Patent Application
20180256001
The present invention relates to dish washing machines, and in particular to dish washing machines with a compact profile having an integral sink and an easy system for supplying liquids to the dish washer.
Commercial establishments for cooking and/or preparing food typically have a commercial dish washer for washing dirty dishes. The dish washers spray a detergent and water onto the dirty dishes to clean the dishes. The dish washers can also spray a rinse detergent and water onto the dishes after the dishes have been washed to rinse the dishes and prevent spots on the dishes.
Currently, there are four main types of commercial dish washers in worldwide markets. The commercial dish washers include an under-counter dish washing machine, a hood or door type dish washing machine, a tunnel type dish washing machine and a flight type dish washing machine. The under-counter dish washing machine has a small size and low profile and is positioned under a separate work bench with a wash basin next to the space occupied by the under-counter dish washing machine. The hood or door type dish washing machine, the tunnel type dish washing machine and the flight type dish washing machine all have a medium to large size and are positioned next to a separate side bench with a wash basin on the bench. The under-counter dish washing machine, the hood or door type dish washing machine and the tunnel type dish washing machine all typically use a rack or container having the dirty dishes that is positioned within the machine. The flight type dish washing machine has dishes that are put directly onto an integral conveyor and washed as the dishes pass therethrough.
Typically, commercial dish washing machines use a detergent, a sanitizer, and/or a drying agent in the dish washing process. Replaceable chemical drums are put near the machines, usually under the side bench. The chemicals are pumped into the dish washing machine and dispensed during the washing processes.
The present invention, according to one aspect, is directed to a dish washing machine comprising a cabinet including a frame defining a periphery of the dish washing machine, with the cabinet having a top, a front, a rear and a pair of sides. A dish washing area is within the cabinet, with the dish washing area including at least one spray nozzle for spraying a liquid onto dishes positioned within the dish washing area. The front of the cabinet has a door for allowing access into the dish washing area. A top wash basin is on the top of the cabinet, with the top wash basin including a spout for water and a sink for accepting liquid therein.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a dish washing machine comprising a cabinet including a frame defining a periphery of the dish washing machine, with the cabinet having a top, a front, a rear and a pair of sides. A dish washing area is within the cabinet, with the dish washing area including at least one spray nozzle for spraying a liquid onto dishes positioned within the dish washing area. A heating tank and a wash tank are within the cabinet, with the heating tank providing heated water to the wash tank for washing the dishes in the dish washing area. A wash pump provides the water in the wash tank to the at least one spray nozzle. A rinse pump provides the water in the heating tank to the at least one spray nozzle. A rinse detergent tank holds a rinse detergent and a rinse detergent pump provides the rinse detergent to the heating tank. A wash detergent tank holds a wash detergent and a wash detergent pump provides the wash detergent to the wash tank. The rinse detergent can be added to the rinse detergent tank while the rinse pump is activated. The wash detergent can be added to the wash detergent tank while the wash pump is activated.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a dish washing machine comprising a cabinet including a frame defining a periphery of the dish washing machine, with the cabinet having a top, a front, a rear and a pair of sides. A dish washing area is within the cabinet, with the dish washing area including at least one spray nozzle for spraying a liquid onto dishes positioned within the dish washing area. The front of the cabinet having a pivotable door for allowing access into the dish washing area. A heating tank and a wash tank are within the cabinet, with the heating tank providing heated water to the wash tank for washing the dishes in the dish washing area. A wash pump provides the water in the wash tank to the at least one spray nozzle. A rinse pump provides the water in the heating tank to the at least one spray nozzle. A rinse detergent tank holds a rinse detergent and a rinse detergent pump provides the rinse detergent to the heating tank. A wash detergent tank holds a wash detergent and a wash detergent pump provides the wash detergent to the wash tank. The rinse detergent can be added to the rinse detergent tank while the rinse pump is activated. The wash detergent can be added to the wash detergent tank while the wash pump is activated. A top wash basin is on the top of the cabinet, with the top wash basin including a spout for water and a sink for accepting liquid therein. The dish washing area has a washing drain for drainage of fluids within the dish washing area. The sink of the top wash basin has a basin drain for drainage of fluids within the sink. The liquid passing through the basin drain meets with the liquid passing through the washing drain.
One or more embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example and should not be construed as being limited to the specific embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only, and will not be limiting. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
In the illustrated example, the dish washing machine 10 includes a cabinet 18 having the dish washer 12 and the integral top wash basin 14. The cabinet 18 defines an interior 20 with the dish washer 12 within the interior 20 and the top wash basin 14 at the top of the cabinet 18. The cabinet 18 includes a frame 22 having a bottom support plate 24, a plurality of corner posts 26, top cross bars 28 along a periphery of the frame 22 and connected to tops of the corner posts 26 and a plurality of intermediate cross bars 30 for providing rigidity to the frame 22. A pair of side panels 32, a front bottom panel 34, a front side vertical panel 36, a top display panel 38 and a pivotable front washer door 40 cover the interior 20 of the cabinet 22. The pivotable front washer door 40 is located above the front bottom panel 34, below the top display panel 38 and to the side of the front side vertical panel 36. It is contemplated that the frame 22, the panels 32, 34, 36 and 38, and the front washer door 40 could be made of any materials (e.g., metal or plastic). Furthermore, it is contemplated that the panels 32, 34, 36 and 38 can be easily removable from the frame 22 to allow access to the interior 20 of the cabinet 18. The cabinet 18 can include vertically adjustable feet 48 for adjusting a height of corners of the cabinet 18 and for levelling the cabinet 18. The cabinet 18 includes a top portion 42 having the top wash basin 14, a middle portion 44 including the dish washer 12 and a bottom portion 46 having mechanical features for running the dish washer 12.
The illustrated top portion 42 of the cabinet 18 includes the top wash basin 14 and allows for a user of the dish washing machine 10 to wash or pre-wash dishes. The top wash basin 14 includes a substantially rectangular peripheral panel 50 positioned on top of the top cross bars 28 of the frame 22 of the cabinet 18. The substantially peripheral panel 50 has a downwardly depending skirt 52 along a periphery thereof surrounding the top cross bars 28 of the frame 22. The peripheral panel 50 includes a central opening 54 defining a sink 56. The sink 56 includes a bottom angled plate 58, with a bottom side of the bottom angled plate 58 meeting a drain 60. The sink 56 also includes opposite triangular shaped side walls 62. The illustrated drain 60 is substantially rectangular and includes a removable strainer 64 held within a strainer holder 66. The strainer 64 is illustrated as having a rectangular cross-sectional shape and configured as a basket. However, it is contemplated that the strainer 64 could have any shape. The strainer 64 is configured to prevent large items (e.g., large pieces of food) from going down a drain pipe 68.
In the illustrated example, a water spout 70 is located adjacent the sink 56. The water spout 70 has an outlet 72 for water. It is contemplated that the spout 70 could be extendible/retractable and the outlet 72 can have a nozzle thereon for assisting in cleaning dishes. A U-shaped shield 74 flanks three sides of the sink 56 to maintain food, water and other liquids within an area above the top wash basin 14. The water spout 70 extends through the peripheral panel 50 between the sink 56 and the U-shaped shield 74.
In the illustrated example, water is provided to the spout 70 of the top wash basin 14 from an inlet line 76 for supplying fresh water (hot or cold) to the dish washing machine 10. The inlet line 76 enters the cabinet 18 of the dish washing machine 10 in a bottom open rear area 78 thereof. Once the inlet line 76 reaches the cabinet 18, a Y-fitting 80 (which can be a valve to divert the water into a selected output) splits the water into a spout line 82 and a washer line 84. The spout line 82 leads directly to the water spout 70 as illustrated in
Small particles, water and/or other liquids pass through the strainer 64 of the top wash basin 14 to be drained away from the top wash basin 14 through the drain pipe 68. As illustrated in
The illustrated dish washer 12 washes dishes placed therein. Dishes can be placed on a tray or rack (not shown) that fits within a wash space 102 defined by three walls 104 (see
In the illustrated example, the washing fluid and the rinsing fluid comes at least partially from the water supplied to the dish washing machine through the inlet line 76. As outlined above, the inlet line 76 supplies water to the Y-fitting 80, which splits that water to flow through the spout line 82 and the washer line 80. As illustrated in
The illustrated water from the heating tank supply line 100 is prepared for washing by emptying into a booster heating tank 108 before being supplied to the wash space 102. Once in the heating tank 108, the water is heated to assist in cleaning the dishes. It is contemplated that the heating tank 108 can heat the water to about 85° C. or higher. It is contemplated that the system for washing dishes could measure the temperature of the water in the heating tank 108 before proceeding or the water could be heated in the heating tank 108 for a certain period of time before proceeding. After the water is heated in the heating tank 108, a rinse pump 110 sucks the water from the heating tank 108 into an initial rinse line 112 that splits at a Y-shaped rinse splitter 114 into an upper rinse line 116 and a lower rinse line 118. The upper rinse line 116 leads to a rinse path in the top rotating spray arm 94 and the lower rinse line 118 leads to a rinse path in the bottom rotating spray arm 96. The upper rinse line 116 and the lower rinse line 118 both have a one-way valve on an end thereof to prevent water from returning thereto. The heated water from the upper rinse line 116 and the lower rinse line 118 spray through rinse nozzles 120 in the top rotating spray arm 94 and the bottom rotating spray arm 96, respectively. After leaving the top rotating spray arm 94 and the bottom rotating spray arm 96, the heated water falls to the bottom basin 103 and flows through a bottom hole 122 therein into a wash tank 124.
In the illustrated example, once enough water pools into the wash tank 124, the wash process is ready to begin. First, a wash detergent is injected into the wash tank 124 to help with the cleaning of the dishes and the water in the wash tank is heated (e.g., to about 65° C. or higher). The path of the wash detergent into the wash tank 124 is discussed in more detail below. When the wash process is ready to begin, the rinse pump 110 is stopped. The wash process reuses the water in the wash tank 124. It is contemplated that wash detergent could be added to the wash tank 124 periodically or continually during the wash process. After the wash detergent is added to the water in the wash tank 124, a wash pump 126 forces the water in the wash tank 124 into an upper wash line 128 and a lower wash line 130. The upper wash line 128 leads to a wash path in the top rotating spray arm 94 and the lower wash line 130 leads to a wash path in the bottom rotating spray arm 96. The upper wash line 128 and the lower wash line 130 both have a one-way valve on an end thereof to prevent water from returning thereto. The washing water from the upper wash line 128 and the lower wash line 130 spray through wash nozzles 132 in the top rotating spray arm 94 and the bottom rotating spray arm 96, respectively. The force of the washing water leaving the wash nozzles 132 forces the top rotating spray arm 94 (spraying downward) and the bottom rotating spray arm 96 (spraying upward) to rotate as is well known to those skilled in the art. Eventually, the washing water falls to the bottom basin 103 and flows through the bottom hole 122 therein into the wash tank 124, wherein the process of pumping the washing water to the top rotating spray arm 94 and the bottom rotating spray arm 96 continuously occurs during the washing cycle.
After the illustrated washing cycle is complete, the washing water is removed from the dish washer 12. As illustrated in
In the illustrated example, after the dishes in the dish washer 12 have been washed, the dishes are rinsed. During the washing cycle, more water is supplied to the booster heating tank 108 from the heating tank supply line 100. Once in the heating tank 108, the water is heated to assist in rinsing the dishes. It is contemplated that the heating tank 108 can heat the water to about 85° C. or higher. It is contemplated that the system for washing dishes could measure the temperature of the water in the heating tank 108 before proceeding or the water could be heated in the heating tank 108 for a certain period of time before proceeding. During, before or after the water is heated in the heating tank 108, a rinse wash detergent is injected into the heating tank 108 to help with the rinsing of the dishes. The path of the rinse detergent into the heating tank 108 is discussed in more detail below. After the rinse water is heated and the rinse detergent is added thereto, the rinse pump 110 sucks the rinse water from the heating tank 108 into the initial rinse line 112 that splits the rinse water at the Y-shaped rinse splitter 114 into the upper rinse line 116 and the lower rinse line 118. The upper rinse line 116 leads to the rinse path in the top rotating spray arm 94 and the lower rinse line 118 leads to the rinse path in the bottom rotating spray arm 96. The heated rinse water from the upper rinse line 116 and the lower rinse line 118 spray through the rinse nozzles 120 in the top rotating spray arm 94 and the bottom rotating spray arm 96, respectively. After leaving the top rotating spray arm 94 and the bottom rotating spray arm 96, the heated rinse water falls to the bottom basin 103 and flows through the bottom hole 122 therein into the wash tank 124. Heated rinse water is continuously supplied to the top rotating spray arm 94 and the lower rinse line 118 for a certain period of time to rinse the dishes. After the certain period of time is complete, the dishes are completely washed and can be removed from the dish washer.
The illustrated rinse water in the wash tank 124 is removed from the wash tank 124 and pumped to the outlet line 90 in the same manner as the washing water is pumped from the wash tank 124 to the outlet line 90. Even though the pumping of the washing water and the rinse water from the wash tank 124 is described as happening in two steps (i.e., the washer water and then the rinse water is pumped from the wash tank 124), it is contemplated that the rinsing of the dishes can take place directly after the washing cycle such that a mixture of the washing water and the rinsing water is pumped from the wash tank 124 to the outlet line 90. Furhtermore, it is contemplated that not all wash water and rinse water are drained away from the wash tank 124 after each wash cycle. The dish washing machine 10 could include a control system that monitors an inlet valve for the fresh water from the inlet line 76 and the amount of water removed using the discharge pump 136. The dish washing machine 10 can use the information related to the amount of fresh water input into the system and the amount of wash water removed from the system along with level sensors in the wash tank 124 and the heating tank 108 to match the amount of fresh water input into the system with the amount of wash water removed from the system to thereby provide a stable amount of water in each of the wash tank 124 and the heating tank 108.
As outlined above, a wash detergent is added to the wash water in the wash tank 124 before and/or during the washing cycle. The wash detergent is located in a wash detergent tank 200 (which is one of the storage tanks 16). As illustrated in
To add wash detergent to the wash tank 124 in the illustrated example, a wash detergent pump 206 (e.g., a peristaltic pump) suctions the wash detergent out of the wash detergent tank 200 through a wash detergent output line 204. After passing through the wash detergent pump 206, the wash detergent passes through a wash detergent entrance line 208 and into the wash tank 124.
As outlined above, a rinse detergent is added to the rinse water in the heating tank 108 before and/or during the rinse cycle. The rinse detergent is located in a rinse detergent tank 220 (which is one of the storage tanks 16). As illustrated in
To add rinse detergent to the heating tank 108 in the illustrated example, a rinse detergent pump 226 (e.g., a peristaltic pump) suctions the rinse detergent out of the rinse detergent tank 220 through a rinse detergent output line 224. After passing through the rinse detergent pump 226, the rinse detergent passes through a rinse detergent entrance line 228 and into the heating tank 108.
In the illustrated example, the rinse detergent and the wash detergent can be added to the system even while the wash cycle and/or the rinse cycle are active. As illustrated in
In the illustrated dish washing machine 10 as described above, the dish washing machine 10 can include a small footprint including both a dish washer 12 and a top wash basin 14 vertically aligned and in a single device. Therefore, the illustrated dish washing machine 10 as described above takes up less space in a commercial kitchen or other location. Moreover, the system for feeding wash detergent and rinse detergent to the dish washing machine allows for the system to continue to complete the wash cycle and/or the rinse cycle while a wash detergent and/or a rinse detergent is added to the system, thereby ensuring that all wash and rinse cycles can be completed even when the cycles begin with an insufficient amount of wash detergent and/or rinse detergent.
Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention. For example, it is contemplated that only a single rotating spray arm (upper or lower) could be used.
