Multi-function warewashing machine

• US 5,131,419 A
• Filed: 05/21/1990
• Issued: 07/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald E. Roberts
• Original Assignee: Donald E. Roberts
• Inventors: Roberts, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US07/526,384
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 134/46, 134/47, 134/50, 134/54, 134/55, 134/56 D, 134/57 D, 134/113, 134/138, 134/139, 134/58 D, 134/98, 134/153, 134/199, 134/200
• US Class Current: 134/50
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0078 with a plurality of fluid recirculation arrangements, e.g. with separated washing liquid and rinsing liquid recirculation circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0092 specially adapted to wash large items like pots, trays, baking trays, cooking grids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/16 with rigidly-mounted spraying devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/23 moved by means of the sprays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/04 Crockery or tableware details, e.g. material, quantity, condition
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/30 Variation of electrical, magnetical or optical quantities
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/03 Water recirculation, e.g. control of distributing valves for redirection of water flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/04 Water pressure or flow rate

Abstract

A multi-function warewashing machine which automatically functions in a plurality of operating modes, including a conventional dishwashing mode and specialized washing modes for flatware and pots and pans, the operating mode being indicated by ware racks each of which bears an indicator in the form of an anomaly or signalling device which uniquely predetermines the optimum spray patterns and timing cycles for a particular type of ware contained in the rack, the warewashing machine including a sensor for detecting the indicator and a control circuit which responds to the sensor to actuate various controllable devices in combination to produce specific spray patterns and wash and rinse cycle times which are best suited for cleansing a particular ware.

Claims

1. A fluid spray machine for cleansing, rinsing or otherwise treating different types of wares with fluid sprays, comprising:

means defining a fluid treatment chamber, a plurality of spray producing means, a plurality of flow control means each associated with a different one of said spray producing means for channeling fluid to the associated spray producing means to produce a fluid spray within said chamber, the fluid sprays produced by different ones of said spray producing means emanating from different points of origin in said chamber, said plurality of flow control means being selectively operable in a plurality of different sets, with each set producing a different spray array within said chamber, and control means for controlling the operation of said flow control means and including select means for enabling different sets of flow control means to produce different spray arrays within said chamber as a function of the type of ware to be cleansed.

2. The fluid spray machine of claim 1, wherein said select means selects the set of flow control means to be enabled automatically in response to inserting a ware containing rack into said fluid treatment chamber.

3. The fluid spray machine of claim 1 for cleansing dishes, flatware and pots and pans, contained in racks, said control means being operable selectively in a dishwashing mode, a flatware washing mode and a pot and pan washing mode, said means for selecting the operating mode comprising a sensor responsive to indicating means carried by said racks.

4. The fluid spray machine of claim 3, wherein the racks include a flatware rack for carrying flatware and a pot and pan rack for carrying pots and pans, said flatware rack and said pot and pan rack each having different indicating means.

5. The fluid spray machine of claim 4, wherein said spray producing means comprises first wash and rinse spray means located in upper and lower portions of said chamber, the associated flow control means channeling fluid thereto when said control means is operating in the dishwashing mode, second wash and rinse spray means located along at least one side of said chamber, the associated flow control means channeling fluid thereto when said control means is operating in the flatware washing mode, and third wash and rinse spray means located in a lower portion of said chamber, the associated flow control means channeling fluid thereto when said control means is operating in the pot and pan washing mode.

6. The fluid spray machine of claim 5 wherein said control means includes cycle timing means for defining wash and rinse cycle times for each operating mode, and timing override means for controlling said cycle timing means to cause the cycle times for at least one of said operating modes to be different from the cycle times for said other operating modes.

8. The fluid spray machine of claim 5, wherein said third wash and rinse spray means comprises nozzle means located near the bottom of said chamber, and having slotted orifice means for directing at least one high pressure knife pattern spray of wash fluid upwardly within said fluid treatment chamber.

9. The fluid spray machine of claim 8, wherein said nozzle means comprises a rotating nozzle having a pair of rotating arms of a given length which extend outward radially from said orifice means at diametrically opposed positions with distal end portions defining oppositely directed outlet orifices.

10. The fluid spray machine of claim 8, wherein said pot and pan rack includes an opening in the bottom thereof which is aligned with said nozzle means when said pot and pan rack is located in said fluid treatment chamber.

7. A warewashing machine for cleansing wares of different types including dishes, flatware and pots and pans which are contained in racks, comprising:

means defining a warewashing chamber adapted to receive the ware containing racks, one of said racks including at least one rotatable cylinder holding means for receiving flatware containing cylinders, said machine including means for rotating said cylinder holding means about its individual axis, a plurality of spray producing means selectively operable in sets to produce a plurality of different spray arrays in said warewashing chamber, and control means for controlling the operation of said spray producing means, said control means including select means for selecting different spray arrays as a function of the type of ware to be cleansed.

11. In a system for cleansing, rinsing or otherwise treating different types of wares with fluid sprays, a combination comprising:

a fluid spray machine including means defining a fluid treatment chamber, a plurality of spray producing means, a plurality of flow control means each associated with a different one of said spray producing means for channeling fluid to the associated spray producing means to produce a fluid spray within said chamber, the fluid sprays produced by different ones of said spray producing means emanating from different points of origin in said chamber, said plurality of flow control means being selectively operable in a plurality of different sets with each set producing a different spray array within said chamber, sensing means and control means responsive to said sensing means for controlling the operation of said flow control means, and a plurality of ware receiving racks adapted to be inserted into said chamber for introducing wares to be cleansed into said chamber, different ones of said racks receiving different types of wares, at least one of said racks including indicating means, said sensing means responding to said indicating means when said one rack is inserted into said chamber to cause said control means to enable a predetermined set of flow control means whereby the spray array produced is optimum for cleansing wares contained in said one rack.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said indicating means produces an output which is optically detectable.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said indicating means produces an output which is magnetically detectable.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said indicating means produces an output which electronically detectable.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said one rack is provided with four sides and a bottom and said indicating means is located at a particular location on said one rack so as to operate said sensing means when said one rack is inserted in the chamber.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said control means includes switch means and wherein said sensing means comprises a mechanical means movable ;

by said indicating means to thereby operate said switch means.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said indicating means is provided at a particular location on at least one of said four sides of said one rack, whereby said indicating means will interface with said sensing means when said one side of said one rack is adjacent to said sensing means.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein one of said indicating means is provided at a particular location on each of said four sides of said one rack, whereby one of said indicating means will interface with said sensing means regardless of which side of said one rack is adjacent to said sensing means.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein one of said indicating means is provided at a particular location on the top surface of each of said sides of said one rack.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said indicating means comprises a depression in said one side of said one rack.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said indicating means comprises a variation in the height of said one side of said one rack.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein said indicating means extends the length of at least one side of said one rack.

23. A plurality of work piece holding containers for use with a fluid spray machine which is selectively operable in a plurality of operating modes, each mode being characterized by different fluid spray patterns, the warewashing machine having at least first and second sensing devices spaced apart from one another in a predetermined pattern, and control means responsive to the sensing devices for configuring the fluid spray machine for operation in a given one of its operating modes, said plurality of work piece holding containers being of equal size, each of said containers being designed to hold differing types of work pieces in differing orientations, each of said containers being adapted to be received in a fluid treatment chamber of the fluid spray machine for introducing work pieces into the chamber for treatment, each container having a plurality of side walls and including indicating means associated with an outer surface of at least one of said side walls and in a specific location unique to the type of work pieces to be contained therein, the indicating means associated with a first one of said containers being located at a position along said one side wall is spaced-apart from the position of the indicating means associated with a side wall of a second one of said containers in the same predetermined pattern as the first and second sensing devices, whereby said one container, upon being located in a given singular fixed position within the chamber, shall have its indicating means located so as to consistently interface with only the first sensing device, and said second container, upon being located in said given singular fixed position within the chamber, shall have its indicating means located so as to consistently interface with only the second sensing device.

24. The containers of claim 23, wherein said indicating means produces an output which is optically detectable.

25. The containers of claim 23, wherein said indicating means produces an output which is magnetically detectable.

26. The containers of claim 23, wherein said indicating means produces an output which is electronically detectable.

27. The containers of claim 23 having four sides and a bottom, said indicating means being provided at a particular location on at lest one of said sides.

28. The containers of claim 23, wherein one of said indicating means is provided at a particular location on each of said four sides.

29. The containers of claim 23, wherein one of said indicating means is provided at a particular location on the top surface of each of said sides.