Patent Grant
7935195
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-tank dishwasher with at least one washing zone for acting upon a wash batch with washing water in a washing chamber and comprising at least one washing water storage tank, at least one filter housing and a backwash device. The invention relates, furthermore, to a method for operating a multi-tank dishwasher, the method having normal operation and backwash operation.
2. Description of the Background Art
To clean wash batches, nowadays the commercial sector not only employs single-chamber automatic dishwashers, but also multi-tank dishwashers, in which the wash batch to be cleaned is transported by means of a conveying device through the various zones of the dishwasher. Multi-tank dishwashers of this type comprise, as a rule, at least one washing zone, at least one rinsing-clear zone and, optionally, a drying zone. In this case, the wash batch to be cleaned runs in succession through said treatment zones. For this run, multi-tank dishwashers may be designed, for example, as belt transport or basket transport machines. Both versions have in common the fact that the wash batch is transported, for example continuously, through the individual treatment zones by the transport means.
At the start of operation, in the multi-tank dishwasher, the washing water tanks of the washing zone are filled with fresh water and heated. Furthermore, cleaning agent is added to the washing water. In this case, a plurality of washing zones may be arranged one behind the other, the washing waters of which have, for example, different temperatures with different cleaning agents and/or with different cleaning agent concentrations.
A washing zone is normally designed as a chamber and typically has an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice. The wash batch is transported through these orifices and through the respective washing zone by means of the conveying device. Conventionally, a washing zone has a washing water tank and a circulating pump which sucks in washing water from the washing water tank and sprays it onto the wash batch via a spray system assigned to the washing zone. In this case, the dirt adhering to the wash batch is removed.
The washing water subsequently flows, together with the washed-off dirt, back into the washing water tank again. In this case, the washed-off dirt is filtered out of the washing water by means of a sieve system. Conventionally, sieve plates with hole diameters of 2 mm to 4 mm are used here, which cover the entire washing water tank. Dirt fractions which are smaller than the hole diameter are circulated together with the washing water.
Subsequently, in the multi-tank dishwasher, cleaning agent and dirt residues lying loosely on the wash batch are washed off by means of hot fresh water in one or more rinsing-clear zones. A rinsing-clear agent may in this case be added additionally to the hot fresh water. The fresh water or rinsing-clear water is then supplied usually completely or partially to a washing water tank of a washing zone, in order to dilute the dirt fractions located there in the washing water tank. After running through one or more rinsing-clear zones, the wash batch optionally runs through one or more drying zones in which the wash batch is dried.
The abovementioned sieve plates in the at least one washing zone often have the disadvantage that the dirt filtered out from the washing water remains lying on these and is not actively removed from the washing zone. By the washing water falling down, this dirt may be further comminuted and then likewise passes, with a time delay, into the washing water of the washing zone and increases the dirt content of the washing water there. This is a disadvantage particularly since the respective cleaning capacity of a washing zone typically decreases with the quantity of dirt in the washing water.
The dirt content of the washing water of the washing zone may be counteracted by increasing the fraction of rinsing-clear water supplied to the washing zone from the rinsing-clear zone. The disadvantage of this, however, is that, in this method, the consumption of cleaning agent which has to be added to the washing water rises in the same ratio. Operating costs and environmental pollution increase as a result.
A further possibility of reducing the dirt fraction in the washing water of the washing zone is to use sieve plates of smaller hole diameter in the washing zone. A smaller diameter of the sieve holes increases the risk, however, that the sieve plate becomes blocked. A partial or complete blockage of the sieve plate means, however, that sufficient washing water no longer flows back into the washing water storage tank, with the result that the pump pressure with which the wash batch is acted upon with washing water decreases and therefore the washing action is adversely influenced.
If a certain dirt content in the washing water is overshot in the washing zone in spite of the normally employed sieve plates and the supply of rinsing-clear water from the rinsing-clear zone, then, as a rule, the entire washing water tank contents have to be changed. This entails costs in terms of water and sewage. Furthermore, this means, as a rule, a stoppage time for the dishwasher, and also increased personnel costs for cleaning the respective washing zone and costs for heating energy to heat up the washing water to the preset temperature of usually 60° C., as well as costs for the new cleaning agent which has to be added to the washing water again.
From the sector of single-chamber dishwashers, filter systems are known in which the washing water storage tank is likewise covered by a sieve plate. In one region of the sieve plate, however, a coarse sieve is used, which is followed by a fine sieve. The washing water is likewise circulated within the “washing” program steps. Part of the washing water, after the latter has run through the coarse sieve, flows through the fine sieve. The fine dirt fractions of the washing water are also retained in the latter. When the washing water is changed, a sewage pump conveys the washing water, together with the fine and coarse dirt, out of the fine sieve into the sewage.
A device of this type is described in DE 24 51 822 C2. The device described in this publication discloses a collecting bowl for a dishwasher, with a first suction-intake space connected to a lye pump and with a second suction-intake space connected to a circulating pump. The first and the second suction-intake space are in this case connected to one another by means of a fine filter sieve. In a suction-extraction step, washing liquid is suction-extracted from the dishwasher, washing liquid being drawn off from both suction-intake spaces by means of the lye pump.
DE 14 28 358 illustrates a further design of a single-chamber dishwasher. This known embodiment additionally has spray nozzles which spray onto a fine filter from outside, with the result that the fine filter is cleaned and dirt residues can be removed by means of a sewage pump. A similar self-cleaning principle, in which a filter element is cleaned by means of a spray nozzle, is also disclosed in EP 0 976 359 A1 and DE 69 820 625 T2. EP 1 256 308 A2 discloses a device which, in addition to a spray nozzle, also additionally has a dirt comminutor.
The devices known from the prior art typically function to the effect that the washing operation is interrupted for cleaning the fine sieve. In this case, a separate program step of fine sieve cleaning is carried out, with the washing water pump switched off. This is due, in particular, to the fact that in the devices described, in washing operation a washing liquid constantly flows through the fine sieve in a filter direction, so that the fine sieve is not directly accessible for cleaning (for example spraying from outside). This interruption in the washing operation for cleaning the sieves used thus entails an additional amount of time, during which the respective washing chamber cannot be employed.
The described embodiments known from the prior art therefore have in common the fact that they are designed for use in single-tank water-changing machines and cannot readily be transferred to a continuously operating washing zone of a multi-tank dishwasher. In a multi-tank dishwasher, a washing water circulating pump operates permanently, relatively large washing water quantities per minute being circulated, and therefore relatively large quantities of washing water flowing constantly into the fine filter. In operation of this type, a cleaning of the sieves used, for example by spraying, particularly in a separate cleaning step, can be implemented only with difficulty in technical terms and, particularly in the case of industrial applications, would cause a troublesome and costly interruption in washing operation.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dishwasher, in particular a multi-tank dishwasher, which avoids the abovementioned disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, in this case, a simple filter system for circulating washing water of a washing zone is to be used.
A feature of the present invention is that a backwash device is used, which reverses a washing water flow through a fine filter, without the washing operation of the dishwasher having to be interrupted. For this purpose, a multi-tank dishwasher is proposed which can have at least one washing zone for acting upon a wash batch with washing water in a washing chamber. Furthermore, the washing zone has a washing water storage tank, at least one filter housing, at least one fine filter introduced into the at least one filter housing and at least one backwash device. The at least one fine filter subdivides at least one inner space of the at least one filter housing into at least one dirty water space and at least one clean water space. In this case, the at least one dirty water space is capable of being acted upon with washing water from the washing chamber via at least one washing water inflow. This at least one washing water inflow may have, in particular, at least one coarse sieve. Furthermore, the at least one fine filter has at least one filter wall having, for example, perforated plate or wire fabric. In a normal operation of the multi-tank dishwasher, washing water flows from the at least one dirty water space through the at least one filter wall into the at least one clean water space. This at least one clean water space is connected to the at least one washing water storage tank via at least one outflow device, advantageously an outflow orifice or an outflow connection piece.
The at least one backwash device can have at least one washing water return connected to the at least one clean water space. This washing water return may, for example, connect the at least one washing water storage tank to the at least one clean water space and has at least one backwash pump. Furthermore, the backwash device has a sewage line connected to the at least one dirty water space and having at least one sewage pump.
The backwash device can be designed in such a way that, in backwash operation, a washing water flow between the at least one clean water space and the at least one dirty water space through the at least one filter wall is reversible. This may take place, in particular, in that, in backwash operation, a washing water pressure ratio between the at least one clean water space and the at least one dirty water space can be reversed.
The at least one washing water return may be connected, for example, to the at least one outflow device. In particular, a flow direction of the washing water out of the at least one clean water space into the at least one washing water storage tank can define an outflow direction in normal operation. Advantageously, the connection between the washing water return and outflow device is then designed in such a way that, in backwash operation, the at least one outflow device is acted upon by means of the at least one washing water return by washing water which has a velocity component opposite to this outflow direction.
In particular, this may take place in that the washing water return has a backwash connection piece which issues in the outflow device, for example the outflow connection piece, the backwash connection piece issuing into the at least one outflow device, for example, at an angle less than or equal to 90° (advantageously, less than 70° and preferably less than 60°). Furthermore, the backwash connection piece may also be completely or partially identical to the outflow connection piece, so that two separate connection pieces do not have to be employed.
Thus, by means of the at least one backwash pump, the washing water flow in the at least one outflow device can be reversed, so that, overall, the washing water flow is reversed and the at least one fine filter is acted upon by a washing water flow conversely to normal operation. As a result, dirt which has accumulated on the at least one filter wall in the dirty water space is released from the at least one filter wall and can be removed via the at least one sewage line.
Advantageously, in backwash operation, the backwash pump and the sewage pump are simultaneously put into operation, in order simultaneously to lower the washing water pressure in the at least one dirty water space and to increase the washing water pressure in the at least one clean water space. In particular, for this purpose, the at least one sewage pump and the at least one backwash pump may be driven jointly by an individual pump motor.
Particularly in the development of the invention in which a backwash connection piece and an outflow connection piece are completely or partially identical, but also in other configurations of the invention, it may be advantageous if the at least one backwash pump can be designed as an axial pump which is integrated in the backwash connection piece or the backwash line. For the application described, axial pumps have, in particular, the advantage that a high volume flow is generated at a comparatively low pressure. This prevents, in particular, the situation where, during backwashing, too high a pressure builds up in the at least one clean water space which could damage the at least one fine filter or could press it out of the at least one filter housing.
The above-presented disclosure of the invention refers to a multi-tank dishwasher. However, the method and the principle according to the invention can also advantageously be applied to single-chamber systems.
The multi-tank dishwasher according to the invention overcomes the above-described disadvantages of the prior art in the most highly advantageous way. Thus, by means of the device described, the filter action of the at least one fine filter can be improved considerably. As a result, in particular, a quantity of water which has to be supplied into the at least one washing zone for dilution (for example, fresh water and/or rinsing-clear water supplied from at least one rinsing-clear zone) can be reduced considerably. Heating costs and costs for cleaning agent to be added can thereby be saved. Furthermore, the stoppage times of the machine and the personnel costs for cleaning the at least one washing zone are reduced. Backwash operation may be carried out simultaneously with washing operation, so that washing operation and therefore the cleaning of the wash batch are not influenced by the backwashing of the at least one fine filter. Washing operation therefore takes place irrespective of whether the at least one fine filter is in normal operation with the washing agent flow direction from the dirty water space to the clean water space or in backwash operation with the washing water flow in the opposite direction.
In order to change over between normal operation and backwash operation, it is advantageous, in particular, to monitor a degree of contamination within the at least one filter housing. In particular, in this case, the degree of contamination within the at least one dirty water space can be monitored, while a changeover can be made from normal operation to backwash operation, for example, when a predetermined degree of contamination is overshot. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the multi-tank dishwasher has at least one contamination sensor in the inner space of the at least one filter housing. For example, in the detection of contamination, use may be made of the fact that, with increasing contamination of the at least one filter wall, a washing water pressure and/or a washing water filling level within the at least one filter housing typically changers. For example, typically, the washing water level and/or the washing water pressure within the at least one dirty water space rise/s with an increasing contamination of the at least one filter wall. This rise can be monitored by means of corresponding sensors, for example commercially available pressure and/or filling level sensors.
In particular, the multi-tank dishwasher may have at least one electronic control device for changing over between normal operation and backwash operation, for example the at least one electronic control device activating the at least one backwash pump and the at least one sewage pump. Additional valves or the like may also be activated by the at least one electronic control device. In particular, the electronic control device may be an integral part of a comprehensive electronic control device of the multi-tank dishwasher. For example, the electronic control device may be connected to the at least one contamination sensor, and, as soon as it is detected that a predetermined degree of contamination is overshot, there can be automatic changeover between normal operation and backwash operation.
Furthermore, the multi-tank dishwasher may have at least one tank cover sieve, washing water being capable of passing out of the washing chamber through the at least one tank cover sieve into the at least one washing water storage tank. In particular, this tank cover sieve may be an integral part of a washing water storage tank cover.
The at least one fine filter may be equipped as an exchangeable filter insert with a sewage connection piece. In particular, it is advantageous if the filter insert is sealed off, leak tight, with respect to the filter housing so that, during backwashing, washing water can pass only through the at least one filter wall from the clean water space into the dirty water space, but not the other way. An optimal pressure difference between the dirty water space and clean water space can thereby build up, so that a high backwash with an optimal cleaning action through the at least one filter wall occurs.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:
The multichamber dishwasher 110 has a washing chamber 113 with a housing 118 which can opened laterally by means of an access door 120. A washing water storage tank 122 and a filter housing 124 are introduced in the bottom of the housing 118. A washing water circulating pump 126 sucks in washing water 128 via a circulation pipeline system 130 from the washing water storage tank 122 and conveys it via the circulation pipeline system 130 to washing nozzles 132. The washing water 128 is sprayed over the wash batch 116 there, with the result that the wash batch 116 is cleaned. The washing water 128, together with dirt which has been released from the wash batch 116, subsequently drops to the bottom of the housing 118. This bottom has, above the washing water storage tank 122, a tank cover sieve 134 which is pierced for the most part with sieve holes. Sieve holes with a diameter of approximately 1 mm to 4 mm, preferably 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm, particularly preferably 2.0 mm are preferably used in this case. Part of the washing water 128 flows through these holes directly to the washing water storage tank 122 (illustrated symbolically in
The tank cover sieve 134 has a descending gradient in the direction of a coarse sieve 138. This coarse sieve 138 is inserted into the filter housing 124. A second part of the washing water 128 (indicated symbolically in
Inside the filter housing 124 is mounted a fine filter 142. This fine filter 142, in this exemplary embodiment, is designed as a filter insert 142 which has a sealing extension 144, a filter wall 146 and a sewage connection piece 148 and which can be inserted into the filter housing 124 from above. According to the invention, instead of a fine filter 142, a fine sieve, preferably with sieve holes having a diameter of less than 1.5 mm, particularly preferably of less than 1.0 mm, can also be employed.
The fine filter 142 therefore subdivides the inner space of the filter housing 124 into a clean water space 150 and a dirty water space 152. The sealing extension 144 prevents the situation where washing water 128, during backwashing, may pass directly from the clean water space 150 into the dirty water space 152, so that the washing water 128 has to penetrate through the filter wall 146 during backwashing. For this purpose, the sealing extension 144 seals off the fine filter 142 with respect to the filter housing 124. Furthermore, the sealing extension 144 is configured as a funnel extension which prevents the situation where washing water 128 can pass through the coarse sieve 138 directly into the clean water space 150.
In the fine filter 142, the washing water 128 flows through the filter wall 146 from the dirty water space 152 into the clean water space 150 (normal operation). In this case, fine dirt particles are filtered out on the inside of the filter wall 146. The filtered washing water 128 subsequently flows out of the clean water space 150 through an outflow connection piece 154 in the lower region of the filter housing 124 to the washing water storage tank 122 again.
Depending on the quantity of dirt particles filtered out on the inside of the filter wall 146, the through flow capacity of the washing water 128 through the fine filter 142 decreases with time. As a result of this, the level of the washing water 128 in the dirty water space 152 rises with time. This rise can be detected by suitable sensors. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment according to
In normal operation, therefore, washing water 128 flows through the filter wall 146 in the direction from the dirty water space 152 to the clean water space 150. For the backwashing and self-cleaning of the fine filter 142, the flow direction of the washing water 128 through the filter wall 146 is reversed. For this purpose, the sewage pump 160 sucks away washing water 128 from the dirty water space 152 of the fine filter 142 via the sewage connection piece 148 and conveys it via a sewage line 168 into a sewage outflow 166. At the same time, by means of the backwash pump 162, washing water 128 is sucked out of the washing water storage tank 122 via a backwash line 170 and pumped via a backwash connection piece 172 into the outflow connection piece 154 in such a way that the through flow of the washing water 128 through the outflow connection piece 154 is disturbed. In this advantageous exemplary embodiment, the backwash connection piece 172 is arranged at an angle of approximately 40° to the outflow connection piece 154. Consequently, during backwashing, the washing liquid 128 which is pumped through the backwash connection piece 172 into the outflow connection piece 154 has a flow direction opposite the flow direction of the washing water 128 in normal operation (identified symbolically in
As a result of the so disturbed outflow of the washing liquid 128 through the outflow connection piece 154 in backwash operation and of the washing liquid 128 supplied to the clean water space 150 via the backwash connection piece 172, the pressure of the washing liquid in the filter housing 124, in particular in the clean water space 150, rises, while at the same time the pressure in the dirty water space 152 falls as a result of pumping away by the sewage pump 160. The flow direction of the flow through the filter wall 146 is thereby reversed in backwash operation in spite of the running washing water circulating pump 126 and the associated inflow of washing water 128 into the fine filter 142. Owing to this reversed flow, dirt particles adhering to the inside of the filter wall 146 are released and can be pumped into the sewage outflow 166 by means of the sewage pump 160.
In this exemplary embodiment, the sewage pump 160 and the backwash pump 162 may be operated, for example, by means of a common pump motor (not illustrated in
Furthermore, it can be seen in
In this exemplary embodiment, the baffle surface 210 has been dispensed with, although such a baffle surface 210 may be used additionally. The filter housing 124 is opened outward to a pumping connection piece 410 which extends at right angles to the filter housing 124 and which is widened in cross section, as compared with the backwash line 170 which again branches off at right angles from the pumping connection piece 410. For example, a pumping connection piece having a cross section of 80 mm may be used.
Admittedly, basically different types of pumps, for example centrifugal pumps, etc., may be used as the backwash pump 162. In the exemplary embodiment according to
The exemplary embodiment illustrated in
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2005 008 987 | Feb 2005 | DE | national |
This nonprovisional application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2006/000760, which was filed on Jan. 30, 2006, and which claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE102005008987, which was filed in Germany on Feb. 28, 2005, and which are both herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4952014 | Liebermann et al. | Aug 1990 | A |
| 6432216 | Thies | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 20020074026 | Kim et al. | Jun 2002 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1428358 | Nov 1968 | DE |
| 2451822 | May 1976 | DE |
| 3723721 | May 1988 | DE |
| 69820625 | Nov 2004 | DE |
| 0378980 | Jul 1990 | EP |
| 0702928 | Mar 1996 | EP |
| 0702928 | Mar 1996 | EP |
| 0976359 | Feb 2000 | EP |
| 0976359 | Feb 2000 | EP |
| 1256308 | Nov 2002 | EP |
| WO-8401498 | Apr 1984 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080041419 A1 | Feb 2008 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2006/000760 | Jan 2006 | US |
| Child | 11846519 | US |
