Method and system for the preferably automatic cleaning of trays in a dishwasher

Abstract

System for the preferably automatic cleaning of trays (2) in a dishwasher (1), in particular trays (2) without items to be washed, such as dishes, cups, cutlery and / or drinking glasses, the system comprising: - a dirt-side loading station (3) with a loading area for receiving the trays (2) to be cleaned, in particular in the form of a stack of trays; - a loading device (4) for individually loading the trays (2) to be cleaned into at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1); and - a clean-side unloading station (5) with an unloading area in which the trays (2) cleaned in the dishwasher (1) are stacked, wherein the loading area is arranged above the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1) and wherein the unloading area is arranged below the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of commercial dishwashing and, more particularly, to a system for preferably automatically cleaning trays in a dishwasher.

[0002] Commercial dishwashers used in canteens or other communal catering facilities are typically designed as conveyor dishwashers, in which the items to be cleaned are transported through the treatment zones of the dishwasher using a conveyor system. Unlike domestic dishwashers, in which the items to be cleaned remain stationary in the dishwasher during cleaning, conveyor dishwashers transport the items through various treatment zones of the machine.

[0003] Such a conveyor dishwasher is known, for example, from document DE 19 644 438 A1. Viewed in the direction of transport of the washware, the conveyor dishwasher comprises, in succession, a pre-cleaning zone with pre-cleaning nozzles for removing coarse soiling from the washware, at least one wash zone with wash nozzles for spraying wash liquid onto the washware, a pre-wash zone with pre-wash nozzles, and a fresh water rinse zone with rinse nozzles. The rinse nozzles spray rinse liquid, in particular fresh water, onto the washware. The sprayed rinse liquid enters a pre-wash tank, from which it is pumped to the pre-wash nozzles via a pump line. The pre-wash liquid sprayed by the pre-wash nozzles flows back into the pre-wash tank. Part of the pre-wash liquid sprayed by the pre-wash nozzles is directed through a deflector into the wash tank of the last wash zone.A liquid cascade system allows liquid to flow against the direction of the washware transport from the pre-wash tank into the last wash tank and from there on to a tank which collects the liquid sprayed by the pre-cleaning nozzles in the pre-cleaning zone.

[0004] Because conveyor dishwashers transport the wash ware through various treatment zones (especially wash zones and final rinse zones), continuous operation is possible, unlike the batch processes of stationary, programmable dishwashers such as household dishwashers or undercounter dishwashers. The disadvantage of conveyor dishwashers, however, is the relatively large amount of space they require in the installation room (scullery).

[0005] However, there is an increasing need to utilize the advantages of a conveyor dishwasher in applications where only a small installation space is available.

[0006] GB 2 156 326 A relates to a method and system for loading a dishwasher with uniform items, preferably trays. The items are inserted one above the other onto a substantially horizontal support and stacked thereon, with a first edge portion of the lowermost item being supported, while a second, spaced-apart edge portion is released and supported by the floor via an overlying edge portion of the second item.

[0007] Especially in fast-food restaurants such as McDonald's, Burger King, Arby's, Taco Bell, etc., plastic trays are commonly used for food distribution when food is consumed in-store. The food and drinks themselves are usually served in disposable containers, so the trays are the only item that needs to be cleaned after the meal.

[0008] Because such fast-food restaurants generally do not have any other items to be washed, especially plates, cups or drinking glasses, it is not worthwhile for the operators of the fast-food restaurants to provide a conveyor dishwasher to clean the trays, which are usually only slightly soiled.

[0009] Indeed, market research has shown that trays are currently often wiped by hand using a disposable wipe and disinfectant spray, but not cleaned mechanically using a dishwasher. This current approach, however, has several disadvantages.

[0010] Firstly, the cleaning process is not precisely defined, as manual cleaning may be performed differently depending on the staff. Furthermore, the required hygiene standards cannot be 100% guaranteed, as the manual process is prone to errors and, for example, certain areas of the tray can be overlooked during manual cleaning. This poses a major problem, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

[0011] Apart from this, manual cleaning involves a lot of work, as each tray has to be cleaned manually individually.

[0012] In principle, it is conceivable to use a conventional conveyor dishwasher as a tray dishwasher. This approach is currently found in some canteens or other communal catering facilities where large volumes of dishes must be cleaned in a short period of time. These conveyor dishwashers designed for cleaning trays are then usually located in a separate dishwashing area, combined with another conveyor dishwasher for plates, bowls, cutlery, and glasses.

[0013] Conveyor dishwashers designed for cleaning trays are based on the principle of a flight-type dishwasher, in which the items pass through the various treatment zones of the dishwasher, such as washing, rinsing, and drying, one after the other. Tray loading and unloading can be automated using special infeed and stacking devices.

[0014] However, this type of machine requires quite a bit of space, as the machine is typically several meters long. Due to its large footprint, this type of machine is not an option for fast-food restaurants.

[0015] In applications with a low volume of wash ware or trays, the trays are often simply washed in an existing undercounter or hood dishwasher.

[0016] While these machines require significantly less space, the trays must be manually loaded into special baskets and manually unloaded after the rinsing process. Furthermore, these machines don't have a special drying system for plastic trays, so the trays are still damp after the cleaning cycle and therefore can't be stacked directly.

[0017] Based on this problem, the invention is based on the object of providing a system for the preferably automatic cleaning of trays in a dishwasher, wherein the trays can be completely cleaned and stored as a stack of trays in a reliable manner with only a small space requirement.

[0018] This object is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent patent claim 1, wherein advantageous developments of the cleaning system are specified in dependent patent claims 2 to 14.

[0019] Accordingly, the present invention particularly relates to a system for the preferably automatic cleaning of trays in a dishwasher. The trays to be cleaned are, in particular, trays without any items to be washed on them, such as dishes, cups, cutlery, and / or drinking glasses. This is typically the case in fast-food restaurants, where food and drinks are usually served in disposable packaging, so the trays are the only type of items that need to be cleaned after the meal.

[0020] The system according to the invention has a dirt-side loading station with a loading area for receiving the trays to be cleaned, in particular in the form of a tray stack.

[0021] The cleaning system further comprises a loading device for individually loading the trays to be cleaned into at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher. Furthermore, a clean-side unloading station with an unloading area is used, in which the trays cleaned in the dishwasher are stacked.

[0022] According to the invention, it is provided in particular that the loading area is arranged above the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher and the unloading area is arranged below the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher.

[0023] This arrangement makes it possible to create a cleaning system that is specifically designed for cleaning trays and also requires only a small amount of space.

[0024] Because the loading area is located above the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher, the trays to be cleaned can be fed individually to the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher by gravity. The same applies, in a figurative sense, to the unloading area of ​​the cleaning system, which is located below the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher. This arrangement allows the cleaned trays to be fed from the treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher to the unloading area by gravity.

[0025] According to advantageous implementations of the cleaning system, it is provided that the loading area is designed to receive the trays to be cleaned in the use position of the trays facing upwards.

[0026] Alternatively, it is also conceivable in principle that the loading area is designed to receive the trays to be cleaned in a state rotated by 180° compared to the position of use of the trays, such that the respective transport surfaces of the trays to be cleaned face downwards.

[0027] This design has the advantage that a manual pre-clearance process is virtually "automatic" before the operating personnel can feed the trays to be cleaned into the loading area. By rotating the trays 180°, the usually empty disposable packaging is disposed of directly into a waste bin in the tray return station before the trays to be cleaned are then stacked onto a stack of trays, preferably one already present, in the loading area of ​​the cleaning system.

[0028] This manual pre-clearance can be carried out in particular at the tray return station.

[0029] For example, it's conceivable that customers could return trays to the tray return station. Typically, customers would be expected to dispose of the empty disposable packaging directly in the waste bin at the tray return station before stacking the dirty tray onto an existing stack.

[0030] If the customer fails to dispose of the empty disposable packaging directly in the waste at the tray return station, the operator must do so accordingly. The operator then removes the stack of dirty trays at regular intervals and can then load the stack of trays directly into the loading area of ​​the cleaning system.

[0031] During the actual cleaning of the trays in at least one treatment zone of the dishwasher, the trays should be in their essentially upright position so that the cleaning liquid (washing liquid, rinse aid liquid) can drain off particularly well.

[0032] For this purpose, according to embodiments of the invention, it is provided that the loading device, which serves for the individual loading of the trays to be cleaned into at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher, has a turning device for transferring the trays into an at least substantially upright state.

[0033] Advantageously, the turning device associated with the loading device is designed to transfer the trays into their essentially upright state primarily by gravity.

[0034] In this context, it is conceivable, for example, that the turning device has a guide and / or a stop which is designed in such a way that when the individual trays are transferred from the loading area, they are turned into their at least substantially upright state due to the force of gravity.

[0035] In addition to the already mentioned manual pre-clearance station at the tray return station, it is advantageous that a pre-clearance station is arranged upstream of the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher, in which a preferably automatic pre-clearance takes place on the trays that are at least substantially upright.

[0036] In this context, it is particularly conceivable that by transferring the trays into their essentially upright position, any waste still present on the transport surface of the trays falls by gravity into a dirt container provided below the pre-clearance station.

[0037] Pre-cleaning can also be supported by spraying liquid, especially previously used washing liquid. Mechanically assisted pre-cleaning, for example, using brushes or scrapers, is also conceivable.

[0038] The system according to the invention is characterized in that the trays to be cleaned are transferred by gravity from the loading area of ​​the loading station to the cleaning station with the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone, and that the cleaned trays are also transferred by gravity from the cleaning station or the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone to the unloading area of ​​the clean-side unloading station.

[0039] However, in order to transport the trays to be cleaned into or through the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone, the dishwasher is preferably assigned a transport device which is designed for the preferably horizontal transport of the upright trays to and / or through the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher.

[0040] The transport device is particularly designed to transport the trays continuously or discontinuously to and / or through the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher.

[0041] In this context, “discontinuous” means that, with the aid of the transport device, for example, the trays to be cleaned are transported from the upstream pre-clearance station into the at least one treatment zone, wherein the transport device then stops and the trays are cleaned in a stationary manner in the treatment zone, wherein this cleaning process comprises in particular a washing phase, a rinsing phase and a subsequent drying phase and, if provided, a disinfection phase.

[0042] The cleaned trays are then transported out of the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone by means of the transport device, so that they are then fed by gravity to the unloading area of ​​the clean-side unloading station. By performing different treatments one after the other in one and the same treatment zone, the space required by the dishwasher is reduced.

[0043] Alternatively, it is of course also conceivable for the dishwasher to have a control device configured to control the transport device in such a way that the trays to be cleaned are transported continuously, in particular at a predetermined or definable transport speed, through the at least one treatment zone / treatment chamber or treatment zone of the dishwasher. In this context, however, at least two treatment zones should be arranged one after the other in the transport direction of the trays.

[0044] As already mentioned, the dishwasher should be equipped with a control unit. In particular, this control unit can be used to select and / or adjust the necessary and / or desired treatment parameters for cleaning the trays (temperature of the cleaning fluid, nozzle pressure, dwell time, etc.).

[0045] According to preferred developments of the cleaning system according to the invention, the control device is particularly designed to control a washing and / or rinsing system of the dishwasher or the technology associated with the washing and / or rinsing system of the dishwasher for treating the trays in the at least one treatment zone in such a way that at least one washing phase and then at least one final rinsing phase, in particular a fresh water final rinsing phase, are carried out one after the other.

[0046] In a further development of the aforementioned aspect, it is provided that the control device is further designed to control the washing and / or rinsing system of the dishwasher or the technology associated with the washing and / or rinsing system of the dishwasher for treating the trays in the at least one treatment zone in such a way that at least one disinfection phase is carried out between the at least one washing phase and the at least one final rinsing phase.

[0047] In addition, it is conceivable to carry out a drying phase after the rinsing phase.

[0048] In order to increase the cleaning capacity of the cleaning system, according to further developments of the present invention, the dishwasher has at least two treatment chambers that can be operated in parallel to one another for the simultaneous treatment of wash items.

[0049] After cleaning / treating the trays in at least one treatment zone of the dishwasher, the cleaned trays are fed to the clean-side unloading station. For this purpose, it is advisable for the dishwasher to be assigned a turning device designed to rotate the cleaned trays from their upright position by gravity and stack the rotated trays in the unloading area of ​​the clean-side unloading station.

[0050] The unloading area can be arranged within a dishwasher body and accessible via an opening, in particular a door opening. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the unloading area to be arranged outside a dishwasher body, with the cleaned trays being conveyed to the unloading area via a dispensing opening, in particular by gravity.

[0051] The invention further relates to a method for the preferably automatic cleaning of trays in a dishwasher, in particular trays without any items to be washed on them, such as dishes, cups, cutlery and / or drinking glasses.

[0052] In the method according to the invention, the trays to be cleaned are first provided in the form of a stack of trays at a loading area on the dirty side. The provided trays are then separated and fed to a pre-cleaning station and / or to at least one treatment zone of the dishwasher.

[0053] The cleaned trays are then fed to a clean-side unloading area and stacked there.

[0054] The method according to the invention is characterized in that the loading area is arranged above the at least one treatment zone of the dishwasher and the unloading area is arranged below the at least one treatment zone of the dishwasher, and that thus the feeding of the trays to the pre-clearing station or the at least one treatment zone of the dishwasher and / or to the unloading area takes place at least partially by gravity.

[0055] Exemplary embodiments of the system according to the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0056] They show: Fig. 1 schematically and in an isometric view a first exemplary embodiment of the cleaning system according to the invention, in which the unloading area is integrated in the body of the dishwasher and is accessible via a tray drawer; Fig. 2 schematically and in an isometric view the first exemplary embodiment of the cleaning system according to the invention according to Fig. 1, but this time with the tray drawer open; Fig. 3 schematically and in a sectional view the first exemplary embodiment of the cleaning system according to the invention according to Fig. 1; Fig. 4 schematically and in an isometric view a second exemplary embodiment of the cleaning system according to the invention, in which the unloading station is formed by a tray stacking carriage that can be moved into the body of the dishwasher; Fig. 5 schematically and in a sectional view the second exemplary embodiment of the cleaning system according to the invention according to Fig. 4; Fig. 6 schematically and in an isometric view a third exemplary embodiment of the cleaning system according to the invention, in which the unloading station is provided outside the body of the dishwasher in the form of an external tray stacking carriage; and Fig. 7 schematically and in a sectional view the third exemplary embodiment of the cleaning system according to the invention according to Fig. 6.

[0057] The system 1 according to the invention, which is described in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, is a tray washer for cleaning plastic trays, in particular in fast-food restaurants.

[0058] Dishwasher 1 is characterized by its optimal integration into the fast-food restaurant's existing processes. To this end, Dishwasher 1 preferably features the following main functional units: • automatic loading of dirty trays 2 from a stack of trays into the dishwasher 1; • Pre-clearance of paper covers and waste before the tray 2 moves into the actual treatment chamber or treatment zone 6 of the dishwasher 1; • Cleaning process including washing, rinsing and drying; and • automatic unloading and stacking of the cleaned trays 2.

[0059] With the tray washer 1 according to the invention, customers can continue to return dirty trays 2 to the return stations in the guest area. Staff clears away the stacked trays 2 at regular intervals as before and can then load the stack of trays directly into the loading station 3 of the tray washer 1.

[0060] The dirty trays 2 are then automatically separated by the tray washer 1 and loaded into the machine, where the trays 2 then automatically go through the cleaning process and are automatically unloaded and stacked after cleaning and drying.

[0061] The stack of clean trays 2 can then be unloaded by staff as needed and taken to the counter area, where the trays 2 are then available for distribution again.

[0062] The advantages achievable with the system 1 according to the invention, designed as a tray washer, are obvious: Firstly, significant time savings in handling are achieved. The dirty trays 2 no longer need to be cleaned individually manually using disposable wipes and disinfectant spray. In addition, guaranteed hygiene safety is achieved because the trays 2 are cleaned in accordance with existing standards and regulations (DIN / NSF).

[0063] Secondly, the process flow is improved because there is a clear separation between the dirty side and the clean side. The dirty side is formed by the loading area for the tray stack with the dirty trays 2, while the clean side is formed by the unloading area, where the clean trays 2 are automatically stacked again.

[0064] It is particularly evident that the exemplary embodiments of the tray washer 1 according to the invention shown in the drawings are designed to clean exclusively trays 2 without any items to be washed on them.

[0065] In addition to the dishwasher 1, the cleaning system includes a dirty-side loading station 3 with a loading area for receiving the trays 2 to be cleaned, in particular as a stack of trays, and a clean-side unloading station 5 with an unloading area in which the trays 2 cleaned in the dishwasher 1 are stacked.

[0066] For the automatic loading of the trays 2 to be cleaned into the at least one treatment zone 6 of the dishwasher 1, a loading device 4 is used, which feeds the trays 2 to be cleaned individually to the at least one treatment zone 6 of the dishwasher 1.

[0067] All embodiments have in common that the loading area is arranged above the at least one treatment zone 6 of the dishwasher 1 and the unloading area is arranged below the at least one treatment zone 6 of the dishwasher 1.

[0068] In this way, the trays 2 to be cleaned can be fed to the treatment zone 6 of the dishwasher 1 at least partially by gravity. The same applies, in a figurative sense, to the feeding of the cleaned trays 2 to the clean-side unloading area.

[0069] As the sectional views in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 and Fig. 7, the loading device 4 has a turning device 7 for transferring the trays 2 into an at least substantially upright state. For this purpose, the turning device 7 has a guide and / or a stop, which is designed such that when the separated trays 2 are transferred from the loading area, they are rotated into their at least substantially upright state due to gravity.

[0070] The sectional views in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 and Fig. 7 further shows that a pre-cleaning station 8 can be arranged upstream of the at least one treatment zone 6 of the dishwasher 1, in which a preferably automatic pre-cleaning of the at least substantially upright trays 2 takes place. Because the trays 2 are transferred into the upright position by the turning device 7 of the loading device 4, a pre-cleaning already takes place automatically, since any paper cover and / or waste present on the transport surface of the tray 2 falls into a dirt container 14 provided below the pre-cleaning station 8 due to gravity.

[0071] However, the pre-clearing station 8 can also be assigned, for example, a nozzle system for spraying liquid for the purpose of pre-clearing or a mechanical system 1, for example in the form of brushes / sliders.

[0072] After pre-cleaning, the tray 2 to be cleaned is conveyed to the at least one treatment zone 6 of the dishwasher 1 by means of a transport device 9. In the at least one treatment zone 6 of the dishwasher 1, the trays 2 are washed and rinsed.

[0073] Disinfection is also optionally provided. After the final rinse, the cleaned trays 2 are dried, after which they are rotated again and fed to the unloading area of ​​the clean-side unloading station 5, where the cleaned trays 2 are stacked.

[0074] As indicated in the embodiments shown in the drawings, the clean-side unloading station 5 can be designed differently.

[0075] In the first exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, the clean-side unloading station 5 is housed inside a body 11 of the dishwasher 1 and is accessible via a tray drawer 12.

[0076] In the second exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the unloading station 5 is also accommodated in the body 11 of the dishwasher 1, although the unloading area of ​​the unloading station 5 is formed by an internal tray stacking carriage 13 instead of an internal tray drawer 12.

[0077] In the third exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, however, the clean-side unloading station 5 is arranged outside the machine body 11 and the unloading area is formed by an external tray stacking carriage 13.

[0078] The dishwasher 1 can have a single treatment zone 6, in which a wash phase, then optionally a disinfection phase, and then a final rinse phase are carried out in sequence. In particular, a drying phase should also follow.

[0079] The washing phase is a cleaning phase in which the trays 2 are washed with a washing liquid in the treatment zone 6. The optional disinfection phase is a cleaning or treatment phase in which the washed tray 2 is exposed to either a disinfectant chemical or hot fresh water or hot steam to achieve appropriate disinfection. The rinsing phase is a cleaning phase in which the washed trays 2 and any disinfected trays 2 are rinsed with heated fresh water and, if necessary, added rinse aid.

[0080] To perform these process steps, the dishwasher 1 preferably has two independent fluid systems. A first fluid system is a wash water circuit, which is responsible for washing the trays 2, with the washing being carried out with recirculated water from a wash tank of the dishwasher 1. The other fluid system is a fresh water system, which is responsible for the final rinse. The final rinse is—as already mentioned—carried out with fresh water, preferably with fresh water from a water heater. After being sprayed in the treatment zone 6, the fresh water is also collected by the wash tank of the dishwasher 1.

[0081] The main function of the rinse cycle is to remove any lye that may be present on tray 2. In addition, the rinse water flowing into the wash tank during the rinse phase serves to regenerate the wash water present in the wash tank.

[0082] Before fresh water is sprayed as a final rinse liquid during the final rinse phase and is thereby fed into the wash tank of the dishwasher 1, an amount of wash liquid equal to the amount of fresh water is preferably pumped out of the wash tank.

[0083] Although in the exemplary embodiments of the tray washer 1 according to the invention shown in the drawings only a single treatment zone 6 is used, it is in principle also conceivable to provide a separate treatment zone 6 for each cleaning phase, wherein the individual treatment zones are arranged spatially separated from one another, and wherein a corresponding splash guard, for example in the form of a curtain, can preferably be provided between the treatment zones in order to prevent liquid from splashing over and re-soiling of the trays 2.

[0084] However, in order to achieve the most compact design possible for the dishwasher 1, it is advantageous for the cleaning phases, or at least some cleaning phases, of the dishwasher 1 to be carried out in a common treatment chamber or treatment zone 6 of the dishwasher 1. In this case, the dishwasher 1 should have a control device designed to control the transport device 9 of the dishwasher 1 such that the trays 2 to be cleaned are transported discontinuously through the treatment zone 6 of the dishwasher 1 by the transport device 9.

[0085] Although not shown in the drawings, the body 11 of the dishwasher 1 preferably houses the wash tank of the dishwasher 1 and, if applicable, a waste water tank. The wash tank serves at least to temporarily store the cleaning fluid to be sprayed in the treatment zone 6 of the dishwasher 1 or to temporarily store the cleaning fluid sprayed in the treatment zone 6.

[0086] It is further advantageous if a fresh water tank or rinse aid tank is also accommodated in the body 11 of the dishwasher 1, which provides at least part of the rinse aid or fresh water to be sprayed in the treatment zone 6.

[0087] Likewise, a rinse aid dosing system for, in particular, selectively and / or as needed, adding rinse aid to the cleaning liquid to be sprayed in the treatment zone 6 and / or a detergent dosing system for, in particular, selectively or as needed, adding a detergent chemical to the cleaning liquid to be sprayed in the treatment zone 6 can be accommodated in the body 11 of the dishwasher 1.

[0088] The same applies to the water heater, which is used to selectively and / or as needed heat the cleaning liquid (rinse liquid) to be sprayed in treatment zone 6.

[0089] Preferably, the loading device 4 and the transport device 9 associated with the dishwasher 1 can be flexibly adjusted to different tray sizes.

[0090] According to further developments of the invention, it can be provided that an additional conveyor device is assigned to the cleaning system, so that the cleaned trays 2 can be conveyed directly to a counter area to be stacked there, so that the transport of the cleaned tray stacks from the kitchen area to the counter area is eliminated.

[0091] Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the dishwasher 1 is installed as an interface dishwasher 1 directly in the counter area so that the dirty trays 2 can be cleaned immediately after they are returned by the customer and the dishwasher staff does not have to transport the dirty trays 2 back from the guest area to the kitchen area.

[0092] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but results from a combination of all features disclosed herein. List of reference symbols 1 cleaning system 2 trays 3 loading station 4 Loading device 5 unloading station 6 Treatment zone of the dishwasher 7 Turning device of the loading device 8 Pre-clearing station 9 Transport device 10 11 Turning device body 12 Tray drawer / door opening 13 tray stacking trolleys 14 dirt containers

Claims

[1] System for the preferably automatic cleaning of trays (2) in a dishwasher (1), in particular trays (2) without items to be washed, such as dishes, cups, cutlery and / or drinking glasses, the system comprising: - a dirt-side loading station (3) with a loading area for receiving the trays (2) to be cleaned, in particular in the form of a stack of trays; - a loading device (4) for individually loading the trays (2) to be cleaned into at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1); and - a clean-side unloading station (5) with an unloading area in which the trays (2) cleaned in the dishwasher (1) are stacked, wherein the loading area is arranged above the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1) and wherein the unloading area is arranged below the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1). [2] System according to claim 1, wherein the loading area is designed to receive the trays (2) to be cleaned in the use position of the trays (2) facing upwards. [3] System according to claim 1 or 2, in particular according to claim 2, wherein the system is assigned a manual pre-clearance station in which a manual pre-clearance of the trays (2) to be cleaned takes place. [4] System according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the loading device (4) has a turning device (7) for transferring the trays (2) into an at least substantially upright state. [5] System according to claim 4, wherein the turning device (7) has a guide and / or a stop which is designed such that when the separated trays (2) are transferred from the loading area, they are rotated into their at least substantially upright state due to the force of gravity. [6] System according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1) is preceded by a pre-clearance station (8), in which a preferably automatic or manual pre-clearance of the at least substantially upright trays (2) takes place or can take place. [7] System according to one of claims 1 to 6, and in particular according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the dishwasher (1) is assigned a transport device (9) for the preferably horizontal transport of the upright trays (2) to and / or through the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1). [8] System according to claim 7, wherein the transport device (9) is designed to transport the trays (2) continuously or discontinuously to and / or through the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1). [9] System according to claim 8, wherein the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1) is designed to wash, rinse and optionally dry the items to be washed held in the treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) in succession in time. [10] System according to claim 8, wherein the dishwasher (1) has a first treatment zone for washing the dishes and a second treatment zone separate therefrom for rinsing the dishes and optionally a treatment zone separate therefrom for drying the dishes. [11] System according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the dishwasher (1) has at least two treatment chambers or treatment zones (6) which can be operated in parallel to one another for the simultaneous treatment of wash ware. [12] System according to one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the dishwasher (1) is assigned a turning device (10) which is designed to turn the cleaned trays (2) from their upright state by gravity and to stack the turned trays (2) in the unloading area. [13] System according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the unloading area is arranged within a body (11) of the dishwasher (1) and is accessible via an opening (12), in particular a door opening. [14] System according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the unloading area is arranged outside a body (11) of the dishwasher (1), wherein the cleaned trays (2) can be fed to the unloading area via a dispensing opening, in particular by gravity. [15] Method for the preferably automatic cleaning of trays (2) in a dishwasher (1), in particular trays (2) without items to be washed, such as dishes, cups, cutlery and / or drinking glasses, the method comprising the following method steps: - Providing the trays (2) to be cleaned in the form of a stack of trays in a loading area on the dirt side; - separating the provided trays (2) and feeding the separated trays (2) to a pre-clearing station (8) and / or to at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1); and - feeding the cleaned trays (2) to a clean-side unloading area and stacking the cleaned trays (2) in the clean-side end area, wherein the loading area is arranged above the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1) and the unloading area is arranged below the at least one treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1), and wherein the feeding of the trays (2) to the pre-clearing station (8) or treatment chamber or treatment zone (6) of the dishwasher (1) and / or to the unloading area takes place at least partially by gravity.

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