Commercial kitchenware washers and related methods
First Claim
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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, involving water maintained within a tank used to hold kitchenware for washing in the kitchenware washing assembly, is equal to or exceeds a preset value; and
automatically controlling one or more operations of the kitchenware washing assembly when the counted number of wash cycles is equal to or exceeds the preset value;
wherein automatically controlling one or more operations of the kitchenware washing assembly comprises automatically inhibiting any additional wash cycles until after tank water replacement.
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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.
214 Citations
23 Claims
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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:
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automatically determining whether a counted number of wash cycles, involving water maintained within a tank used to hold kitchenware for washing in the kitchenware washing assembly, is equal to or exceeds a preset value; and automatically controlling one or more operations of the kitchenware washing assembly when the counted number of wash cycles is equal to or exceeds the preset value; wherein automatically controlling one or more operations of the kitchenware washing assembly comprises automatically inhibiting any additional wash cycles until after tank water replacement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An automated method for monitoring tank water replacement of a kitchenware washing assembly, the method comprising:
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maintaining a count of the number of wash cycles performed since the most recent tank water replacement; comparing the count 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 count is equal to or exceeds the preset value; determining whether the tank water is being drained or has been drained from a tank used to hold kitchenware for washing in the kitchenware washing assembly, including monitoring temperature inside the 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; 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; and 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.
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18. A method for monitoring washing fluid replacement for a kitchenware washing assembly to thereby automate a decision as to when the washing fluid in the kitchenware washing assembly should be changed, the method comprising:
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automatically determining whether a counted number of wash cycles and/or an elapsed time since a replacement of a washing fluid is equal to or exceeds a preset value; automatically deactivating one or more operations of the kitchenware washing assembly, when the counted number of wash cycles and/or the elapsed time is equal to or exceeds the preset value; monitoring temperature of the washing fluid in 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.
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19. A method for monitoring washing fluid replacement for a kitchenware washing assembly to thereby automate a decision as to when the washing fluid in the kitchenware washing assembly should be changed, the method comprising:
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automatically determining whether an elapsed time since a replacement of a washing fluid in the kitchenware washing assembly is equal to or exceeds a preset value; automatically inhibiting any additional wash cycles until after replacement of the washing fluid, when the elapsed time is equal to or exceeds the preset value; and causing drainage of the washing fluid from a tank of the kitchenware washing assembly used to hold kitchenware for washing, when the elapsed time is equal to or exceeds the preset value, so that the washing fluid can be replaced.
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20. An automated method for monitoring washing fluid replacement for a kitchenware washing assembly to thereby automate a decision as to when the washing fluid in the kitchenware washing assembly should be changed, the method comprising:
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tracking a counted number of wash cycles and/or a time that has elapsed since a replacement of a washing fluid in the kitchenware washing assembly; comparing the counted number of wash cycles and/or the elapsed time to a preset value; controlling one or more operations of the kitchenware washing assembly, when the counted number of wash cycles and/or the elapsed time is equal to or exceeds the preset value; and setting the counted number of wash cycles and/or the time to zero when a sensed temperature of the washing fluid in the kitchenware washing assembly has increased by a predetermined amount over a predetermined time interval.
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21. An automated method relating to operation of a kitchenware washing assembly including a tank having an inside for holding fluid for washing kitchenware, the method comprising:
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tracking a time that has elapsed since a replacement of the fluid in the tank used for washing the kitchenware; comparing the elapsed time to a preset value; monitoring for an indicator of drainage of the fluid from the tank used for washing the kitchenware; and if the elapsed time is equal to or exceeds the preset value, inhibiting a further washing cycle of the assembly at least until after the indicator of drainage has been detected.
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22. A kitchenware washing assembly comprising a tank having an inside for holding kitchenware and fluid for washing the kitchenware, and a control system, the control system configured to:
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track a time that has elapsed since the most recent tank water replacement, to determine whether the elapsed time is equal to or exceeds a preset value; monitor for an indicator of drainage from the tank of the fluid used for washing the kitchenware; and if the elapsed time is equal to or exceeds the preset value, inhibit a further washing cycle of the assembly at least until after the indicator of drainage has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification