the commercial cooking device 100 only has one connection piece 2 for a combination bottle B. This bottle B has both a cleaning agent compartment RK or cleaning agent chamber with a solid cleaning agent 1R and a rinsing agent compartment KK or rinsing agent chamber with a rinsing agent 1K for individual dosing. In this bottle B, the outlet opening of the rinsing agent compartment KK is provided with a sealing layer VS in the form of a film or a gel/wax plug or the like (not shown). The combination bottle B is here only illustrated schematically. In practical execution, the bottle can preferably be designed as a dual chamber bottle with two chambers or partial bottles and separate neck openings, as described above. In this case, the connection piece 2 is correspondingly adjusted to the dual chamber bottle.

(24) The solid cleaning agent 1R in the container B is here also initially liquefied in the connection piece 2 by means of the liquefaction device 2a, 2b, essentially transferred into the supply tank 12 or circulation container 12, and introduced into the cooking chamber 9 through nozzles 8 by means of a pump 5.

(25) Once the cleaning process is complete and the expended cleaning agent has been removed, the rinsing agent 1K is released in a second step by dissolving the sealing layer VS, i.e., the film or the like, by increasing the temperature and/or using rinsing nozzles, and essentially transferred into the supply tank 12 or circulation container 12. The rinsing agent is hereafter also introduced into the cooking chamber 9 of the commercial cooking device by means of the pump 5. After the rinsing process is over, the expended rinsing agent is again removed via the outlet opening 10. Upon completion of the cleaning and/or rinsing process, rinsing can optionally take place with fresh water here as well.

(26) In another embodiment shown on FIG. 3, a cleaning device 200 located at least partially in an external dosing device secured to the commercial cooking device 100 enables a multiple dosing from a container BR with solid cleaning agent 1R. For example, the bottle here has a capacity of 0.5 to 10 kg of solid cleaning agent 1R, preferably up to 2.5 kg, and especially preferably up to 1 kg.

(27) The external dosing device here comprises a first part of the cleaning device 200, specifically a first supply tank 13R with the connection piece 2 and liquefaction device 2a, 2b. This external dosing device can be easily docked by way of a line, for example a hose, e.g., to the circulation container 6 in the circulating loop of the cooking device 100. The complete bottle BR is first emptied into the supply tank 13R, and if necessary diluted with fresh water. The supply tank 13R here has a receiving volume for the cleaning concentrate or cleaning agent for at least two, preferably at least 5, especially preferably at least 10 doses. An individual dose of the cleaning concentrate or cleaning agent for a respective cleaning process can then be transferred from the supply tank 13R by way of a metering pump 7R into a second supply tank 6, here the circulation container 6, and from the latter by way of a pump 5 and inlet openings 8, in particular nozzles 8, into the cooking chamber 9 of the commercial cooking device 100. The expended cleaning agent is once again drained via the outlet opening 10. All other functions or steps can take place as in the preceding exemplary embodiments.

(28) In the same way, FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a preferred external metering device 200 secured to a commercial cooking device 100 by way of a [word missing], comprising the cleaning device for multiple dosing with a first and a second supply tank 13R, 13K and accompanying connection pieces 2, 22. The second connection piece 22 here provides the receptacle for a container BK that contains a rinsing agent 1K. The first and second supply tanks 13R, 13K here also each comprise a receiving volume for the cleaning agent or rinsing agent for at least two, preferably at least 5, especially preferably at least 10 doses. The second supply tank 13K here has a separate fresh water supply 44. In this case, both supply tanks 13R, 13K of the external dosing device are docked to the circulation container 6 in the circulating loop of the cooking device 100 by lines, for example hoses.

(29) Here as well, an individual dose of the cleaning concentrate or cleaning agent can be transferred from the supply tank 13R into the additional supply tank 6 or the circulation container 6 by way of a dosing pump 7R, if necessary liquefied further with the addition of fresh water via a fresh water supply 40, and transferred into the cooking chamber 9 of the commercial cooking device by means of a pump 5 through inlet openings 8 or nozzles 8. An individual dose of the rinsing agent can analogously be transferred into the supply tank 6 or circulation container 6 by means of a dosing pump 7K, if necessary liquefied further with the addition of fresh water, and transferred into the cooking chamber 9 by means of the pump 5 through inlet openings 8.

(30) Of course, a cleaning agent and rinsing agent cannot be simultaneously dosed; by contrast, the dosing order can be implemented in short sequences.

(31) Finally, let it be noted once again that the devices described in detail above only involve exemplary embodiments, which can be modified by the expert in a wide variety of ways, without departing from the area of the invention. In principle, the solid cleaning agent, in particular the solid gel, could also be combined with known rinsing agent variants, e.g., rinsing agent tabs, which are added via a dispenser drawer, or rinsing agent tabs in a temperature-controlled, water-soluble film, which can be placed in the cooking chamber. For example, the supply tank could be omitted during an individual dosing, and the liquefied cleaning agent and/or rinsing agent could also be guided directly in the line system 15, if necessary in a circuit. Furthermore, use of the indeterminate article a or an does not mean that the respective features cannot also be present repeatedly. Likewise, the term unit does not mean that the latter cannot also consist of several, potentially even spatially separated, subunits.

REFERENCE LIST

(32) 1K Rinsing agent

(33) 1R Solid cleaning agent

(34) 2 Connection unit/connection piece

(35) 2a Heating device of the liquefaction device

(36) 2b Rinsing nozzle of the liquefaction device

(37) 3 Mixing device/agitator unit

(38) 4 Fresh water supply

(39) 5 Pump

(40) 6 Supply tank/circulation container

(41) 7K Dosing pump for rinsing agent

(42) 7R Dosing pump for cleaning solution

(43) 8 Inlet openings/nozzles

(44) 9 Cooking chamber

(45) 10 Outlet opening

(46) 11 Outlet valve

(47) 12 Supply tank/circulation chamber

(48) 12R Supply tank/circulation chamber

(49) 12K Supply tank/circulation chamber

(50) 13R Supply tank

(51) 13K Supply tank

(52) 14, 14 Outlet line

(53) 15 Line system

(54) 22 Connection unit/connection piece

(55) 22a Heating device

(56) 22b Rinsing nozzle

(57) 44 Fresh water supply

(58) 50 Outlet valve

(59) 55 Pump

(60) 60 Trace heater

(61) 100, 100 Cooking device

(62) 110 Pump

(63) 200, 200 Cleaning device

(64) B Container/combination bottle

(65) BR Container/bottle

(66) BK Container/bottle

(67) RK Cleaning agent compartment

(68) KK Rinsing agent compartment

(69) VS Sealing layer