COMMERCIAL KITCHENWARE WASHERS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20120211028A1
• Filed: 04/25/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Bigott, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,265,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0031 Water discharge phases
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/08 by application of a pressure effect produced by pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/08 Other manual input
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/06 Water supply, circulation or discharge information water level A47L2401/09; water pressure or flow rate A47L2401/14
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/22 Number of operational cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/02 Water discharge, e.g. opening or closure of discharge valve
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/05 Drain or recirculation pump, e.g. regulation of the pump rotational speed or flow direction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 13/00 Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/00 Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam B08B9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/02 Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/04 by a combination of operations
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/20 by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought washing or rinsing crockery or tableware A47L15/00

Abstract

A method for monitoring tank water replacement of a kitchenware washing assembly generally includes automatically determining whether a counted number of wash cycles is equal to or exceeds a preset value. The method also includes automatically controlling one or more operations of the kitchenware washer assembly where the counted number of wash cycles is equal to or exceeds the preset value.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring tank water replacement of a kitchenware washing assembly to thereby automate the decision as to when tank water should be changed, the method comprising:

automatically determining whether a counted number of wash cycles is equal to or exceeds a preset value; and

automatically controlling one or more operations of the kitchenware washer assembly where the counted number of wash cycles is equal to or exceeds the preset value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically controlling one or more operations of the kitchenware washer assembly comprises automatically deactivating one or more operations of the kitchenware washer assembly.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

monitoring temperature inside a tank of the kitchenware washing assembly for at least one of a temperature differential, a predetermined temperature, and/or a temperature increase by a predetermined amount over a predetermined time interval; and

allowing reactivation of the deactivated one or more operations only after detection of the temperature differential, the predetermined temperature, and/or the temperature increase by the predetermined amount over the predetermined time interval.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising requiring draining of fluid from a tank of the kitchenware washing assembly before allowing reactivation of the deactivated one or more operations.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

automatically monitoring for an indicator of drainage of fluid from a tank of the kitchenware washing assembly; and

allowing reactivation of the deactivated one or more operations only after detection of said indicator of drainage of fluid.

6. The method of claim of claim 5, wherein allowing reactivation of the deactivated one or more operations comprises:

allowing an operator to manually reactivate the deactivated one or more operations; and

/or

allowing a control system of the kitchenware washer assembly to automatically reactivate the deactivated one or more operations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically controlling one or more operations of the kitchenware washer assembly comprises:

automatically deactivating at least one pump of the kitchenware washer assembly; and

/or

automatically opening at least one drain of the kitchenware washer assembly to thereby allow fluid to drain from a tank of the kitchenware washer assembly; and

/or

automatically deactivating at least one heater of the kitchenware washer assembly; and

/or

automatically generating an alarm that indicates that tank water should be replaced.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically controlling one or more operations of the kitchenware washer assembly comprises automatically inhibiting any additional wash cycles until after tank water replacement.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes allowing an additional wash cycle where the counted number of wash cycles is less than the preset value.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring for an indicator of drainage of fluid from a tank of the kitchenware washing assembly.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein automatically controlling one or more operations of the kitchenware washer assembly comprises inhibiting any additional wash cycles at least until after the indicator of drainage has been detected.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring for the indicator of drainage includes monitoring an inside of a tank of the kitchenware washing assembly for a temperature differential, a predetermined temperature, and/or a temperature increase by a predetermined amount over a predetermined time interval.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the kitchenware washing assembly includes at least a first and a second type of washing cycle, and wherein counting includes counting washing cycles of the first type differently than washing cycles of the second type.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the preset value represents a maximum allowable number of wash cycles that can be performed before tank water should be replaced; and

/or

the preset value is manually entered by an operator; and

/or

the preset value is preprogrammed into a control system of the kitchenware washer assembly.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes setting the counted number of wash cycles to zero after tank water replacement, and adding one to the counted number for each wash cycle performed thereafter.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes setting the counter number of wash cycles to zero when a sensed temperature within a tank of the kitchenware washing assembly has increased by a predetermined amount over a predetermined time interval.

17. An automated method for monitoring tank water replacement of a kitchenware washing assembly, the method comprising:

maintaining a counter of the number of wash cycles performed since the most recent tank water replacement;

comparing the counter with a preset value representing the acceptable number of wash cycles that can be performed before the tank water should be replaced;

shutting down one or more operations of the kitchenware washing assembly if the counter is equal to or exceeds the preset value; and

determining whether the tank water is being drained or has been drained from the tank; and

disallowing reactivation of the one or more operations at least until the determination that the tank water is being drained or has been drained from the tank.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

determining whether the tank water is being drained or has been drained from the tank comprises monitoring temperature inside a tank of the kitchenware washing assembly for at least one of a temperature differential, a predetermined temperature, and/or a temperature increase by a predetermined amount over a predetermined time interval; and

the method includes allowing reactivation of the deactivated one or more operations after detection of the temperature differential, the predetermined temperature, and/or the temperature increase by the predetermined amount over the predetermined time interval.

19. A kitchenware washing assembly comprising a tank having an inside for holding fluid for washing kitchenware, and a control system, the control system configured to maintain a count of the number of wash cycles performed since the most recent tank water replacement, to determine whether the count of the number of wash cycles is equal to or exceeds a preset value, and to deactivate one or more operations of the kitchenware washer assembly where the count of the number of wash cycles is equal to or exceeds the preset value.

20. The kitchenware washing assembly of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to automatically deactivate at least one pump of the kitchenware washer assembly when the count of the number of wash cycles is equal to the preset value.