US20240099541A1

US20240099541A1 - Conveyor warewasher and method for operating a conveyor warewasher

Info

Publication number: US20240099541A1
Application number: US18/475,346
Authority: US
Inventors: Harald Disch; Martin Schrempp
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 2022-09-28
Filing date: 2023-09-27
Publication date: 2024-03-28
Also published as: DE102022124954A1; EP4344600A1; CN117770726A

Abstract

A conveyor warewasher has at least one washing zone, at least one rinsing zone and a conveyor apparatus. A camera system is configured to capture at least one image of a portion of the conveyor apparatus. An evaluation device is configured to determine an average degree of soiling of washware present in the portion of the conveyor apparatus at the time of the image capture and/or a average type of soiling of the washware present in the portion of the conveyor apparatus at the time of the image capture. A control device is configured to initiate, automatically or optionally automatically depending on the determined average degree of soiling and/or depending on the determined average type of soiling, at least one measure influencing the quality of a washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone and/or a measure influencing the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of industrial rinsing, and in particular to a conveyor warewasher for cleaning washware, wherein the conveyor warewasher comprises at least one washing zone and at least one rinsing zone, as well as a conveyor apparatus for conveying the washware through the at least one washing zone and the at least one rinsing zone. The conveyor warewasher according to the invention is, in particular, a belt conveyor warewasher or a basket conveyor warewasher.

BACKGROUND

Conveyor warewashers are used in the commercial sector. In contrast to domestic dishwashers, in which the washware to be cleaned remains stationary in the machine during cleaning, in conveyor warewashers the washware is conveyed through different treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher.
In the case of conveyor warewashers, the washware, for example dishes, pots, glasses, cutlery, and other utensils to be cleaned, are conveyed through a plurality of treatment zones, for example through at least one pre-washing zone, at least one main washing zone, at least one post-washing zone or pre-rinsing zone, at least one fresh water rinsing zone, and at least one drying zone. However, different types of washware require different treatment parameters for the individual process steps due to their application, their degree of soiling, their shape, and the material used. However, in today's conveyor warewashers, there is usually no automatic differentiation of the types of washware, so that the conventional systems are often designed as a compromise in order to be usable for several different types of washware.

SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is to specify a conveyor warewasher of the above-mentioned type, in which cleaning efficiency is optimized while optimizing the operating costs of the conveyor warewasher and conserving resources. Furthermore, a corresponding method of operating such a conveyor warewasher is to be specified.
Accordingly, the invention relates to a conveyor warewasher for cleaning washware, wherein the conveyor warewasher comprises at least one washing zone and at least one rinsing zone, as well as a conveyor apparatus for conveying the washware through the at least one washing zone and the at least one rinsing zone.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, it is provided that the conveyor warewasher furthermore comprises a camera system which is arranged above, below, or to the side of the conveyor apparatus, and is designed to record at least one image of an area of the conveyor apparatus, preferably continuously or at times and/or events which are defined or can be defined in advance.
In this aspect according to the invention, an evaluation device is furthermore provided; this is designed to determine a preferably average degree of soiling of the washware which was present in the area of the conveyor apparatus at the time at which the image was recorded, and/or a preferably average degree of soiling of the washware items which were present in the area of the conveyor apparatus at the time at which the image was recorded.
In the first aspect of the present invention, the conveyor warewasher furthermore comprises a control device which is designed to initiate, preferably automatically and even more preferably optionally automatically, depending on the determined, in particular average degree of soiling of the washware or washware items, at least one measure which influences the quality of a washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone, if appropriate with a time delay, and/or at least one measure which influences the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher.
Alternatively or in addition to the aforementioned solution, however, it is also conceivable that the evaluation device is designed to determine a preferably average type of soiling of the washware which was present in the area of the conveyor apparatus at the time at which the image was recorded, and/or a preferably average type of soiling of the washware items which were present in the area of the conveyor apparatus at the time at which the image was recorded, wherein the control device of the conveyor warewasher is designed to determine, preferably automatically and even more preferably optionally automatically, as a function of the determined, in particular average, type of soiling of the washware, at least one measure which influences the quality of a washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone, if necessary with a time delay, and/or at least one and/or at least one measure influencing the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher.
For example, the following different types of soiling are conceivable as the “soiling type” of the washware:

- Soiling type 1: coarse soiling, for example food residues;
- Soiling type 2: fine soiling, for example sauces, ketchup, coffee, etc.;
- Soiling type 3: liquid soiling, for example grease or oil;
- Soiling type 4: burned soiling, especially on cookware, such as pans or pots, or GN containers.

Of course, other types of soiling that are detectable with the camera system are also conceivable.
A parameter for measuring the soiling of the washware items is generally to be understood as a “degree of soiling”. For example, a distinction may be made between the following degrees of soiling:

- Soiling level 1: no or only minor soiling of the washware item;
- Soiling level 2: minor soiling that occurred, for example, when handling the item in the dirty area of the conveyor warewasher;
- Soiling level 3: soiling that typically occurs during use of the corresponding washware item; and
- Soiling level 4: heavy soiling that is produced, for example, on pans or cookware.

The degree of soiling is preferably determined with the aid of the camera system, namely by using the evaluation device belonging to the camera system to determine what the percentage of the washware surface of a washware item is on which soiling is present in the recorded image of the washware items.
The type of soiling of the washware can also be determined with the aid of the camera system and the associated evaluation device, since the dirty areas on the washware surface of a washware item have different shapes and/or reflect light differently depending on the type of soiling.
Depending on the determined type of soiling and/or depending on the determined degree of soiling of the washware, according to implementations of the conveyor warewasher according to the invention, using the control device, at least one measure influencing the quality of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the washing zone is initiated, preferably automatically and even more preferably optionally automatically, if necessary with a time delay, and/or at least one measure influencing the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher is initiated.
With regard to the at least one measure influencing the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher, it is, in particular, provided in accordance with the invention that the control device is designed to set or adjust the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher as a function of the determined, in particular average degree of soiling of the washware and/or as a function of the determined, in particular average type of soiling of the washware, to set a volume flow rate and/or a nozzle pressure and/or a temperature of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone.
Alternatively or in addition, it is, in particular, provided that the control device is designed to set or adjust the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher as a function of the determined, in particular average degree of soiling of the washware and/or as a function of the determined, in particular average type of soiling of the washware, by setting a cleaning agent concentration of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone.
As an alternative or in addition to this, it is provided in particular that the control device is designed to set or adjust the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher as a function of the determined, in particular average degree of soiling of the washware and/or as a function of the determined, in particular average type of soiling of the washware, by adjusting the transport speed of the conveyor apparatus.
Alternatively or in addition thereto, it is provided in particular that the control device is designed to set or adjust the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher as a function of the determined, in particular average degree of soiling of the washware and/or as a function of the determined, in particular average type of soiling of the washware, by setting a fresh water rinse quantity which is introduced into the at least one rinsing zone.
As an alternative or in addition to this, it is provided in particular that the control device is designed to set or adjust the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher as a function of the determined, in particular average degree of soiling of the washware and/or as a function of the determined, in particular average type of soiling of the washware, by setting a separate washing tank regeneration quantity.
Alternatively or in addition thereto, it is provided in particular that the control device is designed to set and/or activate a separate and, in particular, additional machine device, in particular a direct cleaning agent spraying system, for setting or adjusting the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher as a function of the determined, in particular average degree of soiling of the washware and/or as a function of the determined, in particular average type of soiling of the washware.
As an alternative or in addition to this, it is provided in particular that the control device is designed to activate an additional pre-cleaning or washing module for the treatment of particularly heavily soiled washware in order to set or adjust the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher as a function of the determined, in particular average degree of soiling of the washware and/or as a function of the determined, in particular average type of soiling of the washware.
Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable to influence or improve a regeneration of the washing liquid with water that is added to affect the quality of the washing liquid. Preferably, the water that is added originates from a fresh water rinsing zone upstream of the at least one washing zone as viewed in the direction of transport of the conveyor apparatus. The higher the amount of regeneration water supplied to the at least one washing zone per time unit, the better the washing result that can be achieved in the at least one washing zone.
In order to affect the quality of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone, it is also conceivable, as an alternative or in addition to the regeneration of the washing liquid, to take the dirt-carrying capacity of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone into account.
Dirt-carrying capacity refers to the ability of the washing liquid to disperse or emulsify food residues in a manner that prevents them from settling down again on the surfaces of already cleaned washware.
For example, the dirt-carrying capacity of the washing liquid is also increased by increasing the cleaning agent concentration in the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone of the conveyor warewasher. In other words, the quality of the washing liquid can be positively affected by increasing the cleaning agent concentration in the washing liquid.
The same applies figuratively—at least in part—to the temperature of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone. If the temperature of the washing liquid is higher, the ability of the washing liquid to disperse or emulsify food residues will usually also increase, so that they cannot settle down again on already cleaned surfaces of the washware.
Thus, in further embodiments of the conveyor warewasher according to the invention, it is provided that the control device is designed to adjust, preferably automatically and even more preferably optionally automatically, as a function of the determined, in particular average degree of soiling of the washware and/or as a function of the determined, in particular average type of soiling of the washware, if necessary with a time delay, the dirt-carrying capacity of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone, and, in particular, to increase it.
In this context, it is, in particular, conceivable that the control device is designed to adjust or adapt the dirt-carrying capacity of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone, if necessary with a time delay, by adjusting a temperature of the washing liquid and/or a cleaning agent concentration of the washing liquid, in particular in a regulating manner.
The quality of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone can also be adjusted or improved if the dirt load of the washing liquid is considered. The dirt load of the washing liquid is the total of all dirt components, regardless of whether they are easily or poorly soluble, emulsifying, and/or dispersible contaminants of the washing liquid. The dirt load affects the cleaning results as well as foam formation.
Thus, in embodiments of the conveyor warewasher according to the invention, it is provided that the control device is designed to initiate, preferably automatically and even more preferably optionally automatically, depending on the determined, in particular average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined, in particular average type of soiling of the washware, a dirt discharge from the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone, if necessary with a time delay.
In a particularly easily implemented, but nonetheless effective manner, it is provided within this context that the at least one washing zone of the conveyor warewasher according to the invention comprises a washing system that is designed as a recirculation circuit, wherein the washing system comprises a nozzle system with at least one washing nozzle for spraying washing liquid onto the washware to be cleaned, a washing tank for collecting at least part of the sprayed washing liquid, and a washing pump for supplying washing liquid collected in the washing tank to the at least one washing nozzle.
Within this context, in order to reduce the dirt load of the washing liquid, it is, in particular, provided that the washing system comprises a correspondingly assigned dirt discharge system. A tank cover screen can be associated with the dirt discharge system and designed to separate particulates from the washing liquid that flows back into the washing tank by gravity. In this case, it is advisable for the dirt discharge system to comprise a dirt collection area that is arranged at least partly within the washing tank in order to collect the dirt particles that are separated from the washing liquid with the aid of the tank cover screen.
Within this context, it is particularly conceivable that a dirt discharge system is provided, which has a fluid connection to the dirt collection area, and via which the dirt collection area can be emptied; in particular, as needed.
In this embodiment, the control device of the conveyor warewasher can be designed to activate and/or deactivate the dirt discharge system and, in particular, a dirt discharge pump assigned to the dirt discharge system, preferably automatically and even more preferably optionally automatically as a function of the determined, in particular average, degree of soiling of the washware and/or as a function of the determined, in particular average, type of soiling of the washware and, if necessary, with a time delay.
In particular, the control device is designed to initiate the measure influencing the quality of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone with a time delay with regard to the time of determination of the, in particular average, degree of soiling or with regard to the time at which the, in particular average, type of soiling of the washware is determined, wherein the time delay is, in particular, dependent on the transport speed of the conveyor apparatus and/or a distance between the camera system and the at least one washing zone.
In particular, in order to influence the quality of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone, an average degree of soiling or average type of soiling of the washware should be determined over a predefined or definable time period.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, which may be combined with the first aspect of the invention described above, a conveyor warewasher for cleaning washware is disclosed; wherein the conveyor warewasher comprises at least one washing zone and at least one rinsing zone, as well as a conveyor apparatus for transporting washware through the at least one washing zone and the at least one rinsing zone.
With a view to the optimized and, in particular, simplified detection of the washware, the conveyor warewasher according to the invention is provided with a camera system which is arranged above, below, or to the side of the conveyor apparatus and is designed to record at least one image of an area of the conveyor apparatus, preferably continuously or at predetermined or definable times and/or events.
Furthermore, an evaluation device is provided which is designed to determine a preferably average degree of soiling of the washware which was present in the area of the conveyor apparatus at the time at which the image was recorded, and/or a preferably average type of soiling of the washware which was present in the area of the conveyor apparatus at the time at which the image was recorded. The evaluation device is also designed to perform machine diagnostics preferably automatically and even more preferably optionally automatically as a function of the determined, in particular average, degree of soiling of the washware and/or as a function of the determined, in particular average, type of soiling of the washware.
It is conceivable within this context, for example, that the evaluation device is designed to derive/predict an expected average dirt load of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone within the scope of the machine diagnostics, and to initiate at least one measure influencing the quality of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone.
Alternatively or in addition, it is conceivable that the evaluation device is designed, in particular within the scope of machine diagnostics, to inform the operator of the conveyor warewasher in particular about the need for basic cleaning of the conveyor warewasher and/or about a time for carrying out a necessary basic cleaning of the conveyor warewasher.
Alternatively or in addition, the evaluation device can be designed to provide the operator of the conveyor warewasher, in particular, with an estimate of starch build-up in the treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher, especially within the context of machine diagnostics.
Basic cleaning describes the occasional cleaning process of the conveyor warewasher with the appropriate treatment agent. Deposits built up during use, such as starch, egg white, or lime, are removed.
Starch build-up (accumulated starch) is a type of soiling that can build up when starchy foods (such as sauces, mashed potatoes, etc.) are served on pre-heated plates. If the contact time between the cleaning agent solution and dirty washware is too short and/or the temperature of the cleaning agent solution is too low and/or the cleaning agent concentration is too low, the conveyor warewasher cannot remove the soiling and buildup accumulates.
In other words, in this embodiment of the conveyor warewasher according to the invention, status-based monitoring that utilizes the machine diagnostics takes place. Alternatively or additionally, “predictive maintenance” is also implemented, since maintenance time intervals are predicted by the conveyor warewasher.
According to implementations, in particular of the last-mentioned aspect, it is provided that the evaluation device is designed to provide, particularly within the context of machine diagnostics, a recommendation to the operator of the conveyor warewasher regarding optimized operation of the conveyor warewasher. The recommendation may include the following, in particular:

- a conveying speed of the conveyor apparatus; and/or
- a dosing amount of the cleaning agent; and/or
- a type of cleaning agent; and/or
- a temperature of the washing liquid.

In particular, according to further developments of the conveyor warewasher according to the invention, it is provided that it implements status-based monitoring and predictive maintenance by means of machine learning.
Within this context, it is conceivable, for example, that the control device is designed, in particular during a learning or observation phase over at least one observation period and preferably over several observation periods, each of which preferably relates to a washing shift or washing day of the conveyor warewasher or a time segment thereof, to determine a development over time of the, in particular, average degree of soiling of the washware to be transported by the conveyor apparatus through the treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher, and/or to determine a development over time of the, in particular, average type of soiling of the washware to be transported by the conveyor apparatus through the treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher. Within this context, the control device is preferably furthermore designed to derive a pattern or regularity based on the determined time development.
According to further embodiments of this embodiment of the conveyor warewasher according to the invention, it is provided that the control device is designed to divide the observation period, which preferably relates to a washing shift or washing day of the conveyor warewasher or a time period thereof, into a first subperiod and at least one further, second subperiod, wherein, in the first subperiod of the observation period, the determined, in particular average, degree of soiling of the washware and/or the determined, in particular average, type of soiling of the washware corresponds to a first relative value or falls within a first relative value range, and wherein, in the at least one second subperiod of the observation period, the determined, in particular average, degree of soiling of the washware and/or the determined, in particular average, type of soiling of the washware corresponds to a second relative value or falls within a second relative value range.
It is conceivable within this context that the control device is furthermore designed, in particular after the end of the learning or observation phase, preferably automatically and even more preferably optionally automatically during the operation of the conveyor warewasher during a washing shift or washing day for the first subperiod, to initiate at least one first measure influencing the treatment of the washware in the treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher and/or at least one measure influencing the quality of a washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone of the conveyor warewasher, if necessary with a time delay; and for the at least one second subperiod, to initiate at least one second measure influencing the treatment of the washware in the treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher and/or at least one measure influencing the quality of a washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone of the conveyor warewasher, if necessary with a time delay.
The invention furthermore relates to a method for operating a conveyor warewasher, in particular a conveyor warewasher of the aforementioned type according to the invention, or a conveyor warewasher according to the generic term of claim 1.
In the method according to the invention, a preferably average degree of soiling of the washware to be cleaned in the conveyor warewasher and/or a preferably average type of soiling of the washware to be cleaned in the conveyor warewasher is determined.
Subsequently, machine diagnostics are preferably performed automatically and even more preferably optionally automatically as a function of the determined degree of soiling, and/or as a function of the determined type of soiling of the washware.
Alternatively or in addition to the aforementioned process steps, it is conceivable that preferably, an average degree of soiling of the washware to be cleaned in the conveyor warewasher and/or a preferably average type of soiling of the washware to be cleaned in the conveyor warewasher is determined, wherein, depending on the determined degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined type of soiling of the washware, at least one measure influencing the quality of a washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone is subsequently initiated, preferably automatically and even more preferably optionally automatically, optionally with a time delay.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention is described with reference to the drawing on the basis of a preferred embodiment of the conveyor warewasher according to the invention.

The following are shown:

FIG. 1 a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a conveyor warewasher according to an exemplary embodiment of the conveyor warewasher according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a conveyor warewasher 1 with a conveyor apparatus 2 for conveying washware not shown in the drawings through the conveyor warewasher 1 in a direction of conveyance 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The conveyor apparatus 2 can, for example, consist of a conveyor belt, which is preferably designed as a multi-component plastic conveyor belt, and is continuously driven by an electric drive not shown in FIG. 1 ; so that the washware placed upon the conveyor belt 2 is conveyed through the various treatment zones 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 26 of the conveyor warewasher 1 according to the illustration in FIG. 1 .
Typically, the washware conveyed in the direction of conveyance 3 is placed upon the conveyor apparatus or conveyor belt 2 in the area of the inlet 4. According to the direction of conveyance 3 indicated by the arrow, the washware is then conveyed from the inlet 4 into an inlet tunnel 5.
The conveyor warewasher 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has at least one washing zone, for example as shown in FIG. 1 , a pre-washing zone 6, as well as a first main washing zone 7 and a second main washing zone 8, which are arranged downstream of the pre-washing zone 6 when viewed in the direction of conveyance 3.
In the conveyor warewasher 1 shown in FIG. 1 , a post-washing zone 9 and a rinsing zone 10 downstream of the post-washing zone 9 are arranged downstream of the at least one washing zone 6, 7, 8 when viewed in the direction of conveyance 3.
In the illustration according to FIG. 1 , the conveyor apparatus 2 is shown as a circumferential conveyor belt. However, conveyor racks in which the not explicitly shown washware is inserted and which are placed on the top of the conveyor belt are also conceivable as the conveyor apparatus 2.
When viewed in the direction of conveyance 3, the washware received either directly on the conveyor belt 2 or held by racks runs in the direction of conveyance 3 through the inlet tunnel 5, the subsequent pre-washing zone 6, the first main washing zone 7, the second main washing zone 8, the post-washing zone 9, the rinsing zone 10, a drying zone 26, and into an outlet path 25.
Spray nozzles 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are respectively associated with the aforementioned treatment zones 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the conveyor warewasher 1, via which nozzles liquid is sprayed onto the washware conveyed by the conveyor apparatus 2 through the respective treatment zones 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Each treatment zone 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 is associated with a tank 16, 18, 20, and 22 in which sprayed liquid is received and/or in which liquid is provided for the spray nozzles of the respective zones. In the conveyor warewasher 1 shown in FIG. 1 , rinsing liquid is sprayed onto the washware, not shown in the illustrations, in the form of fresh water, which may be pure or mixed with further additives such as rinsing agents, via the spray nozzles 15 of the rinsing zone 10 arranged above and below or to the side of the conveyor belt.
A portion of the sprayed rinsing liquid is conveyed from zone to zone in a cascading system counter to the direction of conveyance 3 of the washware. The remaining portion is guided directly into the pre-washing tank 16 via a valve 77 and a bypass line 88.
The sprayed rinsing liquid is collected in the tank 20 (post-washing tank 20) of the post-washing zone 9, from which it is conveyed via a pump system to the spray nozzles 14 (post-wash nozzles 14) of the post-washing zone 9. In the post-washing zone 9, washing liquid is rinsed from the washware. The liquid resulting from this flows into the washing tank 18 b of the second main washing zone 8, is usually provided with a cleaning agent and then sprayed onto the washware by a pumping system via the nozzles 13 (wash nozzles 13) of the second main washing zone 8.
Liquid flows from the washing tank 18 b of the second main washing zone 8 into the washing tank 18 a of the first main washing zone 7. From there, the liquid is again sprayed onto the washware by a further pump system via the wash nozzles 12 of the first main washing zone 7. From the washing tank 18 a of the first main washing zone 7, the liquid then flows into the pre-washing tank 16 of the pre-washing zone 6. The liquid in the pre-washing tank 16 is sprayed onto the washware by a pumping system via the pre-wash nozzles 11 of the pre-washing zone 6 in order to remove coarse impurities from the washware.
The individual rinsing systems of the treatment zones 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 ensure that the washware is sprayed from both the top and the bottom.
The respective zones 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the conveyor warewasher 1 can be separated from one another via separating curtains 37. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the inlet tunnel 5 itself is also separated from the inlet 4 via a separating curtain 37. The provision of separating curtains 37 can prevent washing liquid and rinsing liquid from splashing out and steam from escaping from the conveyor warewasher.
The aforementioned drying zone 26 follows the rinsing zone 10 in the direction of conveyance 3 of the washware. In the drying zone 26, the washware is dried with dry and heated air in order to blow off or dry the moisture that is present on the washware. In order to maintain the moisture content of the air within a range that is favorable for drying, it is conceivable, for example, to supply room air via an opening, for example through the exit opening for the washware. The warm and moistened air is extracted from the drying zone 26, for example, by means of a fan 31 via a further opening.
It is advantageous for the exhaust air from the drying zone 26 to pass through a device for heat recovery 30, in which a condenser can be provided. The heat recovery device 30 serves to recover at least a portion of the heat energy contained in the exhaust air.
In today's belt/rack conveyor warewashers, the washware is conveyed through a plurality of treatment zones, such as pre-washing zones, main washing zones, post-washing zones, rinsing zones, and drying zones.
As already indicated, different types of washware in the treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher require different treatment parameters. However, with the currently known conveyor warewashers, there is no automatic differentiation of the types of washware to be treated, so that conventional systems are typically designed as a compromise, such that they are more or less efficient for multiple types of washware. This approach leads to the fact that significantly more resources (energy, water, chemicals, etc.) are generally used in order to treat the washware than would actually be necessary.
The conveyor warewasher 1 according to the invention, as shown for example in FIG. 1 , is characterized in that the conveyor warewasher 1 comprises a camera system 34, which is arranged above the conveyor apparatus 2 and is designed to take at least one image of an area of the conveyor apparatus 2, preferably continuously or at predetermined or determinable times and/or events.
The camera system 34 is associated with an image processing device 35, which is designed to, in particular optionally, pre-process the at least one image captured by the camera system 34, segment the in particular optionally pre-processed image, extract features, and classify objects contained in the image (washware).
The conveyor warewasher 1 according to the invention, as shown schematically by means of an exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1 , is, in particular, characterized in that with the aid of the camera system 34, which can be arranged above, below, or to the side of the conveyor apparatus 2, at least one image of an area of the conveyor apparatus 2 is preferably captured continuously or at predetermined or fixed times and/or events. This image is then evaluated accordingly by the evaluation device 35.
The evaluation device 35 herein analyzes the extent to which the washware is soiled. The average degree of soiling of the washware is determined, but the average type of soiling of the washware is preferably also determined.
In other words, the control device 36 of the conveyor warewasher 1 according to the invention “knows” the dirt load found on the washware to be treated in the treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher 1.
This can be used to deduce how high the dirt discharge will be, in particular in the washing liquid, and what type of soiling is to be expected.
For example, this can be used to determine whether an increased amount of grease or oil-containing dirt residues/food residues per time unit will enter the washing liquid, so that corresponding measures can then be initiated, in particular, to increase the quality of the washing liquid.
In particular, the control device 36 is therefore designed to initiate, preferably automatically and even more preferably optionally automatically, as a function of the determined, in particular average, degree of soiling of the washware and/or as a function of the determined, in particular average, type of soiling of the washware, at least one measure which influences the quality of a washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone, if necessary with a time delay.
It is conceivable in this context, for example, that the control device 36 is designed to regenerate the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone, preferably automatically and even more preferably optionally automatically, as a function of the determined, in particular average degree of soiling of the washware and/or as a function of a determined, in particular average type of soiling of the washware, such that a quantity of regeneration water to be supplied per time unit to the washing liquid to be sprayed is set, in particular in a regulating manner, preferably as a function of the determined, in particular average, degree of soiling of the washware and/or as a function of the determined, in particular average, type of soiling of the washware.
Alternatively or in addition, it is conceivable that the control device 36 initiates measures to adjust the dirt-carrying capacity of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone, in particular to the determined, in particular average degree of soiling and/or to the determined, in particular average type of soiling of the washware.
For this purpose, the control device 36 can be designed to adjust or adapt the dirt-carrying capacity of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone by adjusting a temperature of the washing liquid and/or a cleaning agent concentration of the washing liquid or, alternatively, by adjusting the type of cleaning agent for the washing liquid, in particular in a regulating manner.
Alternatively or additionally, however, it is also conceivable that the control device 36 is designed to initiate a discharge of dirt from the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone, with a time delay if necessary.
Alternatively or in addition to the aforementioned embodiment of the control device 36, however, it is also conceivable that the evaluation device that is assigned to the control device 36 is designed to determine a preferably average degree of soiling of the washware that was present in the area of the conveyor apparatus 2 at the time at which the image was recorded and/or a preferably average type of soiling of the washware that was present in the area of the conveyor apparatus 2 at the time at which the image was recorded, wherein machine diagnosis is carried out preferably automatically and particularly preferably optionally automatically, depending on the determined, in particular average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined, in particular average type of soiling of the washware.
Within the scope of these machine diagnostics, an expected average dirt load of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone can be derived in the short and medium term, in order to initiate a measure that influences the quality of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone in advance.
Herein it is conceivable, for example, that the operator of the conveyor warewasher 1 is given advance notice of the need for basic cleaning of the conveyor warewasher 1 and, in particular, a time for carrying out a necessary basic cleaning of the conveyor warewasher 1. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable to provide the operator of the conveyor warewasher 1 with an estimate of starch buildup in the treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher 1.
According to a further development of the conveyor warewasher 1 according to the invention, the control device 36 is designed to detect, within the framework of machine learning, at what times during a washing shift or washing day of the conveyor warewasher 1 which types of soiling/which degrees of soiling of the washware are to be expected, so that this knowledge which was gained during a learning or observation phase can be used to automatically initiate corresponding measures with regard to influencing the quality of the washing liquid or other measures.
The invention is not limited to the conveyor warewasher 1 schematically shown in FIG. 1 , but results from a summary of all features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A conveyor warewasher for cleaning washware, wherein the conveyor warewasher comprises at least one washing zone and at least one rinsing zone as well as a conveyor apparatus for conveying the washware through the at least one washing zone and the at least one rinsing zone,

characterized in that

the conveyor warewasher comprises a camera system, which is arranged above or below or lateral to the conveyor apparatus and is configured in order to capture at least one image of a portion of the conveyor apparatus, wherein an evaluation device is further provided, which is configured in order to determine a average degree of soiling of the washware present in the portion of the conveyor apparatus at the time of the image capture and/or a average type of soiling of the washware present in the portion of the conveyor apparatus at the time of the image capture, wherein the conveyor warewasher comprises a control device, which is configured in order to initiate, automatically depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined average type of soiling of the washware, at least one measure influencing the quality of a washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone and/or at least one measure influencing the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher.

2. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 1,

wherein the control device is configured in order to set a volumetric flow rate and/or a nozzle pressure and/or a temperature of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone for setting or adjusting the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware; and/or

wherein the control device is configured in order to set a cleaning agent concentration of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone for setting or adjusting the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware; and/or

wherein the control device is configured in order to set the conveying speed of the conveying apparatus for setting or adjusting the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware; and/or

wherein the control device is configured in order to set a freshwater rinsing quantity inserted in the at least one rinsing zone for setting or adjusting the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware; and/or

wherein the control device is configured in order to set a separate wash tank regeneration quantity for setting or adjusting the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware; and/or

wherein the control device is configured in order to set and/or activate a separate additional machine device, in particular a cleaning agent direct spraying system, for setting or adjusting the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware; and/or

wherein the control device is configured in order to activate an additional pre-clearing or washing module for treating strongly soiled washware for setting or adjusting the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware.

3. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 1,

wherein the control device is configured in order to regenerate, automatically depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on a determined average type of soiling of the washware, the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone, namely by setting, in a controlling manner, a regeneration water quantity to be added per unit of time to the washing liquid to be sprayed per unit of time, depending on a determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined average type of soiling of the washware.

4. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 1,

wherein the control device is configured in order to set, automatically depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined average type of soiling of the washware, if necessary at a time delay, the soil-carrying capacity of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone, or to at least adjust it to the determined average degree of soiling and/or the determined average type of soiling of the washware.

5. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 4,

wherein the control device is configured in order to set, in a controlling manner and if necessary at a delay, a temperature of the washing liquid and/or cleaning agent concentration of the washing liquid for setting or adjusting the soil-carrying capacity of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone.

6. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 1,

wherein the control device is configured in order to initiate, automatically depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined average type of soiling of the washware, and if necessary at a delay, a soil output from the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone.

7. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 6,

wherein the at least one washing zone comprises a washing system configured as a recirculation circuit, wherein the washing system comprises a nozzle system having at least one washing nozzle for spraying washing liquid onto the washware to be cleaned, a wash tank for collecting at least a portion of the sprayed washing liquid, and a wash pump for supplying washing liquid collected in the wash tank to the at least one wash nozzle, and wherein a soil discharge system associated with the washing system is further provided, wherein a tank cover screen is associated with the soil discharge system, which screen is configured in order to separate soil particles from the washing liquid that is sprayed and flows back into the wash tank due to gravity, wherein the soil discharge system comprises a soil collection portion arranged at least partly in the wash tank for collecting the soil particles separated from the washing liquid by means of the tank cover screen, and wherein a soil discharge system fluidly connected to the soil collection portion is further provided, via which system the soil collection portion can be emptied, as needed, wherein the control device is configured in order to activate and/or deactivate the soil discharge system a soil discharge pump associated with the soil discharge system automatically depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined average type of soiling of the washware, if necessary at a delay.

8. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 1,

wherein the control device is configured in order to initiate, at a delay, the measure influencing the quality of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone with regard to the time of determination of the average degree of soiling or with regard to the time of determination of the average type of soiling of the washware, wherein the delay depends on the conveying speed of the conveyor apparatus and/or a distance between the camera system and the at least one washing zone.

9. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 1,

wherein the evaluation device is configured in order to determine a degree of soiling of the washware averaged over a predetermined or determinable period of time, and wherein the control device is configured in order to initiate the measure influencing the quality of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware.

10. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 9, characterized in that

the conveyor warewasher comprises a camera system, which is arranged above or below or lateral to the conveyor apparatus and is configured in order to capture at least one image of a portion of the conveyor apparatus, wherein an evaluation device is further provided, which is configured in order to determine a average degree of soiling of the washware present in the portion of the conveyor apparatus at the time of the image capture and/or a average type of soiling of the pieces of washware present in the portion of the conveyor apparatus at the time of the image capture, wherein the evaluation device is further configured in order to perform machine diagnostics, automatically depending on the determined average degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined average type of soiling of the washware.

11. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 10,

wherein the evaluation device is configured in order to discharge an expected average soil load of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone as part of the machine diagnostics and to initiate at least one measure influencing the quality of the washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone.

12. The conveyor warewasher according to claim or 11,

wherein the evaluation device is configured in order to inform, as part of the machine diagnostics, the operator of the conveyor warewasher regarding the necessity of a basic cleaning of the conveyor warewasher and/or regarding a time for performing a basic cleaning of the conveyor warewasher; and/or

wherein the evaluation device is configured in order to provide, to the operator of the conveyor warewasher, as part of the machine diagnostics, an estimate of the starch buildup in the treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher.

13. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 10,

wherein the evaluation device is configured in order to issue a recommendation to the operator of the conveyor warewasher, as part of the machine diagnostics, for an optimized operation of the conveyor warewasher, wherein the recommendation comprises the following:

a conveying speed of the conveyor apparatus; and/or

a dosing amount of the cleaning agent; and/or

a type of cleaning agent; and/or

a temperature of the washing liquid.

14. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 10,

wherein the control device is configured in order to determine, during a learning or observation phase over at least one observation period and over a plurality of observation periods each relating to a washing shift or a washing day of the conveyor warewasher or a portion thereof, a development over time of the average degree of soiling of the washware to be conveyed with the conveyor apparatus through the treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher and/or a development over timte of the average type of soiling of the washware to be conveyed with the conveyor apparatus through the treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher, wherein the control device is further configured in order to deduce a pattern or a regularity based on the determined development over time.

15. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 14,

wherein the control device is further configured in order to divide the observation period relating to a washing shift or a washing day of the conveyor warewasher or a portion thereof into a first sub-period and into at least one further second sub-period, wherein, in the first sub-period of the observation period, the determined average degree of soiling and/or the determined average type of soiling of the washware corresponds to a first relative value or falls within a first relative value range, and wherein, in the at least one second sub-period of the observation period, the determined average degree of soiling and/or the determined average type of soiling of the washware corresponds to a second relative value or falls within a second relative value range.

16. The conveyor warewasher according to claim 15,

wherein the control device is further configured in order to initiate, for the first sub-period, after the end of the learning or observation phase, automatically during operation of the conveyor warewasher during a washing shift or during a washing day, at least one first measure influencing the treatment of the washware in the treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher and/or at least one measure influencing the quality of a washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone of the conveyor warewasher, if necessary at a delay, and to initiate, for the at least one second sub-period, at least one second measure influencing the treatment of the washware in the treatment zones of the conveyor warewasher and/or at least one measure influencing the quality of a washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone of the conveyor warewasher, if necessary at a delay.

17. A method for operating a conveyor warewasher (1), wherein the method comprises the following method steps:

a average degree of soiling of the washware to be cleaned in the conveyor warewasher and/or a average type of soiling of the washware to be cleaned in the conveyor warewasher is determined using a camera system; and

machine diagnostics are performed automatically depending on the determined degree of soiling and/or depending on the determined type of soiling of the washware.

18. The method for operating a conveyor warewasher (1), wherein the method comprises the following method steps:

at least one measure influencing the quality of a washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone is initiated, if necessary at a delay, automatically depending on the determined degree of soiling of the washware and/or depending on the determined type of soiling of the washware.