DISHWASHER WITH WASHING SYSTEM AND CLEANING OPENING

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a washing system designed as a recirculation system, which has at least one washing arm with at least one washing nozzle for spraying washing liquid onto items to be washed, a washing tank for collecting at least some of the sprayed washing liquid and a feed line system with a washing pump, via which washing liquid collected in the washing tank can be or is fed to the at least one washing arm. In the feed line system, at least one cleaning opening is formed or provided, via which, during the operation of the washing pump, some of the washing liquid conveyed by the washing pump in the direction of the at least one washing arm is sprayed or discharged into a treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher.

Claims

1. A dishwasher having at least one washing system designed as a recirculation system, which washing system has at least one washing arm with at least one washing nozzle for spraying washing liquid onto the items to be washed, a washing tank for collecting at least some of the sprayed washing liquid and a feed line system with a washing pump, via which washing liquid collected in the washing tank can be or is fed to the at least one washing arm, characterized in that at least one cleaning opening is formed or provided in the feed line system, via which, during operation of the washing pump, some of the washing liquid conveyed by the washing pump in the direction of the at least one washing arm is sprayed or discharged into a treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher.

2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the washing arm is connected or can be connected to an end region of the feed line system in a releasable manner, and wherein the at least one cleaning opening is formed in or provided on the end region of the feed line system.

3. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the end region of the feed line system is formed by a connecting piece, wherein the connecting piece has a fluid inlet which is connected or can be connected, in terms of flow to an end region of a feed line of the feed line system, and wherein the connecting piece has a fluid outlet which is connected or can be connected, in terms of flow to a fluid inlet of the washing arm.

4. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein the connecting pieceas seen in cross-sectionis at least essentially L-shaped, such that the washing liquid supplied to the connecting piece via the fluid inlet of the connecting piece in the connecting piece is deflected before the washing liquid is supplied or can be supplied to the washing arm via the fluid outlet of the connecting piece.

5. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein the at least one cleaning opening is formed integrally in the connecting piece.

6. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein the connecting piece has a first arm region, in which the fluid inlet of the connecting piece is formed, and a second arm region, in which the fluid outlet of the connecting piece is formed, wherein the at least one cleaning opening is formed at least partially or in some regions in the first arm region of the connecting piece.

7. The dishwasher according to claim 6, wherein the first arm region of the connecting piece is designed at least partially or in some regions as a female plug-in part and is constructed to receive at least partially or in some regions the end region of the feed line of the feed line system, wherein the cleaning opening is formed, spraying or discharging at least some of the portion of the washing liquid conveyed by the washing pump in the direction of the washing arm along a main direction into the treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher, wherein the main direction runs at least substantially counter to the plug-in direction in which the plug-in connection is formed between the first arm region of the connecting piece and the end region of the feed line of the feed line system.

8. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein, at least in a state when the end region of the feed line of the feed line system is connected to the first arm region of the connecting piece, a flow reversing region is formed in the connecting piece, in which a main direction of flow of the washing liquid supplied to the connecting piece via the feed line is reversed, wherein the flow reversing region is connected in flow communication to a cleaning channel, wherein the cleaning opening forms an outlet opening of the cleaning channel.

9. The dishwasher according to claim 8, wherein the cleaning channel is connected to the flow reversing region via an opening region, wherein the opening region is formed in a wall region of the connecting piece that extends at least substantially parallel to the plug-in direction.

10. The dishwasher according to claim 8, wherein the cleaning channel is connected to the flow reversing region via an opening region, wherein the opening region has a filter for filtering out at least some of the dirt particles contained in the washing liquid supplied to the connecting piece.

11. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning opening is configured as an outlet opening of a cleaning channel, wherein the cleaning channel is formed, at least in certain regions, by an inner wall region, of the connecting piece, and by an outer wall region, of the end region, which is inserted into the first arm region of the connecting piece, of the feed line of the feed line system.

12. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein a washing liquid channel system is formed in the connecting piece, which channel system connects the fluid inlet of the connecting piece to the fluid outlet of the connecting piece in terms of flow.

13. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the at least one washing nozzle is designed to spray at least some of the washing liquid supplied to the corresponding washing arm by the washing pump and the feed line system into the treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher along a first main direction, and wherein the cleaning opening formed or provided in the feed line system is designed to spray or discharge at least some of the portion of the washing liquid conveyed by the washing pump in the direction of the washing arm along a second main direction into the treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher, wherein the second main direction is different different from the first main direction.

14. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the feed line system is designed as a combined feed line system and has a first feed line for washing liquid and a second feed line for clear rinsing liquid, wherein the first feed line and the second feed line are arranged at least partially or in some regions and coaxially to one another, wherein the second feed line is arranged inside the first feed line.

15. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein a clear rinsing liquid channel is formed in the connecting piece which channel is designed to connect the second feed line of the feed line system in terms of flow with a clear rinsing arm or with clear rinsing nozzles of the dishwasher.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] The invention is described in further detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0067] The following are shown:

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a hydraulic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the warewasher according to the present invention;

[0069] FIG. 2 shows schematically and in an isometric view, the region of a supply line system of an exemplary embodiment of the warewasher according to the present invention, in which the supply line system is connected to a corresponding washing and/or rinsing arm of the warewasher;

[0070] FIG. 3 shows schematically and in a sectional view, the region of the supply line system according to FIG. 2; and

[0071] FIG. 4 shows schematically illustrates a detailed view of the supply line system according to FIG. 3, in particular to illustrate the flow-reversing region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] Commercial warewashers are designed for cleaning large quantities of washware in as short a time as possible. In a hood-type warewasher from the present applicant, the duration of the preset standard program, which is typically used for normally soiled washware such as plates, bowls, cups, and glasses, is only 70 seconds. This means that the theoretical capacity of the hood-type warewasher is up to 52 baskets per hour.

[0073] Almost without exception, commercial-grade warewashers are equipped with rotating washing-and-rinsing systems. A washing-and-rinsing system typically consists of a washing arm and a rinsing arm.

[0074] For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a commercial warewasher 1 has an upper as well as a lower washing and rinsing system.

[0075] During operation, the washing liquid (detergent solution) is pumped from the washing tank 3 of the warewasher 1 to the washing arms 6 via a pipe system (supply line system 8) using a washing pump 4. The washing arms 6 are used in order to apply the washing liquid (detergent solution) to the washware to be cleaned. The dirt is removed from the washware and integrated into the washing liquid. As shown in FIG. 1, the washing liquid then flows back into the washing tank 3 of the warewasher 1 via a screen system that retains coarse dirt residues.

[0076] The screen system of a commercial warewasher 1 typically comprises a flat screen, a fine screen and a collection tank (dirt collection region 14) for coarse food residues. The collection tank is also commonly referred to as the dirt collection region 14

[0077] However, systems are also known in which the collection tank (dirt collection region 14) and the fine screen are combined in one part.

[0078] Typically, the flat screen/tank cover screen is formed as a perforated sheet. However, flat screens/tank cover screens without perforations are also known.

[0079] Typically, the flat screen/tank cover screen comprises perforations of 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm in diameter. However, this means that dirt particles that are less than 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm cannot be filtered out of the detergent solution. In subsequent wash programs, these are repeatedly pumped by the washing pump 4 via the washing arms 6. This allows these dirt particles to disperse and settle in the machine interior.

[0080] Coarser dirt particles (3.0 mm to 7.0 mm) are filtered out via the flat screen/tank cover screen and the fine screen. The particles of this size are supplied via the drain pump (waste water pump 17), for example, to a waste water system. Dirt residues larger than 7.0 mm are collected in a collection tank (dirt collection region 14). This must be manually removed and cleaned at the end of the washing shift.

[0081] At the end of the washing shift, the machine interior is usually cleaned with a relatively high level of manual effort. To this end, the operator usually cleans the interior including the washing tank 3 with a sponge. In the case of stubborn soiling, a brush is first used. Depending on the installation, manual spraying of the machine interior with a water hose/handheld shower is also a common practice.

[0082] The objective of the invention is to eliminate or at least reduce the manual cleaning effort in the interior of the warewasher 1 and thus significantly reduce the manual cleaning effort for the operator for the entire warewasher 1.

[0083] In the following detailed description of the figures, the same or similarly acting components are provided with the same reference characters.

[0084] In FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the warewasher 1 according to the invention is illustrated. It should be noted that this comprises only the components required for understanding the invention. Details of the warewasher 1 are subsequently described with reference to the illustrations in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4.

[0085] The warewasher 1 according to FIG. 1 is in particular a commercial table or utensil washer, which is configured as a hood-type warewasher.

[0086] Of course, it is also possible to configure the warewasher 1 according to the invention as a box-type warewasher or as a conveyor warewasher. The structural changes necessary for this are of course known to the person skilled in the art.

[0087] The warewasher 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a treatment chamber 2 with an associated wash tank 3. The wash tank 3 serves to receive a treatment liquid, which can be conveyed to a plurality of washing nozzles 5 via a washing pump 4. In particular, according to the illustrated embodiment, the wash nozzles 5 are located in the upper and lower regions of the treatment chamber 2, where a wash/rinse system with an associated washing arm 6 and a rinsing arm 7 is provided.

[0088] The upper and lower washing arms 6 are connected to the washing tank 3 via a wash line 30 (cf. FIG. 3). Because the washing tank 3 is located in the lower region of the treatment chamber 2, this can result in a recirculation of the treatment liquid (wash liquid) after the spraying of the washware.

[0089] The warewasher 1 shown in FIG. 1 further comprises at least one rinsing system for providing a rinsing liquid. In the illustrated embodiment, the rinsing system consists of a reservoir 9 that contains a rinsing concentrate.

[0090] As can be seen from the illustration in FIG. 1, the reservoir 9 of the rinsing system is connected to a water heater (boiler 10) via a fluid line. The boiler 10 comprises a fresh water connection 11 through which fresh water (e.g. tap water) can be introduced into the boiler 10. The fresh water located in the boiler 10 is heated by a heating device and mixed with the rinsing concentrate of the reservoir 9. For this purpose, the rinsing concentrate is conveyed through a dosing pump from the reservoir 9 to the boiler 10. The rinsing liquid resulting from a combination of fresh water and rinsing concentrate can be conveyed to a plurality of rinsing nozzles 13 via a rinsing pump 12 and the associated rinsing lines. Similar to the washing nozzles 5, the rinsing nozzles 13 are also located inside the treatment chamber 2 of the warewasher 1, namely in an upper and lower rinsing arm 7, respectively.

[0091] As can in particular be seen in the illustrations in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the exemplary embodiment of the warewasher 1 according to the invention shown schematically in FIG. 1 comprises a cleaning system with which interior cleaning of the warewasher 1 is automatically performed at least in regions during a washing cycle, i.e. when washing liquid is supplied to the washing arms 6 of the warewasher 1 with the help of the washing pump 4.

[0092] For this purpose, as indicated in FIG. 2, the supply line system 8 comprises a cleaning opening 20, via which a portion of the washing liquid conveyed with the washing pump 4 towards the washing arm 6 is sprayed or dispensed into the treatment chamber 2 of the warewasher 1 during operation of the washing pump 4.

[0093] Specifically, and as is shown in the sectional view in FIG. 3, the washing arm 6 is releasably connected or connectable to an end region of the supply line system 8 via a plug-in connection. The cleaning opening 20 is configured or provided in or on the end region of the supply line system 8.

[0094] In the exemplary embodiment of the warewasher 1 according to the invention shown in the drawings, the end region of the supply line system 8 is formed by a connecting piece 21. This is preferably a plastic part, in particular a plastic injection-molded part.

[0095] As is in particular shown in the sectional view in FIG. 3, the connecting piece 21 comprises a fluid inlet 22, which is fluidly releasably connected to an end region of a supply line 30, 31 of the supply line system 8 and in particular connected via a plug-in connection. In addition, the connecting piece 21 comprises a fluid outlet 23, which is fluidly releasably connected or connectable to a fluid inlet 22 of the washing arm 6, in particular.

[0096] In detail, in the exemplary embodiment of the warewasher 1 according to the invention shown in the drawings, it is provided that the connecting piece 21 is at least substantially L-shaped when viewed in cross-section (cf. FIG. 3). The washing liquid supplied via the fluid inlet 22 of the connecting piece 21 to the connecting piece 21 is deflected by approximately 90in the connecting piece 21 before the washing liquid is supplied to the washing arm 6 via the fluid outlet 23 of the connecting piece 21.

[0097] The connecting piece 21 comprises a first arm region 24 in which the fluid inlet 22 of the connecting piece 21 is configured. The connecting piece 21 further comprises a second arm region 25 in which the fluid outlet 23 of the connecting piece 21 is configured. In the exemplary embodiment of the solution according to the invention shown in the drawings, the cleaning opening 20 is configured at least partially or in regions in the first arm region 24 of the connector 21.

[0098] Although this is not limiting, in the exemplary embodiment of the inventive warewasher 1, according to the drawings, the first arm region 24 of the connector 21 is embodied and configured as a female plug-in part and is configured to receive the end region of the supply line 30, 31 of the supply line system 8 in a positive-locking manner and by forming a plug-in connection.

[0099] As is shown in particular in the illustration in FIG. 3, the cleaning opening 20 is configured to spray or dispense at least a part of the portion of the washing liquid conveyed with the washing pump 4 of the warewasher 1 towards the washing arm 6 along a main direction into the treatment chamber 2 of the warewasher 1. The main direction is at least substantially opposite to the insertion direction in which the plug connection is configured between the first arm region 24 of the connecting piece 21 and the end region of the supply line 30, 31 of the supply line system 8.

[0100] As is shown in particular in the detailed view according to FIG. 4, in a state where the end region of the supply line 30, 31 of the supply line system 8 is connected to the first arm region 24 of the connecting piece 21, a flow-reversing region 26 is formed in the connecting piece 21 in which a main flow direction of the washing liquid supplied via the supply line 30 to the connecting piece 21 is reversed. The flow-reversing region 26 is fluidly connected to a cleaning channel 27. The cleaning opening 20 forms an outlet opening of the cleaning channel 27.

[0101] The detailed view according to FIG. 4 furthermore shows that the cleaning channel 27 is fluidly connected to the flow-reversing region 26 via an opening region, wherein the opening region is formed in a wall region of the connecting piece 21 that extends at least substantially parallel to the plug-in direction.

[0102] The illustration in FIG. 2 shows that the cleaning opening 20 is configured as an outlet opening of a cleaning channel 27, wherein the cleaning channel 27 is formed, at least in certain regions, by a wall region, in particular an inner wall region, of the connecting piece 21, and by a wall region, in particular an outer wall region, of the end region, which is inserted into the first arm region 24, 25 of the connecting piece 21, of the supply line 30, 31 of the supply line system 8.

[0103] Returning to the sectional view according to FIG. 3, it is noted that in the exemplary embodiment of the warewasher 1 according to the invention shown in the drawings, the supply line system 8 is embodied as a combined supply line system 8. Specifically, the combined supply line system 8 comprises a first supply line 30 for washing liquid and a second supply line 31 for rinsing liquid. The first supply line 30 for washing liquid and the second supply line 31 for rinsing liquid are disposed at least partially or in regions at least substantially coaxially and in particular also concentrically to one another. The second supply line 31 for rinsing liquid is disposed within the first supply line 30 for washing liquid.

[0104] The sectional view according to FIG. 3 furthermore shows that a rinsing liquid channel 28 is formed in the connecting piece 21, which is designed to fluidly connect the second supply line 31 for rinsing liquid of the supply line system 8 with a rinsing arm of the warewasher 1.

[0105] On the other hand, a washing liquid channel system 29 is formed in the connecting piece 21, which fluidly connects the fluid inlet 22 of the connecting piece 21, and in particular the fluid outlet of the first supply line 30 of the supply line system 8, to the fluid outlet 23 of the connecting piece 21, and in particular to a fluid inlet of the wash arm 6.

[0106] 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

[0107] 1 Warewasher

[0108] 2 Treatment chamber

[0109] 3 Washing tank

[0110] 4 Washing pump

[0111] 5 Washing nozzle

[0112] 6 Washing arm

[0113] 7 Rinsing arm

[0114] 8 Supply line system

[0115] 9 Reservoir for rinsing concentrate

[0116] 10 Water heater/boiler

[0117] 11 Water heater fresh water connection

[0118] 12 Rinsing pump

[0119] 13 Rinsing nozzle

[0120] 14 Dirt collection region

[0121] 15 Fill level monitoring sensor

[0122] 16 Dirt discharge pipe system

[0123] 17 Wastewater pump

[0124] 20 Cleaning opening

[0125] 21 Connecting piece

[0126] 22 Fluid inlet of the connecting piece

[0127] 23 Fluid outlet of the connecting piece

[0128] 24 First arm region of the connecting piece

[0129] 25 Second arm region of the connecting piece

[0130] 26 Flow-reversing region

[0131] 27 Cleaning channel

[0132] 28 Rinsing liquid channel

[0133] 29 Washing liquid channel system

[0134] 30 First supply line

[0135] 31 Second supply line