Warewasher wash arm filter arrangement

Abstract

A warewasher includes a liquid recirculation system for spraying wares with wash liquid from a collecting tank. The warewasher includes a filter arrangement for capturing food debris in a wash spray before the wash spray reaches the wares being cleaned.

Claims

1. A warewasher for washing wares, comprising: a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone upstream of a final rinse zone, the wash zone including a tank for collecting sprayed liquid of the wash zone and a liquid recirculation system for moving liquid from the tank to a spray arrangement of the wash zone; a conveyor for moving wares in a conveyance direction through the chamber from the wash zone to the final rinse zone; wherein the spray arrangement of the wash zone comprises multiple spray tubes extending across a path of the conveyor, each spray tube including multiple spray nozzles, wherein a last of the spray tubes in the wash zone in the conveyance direction includes an associated filter arrangement for limiting food debris that exits the spray nozzles from being directed onto wares traveling along the conveyor, wherein the filter arrangement is external of the last spray tube such that sprays exiting the spray nozzles of the last spray tube must pass through the filter arrangement to reach wares traveling along the conveyor, wherein the spray arrangement of the wash zone includes multiple upper spray tubes and multiple lower spray tubes, and the last of the spray tubes in the conveyance direction is an upper spray tube.

2. The warewasher of claim 1 wherein the filter arrangement forms a channel below the last spray tube, the channel including screening structure aligned with the spray nozzles of the last spray tube.

3. The warewasher of claim 2 wherein the channel has an upstream edge barrier and a downstream edge barrier, relative to the conveyance direction, to inhibit flow out of the upstream and downstream edges of the channel, wherein the channel includes at least one end that is open such that debris captured by the screen material tends to be flushed out of the at least one end of the channel such that the debris drops downward at a location lateral of the conveyor path so as to avoid being dropped onto wares traveling along the conveyor path.

4. The warewasher of claim 2 wherein the channel is formed by a bracket structure having multiple windows therethrough and the screening material overlies the windows.

5. The warewasher of claim 1 wherein the filter arrangement is self-flushing, so that captured food debris is moved off of the filter arrangement automatically.

6. The warewasher of claim 1 wherein at least one other spray tube of the spray tubes in the wash zone, in addition to the last spray tube, includes an associated filter arrangement.

7. A warewasher for washing wares, comprising: a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone upstream of a final rinse zone, the wash zone including a tank for collecting sprayed liquid of the wash zone and a liquid recirculation system for moving liquid from the tank to a spray arrangement of the wash zone; a conveyor for moving wares in a conveyance direction through the chamber from the wash zone to the final rinse zone; wherein the spray arrangement of the wash zone comprises multiple spray tubes extending across a path of the conveyor, each spray tube including multiple spray nozzles, wherein a last of the spray tubes in the wash zone in the conveyance direction includes an associated filter arrangement for limiting food debris that exits the spray nozzles from being directed onto wares traveling along the conveyor, wherein the filter arrangement is external of the last spray tube such that sprays exiting the spray nozzles of the last spray tube must pass through the filter arrangement to reach wares traveling along the conveyor; wherein the filter arrangement includes a mount structure connected to the last spray tube, a channel bracket incorporating screening material, and at least one latch mechanism connected to the mount structure enabling the channel bracket to be releasably secured to the last spray tube.

8. A warewasher for washing wares, comprising: a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone including a tank for collecting sprayed liquid of the wash zone and a liquid recirculation system for moving liquid from the tank to a spray arrangement of the wash zone, the spray arrangement formed at least in part by a spray tube having multiple nozzles, the spray tube including a filter arrangement external of the spray tube and positioned so that sprays exiting the multiple nozzles pass through the filter arrangement before reaching wares in the chamber for limiting food debris that exits the spray nozzles from being directed onto wares in the chamber; wherein the spray tube is located above a ware location of the wash zone, and the filter arrangement forms a channel below the spray tube, the channel including screening structure aligned with the spray nozzles of the spray tube.

9. The warewasher of claim 8 wherein the channel has a first edge barrier extending along a spray length of the spray tube and a second edge barrier extending along the spray length of the spray tube, to inhibit flow out of the edges of the channel, wherein the channel includes opposite ends that are open such that debris captured by the screen material tends to be flushed out of the opposite ends of the channel.

10. The warewasher of claim 9 wherein the spray tube extends over a ware conveyance path of the warewasher, and the opposite ends of the channel are located such that the debris flushed out of the opposite ends of the channel drops downward at locations laterally of the conveyance path so as to avoid being dropped onto wares traveling along the conveyance path.

11. The warewasher of claim 8 wherein the channel is formed by a bracket structure having multiple windows therethrough and the screening material overlies the windows.

12. A warewasher for washing wares, comprising: a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone including a tank for collecting sprayed liquid of the wash zone and a liquid recirculation system for moving liquid from the tank to a spray arrangement of the wash zone, the spray arrangement formed at least in part by a spray tube having multiple nozzles, the spray tube including a filter arrangement external of the spray tube and positioned so that sprays exiting the multiple nozzles pass through the filter arrangement before reaching wares in the chamber for limiting food debris that exits the spray nozzles from being directed onto wares in the chamber; wherein the filter arrangement includes a mount structure connected to the spray tube, a channel bracket incorporating screening material, and at least one latch mechanism connected to the mount structure enabling the channel bracket to be releasably secured to the spray tube.

13. A warewasher for washing wares, comprising: a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone including a tank for collecting sprayed liquid of the wash zone and a liquid recirculation system for moving liquid from the tank to a spray arrangement of the wash zone, the spray arrangement formed at least in part by a spray tube having at least one spray nozzle, a filter arrangement mounted to the spray tube and positioned so that a spray exiting the at least one nozzle passes through the filter arrangement before reaching wares in the chamber for limiting food debris that exits the at least one spray nozzle from being directed onto wares in the chamber.

14. The warewasher of claim 13 wherein the filter arrangement is mounted to the spray tube by a releasable latch assembly that enables removal of the filter arrangement from the spray tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation of one embodiment of a warewasher;

(2) FIG. 2 is a partial schematic view of a filter arrangement of the warewasher;

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bracket structure of the filter arrangement;

(4) FIG. 4 is a partial end view of the filter arrangement;

(5) FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of a filter arrangement in a wash zone;

(6) FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the filter arrangement;

(7) FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing the filter arrangement;

(8) FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing the filter arrangement; and

(9) FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view showing the filter arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary conveyor-type warewash system, generally designated 10, is shown. Warewash system 10 can receive racks 12 of soiled wares 14 from an input side 16 which are moved through tunnel-like chambers from the input side toward a dryer unit 18 (optional) at an opposite end of the warewash system by a suitable conveyor mechanism 20. Either continuously or intermittently moving conveyor mechanisms or combinations thereof may be used, depending, for example, on the style, model and size of the warewash system 10. Flight-type conveyors in which racks are not used are also possible. In the illustrated example, the racks 12 of soiled wares 14 enter the warewash system 10 through a flexible curtain 22 into a pre-wash chamber or zone 24 where sprays of liquid from upper and lower pre-wash manifolds 26 and 28 that feed spray tubes (also known as spray arms) above and below the racks, respectively, function to flush heavier soil from the wares. The liquid for this purpose comes from a tank 30 via a pump 32 and supply conduit 34. A drain system 36 provides a single location where liquid is pumped from the tank 30 using the pump 32. Liquid can be drained from the tank via drain path 36, for example, for a tank cleaning operation.

(11) The racks proceed to a next curtain 38 into a main wash chamber or zone 40, where the wares are subject to sprays of cleansing liquid from upper and lower spray systems in which manifolds 42 and 44 feed lateral spray tubes 47 and 49 with associated nozzles along the lengths of the spray tubes. The manifolds are supplied through a supply conduit 46 by a pump 48, which draws from a main tank 50. A heater 58, such as an electrical immersion heater provided with suitable thermostatic controls (not shown), maintains the temperature of the cleansing liquid in the tank 50 at a suitable level. Not shown, but which may be included, is a device for adding a cleansing detergent to the liquid in tank 50. During normal operation, pumps 32 and 48 are continuously driven, usually by separate motors, once the warewash system 10 is started for a period of time.

(12) The warewash system 10 may optionally include a power rinse (also known as post-wash) chamber or zone (not shown) that is substantially identical to main wash chamber 40. In such an instance, racks of wares proceed from the wash chamber 40 into the power rinse chamber, within which heated rinse water is sprayed onto the wares from upper and lower manifolds.

(13) The racks 12 of wares 14 exit the main wash chamber 40 through a curtain 52 into a final rinse chamber or zone 54. The final rinse chamber 54 is provided with upper and lower spray heads 56, 57 that are supplied with a flow of fresh hot water via pipe 60 under the control of solenoid valve 62. A rack detector 64 is actuated when rack 12 of wares 14 is positioned in the final rinse chamber 54 and through suitable electrical controls, the detector causes actuation of the solenoid valve 62 to open and admit the hot rinse water to the spray heads 56, 57. The water then drains from the wares into tank 50. The rinsed rack 12 of wares 14 then exits the final rinse chamber 54 through curtain 66, moving into dryer unit 18.

(14) As seen in FIG. 1, an exemplary wash arm filter arrangement 100 may be associated with one or more of the spray tubes in one or more of the pre-wash, wash and/or post-wash/power rinse zones. Notably, multiple upper spray tubes 47 and lower spray tubes 49 are located along the conveyor path, each having respective spray nozzles. As noted above, wash water is recirculated from a tank to the spray tubes via a pump. A last of the spray tubes in the conveyance direction 84, here designated as spray tube 47, includes an associated external filter arrangement 100 for limiting food debris that exits the spray nozzles from being directed onto wares traveling along the conveyor 20.

(15) As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the filter arrangement 100 forms a channel below the last spray tube 47, and the channel includes screening material 88 aligned with the spray nozzles of the last spray tube. In the illustrated embodiment, the channel has an upstream edge with barrier 90 and a downstream edge with barrier 92, relative to the conveyance direction 84, to inhibit flow out of the upstream and downstream edges of the channel. One or both ends 94, 96 of the channel are open such that debris captured by the screen material 88 tends to be flushed out of the end or ends of the channel, such that the debris drops downward at locations laterally of the conveyor path (as suggested by arrows 98 in the schematic end view of FIG. 4) so as to avoid being dropped onto wares traveling along the conveyor path 20. Notably, the filter arrangement therefore provides a self-cleaning or self-flushing feature that reduces the need to remove and clean the filter member.

(16) In the illustrated embodiment, the channel is formed by a bracket structure 86 having multiple windows (e.g. holes) therethrough and the screening material 88 overlies the windows. However, other arrangements could be used, including an arrangement in which the entire channel is formed by screening material. In addition, although a rectangular bracket structure forming the channel is shown, a round structure that surrounds the spray tube could also be used to form the filter arrangement. Moreover, other spray tubes could include a similar external filter arrangement, such as the last two spray arms in the conveyance direction the last upper and lower spray arms in the conveyance direction.

(17) As mentioned above, the subject filter arrangement may be used in any of the wash zones. However, in the most effective arrangement the filter arrangement is provided at least in the wash zone that is immediately upstream of the final rinse section of the machine. In this manner, the last water that is sprayed onto the wares before the rinse section is largely free of significant food debris, reducing redeposit and making it easier for the final rinse section to achieve desired results. Notably, the external filter arrangement allows food debris to exits the spray nozzles before capturing it, so that the external filter arrangement does not result in build-up of food debris within the spray tube.

(18) Testing has shown the ability to reduce food debris particulates per rack of wares entering the rinse section by over fifty percent as compared to the same machine without the filter arrangement. In some cases this result will reduce the amount of rinse water that will be required to be sprayed in the final rinse, thereby reducing overall machine operating cost.

(19) FIGS. 5-9 show other depictions in which the conveyance direction 84 relative to multiple spray tubes 80 (as shown on the page) is generally opposite that shown for FIGS. 1-4. As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the filter arrangement 120 may be coupled to the last spray tube 80 utilizing a clamp arrangement that includes an upper housing member 122 that may be fixedly attached to the spray tube 80 (e.g., by one or more fasteners 124) and two which latch mechanisms 126 are mounted. The latch mechanisms interact with the channel bracket 128 of the filter structure (e.g., by downwardly extending fingers 130 of the latch that engage with the underside of the bracket 128 and/or with small flanges 132 that extend downward from the bracket). The latch mechanisms (e.g., which may be of the over center type) may be released to enable the bracket 128 to be removed for cleaning.

(20) Notably, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper edges of the channel bracket 128 engage with lower edges of the housing member 122 (e.g., in simple abutment or by slight insertion into downward facing recesses 134) to assure that any liquid/debris flow that does not pass through the screening material is forced towards the ends of the channel bracket. End 94 is of the channel bracket 128 is open to allow the debris to flush outwardly as mentioned above, and end 96 abuts against the manifold bracket 136, but includes a downwardly facing open (i.e., unscreened) window 138 for the same purpose. The underside of the housing member 122 may sit flushly against the outer surface of the tube 80 to assure that no food debris can move upward between the housing member and the tube 80. The channel bracket 128 includes screened openings 88 that align with the spray nozzles of the tube 80, similar to bracket 86 above.

(21) It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not intended to be taken by way of limitation, and that changes and modifications are possible. Accordingly, other embodiments are contemplated and modifications and changes could be made without departing from the scope of this application. For example, although a conveyor-type machine is shown in FIG. 1, the wash arm filter arrangement could be implemented on other machines. Warewash machines are categorized into two types based on the operating modes (i.e., batch or continuous) and the wash arm filter arrangement could be used on spray tubes of both machine types.