Conveyor warewasher with chemical system mounting panel

Abstract

A conveyor warewasher includes a housing that defines a tunnel, with one or more ware cleaning zones located along the tunnel, and a conveyor for carrying wares in a conveyance direction through the one or more ware cleaning zones. A chemical system mounting panel is located on a portion of the housing, wherein a dead space is located between the chemical system mounting panel and a skin or panel of the housing for safely receiving the end portion of one or more mount fasteners.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This application relates generally to commercial conveyor warewashers and, more specifically, to conveyor warewashers that can be utilized with a variety of third-party chemical supply systems.BACKGROUND

[0002] Conveyor dishwashers (aka conveyor warewashers) are used in the commercial sector. In contrast to domestic dishwashers, in which the washware to be cleaned remains fixed in position in the washer during cleaning, the washware in conveyor dishwashers is conveyed through different treatment zones of the washer.

[0003] In conveyor dishwashers, the washware, for example trays, dishes, pots, glasses, cutlery and other utensils to be cleaned, is conveyed through a plurality of treatment zones, for example prewash zone(s), main wash zone(s), post-wash or pre-rinse zone(s), final rinse zone(s), and drying zone(s). For conveying washware through the conveyor dishwasher in a conveying direction, use is made of a conveyor apparatus, which generally has compartments for holding washware. In a flight-type dishwasher, the compartments can be formed by supporting fingers on a conveyor belt of the conveyor apparatus, where the conveyor belt moves in a continuous loop.

[0004] To properly clean the washware, such conveyor warewasher commonly employ chemical supply systems. A number of aftermarket or third-party chemical suppliers are available to the typical purchaser of a conveyor warewasher. Such suppliers often mount their chemical systems on the housing of the conveyor warewasher. At times, this mounting can create issues, particularly if the chemical supplier applies fasteners through the machine housing in an undesired location that impacts internal components (e.g., wiring, or liquid feed tubes / pipes).

[0005] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a conveyor warewasher that better facilitates third-party mounting of chemical supply systems.SUMMARY

[0006] In one aspect, a conveyor warewasher includes a housing that defines a tunnel, with one or more ware cleaning zones located along the tunnel, and a conveyor for carrying wares in a conveyance direction through the one or more ware cleaning zones. A chemical system mounting panel is located on a portion of the housing, wherein a dead space is located between the chemical system mounting panel and a skin or panel of the housing for safely receiving the end portion of one or more mount fasteners.

[0007] In another aspect, a chemical system mounting panel is attachable to a housing of a conveyor warewasher. The chemical system mounting panel includes a main panel wall with an outwardly facing surface that includes at least one etched or otherwise marked region that designates a desired location for mounting of a chemical dispenser.

[0008] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Fig. 1is a perspective view of a conveyor warewasher; Fig. 2is a side schematic of part of an exemplary conveyor; Fig. 3-5are perspective views of portions of the conveyor warewasher; Fig. 6is a plan view of the profile of a metal panel used to form the chemical system mounting panel; Figs. 7-10show views of the formed chemical system mounting panel; Figs. 11-12show perspective views of a chemical system mounting panel with chemical system mounted thereto. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Referring to Fig. 1-2, a conveyor warewasher 10 includes a housing 12 (e.g., frame with metal skin(s)) that defines a tunnel 14 through which a conveyor 16 travels in a conveyance direction 16a. Within the tunnel, various cleaning zones are provided, such as an automatic soil removal zone 20, a pre-wash zone 22, a wash zone 24, a power rinse zone 26 and / or a dual rinse / final rinse zone. Generally, the automatic soil removal zone 20 may include an arm 20a with nozzles to spray liquid and / or air in a manner to move food soils from wares and down to a scrap basket 20b for collection. The pre-wash zone 22, wash zone 24 and power rinse zone 26 may include multiple upper and / or lower spray arms 22a, 24a, 26a, fed by respective pump that recirculate and spray a liquid from lower tanks 22b, 24b, 26b. The dual rinse / final rinse zone 28 include one or more spray arms 28a to spray a fresh rinse liquid (e.g., from a booster tank) on the wares. Embodiments with less zones (e.g., no zone 20) are possible, and embodiments with other zones (e.g., a drying zone) are also possible. As shown, various removable curtains 29 may be provided between the cleaning zones.

[0011] In embodiments, the conveyor 16 is formed as a belt-type assembly 16b that follows a looped path 15 (e.g., driven by a motor etc.) that extends out of the front end 14a of the tunnel and out of the unload end 14b of the tunnel, to facilitate both placement of soiled wares into the machine and removal of cleaned wares from the machine. The belt-type assembly 16b includes a series of outwardly projecting fingers 16b1 that define regions for insertion of individual wares (cups, bowls, plates and trays) or edge portions of wares, and / or that can support racks holding ware, per Fig. 2.

[0012] The conveyor 16 includes an infeed end 16c that extends beyond the tunnel and along a load end 30 of the machine, and an outfeed end 16d that extends beyond the tunnel and along the unload end 50 of the machine.

[0013] Referring to Figs. 3-5, one lateral side of a zone of the machine (here the dual rinse / final rinse zone 28 section) is configured for selective placement of a chemical mounting panel 60. In particular, a metal side skin / panel 62 includes one or more vertical mount slots 62a for receiving mount brackets 60a formed on the chemical mounting panel 60. The mount brackets 60a extend downward so that the lower portion of the bracket will be positioned against an inner facing surface of the metal side skin / panel 62 when the chemical mounting panel is attached. A short upward extending slot 60a1 may be provided at each mount bracket 60a, which slot 60a1 can engage over the lower edge of the vertical mount slot 62a. Here two lower slots 62a and two lower mount brackets 60a are provided, but the number could vary, along with the position of the mount brackets along the height of the chemical mounting panel 60. An upper edge region 62b on the housing includes fastener holes 62c (or can be tapped on-site to include such holes) for the purpose of receiving fasteners that pass-through openings 61c in a rearwardly extending top flange 60b of the chemical mounting panel 62.

[0014] Per Figs. 6-10, in one implementation, the chemical mounting panel 60 may be formed by cutting a flat metal panel to the shape shown in Fig. 6, so as to include side flange regions 60d and top and bottom flange regions 60e. The flat panel is then bent along the lines of joinder between the side flange regions 60d and the main panel wall 60c, and along the lines of joinder between the top and bottom flange regions 60e and the main panel wall 60c. This results in the configuration shown in Figs. 7-10, and gives the chemical mounting panel 60 a meaningful depth d60 (e.g., at least two inches, such as on the order of about 2.5 inches to about 3.5 inches). This depth d60 will operate as a dead space between the rear surface of the main panel wall 60c and an outer surface of the metal side skin / panel 62, which can safely receive the inner ends of fasteners used to mount the chemical system to the main panel wall 60c.

[0015] As shown, the main panel wall 60c of chemical mounting panel 60 may include etched or otherwise marked regions 60f (e.g., printed, painted or adhesive label applied) that communicate the desired locations, in the form of outlines 60f1 and / or verbiage 60f2, for mounting of the chemical dispensers and communicate a safe drilling / fastener depth, in the form of verbiage 60f3. The identified safe drilling depth will be less than the depth d60 of the chemical mounting panel, which assures that the drilling and fastener installation will not damage any internal components of the warewasher.

[0016] Upper and lower die-cut knockout regions 60g may be provided on the main panel wall 60c and can be removed to create openings for passage of tubing or wiring. The side flange regions 60d of the chemical mounting panel include die-cut tabs 60h that can be selectively bent outward to provide accessible tabs for securing feed tubes and / or wiring of the chemical system (e.g., see Fig. 12). Per Fig. 10, an end portion of the bottom flange region 60e is bent upward to provide added stiffness and to seat against the outer surface of the metal skin / panel 62.

[0017] Figs. 11-12 depict an embodiment with chemical system 70 mounted to the chemical mounting panel 60'. Chemical pump(s) may typically be integrated into the container holders 72 that hold respective containers 74. The holders 72 are secured by fasteners 75 to the main panel wall. Chemical feed lines 76 are shown, as well as wiring 78 for controlling operation of the pump(s). Here, a removable drip tray 80 is also provided below the mounting panel 60'.

[0018] It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only, is not intended to be taken by way of limitation, and that other changes and modifications are possible.

Claims

1. A conveyor warewasher, comprising: - a housing that defines a tunnel; - one or more ware cleaning zones located along the tunnel; - a conveyor for carrying wares in a conveyance direction through the one or more ware cleaning zones; - a chemical system mounting panel located on a portion of the housing, wherein a dead space is located between the chemical system mounting panel and a skin or panel of the housing for safely receiving an end portion of one or more mount fasteners.

2. The conveyor warewasher of claim 1, wherein the chemical system mounting panel includes a main panel wall with an outwardly facing surface having at least one region that is etched or otherwise marked to designate a desired location for mounting of a chemical dispenser.

3. The conveyor warewasher of claim 2, wherein the region includes an outline and / or verbiage, for designating the desired location.

4. The conveyor warewasher of claim 3, wherein the region includes information identifying a safe drilling / fastener depth.

5. The conveyor warewasher of claim 4, wherein the identified safe drilling depth is less than a depth of the dead space.

6. The conveyour warewasher of claim 2, wherein the main panel wall includes one or more die-cut knockout regions that can be removed to create openings for passage of tubing or wiring.

7. The conveyor warewasher of claim 2, wherein the chemical system mounting panel includes side flanges extending rearwardly from the main panel wall, each side flange including one or more die-cut tabs that can be selectively bent outward to provide accessible tabs for securing feed tubes and / or wiring.

8. The conveyor warewasher of claim 1, wherein the chemical system mounting panel includes multiple mount brackets that pass through respective slots on the skin or panel of the housing.

9. The conveyor warewasher of claim 8, wherein the chemical system mount panel includes a top flange that is fastened to an upper edge region above the skin or panel of the housing.

10. A chemical system mounting panel that is attachable to a housing of a conveyor warewasher, the chemical system mounting panel comprising: - a main panel wall with an outwardly facing surface that includes at least one etched or otherwise marked region that designates a desired location for mounting of a chemical dispenser.

11. The chemical system mounting panel of claim 10, wherein: - the region includes an outline and / or verbiage, for designating the desired location; and / or - the region includes information identifying a safe drilling / fastener depth.

12. The chemical system mounting panel of claim 10, wherein the main panel wall includes one or more die-cut knockout regions that can be removed to create openings for passage of tubing or wiring.

13. The chemical system mounting panel of claim 10, wherein the chemical system mounting panel includes side flanges extending rearwardly from the main panel wall, each side flange including one or more die-cut tabs that can be selectively bent outward to provide accessible tabs for securing feed tubes and / or wiring.

14. The chemical system mounting panel of claim 10, wherein the chemical system mounting panel includes multiple mount brackets configured for passing through respective slots on the skin or panel of the housing.

15. The chemical system mounting panel of claim 14, wherein the chemical system mounting panel includes a top flange that is configured to overlap with an upper edge region above the skin or panel of the housing for enabling fastener attachment through the top flange.

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