Low temperature warewasher with temperature drain feature
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A warewashing apparatus, comprising:
- a common wash and rinse tank for storing wash water and rinse water, the tank having a drain outlet;
a water supply conduit communicated with the tank;
a fill valve communicated with the water supply conduit, the fill valve being movable between a water supply open position and a water supply closed position;
a drain valve communicated with the drain outlet, the drain valve being movable between a drain open position and a drain closed position;
a temperature sensor operably associated with the tank and configured to sense a water temperature within the tank;
a set point input configured so that an operator can adjust a set point temperature for a minimum tank water temperature for a wash cycle; and
a controller operably associated with the drain valve, the fill valve, the temperature sensor and the set point input, the controller being configured to automatically control a wash cycle and then a rinse cycle in the common wash and rinse tank upon receiving a start wash cycle signal, the controller being configured to initiate a low temperature drain and refill cycle of the tank prior to starting the wash cycle if the tank water temperature is below the set point temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dump and fill low temperature chemical sanitizing warewasher includes a wash and rinse tank and a temperature sensor associated with the tank and configured to sense a water temperature within the tank. A controller is connected to the temperature sensor to receive the water temperature sensor. The controller is configured to initiate a low temperature drain and refill cycle prior to starting a wash cycle, if the controller determines that the water temperature is below a set point.
18 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A warewashing apparatus, comprising:
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a common wash and rinse tank for storing wash water and rinse water, the tank having a drain outlet; a water supply conduit communicated with the tank; a fill valve communicated with the water supply conduit, the fill valve being movable between a water supply open position and a water supply closed position; a drain valve communicated with the drain outlet, the drain valve being movable between a drain open position and a drain closed position; a temperature sensor operably associated with the tank and configured to sense a water temperature within the tank; a set point input configured so that an operator can adjust a set point temperature for a minimum tank water temperature for a wash cycle; and a controller operably associated with the drain valve, the fill valve, the temperature sensor and the set point input, the controller being configured to automatically control a wash cycle and then a rinse cycle in the common wash and rinse tank upon receiving a start wash cycle signal, the controller being configured to initiate a low temperature drain and refill cycle of the tank prior to starting the wash cycle if the tank water temperature is below the set point temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A dump and fill low temperature chemical sanitizing warewashing apparatus, comprising:
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a common wash and rinse tank; a temperature sensor associated with the wash and rinse tank and configured to sense a water temperature of water in the wash and rinse tank; and a controller connected to the temperature sensor to receive a water temperature signal, the controller being configured to automatically control a wash cycle and then a rinse cycle in the common wash and rinse tank upon receiving a start wash cycle signal, the controller being configured to initiate a low temperature drain and refill cycle prior to starting the wash cycle, if the controller determines that the water temperature is below a set point. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating an automatic warewashing machine, the method comprising:
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(a) filling an unheated common wash and rinse tank with pre-heated water; (b) performing a wash cycle and a rinse cycle and retaining rinse water in the wash and rinse tank for use in a next wash cycle; (c) activating the machine to activate the next wash cycle; and (d) before starting the next wash cycle, automatically determining whether a tank water temperature in the wash and rinse tank is below a set point temperature, and if the tank water temperature is below the set point temperature automatically draining and then refilling the tank prior to starting the next wash cycle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification