Performance monitoring system for warewashing machines
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for monitoring a warewashing machine, comprising:
- (a) sensor means for detecting alarm conditions in the warewashing machine;
(b) input means connected to the sensor means for receiving signals therefrom indicating the alarm condition;
(c) activation means connected to the input means for notifying an operator when the alarm condition has occurred;
(d) recording means connected to the input means for storing an indication of the alarm condition in a memory for later reporting;
(e) reset means for temporarily disabling the activation means for notifying the operator of the alarm condition; and
(f) timer means for specifying a time period for the temporarily disabled alarm so that when the time period elapses the operator is once again notified by the activation means that the alarm condition has occurred.
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Abstract
A system for monitoring the performance of a warewashing machine generates proactive alarms that audible and/or visibly instruct operators to take corrective action of temperature, rinse pressure, loading, or other machine deficiencies occur. A data input feature enables the operator to add production data to the report for the calculation of machine efficiency. A water consumption measurement device provides realistic utility, water and sewage costs calculations for the warewashing machine.
97 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring a warewashing machine, comprising:
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(a) sensor means for detecting alarm conditions in the warewashing machine; (b) input means connected to the sensor means for receiving signals therefrom indicating the alarm condition; (c) activation means connected to the input means for notifying an operator when the alarm condition has occurred; (d) recording means connected to the input means for storing an indication of the alarm condition in a memory for later reporting; (e) reset means for temporarily disabling the activation means for notifying the operator of the alarm condition; and (f) timer means for specifying a time period for the temporarily disabled alarm so that when the time period elapses the operator is once again notified by the activation means that the alarm condition has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for monitoring a warewashing machine, comprising:
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(a) sensor means for detecting an active rinse cycle in the warewashing machine; (b) input means connected to the sensor means for receiving signals therefrom indicating the active rinse cycle; (c) recording means connected to the input means for recording an elapsed time period for the active rinse cycle; (d) calculating means connected to the recording means for calculating a water consumption value using the elapsed time period and a known flow rate; and (e) reporting means connected to the calculating means for reporting the water consumption value.
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5. An apparatus for monitoring a warewashing machine, comprising:
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(a) first input means for receiving data from an operator indicating a total value of a customer'"'"'s production; (b) first recording means connected to the first input means for recording a total value of a customer'"'"'s production; (c) sensor means for detecting an active warewashing machine; (d) second input means connected to the sensor means for receiving signals therefrom indicating the active warewashing machine; (e) second recording means connected to the second input means for recording an elapsed time period for the active warewashing machine; (f) calculating means connected to the second recording means for calculating a total value of operating hours using the elapsed time period; and (g) reporting means connected to the first and second recording means for reporting a comparison between the total value of a customer'"'"'s production and the total value of the machine'"'"'s operating hours.
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6. An apparatus for monitoring a warewashing machine, comprising:
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(a) sensor means for detecting operational information in the warewashing machine; (b) data entry means for inputting production information; (c) recording means, connected to the sensor means and the data entry means, for storing indications of the operational information and the production information in a memory for later reporting; and (d) reporting means, connected to the recording means, for comparing the production values with the operational information and printing efficiency information determined therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification