Condition warning system, control system and method for pot and pan washing machine

• US 8,721,802 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Professional, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Unified Brands, Inc. (Electrolux Professional AB)
• Inventors: Cantrell, John W., Churchill, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAN, NICOLE R
• Application Number:
  US13/080,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20110240062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 134/25.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0007 Washing phases
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0018 Controlling processes, i.e. processes to control the operation of the machine characterised by the purpose or target of the control for control of water softening or water softener regeneration A47L15/4229; for control of water level A47L15/4244; for control of bad smells or odours A47L15/4276; for control of water temperature A47L15/4287; for control of water pressure A47L15/4289; for control of condition of crockery or tableware A47L15/4295; for control of condition of washing water A47L15/4297
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0028 Washing phases
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0047 Energy or water consumption, e.g. by saving energy or water
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0076 of non-domestic use type, e.g. commercial dishwashers for bars, hotels, restaurants, canteens or hospitals machines specially adapted for drinking glasses A47L15/0065; drawer-type dishwashers A47L15/0084; in-sink dishwashers A47L15/0086; miniature dishwashers A47L15/0089; conveyor-type dishwashers A47L15/24; machines with crockery cleaned by brushes A47L15/37
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0092 specially adapted to wash large items like pots, trays, baking trays, cooking grids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/02 with circulation and agitation of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning chamber containing a stationary basket for drinking glasses A47L15/0065
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/08 by application of a pressure effect produced by pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4287 Temperature measuring or regulating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/04 Operation mode, e.g. delicate washing, economy washing, reduced time, sterilizing, water softener regenerating, odor eliminating or service
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/023 Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
• 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 2401/08 Drain or recirculation pump parameters, e.g. pump rotational speed or current absorbed by the motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/09 Water level
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/12 Water temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/20 Time, e.g. elapsed operating time
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/01 Water supply, e.g. opening or closure of the water inlet valve
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/02 Water discharge, e.g. opening or closure of discharge valve
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/03 Water recirculation, e.g. control of distributing valves for redirection of water flow
• 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 2501/06 : Water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/07 : Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 : Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/30 : Regulation of machine operational steps within the washing process, e.g. performing an additional rinsing phase, shortening or stopping of the drying phase, washing at decreased noise operation conditions

Abstract

A condition warning system for an apparatus such as a pot and pan washing machine, a control system and control methods for a pot and pan washing machine are provided. The condition warning system includes a control system that monitors operational, safety or compliance parameters of an apparatus, and a light that illuminates a location below (or above) an operator'"'"'s direct line of sight, and which is outside of the operator'"'"'s direct line of sight. The control system and control methods include a punitive wash action lockout, an extended wash cycle time, and a deep clean wash cycle.

Claims

1. A method of washing wares in a continuous motion style pot and pan washing machine, said method comprising the steps of:

causing, via a wash pump, a recirculating fluid flow path of a volume of fluid within a tank of said washing machine;

monitoring by a control system one or more compliance parameters relating to operation of the pot and pan washing machine during normal operation;

locking out punitively and temporarily by said control system operation of the wash pump based upon said one or more compliance parameters meeting one or more specified punitive lockout conditions, wherein said locking out step includes the step of locking out the operation of the wash pump during a washing cycle when said one or more compliance parameters meet said one or more punitive lockout conditions;

maintaining said volume of fluid within said tank after said control system performs said locking out step; and

restoring operation of the wash pump when said one or more compliance parameters no longer meet said one or more punitive lockout conditions,

wherein said restoring step includes allowing said wash pump to recirculate said volume of fluid within said tank.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said restoring step is performed without requiring the complete draining or refilling of one or more tanks of the pot and pan washing machine.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said restoring step requires substantially completely draining and refilling of one or more tanks of the pot and pan washing machine without resetting said washing cycle.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of locking out the operation of the wash pump interrupts a timed length of said washing cycle.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of locking out the operation of the wash pump does not interrupt a timed length of said washing cycle.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said continuous style pot and pan washing machine includes more than one wash pump.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one or more compliance parameters includes one or more of fluid temperature, fluid level, or fluid chemical concentration level within a wash tank of the pot and pan washing machine, and wherein said one or more punitive lockout conditions includes one or more of a fluid temperature above a predetermined high limit or below a predetermined low limit, a fluid level above a predetermined limit or below a predetermined limit, or a fluid chemical level above a predetermined limit or below a predetermined limit.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said one or more compliance parameters includes fluid temperature and said one or more punitive lockout conditions includes a fluid temperature above a predetermined high limit, said method further comprising the step of requiring substantially completely draining and refilling the wash tank to resume normal operation if said fluid temperature exceeds a second predetermined safety limit that is in excess of said high limit.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one or more compliance parameters includes one or more of fluid temperature, fluid level or fluid chemical concentration level within a sanitizer tank of the pot and pan washing machine, and wherein said one or more punitive lockout conditions includes one or more of a fluid temperature above a predetermined limit or below a predetermined limit, a fluid level above a predetermined limit or below a predetermined limit, or a fluid chemical concentration level above a predetermined limit or below a predetermined limit.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the pot and pan washing machine includes a wash tank in addition to the sanitizer tank and wherein said locking out step includes the step of locking out punitively temporarily the operation of a wash pump for the wash tank.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one or more compliance parameters includes one or more of fluid temperature, fluid level or fluid chemical concentration level within a rinsing tank of the pot and pan washing machine, and wherein said one or more punitive lockout conditions includes one or more of a fluid temperature above a predetermined limit or below a predetermined limit, a fluid level above a predetermined limit or below a predetermined limit, or a fluid chemical concentration level above a predetermined limit or below a predetermined limit.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the pot and pan washing machine includes a wash tank in addition to the rinsing tank and wherein said locking out step includes the step of punitively temporarily locking out the operation of a wash pump for the wash tank.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one or more compliance parameters includes one or more of fluid temperature, fluid level or fluid chemical concentration level within a spray rinsing system of the pot and pan washing machine, and wherein said one or more punitive lockout conditions includes one or more of a fluid temperature above a predetermined limit or below a predetermined limit, a fluid level above a predetermined limit or below a predetermined limit, a fluid chemical concentration level above a predetermined limit or below a predetermined limit, or a fluid pressure above a predetermined limit or below a predetermined limit.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the pot and pan washing machine includes a wash tank in addition to the spray rinsing system and wherein said locking out step includes the step of punitively temporarily locking out the operation of a wash pump for the wash tank.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one or more compliance parameters includes one or more chemical supply levels, pressures or concentrations within a chemical supply system that supplies chemical to one or more tanks or spray rinsing systems of the pot and pan washing machine, and wherein said one or more punitive lockout conditions includes at least one chemical supply level below a predetermined level, pressure or concentration.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of activating a condition warning system during said locking out step.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said condition warning system includes a light that is focused to illuminate a location on a ground surface that is supporting the washing machine.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said condition warning system includes an audible alarm.