Cleaning apparatus and method for cleaning items to be cleaned

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus (110) for cleaning an article (124) to be cleaned, and more particularly to a cleaning apparatus (110) comprising at least one basket carrier (150), wherein the basket carrier (150) is designed to be reversibly introduced into a cleaning chamber (128), and the basket carrier (150) has at least one drive unit (146). The cleaning apparatus (110) has at least one drive unit (142) in which at least a portion is located in the cleaning chamber (128), and the basket carrier (150) is designed to be mechanically coupled to the drive unit (142) when the basket carrier (150) is introduced into the cleaning chamber (128). The cleaning apparatus (110) is designed such that when the cover device (134) is opened, a cleaning basket (126) containing the article to be cleaned (124) is drawn into the cleaning chamber (128), and a connected drive unit (146) is driven by the drive unit to receive the drawn-in cleaning basket (126) in a stationary state in order to apply a cleaning fluid to the article to be cleaned (124) in the cleaning basket (126) within the cleaning chamber (128). The present invention further relates to a method for cleaning an article to be cleaned (208).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device and method for cleaning an article to be cleaned. Devices and methods of the above-described type can be used, for example, in the field of dishwashing technology, particularly in the field of commercial dishwashing technology. Thus, the present invention can be particularly used in commercial kitchens that need to clean articles to be cleaned, such as trays, dishes, tableware, and cutlery, which are used for the preparation, storage, and provision of large amounts of food and beverages. In particular, the present invention can be used in a pass-through type rinsing machine, particularly in a pass-through dishwashing machine, and especially in a pass-through rinsing machine designed as a hood type machine that can move a hood vertically to open and close a cleaning chamber. However, other types of cleaning devices and / or articles to be cleaned can also be modified according to the present invention and / or the present invention can be used to clean other types of articles.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, a cleaning basket containing the items to be cleaned is manually loaded into a pass-through rinsing machine by the operator. For this purpose, the basket, filled with the items to be cleaned, is loaded onto a feed table by the operator along with the items that may be dirty and / or contaminated. When the rinsing machine is ready to operate, the cleaning basket is pushed into the cleaning chamber. This may require the hood of the pass-through rinsing machine to be open, especially if the machine is designed as a hood-type rinsing machine. After the cleaning basket is pushed in, the hood is usually closed by the operator and the washing program is started. When the washing program is complete, the operator generally opens the hood and slides the basket containing the cleaned items out of the cleaning chamber onto the discharge table. In principle, it is possible to open and / or close the hood partially and / or fully automatically.

[0003] Generally, separating a soiled side from a clean side requires operators to perform additional tasks or actions when switching sides, such as removing protective gloves used on the soiled side, washing hands, and / or disinfecting. In some situations, this can result in a high workload for cleaning staff and lead to undesirable and / or inefficient workflows.

[0004] U.S. Patent No. 2,947,311 relates to a dishwasher comprising: a closed housing divided into two compartments of substantially equal dimensions, each compartment having a tank at its bottom and a spray head at its top for spraying liquid onto dishes to be cleaned; a pump for each compartment connected to deliver liquid from the corresponding tank to the corresponding spray head; a source for rinsing off liquid; a rinsing spray head for mounting in one of the compartments, the rinsing spray head being suitable for connection to the source; a device for mounting the rinsing spray head in one of the compartments to enable the compartment on which the rinsing spray head is mounted to be used as a washing compartment; a control device for operating the pump in the compartment on which the rinsing spray heads are mounted at a predetermined interval, and subsequently connecting the rinsing spray heads to a source of cleaning liquid at a second predetermined interval; an additional control device for ensuring the operation of the pump in the other compartment during a combined time interval; a device for setting up operating cycles for both control devices; and a locking device for maintaining the operation of both control devices during the cycle.

[0005] German Patent Application Publication No. 102017121978 relates to a rinsing machine in the form of a commercial appliance or dishwasher designed as a program-controlled machine, the rinsing machine being designed as a hood-type or pass-through rinsing machine and having a processing chamber having at least one washing system designed as a recirculation system. In order to reduce the workload of washing staff while at the same time optimizing the practically achievable uptime of the machine, the invention provides a loading / unloading device for the rinsing machine to be assigned for preferably selectively and automatically loading articles to be washed into the processing chamber and / or preferably selectively and automatically unloading articles to be washed from the processing chamber.

[0006] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-103921 relates to a washing system capable of reliably transporting a dish basket to a predetermined position on a lifting device of a rinsing machine. The lifting device comprises a lifting device for transporting the dish basket vertically, a conveyor belt having protrusions that hook onto portions of the dish basket to pull the dish basket to the lifting device, a first sensor for detecting the entry of the dish basket from the dishwasher into the lifting device, and a second sensor for detecting when the dish basket is transported to a predetermined downstream position of the detection position of the first sensor in the pulling direction of the conveyor belt.

[0007] U.S. Patent No. 5,329,952 discloses a method for washing tableware, wherein a rack containing the tableware to be washed is introduced into a dishwasher located downstream by a rack insertion unit. The method includes the following steps: transporting the rack to a lifting unit located adjacent to the dishwasher, with or without a rack transport mechanism, after washing is completed in the dishwasher; pulling the rack to a predetermined position by rack loading devices on the lifter, both of which are located in the lifting unit; raising and lowering the lift to position it adjacent to a required pair of brackets on a wagon located on the discharge side of the lifting unit, thereby transporting the rack loaded on the lift to the pair of brackets; and raising the lift after the completion of removing the rack from the rack removal position, so that the taper formed on the lift faces the wagon in order to fully press the rack into a predetermined position on the wagon.

[0008] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-177861 discloses a labor-saving washing system. The washing system comprises a pre-washer for washing dishes, a transport table for carrying dish racks that hold dishes in the pre-washer, a main washing machine for washing the dishes washed by the pre-washer, and a cross-device transport device for carrying dish racks that hold the dishes transported from the pre-washer to the main washing machine.

[0009] German Patent Application Publication No. 102018218193 discloses a cleaning system for cleaning articles to be cleaned. The cleaning system comprises: a) at least one cleaning device comprising at least one cleaning chamber and at least one application device for applying at least one cleaning liquid to the articles to be cleaned in the cleaning chamber; and b) at least one transport system comprising a plurality of transport segments for receiving articles to be cleaned, wherein the transport segments are guided so that they can be transported through the cleaning chamber in a transport direction within a circuit, and the transport system further comprises at least one transport device for driving the transport segments.

[0010] German Patent No. 19829650 relates to a continuous dishwashing apparatus for a dish basket, the continuous dishwashing apparatus comprising a cleaning zone having an outlet nozzle and a cleaning tank for cleaning liquid, a rinsing zone having an outlet nozzle and a rinsing tank for rinsing liquid, and a drying zone, wherein a conveying device driven by a conveying drive unit is provided for the intermittent conveyance of the dish basket, conveying the dish basket forward in stages, and provided with at least one sensor device for determining the current state of movement of the dish basket, and provided with a control device that discharges the rinsing liquid from the outlet nozzle in response to an output signal from the sensor device when the dish bracket is conveyed forward, and stops the discharge of the rinsing aid when the dish bracket is stopped.

[0011] German Patent Application Publication No. 102005010616 relates to a dishwasher having a storage container for articles to be cleaned, wherein a drive unit is assigned to the storage container, which drives a switching element to automatically move the storage container into or out of the processing chamber of the washing container.

[0012] Despite the advantages of the advancements in the prior art described above, there is still a considerable need for technological improvements. In particular, there is a need for improvements in occupational safety, ergonomics, operating economy, and the throughput of items being cleaned. For example, known automated guided vehicles that are exposed in a way that allows easy human contact still pose a risk to workers and generally have problems with high acquisition and operating costs. In contrast, structurally closed, programmable machines that offer higher occupational safety and are cost-effective often do not adequately meet the required throughput for items being cleaned. Furthermore, there is room for overall improvement in ensuring quick access to essential and easily soiled components of the cleaning equipment for repair and / or cleaning purposes, in order to minimize downtime of the cleaning equipment, especially time spent on maintenance and cleaning. [Overview of the project]

[0013] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a cleaning apparatus and a method for cleaning an article to be cleaned that at least largely avoids the disadvantages of the known apparatus and methods of the types described above.

[0014] In particular, safe cleaning equipment should be provided in a manner that ensures occupational safety for operators.

[0015] In particular, efficient and / or cost-effective cleaning equipment must be provided that minimizes downtime for the cleaning equipment, especially maintenance and cleaning time, and that allows for quick access to essential and easily soiled elements of the cleaning equipment, particularly for repair and / or cleaning purposes.

[0016] This objective is achieved by a cleaning apparatus having the features of an independent claim and a method for cleaning an article to be cleaned. Advantageous developments that can be implemented individually or in any combination are described in the dependent claims.

[0017] In the following, the terms “have,” “indicate,” “equip,” or “include,” or any grammatical variations thereof, are used in a non-exclusive manner. Thus, these terms can refer to situations in which there are no further features other than those introduced by these terms, or situations in which one or more further features exist. For example, the expressions “A has B,” “A indicates B,” “A equips B,” or “A includes B” can refer to both situations in which A has no other elements other than B (i.e., A consists entirely of B) and situations in which A has one or more other elements in addition to B, such as elements C, C and D, or even further elements.

[0018] Furthermore, it should be noted that the terms “at least one” and “one or more,” as well as their grammatical variations, are generally used only once when used in relation to one or more elements or features, and when intended to express that an element or feature may be presented once or more times, for example, when a feature or element is first introduced. When a feature or element is mentioned again later, the corresponding terms “at least” or “one or more” are generally no longer used, but this does not limit the possibility that the feature or element may be presented once or more times.

[0019] Furthermore, terms such as “preferably,” “particularly,” “for example,” or similar terms are used in relation to selective features but do not limit alternative embodiments. Therefore, the features introduced by these terms are optional features and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the claims, particularly the independent claims. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the present invention can also be carried out using other embodiments. Similarly, features introduced by “in one embodiment of the present invention” or “in one embodiment of the present invention” are understood to be selective features but do not thereby limit the scope of protection of alternative embodiments or the independent claims. Furthermore, the expressions of these introductions are intended to leave all possibilities of combining the features introduced therein with other features, whether selective or non-selective, unaddressed.

[0020] In a first aspect of the present invention, a cleaning apparatus for cleaning an article to be cleaned is proposed.

[0021] As used herein, the term “cleaning” is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to any specific or adapted meaning. It can, without limitation, specifically refer to the process of removing macroscopic and even microscopic contaminants from an article being cleaned, and / or a process in which such contaminants are removed at least partially. Furthermore, a sterilizing effect may optionally be imparted.

[0022] As used herein, the term “articles to be cleaned” is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to any specific or adapted meaning. The term can, without limitation, specifically refer to any object that can be cleaned in a cleaning device. One object may be cleaned, or multiple objects may be cleaned simultaneously or sequentially. In particular, articles to be cleaned may be objects used directly or indirectly for the preparation and / or storage and / or serving of food and / or beverages, such as dishes, cutlery, trays, bowls, glasses, cups, pots, pans, or similar objects. Thus, a cleaning device may also be designed as a dishwasher, for example, a dishwasher for commercial use in a commercial kitchen or a shared catering kitchen. Alternatively or additionally, articles to be cleaned may be personal protective equipment such as respirators or respiratory apparatus. Alternatively or additionally, articles to be cleaned may also be articles of industrial products that have been cleaned during or at the end of the manufacturing process, for example, degreased products. Other designs for cleaning devices and / or the items to be cleaned are also possible in principle.

[0023] As used herein, the term “cleaning apparatus” is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to any specific or adapted meaning. The term may, in particular, refer to an apparatus configured to clean an article, i.e., an apparatus designed to remove, or at least partially remove, attached macroscopic and even microscopic contaminants. Furthermore, a disinfecting effect may optionally be imparted.

[0024] As will be described in more detail below, the cleaning apparatus can be designed in particular as a rinsing machine, for example, as a rinsing machine for dishwashers and / or personal protective equipment. The rinsing machine can be designed in particular as a single-chamber rinsing machine, in particular as a commercial single-chamber rinsing machine having a multi-circuit rinsing system, for example, as a commercial single-chamber rinsing machine having at least one washing tank and at least one rinsing tank formed separately from the washing tank. As will be described in more detail below, the cleaning apparatus can be designed in whole or in part as a pass-through rinsing machine, in particular as a hood-type rinsing machine. However, in principle, the present invention can also be used in a rinsing machine having a water-exchange type single-circuit rinsing system.

[0025] The cleaning apparatus comprises at least one cleaning chamber, preferably just one cleaning chamber, in which the article to be cleaned can be held in a stationary position by at least one cleaning basket.

[0026] The term “cleaning chamber” as used herein is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to a specific or adapted meaning. The term can particularly refer to a fully or partially enclosed chamber in which a cleaning process can be carried out completely or partially, without limitation. In particular, a cleaning chamber can have at least one housing that completely or partially encloses the cleaning chamber. Generally, a single cleaning chamber may be provided, or a plurality of cleaning chambers may be provided, for example, sequentially. The present invention is preferably used in a cleaning apparatus having just one cleaning chamber. For example, it can be a cleaning chamber located on a base frame that houses fluid elements such as one or more tanks and / or mechanical control units and / or electronic or electromechanical components such as one or more pumps. The floor area of ​​the cleaning chamber can be formed by tanks, for example. The cleaning chamber may be surrounded laterally and selectively at the top by a housing, and can be mounted on a base frame, for example. The housing may have side plates, for example, as described in more detail below. In particular, the enclosure can be designed in the form of a hood that can be opened and / or closed by, for example, vertical movement, so as to close the cleaning chamber together with the tank when the hood is closed. However, other designs are also possible in principle.

[0027] As used herein, the term "housing" is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to a specific or adapted meaning. Without limitation, this term can particularly refer to an element or combination of elements designed to completely or partially surround at least one space and / or at least one other element and to protect the space and / or the other element from the external space, for example, mechanically especially from mechanical external influences, and / or chemically especially from chemical external influences. In particular, the housing can be made entirely or partially from at least one rigid material, for example, at least one metallic material, for example, one or more metal sheets, and / or at least one plastic material. In particular, the housing can be made entirely or partially from sheet metal, for example, steel sheet. The cleaning chamber can have at least one internal space that can be completely or partially surrounded by the housing. In particular, the housing can seal the internal space against the external space in a liquid-tight and / or vapor-tight manner.

[0028] As described above, the article to be cleaned can be received in a stationary state in the cleaning chamber by at least one cleaning basket. In particular, the cleaning chamber can be designed such that exactly one cleaning basket can be held in the cleaning chamber. For example, the cleaning chamber can have a square floor plane that allows a square cleaning basket to be held.

[0029] As used herein, the term “cleaning basket” is also called “rinsing basket” and is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to a specific or adapted meaning. The term can particularly refer to a portable receptacle in which articles to be cleaned can be placed and introduced into a cleaning device, such as a dishwasher, and from which the articles can subsequently be removed from the cleaning device in a cleaned state. Thus, a cleaning basket can be reversibly placed in a cleaning chamber. Thus, a cleaning chamber can, for example, have at least one receptacle for a cleaning basket. Furthermore, a cleaning basket can also be used for the temporary storage of articles to be cleaned. In particular, a cleaning basket can have multiple openings to allow liquid to drip downwards. In particular, a cleaning basket can have a substantially rectangular shape with a basket base having a support surface for positioning the cleaning basket on a flat work surface, for example, a square or generally rectangular floor plane. Optionally, one or more basket walls can extend upward from the basket base, having, for example, a rising edge and, more optionally, other elements such as a handle. Furthermore, the cleaning basket may have multiple holders for the items to be cleaned, such as finger sections and / or compartments. In particular, the cleaning basket may have a flat basket base, such as a metal table, on which the cleaning basket can slide. The cleaning basket may be made from, for example, at least one plastic material and / or at least one wire material and / or a combination of these materials.

[0030] The cleaning device can be specifically designed such that the cleaning basket can be introduced into the cleaning chamber from a flat support surface. For this purpose, the cleaning chamber can have, for example, at least one rail on which the cleaning basket can slide.

[0031] The term "capable of being received in a stationary state" as used herein is a broad term to which the ordinary and general meaning understood by those skilled in the art should be given. The term is not limited to any specific or adapted meaning. Without limitation, this term can specifically refer to the fact that the cleaning basket is fixedly held in the cleaning chamber during cleaning, for example, and is not conveyed through the cleaning chamber by a conveying device. For example, during the execution of a cleaning program, especially during the application of at least one cleaning fluid to the article to be cleaned, the cleaning basket can be held in a substantially fixed position in the cleaning chamber, for example, moving no more than 50 mm in each direction. This differentiates the proposed cleaning device, for example, from a conveying rinsing machine in which the article to be cleaned is moved through the cleaning chamber and conveyed past nozzles during cleaning. In the proposed cleaning device, the article to be cleaned can be accommodated in the cleaning chamber such that they remain substantially stationary relative to the application device of the cleaning device described in more detail below, for example, during the execution of at least one cleaning program in which at least one cleaning fluid is applied to the article to be cleaned, moving no more than 50 mm in each direction.

[0032] The cleaning apparatus further comprises at least one application device for applying at least one cleaning fluid to an article to be cleaned. The cleaning apparatus is designed as a program-controlled machine and is designed to apply at least one cleaning fluid to an article to be cleaned, which is received in a stationary state in a cleaning chamber, by the application device.

[0033] As used herein, the term “applied device” is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to a specific or adapted meaning. The term can, without limitation, specifically refer to any device by which a cleaning fluid, in particular at least one cleaning liquid, can be applied to an article to be cleaned within a cleaning chamber. An applied device may, in particular, comprise at least one nozzle system, for example, at least one nozzle arm, for example, at least one rotatably mounted nozzle arm, as described in more detail below. Furthermore, an applied device may comprise at least one pump and at least one piping system for supplying the cleaning fluid to the nozzle system. The nozzle system and piping system may be provided for applying the cleaning fluid from, for example, at least one tank, for example, at least one cleaning tank, as well as at least one pump, for example, at least one cleaning pump. Furthermore, the device may be provided with at least one nozzle system and at least one pipe system for supplying cleaning fluid from at least one arbitrary rinse tank (also referred to as a post-rinse tank), and at least one post-rinse pump, wherein the rinse tank is preferably configured separately from the washing tank, and the rinse fluid (also referred to as a post-rinse fluid) can be prepared separately within the rinse tank from the washing tank. Embodiments are described in more detail below. The above application device may, for example, comprise at least one nozzle system positioned above the article to be cleaned and at least one nozzle system positioned below the article to be cleaned. For example, at least one rotatably mounted nozzle arm may be provided above the article to be cleaned, and at least one rotatably mounted arm may be provided below the article to be cleaned. For example, the application device may separately comprise a nozzle system for the washing liquid and a nozzle system for the rinsing aid.For example, at least one rotatably mounted nozzle arm of the cleaning system for the cleaning liquid and at least one rotatably mounted nozzle arm of the rinsing system for the rinsing liquid may be provided above the article to be cleaned, and at least one rotatably mounted nozzle arm of the cleaning system and at least one rotatably mounted nozzle arm of the rinsing system may be provided below the article to be cleaned.

[0034] As used herein, the term “cleaning fluid” is also called “cleaning liquid” and is a broad term that should be given the usual and general meaning as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to any specific or customized meaning. The term can, without limitation, specifically refer to any fluid and especially liquid that can exert a cleaning effect when in contact with an article to be cleaned. In particular, a cleaning fluid can include aqueous liquids, such as water and / or water containing one or more additives, such as water containing one or more cleaning concentrates and / or rinsing aids and / or disinfectants. A cleaning apparatus can be designed to use a single cleaning fluid or to use a combination or sequence of multiple cleaning fluids. If multiple cleaning fluids are provided, different cleaning fluids can be applied to the article to be cleaned simultaneously or sequentially. For example, the article to be cleaned can remain stationary inside the cleaning chamber, and multiple cleaning fluids can be applied one after the other. For example, the cleaning fluid may include at least one cleaning liquid, which may have a temperature of, for example, 40°C to 70°C, and at least one rinsing liquid, which may have a temperature of, for example, at least 80°C or a temperature of, for example, 85°C to 95°C. Both cleaning fluids may be aqueous liquids containing, for example, one or more additives. For example, the cleaning liquid may contain one or more cleaning concentrate additives. The rinsing aid liquid may contain, for example, one or more rinsing aid concentrate additives. These cleaning fluids can be used sequentially, for example, the cleaning fluid may be used first in at least one cleaning step, for example, in a recirculation mode, and then the rinsing aid fluid may be used in, for example, at least one rinsing step, in which case, for example, a simple application may be performed without a recirculation mode. If various cleaning fluids are provided, they may be prepared in separate tanks, for example, and heated.For example, the cleaning fluid can be prepared in at least one cleaning tank having a corresponding heating device located at the bottom of the cleaning chamber. The rinsing agent can be prepared in another rinsing agent tank having a corresponding heating device, such as a flow heater or boiler.

[0035] As used herein, the term “program-controlled machine” is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to any specific or adapted meaning. The term may, without limitation, particularly refer to a cleaning apparatus in which an article to be cleaned is held stationary in a cleaning chamber and is subjected to at least one cleaning program having a defined or definable start and a defined or definable end, and to which a cleaning fluid is applied. For example, a cleaning program may have a predetermined or definable duration. Thus, the term “cleaning program” may refer to a process in which at least one cleaning fluid is applied to an article to be cleaned, and the cleaning program has a defined or definable start and a defined or definable end and / or a defined or definable duration. For example, a cleaning program may include a series of consecutive cleaning steps, each of which a cleaning fluid is applied, but the cleaning steps differ in at least one parameter. For example, a cleaning program may include a series of consecutive cleaning steps using different cleaning fluids. For example, a cleaning program may include at least one washing step in which at least one washing fluid or at least one washing liquid is applied to the article to be cleaned, and further may include at least one rinsing step following the washing step in which at least one rinsing fluid or at least one rinsing liquid is applied to the article to be cleaned. The washing step can be performed, for example, in a recirculation mode by at least one recirculation pump, while the rinsing step can be performed, for example, by simply applying a rinsing liquid without recirculation.The cleaning program may selectively include one or more further steps, for example, at least one drying step following a rinsing step. The automated program may have, for example, at least one control, such as a machine control unit, designed to control the execution of the cleaning program, as described in more detail below. The automated program may be designed to allow, for example, a user to select from a number of possible cleaning programs with different parameters and / or to set operating parameters for at least one cleaning program.

[0036] The cleaning apparatus further comprises at least one cover device for covering the cleaning chamber. The cover device has at least an open state and at least one closed state.

[0037] As used herein, the term “cover device” is a broad term to which the usual and general meaning as understood by those skilled in the art should be attributed. The term is not limited to a specific or adapted meaning. The term can, without limitation, specifically refer to a part of the housing of a cleaning device that completely or partially closes or surrounds a cleaning chamber. Thus, the cover device can be identical to the housing or form part of the housing. In particular, the cover device can be made entirely or partially from at least one rigid material, for example, at least one metallic material, for example, one or more metal sheets, and / or at least one plastic material. In particular, the cover device can be made entirely or partially from sheet metal, for example, steel sheet. The cleaning chamber can have at least one internal space that can be completely or partially surrounded by the housing, and the cover device can form part of the housing. In addition to the cover device, the housing can comprise further components that are not movable and remain unchanged in, for example, open and closed states, for example, one or more rigid components.

[0038] As described above, the cover device has at least one open state and at least one closed state. Therefore, the cover device can be designed as a whole or in part as a movable cover device. Thus, the cover device can comprise, for example, at least one flap or door. However, within the scope of the present invention, it is generally preferred to use a cover device designed as a whole or in part as a movable component, for example, a movable plate or a movable hood. For example, the cover device can comprise at least one vertically movable plate and / or at least one vertically movable hood.

[0039] As used herein, the terms “open state” and “closed state” are broad terms to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The terms are not limited to specific or adapted meanings. These terms may specifically refer to the posture, orientation, and position of the cover device when the cleaning chamber is open or closed. For example, in the open state, the cleaning chamber can be open so that the article to be cleaned and / or the cleaning basket can be introduced into or removed from the cleaning chamber. In the open state, the cleaning chamber can be closed so that insertion and removal are prevented. Furthermore, the closed state can be such that the cleaning chamber is covered by the cover device so that liquid and / or vapor cannot leak from the cleaning chamber into the environment. The cleaning apparatus may, for example, comprise at least one actuator, for example, at least one actuator having at least one electric motor, by which the cover device can move from the closed state to the open state and / or from the open state to the closed state. For example, the actuator may comprise at least one gear mechanism. For example, the actuator may include at least one lifting device, which can raise and / or lower the cover device and / or a portion of the cover device. At least one actuator can be controlled, for example, by at least one control system of the cleaning device, for example, by a mechanical control unit, as described in more detail below, to move the cover device to an open or closed state.

[0040] As described above, the cover device may comprise, for example, at least one slidably mounted sheet metal plate and / or a slidably mounted hood. Thus, the cover device may comprise, for example, at least one guide, along which the cover device and / or a portion thereof can be operated.

[0041] For example, the cover device may comprise at least one metal sheet and / or at least one other material, movably guided. For example, the cover device may comprise side plates movably mounted on two opposing sides, particularly movably in the vertical direction, and the side plates may move vertically simultaneously or independently of each other to open or close one or both sides. In a first position, which may correspond to a closed state, the movable sheet metal can tightly seal against the housing and / or at least the other part of the cleaning device so that the cleaning chamber is closed. In a second position, which may correspond to an open state, at least one gap may be generated between the movable panel and the other part of the housing, thereby opening and / or accessing the cleaning chamber. As an alternative to the sliding mounting of the cover device described above, pivoting or rotational movement, for example, pivoting or rotational movement about a horizontal axis of rotation at the upper rear corner of the cover device, is also possible. Combinations of the above-described options are also possible.

[0042] Alternatively, the cover device may also include a hood. The term “hood” as used herein is a broad term to be given the ordinary and general meaning as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to any specific or adapted meaning. The term may, without limitation, specifically refer to a portion of the housing that comprises at least two side walls and is operable in vertical motion. For example, the vertical motion may be designed to include a lower position which may correspond to a closed state in which the hood closes to the housing and / or other parts of the cleaning device. Furthermore, the vertical motion may be designed to include an upper position which may correspond to an open state in which a space or hole is created between the hood and the other parts of the housing, as a result of which the cleaning chamber is accessible. For example, the housing of the cleaning device may be designed to be a rectangular parallelepiped shape having two side walls, a rear wall, a front, a top, and optionally a base, in which case the hood may optionally form the rear wall and / or top, as well as the at least two side walls and the front. The hood may be mounted, for example, on the base and / or frame of the cleaning device. During vertical movement from the closed to the open position, the rear wall may optionally remain fixed, allowing the hood to move relative to the rear wall. Optionally, the top may remain fixed so that only the hood shell, partially enclosing the cleaning chamber by its two side walls and front, moves vertically. Various designs are possible.

[0043] The cleaning apparatus further comprises at least one basket carrier. The basket carrier is designed to be inserted at least partially reversibly into the cleaning chamber. The term “basket carrier” as used herein is a broad term to be given the usual and general meaning as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to any specific or adapted meaning. The term can particularly refer to a component that is preferably integrally formed and designed to accommodate at least one, preferably just one, cleaning basket. For example, the basket carrier can have at least one support surface, in particular a substantially flat support surface, and the cleaning basket can be positioned on the support surface such that the cleaning basket is located on the support surface when it is received in a stationary state in the cleaning chamber. Thus, the basket carrier can extend, for example, over at least one surface corresponding to at least the bottom area of ​​the cleaning basket. For example, the basket carrier can be designed so that the cleaning basket slides on at least one support surface. As described above, the cleaning apparatus can have, for example, at least one guide rail for the cleaning basket. The guide rail can be integrated whole or partially into the basket carrier, or it can be designed whole or partially so that the cleaning basket slides on a support surface when the cleaning basket is introduced into the guide rail. The basket carrier can comprise, for example, at least one frame, for example, rectangular and especially square frames, made whole or partially from at least one metal material, for example stainless steel, or alternatively or additionally from at least one plastic material. Other materials are also possible in principle. The frame can particularly comprise a flat molded element that serves to direct the cleaning fluid to the underside of the cleaning basket.For example, water deflector plates can be integrated into all four inner surfaces of the frame, directing the cleaning fluid sprayed by the nozzle system below the items to be cleaned towards the bottom of the cleaning basket. In addition to the frame, the basket carrier can have further elements, as described in more detail below.

[0044] The basket carrier is designed to be reversibly introduced into the cleaning chamber. The term “reversibly” as used herein is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to a specific or adapted meaning. The term can, without limitation, specifically refer to a reversible process. For example, the cleaning chamber may have at least one basket carrier receiver into which a basket carrier can be inserted, and a basket carrier can be removed again from the basket carrier receiver. For example, this may be a basket carrier receiver whose dimensions are adapted to the outer contour of the basket carrier, and which has, for example, at least one holder into which the basket carrier introduced is preferably arranged such that it is horizontally aligned, and as a result, for example, the support surfaces described above are horizontally aligned. Thus, for example, when the basket carrier is introduced into the basket carrier holder, the frame of the basket carrier can be aligned substantially horizontally, for example, with a deviation from horizontal alignment not exceeding 10°, preferably not exceeding 5°. The reversible insertion of the basket carrier into the cleaning chamber can be performed by at least one action selected from the group consisting of, for example, insertion, rotation, sliding, fitting, similar actions, or combinations thereof. For example, the basket carrier receiver may have at least one guide element, such as a guide rail, which engages with at least one element of the basket carrier, such as a projection, during insertion, guiding the movement of the basket carrier during insertion. Other designs are also possible. In this way, it is possible to prevent the basket carrier from becoming jammed when introduced into the cleaning chamber, and in particular, to prevent the connecting elements, which are described in more detail below, from becoming jammed.In particular, insertion can be done without tools, and as a result, it is not necessary to loosen screws or bolts, for example, to insert the basket carrier into the cleaning chamber or to remove it again from the cleaning chamber.

[0045] The basket carrier has at least one drive unit. The term “drive unit” as used herein is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to a specific or adapted meaning. The term can, without limitation, specifically refer to any device designed to move, in particular linearly, at least one element on which the drive unit acts. Thus, the drive unit can comprise a conveyor device in particular. For example, the drive unit can comprise at least one roller conveyor, in particular a driven or drivable roller conveyor. Alternatively or additionally, the drive unit can comprise, for example, at least one conveyor belt, in particular at least one driven or drivable conveyor belt. Other designs are also possible and are described in more detail below. The drive unit can be designed, for example, to transport cleaning baskets located on the basket carrier in a linear direction. For example, the drive unit can form a transport path for the basket carrier and / or cleaning basket, the transport path extending, for example, over at least 70%, particularly over at least 80%, or at least 90% of the width of the basket carrier in the linear direction of movement, i.e., the transport direction.

[0046] The cleaning device has, as a component, at least one drive unit, i.e., a drive unit designed separately from, or independently of, or separable from, the drive unit, with at least a portion of it located in the cleaning chamber. The term “drive unit” as used herein is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to a specific or adapted meaning. The term can, without limitation, specifically refer to an actuator designed to generate and / or transmit motion. In particular, the drive unit may comprise at least one electromechanical energy converter designed to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, in particular rotational energy. In particular, the drive unit may comprise at least one motor, in particular an electric motor. The drive unit can be designed so that only the torque required for operation is transmitted to its output shaft, i.e., so that the transmitted torque is limited to a set value. This means can be taken to prevent the risk of overload and / or accident in the drive unit. Various technical means are possible to achieve this objective. A preferred means can be an inherent safety design of the drive motor itself, in which the electric motor interrupts rotational motion without causing further damage in the event of an overload.

[0047] Furthermore, the drive unit may comprise at least one coupling element and / or at least one transmission element, for example, at least one drive gear and / or drive pinion. At least a portion of the drive unit is located in the cleaning chamber. This means that at least a portion of the drive unit is located in the cleaning chamber and can be coupled there to the basket carrier, in particular to the drive unit of the basket carrier. For example, at least one coupling element of the drive unit, also called a coupling element, can be located in the cleaning chamber so that it can be coupled there to the basket carrier, in particular to the drive unit of the basket carrier, in particular to the corresponding coupling element of the drive unit. Optionally, at least one further portion of the drive unit may be located outside the cleaning chamber. For example, at least one component of the drive unit that is susceptible to moisture and / or heat may be located outside the cleaning chamber and coupled to a portion of the drive unit located inside the cleaning chamber via at least one through-hole. For example, at least one motor and / or at least one gear mechanism of the drive unit may be located outside the cleaning chamber, for example, in the installation space of a rinsing machine where a pump or other electronic components can also be located. At least one through-hole allows the movement of the motor and / or gear mechanism to be transmitted to at least a portion of the drive unit located within the cleaning chamber, for example, at least one coupling element of the drive unit located therewith, for example, at least one gear and / or at least one gear mechanism of the drive unit. Alternatively, the drive unit may be located entirely inside the cleaning chamber. In this case, at least a portion of the drive unit may be protected so as to be largely unaffected by the conditions within the cleaning chamber. For example, the drive unit may be provided with at least one liquid-tight and / or moisture-proof housing.

[0048] In particular, the drive unit can be located entirely or partially within the cleaning chamber and can remain within the cleaning chamber when the basket carrier is removed from it. Therefore, the drive unit can remain entirely within a part of the cleaning apparatus not associated with the basket carrier, such as the cleaning chamber, installation space, housing, base frame, or other components that cannot be removed together with the basket carrier. The drive unit and drive mechanism can work in a complementary manner.

[0049] The basket carrier is designed to mechanically connect to the drive unit when the basket carrier is introduced into the cleaning chamber. Therefore, both the drive unit and the basket carrier may each have at least one connecting element, the basket carrier's connecting element connecting to the drive unit's connecting element when the basket carrier is inserted, thereby enabling the transmission of motion, such as rotational motion, from the drive unit to the basket carrier's drive unit. For example, each connecting element may comprise gears with coarse teeth that engage with each other when the basket carrier is inserted. This engagement is designed to be reversible, allowing the drive unit's connecting element to be separated from the drive unit's connecting element again without the use of tools when the basket carrier is removed from the cleaning chamber. This can be achieved, for example, by separating the gears.

[0050] The cleaning apparatus is designed such that a connected drive unit is driven by a drive mechanism to retract a cleaning basket containing the articles to be cleaned into the cleaning chamber when the cover device is opened, and that the retracted cleaning basket is held stationary in the cleaning chamber so that the cleaning fluid can act on the articles in the cleaning basket. In particular, the drive unit is connected to the drive mechanism so that the operation of the drive mechanism, especially rotational motion, can be transmitted to the drive mechanism in such a manner that the cleaning basket containing the articles to be cleaned is retracted into the cleaning chamber when the basket carrier is introduced into the cleaning chamber. The drive mechanism may, in particular, be located entirely within the cleaning chamber. Thus, the drive mechanism can be designed to act only on the portions of the cleaning basket that protrude into the cleaning chamber and to retract the cleaning basket completely into the cleaning chamber through these protruding portions. Once the cleaning basket is completely retracted into the cleaning chamber, the cleaning apparatus, for example, the mechanical control unit of the cleaning apparatus, can be designed to stop further movement of the cleaning basket, for example by stopping the drive mechanism. In this way, at least one cleaning fluid can be fully drawn into the cleaning chamber and applied to a cleaning basket, which is stationary within the cleaning chamber, while the items to be cleaned are held within it. One or more further steps may be provided between the drawing in and the application. For example, the cover device can be in an open state while the cleaning basket is drawn into the cleaning chamber, or in at least one of the open states if multiple open states are provided. After insertion, the drive unit can be stopped and the cover device can be closed. The cleaning fluid can then be applied.Therefore, the cleaning chamber may have, for example, at least one mechanical control unit programmed to automatically control the following steps in a specified order. A step in which the cleaning basket is pulled in by the drive mechanism while the cover device is in the open position, A step to stop the retraction when the cleaning basket is fully retracted into the cleaning chamber, A step of closing a cover device, wherein the cover device is moved to a closed position, and A step of applying at least one cleaning fluid to an article to be cleaned in a cleaning basket that is stationary and received within a cleaning chamber.

[0051] To detect whether the cleaning basket is fully retracted into the cleaning chamber, the cleaning apparatus may include, for example, at least one basket sensor, as described in more detail below. This can be, for example, positioned entirely or partially within the cleaning chamber. Various types of basket sensors are possible, and for example, at least one basket sensor can be selected from the group consisting of mechanical basket sensors, in particular switches, optical basket sensors, in particular light barriers, and electrical basket sensors.

[0052] To engage a cleaning basket, partially positioned outside the cleaning chamber, with a drive unit, the cleaning apparatus may have at least one conveyor device outside the cleaning chamber, for example, such that the cleaning basket overlaps with the drive unit. For example, this could be a driven roller conveyor or conveyor belt, as will be described in more detail below. The conveyor device, which may also be called a basket feed unit, can be configured actively or passively. For example, the basket may be fed by gravity, or alternatively or additionally, actively fed by a driven conveyor device, for example, via an inclined feed table. Generally, in this manner or otherwise, for example manually, the cleaning basket can be partially introduced into the cleaning chamber when the cover device is open, so that the drive unit can grasp it and pull it fully into the cleaning chamber.

[0053] As described above, the cleaning apparatus may particularly comprise at least one mechanical control unit. The term “mechanical control unit,” as used herein and often simply referred to as “control unit,” is a broad term to be given the usual and general meaning as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to any specific or adapted meaning. The term may particularly comprise a single-part or multi-part device of the cleaning apparatus designed to control and / or adjust the operation of the cleaning apparatus, all or in part. In particular, the control system may be designed to particularly control and / or adjust one or more operating parameters of the cleaning apparatus, for example, at least one temperature, at least one pressure, at least one heating capacity, at least one pump capacity, or at least one valve position, or even a combination of two or more operating parameters. The control system may particularly comprise at least one data processing device, for example, at least one processor.

[0054] The term “processor” as used herein is also a broad term that should be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to any specific or customized meaning. The term can, without limitation, refer in particular to any logic circuit and / or device designed to perform calculations or logical operations, which are designed to perform basic operations of a computer or system. In particular, a processor can be designed to perform basic instructions that control a computer or computer system. For example, a processor can have at least one component selected from the group consisting of an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a floating-point unit (FPU) such as a mathematical coprocessor or a numerical coprocessor, a plurality of registers, in particular registers designed to supply operands to the ALU and to store the results of calculations, and memory, in particular data memory such as L1 and / or L2 cache data memory. In particular, a processor can have a single core or a plurality of cores. In particular, a processor can be a central processing unit (CPU) or comprise such a central processing unit. Additionally or alternatively, the processor may be a microprocessor or comprise a microprocessor, and as a result, the components of the processor may, in particular, be contained within a single integrated circuit chip. However, alternatively or additionally, the processor may also comprise one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and / or one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or similar components. The processor may be configured, in particular, by software programming, to perform one or more evaluation operations.

[0055] Therefore, the control system can be implemented entirely or partially by software, or alternatively or additionally by hardware. Furthermore, the control system can include at least one volatile and / or non-volatile data memory. Furthermore, the control system can include at least one interface, for example, a human-machine interface for inputting commands and / or outputting information, and / or a wireless or wired interface for unidirectional or bidirectional exchange of data and / or commands between the cleaning device and at least one other device. In particular, the control system can include at least one computer and / or at least one processor. In particular, the control system can be a central or decentralized machine control unit for the cleaning device. The control system can be connected to at least one sensor of the cleaning device and can also process one or more sensor signals by software, for example.

[0056] The mechanical control unit can be specifically designed, in particular by programming, to control or execute at least one cleaning program of the cleaning device. Alternatively or additionally, the mechanical control unit can also be designed to control a cover device. For example, the mechanical control unit can be designed to send control commands to at least one actuator of the cover device, for example, at least one motor that drives the cover device, for example, at least one electric motor. In particular, this could be, for example, a motor that drives the opening operation of a hood and / or at least one sheet metal plate. Thus, the mechanical control unit can determine, for example, when the cover device is opened or closed.

[0057] The mechanical control unit may also be designed to control the drive unit. When the basket carrier is introduced into the cleaning chamber, the drive unit can then act on the drive unit connected to the basket carrier, and thus control the operation of the cleaning basket in interaction with the drive unit, for example, the insertion of the cleaning basket into the cleaning chamber and / or the removal of the cleaning basket from the cleaning chamber.

[0058] As already described above, a cleaning apparatus can generally be equipped with at least one basket sensor. In particular, it is possible to provide at least one basket sensor located in the cleaning chamber. The term “basket sensor” as used herein is a broad term to which the usual and general meaning as understood by those skilled in the art should be attributed. The term is not limited to a specific or adapted meaning. The term can particularly refer to any device designed to detect the presence of at least one basket at one or more locations monitored by the basket sensor and to generate, for example, at least one corresponding digital or analog signal. In addition to the mere presence or absence of at least one cleaning basket, the basket sensor can also detect one or more pieces of information, for example, at least one piece of information about the type or characteristics of the cleaning basket and / or at least one piece of information about the type or characteristics of the articles to be cleaned contained in the cleaning basket. As described above, the at least one basket sensor can be based in particular on a principle of sensor, for example, at least one principle of sensor selected from mechanical detection, optical detection, or electrical detection. For example, the basket sensor can be equipped with at least one mechanical and / or electromechanical switch or button that can be activated by the presence of the cleaning basket. Alternatively or additionally, the basket sensor can, for example, include at least one light barrier. Other types of basket sensors are also possible.

[0059] The mechanical control unit can be specifically designed to evaluate at least one signal from the basket sensor in the cleaning chamber. Thus, the mechanical control unit can also be designed to control the drive unit in response to the signal from the basket sensor. For example, the mechanical control unit can be designed to operate the drive unit until the basket sensor in the cleaning chamber generates a signal indicating that the cleaning basket has been fully retracted into the cleaning chamber. The mechanical control unit can be designed to stop the drive unit when such signal indicating that the cleaning basket has been fully retracted into the cleaning chamber is detected. Subsequently, as described above, for example, the mechanical control unit can control the actuator of the cover device so that the cover device moves from at least one open position to a closed position, for example, by closing a hood or sheet metal.

[0060] As described above, in order to receive the article to be cleaned in a stationary state within the cleaning chamber during the application of at least one cleaning fluid, it is necessary that the article to be cleaned remains substantially stationary within the cleaning chamber rather than being transported within the cleaning chamber during the application of the cleaning fluid. In this case, the article to be cleaned either remains completely stationary or, optionally, moves slightly around its central position, for example, 50 mm or less. In particular, the article to be cleaned can be moved periodically around its central position. This improves the cleaning results because it allows the cleaning fluid, for example, a spray jet coming from the nozzle of the application device, to reach other surfaces of the article to be cleaned. Therefore, the cleaning device may also be specifically designed to use a drive to periodically move the article to be cleaned, which is received in a stationary state within the cleaning chamber, back and forth around its central position, particularly with an amplitude of 50 mm or less, particularly with an amplitude of 30 mm or less, and especially preferably with an amplitude of 20 mm or less, while applying the cleaning fluid. The cleaning chamber can be designed to appropriate dimensions, for example, so that at least 25 mm of space remains in both directions around its center, and as a result, the basket carrier, along with the cleaning basket attached to it, can be moved periodically in these two directions.

[0061] As described above, the cover device can be designed in various ways. In particular, it can comprise at least two movable walls that can be mounted to be slidable, for example, vertically movable. Generally, the cover device can form at least three walls of the cleaning chamber, for example, two side walls and one end wall. Optionally, as described above, the cover device can further form at least one rear wall and / or at least one top of the cleaning chamber. Various designs are possible and have already been discussed above. For example, the cover device can comprise at least two slidably mounted side walls that can be moved simultaneously or with a time delay. Thus, on the side of the first side wall, a cleaning basket containing articles to be cleaned can be pushed into the cleaning chamber when the first side wall is open. Furthermore, on the side of the second side wall opposite the first side wall, a cleaning basket with cleaned articles can be pushed out of the cleaning chamber when the second side wall is open. The first and second side walls can be opened simultaneously or with a time delay. Selectively, one or more additional walls of the cleaning chamber may move together with the first and second side walls. As described above, for example, individual walls of the cleaning chamber may be moved or multiple walls may be moved simultaneously, in the form of a hood or a hood jacket having at least three surfaces. Generally, the cleaning chamber may be designed to move at least two of these walls simultaneously or with a time delay, particularly in a vertical motion, to move the cover device from an open to a closed state or vice versa.

[0062] In particular, as described above, the cleaning apparatus can be designed as a hood-type rinsing machine, and in particular as a hood-type dishwasher, either entirely or partially, or comprise such a hood-type rinsing machine. In particular, the cleaning apparatus can be designed to move together vertically at least three walls of the cleaning chamber formed by the cover device, in particular at least two side walls and a front wall. Thus, the cover device can be designed entirely or partially as a hood comprising at least two side walls and a front wall of the cleaning chamber. Optionally, the hood can comprise further walls of the cleaning chamber, e.g., a rear wall and / or a top wall.

[0063] As described above, the cleaning apparatus is specifically designed so that a drive unit drives a connected drive unit so that a cleaning basket containing the articles to be cleaned can be drawn into the cleaning chamber when the cover device is open. As described above, the cleaning apparatus may also be designed so that the drive unit can be used to drive a connected drive unit to remove the cleaning basket containing the articles to be cleaned from the cleaning chamber after cleaning is complete and the cover device is open. Thus, the drive unit can also push the cleaning basket completely or partially out of the cleaning chamber after cleaning. Examples are described in more detail below.

[0064] As described above, the drive unit can interact with the cleaning basket in various ways to draw the cleaning basket into the cleaning chamber and / or selectively push the cleaning basket out of the cleaning chamber. In particular, the drive unit may have at least one drive element designed to connect to the cleaning basket in a manner selected from the group consisting of friction engagement connections and shape-fitting connections. In particular, friction connection can be made by, for example, a conveyor roller on which the cleaning basket can be placed.

[0065] In general, drive systems can be designed in a variety of ways. Therefore, a drive system may comprise at least one conveyor element that can be driven by the drive system to transport a cleaning basket, i.e., an element designed to move and / or transport the cleaning basket. In particular, the conveyor element can be selected from the group consisting of roller conveyors, conveyor bands, conveyor belts, conveyor chains, and oscillating ratchet conveyors.

[0066] As described above, the retraction of the cleaning basket by the drive mechanism can be complete or partial, and / or can be tied to one or more conditions, in particular to one or more preconditions relating to the starting position and / or starting orientation of the cleaning basket. For example, the drive mechanism can be configured not to begin retracting the cleaning basket until the cleaning basket is fully inserted into the cleaning chamber and engaged with the drive mechanism. Thus, the drive mechanism can be configured to act only on the portion of the cleaning basket that protrudes into the cleaning chamber.

[0067] As described above, the cleaning apparatus can be specifically designed as a pass-through rinsing machine, either entirely or partially, or may comprise a pass-through rinsing machine. In particular, the cleaning apparatus can be specifically designed as a pass-through dishwasher, either entirely or partially. The cleaning apparatus can particularly have at least one basket feeder and at least one basket discharger, in particular a basket discharger opposite to the basket feeder with respect to the cleaning chamber.

[0068] As used herein, the term “basket feeder” is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to a specific or adapted meaning. The term can particularly refer to any device by which one or more cleaning baskets can be actively or passively fed into a cleaning chamber, without limitation. For example, a basket feeder may have at least one support surface outside the cleaning chamber, and a cleaning basket containing the articles to be cleaned may be placed on such support surface. The at least one support surface may also have, for example, one or more rails and / or a number of non-driven rollers, or alternatively or additionally, a large area support surface. The support surface may be perfectly horizontal or inclined in whole or in part, as will be described in more detail below. The at least one support surface may be positioned at the same height as the basket carrier in the cleaning chamber, for example, so that the cleaning basket can be pushed directly from the support surface of the basket feeder onto the basket carrier without any height displacement. Alternatively or additionally, the basket supply unit may also include at least one conveyor device, as described in more detail below, which can actively transport the cleaning baskets.

[0069] Similarly, the term “basket discharge unit” as used herein is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to a specific or adapted meaning. The term can particularly refer to any device by which one or more cleaning baskets can be actively or passively removed from or transported outside a cleaning chamber, either actively or passively. For example, a basket discharge unit may have at least one support surface outside the cleaning chamber, on which a cleaning basket with cleaned articles can be placed. The at least one support surface may also have, for example, one or more rails and / or a number of non-driven rollers, or alternatively or additionally, a larger support surface. The support surface may be perfectly horizontal or inclined in whole or in part, as will be described in more detail below. The at least one support surface may be positioned at the same height as the basket carriers within the cleaning chamber, so that the cleaning baskets can be pushed from the basket carriers within the cleaning chamber onto the support surface of the basket discharge unit without any height displacement. Alternatively or additionally, the basket discharge section may also include at least one conveyor device, as described in more detail below, which can actively transport the cleaning basket.

[0070] The basket supply unit and the basket discharge unit can be located on opposing sides of the cleaning chamber. For example, the cleaning basket can be sequentially pushed in a linear direction without changing direction from the basket supply unit to the cleaning chamber, particularly onto the basket carrier there, and then back to the basket discharge unit.

[0071] The cleaning apparatus can be designed to use a basket carrier drive to pull the cleaning basket from the basket supply to the basket carrier when the cover device is open, i.e., when the cover device is in an open state or, if there are multiple open states, in at least one of those open states. The cleaning apparatus can also be designed to store the items to be cleaned in a stationary position within the cleaning basket in the basket carrier when the cover device is closed, and to apply a cleaning fluid to them in at least one cleaning program, in particular, in at least one cleaning program having at least one washing step and at least one rinsing step. Furthermore, the cleaning apparatus can be designed to transport the cleaning basket containing the cleaned items to be cleaned from the basket carrier to the basket discharge section by a drive when the cover device is open, i.e., when the cover device is in an open state or, if there are multiple open states, in at least one of those open states, after the execution of the cleaning program. If there are multiple open states for the cover device, for example, if the cover device has multiple independently movable side walls, these open states for feeding the cleaning basket into the cleaning chamber and for transporting it out of the cleaning chamber can be different. Alternatively, these states could have been identical.

[0072] As described above, the drive unit can be specifically designed to act on the portion of the cleaning basket that protrudes from the basket supply unit into the basket carrier, in particular the portion of the cleaning basket that interacts with the drive unit, thereby drawing the cleaning basket into the basket carrier. Similarly, the drive unit can be designed to act on the cleaning basket during its transport to the basket discharge unit until the portion of the cleaning basket no longer protrudes into the basket carrier, i.e., until the portion of the cleaning basket no longer interacts with the drive unit.

[0073] As described above, the basket supply unit can be designed in various ways. In particular, the basket supply unit may have at least one supply table connected to the cleaning chamber for feeding cleaning baskets containing items to be cleaned into the cleaning chamber. For example, this may be a metal table, for example, a metal table having a flat surface that can be horizontal or inclined. For example, the supply table may be inclined so that the cleaning baskets can slide on its surface toward the cleaning chamber by their own weight. Alternatively or additionally, the supply table may particularly have at least one conveyor device, separate from the drive unit, for transporting the cleaning baskets to the basket supply unit. In particular, the conveyor device may be selected from the group consisting of a driven roller conveyor, a conveyor belt, or a conveyor chain.

[0074] A supply table may comprise one or more further elements. For example, a supply table may have at least one basket sensor for detecting cleaning baskets. Alternatively or additionally, a supply table may have at least one basket brake, which may be designed to brake the transport of at least one cleaning basket when the basket brake is closed and to release the transport when it is open. As used herein, the term “brake” is a broad term to be understood in the ordinary and general sense as understood by those skilled in the art. The term is not limited to any specific or adapted meaning. The term may particularly mean, without limitation, reducing the velocity of at least one moving object, in particular by acting on the object, in particular by applying a force to the object that is opposed to its motion. Braking may be done such that the velocity of the object’s motion is reduced, in particular such that after the braking is complete the velocity of the object’s motion is reduced but the object does not come to a complete stop. Alternatively, braking may be done such that as a result of braking the object comes to a complete stop and / or comes to a complete stop.

[0075] The cleaning device may also have at least one supply control unit. The supply control unit may, in particular, be a control unit within the meaning of the definition above. The supply control unit can be designed in principle to be similar to the mechanical control unit and have the options described above. The supply control unit can generally be designed to control the transport of cleaning baskets to the basket supply unit. For example, the supply control unit can control at least one conveyor device of the supply control unit. Furthermore, the supply control unit can control the timing of feeding into the cleaning chamber. The supply control unit can be designed separately from the mechanical control unit or can be combined with the mechanical control unit as a whole or in part. In particular, the supply control unit may be a part of the mechanical control unit of the cleaning device, and as described above, the mechanical control unit can be designed to control at least one cleaning program in the cleaning chamber, and the mechanical control unit can also be designed to control a cover device.

[0076] With respect to the basket discharge section, there are options that are essentially similar to those for the basket supply section. In particular, the basket discharge section may comprise at least one discharge table connected to the cleaning chamber for removing cleaning baskets containing cleaned items from the cleaning chamber. This can be a metal table, for example, a metal table having a flat surface that can be horizontal or inclined. For example, the discharge table may be inclined so that cleaning baskets slide on its surface so that they move away from the cleaning chamber by their own weight. Alternatively or additionally, the discharge table may comprise at least one conveyor device, separate from the drive unit, for transporting the cleaning baskets away from the basket discharge section, particularly a conveyor device selected from the group consisting of a driven roller conveyor, a conveyor belt, or a conveyor chain.

[0077] Furthermore, similar to the basket supply section, the discharge table may have additional elements. For example, the discharge table may have at least one basket sensor for detecting cleaning baskets. Alternatively or additionally, the discharge table may have at least one basket brake, which is designed to brake the transport of at least one cleaning basket when closed and to release the transport when open.

[0078] Furthermore, similar to the basket supply unit, the basket discharge unit and the movement of the cleaning basket from the basket discharge unit can be fully or partially automated. For example, the cleaning apparatus may have a discharge control unit that can be designed to control the transport of the cleaning basket away from the basket discharge unit. In relation to possible options for defining the discharge control unit, refer to the options described above for control of inflow. The discharge control unit can be, in particular, a control unit within the meaning of the above definition. In particular, the discharge control unit can be designed to be entirely or partially separate from the mechanical control unit, but can also be combined with the mechanical control unit, entirely or partially. In particular, the discharge control unit may be a part of the mechanical control unit. As described above, the mechanical control unit can be designed to control at least one cleaning program in the cleaning chamber, and can also be designed to control a cover device.

[0079] In this way, the machine control unit can be designed to execute a sequence including the following steps, in particular, in the order described. A step of controlling the conveyor device of the basket supply unit to transport at least one cleaning basket containing the items to be cleaned to the cleaning chamber, Steps to release the cover device, A step of controlling a drive device to pull a cleaning basket containing the items to be cleaned from the basket supply unit into the cleaning chamber. A step of performing at least one cleaning program, wherein at least one cleaning fluid is applied to the articles to be cleaned in a cleaning basket within a cleaning chamber. Steps to release the cover device, A step of controlling the drive device to transport the cleaning basket containing the cleaned items to be cleaned to the basket discharge section, and A step of controlling a conveyor device in the basket discharge section to remove a cleaning basket containing the cleaned items from the cleaning chamber.

[0080] These steps in the sequence described above may overlap in whole or in part, and / or be performed simultaneously and / or repeatedly. Further steps may also be included. If multiple cleaning baskets are provided, more complex timings for supplying and / or removing the cleaning baskets are available. The basket sensors and / or basket brakes outlined above may also be used here. In particular, this enables fully or partially automated supplying, cleaning, and removal of the baskets.

[0081] The cleaning apparatus may also include further elements. For example, the discharge table may have at least one drying fan for drying the articles to be cleaned in at least one cleaning basket located on the discharge table. For example, the drying blower may be integrated into the discharge table such that it blows at least one stream of dry air, particularly heated air, through the cleaning basket, and in particular through the opening at the bottom of the cleaning basket, over the articles being cleaned. Alternatively or additionally, one or more further drying fans may be provided, for example, to expose the articles to be cleaned from above to at least one stream of dry air, particularly heated air.

[0082] Further possible options relate to the drive unit and drive mechanism. As described above, the drive unit and drive mechanism can each have at least one drive element, in particular complementary drive elements. The drive elements can be designed to mechanically engage with each other when the basket carrier is introduced into the cleaning chamber, so that the operation of the drive unit causes the operation of the drive mechanism of the basket carrier. In particular, the drive elements can engage with each other in a manner of geometric fitting. As also described above, the drive elements can together form a gear mechanism, in particular a spur gear mechanism. The transmission ratio can be 1:1, or x:1, or 1:x, where x can be a rational number between 0 and 1.

[0083] In particular, the basket carrier can be introduced into and removed from the cleaning chamber without tools, i.e., without the need to loosen screws or nuts, for example. Nevertheless, a locking mechanism that can be removed, for example, manually, may be provided. In particular, the basket carrier can be introduced into the cleaning chamber by an action including at least one pivoting motion, in particular a pivoting motion about one or more pivot axes. The action by which the basket carrier can be introduced into and / or removed from the cleaning chamber may be a combination of one or more linear motions and one or more rotational motions. The cleaning device may have at least one basket carrier receiver and / or at least one guide element, for example, at least one guide rail, in the cleaning chamber to guide the insertion and / or removal of the basket carrier.

[0084] The basket carrier may have at least one frame in particular. The frame may be, for example, rectangular, and especially square in shape, because many cleaning baskets, particularly in the field of commercial dishwashing, are square in shape. The frame may, in particular, be insertable into a basket carrier receptacle in a cleaning chamber. The frame may form, for example, a rectangular, and especially square, space, i.e., an intermediate space. Optionally, the frame may have at least one guide rail for inserting a cleaning basket. The drive mechanism may be designed to move the cleaning basket along the guide rail. However, alternatively or additionally, the frame may have a smooth surface on which the cleaning basket can slide and / or which the cleaning basket can be moved by the guide rail. Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, the cleaning basket may be designed such that the positioned cleaning basket does not contact the frame but only the drive mechanism.

[0085] The drive unit may be connected to the frame such that the internal space of the frame is not covered by at least a large portion of it. In particular, the frame can form a free space whose shape may be rectangular, and especially square. The drive unit may be connected to the frame such that this free space is not substantially covered by the drive unit, for example, by the drive unit being directly adjacent to one or more faces of the frame, and positioned, for example, along the direction of movement of the cleaning basket. In particular, the drive unit is connected to the frame such that at least 90%, and especially at least 95%, of the free area formed by the frame remains over the entire frame. This allows the cleaning fluid to be applied to the object being cleaned from below as well, through the basket carrier and the remaining free area. The frame of the basket carrier is, in particular, open to the bottom of the frame, and cleaning fluid is applied through the frame from a nozzle element of the cleaning device located below the frame.

[0086] The cleaning device may further comprise one or more cleaning baskets. As described above, the items to be cleaned can, in principle, be of any design. In particular, however, the cleaning device can be designed as a dishwasher. For example, the cleaning device can be designed in particular as a dishwasher and can be designed to clean items designed for at least one purpose selected from the group consisting of food preparation, beverage preparation, food serving, beverage serving, food storage, and beverage storage. Thus, the cleaning basket may comprise, for example, at least one basket designed to receive and place items to be cleaned intended for at least one purpose selected from the group consisting of food preparation, storage, and serving. In particular, this may be a glass basket having multiple finger sections and / or dividers for holding glasses. Alternatively or additionally, at least one cleaning basket may comprise at least one basket for holding cutlery. Alternatively or additionally, at least one cleaning basket may comprise at least one basket for holding tableware, such as plates, having corresponding dividers for holding dishes.

[0087] In a further embodiment of the present invention, a method for cleaning an article to be cleaned is proposed. This method uses a cleaning apparatus according to the present invention, for example, a cleaning apparatus according to one or more of the embodiments described above and / or one or more of the embodiments described in more detail below. This method includes the following steps. These steps can be performed in the order shown. However, different sequences are also possible in principle. Furthermore, two or more process steps, or even all of the process steps, can be performed simultaneously or with overlapping time. Furthermore, one, more, or all of the process steps can be performed repeatedly.

[0088] This method includes the following steps. i. A step of opening the cover device, wherein the cover device is in an open state, ii. A step in which at least one cleaning basket containing the items to be cleaned is pulled into the cleaning chamber by a drive device with the cover device open, and the cleaning basket is brought to a stationary position within the cleaning chamber. iii. A step of closing the cover device, wherein the cover device is placed in a closed state, iv. Step of applying at least one cleaning fluid to the article to be cleaned in a cleaning chamber, v. A step of opening the cover device, wherein the cover device is closed, and vi. A step of discharging the cleaning basket containing the cleaned articles from the cleaning chamber by a drive device.

[0089] For possible embodiments and details, as well as further options, refer to the above description of the cleaning device.

[0090] The proposed cleaning apparatus and method have numerous advantages over known cleaning apparatuses and methods. For example, the present invention enables the realization of a cleaning apparatus that can be designed in particular as a pass-through rinsing machine, for example as a pass-through dishwasher, and in particular as a hood-type rinsing machine, in particular as a hood-type dishwasher, and in particular as a program-controlled machine with a static rinsing process, also called a program-controlled rinsing machine. The proposed cleaning apparatus and method address the disadvantages of the prior art described above. In addition, existing cleaning apparatuses can be easily modified to carry out the present invention. For example, the drive unit and the corresponding basket carrier can be easily installed in an existing pass-through rinsing machine, for example, a hood-type rinsing machine.

[0091] This allows the loading and selective removal of program-controlled machines to be fully or at least partially automated in place of or in addition to manual loading. Therefore, it is not always necessary for at least one operator to be stationed and on standby at the cleaning equipment. Loading and removing from the cleaning chamber, inserting and removing the cleaning basket, and manually opening and closing the cleaning chamber, such as the hood, are activities that typically place a significant burden on the operator over long periods. By implementing the present invention, which enables automation or at least partial automation, such burdens can usually be avoided or at least reduced.

[0092] Furthermore, at high throughput, especially in pass-through rinsing machines, the side of the cleaning device containing the items to be cleaned is usually completely separated from the side containing the items that have already been cleaned. In many cases, this separation requires operators to perform additional manual tasks and / or activities when switching sides, such as changing protective gloves, washing hands, and disinfecting hands if necessary. These additional actions required when switching sides place an additional burden on the operating personnel, especially depending on structural conditions, and in many cases even result in an inefficient work process. By implementing the present invention, which enables automation or at least partial automation, it is possible to reduce such burdens and increase the efficiency of the work process.

[0093] Implementing the present invention reduces the amount of equipment required and protects the operator. Furthermore, the cleaning apparatus can be designed to completely or partially eliminate the need for conveyance via an external lever configuration, an externally mounted slider, or a feed unit having a carrier located outside the cleaning chamber. This enhances occupational safety for operators in the same work area as the conveying equipment. In particular, hazards such as pinching, snagging, or entanglement in the conveying equipment, or similar hazards, can be reduced or completely avoided.

[0094] As described above, the cleaning apparatus can be designed so that the cover device operates fully or partially automatically, i.e., it operates fully or partially automatically from a closed state to an open state and / or from an open state to a closed state, in particular, controlled by a mechanical control unit. This control is feasible as needed, and in this case, as described above, control can be performed according to time control and / or received sensor signals, for example, signals from one or more basket sensors. In this way, for example, the cover device, in particular the hood, can be opened and / or closed automatically or at least partially automatically, resulting in greater peace of mind for the operator. In addition, semi-automatic or fully automatic loading and / or removal of the cleaning chamber can be performed. For example, a cleaning basket loaded with items to be cleaned can be automatically moved into the cleaning chamber and selectively removed from the cleaning chamber, in particular from the rinsing chamber, after cleaning.

[0095] The present invention enables the driving of the cleaning basket to be performed within the cleaning chamber. Furthermore, the technical effort required for this driving can be greatly reduced, and as a result, existing cleaning equipment, in particular, can be easily modified without significant technical effort.

[0096] The proposed solution is relatively simple in design. The drive mechanism used to transport the cleaning basket can be integrated into the basket carrier of the cleaning device. At the same time, the basket carrier can be designed so that it can be removed from and / or introduced into the cleaning chamber without tools. For example, the basket carrier can be designed so that it can be lifted and / or removed without the use of tools.

[0097] The transport operation in the cleaning chamber can, in principle, be achieved using, for example, belts, straps, chains, rollers, oscillating ratchet conveyors, etc. In particular, the drive unit can have multiple individual drive rollers. In particular, these rollers do not need to extend across the entire width of the cleaning basket being transported, but can be positioned only laterally, for example, so that only one edge of the cleaning basket is contacted and / or covered from below. In this way, the drive unit does not hinder, or only slightly hinders, the application of the cleaning fluid to the article being cleaned from below. If the drive unit has multiple individual drive rollers, these can be positioned particularly far apart from each other. This also has the advantage that the bottom of the cleaning basket is covered by the drive unit over a minimal area, and as a result, at least one cleaning fluid from a nozzle of an application device positioned below the cleaning basket can reach the article being cleaned over a large area. The bottom of the cleaning basket can be specifically designed as a grid with the largest possible free cross-section, and as a result, the cleaning fluid can also reach the article being cleaned sufficiently from below. In contrast to continuous conveying elements such as chains, belts, or ratchet conveyors, conveying rollers have the advantage that a smaller portion of the bottom surface of the cleaning basket can avoid at least one spray of cleaning fluid.

[0098] Various options are possible for transmitting motion from the drive unit to the elements of the drive system. In particular, as described above, the drive system may have multiple individual rollers. In particular, a drive transmission device, such as a gear mechanism, may be provided inside the basket carrier and especially inside the drive system to transmit motion. This drive transmission device may comprise, for example, one or more belts, one or more straps, one or more chains, a spur gear mechanism, or a gear mechanism comprising a combination of two, some, or all of the above elements. One or more drive elements or transport elements of the drive system may be provided, for example, on the rear side of the basket carrier, or on the front side opposite the rear side. For example, the basket carrier may form a frame, in particular a rectangular frame, in which case the drive elements may be provided on the rear and / or front supports of the frame, especially inside the frame. If, for example, the drive unit is provided on the rear side of the cleaning chamber, the drive elements of the drive system located on the front side can be driven by the transmission of rotational motion, for example, by a shaft extending from the rear to the front side. Generally, at least one transmission element for transmitting rotational motion from one side of the basket carrier to the other side of the basket carrier can be provided within the basket carrier, for example, from a roller conveyor to a roller conveyor located on the opposite side. For example, the basket carrier can comprise two or more parallel roller conveyors that can be connected to each other, for example, via at least one transmission element, so that these roller conveyors can be driven simultaneously.

[0099] If the basket carrier is equipped with at least one gear mechanism and / or at least one transmission element, for example, a gear mechanism having two or more gears, the transmission element can be covered all or partially. In this way, it is possible to at least largely prevent operators from accidentally obstructing the moving parts. Furthermore, this can completely or partially prevent contamination of the transmission element, especially the gear mechanism. The cover can also be provided on only one side, for example, only on the top side of the basket carrier, so that, for example, the transmission element, especially the gear mechanism, is accessible from below to the cleaning fluid, and therefore, for example, any penetrated dirt can be washed away by the cleaning fluid.

[0100] The movement of the drive unit can be transmitted to the cleaning basket engaged with the drive unit in various ways. In particular, force connections can be established. For example, the rotational motion of the rollers of the drive unit can be transmitted to the underside of the cleaning basket by force connections between the outer surfaces of the rollers. Such force connections, especially frictional connections, are also advantageous in that mechanical damage is prevented in blocking and / or overload events, because the cleaning basket can then easily slide across the rollers.

[0101] The drive unit can be made from a variety of materials. In particular, the drive unit, and especially the rollers of the drive unit, can be made entirely or partially from at least one material selected from the group consisting of metal and plastics with or without fillers, such as polypropylene, hard rubber, and composite materials, in particular hard plastics such as thermoplastics, at least one softer plastic, for example, a composite of at least one elastomer material, for example, a coating on the sliding surface, for example, rubber. In this way, the conveyance of the cleaning basket can be generally improved.

[0102] If rollers are provided in a drive unit, these rollers can be mounted in a variety of ways. In particular, rollers can be mounted by roller bearings and / or plain bearings, for example, by plain bearings made of materials suitable for use under thermal and chemical conditions in cleaning equipment.

[0103] The drive system is driven by a drive unit provided in and connected to the drive system, which is also called a drive unit. In particular, the drive unit can be configured completely independently of the drive system. Specifically, the drive unit can be positioned as a whole or partially fixed to the cleaning chamber. At least a portion of the drive unit may be installed in the installation space of the cleaning device, such as a rinsing machine. As described above, a portion of the drive unit may then be positioned inside the cleaning chamber such that, for example, only one component for transmitting rotational motion protrudes from the dry installation space into the moist interior of the cleaning chamber.

[0104] Alternatively, the drive unit can be liquid-tight. In this case, the drive unit can be installed inside the cleaning chamber, for example, the rinsing chamber. Power supply lines for energy supply and / or control of the drive unit can be routed into the cleaning chamber, for example, through a penetration from the installation chamber to the cleaning chamber. Hybrid structures are also possible.

[0105] The basket carrier can be introduced into and / or removed from the cleaning chamber via at least one swivel motion, as described above. During the swivel, locking and / or unlocking may also occur, and / or the drive unit may be connected to the drive mechanism, and / or separation may occur when the basket carrier is removed from the cleaning chamber. Generally, a split design allows, for example, the basket carrier to be folded upward on one side and completely removed from the cleaning chamber without the use of tools on the other. Folding the basket carrier upward and / or removing the basket carrier from the cleaning chamber is often necessary, for example, to remove the sieve elements from the cleaning chamber for cleaning purposes.

[0106] At least one receptor for receiving a basket carrier may be provided in the cleaning chamber. The receptor for the basket carrier can be designed so that the drive mechanism for the basket carrier is automatically connected to the drive unit when the basket carrier is inserted or folded downward.

[0107] Basket carriers, in particular, drive units, can be connected to drive units in various ways. In particular, this can be achieved by press fitting and / or shape fitting. For example, connection is possible without adjusting the connecting elements to each other, for example, by connecting gears to each other or by combining them. This allows for the establishment of a mechanical coupling for rotational motion, on the one hand, and error-free connection without the need to pre-align components such as shaft ends, claw couplings, or similar components to each other.

[0108] As described above, at least one element of the drive unit can be located in the cleaning chamber. Selectively, one or more additional elements of the drive unit can be located outside the cleaning chamber, for example, in a cleaning device installation chamber where one or more electronic components and / or one or more pumps are also located. The above-mentioned at least one element of the drive unit located in the cleaning chamber may particularly include at least one coupling element for coupling to the basket carrier, in particular to the drive unit of the basket carrier and in particular to the coupling element of the drive unit. In particular, this may be at least one transmission element, such as at least one gear. For example, in the cleaning chamber, in particular the rear wall of the cleaning chamber, only a single spur gear may be located above the plane of the basket carrier and / or the pivot axis of the basket carrier. This gear can be driven, for example, through the rear wall of the cleaning chamber, for example, by at least one drive shaft penetrating the rear wall of the cleaning chamber. The basket carrier itself may be provided with a coupling element corresponding to the drive unit. For example, at least one spur gear may project rearward toward the rear wall of the cleaning chamber, beyond the overall contour of the basket carrier, for example, beyond the frame of the basket carrier. This connecting element, for example, a gear, can be connected to at least one shaft and / or at least one gear. For example, at least one shaft connected to the connecting element of the drive unit can be connected to the drive unit's drive elements, for example, one or more conveying elements. These conveying elements can be located, for example, inside the basket carrier, for example, within the frame stretched by the basket carrier. This shaft can, for example, transmit rotational motion from the drive unit to other elements of the drive unit, such as conveying elements such as drive rollers. The connecting element of the drive unit can also generally be located below the plane of the basket carrier and / or below the pivot axis of the basket carrier. For example, the connecting element of the drive unit can be located below the plane stretched by the frame of the basket carrier.

[0109] The connecting elements of the drive unit and the drive mechanism can be geometrically aligned with each other so that they can be connected. For example, if multiple gears are provided, they can be positioned and / or oriented with respect to each other so that they can be connected when the basket carrier is installed in the cleaning chamber. For example, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the cleaning device, the gears of the drive unit and the drive mechanism can be positioned so that their axes overlap at least substantially when viewed from above. Laterally in the cleaning chamber, these gears can also be aligned, particularly with respect to their width. When the basket carrier is inserted into the cleaning chamber and in what can be called the functional position of the basket carrier, the connecting elements, such as gears, can be arranged so that they mesh, for example, so that the subcircles of each gear touch each other. This can be achieved, for example, by positioning each gear so that its subcircle is at the height of the pivot axis of the basket carrier.

[0110] The basket carriers of cleaning devices can also be designed to be replaceable. For example, a basket carrier with a drive mechanism can be removed from the cleaning chamber and replaced with a basket carrier that does not have a drive mechanism but has similar dimensions in other respects. In this way, the cleaning device is not only flexible in use but can also be reused if, for example, the drive mechanism does not function properly.

[0111] The proposed cleaning apparatus can generally improve the performance of the cleaning apparatus, particularly the performance of the rinsing system and / or rinsing machine, without requiring additional personnel. Conventional pass-through rinsing machines can also be used and modified according to the present invention. Thus, the present invention enables improved throughput, especially in program-controlled machines, without the need for additional personnel.

[0112] In addition, the present invention reduces the ergonomic problems described above. The automated transport of cleaning baskets can significantly improve ergonomics, particularly for the operator. Furthermore, hygiene can be improved by, for example, having the operator first prepare the items to be cleaned into multiple baskets on the basket supply side. These baskets can be transported to the cleaning chamber fully or partially automated and / or periodically. For this purpose, for example, after the completion of each cycle of the cleaning program, the control device can open a cover device, move the cleaning baskets containing the cleaned dishes from the cleaning chamber to the basket discharge unit, and draw new baskets containing the items to be cleaned into the cleaning chamber from the basket supply side. This periodic automation (controllable, for example, by the machine control unit) allows multiple cleaning baskets containing the items to be cleaned to be prepared and arranged sequentially in the basket supply device. Once this preparation is complete, the operator can, for example, remove gloves, wash and / or disinfect their hands, and move to the workspace where the basket discharge unit is located. There, the operator can process the cleaning baskets containing the cleaned items, for example, by removing, storing, or emptying them.

[0113] Furthermore, despite automation, it is possible to achieve a high level of hygiene and ease of maintenance, in contrast to, for example, fixed conveyors and other fixed transport devices. The removable basket carrier can be removed from the cleaning chamber, for example, by folding and / or other means, without the use of tools. This is particularly for the purpose of maintenance and / or cleaning of the cleaning equipment. This allows, for example, the basket carrier to be removed from the cleaning chamber, and the sieve elements to be removed for cleaning from the cleaning chamber, especially the bottom part of the cleaning chamber. In fixed transport devices, such sieve elements are usually only accessible from the side through an additional maintenance flap or by a laborious disassembly process. This significantly improves ease of use, functional safety, operational safety, and reliability compared to known systems, especially automated systems.

[0114] Furthermore, the proposed cleaning apparatus can be manufactured at a relatively low cost and its structure can be kept simple. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the system according to the present invention can generally be kept relatively low. Moreover, existing cleaning apparatus, such as existing pass-through rinsing machines, can also be appropriately modified according to the present invention.

[0115] In summary, without limiting further possible embodiments, the following embodiments are proposed.

[0116] Embodiment 1 A cleaning device for cleaning items to be cleaned, The cleaning device includes a cleaning chamber capable of receiving the items to be cleaned in a stationary state by at least one cleaning basket, The cleaning apparatus further comprises at least one application device, which is designed as a program-controlled machine and is designed to apply at least one cleaning fluid to an article to be cleaned that is received in a stationary state within the cleaning chamber. The cleaning apparatus further comprises at least one cover device for covering the cleaning chamber, the cover device having at least one open state and at least one closed state. The cleaning device further comprises at least one basket carrier, the basket carrier being designed to be reversibly introduced into and removed from the cleaning chamber, for example, by insertion, the basket carrier having at least one drive unit, the cleaning device having at least one drive unit, at least a portion of which is located within the cleaning chamber, the basket carrier being designed to be mechanically coupled to the drive unit when the basket carrier is introduced into the cleaning chamber, and the cleaning device being designed such that, when the cover device is open, the coupled drive unit is driven by the drive unit to pull in a cleaning basket containing the items to be cleaned into the cleaning chamber and to receive the pulled-in cleaning basket in a stationary position. Cleaning device.

[0117] Embodiment 2 A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the above embodiments, further comprising at least one mechanical control unit, the mechanical control unit being designed to control at least one cleaning program in a cleaning chamber, and the mechanical control unit being further designed to control a cover device.

[0118] Embodiment 3 The cleaning apparatus of embodiment 2 is further configured with a mechanical control unit to control the drive unit.

[0119] Embodiment 4 The cleaning apparatus of Embodiment 3 further comprises at least one basket sensor located in a cleaning chamber, and the mechanical control unit is designed to evaluate at least one signal from the basket sensor in the cleaning chamber and to control the drive unit accordingly.

[0120] Embodiment 5 A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the above embodiments, wherein the cleaning apparatus is designed to use a drive device to periodically move an article to be cleaned, which is received in a stationary state within a cleaning chamber, back and forth about a central position, with an amplitude of 50 mm or less, particularly 30 mm or less, and especially preferably 20 mm or less.

[0121] Embodiment 6 A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the above embodiments, wherein the cover device forms at least three walls of the cleaning chamber, in particular two side walls and one end wall.

[0122] Embodiment 7 The cleaning apparatus of Embodiment 6 is designed so that two of the walls described above move simultaneously or with a time delay, particularly in a vertical motion, in order to move the cover device from an open state to a closed state or vice versa.

[0123] Embodiment 8 A cleaning device, one of embodiments 6 and 7, is designed as a hood-type rinsing machine, and more particularly as a hood-type dishwasher, either entirely or partially, and is designed to move at least three walls of a cleaning chamber formed by a cover device, particularly at least two of the above side walls and one of the above end walls, together in a vertical motion.

[0124] Embodiment 9 A cleaning device, any one of the above embodiments, further arranged such that, after cleaning is complete, a connected drive unit is driven by a drive mechanism to discharge the cleaning basket containing the items to be cleaned from the cleaning chamber with the cover device open.

[0125] Embodiment 10 A cleaning device according to any one of the above embodiments, wherein the drive unit has at least one drive element designed to be connected to the cleaning basket in a form selected from the group consisting of friction engagement couplings and shape fitting couplings.

[0126] Embodiment 11 A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the above embodiments, wherein the drive unit has at least one conveyor element selected from the group consisting of a roller conveyor, a conveyor band, a conveyor belt, a conveyor chain, and an oscillating ratchet conveyor, which can be driven by the drive unit to transport a cleaning basket.

[0127] Embodiment 12 A cleaning apparatus, one of the above embodiments, wherein the drive mechanism is designed to act only on the portion of the cleaning basket that protrudes into the cleaning chamber.

[0128] Embodiment 13 A cleaning device, any one of the embodiments described above, is designed as a pass-through rinsing machine, in particular as a pass-through dishwasher, the cleaning device having at least one basket feeder and at least one basket discharger, in particular a basket discharger opposite to the basket feeder with respect to the cleaning chamber, the cleaning device is designed to draw a cleaning basket from the basket feeder into the basket carrier by a drive for the basket carrier when the cover device is open, the cleaning device is further designed to store articles to be cleaned received in the cleaning basket within the basket carrier in a stationary state when the cover device is open, and to apply a cleaning fluid to the articles in at least one cleaning program, in particular a cleaning program having at least one washing step and at least one rinsing step, and the cleaning device is further designed to transfer the cleaning basket containing the cleaned articles from the basket carrier to the basket discharger by a drive after the cleaning program has been executed, with the cover device open.

[0129] Embodiment 14 A cleaning apparatus according to embodiment 13, wherein the drive unit is designed to act on the portion of the cleaning basket that protrudes from the basket supply unit into the basket carrier, and thereby pull the cleaning basket into the basket carrier.

[0130] Embodiment 15 A cleaning apparatus in any one of embodiments 13 and 14, wherein the drive unit is designed to act on the cleaning basket during transport of the cleaning basket to the basket discharge section until a portion of the cleaning basket no longer protrudes from the basket carrier.

[0131] Embodiment 16 A cleaning apparatus according to any one of embodiments 13 to 15, wherein the basket supply unit has at least one supply table connected to the cleaning chamber for feeding cleaning baskets containing items to be cleaned into the cleaning chamber.

[0132] Embodiment 17 The cleaning apparatus of Embodiment 16, wherein the supply table has at least one conveyor device, designed separately from the drive unit, for transporting cleaning baskets to the basket supply unit, the conveyor device being selected from the group consisting of a driven roller conveyor, a conveyor belt, and a conveyor chain.

[0133] Embodiment 18 The supply table is a cleaning device of any one of embodiments 16 and 17, having at least one basket sensor for detecting the cleaning basket.

[0134] Embodiment 19 A cleaning apparatus according to any one of embodiments 16 to 18, wherein the supply table has at least one basket brake, the basket brake is designed to brake the transport of at least one cleaning basket when closed and to release the transport when open.

[0135] Embodiment 20 A cleaning device having a supply control unit, the supply control unit being designed to control the transport of cleaning baskets to a basket supply unit, one of any one of embodiments 16 to 19.

[0136] Embodiment 21 A cleaning apparatus of embodiment 20, wherein the supply control unit is part of the mechanical control unit, the mechanical control unit is designed to control at least one cleaning program in the cleaning chamber, and the mechanical control unit is further designed to control a cover device.

[0137] Embodiment 22 A cleaning apparatus from any one of embodiments 13 to 21, further comprising a basket discharge section, at least one discharge table connected to the cleaning chamber for removing a cleaning basket containing cleaned articles from the cleaning chamber.

[0138] Embodiment 23 The cleaning apparatus of Embodiment 22 comprises a discharge table designed separately from the drive unit and at least one conveyor device for transporting the cleaning basket away from the basket discharge unit, in particular a conveyor device selected from the group consisting of a driven roller conveyor, a conveyor belt, and a conveyor chain.

[0139] Embodiment 24 The discharge table is a cleaning device of any one of embodiments 22 and 23, having at least one basket sensor for detecting the cleaning basket.

[0140] Embodiment 25 A cleaning apparatus according to any one of embodiments 22 to 24, wherein the discharge table has at least one basket brake, the basket brake is designed to brake the transport of at least one cleaning basket in a closed state and to release the transport in an open state.

[0141] Embodiment 26 A cleaning device having a discharge control unit, the discharge control unit is designed to control the transport of the cleaning basket so that it moves away from the basket discharge unit, one of any one of embodiments 22 to 25.

[0142] Embodiment 27 A cleaning apparatus according to Embodiment 26, wherein the discharge control unit is part of the mechanical control unit, the mechanical control unit is designed to control at least one cleaning program in the cleaning chamber, and the mechanical control unit is further designed to control a cover device.

[0143] Embodiment 28 A cleaning apparatus according to any one of embodiments 22 to 27, wherein the drain table has at least one drying fan for drying articles to be cleaned in at least one cleaning basket on the drain table.

[0144] Embodiment 29 A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the above embodiments, wherein each drive unit and drive device comprises at least one drive element, which is mechanically engaged with each other when the basket carrier is introduced into the cleaning chamber, and as a result, the operation of the drive unit causes the operation of the drive device of the basket carrier.

[0145] Embodiment 30 A cleaning device according to embodiment 29, in which the drive elements engage with each other in a manner of shape fitting.

[0146] Embodiment 31 A cleaning device, one of embodiments 29 and 30, wherein the drive element forms a gear mechanism, particularly a spur gear mechanism.

[0147] Embodiment 32 A cleaning device according to any one of the above embodiments, wherein the basket carrier can be introduced into the cleaning chamber by at least one rotational movement.

[0148] Embodiment 33 A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the above embodiments, wherein the basket carrier can be introduced into the cleaning chamber without tools and removed from the cleaning chamber without tools.

[0149] Embodiment 34 A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the above embodiments, wherein the basket carrier has a frame, particularly a rectangular frame and particularly a square frame, and the frame is introduced into a basket carrier receiver in a cleaning chamber.

[0150] Embodiment 35 The cleaning device of embodiment 34 has a frame with guide rails for inserting a cleaning basket.

[0151] Embodiment 36 A cleaning device according to embodiment 35, wherein the drive unit is designed to move the cleaning basket along a guide rail.

[0152] Embodiment 37 A cleaning device, one of embodiments 34 to 36, is connected to the frame such that the drive unit does not cover at least a large portion of the internal space of the frame, in particular, that at least 90%, and especially at least 95%, of the free area formed by the frame remains uncovered.

[0153] Embodiment 38 A cleaning device in any one of embodiments 34 to 37, wherein the frame is open downwards so that cleaning fluid from at least one nozzle element of an applicator, located below the frame, can be applied through the frame to the article to be cleaned.

[0154] Embodiment 39 A cleaning device, one of the above embodiments, is designed as a dishwasher and is designed to clean items to be cleaned, configured for at least one purpose selected from the group consisting of food preparation, beverage preparation, food serving, beverage serving, food storage, and beverage storage.

[0155] Embodiment 40 A method for cleaning items to be cleaned, The method includes using one of the cleaning devices of the above embodiments, The method further involves the following steps: i. A step of opening the cover device, wherein the cover device is in an open state, ii. A step in which at least one cleaning basket containing the articles to be cleaned is pulled into the cleaning chamber by a drive device with the cover device open, and the cleaning basket is received in a stationary state within the cleaning chamber. iii. A step of closing the cover device, wherein the cover device is placed in a closed state, iv. Step of applying at least one cleaning fluid to the article to be cleaned in a cleaning chamber, v. A step of opening the cover device, wherein the cover device is in an open state, and vi. A step of discharging the cleaning basket containing the cleaned items from the cleaning chamber by a drive device, A method that includes this.

[0156] Further details and features are found in the following description of embodiments, particularly in conjunction with the dependent claims. Herein, each feature can be realized individually or in combination with others. The present invention is not limited to exemplary embodiments. Exemplary embodiments are schematically shown in the drawings. The same reference numerals in the individual drawings indicate elements that are identical, have the same function, or correspond to each other in terms of their function. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0157] [Figure 1A] A front view of an exemplary embodiment of the cleaning device according to the present invention. [Figure 2A] Another exemplary embodiment of the cleaning apparatus according to the present invention is shown in a front view. [Figure 2B] Another exemplary embodiment of the cleaning apparatus according to the present invention is shown in a side view. [Figure 3] A detailed side view of the basket carrier according to the present invention. [Figure 4A] A side view of the movement of the basket carrier according to the present invention for reversible insertion and removal. [Figure 4B] A side view of the movement of the basket carrier according to the present invention for reversible insertion and removal. [Figure 4C] A side view of the movement of the basket carrier according to the present invention for reversible insertion and removal. [Figure 5] A perspective view of the basket carrier according to the present invention. [Figure 6] A side view of a further exemplary embodiment of the cleaning apparatus according to the present invention. [Figure 7] A method according to the present invention for cleaning an item to be cleaned. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0158] Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning device 110 according to the present invention. The cleaning device 110 is designed as a pass-through rinsing machine 112, and in particular as a pass-through dishwasher. In this embodiment, the cleaning device 110 is further designed as a hood-type rinsing machine 116. The cleaning device 110 is shown in a front view in Figure 1.

[0159] The cleaning device 110 can be designed as a dishwasher and may be designed to clean articles designed for at least one purpose selected from the group consisting of food preparation, beverage preparation, food serving, beverage serving, food storage, and beverage storage. The articles to be cleaned shown in Figure 1 are dishes. Alternatively, the articles to be cleaned 124 may be other tableware.

[0160] The cleaning device 110 may include, for example, a tank 120 and a hose spray 122 for pre-cleaning the articles 124 to be cleaned in the area of ​​the supply table 114. The articles 124 to be cleaned can be placed in the cleaning chamber 128 of the cleaning device 110, for example, by one or more cleaning baskets 126. In the cleaning chamber 128, the articles 124 to be cleaned can be received in a stationary state by at least one cleaning basket. The cleaning device 110 is designed and engineered as a program-controlled machine to apply at least one cleaning fluid to the articles to be cleaned received in a stationary state in the cleaning chamber. In the cleaning chamber 128, one or more cleaning fluids can be applied to the articles 124 to be cleaned, for example, by one or more nozzle elements 186, the nozzle elements 186 of which are not shown in detail in Figure 1 but are provided on the wings of the application device 118.

[0161] The cleaning device 110 has a base 130 having, for example, a frame 132. Furthermore, the cleaning device 110 of this embodiment includes a cover device 134 having at least one open state and at least one closed state. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the cover device 134 is exemplary designed as a hood 136. This hood 136 can be opened via an opening path, and in the closed position 135 corresponding to the closed state, it is shown by a solid line in Figure 1, and in the open position 137 corresponding to the open state, it is shown by a dashed line in Figure 1. The direction of movement from the closed position 135 to the open position 137 defines the opening movement direction 139, and the direction of movement in the opposite direction from the open position 137 to the closed position 135 defines the closing movement direction 141. The cleaning device 110 may further include at least one operating element 138 having the form of a handle 140. For example, the handle 140 directly engages with the hood 136. The handle 140 can be used to open and / or close the hood 136.

[0162] At least one mechanical control unit 165 may be located in the base 130 of the cleaning device 110. However, for example, the mechanical control unit 165 may be located alternatively or additionally in other locations of the cleaning device 110. The mechanical control unit 165 may be designed to control at least one cleaning program in the cleaning chamber described above, and / or the mechanical control unit 165 may be designed to control the cover device 134. Furthermore, additional elements may be located within the base 130, for example, at least one temperature-controlled processing tank for rinse-off liquid, for example, at least one boiler. These elements are not shown.

[0163] Figure 2a shows a schematic front view of a further exemplary embodiment of the cleaning device 110. The cleaning device 110 is designed as a pass-through rinsing machine 112, and more specifically as a pass-through dishwasher. In addition, the cleaning device 110 is a hood-type rinsing machine 116. Figure 2b shows a schematic side view of this embodiment of the cleaning device 110. As can be seen from Figure 2b, the cover device 134 can form at least three walls of the cleaning chamber described above, in particular two side walls and one end wall. The cleaning device 110 also has at least one drive unit 142 at least partially positioned in the cleaning chamber described above. The cleaning device 110 includes a basket carrier 150 designed to be reversibly introduced into the cleaning chamber described above. The basket carrier 150 is designed to be mechanically coupled to the drive unit 142 when the basket carrier 150 is introduced into the cleaning chamber 128.

[0164] The basket carrier 150 further comprises a drive unit 146. The drive unit 142 enables the connected drive unit 146 to be driven into the cleaning chamber 128 to pull the cleaning basket 126 containing the articles to be cleaned 124 into the cleaning chamber 128 when the cover device 146 is opened, and to hold the pulled-in cleaning basket 126 stationary in the cleaning chamber to apply cleaning fluid to the articles to be cleaned 124 within the cleaning basket 126. Alternatively or additionally, the cleaning device 110 may also be designed to remove the cleaning basket containing the articles to be cleaned from the cleaning chamber, in particular after cleaning is complete and / or when the cover device is opened.

[0165] The cleaning device 110 may be designed to hold the articles to be cleaned in a stationary state within the cleaning basket in the basket carrier 150, particularly when the cover device 136 is closed, and to apply a cleaning fluid to them in at least one cleaning program, in particular, in at least one cleaning program that includes at least one washing step and at least one rinsing step. The cleaning device 110 can be further configured to transfer the cleaning basket containing the cleaned articles to be cleaned from the basket carrier 150 to the basket discharge section 153 by a drive unit 146 after the cleaning program has been performed and the cover device has been opened.

[0166] The mechanical control unit 165 can be configured to control the drive unit 142. The cleaning device 110 may further include at least one basket sensor 166 located in the cleaning chamber, in which case the mechanical control unit 165 is configured to evaluate at least one signal from the basket sensor 166 in the cleaning chamber and to control the drive unit 142 accordingly. The cleaning device 110 can be configured to use the drive unit 146 to periodically move an article to be cleaned, which is received in a stationary state in the cleaning chamber, back and forth about a central position, with an amplitude of 50 mm or less, particularly 30 mm or less, and especially preferably 20 mm or less, while applying a cleaning fluid.

[0167] The cleaning device 110 may have at least one basket supply unit 152 and at least one basket discharge unit 153, in particular, a basket discharge unit 153 provided on the opposite side of the cleaning chamber 128 from the basket supply unit 152.

[0168] The basket supply unit 152 may have at least one supply table 114 connected to the cleaning chamber for transporting cleaning baskets containing items to be cleaned into the cleaning chamber. The supply table 114 may have at least one conveyor device 160 formed separately from the drive unit 146 of the basket carrier 150, in particular a conveyor device 160 selected from the group consisting of a driven roller conveyor, a conveyor belt, or a conveyor chain, as shown in Figure 2a.

[0169] The supply table 114 may be equipped with at least one basket sensor 168 for detecting cleaning baskets. The supply table 114 may be equipped with at least one basket brake, which is designed to brake the transport of at least one cleaning basket in the closed state and to release the transport in the open state. The cleaning device 110 may have a supply control unit 170, which is designed to control the transport of cleaning baskets to the basket supply unit 152 and / or basket carrier 150. According to Figure 2a, the machine control unit 165 and the supply control unit 170 are separate devices. Alternatively, the supply control unit 170 may be integrated into the machine control unit 165. The supply control unit 170 may be part of the machine control unit 165, in particular by its functionality that the machine control unit 165 and the supply control unit 170 work together with each other.

[0170] The drive unit 146 of the basket carrier 150 can be designed to act only on the portion of the cleaning basket that protrudes into the cleaning chamber. The drive unit 146 can be designed to act on the portion of the cleaning basket that protrudes from the basket supply unit 152 into the basket carrier 150 and thereby pull the cleaning basket into the basket carrier 150.

[0171] The basket discharge unit 153 may further comprise at least one discharge table 162 connected to the cleaning chamber for removing the cleaning basket containing the cleaned articles from the cleaning chamber. The discharge table 162 may comprise at least one conveyor device 164, separate from the drive unit 146, for transporting the cleaning basket away from the basket discharge unit 153 and / or the basket carrier 150. The conveyor device 164 may consist of a driven roller conveyor, as shown. Alternatively or additionally, the conveyor device 164 may consist of a conveyor belt or a conveyor chain.

[0172] The discharge table 162 may have at least one basket sensor 172 for detecting cleaning baskets. The discharge table 162 may have at least one basket brake, which is designed to brake the transport of at least one cleaning basket in the closed state and to release the transport in the open state. The cleaning device 110 may also have a discharge control unit 174, which is designed to control the transport of cleaning baskets away from the basket discharge unit 153. According to Figure 2a, the mechanical control unit 165 and the discharge control unit 174 are separate devices. Alternatively, the discharge control unit 174 may be integrated into the mechanical control unit 165. The discharge control unit 174 may be part of the mechanical control unit 165, particularly due to its functionality in that it works in cooperation with the mechanical control unit 165. The discharge table 162 may further include at least one drying fan 176 for drying the items to be cleaned in at least one cleaning basket on the discharge table 162.

[0173] The drive unit 146 of the basket carrier 150 can be designed to act on the cleaning basket until no part of the cleaning basket protrudes into the basket carrier 150 during the transfer of the cleaning basket to the basket discharge section 153. The cleaning device 110 may have a sieving element 144.

[0174] Figure 3 shows a detailed view of the basket carrier 150. As further shown, the drive unit 146 may comprise at least one drive element 158 ​​designed to connect to the cleaning basket in a manner particularly selected from the group consisting of friction engagement couplings and / or shape-fit couplings. The drive unit 146 may comprise at least one conveyor element 159, in particular a roller conveyor, which can be driven by the drive unit 142 to transport the cleaning basket. Alternatively or additionally, the conveyor element 159 can be selected from the group consisting of roller conveyors, conveyor bands, conveyor belts, conveyor chains and oscillating ratchet conveyors.

[0175] The drive unit 142 and the drive device 146 may each comprise at least one drive element 154, 156, which are designed to mechanically engage with each other when the basket carrier 150 is introduced into the cleaning chamber 128, so that the operation of the drive unit 142 causes the drive device 146 to operate the basket carrier 150. The drive elements 154, 156 can engage with each other by geometric fit. The drive elements 154, 156 can form a gear mechanism, particularly a spur gear mechanism.

[0176] For example, as illustrated in Figure 3, if the drive unit 142 is located on the rear side 228 of the cleaning chamber 128, the drive element 156 of the drive device 146 located on the front side 230 can be driven by, for example, a shaft 226 extending from the rear side 228 to the front side 230, with rotational motion transmitted via a gear mechanism 224. The front side 230 can form the inner wall of the cleaning chamber 128.

[0177] The basket carrier 150 can be introduced into the cleaning chamber by movement, particularly a reversible movement, which includes at least one rotational movement 190 around the pivot axis 178. The rotational movement 190 is indicated by an arrow in Figure 3. A sequence of movements of the rotational movement 190 is shown in Figures 4a-4c. In Figure 4a, the basket carrier 150 is shown in the inserted state. The basket carrier 150 can function as long as the drive unit 146 is connected to the drive unit 142. In Figure 4b, the basket carrier 150 is partially folded upward around the pivot axis 178, and the drive unit 146 is separated from the drive unit 142. In Figure 4c, the basket carrier 150 is completely folded upward around the pivot axis 178, and the drive unit 146 is further separated from the drive unit 142. The process is reversible, and as a result, the drive unit 146 can be reattached to the drive unit 142, in particular by folding the basket carrier 150 in the opposite direction around the pivot axis 178. The basket carrier 150 can be introduced into the cleaning chamber without tools and removed from the cleaning chamber without tools. The sieve element 144 can be removed from the cleaning chamber without tools, in particular.

[0178] As shown in Figure 5, the basket carrier 150 may have a frame 180, in particular a rectangular frame 180 and in particular a square frame 180, the frame 180 being introduceable into a basket carrier receiver 182 in a cleaning chamber. The frame 180 may have guide rails 184 for inserting the cleaning basket. A drive unit 146 can be designed to move the cleaning basket 126 along the guide rails 184. The drive unit 146 may be connected to the frame 180 such that the internal space of the frame 180 is not covered in any way, in particular at least 90%, and especially at least 95%, of the free area defined by the frame 180 is not covered. The frame 180 may be open at the bottom so that cleaning fluid from at least one nozzle element 186 of an applicator 118 located below the frame 180 can be applied through the frame 180 to the article 124 to be cleaned. Furthermore, at least one transmission element 232 may be provided on the basket carrier 150 to transmit rotational motion from one side of the basket carrier 150 to another side of the basket carrier 150, particularly to the opposite side of the basket carrier 150. These sides may form a frame 180. For example, rotational motion may be transmitted from a roller conveyor 234 to a roller conveyor 236 located on the opposite side. For example, the basket carrier 150 may include two or more parallel roller conveyors 234, 236 that can be connected to each other, for example, via at least one transmission element 232, so that the roller conveyors 234, 236 can be driven simultaneously.

[0179] Figure 6 shows another exemplary embodiment of the cleaning apparatus 110 according to the present invention, having a hood 136. The cleaning chamber 128 of the cleaning apparatus 110 can be automatically loaded and unloaded via a basket supply section 152 having a conveyor device 160 and / or via a basket discharge section 153 having a conveyor device 164.

[0180] The conveyor device 160 of the basket supply section 152 can be divided into two sections 192 and 194, which are individually controllable and driven independently of each other. Section 194, immediately before the cleaning chamber in the conveyor direction 222, may have at least and / or substantially the length of the cleaning basket. Similarly, the conveyor device 164 of the basket discharge section 153 may have at least and / or substantially the length of the cleaning basket. These lengths can be selected independently of each other. A drying fan 176 is provided, for example, in the conveyor device 164 of the basket discharge section 153. Alternatively, any drying element may be provided. The cleaning basket 126 is shown, for example, in the cleaning chamber 128 and section 194. Additional space for the cleaning basket 126 in section 192 and the conveyor device 164 is indicated by the cleaning basket 126 shown by a dashed line.

[0181] Section 192 of the conveyor device 160 of the basket supply unit 152 may have a basket sensor 196 designed to detect cleaning baskets 126 located in section 192. Alternatively or additionally, section 192 of the conveyor 160 of the basket supply unit 152 may include a basket sensor 198 configured to detect at least one cleaning basket present in section 192 at the transition to section 194. Alternatively or additionally, section 194 of the conveyor device 160 of the basket supply unit 152 may have a basket sensor 200 designed to detect at least one cleaning basket located in section 194. Alternatively or additionally, the cleaning chamber 128 may have a basket sensor 202 configured to detect at least one cleaning basket located in the cleaning chamber 128. Alternatively or additionally, the conveyor device 164 of the basket discharge unit 153 may have a basket sensor 204 designed to detect at least one cleaning basket located in section 194 at the transition to the cleaning chamber 128. Alternatively or additionally, the conveyor device 164 of the basket discharge section 153 may have a basket sensor 206 designed to detect at least one cleaning basket waiting in section 194 at its end when viewed in the conveyor direction 222.

[0182] For automatic loading, the cleaning basket can be manually introduced into section 192 of the conveyor device 160 of the basket supply unit 152. The basket sensor 196 can detect the resulting occupancy. This detection allows the section 192 of the conveyor 160 to move, and the cleaning basket is moved until the basket sensor 198 detects the cleaning basket, after which further movement is again prevented. If the basket sensor 198 has already detected another cleaning basket, section 192 of the conveyor device 160 may be blocked to prevent the cleaning basket to be inserted from being moved.

[0183] If the basket sensor 200 does not detect a cleaning basket, transport on sections 192 and 194 becomes possible so that the cleaning basket located on sections 192 and 194 is transported. Section 194 is blocked again when the basket sensor 200 detects a cleaning basket. Section 192 is blocked again when the basket sensor 198 detects a cleaning basket.

[0184] If basket sensor 200 detects the cleaning basket but basket sensor 202 does not, the hood 136 may automatically move to the open position 137. Then, the conveyor elements 159 and section 194 of the basket carrier 150 may transport the cleaning basket into the cleaning chamber until basket sensor 202 detects the cleaning basket. If basket sensor 202 detects the cleaning basket but basket sensor 204 does not, the hood 136 is moved to the closed position and / or the rinsing program is started.

[0185] When the rinsing program is complete and the basket sensor 206 does not detect a cleaning basket, the hood may be moved to the open position 137, and / or the conveyor element 159 and conveyor device 164 of the basket carrier 150 may be released so that the cleaning basket can be removed from the cleaning chamber. At this time, the conveyor element 159 of the basket carrier 150 is activated in front of the conveyor device 164 so that any baskets already positioned on the conveyor device 164 move closer together. When the basket sensor 204 no longer detects a cleaning basket, the conveyor element 159 and conveyor device 164 of the basket carrier 150 may be blocked. When the basket sensor 202 no longer detects a cleaning basket, the cleaning chamber may be reloaded.

[0186] If the cleaning process is not started within a predetermined time, the hood is moved to the closed position and the cleaning device 110 enters standby mode.

[0187] Figure 7 schematically shows method 208 for cleaning an item to be cleaned, method 208 includes the use of a cleaning device 110, and method 208 further includes the following steps. i. In step 210, the cover device is opened, and the cover device is left in an open state. ii. In step 212, at least one cleaning basket containing the items to be cleaned is pulled into the cleaning chamber by the drive unit 146 with the cover device open, and the cleaning basket is received in a stationary state within the cleaning chamber. iii. In step 214, the cover device is closed, and the cover device is in the closed state. iv. In step 216, at least one cleaning fluid is applied to the article to be cleaned within the cleaning chamber. v. In step 218, the cover device is opened, and the cover device is in an open state, vi. In step 220, the cleaning basket containing the cleaned items is discharged from the cleaning chamber by the drive unit 146. [Explanation of symbols]

[0188] 110 Cleaning device 112 Pass-Through Rinsing Machine 114 Supply Table 116 Hood-type rinsing machine 118 Applicable equipment 120 tank 122 Hose spray 124 Items to be cleaned 126 Cleaning Basket 128 Cleaning Chamber 130 base 132 frames 134 Cover Devices 135 Closed position 136 Food 137 Open position 138 Operation Elements 139 Opening movement direction 140 Handle 141 Closure movement direction 142 Drive Unit 144 Sieve element 146 Drive unit 150 Basketball Career 152 Sket Supply Unit 153 Basket discharge section 154 Drive elements 156 Drive element 158 Drive elements 159 Conveyor elements 160 Conveyor Devices 162 Discharge Table 164 Conveyor Devices 165 Machine Control Unit 166 Basket Sensor 168 Basket Sensor 170 Supply Control Unit 172 Basket Retrieval 174 Discharge Control Unit 176 Drying fan 178 Swivel axis 180 frames 182 Basket carrier receptor 184 Guide Rail 186 Nozzle elements 190 rotations Section 192 Section 194 196 Basket Sensor 198 Basket Sensor 200 Basket Sensors 202 Basket Sensor 204 Basket Sensor 206 Basket Sensor 208 Methods for cleaning items to be cleaned 210 Step to release the cover device 212 Step to pull in at least one cleaning basket 214 Step to close the cover device 216 Steps to be applied to items to be cleaned 218 Step to release the cover device 220 Step to discharge the cleaning basket 222 Conveyor direction 224 Gear mechanism 226 shaft 228 rear side 230 Front 232 Transmission elements 234 Roller conveyor 236 Roller conveyor

Claims

1. A cleaning device (110) for cleaning an item (124) to be cleaned, The cleaning device (110) includes a cleaning chamber (128) capable of receiving the article (124) to be cleaned in a stationary state by at least one cleaning basket (126), The cleaning device (110) further comprises at least one application device (118), the cleaning device (110) being designed as a program-controlled machine and designed to apply at least one cleaning fluid to the article (124) to be cleaned, which is received in a stationary state within the cleaning chamber (128), The cleaning device (110) further comprises at least one cover device (134) for covering the cleaning chamber (128), the cover device (134) having at least one open state and at least one closed state. The cleaning device (110) further comprises at least one basket carrier (150), the basket carrier (150) is designed to be reversibly introduced into the cleaning chamber (128), the basket carrier (150) has at least one drive unit (146), the cleaning device (110) has at least one drive unit (142) in which at least a portion is located inside the cleaning chamber (128), and the basket carrier (150) is designed to be mechanically coupled to the drive unit (142) when the basket carrier (150) is introduced into the cleaning chamber (128). The cleaning apparatus (110) is designed such that, when the cover device (134) is open, it draws a cleaning basket (126) containing the article to be cleaned (124) into the cleaning chamber (128), and applies the cleaning fluid to the article to be cleaned (124) in the cleaning basket (126) within the cleaning chamber (128). The connected drive unit (146) is driven by the drive unit to receive the drawn-in cleaning basket (126) in a stationary state. Cleaning device (110).

2. The cleaning apparatus (110) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one mechanical control unit (150), the mechanical control unit (150) being designed to control at least one cleaning program in the cleaning chamber (128), and the mechanical control unit (150) being further designed to control the cover device (134).

3. The cleaning apparatus (110) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cleaning apparatus (110) is designed to use the drive unit (146) to periodically move the article (124) to be cleaned, which is received in a stationary state within the cleaning chamber (128), with an amplitude of 50 mm or less, particularly 30 mm or less, and most preferably 20 mm or less, while the cleaning liquid is applied.

4. The cleaning apparatus (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover device (134) forms at least three walls of the cleaning chamber (128), in particular two side walls and one end wall.

5. The cleaning device (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further designed so that, after cleaning is complete, the connected drive unit (146) is driven by the drive unit to discharge the cleaning basket (126) containing the article (124) to be cleaned from the cleaning chamber (128) with the cover device (134) open.

6. The cleaning device (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the drive device (146) has at least one drive element designed to be connected to the cleaning basket (126) in a form selected from the group consisting of friction engagement coupling and shape fitting coupling.

7. The cleaning apparatus (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the drive unit (146) comprises at least one conveyor element (159) selected from the group consisting of a roller conveyor, a conveyor band, a conveyor belt, a conveyor chain, and an oscillating ratchet conveyor, which can be driven by the drive unit (142) to transport the cleaning basket (126).

8. The cleaning device (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the drive device (146) is designed to act only on the portion of the cleaning basket (126) that protrudes into the cleaning chamber (128).

9. The cleaning device (110) is designed as a pass-through rinsing machine (112), and more specifically as a pass-through dishwasher. The cleaning device (110) has at least one basket supply unit (152) and at least one basket discharge unit (153), in particular the basket discharge unit (153) on the opposite side of the cleaning chamber (128) from the basket supply unit (152), The cleaning device (110) is designed such that when the cover device (134) is open, the drive unit (146) of the basket carrier (150) pulls the cleaning basket (126) from the basket supply unit (152) into the basket carrier (150). The cleaning apparatus (110) is further designed to store the article (124) to be cleaned, received in the cleaning basket (126) within the basket carrier (150), in a stationary state when the cover device (134) is closed, and to apply the cleaning fluid to the article in at least one cleaning program, particularly in at least one cleaning program having at least one washing step and at least one rinsing step. The cleaning device (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, after the execution of the cleaning program, the cleaning basket (126) having the cleaned item (124) to be cleaned is transferred by the drive device (146) from the basket carrier (150) to the basket discharge unit (153) with the cover device (134) open.

10. The cleaning apparatus (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each of the drive unit (142) and the drive device (146) has at least one drive element, the drive elements being designed to mechanically engage with each other when the basket carrier (150) is introduced into the cleaning chamber (128) such that the operation of the drive unit causes the drive device (146) to operate the basket carrier (150).

11. The cleaning apparatus (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the basket carrier (150) can be introduced into the cleaning chamber (128) by at least one rotational movement (190).

12. The cleaning apparatus (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the basket carrier (150) can be introduced into the cleaning chamber (128) without tools and removed from the cleaning chamber (128) without tools.

13. The cleaning apparatus (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the basket carrier (150) has a frame (180), particularly a rectangular frame (180), particularly a square frame (180), and the frame (180) is introduceable into a basket carrier (150) receiver in the cleaning chamber (128).

14. The cleaning device (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the cleaning device (110) is designed as a dishwasher and is designed to clean articles (124) to be cleaned, configured for at least one purpose selected from the group consisting of cooking food, cooking beverages, serving food, serving beverages, storing food, and storing beverages.

15. A method for cleaning an item (208) to be cleaned, The method (208) includes using the cleaning device (110) described in any one of claims 1 to 14, The above method further involves the following steps: i. A step of opening the cover device (210), wherein the cover device (134) is in an open state, ii. A step in which at least one cleaning basket (212) containing the article to be cleaned (124) is drawn into the cleaning chamber (128) by the drive device (146) with the cover device (134) open, and the cleaning basket (126) is received in a stationary state within the cleaning chamber (128), iii. A step of closing the cover device (214), wherein the cover device (134) is brought into a closed state, iv. The step of applying at least one cleaning fluid to the article (216) to be cleaned within the cleaning chamber (128), v. A step of opening the cover device (218), wherein the cover device (134) is in an open state, and vi. Discharging the cleaning basket (220) containing the cleaned article (124) from the cleaning chamber (128) by the drive device (146), Methods including (208).

Images