dishmachine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial dishmachines consume excessive water and energy, and often require large amounts of chemicals and materials, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased operational costs, especially when dealing with tough food soils and varying soil loads.

Innovation Solution

The dishmachine incorporates features such as pumped final rinse systems, automated and smart dump and fill systems, integrated water conditioning, insulated paneling, heat recovery systems, and RFID-tagged dish racks to optimize water and energy usage, reduce chemical consumption, and enhance cleaning efficacy based on soil types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If strong detergents, high temperatures, and copious amounts of water are used to remove difficult soils, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but water consumption and energy usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidwater consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts water temperature, flow rate, and detergent concentration based on detected soil type and load. Sensors monitor soil characteristics and modify washing parameters in real-time, allowing effective cleaning with optimized resource usage rather than always using maximum water and heat

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The dishmachine automatically detects soil conditions and self-regulates water and energy consumption without manual intervention. The system performs self-optimization by sensing soil types and adjusting operational parameters autonomously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If strong detergents and high temperatures are used to clean burned or baked-on soils, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary mechanical pre-cleaning actions and targeted detergents to loosen burned-on soils before applying heat, reducing the overall energy required. Pre-soaking and mechanical agitation prepare the soil for removal with minimal thermal energy input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Temperature and chemical concentration parameters are dynamically adjusted based on soil detection. For baked-on soils, the system uses higher temperatures locally where needed rather than heating the entire water volume, optimizing energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If strong detergents are used to remove stubborn soils, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but chemical material consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidchemical consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Detergent concentration is precisely controlled and adjusted based on soil type and load detection. The system uses higher concentrations only when and where stubborn soils are detected, otherwise using lower concentrations to reduce chemical consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and targets specific soil types with specialized cleaning agents applied only where needed, rather than using uniform high-dose chemicals throughout the entire washing process, reducing overall chemical consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the dishmachine is designed to handle varying soil loads effectively, then cleaning performance is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil load adaptabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single integrated sensor system performs multiple functions: detecting soil type, estimating soil load, and triggering appropriate washing protocols. This multi-functional approach achieves adaptability without proportionally increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Sensors provide real-time feedback on soil conditions, and the control system automatically adjusts washing parameters based on this feedback. This closed-loop control enables the system to adapt to varying soil loads while using a relatively simple added complexity of sensing and control electronics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

These features enable significant water and energy savings, reduce material usage, and ensure effective cleaning of diverse soils, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing costs while maintaining high cleaning performance.

Implementation Method 1

heat recovery systems

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat recovery: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

insulated paneling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS20220125274A1dishmachine

Publication Date: 2022.04.28 ECOLAB USA INC

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a dishmachine that includes one or more features directed to water, energy or material savings. The disclosed dishmachines are still capable of meeting the soil demands of the articles to be cleaned.