SYSTEM FOR REMOTE MONITORING OR CONTROLLING OF WASHERS, LIKE COMMERCIAL DISHWASHERS

Abstract

The invention relates to a system, wherein the system has a washer (1) that is preferably in the form of a commercial washer (1). The washer (1) may be in the form of a utensil washer or dishwasher. Further, the system has at least one sensor device for capturing at least one process-relevant parameter of the washer (1) and/or for monitoring at least one function-relevant component of the washer (1). The system additionally has a machine control unit having a device for wireless data transmission for transmitting received sensor data from the sensor device to an external device (2).

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. A system comprising: a washer in the form of a utensil washer or dishwasher; a sensor device for capturing at least one process-relevant parameter of the washer and/or for monitoring at least one function-relevant component of the washer; a machine control unit having a device for wireless data transmission for transmitting received sensor data from the sensor device to an external device.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the external device is in the form of a server, and the server is designed such that the sensor data can be transmitted from the device for wireless data transmission to the server via an Internet connection.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the server is designed to evaluate the sensor data at least in part.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the server is designed to perform temperature evaluation including at least temperature logging on the basis of the received sensor data.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the server is designed to perform resource use evaluation on the basis of the received sensor data.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the server is designed to perform operating cost computation on the basis of the resource use evaluation.

25. The system according to claim 21, wherein the server is designed to utilize the received sensor data as a basis for performing error detection and/or fault detection.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the server is designed to utilize the received sensor data as a basis for performing error detection and to translate an error code into plain text and to make it available to the user.

27. The system according to claim 21, wherein the server is designed to utilize the received sensor data as a basis for performing service recommendation detection.

28. The system according to claim 19, wherein the device for wireless data transmission is in the form of a Bluetooth device or a WLAN device.

29. The system according to claim 19, wherein the external device is embodied as a server that is designed to transmit the sensor data and/or at least partially evaluated sensor data to a terminal of an operator of the washer and/or to a manufacturer and/or operator of the washer and or to a dealer.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the terminal of the operator of the washer is in the form of a PC, laptop, smartphone, or tablet.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the server or the manufacturer can evaluate the sensor data such that the user behaviour of the operator of the washer (1) and/or faults and/or error reports can be detected.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein the server and/or a device of the manufacturer that receives the sensor data is designed such that the detected user behaviour and/or the fault and/or the error report can be taken as a basis for transmitting assistance to the operator of the washer and/or proposing to the operator of the washer the delivery of a spare part and/or delivering a spare part to the operator of the washer.

33. The system according to claim 29 wherein an app is installed on the terminal of the operator such that the program can communicate with the server and/or with the manufacturer and can present data to the operator.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the program is designed such that the operator can carry out control of the washer and/or an instruction to rectify errors in the washer and/or can order spare parts and/or cleaners and/or rinse aids and/or water cartridges by means of the program.

35. The system according to 34, wherein the program includes at least one operating instruction and/or at least one operating instruction can be transmitted from the server and/or the manufacturer to the program, the at least one operating instruction comprising a description of the process for refilling salt and/or for cleaning the washing arms and/or for inserting the tank cover filter.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein the program is designed such that it provides the operator of the washer with statistics pertaining to the resource use of the machine.

Description

[0063] FIG. 1 shows a system, wherein the system is a washer 1.

[0064] The washer 1 has at least one sensor device arranged in it, wherein the sensor device measures or captures process-relevant parameters of the washer and furthermore monitors at least one function-relevant component of the washer. To this end, the sensor device preferably has at least one sensor.

[0065] The sensor device can have at least one sensor for capturing process-relevant parameters and at least one further sensor for monitoring function-relevant components of the washer 1. It is also possible for a single sensor to be provided for capturing process-relevant parameters and for monitoring function-relevant components of the washer 1.

[0066] The sensor is in the form of a temperature sensor, for example. Furthermore, the at least one sensor or the sensor device is not represented in FIG. 1, but rather is provided within the washer 1.

[0067] In addition, the washer 1 (not represented in FIG. 1) has a machine control unit that is designed (e.g., configured via software, firmware and/or hardware) to control the washer 1. The machine control unit is in the form of a processor, for example, wherein the machine control unit preferably additionally has a volatile and/or nonvolatile memory.

[0068] Finally, the washer 1 has, according to the invention, a device for wireless data transmission. This device is provided in the washer 1 and is preferably provided as part of the machine control unit. The device for wireless data transmission is not shown in FIG. 1.

[0069] The at least one sensor generates sensor data that correspond to process-relevant parameters of the washer or are generated from the monitoring of at least one function-relevant component of the washer 1. These sensor data are transmitted from the at least one sensor to the machine control unit of the washer. The machine control unit in turn transmits the sensor data to the device for wireless data transmission.

[0070] The device for wireless data transmission transmits the sensor data to an external device 2. The external device 2 is preferably in the form of a server.

[0071] The device for wireless data transmission or the washer 1 and the external device (server 2) may have a security device 5, preferably a firewall 6, provided between them.

[0072] The security device 5 is designed to prevent unauthorized access to the sensor data of the washer 1.

[0073] The external device (server 2) can transmit the sensor data to terminals 3 of users of the washer. The terminals 3 may also be associated with service employees, for example, in order to optimize operation of the washer 1.

[0074] The terminals 3 may be in the form of smartphones, tablets or PCs, for example.

[0075] The sensor data that are transmitted from the washer 1 to the external device (server 2) can be evaluated in part on the external device (server 2). To this end, the external device (server 2) has a processor and also preferably a volatile and/or nonvolatile memory.

[0076] The terminals 3 can have the sensor data and/or the partially evaluated sensor data transmitted to them directly or following evaluation by the external device (server 2).

[0077] Furthermore or alternatively, the sensor data and/or the partially evaluated sensor data can be transmitted to a manufacturer server 4 of the manufacturer of the washer.

[0078] It is also possible for the sensor data to be transmitted directly from the device for wireless data transmission to a terminal of an operator. In this case, the device for wireless data transmission is preferably provided as a Bluetooth device. The device for wireless data transmission may also be in the form of a WLAN hotspot.

[0079] The transmission of the sensor data and/or of the partially evaluated sensor data from the external device (server 2) to the manufacturer server 4 is effected preferably via an Internet connection. The transmission via the Internet 6 is preferably monitored by a further security device 5. The further security device 5 may in turn be in the form of a firewall.

[0080] As represented in FIG. 2, it is also possible for multiple washers 1 to transmit their sensor data to a single external device (server 2).

[0081] The external device (server 2) can in turn transmit the sensor data directly to terminals 3 and/or a manufacturer server 4 and/or dealer 7.

[0082] Additionally or alternatively, the external device (server 2) can evaluate the sensor data at least in part.

[0083] The invention is not limited to the embodiments of the system according to the invention that are represented in the drawings, but rather arises from the combination of all of the features disclosed herein.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0084] 1 Washer

[0085] 2 External device/server

[0086] 3 Customer/terminal of the customer

[0087] 4 Manufacturer/terminal of the manufacturer

[0088] 5 Security device

[0089] 6 Firewall

[0090] 7 Dealer/terminal of the dealer

[0091] 8 Router/access point

[0092] 9 Third network subscriber