Washing system

Abstract

To provide a washing system capable of detecting that a shelf part of a storage shelf additionally storing another large size rack is going to be beyond a full load state even when racks in different size are mixed and stored on the storage shelf.SOLUTION: A washing system 1 is configured so that each of shelf parts 53 is in a full load state by mounting a plurality of racks R. The washing system 1 includes: first sensors 45A, 45B, 45C which detect presence of rack R between an upstream end of the shelf part 53 and a position away from the upstream end of the shelf part 53 by a second size in a conveyance direction in the shelf part 53; and second sensors 61A, 61B, 61C which detect presence of rack R between a position away from the upstream end of the shelf part 53 by a first size in the conveyance direction and a position away from the upstream end of the shelf part 53 by the second size in the conveyance direction in the shelf part 53.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning system.

Background Art

[0002] A cleaning system is known that includes a loading device for loading a rack containing tableware (objects to be cleaned) into a dishwasher, a dishwasher for cleaning the tableware, a storage rack (wagon) having a shelf portion arranged vertically and capable of accommodating the rack, a lift device for loading the tableware cleaned by the dishwasher into the shelf portion in the storage rack, and an unloading device for pushing out from the dishwasher and unloading it to the lift device. In such a cleaning system, a series of operations including loading the rack into the dishwasher, cleaning the tableware in the dishwasher, unloading the rack from the dishwasher to the lift, and loading the rack from the lift into the storage rack can be performed fully automatically.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] For example, when looking at the cleaning system where there is a storage shelf on the left side of the lift device, the cleaning system is provided with two sensors on each stage: a first sensor that emits detection light diagonally backward to the left from the front side of the left end of the lift device, and a second sensor that emits detection light forward from the rear end of the left end of the storage shelf. In such a sensor arrangement, when only full-size racks are stored, it is possible to surely determine that when the next full-size rack is carried in, it will exceed the full-load state (the full-size rack will protrude from the shelf part). However, when full-size racks and half-size racks, which are half the size of full-size racks, are mixed and stored in the shelf part, it may not be possible to accurately detect that when the next full-size rack is carried in, it will exceed the full-load state.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning system that can detect that when a rack with a larger size is stored next, the shelf part of the storage shelf will exceed the full-load state even when racks with different sizes are mixed and stored in the storage shelf.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The cleaning system of the present invention is a cleaning system including a storage shelf in which shelf parts on which racks accommodating objects to be cleaned washed by a cleaning machine are placed are arranged in the vertical direction, and a lift device configured to be able to move the rack carried out from the cleaning machine up and down in the vertical direction and carry it out toward the storage shelf. Each of the shelf parts is configured to reach a full-load state by placing a plurality of racks. The plurality of racks include at least one of a first rack that is a rack having a first size in the carry-out direction of the lift device and a second rack that is a rack having a second size smaller than the first size in the carry-out direction. In the shelf part, a first sensor that detects the presence of a rack between the upstream end of the shelf part and a position separated from the upstream end of the shelf part by the second size in the carry-out direction, and a second sensor that detects the presence of a rack between a position separated from the upstream end of the shelf part by the first size in the carry-out direction and a position separated from the upstream end of the shelf part by the second size in the carry-out direction are provided.

[0007] In the cleaning system with this configuration, even when racks of different sizes are mixed and stored in the storage shelf, by simply arranging two sensors, namely the first sensor and the second sensor, even when racks of different sizes are mixed and stored in the storage shelf, if the rack with the next larger size is stored, it can be detected that the shelf part of the storage shelf exceeds the full-load state.

[0008] In the cleaning system of the present invention, the second rack is a half-rack whose second size is half of the first size, the first sensor may be arranged on the lifting device, and the second sensor may be arranged on the storage shelf. With this configuration, the first sensor and the second sensor can be easily arranged.

[0009] In the cleaning system of the present invention, the lifting device has a third sensor for detecting the loading of the rack from the cleaning machine, a conveyor for conveying the rack to the downstream side based on the detection by the third sensor, a fourth sensor for detecting that the rack has been conveyed to the unloading position to the storage shelf by the conveyor, and a fifth sensor arranged between the third sensor and the fourth sensor in the unloading direction and arranged to detect the first rack when the first rack is detected by the fourth sensor and not to detect the second rack when the second rack is detected by the fourth sensor. With this configuration, it can be determined whether the tableware rack R to be unloaded to the storage shelf 6 is a full rack Rf or a half rack Rh. As a result, the half rack Rh can be loaded into the shelf part 53 where there is one space available until the full-load state is reached.

[0010] In the cleaning system of the present invention, the lift device may include a third sensor that detects the loading of the rack from the dishwasher, a conveyor that conveys the rack to the downstream side based on the detection by the third sensor, a fourth sensor that detects that the rack has been conveyed by the conveyor to the unloading position to the storage shelf, and a rack determination unit that determines whether it is the first rack or the second rack based on the time from when the third sensor starts detecting the rack to when it finishes detecting the rack. With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether the tableware rack R to be unloaded to the storage shelf 6 is a full rack Rf or a half rack Rh. As a result, the half rack Rh can be loaded into a shelf section where there is one space available until it reaches the full load state.

[0011] Furthermore, when a fifth sensor is arranged between the third sensor and the fourth sensor in the unloading direction, water dripping from the tableware rack R may accumulate, increasing the likelihood of false detection. In contrast, in the cleaning system of the present invention, the third sensor is arranged such that the detection light emitted from the third sensor is emitted through the opening of the downwardly inclined cover member. As a result, there is no possibility of water dripping from the tableware rack R accumulating on the third sensor, and the possibility of false detection as described above can be reduced.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, even when racks of different sizes are mixed and stored in the storage shelf, it is possible to detect that the shelf section of the storage shelf exceeds the full load state if the next larger-sized rack is stored.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are omitted. The dimensional ratios in the drawings do not necessarily match those in the description. In the following description, the directions defined in FIG. 1 (vertical direction, front-rear direction, left-right direction) are used for the description.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning system 1 includes a carry table 3, a dishwashing machine (cleaning machine) 4, a carry-out device 90, a lift device 5, and a storage shelf 6. In the cleaning system 1, the carry table 3 and the dishwashing machine 4 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and the dishwashing machine 4, the lift device 5, and the storage shelf 6 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. That is, in the cleaning system 1 of the present embodiment, the carry table 3, the dishwashing machine 4, the lift device 5, and the storage shelf 6 are arranged in an L shape in plan view so that the dish rack R in which tableware and the like (objects to be cleaned) are accommodated moves from the front side to the rear side and then from the right side to the left side.

[0016] The carry table 3 conveys the dish rack R to the dishwashing machine 4. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2(A), and 2(B), the carry table 3 includes a base 10, four legs 19 that support the base 10, a conveyance mechanism 11, a table rack detection sensor 14, a main controller (control unit) 12, and an arm detection sensor 13.

[0017] The base 10 is a table on which the dish rack R is placed. The base 10 has a placement surface 10a on which the dish rack R is placed. The base 10 is provided with a sliding portion 16 that protrudes from the placement surface 10a and extends along the conveyance direction of the dish rack R for sliding the dish rack R. The sliding portion 16 is constituted by a plate-like member formed of, for example, polyacetal resin, which is fixed to the placement surface 10a by screws or the like. The sliding portion 16 can be formed of a material other than polyacetal resin as long as it is a member that improves the slidability with respect to the dish rack R.

[0018] The conveyance mechanism 11 moves the dish rack R on the base 10. The conveyance mechanism 11 includes an arm member 11A, a support portion 11B, a chain 11C, sprockets 11D, 11D, and a table drive portion 11E. The conveyance mechanism 11 is housed in a housing 17. The housing 17 is disposed behind the base 10 when the carrier table 3 is viewed from the front, and protrudes upward from the placement surface 10a of the base 10.

[0019] The arm member 11A is a member that pushes out the dish rack R and is supported by the support portion 11B so as to be rotatable on the placement surface 10a. The support portion 11B is provided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction along a guide rail (not shown) disposed in parallel with the chain 11C, and is fixedly connected to a part of the chain 11C. The chains 11C, 11C are wound around two sprockets 11D, 11D. The table drive portion 11E is, for example, a gear motor. One of the sprockets 11D is pivotally supported on the rotation shaft of the table drive portion 11E.

[0020] The arm member 11A is fixed to the support portion 11B via a torsion spring (not shown) so as to be rotatable between a state where the tip of the arm member 11A faces the dishwasher 4 side (rear side) and a state where it faces the front side (left side) of the carry table 3. The torsion spring biases the arm member 11A in a direction of rotating counterclockwise (leftward) in a plan view. That is, the torsion spring biases the arm member 11A in a direction of advancing from the housing 17. The arm member 11A advances into an advancing region on the placement surface 10a outside the housing 17 as long as it does not contact a restricting member such as a shutter (not shown) due to the action of the torsion spring. The arm member 11A is provided so as to be movable between an advancing region that overlaps the placement surface 10a in a plan view and a retracting region that has retracted from the placement surface 10a, and is retracted to the retracting region when not pushing out the dish rack R.

[0021] The arm member 11A rotates in the left-right direction when viewed from the front of the carry table 3 by interlocking with a sprocket 11D and a chain 11C driven by a table drive unit 11E. When transporting the dish rack R, the arm member 11A advances from inside the housing 17 onto the placement surface 10a and retracts into the housing 17 in a standby state. More specifically, the arm member 11A advances onto the placement surface 10a at the timing when the movement of the dish rack R on the placement surface 10a toward the dishwasher 4 side is detected by the table rack detection sensor 14, or at the timing when the start button B1 is pressed at the operation unit 18.

[0022] The arm member 11A pushes out the dish rack R toward the dishwasher 4. A bearing (not shown) may be provided at the tip of the arm member 11A, that is, at the portion that contacts the dish rack R. When the arm member 11A transports the dish rack R to the dishwasher 4 (that is, when it reaches the pushing-out position where it pushes out the dish rack R), it returns to a standby position that is a part of the retracting region inside the housing 17.

[0023] The arm member 11A extends leftward with the right side as the base point in the left - right direction. In the present embodiment, the left - end portion of the arm member 11A is located on the right side of the center position CL in the left - right direction of the placement surface 10a. Note that the left end of the arm member 11A may extend to the left side of the center position CL with the right side as the base point. In this case, the arm member 11A can contact the portion on the left side of the center position in the left - right direction of the dish rack R placed on the placement surface 10a and push it out toward the dishwasher 4 side.

[0024] The main controller 12 controls the overall operation of the cleaning system 1, including the carry - table 3. The main controller 12 has an input / output interface for inputting and outputting signals to / from the outside, a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which programs and information for performing various processes are stored, a RAM (Random Access Memory) and other storage media for temporarily storing data, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a communication circuit, etc. The main controller 12 stores input data in the RAM based on the signal output by the CPU, loads the program stored in the ROM into the RAM, and executes various processes by executing the program loaded into the RAM. The main controller 12 controls, for example, the operation of the carry - table 3, the opening and closing operation of the door 23 in the dishwasher 4, the operation of the carry - out device 90, the operation of the lift device 5, etc. The main controller 12 is, for example, housed within the housing 17.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 18 is arranged on a part of the panel forming the housing 17. The operation unit 18 has a start button B1 for starting the operation of the transport mechanism 11 and an emergency stop button B2 for urgently stopping the operation of the transport mechanism 11.

[0026] Returning to FIG. 2, the arm detection sensor 13 detects that the arm member 11A has moved to a predetermined position. The arm detection sensor 13 of the present embodiment is arranged to detect the position of the arm member 11A when the loading of the dish rack R into the washing chamber 21 of the dishwasher 4 is completed, that is, the arm detection sensor 13 detects that the loading of the dish rack R into the washing chamber 21 of the dishwasher 4 is completed. The detection result (rack loading completion notification) of the arm detection sensor 13 is acquired by the main controller 12.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the dishwasher 4 is arranged adjacent to the carrier table 3 on the rear side of the carrier table 3. The dishwasher 4 washes the dishes housed in the dish rack R. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the dishwasher 4 has a dishwasher main body 20 covered with a stainless steel panel. The dishwasher main body 20 is partitioned into an upper portion 20A in which a washing chamber 21 is formed and a lower portion 20B in which a machine room 22 is formed.

[0028] In the upper portion 20A of the dishwasher main body 20, a box-shaped door 23 for opening and closing the washing chamber 21 is provided. The door 23 is connected to a connecting member 74 (see FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B)) to be described in detail later. The connecting member 74 is driven by a door driving unit 70 (see FIG. 4(B)) controlled by the main controller 12. The door 23 moves between a closed position (the position shown in FIG. 4) where it is located at the lowest height position in the vertical direction and closes the washing chamber 21 and an open position (the position shown in FIG. 1) where it is located at the highest height position in the vertical direction and opens the washing chamber 21 by being driven by the door driving unit 70. Although not provided in the door 23 of the present embodiment, the door 23 may be provided with a handle for manually opening and closing the door 23.

[0029] Inside the washing chamber 21, a rack rail 24 on which the dish rack R is placed is detachably arranged. The dish rack R carried out from the carry table 3 to the dishwashing machine 4 is pushed out onto the rack rail 24. Above the washing chamber 21, an upper washing nozzle 26A composed of three radially extending arms and an upper rinsing nozzle 27A composed of two arms are rotatably arranged respectively. Similarly, below the washing chamber 21, a lower washing nozzle 26B composed of three radially extending arms and a lower rinsing nozzle 27B composed of two arms are rotatably arranged respectively. The dishes arranged in the dish rack R are sprayed with washing water from above and below by the upper washing nozzle 26A and the lower washing nozzle 26B, and are sprayed with rinsing water from above and below by the upper rinsing nozzle 27A and the lower rinsing nozzle 27B.

[0030] A washing pump 29 is connected to the washing water tank 28 through a washing water suction port. A washing water discharge pipe 30 is connected to the discharge port of the washing pump 29. The washing water discharge pipe 30 branches into a first washing water discharge pipe 30A and a second washing water discharge pipe 30B. The first washing water discharge pipe 30A is connected to the upper washing nozzle 26A, and the second washing water discharge pipe 30B is connected to the lower washing nozzle 26B.

[0031] Inside the machine room 22, a rinsing water tank 31 to which rinsing water is supplied through a water supply pipe (not shown) from the outside is arranged. A rinsing pump 33 is connected to the rinsing water tank 31 through a rinsing water suction pipe 32. A rinsing water discharge pipe 34 is connected to the discharge port of the rinsing pump 33. The rinsing water discharge pipe 34 branches into a first rinsing water discharge pipe 34A and a second rinsing water discharge pipe 34B. The first rinsing water discharge pipe 34A is connected to the upper rinsing nozzle 27A, and the second rinsing water discharge pipe 34B is connected to the lower rinsing nozzle 27B. The first rinsing water discharge pipe 34A is arranged inside the first washing water discharge pipe 30A. That is, the first washing water discharge pipe 30A and the first rinsing water discharge pipe 34A form a double pipe structure.

[0032] Inside the machine room 22, there is housed an electrical equipment box (not shown) with a dishwasher controller 35 built in that controls the overall operation of the dishwasher 4. The dishwasher controller 35 outputs a wash end signal indicating that the wash has ended to the main controller 12 of the carrier table 3.

[0033] The dishwasher 4 is equipped with a heat exchange unit 36. The heat exchange unit 36 condenses the water vapor discharged from the wash chamber 21 of the dishwasher main body 20 and discharges the air with a reduced water vapor content to the outside. The dishwasher 4 is equipped with four legs 37 that support the dishwasher main body 20.

[0034] The unloading device 90 unloads the dish rack R from the dishwasher 4 to the lift device 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the unloading device 90 is provided in front of the right side surface of the dishwasher 4. The unloading device 90 has an arm 91. The arm 91 rotates about a rotation axis extending in one direction and pushes out the dish rack R placed on the rack rail 24 (see FIG. 3) in the wash chamber 21 to the lift device 5. The dish rack R pushed out by the arm 91 slides on the rack rail 24 and is unloaded from the dishwasher 4 to the lift device 5.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, the lift device 5 is arranged adjacent to the left of the dishwasher 4, adjacent to the dishwasher 4. The lift device 5 transfers the dish rack R unloaded from the dishwasher 4 to a predetermined position on the storage shelf 6. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the lift device 5 includes a main body 40, a door drive mechanism 7, a lift 41, a lift drive mechanism (conveyor) 42, a lift entrance sensor (third sensor) 44A, a lift exit sensor (fourth sensor) 44B, a storage shelf rack detection sensor 44C, and first stage sensors (first sensors) 45A, 45B, 45C.

[0036] The main body 40 has a frame 40A, a pair of front side portions 40B and rear side portions 40C that are arranged to face each other in the front-rear direction, a right side portion 40D, a left side portion 40E, a ceiling portion 40F, a bottom portion 40G, and leg portions 40H. The pair of front side portions 40B and rear side portions 40C are panel-shaped members formed from stainless steel or the like. The main body 40 has openings on both horizontal sides that are orthogonal to the facing direction of the pair of front side portions 40B and rear side portions 40C. The right side portion 40D is a panel-shaped member that covers a part of the upper side of the opening on the side of the dishwasher 4 (right side). The left side portion 40E is a panel-shaped member that covers a part of the upper side of the opening on the side of the storage shelf 6 (left side). The ceiling portion 40F is a panel-shaped member that covers the upper part of the main body 40. The leg portions 40H are provided at the four corners of the bottom portion 40G.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 4(A), 4(B), and 5, the door drive mechanism 7 drives the door 23 of the dishwasher 4 to the closed position and the open position. The door drive mechanism 7 has a door drive unit 70, a pair of sprockets, a chain 72, a slider 73, and a connecting member 74. The door drive mechanism 7 is provided on the back side of the lift device 5. More specifically, the door drive mechanism 7 is fixed to the rear side portion 40C.

[0038] The door drive unit 70 is, for example, a gear motor. The door drive unit 70 is arranged, for example, at the upper part of the lift device 5. The operation of the door drive unit 70 is controlled by the main controller 12 of the carrier table 3. The door drive unit 70 is not provided with a braking mechanism (brake). That is, when a force is applied to the output shaft from the outside, the output shaft of the door drive unit 70 rotates. The pair of sprockets are arranged at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction. The output shaft of the door drive unit 70 is connected to one of the sprockets. The other sprocket rotates in a driven manner via the chain 72 in response to the rotation of the one sprocket. The chain 72 is looped around the pair of sprockets.

[0039] The slider 73 is connected to the chain 72. The slider 73 moves vertically in response to the movement of the chain 72. The slider 73 is connected to a guide rail 75 extending along the vertical direction and moves along the guide rail 75. An upper sensor (not shown) and a lower sensor (not shown) are provided within the movement range of the slider 73. The upper sensor is disposed above the lower sensor. The upper sensor is disposed at a position where it detects the slider 73 when the door 23 of the dishwasher 4 reaches the open position. The upper sensor outputs the detection result to the main controller 12 of the carrier table 3. The lower sensor is disposed below the upper sensor. The lower sensor is disposed at a position where it detects the slider 73 when the door 23 of the dishwasher 4 reaches the closed position. The lower sensor outputs the detection result to the main controller 12 of the carrier table 3. The connecting member 74 is connected to a box-shaped door 23 (see FIG. 3) for opening and closing the washing chamber 21.

[0040] The lift 41 receives the dish rack R carried out from the dishwasher 4 at the loading position in the vertical direction (the height position of the lift 41 shown in FIG. 4), moves in the height direction to the unloading position with respect to the shelf portion 53 where the dish rack R is not stored in the storage shelf 6, horizontally unloads the received dish rack R from the dishwasher 4 side to the storage shelf 6 side, and loads (transfers) the dish rack R into the shelf portion 53.

[0041] The lift 41 is supported by a lift support portion 41A. The lift support portion 41A moves in the vertical direction (up and down direction) by a lift drive mechanism 42. Thereby, the lift 41 moves in the vertical direction. The lift drive mechanism 42 mainly includes a belt 42A, a pair of sprockets 42B, 42B, and a lift drive portion 42C. The lift drive portion 42C is, for example, a gear motor. The lift drive portion 42C is disposed, for example, at the upper part of the lift device 5. The operation of the lift drive portion 42C is controlled by the main controller 12 of the carrier table 3. The output shaft of the lift drive portion 42C is connected to one of the sprockets 42B. The lift 41 is driven to rotate via the belt 42A in response to the rotation of the sprocket 42B. The belt 42A is looped around the pair of sprockets 42B, 42B.

[0042] The lift 41 operates a belt drive mechanism 43 to draw the dish rack R into the inside of the lift device 5 and carry out the dish rack R to the storage shelf 6. The belt drive mechanism 43 mainly includes a pair of conveyor belts 43A, 43A, a pair of pairs of sprockets 43B, 43B around which the pair of conveyor belts 43A, 43A are wound, and a belt drive portion 43C. Each of the pair of conveyor belts 43A, 43A is an endless belt and is spanned over the pair of sprockets 43B, 43B. The pair of conveyor belts 43A, 43A are arranged to face each other in the width direction (front and back direction) orthogonal to the carrying-out direction (left and right direction) D1 of the dish rack R. Each of the pair of conveyor belts 43A, 43A is provided so as to be able to support near both end portions in the width direction of the dish rack R from below.

[0043] The conveying belt 43A is provided with protrusions 43Aa. The protrusions 43Aa are members that hook onto the locked portions formed on the dish rack R. The locked portions of the dish rack R are portions that can be locked by the protrusions 43Aa, such as the edge portion of the dish rack R (the frame-shaped portion that comes into contact with the conveying belt 43A when placed on the conveying belt 43A in the normal state) and the recesses formed on the bottom surface of the dish rack R. The protrusions 43Aa are provided at a predetermined installation interval (for example, 100 mm) along the longitudinal direction (left - right direction) of the conveying belt 43A.

[0044] If the installation interval is shorter than an appropriate interval, even if a protrusion 43Aa lifts the dish rack R, the adjacent protrusion 43Aa may lift the dish rack R. In this case, there is a risk that the catch of the previous protrusion 43Aa will come off, and the dish rack R cannot be conveyed properly. Also, if the installation interval is longer than an appropriate interval, the chance for the protrusion 43Aa to hook the dish rack R decreases. In this case, it may take time until the conveyance of the dish rack R starts, and the conveyance cycle becomes unstable. The installation interval of the protrusions 43Aa is appropriately set in consideration of such circumstances.

[0045] A pair of sprockets 43B, 43B are provided at both ends in the unloading direction D1 of the dish rack R and are wound around the conveying belt 43A. One of the sprockets 43B is provided with a rotation shaft and is configured such that the power of the belt drive unit 43C can be transmitted via a chain, a belt, or the like. The other sprocket 43B rotates passively via the conveying belt 43A. The belt drive unit 43C is, for example, a gear motor. The operation of the belt drive unit 43C is controlled by the main controller 12 of the carrier table 3.

[0046] At the left end (loading side end) and the rear end (unloading side end) of the lift support portion 41A of the lift 41, a lower support portion 41B, a loading side inclined portion 41Ca, and an unloading side inclined portion 41Cb are formed. The lower support portion 41B is a plate-like member disposed between a pair of conveyor belts 43A, 43A arranged in the front-rear direction. The loading side inclined portion 41Ca protrudes toward the dishwasher 4 side beyond the rotation orbit of the conveyor belt 43A and inclines downward toward the dishwasher 4 side. The unloading side inclined portion 41Cb protrudes toward the storage shelf 6 side beyond the rotation orbit of the conveyor belt 43A and inclines downward toward the storage shelf 6 side. The unloading side inclined portion 41Cb is provided such that the rear end portion of the dish rack R sent out from the conveyor belt 43A to the storage shelf 6 side slides down.

[0047] The lift entrance sensor 44A detects that the dish rack R has entered (been loaded) from the dishwasher 4 into the lift device 5 (lift 41). Based on the detection by the lift entrance sensor 44A, the belt drive portion 43C drives the pair of conveyor belts 43A, 43A to convey the dish rack R to the downstream side. The lift entrance sensor 44A emits detection light upward. The detection light from the lift entrance sensor 44A is emitted upward through the opening 41d formed in the loading side inclined portion 41Ca. A transparent cover formed of resin or the like may be provided in the opening 41d. The detection result of the lift entrance sensor 44A is acquired by the main controller 12. The lift entrance sensor 44A is provided, for example, at the end portion of the lift 41 on the dishwasher 4 side. The lift entrance sensor 44A is, for example, a reflection type photoelectric sensor.

[0048] The lift exit sensor 44B detects that the dish rack R has been conveyed to a predetermined position downstream in the unloading direction D1 from the detection position of the lift entrance sensor 44A in the unloading direction D1 of the conveyor belts 43A, 43A. In other words, the lift exit sensor 44B detects that the dish rack R has been conveyed to the unloading position to the storage shelf 6 by the lift drive mechanism 42. The detection result of the lift exit sensor 44B is acquired by the main controller 12. The lift exit sensor 44B is provided, for example, at a position close to the end on the storage shelf 6 side of the lift 41, and is attached to, for example, the frame 40A or the like via a bracket or the like.

[0049] The storage shelf rack detection sensor 44C is, for example, a reflection type photoelectric sensor. The storage shelf rack detection sensor 44C detects the presence or absence of the dish rack R on the shelf portion 53 of the storage shelf 6 located on the left side of the lift 41. In other words, it detects the presence or absence of the dish rack R on the shelf portion 53 of the storage shelf 6 that the lift 41 is about to unload. The detection result of the storage shelf rack detection sensor 44C is acquired by the main controller 12. The storage shelf rack detection sensor 44C is, for example, a reflection type photoelectric sensor.

[0050] The first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C detect the presence or absence (empty status) of the dish rack R in each of the three (a plurality of) shelf portions 53 of the storage shelf 6. The detection results of the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C are acquired by the main controller 12. The first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C are provided corresponding to each of the three shelf portions 53 of the storage shelf 6. The first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C are provided on the frame 40A adjacent to each of the three shelf portions 53. The first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C are, for example, reflection type photoelectric sensors. The first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C may be covered by a cover 40I formed of a material having flexibility and heat insulation properties. Note that the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C will be described in more detail after the storage shelf 6 is described.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 1, the storage shelf 6 is arranged adjacent to the left of the lift device 5 and adjacent to the lift device 5. As shown in Fig. 8, the storage shelf 6 can store a plurality (six in this embodiment) of dinnerware racks R. The storage shelf 6 has the dinnerware rack R accommodated by the lift device 5. The storage shelf 6 is detachably provided on the lift device 5. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the storage shelf 6 has a main body 50 and second stage sensors (second sensors) 61A, 61B, 61C.

[0052] The main body 50 has a frame 50A, a rear side portion 50B arranged on the rear side in the front-rear direction, a left side portion 50C arranged on the left side in the left-right direction, a ceiling portion 50F, a bottom portion 50G, and leg portions 50H. The rear side portion 50B is a panel-shaped member formed of stainless steel or the like. The main body 50 is open on the right side in the horizontal direction (the lift device 5 side). The leg portions 50H are provided at the four corners of the bottom portion 50G.

[0053] The storage shelf 6 of this embodiment is provided with three (a plurality) of shelf portions 53. One shelf portion 53 is configured to be able to accommodate two or more (for example, two) dinnerware racks R. Each of the plurality of shelf portions 53 is formed by a shelf unit 54. The shelf unit 54 has a frame 55 and a plurality of support rollers 56.

[0054] The frame 55 rotatably supports the support rollers 56 at both ends of the plurality of support rollers 56. The frame 55 extends in the left-right direction and is arranged before and after the storage shelf 6 when the shelf unit 54 is fixed to the main body 50. The plurality of support rollers 56 support the dinnerware rack R from below and are arranged in a plurality along the carrying-in direction (left-right direction). Both ends of the plurality of support rollers 56 are rotatably supported by a pair of frames 55, 55.

[0055] In the cleaning system 1 of the present embodiment, as the dish rack R for accommodating dishes and the like, a full rack (first rack) Rf having a horizontal size of 500 mm and a vertical size of 500 mm, and a half rack (second rack) Rh having a horizontal size of 250 mm and a vertical size of 500 mm are used. In the cleaning system 1 of the present embodiment, the dish rack R is arranged such that the horizontal size is parallel to the conveying direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the storage shelf 6 of the present embodiment includes a full rack Rf having 500 mm (first size) in the carry-out direction (carry-out direction of the lift device 5) D1 of the dish rack R, and at least one half rack (second rack) having a size of 250 mm smaller than 500 mm in the carry-out direction D1. More specifically, each of the shelf portions 53 of the storage shelf 6 is configured to be in a full-load state by placing two full racks Rf, one full rack Rf and two half racks Rh, and four half racks Rh.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 9(B), each of the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C detects the presence of the dish rack R between the upstream end of the shelf portion 53 and a position 250 mm (second size) away from the upstream end of the shelf portion 53 in the carry-out direction D1. Each of the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C is provided on the lift device 5 as described above. Each of the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C is arranged to emit detection light obliquely from the front to the left rearward at the rear end of the lift device 5.

[0057] Each of the second stage sensors 61A, 61B, 61C detects the presence of the dish rack R on the shelf portion 53 between a position 250 mm (first size) away from the upstream end of the shelf portion 53 in the carry-out direction D1 and a position 500 mm (second size) away from the upstream end of the shelf portion 53 in the carry-out direction D1. Each of the second stage sensors 61A, 61B, 61C is arranged, for example, at the rear side portion 50B of the storage shelf 6 so as to emit detection light from the downstream end to the upstream end of the shelf portion 53. Each of the second stage sensors 61A, 61B, 61C is also a reflection type photoelectric sensor similar to each of the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C.

[0058] The second-stage sensors 61A, 61B, and 61C are arranged at positions shifted forward and backward from the center position in the front-rear direction (width direction). A recess for an operator to lift by hand is provided at the center in the width direction of the dish rack R. Such a recess is formed in the same manner in both the full rack Rf and the half rack Rh. The second-stage sensors 61A, 61B, and 61C are arranged so that the emitted detection light does not hit the recess. This enables detection even when the dish rack R is pulled out halfway.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 10, the main controller 12 is communicably connected to the table drive unit 11E, the arm detection sensor 13, the table rack detection sensor 14, the operation unit 18, the dishwasher controller 35, the door drive unit 70, the carry-out device 90, the lift drive unit 42C, the belt drive unit 43C, the lift entrance sensor (third sensor) 44A, the lift exit sensor 44B, the storage shelf rack detection sensor 44C, the first-stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C, the second-stage sensors 61A, 61B, 61C, the third-stage sensors 63A, 63B, 63C, and the full rack detection sensor 44D.

[0060] In each shelf unit 53, when both the first-stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C and the second-stage sensors 61A, 61B, 61C detect the dish rack R, the main controller 12 prohibits the lift device 5 from carrying the dish rack R into the storage shelf 6. More specifically, in the uppermost shelf unit 53, when both the first-stage sensor 45A and the second-stage sensor 61A detect the dish rack R, the main controller 12 prohibits the lift device 5 from carrying the dish rack R into the uppermost stage of the storage shelf 6. In the second-stage shelf unit 53, when both the first-stage sensor 45B and the second-stage sensor 61B detect the dish rack R, the main controller 12 prohibits the lift device 5 from carrying the dish rack R into the second stage of the storage shelf 6. In the lowermost shelf unit 53, when both the first-stage sensor 45C and the second-stage sensor 61C detect the dish rack R, the main controller 12 prohibits the lift device 5 from carrying the dish rack R into the lowermost stage of the storage shelf 6.

[0061] Next, the operation of the lift device 5 will be described. The lift 41 waits at the same height position (origin position) as the rack rail 24 (see FIG. 3) of the dishwasher 4 when the cleaning by the dishwasher 4 is completed. When the dish rack R is carried out from the dishwasher 4 by the carry-out device 90 and the lift entrance sensor 44A detects that a part of the dish rack R is positioned on the lift 41, the main controller 12 starts the operation of the conveyor belts 43A, 43A. That is, the main controller 12 controls the belt drive unit 43C. As a result, the dish rack R is drawn into a predetermined position of the lift 41 (the detection position of the lift exit sensor 44B) with the protrusions 43Aa of the conveyor belts 43A, 43A hooked. When the lift exit sensor 44B detects the dish rack R, the main controller 12 controls the belt drive unit 43C to stop the operation of the conveyor belts 43A, 43A.

[0062] At the same time, when the lift 41 draws the dish rack R to the above-mentioned predetermined position (when the lift exit sensor 44B detects the dish rack R), the lift 41 starts to rise or fall so as to be at the same height as the shelf part 53 (empty shelf part 53) in the storage shelf 6 where the dish rack R is not stored. That is, the main controller 12 controls the lift drive unit 42C.

[0063] Note that the main controller 12 determines the empty state of each shelf unit 53 based on the detection results of the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C and the second stage sensors 61A, 61B, 61C. More specifically, it determines the presence or absence of a shelf unit 53 in which no error is detected even when a full rack Rf is carried in (that is, even when a full rack Rf is carried into the shelf unit 53, the full rack Rf does not protrude from the shelf unit 53). In the present embodiment, when a plurality of empty states are detected in the shelf unit 53, the lift 41 rises or falls so that the dish racks R are carried into the shelf units 53 in order (preferably) from the upper shelf units 53. Note that an error when the full rack Rf protrudes from the shelf unit 53 when the full rack Rf is carried into the shelf unit 53 is detected by the drive of the belt drive unit 43C of the lift 41 exceeding a certain time. Further, the protrusion from the front surface of the shelf unit 53 can be detected by providing a hand sensor (not shown) such as a reflective photoelectric sensor that detects the presence of an object in a portion that opens on the front side of each stage. When the main controller 12 detects these errors, it immediately stops the operation of the entire cleaning system 1.

[0064] The lift 41 stops rising or falling when it rises or falls until it reaches the same height as the empty shelf unit 53. Next, the rotation of the conveyor belts 43A, 43A is started, and the loading of the dish rack R into the empty shelf unit 53 is started, and the dish rack R is sent out to the shelf unit 53. Thereby, the dish rack R containing the washed dishes carried out from the dish washer 4 can be stored in the storage shelf 6.

[0065] The operation and effect of the cleaning system 1 of the above embodiment will be described. In the cleaning system 1 of the above embodiment, even when dish racks R having different sizes are mixed and stored in the storage shelf 6, by simply arranging the two sensors of the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C and the second stage sensors 61A, 61B, 61C, even when full racks Rf and half racks Rh having different sizes are mixed and stored in the storage shelf 6, it is possible to detect that the shelf unit 53 of the storage shelf 6 exceeds the full load state if the next larger-sized full rack Rf is stored.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 9(A), in the conventional cleaning system, instead of the second stage sensors 61A, 61B, 61C of the above embodiment, third stage sensors 63A, 63B, 63C are arranged to emit detection light forward from the rear end of the left side end of the storage shelf 6. In such a cleaning system, when the dish rack R is detected by both of the two sensors, i.e., the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C and the third stage sensors 63A, 63B, 63C, the shelf part 53 is determined to be in a full load state.

[0067] Here, in the cleaning system in which such third stage sensors 63A, 63B, 63C are arranged, the presence or absence of detection by the two sensors, i.e., the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C and the third stage sensors 63A, 63B, 63C, for each loading pattern of the dish rack R will be described with reference to FIG. 11. The loading patterns of the dish rack R are: (1) when loaded in the order of full rack Rf, full rack Rf; (2) when loaded in the order of full rack Rf, half rack Rh; (3) when loaded in the order of half rack Rh, full rack Rf; (4) when loaded in the order of half rack Rh, half rack Rh, full rack Rf; (5) when loaded in the order of half rack Rh, half rack Rh, half rack Rh. The downward arrow in FIG. 11 indicates the emission direction of the detection light of the third stage sensors 63A, 63B, 63C, and the arrow in the upper left diagonal direction indicates the emission direction of the detection light of the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 11, in the conventional cleaning system, in the case of the loading patterns of (1) and (4), when the dish rack R is detected by both of the two sensors, i.e., the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C and the third stage sensors 63A, 63B, 63C, if the dish rack R is then loaded, there is a risk that the shelf portion 53 will exceed the full load state, and thus the loading of the dish rack R from the lift device 5 can be prohibited. However, in the case of the pattern indicated by hatching among the loading patterns of (2), (3) and (5), even though the dish rack R is not detected by the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C, if the full rack Rf is then loaded, the shelf portion 53 will exceed the full load state. That is, in the conventional cleaning system, when the full rack Rf and the half rack Rh are mixed and stored in the shelf portion 53 or when only the half rack Rh is loaded into the shelf portion 53, it cannot accurately detect that the full load state will be exceeded if the full rack Rf is then loaded. When an error is detected, the operation of the cleaning system is stopped, and the operator has to remove the full rack Rf. This operation not only burdens the operator but also reduces the operation efficiency of the cleaning system.

[0069] Next, regarding the presence or absence of detection by the two sensors, namely the first-stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C and the second-stage sensors 61A, 61B, 61C for each loading pattern of the dish rack R in the cleaning system 1 of the present embodiment, it will be described with reference to FIG. 12. The loading patterns (1) to (5) are the same as the loading patterns (1) to (5) in FIG. 11. In the cleaning system 1 of the present embodiment, different from the conventional cleaning system, in all of the loading patterns (1) to (5), when the dish rack R is not detected by the first-stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C and the dish rack R is detected by the third-stage sensors 63A, 63B, 63C, next, even if the full rack Rf is loaded, the full rack Rf will not protrude from the shelf part 53 (exceed the full load state). Thus, in the cleaning system 1 of the present embodiment, in all of the loading patterns (1) to (5), it is only necessary to prohibit the lift device 5 from loading the dish rack R into the storage shelf 6 when both the first-stage sensor 45C and the second-stage sensor 61C detect the dish rack R. Thereby, even when the full rack Rf and the half rack Rh are mixed and stored in the shelf part 53 or when only the half rack Rh is continuously loaded into the shelf part 53, it is possible to prevent an error that the full rack Rf protrudes from the shelf part 53 (exceeds the full load state).

[0070] As described above, one embodiment has been described, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0071] (Modification 1) In addition to the configuration of the lift device 5 in the cleaning system 1 of the above embodiment, third-stage sensors 63A, 63B, 63C that emit detection light from the rear to the front so as to be able to detect the dish rack R (including the full rack Rf and the half rack Rh) arranged at the downstream end of the storage shelf 6 as shown in FIG. 13 may be arranged. With such a configuration, if the three sensors, namely the first-stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C, the second-stage sensors 61A, 61B, 61C, and the third-stage sensors 63A, 63B, 63C, detect, it is possible to determine that the shelf part 53 is in a full load state.

[0072] (Modification Example 2) In addition to the configuration of the cleaning system 1 of the above Modification Example 1, as shown in FIG. 14, it is arranged between the lift inlet sensor (third sensor) 44A and the lift outlet sensor 44B in the carry-out direction D1 of the dish rack R, and is arranged to detect the full rack Rf when the full rack Rf is detected by the lift outlet sensor 44B, and is arranged not to detect the half rack Rh when the half rack Rh is detected by the lift outlet sensor 44B. A full rack detection sensor (fifth sensor) 44D may be provided.

[0073] In this configuration, it is possible to determine whether the dish rack R to be next carried into the storage shelf 6 is a full rack Rf or a half rack Rh. Thus, when it is possible to determine whether the dish rack R to be next carried into the storage shelf 6 is a full rack Rf or a half rack Rh, there are the following merits.

[0074] FIG. 15 shows the carry-in patterns (1) to (5) of the dish rack in Modification Example 1. The rightward arrow indicates the emission direction of the detection light of the second stage sensors 61A, 61B, 61C, the downward arrow indicates the emission direction of the detection light of the third stage sensors 63A, 63B, 63C, and the left obliquely upward arrow indicates the emission direction of the detection light of the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C. In the above Modification Example 1, in all of the carry-in patterns (1) to (5), if the three sensors of the first stage sensors 45A, 45B, 45C, the second stage sensors 61A, 61B, 61C, and the third stage sensors 63A, 63B, 63C detect, it is assumed that the shelf part 53 is in a full-load state, and the lift device 5 is prohibited from carrying the dish rack R into the storage shelf 6.

[0075] The pattern of the hatched portion shown in Fig. 15 is the case where there is space to carry in one half rack Rh before the shelf portion 53 reaches the full load state. In the configuration of the cleaning system 1 of Modification 2, since it is possible to determine whether the dish rack R to be next carried into the storage shelf 6 is a full rack Rf or a half rack Rh, in the pattern of the hatched portion shown in Fig. 15, control can be performed to carry in only the half rack Rh. That is, it becomes possible to store the dish rack R in the storage shelf 6 without waste.

[0076] (Modification 3) In addition to the cleaning system 1 of the above Modification 1, it may be configured to include a main controller 12 that functions as a rack determination unit for determining whether it is a full rack Rf or a half rack Rh based on the time from when the lift entrance sensor 44A starts detecting the dish rack R until it finishes detecting. Even in such a cleaning system 1 according to Modification 3, similar to the cleaning system 1 according to Modification 2, since it is possible to determine whether the dish rack R to be next carried into the storage shelf 6 is a full rack Rf or a half rack Rh, in the pattern of the hatched portion shown in Fig. 15, control can be performed to carry in only the half rack Rh. That is, it becomes possible to store the dish rack R in the storage shelf 6 without waste.

[0077] Note that, as shown in FIG. 14, the full rack detection sensor 44D of the cleaning system 1 of Modification 2 is arranged to emit detection light through an opening provided in the lower support portion 41B formed as a horizontal plane. For this reason, water dripping from the dish rack R tends to accumulate on the full rack detection sensor 44D, and the possibility of false detection due to the water increases. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the lift entrance sensor 44A is arranged such that the detection light emitted from the lift entrance sensor 44A is emitted through the opening of the downwardly inclined carry-in side inclined portion (cover member) 41Ca. For this reason, there is no possibility of water dripping from the dish rack R accumulating on the lift entrance sensor 44A, and the possibility of false detection due to water as described above is low. In the cleaning system 1 of Modification 3, without using such a full rack detection sensor 44D, it is possible to determine whether the dish rack R to be next carried into the storage shelf 6 is a full rack Rf or a half rack Rh, so that the determination accuracy of the dish rack R to be next carried into the storage shelf 6 can be improved.

[0078] (Modification 4) In the above embodiment, since it was not possible to distinguish whether the dish rack R carried into the storage shelf 6 was a full rack Rf or a half rack Rh, control such as carrying only full racks Rf into one shelf portion 53 or carrying only half racks Rh into one shelf portion 53 was not possible. Therefore, by incorporating the configuration of Modification 2 or Modification 3 into the above embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, control may be executed to carry only half racks Rh into the uppermost shelf portion 53 and carry only full racks Rf into the second and lowermost shelf portions 53. Further, by performing such control, even when a half rack Rh is stored in the uppermost stage, if it is a relatively light half rack Rh, it becomes easy to take out the entire half rack Rh. Also, since the relatively heavy full rack Rf is stored in the second and lowermost shelf portions 53, it becomes easy to take out only the objects to be cleaned such as tableware while leaving the full rack Rf placed on the shelf portion 53.

[0079] (Modification 5) In the cleaning system 1 of the above-described Modification Examples 1 to 5, when the patterns indicated by hatching in the loading patterns (1) to (5) of the dish rack R shown in FIG. 16, for example, even if the dish rack R with hatching disposed in the middle is extracted, this cannot be detected. That is, in the cleaning system 1 of the above-described Modification Examples 1 to 5, when there is the above-described extraction, it is impossible to accurately detect that the shelf portion 53 is in a fully loaded state. Therefore, in the cleaning system 1 according to Modification Example 5, as shown in FIG. 17, when assuming a shelf portion 53 that is fully loaded with only the half racks Rh, three third-stage sensors 63A, 63B, and 63C are arranged so that each of the three half racks Rh can be detected from the downstream side.

[0080] In this configuration, even when it is the pattern indicated by hatching among the loading patterns of the dish rack R shown in FIG. 16, as shown in FIG. 18, when the dish rack R indicated by hatching is extracted from the middle, any one of the three third-stage sensors 63A, 63B, and 63C among the three third-stage sensors 63A, 63B, and 63C stops detecting the dish rack R. Thereby, when the dish rack R is extracted from the fully loaded shelf portion 53, that is, it is possible to accurately detect that it is not in a fully loaded state.

[0081] (Modification Example 6) In the above-described Modification 5, the problems and countermeasures in the case of so-called center extraction were explained. Here, the cleaning system 1 that makes so-called center extraction impossible will be explained. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 19(A), the cleaning system 1 according to Modification 6 arranges a plate-like member 55A that makes it impossible to take out the half rack Rh from the front side on at least the front side surface of the shelf portion 53 in the uppermost upper stage. The plate-like member 55A is arranged on the side surfaces of the second, third, and fourth three half racks Rh from the downstream side when assuming a shelf portion 53 that is fully loaded only with the half rack Rh. In other words, the plate-like member 55A is arranged so that only the half rack Rh on the most downstream side can be taken out from the front side surface when assuming a shelf portion 53 that is fully loaded only with the half rack Rh. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to take countermeasures against so-called center extraction, and it is not necessary to install the third-stage sensors 63A, 63B, and 63C added in Modification 5. As a result, while reducing costs, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of detection errors caused by center extraction.

[0082] (Modification 7) In the configuration of the above-described Modification 6, when assuming a shelf portion 53 that is fully loaded only with the half rack Rh, instead of the support rollers 56 on which the second, third, and fourth three half racks Rh from the downstream side are placed, as shown in FIG. 19(B), resin members 56A, 56A having excellent frictional properties may be arranged as rails. In the configuration according to this Modification 6, it is possible to suppress the tableware rack R carried from the lift device 5 to the storage shelf 6 from being caught by the support rollers 56.

[0083] (Other Modifications) In the cleaning system 1 of the above-described embodiment, an example in which the bottom of the shelf portion 53 in the storage shelf 6 is formed from the support rollers 56 has been described, but it may be formed by a planar member having excellent frictional properties.

[0084] In the cleaning system 1 of the above-described embodiment, an example in which the storage shelf 6 having a configuration in which the leg portion 50H is provided on the main body 50 has been described. However, instead of the leg portion 50H, for example, four rollers (casters) that enable the storage shelf 6 to be movable when the storage shelf 6 is removed from the lift device 5, and an installation mechanism that installs (fixes) the storage shelf 6 when the storage shelf 6 is attached to the lift device 5 may be provided as the storage shelf 6 having a configuration in which it is provided.

Explanation of Signs

[0085] 1…Cleaning system, 3…Carry table, 4…Dishwasher, 5…Lift device, 6…Storage shelf, 41…Lift, 44A…Lift entrance sensor (third sensor), 44B…Lift exit sensor (fourth sensor), 44C…Storage shelf rack detection sensor, 44D…Full rack detection sensor (fifth sensor), 45A, 45B, 45C…First stage sensors (first sensor), 55A…Plate member, 56…Support roller, 56A, 56A…Resin member, 61A, 61B, 61C…Second stage sensors (second sensor), 63A, 63B, 63C…Third stage sensors, R…Dish rack, Rf…Full rack, Rh…Half rack.

Claims

1. A cleaning system comprising: a storage shelf in which shelf portions on which racks containing articles to be cleaned washed by a cleaning machine are placed are arranged in the vertical direction; and a lift device configured to be able to move the rack carried out from the cleaning machine up and down in the vertical direction and to be able to carry it out toward the storage shelf, wherein each of the shelf portions is configured to be in a full-load state by placing a plurality of the racks, wherein the plurality of the racks include at least one of a first rack having a first size in the carry-out direction of the lift device and a second rack having a second size smaller than the first size in the carry-out direction, wherein in the shelf portion, a first sensor for detecting the presence of the rack between an upstream end of the shelf portion and a position separated from the upstream end of the shelf portion by the second size in the carry-out direction is provided, and a second sensor for detecting the presence of the rack between a position separated from the upstream end of the shelf portion by the first size in the carry-out direction and a position separated from the upstream end of the shelf portion by the second size in the carry-out direction is provided in the shelf portion.

2. The second rack is a half rack in which the second size is half of the first size, the first sensor is arranged on the lift device, and the second sensor is arranged on the storage shelf so as to emit detection light from a downstream end to an upstream end in the shelf portion. The cleaning system according to claim 1.

3. The lift device includes a third sensor for detecting the carry-in of the rack from the cleaning machine, a conveyor for conveying the rack downstream based on the detection by the third sensor, a fourth sensor for detecting that the rack has been conveyed to the carry-out position to the storage shelf by the conveyor, and a fifth sensor arranged between the third sensor and the fourth sensor in the carry-out direction and arranged to detect the first rack when the first rack is detected by the fourth sensor and not to detect the second rack when the second rack is detected by the fourth sensor. The cleaning system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The lift device includes a third sensor for detecting the carry-in of the rack from the cleaning machine, a conveyor for conveying the rack downstream based on the detection by the third sensor, A fourth sensor that detects that the rack has been conveyed by the conveyor to the unloading position to the storage shelf; A rack determination unit that determines whether it is the first rack or the second rack based on the time from when the third sensor starts detecting the rack to when it finishes detecting; and The cleaning system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the third sensor is arranged such that detection light emitted from the third sensor is emitted through an opening of a downwardly inclined cover member.

Images