Conveying apparatus for feeding washware to a conveyor warewasher
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor warewashers face inefficiencies in cleaning trays due to the need for manual sorting and placement, which increases operational time and resource consumption, as trays must be placed transversely and require double handling by personnel.
Innovation Solution
A conveying apparatus that allows trays to be loaded parallel to the machine, with an unloading station using a clearance system to automatically introduce trays into a specialized conveyor belt, reducing manual handling and optimizing the washing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If trays are placed transversely into the conveyor belt for cleaning, then trays can be loaded into the warewasher, but the entire available surface of the conveyor belt is occupied, requiring relatively large amounts of time to clean trays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the loading dimension from transverse (perpendicular to transport direction) to longitudinal (parallel to transport direction). Trays are now fed in the same direction as the conveyor belt moves, allowing multiple trays to be arranged end-to-end rather than side-by-side, thus occupying less surface area and enabling faster processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing trays across the conveyor belt width (traditional method), the system inverts the approach by feeding trays along the length of the conveyor belt in the direction of motion. This reversal of the loading orientation allows continuous flow processing without blocking the conveyor path.
2Ease of operation
If trays are manually sorted and placed into the conveyor belt, then trays can be cleaned, but operating personnel must integrate each tray into the workflow twice at the machine inlet, increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying apparatus automatically feeds trays into the conveyor belt in the direction of transport, eliminating the need for manual sorting and double handling by personnel. The system performs the loading function itself, reducing labor intervention to a single action at the inlet.
Solution Approach 2:
Trays are pre-oriented and positioned on the conveying apparatus in the correct longitudinal arrangement before entering the conveyor belt. This preliminary preparation ensures that trays are ready for immediate automated loading without requiring manual sorting or repositioning during the loading process.
3Productivity
If trays are cleaned alongside other washware, then cleaning efficiency improves, but trays must be placed parallel to the machine requiring specialized loading configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying apparatus is designed with a universal loading mechanism that handles both trays and other washware types using the same longitudinal feeding approach. The conveyor belt system accommodates multiple washware types simultaneously, all fed in the direction of transport, eliminating the need for separate specialized loading configurations for different item types.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a conveying apparatus (200, 200', 200", 200"') for feeding washware (100, 101) to at least one conveyor belt (50, 51, 52) of a commercial conveyor warewasher (1), with a conveying system (201) for conveying the washware (100, 101), in particular for feeding trays or tray-like washware (100), of cutlery and/or of other washware (101). The invention is characterized by an unloading station (202, 202', 202", 202"') for automatically unloading the washware (100, 101) from the conveying apparatus (200, 200', 200", 200"') transversely to the conveying direction of the conveying system (201), in which the trays (100), with or without cutlery (103) lying on them, can be oriented on edge and parallel to the transport direction of the conveying system (201), so as to be capable of being placed onto a conveyor belt (50) of the conveyor warewasher. The invention relates, furthermore, to a flight-type warewasher (1) and to a combination of this warewasher (1) and of the conveying apparatus (200, 200', 200", 200"'). The invention relates, moreover, to a method for loading a flight-type warewasher (1), by means of a conveying apparatus (200, 200', 200", 200"' ) and to a preferred use of same for loading a warewasher with trays or tray-like washware (100).