The present application relates generally to machines used to wash kitchen wares such as dishes, glasses, utensils and pots and pans, and more particularly to a warewash machine with a wrap-around splash hood and multi-position splash guard and/or a warewash machine with a top-located drip flange.
In upright-type warewash machines two basic models are provided, namely a slide thru configuration for mounting along a wall or a right angle configuration for mounting in a corner. In upright-units using a wrap-around hood unit either three sides of the wash area are opened when the hood is raised, enabling the unit to be mounted either against a wall or in a corner. However, when mounted against a wall raising of the hood exposed the operator to undesired overspray and when mounted in a corner raising of the hood exposed the wall to undesired overspray. In corner installations it is known to mount a wall panel against the wall in attempt to protect the wall. However, overspray can still drip down to lower parts of the wall or onto the floor, and the problem of operators getting wet still remains an issue in installations along a wall. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a warewash machine system using a wrap-around hood in which overspray through an essentially unused side of the machine can be effectively reduced or eliminated.
Warewash machines may also include overhead wash arms or rinse arms that tend to leak water in a manner that such water does not impinge on wares within the wash area. It would be desirable to provide a system for directing such leakage water onto wares.
In one aspect, a warewash machine includes a frame in part defining a multi sided wash area. A wrap-around hood unit includes first, second and third wall portions, the wrap-around hood unit movable between a closed position, in which the first, second and third wall portions are located in alignment with first, second and third sides of the wash area, and an open position to provide access to the wash area. A multi-position splash guard is sized and configured for selective mounting in multiple positions on the warewash machine enabling multiple machine configurations, including: (i) a first configuration in which, when the wrap-around hood is in its open position, the multi-position splash guard is located alongside the first side of the wash area and the second and third sides of the wash area are open to provide inlet and outlet of wares; and (ii) a second configuration in which, when the wrap-around hood is in its open position, the multi-position splash guard is located alongside second side of the wash area and the first and third sides of the wash area are open to provide inlet and outlet of wares.
In another aspect, a warewash machine includes a frame in part defining a four-sided wash area, a first side of the wash area covered by a wall. A wrap-around hood is movable between a lowered position and a raised position on the frame. A multi-position splash guard is sized and configured for selective mounting in multiple positions on the frame enabling multiple machine configurations, including: (i) a first configuration in which the multi-position splash guard is mounted to the frame along a second side of the wash area so as to limit overspray through the second side of the wash area even when the wrap-around hood is in its raised position, with third and fourth sides of the wash area being open to provide inlet and outlet of wares when the wrap-around hood is in its raised position; and (ii) a second configuration in which the multi-position splash guard is mounted to the frame along the third side of the wash area so as to limit overspray through the third side of the wash area even when the wrap-around hood is in its raised position, with the second and fourth sides of the wash area being open to provide inlet and outlet of wares when the wrap-around hood is in its raised position.
In a further aspect, a multi-position splash guard is installable on a warewash machine including a frame in part defining a multi-sided wash area and a wrap-around hood movable between a lowered position to align with first, second and third sides of the wash area and a raised position to provide access to the wash area. The multi-position splash guard includes a wall member sized and configured for selective mounting in at least two positions on the warewash machine, including a first position in which the wall member limits overspray through a second side of the wash area, and a second position in which the wall member limits overspray through the third side of the wash area.
In yet another aspect, a method of manufacturing a warewash machine in one of at least first and second configurations involves the steps of: providing a wash unit with a wash area with at least first, second and third substantially vertical sides; providing a movable wrap-around hood with first, second and third wall portions, when the wrap-around hood is in a closed position the first, second and third wall portions are respectively positioned alongside the first, second and third substantially vertical sides, when the wrap-around hood is in an open position the first, second and third wall portions are respectively offset from the first, second and third substantially vertical sides; making a determination of whether the warewash machine shall have the first configuration or the second configuration; and (i) if the determination is made that the warewash machine shall have the first configuration, mounting a splash guard at a first position on the warewash machine to limit overspray through the first side of the wash area when the wrap-around hood is in the open position; and (ii) if the determination is made that the warewash machine shall have the second configuration, mounting a splash guard at a second position on the warewash machine to limit overspray through the second side of the wash area when the wrap-around hood is in the open position.
In a further aspect, a warewash machine includes a wash area defined by a housing structure and including a top side having a rotatable rinse arm with a coupling to a water source. A drip flange extends downward from the top side, the drip flange spaced from and extending around the coupling so that leakage water that is directed laterally outward from the coupling impinges on the drip flange and drains downward onto wares within the wash area.
Referring to
The frame 102 is formed to enable three substantially vertical sides 116, 118 and 120 to be open for easy access to the wash area. During a wash cycle, a wrap-around hood 122 is positioned with its three wall parts 124, 126 and 128 in alignment with respective sides 116, 118 and 120 (sides 116 and 120 oppose each other and are spaced apart as shown, while sides 116 and 118, and similarly sides 118 and 120, are adjacent each other). Such positioning of the hood 122 is considered the closed position of the hood. As used herein, the terminology “in alignment with” shall not be construed to require that the wall parts be directly centered on the sides of the wash area, although such a configuration is possible and within the scope of such terminology. The hood may typically raised to an upward, open position (see
In particular, in one configuration shown in
In each configuration of
In the illustrated embodiment of
In an alternative embodiment, the multi-position splash guard 130 may be connected to any of the three wall parts 124, 126 and 128 of the wrap-around hood. In one variation, shown in the partial view of
Regardless of the embodiment use, a method of manufacturing a warewash machine in one of at least first and second configurations is provided, and involves the steps of providing a wash unit with a wash area with at least first, second and third substantially vertical sides; providing a movable wrap-around hood with first, second and third wall portions, when the wrap-around hood is in a closed position the first, second and third wall portions are respectively positioned alongside the first, second and third substantially vertical sides, when the wrap-around hood is in an open position the first, second and third wall portions are respectively offset from the first, second and third substantially vertical sides; making a determination of whether the warewash machine shall have the first configuration or the second configuration; and (i) if the determination is made that the warewash machine shall have the first configuration, mounting a splash guard at a first position on the warewash machine to limit overspray through the first side of the wash area when the wrap-around hood is in the open position and (ii) if the determination is made that the warewash machine shall have the second configuration, mounting a splash guard at a second position on the warewash machine to limit overspray through the second side of the wash area when the wrap-around hood is in the open position.
In another aspect, rather than provide a multi-position splash guard, a warewash machine may be constructed with a wrap-around hood with wall portions, that are selectively disconnectable from the wrap-around hood so as to remain in the lowered position when the wrap-around hood is moved to its raised position, again enabling selectable machine configurations, depending upon which wall is disconnected to remain lowered and limit overspray. In one example a bracket connecting two wall portions is fixed to one wall but is selectively connectable to the other wall by a spring-loaded latch on the inner side of the other wall.
In addition to limiting overspray from warewash machines, it is also desirable to direct as much water as possible onto wares within the wash chamber. Referring to
It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not intended to be taken by way of limitation. Other changes and modifications could be made, including both narrowing and broadening variations of the previously described embodiments and examples.