CLEANING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLEANING ARTICLES TO BE CLEANED

Abstract

A cleaning system (110) is proposed for cleaning articles (112) to be cleaned. The cleaning system (110) comprises: a) at least one cleaning device (116), comprising at least one cleaning chamber (120) and at least one application device (122) for applying at least one cleaning fluid to the articles (112) to be cleaned in the cleaning chamber (120); and b) at least one transport system (118), comprising a plurality of transport segments (124) for receiving the articles (112) to be cleaned, wherein the transport segments (124) are guided such that they can be transported through the cleaning chamber (120) in circulation in a transport direction (114), wherein the transport system (118) also comprises at least one transport device (134) for driving the transport segments (124).

Claims

1. A cleaning system for cleaning articles to be cleaned, comprising: a) at least one cleaning device, comprising at least one cleaning chamber and at least one application device for applying at least one cleaning fluid to the articles to be cleaned in the cleaning chamber; and b) at least one transport system, comprising a plurality of transport segments for receiving the articles to be cleaned, wherein the transport segments are guided such that they can be transported through the cleaning chamber in circulation in a transport direction, wherein the transport system furthermore comprises at least one transport device for driving the transport segments, wherein the at least one transport device comprises at least one first transport device and at least one second transport device, wherein the cleaning system is configured such that the transport segments are each automatically coupled to the first transport device in at least one predefined or predefinable portion of a travel length of a circuit of the transport devices, and automatically coupled to the second transport device in at least one further predefined or predefinable portion of the travel length of the circuit of the transport devices.

2. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transport segments can be automatically coupled to the transport device and automatically decoupled from the transport device-W.

3. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transport segments can be coupled selectively to the at least one first transport device or to the at least one second transport device.

4. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning system is configured such that the transport segments are each coupled to the at least one first transport device outside the cleaning chamber and coupled to the at least one second transport device inside the cleaning chamber.

5. The cleaning system as claimed claim 4, wherein the second transport device is operated discontinuously, and is configured to halt the transport segments inside the cleaning chamber for a predefined or predefinable duration.

6. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cleaning system is configured to open the cleaning chamber on a transfer of the transport segments from the first transport device to the second transport device, in order to introduce the transport segments into the cleaning chamber, and wherein the cleaning system is furthermore configured to open the cleaning chamber again on a transfer of the transport segments from the second transport device to the first transport device, in order to discharge the transport segments from the cleaning chamber.

7. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transport system has at least one first transport segment group and at least one second transport segment group, wherein the first transport segment group and the second transport segment group each have at least one transport segment, wherein a first transport device is assigned to the first transport segment group and wherein a second transport device is assigned to the second transport segment group.

8. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning system comprises at least one guide rail, wherein the transport segments can be transported through the cleaning chamber on the guide rail in circulation in the transport direction.

9. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transport segments are movable independently of one another.

10. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transport device comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of a transport belt, a transport chain, a plurality of transport rollers.

11. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transport segments and the transport device have co-operating coupling elements, wherein the coupling elements are configured for coupling to one another.

12. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning system comprises at least one dishwashing machine.

13. A method for cleaning articles to be cleaned, comprising the following method steps: I. providing at least one cleaning system as claimed in any one of claims 1-12; II. receiving the articles to be cleaned in the transport segments; and III. applying at least one cleaning fluid to the articles to be cleaned in the cleaning chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0111] Further details and features arise from the following description of exemplary embodiments, in particular in connection with the subclaims. Here, the respective features may be implemented alone or combined with one another in groups. The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments are depicted schematically in the figures. The same reference signs in the individual figures designate the same elements or those of similar function or with mutually corresponding function.

[0112] The drawings show:

[0113] FIG. 1 a first exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system for cleaning articles to be cleaned, in a sectional depiction from the side;

[0114] FIG. 2 a sectional illustration through a transport segment and its guide, with section plane perpendicular to the drawing plane of FIG. 1;

[0115] FIG. 3 a derivative of the cleaning system according to FIG. 1; and

[0116] FIG. 4 exemplary temporal profiles of the speeds of the two transport devices of the cleaning system in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0117] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system 110 for cleaning articles 112 to be cleaned, in a sectional depiction from the side, with a section plane parallel to a transport direction 114. The cleaning system 110 comprises a cleaning device 116 and a transport system 118.

[0118] The cleaning device 116 comprises a cleaning chamber 120 in which at least one cleaning fluid can be applied to the articles 112 to be cleaned by means of an application device 122. The cleaning device 116 may be configured for example as a programmable machine, wherein the articles 112 to be cleaned remain stationary in the cleaning chamber 120 during cleaning. By way of assistance, the cleaning device 116 may accordingly be configured as a pass-through dishwasher, for example in the form of a hood dishwasher, wherein a hood of the cleaning chamber 120 may be opened for loading and unloading the articles 112 to be cleaned, and closed again for the cleaning. Alternatively, the cleaning device 116 may also be configured such that the articles 112 to be cleaned remain in motion during cleaning and application of the cleaning fluid, and are transported for example through the cleaning chamber 120. Accordingly, the cleaning device 116 may for example comprise a transport dishwasher. For possible designs of such dishwashers, reference may be made for example to the above-mentioned prior art, apart from the transport system 118 which is described in more detail below.

[0119] In the exemplary embodiment depicted, the transport system 118 comprises a plurality of transport segments 124. The transport segments 124 are for example mounted to slide or roll independently of one another in a guide 126. For example, the guide 126 may comprise a rail system. FIG. 2 shows as an example a sectional illustration, perpendicularly to the drawing plane in FIG. 1, through a transport segment 124 and its guide 126. Thus the transport segment 124 may comprise for example a plurality of lateral transport rollers 128 which may be mounted so as to roll in rail elements 130. A sliding mounting is also possible. The transport segments 124 may for example comprise a plurality of fingers 132 on the top side, in which the articles 112 to be cleaned may be inserted. The guide 126 is configured such that the transport segments 124 can be guided through the cleaning chamber 120 in circulation in the transport direction 114. For example, the guide 126 may comprise a closed rail system, so that for example the transport segments 124 in FIG. 1 may be guided clockwise in circulation.

[0120] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning device 116 furthermore comprises as an example two transport devices 134, namely a first transport device 136 and a second transport device 138. Also only one transport device 134, or also more than two transport devices 134, may be provided. The transport devices 134, as shown in FIG. 1, are preferably guided in circulation so that they may each guide the transport segments 124 in circulation through the cleaning chamber 120. The transport segments 124 may each be couplable reversibly to the transport devices 134. Thus the transport segments 124 may for example each be automatically coupled either to the first transport device 136 or to the second transport device 138, as will be described in more detail below.

[0121] The transport segments 124 each comprise for example coupling elements 140, for example in the form of hooks. These hooks may be rigidly formed or for example foldable. The transport devices 134 in turn have corresponding coupling elements 142, 144 which can engage in the coupling elements 140 of the transport segments 124. As evident in the cross-sectional depiction in FIG. 2, the transport devices 136, 138 may for example each comprise drive chains or drive belts, from which the coupling elements 142 or 144 protrude upwards. By corresponding guidance of the transport devices 136, 138 relative to the guide 126 of the transport segments 124, depending on the location of the respective transport segment 124, the coupling elements 142 and/or 144 may each be brought into engagement with the respective coupling elements 140 of a transport segment 124. For example, in this exemplary embodiment, two coupling elements 140 are provided on each transport segment 124 for engagement with corresponding coupling elements 142 of the first transport device 136, and two coupling elements 140 are provided for engagement with corresponding coupling elements 144 of the second transport device 138. These may for example be arranged symmetrically to the right and left of axis 146 of the transport segments 124, so that a tilting of the transport segments 124 in the guide 126 is avoided by the symmetrical force application. In order to bring the coupling elements 142, 144 optionally into engagement with the corresponding coupling elements 140, the transport devices 136, 138 may be guided for example such that either the coupling elements 142 or the coupling elements 144 are brought to the respective coupling elements 140. For decoupling, the coupling elements may for example be moved relatively away from the coupling elements 140 again by corresponding guidance of the transport devices 136, 138.

[0122] The transport devices 136, 138 may for example be driven via a common drive or, as shown as an example in FIG. 1, by separate drives 148, 150, for example by corresponding motors, in particular electric motors. If several drives are provided, these may for example be synchronized, in particular by means of at least one controller 152 of the cleaning system 110. The controller 152 may for example be a central machine controller, which for example may also activate an operation of the cleaning device 116, so that for example one or more cleaning programs may be activated by means of the controller 152. Alternatively, the controller 152 may also comprise several sub-controllers, for example a controller for the cleaning device 116 and a controller for the transport system 118.

[0123] The transport devices 136, 138 may for example be operated with different speeds. Actuation cycles are also possible in which the transport devices 136, 138 are operated with a corresponding speed depending on the respective requirement. Operation may take place for example such that, for example by means of the first transport device 136, a transport segment 124 is transported to a loading position in front of the cleaning chamber 120, in order there to be loaded with articles 112 to be cleaned, either manually or by means of a to loading device 154. Then, for example at a changeover position 156, the first transport device 136 may be decoupled from the transport segment 124, for example in that the coupling elements 142 are moved away from the associated coupling elements 140 of the transport segment 124 by a corresponding guide. At the same time or with a temporal offset, corresponding coupling elements 144 of the second transport device 138 may be brought into engagement with associated coupling elements 140 of the transport segment 124, for example in that these coupling elements 144 are moved relatively towards the coupling elements 140 of the transport segment 124 by a corresponding guide. By means of the second transport device 138, for example after opening of the cleaning chamber 120, in particular by opening a hood and/or by passing through a corresponding inlet opening, the transport segment 124 in question, together with the articles 112 to be cleaned, may be brought into the cleaning chamber 120. There, depending on the design of the cleaning device 116, the transport segment 124 may remain stationary for the duration of a cleaning program or be transported with constant or varying speed through the cleaning chamber 120, for example through several cleaning zones in the cleaning chamber 120. At a further changeover position 158, then for example again a change between transport devices 134 may take place. Thus for example the second transport device 138 may again be decoupled from the transport segment 124, for example in that the coupling elements 144 are moved relatively away from the transport segment 124 by a corresponding guide, so that they are decoupled from the associated coupling elements 140. At the same time or with a temporal offset, for example again by a corresponding guide, the coupling elements 142 may again be brought towards the associated coupling elements 140 and thus brought into engagement therewith. Then, for example by means of the first transport device 136, in particular after opening the cleaning chamber 120 and/or after passing through a corresponding outlet opening of the cleaning chamber 120, the respective transport segment 124 is moved out of the cleaning chamber 120. There, the cleaned articles 112 may be removed from the transport segment 124, for example manually or by means of a corresponding unloading device 160. The now unloaded transport segment 124 may be guided in circulation again up to the loading device 154, for example by means of the first transport device 136.

[0124] As shown as an example in FIG. 1, the transport segments 124 may always each be coupled to one of the transport devices 134 or also to both transport devices 134. However other embodiments are conceivable in which the transport segments 124 are completely decoupled from the transport devices 134 in circulation along the travel distance of the transport segments 124 predefined by the guide 126. These one or more decoupling sections may for example be used for storage of transport segments 124. When the transport segments 124 are required again, they may again be coupled, for example automatically or manually, to one or more of the transport devices 134.

[0125] FIG. 3 shows as an example a derivative of the clean system 110 according to FIG. 1. To a great extent, reference may be made to the description of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1. In this exemplary embodiment however, it is shown that the transport segments 124 need not necessarily be reversibly coupled to the at least one transport device 134.

[0126] In this exemplary embodiment, again two transport devices 136, 138 are provided, which are configured to transport the transport segments 124 in circulation through the cleaning chamber 120 of the cleaning device 116. The transport devices 136, 138 may again be driven by one or more drives. If separate drives are provided for the transport devices 136, 138, these may in particular be operated in synchrony.

[0127] In this exemplary embodiment, the transport segments 124 are divided for example into two transport segment groups, namely a first transport segment group 162 and a second transport segment group 164. The transport segments 124 of the first transport segment group 162 are coupled by means of coupling elements 140 to the first transport device 136, and the transport segments 124 of the second transport segment group 164 are coupled via corresponding coupling elements 140 to the second transport device 138. In particular, the transport segments 124 of the two transport segment groups 162, 164 may be arranged alternately and again guided in circulation for example by means of a guide 126.

[0128] The transport devices 136, 138 may be operated for example in synchrony, but each with different speed profiles. As an example, this is indicated schematically in FIG. 4 by means of the speeds v of a segment S1 of the first transport segment group 162 and of a segment S2 of the second transport segment group 164, as a function of time t. For both speed profiles, the positions of the leading edges of the respective transport segments S1, S2 are shown, marked in FIGS. 3 and 4 as P.sub.0, P.sub.1, P.sub.2 and P.sub.3. Furthermore, times t.sub.0, t.sub.1, t.sub.2, t.sub.3 and t.sub.4 are shown on the time axis t.

[0129] The cleaning system 110 may also comprise one or more position sensors, for example position switches, which can determine the position of individual or several transport segments 124 and/or which may be configured to determine whether a transport segment 124 has reached at least one specific position.

[0130] Thus for example a transport segment S1 may be moved with a medium speed up to point P.sub.0, which the transport segment S1 reaches at time to. There, manual or automatic loading with articles 112 to be cleaned may take place, similarly to FIG. 1, until at time t.sub.1 the leading edge reaches point P.sub.1, which for example may mark the end of a loading zone. There the transport segment S1 may for example be brought, after opening of the cleaning chamber 120 and/or through an inlet opening, into the cleaning chamber 120 until the leading edge, for example at time t.sub.2, has reached point P.sub.2 and is completely received in the cleaning chamber 120. The transport segment S1 may for example remain there with speed v=0 while a cleaning program runs in the cleaning device 116. Alternatively, the cleaning device 116 may be configured such that the transport segment S1 is transported with a transport speed through one or more cleaning zones of the cleaning device 116 where it is cleaned. The process of cleaning the articles to be cleaned on the transport segment S1 may for example take place during a time interval Δt. After the end of the cleaning program, for example at time t.sub.3, the speed v of the first transport device 136 may be increased again and the transport segment S1, for example at time t.sub.4, reaches point P.sub.3. There unloading may be provided, for example again manually or also automatically, for example via an unloading device 160. As an example, here unloading onto a tray trolley 166 is shown.

[0131] The drive configuration, shown at the bottom in FIG. 4, for the second transport device 138 for transporting the transport segments S2 of the second transport segment group 164 may for example be identical to the drive configuration of the first transport segment group 162, but with a time offset. Thus for example, at time to, a transport segment S2 may be present in the cleaning chamber 122 with leading edge at point P.sub.2. At time t.sub.1, the cleaning program for the articles 112 to be cleaned on the transport segment S2 is completed, and the transport segment S2 is moved out of the cleaning chamber 120 at high speed until, at time t.sub.2, it reaches point P.sub.3 where it is unloaded. Then it may be transported further at medium speed until time t.sub.3 at which the cleaning program for the following transport segment S1 of the first transport segment group 162 has ended, whereupon both transport devices 136, 138 are operated at high speed until time t.sub.4.

[0132] Then the speed profiles of the two transport devices 136, 138 may be repeated periodically. Thus in general the time profiles of the transport devices 136, 138 may be configured periodically with a phase shift. In general, the number of segments of the temporal profile of the speeds may be adapted to the respective circumstances. It is also not absolutely necessary to keep the speeds constant in portions, but temporal variations of the transport speeds may be provided in one or more portions.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0133] 110 Cleaning system [0134] 112 Articles to be cleaned [0135] 114 Transport direction [0136] 116 Cleaning device [0137] 118 Transport system [0138] 120 Cleaning chamber [0139] 122 Application device [0140] 124 Transport segment [0141] 126 Guide [0142] 128 Transport roller [0143] 130 Rail element [0144] 132 Finger [0145] 134 Transport device [0146] 136 First transport device [0147] 138 Second transport device [0148] 140 Coupling element [0149] 142 Coupling element [0150] 144 Coupling element [0151] 146 Axis [0152] 148 Drive [0153] 150 Drive [0154] 152 Controller [0155] 154 Loading device [0156] 156 Changeover position [0157] 158 Changeover position [0158] 160 Unloading device [0159] 162 First transport segment group [0160] 164 Second transport segment group [0161] 166 Tray trolley