CONVEYOR CURTAIN MOUNTING BRACKET

Abstract

A dishwashing machine curtain having a header element and a curtain element suspended below the header element. The header element is formed by a loop of material forming a pocket along a width of the header element. A rigid element extends through the pocket. The header element and the rigid element are bonded. A plurality of apertures are formed through the header element and the rigid element to allow the dishwashing machine curtain to be installed in a commercial, tunnel-type dishwashing machine.

Claims

1. A dishwashing machine curtain, comprising: a curtain element; a header element positioned at a top of the curtain element; and a rigid element bonded to the header element.

2. The dishwashing machine curtain of claim 1, wherein a plurality of apertures are formed through the header element and the rigid element.

3. The dishwashing machine curtain of claim 1, wherein a pocket is formed in a width of the header element by a loop of material.

4. The dishwashing machine curtain of claim 3, wherein the rigid element extends through the pocket.

5. The dishwashing machine curtain of claim 4, wherein rigid element is sealed within the pocket to prevent moisture and contamination within the pocket.

6. The dishwashing machine curtain of claim 1, wherein rigid element is sealed to the header element to prevent moisture and contamination around header element.

7. A dishwashing machine curtain, comprising: a curtain element; a header element positioned at a top of the curtain element; and a rigid element, wherein a plurality of apertures are formed through the header element and the rigid element.

8. The dishwashing machine curtain of claim 7, wherein the rigid element is bonded to the header element.

9. The dishwashing machine curtain of claim 7, wherein a pocket is formed in a width of the header element by a loop of material.

10. The dishwashing machine curtain of claim 9, wherein the rigid element extends through the pocket.

11. The dishwashing machine curtain of claim 7, wherein the plurality of apertures are uniquely spaced corresponding to a specific attachment position within a dishwashing machine.

12. A dishwashing machine curtain system, comprising: a first dishwashing machine curtain having: a first curtain element; a first header element positioned at a top of the first curtain element; and a first rigid element, wherein a first plurality of apertures are formed through the first header element and the first rigid element; and a second dishwashing machine curtain having: a second curtain element; a second header element positioned at a top of the second curtain element; and a second rigid element, wherein a second plurality of apertures are formed through the second header element and the second rigid element.

13. The dishwashing machine curtain system of claim 12, wherein the first rigid element is bonded to the first header element, and wherein the second rigid element is bonded to the second header element.

14. The dishwashing machine curtain system of claim 12, wherein a first pocket is formed in a width of the first header element by a loop of material.

15. The dishwashing machine curtain system of claim 14, wherein the first rigid element extends through the pocket.

16. The dishwashing machine curtain system of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of apertures have a first spacing corresponding to a first attachment position within a dishwashing machine, and wherein the second plurality of apertures have a second spacing corresponding to a second attachment position within the dishwashing machine.

17. The dishwashing machine curtain system of claim 16, wherein the first spacing of the first plurality of apertures includes even spacing in a height and a width dimension.

18. The dishwashing machine curtain system of claim 16, wherein the first spacing of the first plurality of apertures includes uneven spacing in a height dimension.

19. The dishwashing machine curtain system of claim 16, wherein the first spacing of the first plurality of apertures includes uneven spacing in a width dimension.

20. The dishwashing machine curtain system of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of apertures have a first aperture shape corresponding to a shape of first attachment points within a dishwashing machine, and wherein the second plurality of apertures have a second aperture shape corresponding to a shape of second attachment points within the dishwashing machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Various aspects and advantages will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a dishwashing machine curtain;

[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a mounting bracket of a dishwashing machine curtain;

[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a dishwashing machine curtain;

[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a mounting bracket of a dishwashing machine curtain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The following disclosure includes a method and apparatus for forming a mounting bracket at the top of a dishwashing machine curtain which overcomes the drawbacks of commercial dishwashing machines. The mounting bracket presented in this disclosure may reduce the cost of regular maintenance. In particular, incorrect placement of curtains to partition the adjacent zones of the dishwashing machine may reduce premature wear and tear on various components of the dishwashing machine. Further, the mounting bracket presented in this disclosure may reduce the requisite learning curve needed to properly set up and operate dishwashing machines. In particular, staff may be prevented from improperly placing curtains between adjacent zones. The mounting bracket presented in this disclosure may ensure proper maintenance of the dishwashing machine and thereby prevent higher energy cost, higher water consumption, increased noise during use, increased consumption of chemicals, higher maintenance costs, and so forth.

[0016] A dishwashing machine curtain may have a header element and a curtain element suspended below the header element. The header element may be formed by a loop of material forming a pocket along a width of the header element. A rigid element may extend through the pocket. The header element and the rigid element may be bonded and/or sealed. A plurality of apertures may be formed through the header element and the rigid element to allow the dishwashing machine curtain to be installed in a commercial dishwashing machine (e.g., a tunnel-type dishwashing machine).

[0017] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a dishwashing machine curtain 100 having a curtain element 110 and a header element 120. Header element 120 may be positioned at the top of curtain element 110 (as exemplified in FIGS. 1 and 2). Curtain element 110 may be suspended (e.g., hang) from header element 120. Curtain element 110 may have a height dimension and a width dimension configured to optimize operation of the dishwashing machine.

[0018] Header element 120 may have height and width dimensions appropriate to adequately support curtain element 110 while suspended within the dishwashing machine (e.g., inside a tunnel of the dishwashing machine). Header element 120 may be formed by a loop of material. Header element 120 may form a pocket 123 (e.g., pocket 123 may extend along a width dimension of header element 120).

[0019] Curtain element 110 may be formed of flexible material which can flex and bend to allow passage of articles to be cleaned as they pass through the dishwashing machine. Header element 120 may be formed of similar material as curtain element 110. Header element 120 may be formed by creating a loop in the top portion of curtain element 110. A rigid element 125 may be formed of a rigid material which does not flex or bend. Rigid element 125 may be formed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, polypropylene, or other synthetic materials, metallic materials, wood materials, or any combination of these materials.

[0020] Rigid element 125 may be inserted into pocket 123. Rigid element 125 may have height and width dimensions appropriate to adequately fit within pocket 123 (e.g., having a snug fit). The height dimension may be relatively small compared to the width dimension. Rigid element 125 may further have a depth dimension that is relatively small compared to the height dimension. The width dimension of rigid element 125 may be slightly smaller than the width dimension of pocket 123. The height dimension of rigid element 125 may be slightly smaller than the height dimension of pocket 123.

[0021] Curtain element 110 may have a weight. The weight of curtain element 110 may be applied to header element 120 along its width dimension. The height dimension of rigid element 125 may be great enough to withstand the weight of curtain element 110 (e.g., to resist deflection and/or bowing of rigid element 125 as the weight of curtain element 110 is applied along the width dimension of rigid element 125.

[0022] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrates a dishwashing machine curtain 200 having a curtain element 210 and a header element 220. Header element 220 may be positioned at the top of curtain element 210. Header element 220 may be formed by creating a loop in the top portion of curtain element 110 (e.g., forming a pocket 223 extending along the header element 220). A rigid element 225 may be positioned to extend along all or substantially all of the width of header element 220 (e.g., inserted into pocket 223).

[0023] A sealing process may be applied to header element 220 to enclose, seal, and/or bind rigid element 225 within header element 220. The sealing process may be applied to prevent entry of moisture or other contaminants into pocket 223 (e.g., to prevent formation of mold or other bacterial within pocket 223). The sealing process may be applied to keep dishwashing machine curtain 200 sanitary and/or easy to clean. The sealing process may include the use of adhesive, heat sealing, or other bonding processes. The sealing process may include dielectric welding or bonding, radio-frequency welding, and/or high-frequency welding, of header element 220 to rigid element 225. Header element 220 may be bonded to rigid element 225. The ends of pocket 223 may be sealed and/or bonded shut as part of the sealing process.

[0024] During bonding, two pressure elements positioned on opposing sides of header element 220 and rigid element 225 may be pressed together to compress header element 220 and rigid element 225. During compression, header element 220 may be bonded to rigid element 225. One or both of the two pressure elements may be smooth or may have a pattern extending across the surface area of the pressure elements. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a pattern 227 extending across header element 220 after the sealing process has been performed. Pattern 227 may be formed by one or both of the two pressure elements having a corresponding pattern, such that during compression, the pattern of the pressure elements may be pressed into and/or formed on header element 220. Pattern 227 may even out pressure and/or application of force during compression to ensure a more complete bonding between header element 220 and rigid element 225. Pattern 227 may increase the surface area across which header element 220 and rigid element 225 are bonded to create a stronger bond (e.g., due to stretching of the material of header element 220).

[0025] Pattern 227 may be a repeating pattern, and/or a non-repeating pattern. Pattern 227 may incorporate one or more shapes, such as circles, triangles, squares, diamonds (as exemplified in FIG. 3), rectangles, or other polygonal shapes (e.g., lettering, numerals, logos, and so forth).

[0026] A plurality of apertures 229 may be formed in header element 220 (e.g., by a hole-punching process). The plurality of apertures 229 may be located at discrete positions along a width dimension of header element 220. The plurality of apertures 229 may be located at discrete positions along a height dimension of header element 220. The plurality of apertures 229 may extend entirely through a depth dimension of header element 220 (e.g., as exemplified in FIG. 4).

[0027] Where a dishwashing machine has a plurality of adjacent washing zones, curtain 200 may be placed to create a partition between each adjacent zone. Curtain 200 may be placed at the entrance and/or the exit of the dishwashing machine. Each curtain 200 may be sized, shaped, or otherwise configured with different features to optimize the transition of articles passing through the dishwashing machine. Some curtains 200 may have smaller or larger width dimension. Some curtains 200 may have smaller or larger height dimensions. Some curtains 200 may have smaller or larger depth dimensions. Each curtain 200 may be formed of similar or different materials. Each curtain 200 may have different numbers of hanging vertical segments, or hanging vertical segments having different dimensions.

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates the plurality of apertures 229 including three apertures, spaced incrementally with even spacing along the width dimension of header element 220, and positioned at the same height dimension of header element 220. Nevertheless, this disclosure contemplates other arrangements. The plurality of apertures 229 may include less or more than three apertures (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more apertures). The plurality of apertures 229 may be spaced incrementally with uneven spacing along the width dimension of header element 220. The plurality of apertures 229 may be positioned at different height dimensions of header element 220.

[0029] The dishwashing machine may have corresponding attachment positions at any location within the dishwashing machine where it is desirable to include a curtain 200. Each attachment position may include attachment points corresponding to the plurality of apertures 229 on header element 220. Each attachment position may have a different configuration of attachment points, such that each corresponding curtain 200, with its unique configuration of a plurality of apertures 229, may only be installed at one attachment position within the dishwashing machine. In this manner, operators of the dishwashing machine may be prevented from incorrectly placing or installing curtains 200 within the dishwashing machine, thereby improving the operational efficiency of the dishwashing machine and overcoming other obstacles presented in this disclosure.

[0030] Each of the plurality of apertures 229 may have a particular shape, including, without limitation, circular, triangular, oval (as exemplified in FIG. 3), rectangular, diamond, or other polygonal shapes. Each curtain 200 may have similar or different shapes. Corresponding attachment points within the dishwashing machine may have corresponding shapes. In this manner, operators of the dishwashing machine may be prevented from incorrectly placing or installing curtains 200 within the dishwashing machine, thereby improving the operational efficiency of the dishwashing machine and overcoming other obstacles presented in this disclosure.

[0031] The rigid nature of the rigid element 225 will also make it much more difficult for operators of the dishwashing machine to alter the plurality of apertures 229 in an effort to incorrectly install curtains 200 in the wrong attachment position within the dishwashing machine. Pattern 227, may provide further structural rigidity to header element 220 during installation of the curtain and prevent damage to the curtain caused by over-flexing. Sealing and/or bonding the header element 220 and rigid element 225 may further improve the regulatory compliance of the curtain 200 by making curtain 200 easily cleanable for sanitary purposes (e.g., due to the lack of edges and/or pockets allowing grime and bacteria to collect and grow).

[0032] Other aspects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice disclosed herein. It is intended, therefore, that the specification and illustrated figures be considered as examples only.