DISHWASHER FOR A COFFEE SHOP AND/OR A FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT

Abstract

A dishwasher (1), in particular for a coffee shop and/or for a fast-food restaurant, for cleaning washware, in particular and preferably exclusively washware provided by the coffee shop and/or fast-food restaurant, wherein the dishwasher (1) is associated with an input or insertion region (2) adapted in particular as a return device and in particular adapted as a return machine for reusable washware items (100), and a transport device (3) for transporting the washware from the input or insertion region (2) to a treatment region (4) of the dishwasher (1) and from there to an output or removal region (10) of the dishwasher (1), the treatment region (4) of the dishwasher (1) having a washing and rinsing system (5) for washing and rinsing the washware and optionally, a drying system (6) for drying the rinsed washware, the drying system located downstream when viewed in the transport direction of the washware.

Claims

1. A dishwasher, for a coffee shop and/or for a fast-food restaurant, for cleaning washware, wherein the dishwasher is associated with an input or insertion region adapted as a return device and adapted as a return machine for reusable washware items, and wherein the dishwasher comprises a transport device for transporting the washware from the input or insertion region to a treatment region of the dishwasher and from there to an output or removal region of the dishwasher, wherein the treatment region of the dishwasher comprises a washing and rinsing system for washing and rinsing the washware and optionally, a drying system for drying the rinsed washware, said drying system being located downstream when viewed in the transport direction of the washware.

2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the input or insertion region is arranged separately from an inlet tunnel of the dishwasher leading to the treatment areal of the dishwasher.

3. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the input or insertion region comprises a refund device.

4. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the input or insertion region comprises a user interface and an identification device for washware items that cooperates with a data processing device and a data storage device, wherein the identification device comprises an optical detection system and/or wherein the identification device is adapted for barcode recognition, RFID detection, three-dimensional surface analysis, 3D-Matching, logo recognition, OCR detection and/or color detection.

5. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the input or insertion region comprises at least one access opening for receiving washware items, wherein the access opening is associated with a closing element adjustable between an open position and a closed position.

6. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the input or insertion region comprises at least one access opening with an outline corresponding to the washware item to be cleaned to specify an orientation of the washware items when manually placing the washware item into the input or insertion region.

7. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the input or insertion region comprises a device for sorting the washware items according to their size and/or type, wherein the washware items, sorted by size and/or type, are automatically fed to a corresponding transport lane of the transport device.

8. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the transport device comprises at least two transport lanes that run in parallel, which are adapted to transport at least two washware items in parallel through the dishwasher, wherein at least one of the at least two transport lanes and each of the at least two transport lanes is adapted to exclusively accept washware items of a pre-determined size and/or type assigned to the respective transport lane.

9. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the input or insertion region has a first access opening for accepting washware items of a first type and/or size and/or shape and at least one second access opening for accepting washware items of a second type and/or size and/or shape, wherein each access opening is associated with its own transport lane adapted to transport the washware item placed into the corresponding access opening through the dishwasher.

10. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the input or insertion region has a first access opening for accepting beverage cups of a first size, a second access opening for accepting beverage cups of a second size, and a third access opening for accepting beverage cups of a third size, wherein each access opening is associated with its own transport lane adapted to transport the washware items placed into the corresponding access opening through the dishwasher.

11. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein each access opening is associated with its own closing element adjustable between an open position and a closed position.

12. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein the dishwasher comprises a washware detection system adapted to detect the type, size and/or shape of a washware item to be placed into the dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher is adapted to control a closing element of one of the access openings depending on the type of data captured in a size and/or shape of the washware item such that it transitions from its closed position to its open position and allows the washware item to enter through the corresponding access opening.

13. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein the dishwasher comprises an interface by which the type, size and/or shape of a washware item to be placed into the dishwasher can be selected and/or entered automatically, wherein the dishwasher is adapted to control a closing element of one of the access openings depending on the selected and/or entered type, size and/or shape of the washware item such that said access opening transitions from its closed position to its open position and allows the washware item to be placed into the corresponding access opening.

14. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein the dishwasher comprises a load detection adapted to detect that a washware item was placed into one of the access openings, and which is further adapted to control the closing element associated with the respective access opening upon or after detecting that a washware item was placed into one of the access openings such that it transitions from its open position to its closed position.

15. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the transport device comprises at least one transport lane, wherein the at least one transport lane has dedicated acceptance areas adjacent to each other, wherein each acceptance area is adapted to accept precisely one washware item, wherein the at least one transport lane is associated with a hold-down device adapted to secure the washware item accepted by the receiving area in vertical direction.

16. The dishwasher according to claim 15, wherein the hold-down device associated with the at least one transport lane comprises at least one guide that travels together with the transport lane and extends laterally and/or above the washware item accepted by the receiving area.

17. The dishwasher according to claim 15, wherein the at least one transport lane per receiving area comprises at least one finger area projecting perpendicularly or transversely to the transport direction of the transport lane, and is adapted to at least sectionally accept a washware item.

18. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein when viewed in the transport direction of the washware, a stacking device for automatically stacking the washware items is provided downstream of the drying system at the output or removal region of the dishwasher.

19. The dishwasher according to claim 18, wherein the stacking device is adapted to stack the washware items dried in the drying system sorted by the size and/or type of the washware items in a corresponding stack of washware.

20. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the dishwasher comprises a device for automatically determining the cleanliness of the washware cleaned in the washing and rinsing system.

21. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the dishwasher when viewed in the transport direction of the washwarecomprises a storage area upstream of the treatment area as interim storage for a pre-determined or specifiable number of washware items to be cleaned; and/or wherein the output or removal region of the dishwasher is adapted as a storage area for the interim storage of a pre-determined or specifiable number of washware items.

22. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the dishwasher comprises a control device adapted to control the transport device such that the transport device discontinuously transports the washware to be cleaned through the treatment area to the output or removal region of the dishwasher: or wherein the dishwasher comprises a control device adapted to control the transport device such that the transport device transports the washware to be cleaned continuously, and at a predetermined or specifiable transport speed, through the washing and rinsing system and the drying system.

23. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the dishwasher comprises a control device for controlling the transport device and/or for controlling controllable components associated with the washing and rinsing system and/or the drying system , wherein the control device is adapted to control the transport device and, if necessary, controllable components associated with the washing and rinsing system and/or the drying system as a function of a presence or absence, or as a function of a number, of washware items, in the input or insertion region, and/or in the output or removal region of the dishwasher.

24. The dishwasher according to claim 1 , wherein the dishwasher has a length of about 1 to 3 meters, a height of about 1 to 1.75 meters and a width of about 0.3 to 1 meter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] Exemplary embodiments of the inventive dishwasher are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0066] FIG. 1 a principle rendering of an exemplary embodiment of the inventive dishwasher in a schematic isometric side view;

[0067] FIG. 2 an exemplary embodiment of the inventive dishwasher in a schematic top view and side view;

[0068] FIG. 3 a further exemplary embodiment of the inventive dishwasher in a schematic top view and side view;

[0069] FIG. 4 a further exemplary embodiment of the inventive dishwasher in a schematic top view and cross-section side view;

[0070] FIG. 5 a further embodiment of the inventive dishwasher in a schematic isometric side view;

[0071] FIG. 6 the embodiment of the inventive dishwasher according to FIG. 5 in a schematic side view;

[0072] FIG. 7 the embodiment of the inventive dishwasher according to FIG. 5 in a schematic, partially cross-sectional side view;

[0073] FIG. 8 the embodiment of the inventive dishwasher according to FIG. 5 in a schematic top view;

[0074] FIG. 9 a further embodiment of the inventive dishwasher in a schematic isometric side view;

[0075] FIG. 10 the embodiment of the inventive dishwasher according to FIG. 9 in a schematic side view;

[0076] FIG. 11 the embodiment of the inventive dishwasher according to FIG. 9 in a schematic, partially cross-sectional side view; and in

[0077] FIG. 12 a top view onto the embodiment of the inventive dishwasher according to FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] The exemplary embodiments of the inventive dishwasher 1 are in particular suitable for coffee shops or fast-food restaurants where reusable tableware is used that is returned by the customer.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, the dishwasher 1 for this purpose comprises an input or insertion region 2, which is embodied as a return machine for reusable, washware items 100.

[0079] The return machine is installed accessible for the customer of the coffee shop or fast-food restaurant. It may include a user interface and an identification device for washware items 100 that cooperates with a data processing device and a data storage device to identify the washware item 100 returned by the customer.

[0080] The input or insertion region 2 of the dishwasher 1 comprises at least one access opening, wherein the access opening is associated with a closing element adjustable between an open position and a closed position.

[0081] From the input or insertion region 2 of the dishwasher 1, the placed and preferably accordingly identified washware item 100 is transported to the treatment area 4 of the dishwasher 1 with the aid of a transport device 3. This is in particular a treatment zone with a washing and rinsing system 5 as well as a downstream drying zone 6when viewed in the transport direction of the washware.

[0082] Preferably, the input or insertion region 2 of the dishwasher 1 has at least one access opening with an outline corresponding to the washware item 100 to be cleaned to specify an orientation of the washware item 100 when manually placing the washware items 100 into the input or insertion region 2.

[0083] Alternatively or additionally, the dishwasher 1 preferably comprises, at the input or insertion region 2 or upstream of the treatment area 4, a device for sorting the washware items 100 according to their size and/or type, wherein the washware items 100, sorted by size and/or type, are then fed to the respective treatment zones. In particular, the washware items 100, sorted by size and/or type, are preferably automatically fed to a corresponding transport lane of the transport device 3.

[0084] The transport device 3 comprises at least two transport lanes running in parallel, which are adapted to simultaneously and in parallel transport at least two washware items 100 through the dishwasher 1. Preferably, at least one of the at least two transport lanes is adapted, and in particular each of the at least two transport lanes are adapted to in particular exclusively accept washware items 100 of a size and/or type assigned to the respective transport lane.

[0085] A stacking device 8 at the output or removal region of the dishwasher 1 is adapted to stack the items 100 dried in the drying system, in particular by size and/or type of washware items 100, into a corresponding stack of washware items. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable that the cleaned and dried washware items 100 are output into a container or the like provided at the output or removal region of the dishwasher 1, i.e., without forming a stack.

[0086] The embodiment of the inventive dishwasher 1 shown schematically in FIG. 2 comprises a storage area 9 in which the placed washware items 100 can be pre-sorted and temporarily stored.

[0087] Furthermore, the dishwasher 1 shown schematically in FIG. 2 comprises a device 7 for automatically determining the cleanliness of the washware item 100 cleaned in the washing and rinsing system 5.

[0088] In FIG. 2, it is further indicated that the treatment area of the dishwasher 1, e.g., the area of the dishwasher 1 connected by the transport device 3 to the input or insertion region 2 of the dishwasher 1 and adapted as a return machine, has a length of about 2.5 m at a height of about 1.3 m and a width of about 0.6 m.

[0089] More compact designs of the dishwasher 1 are shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Here, the length of the dishwasher 1 (with the exception of the input or insertion region 2 adapted as the return machine) is 1.2 and 1.5 m, respectively, at a height of about 1.3 m and a width of about 0.4 m.

[0090] The compact design of the body of the dishwasher 1 allows integrating the latter in a coffee shop or fast-food restaurant.

[0091] Further exemplary embodiments of the inventive dishwasher 1 are described below with reference to the illustrations in FIG. 5 to FIG. 8 and with reference to the illustrations in FIG. 9 to FIG. 12.

[0092] The further embodiments of the inventive dishwasher 1 are adapted in particular for use in a coffee shop and/or a fast-food restaurant. In this context, for example, it is conceivable that the dishwashers 1 can be used to clean the washware 100 served by the coffee shop or the fast-food restaurant after its use.

[0093] The dishwasher 1 is in particular associated with an input or insertion region 2 adapted as a return device, and preferably in particular adapted as a return machine for reusable washware items.

[0094] The dishwasher 1 further comprises a transport device 3 for transporting the washware 100 from the input or insertion region 2 to a treatment area 4 of the dishwasher 1 and from there to an output or removal region 10 of the dishwasher 1.

[0095] The treatment area 4 of the dishwasher 1 comprises a washing and rinsing system 5 for washing and rinsing the washware. Optionally, the dishwasher 1 can also have a downstream drying system 6when viewed in the transport direction of the washwarefor drying the rinsed washware.

[0096] In the embodiments of the inventive dishwasher 1 shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 12, the input or insertion region 2 of the dishwasher 1 is directly connected to the treatment area 4 of the dishwasher 1.

[0097] Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable that the input or insertion region 2 assigned to the dishwasher 1 and in particular adapted as a return device, and preferably in particular adapted as a return machine for reusable washware items, is arranged separately from an inlet tunnel of the dishwasher 1 leading to the treatment area 4 of the dishwasher 1.

[0098] Such an alternative embodiment allows the input or insertion region 2 of the dishwasher 1 in particular adapted as a return device and preferably in particular adapted as a return machine for reusable washware items to be used in the coffee shop or a fast-food restaurant itself such that customers of the coffee shop or fast-food restaurant can transfer the used, reusable washware items to the dishwasher 1. In this alternative embodiment, the actual treatment area 4 of the dishwasher 1 can be located elsewhere outside the coffee shop or fast-food restaurant.

[0099] The alternative embodiment is thus in particular suitable for so-called drive-through shops.

[0100] Although not shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 12, the input or insertion region 2 of the dishwasher 1 associated with the dishwasher 1, and in particular adapted as a return device and preferably in particular adapted as a return machine for reusable washware items, may comprise a refund device.

[0101] Further, it is conceivable that the input or insertion region 2 associated with the dishwasher 1 and in particular adapted as a return device and preferably in particular adapted as a return machine for reusable washware items, comprises a user interface and an identification device for washware items that cooperates with a data processing device and a data storage device, wherein the identification device can in particular comprise an optical detection system, and/or wherein the identification device can be adapted for barcode recognition, RFID detection, three-dimensional surface analysis, 3D-Matching, logo recognition, OCR detection and/or color detection.

[0102] The illustrations in FIG. 5 to FIG. 12 further show that the input or insertion region 2 of the dishwasher 1 associated with the dishwasher 1 and in particular adapted as a return device and preferably in particular adapted as a return machine for reusable washware items, comprises an access opening 7 for accepting washware items. However, it is of course also conceivable for the dishwasher 1 to have a plurality of access openings 7, in particular arranged next to one another, for accepting washware items.

[0103] It is further conceivable that the at least one access opening 7 of the dishwasher 1 is preferably associated with a closing element adjustable between an open position and a closed position.

[0104] Although not shown in the drawings, it is expedient according to design variants of the inventive dishwasher 1 that the input or insertion region 2 associated with the dishwasher 1 and in particular adapted as a return device and preferably in particular adapted as a return machine for reusable washware items has an access opening 7 with an outline corresponding to the washware item to specify an orientation of the washware item in particular when feeding the washware item manually into the input or insertion region 2 of the dishwasher 1.

[0105] The further embodiments of the inventive dishwasher 1 shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 12 comprise a transport device 3 with a single transport lane, although it is of course also conceivable that multiple transport lanes running in parallel are used.

[0106] At the input or insertion region 2 of the dishwasher 1, the washware 100 (here: beverage cup) to be cleaned is placed on the transport lane, preferably in a predetermined orientation of the washware item, in particular in an upside-down orientation. The washware item thus accepted by the transport lane of the transport device 3 is then transported through the treatment zones or the treatment area 4 of the conveyor dishwasher 1. The embodiments of the inventive dishwasher 1 shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 12 represent a washing and rinsing system 5 as well as a downstream drying system 6. Such a drying system 6 may be omitted.

[0107] After the washware items have passed through the treatment zones of the conveyor dishwasher 1, they are fed to an output or removal region 10 of the dishwasher 1 using the at least one transport lane of the transport device 3.

[0108] In the design variant of the inventive dishwasher 1 shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, the (cleaned) washware items are automatically sorted according to their size in the output or removal region 10 of the dishwasher 1.

[0109] In detail, a first wiper device 8 is provided for this purpose in the output or removal region 10 of the dishwasher 1, said wiper device 8 being adapted to unload from the transport lane of the transport device 3 preferably exclusively the particular washware 100 having a predetermined or specifiable first minimum size/minimum height.

[0110] For this purpose, the first wiper device 8 comprises a guide, which, with reference to a plane that extends at least in the output or removal region 10, is vertically spaced such that during transport with the transport lane through the output or removal region 10 any washware 100 having the first predetermined or specifiable minimum size/minimum height bumps against the guide of the first wiper device 8, but not the washware 100 having a smaller size/height.

[0111] Said washware 100 having a lesser height/size is transported further by the conveyor 3, namely to a second wiper device 9, which also has a guide that is vertically spaced with reference to the plane in which the transport lane extends at least in the output or removal region 10 of the dishwasher 1, such that during transport with the transport lane through the output or removal region 10 of the dishwasher 1, any washware items having the second pre-determined size/height, which is less than the first pre-determined or specifiable size/height, bumps against guide of the second wiper device 9 and is redirected from the transport direction determined by the transport belt.

[0112] In particular, this washware 100 is then stacked or collected accordingly in a dedicated collection area 11, 12.

[0113] After passing the first and second wiper devices 8, 9, all further washware 100 is then redirected with a lateral guide 14 into a third dedicated area 13.

[0114] The guides of the wiper devices are preferably variably adjustable in vertical direction to adjust the dishwasher 1 for different types of washware.

[0115] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but rather results when all of the features disclosed herein are considered together.

List of Reference Numerals

[0116] 1 Dishwasher [0117] 2 Input/insertion region [0118] 3 Transport device [0119] 4 Treatment area [0120] 5 Washing and rinsing system [0121] 6 Drying system [0122] 7 Access opening [0123] 8 First wiper device [0124] 9 Second wiper device [0125] 10 Output or removal region [0126] 11 First dedicated area [0127] 12 Second dedicated area [0128] 13 Third dedicated area [0129] 14 Guide [0130] 100 Washware item