Conveyor Warewasher Camera Detection for Adaptive Cleaning Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor warewashers lack automatic differentiation of washware types, leading to inefficient resource usage and compromised cleaning performance due to standardized treatment parameters for various types of washware.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor warewasher equipped with a camera system and evaluation device to determine the average degree and type of soiling, which automatically adjusts washing liquid quality and cleaning performance by controlling factors like volume flow rate, nozzle pressure, temperature, and cleaning agent concentration in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standardized treatment parameters are used for various types of washware, then the conveyor warewasher can handle multiple washware types, but cleaning performance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts washing parameters (temperature, spray pressure, chemical dosage, cycle duration) based on real-time detection of washware type and soiling degree. The control unit modifies treatment parameters mid-process to optimize cleaning for each specific item, transitioning from static standardized parameters to dynamic adaptive parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the washing chamber receive different treatment parameters tailored to the specific washware detected in each zone. The system applies localized quality control by adjusting spray intensity, temperature, and chemical concentration for specific washware types and soiling levels rather than uniform treatment throughout.
2Device complexity
If standardized treatment parameters are used for various types of washware, then device complexity is reduced, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes physical and chemical parameters (temperature, pressure, chemical concentration, flow rate) based on detected washware characteristics. The control unit receives input from sensors identifying washware type and soiling degree, then automatically adjusts parameters to use only the necessary amount of water, energy, and cleaning chemicals required for each specific item.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment through automated detection and control. The sensor system automatically identifies washware type and soiling level, and the control unit autonomously modifies treatment parameters without human intervention, enabling the system to serve itself in optimizing resource usage.
3Productivity
If camera system and evaluation device are added to detect washware characteristics, then cleaning efficiency is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual assessment of washware with an automated optical detection system. Cameras and evaluation devices substitute for human visual inspection and manual parameter selection, automatically capturing images, analyzing soiling characteristics, and transmitting data to the control unit for automated parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a closed-loop feedback mechanism where cameras continuously monitor washware characteristics, the evaluation device analyzes the data, and the control unit adjusts treatment parameters based on this feedback. This real-time feedback loop enables continuous optimization of cleaning efficiency while managing system complexity through automated control.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor warewasher has at least one washing zone, at least one rinsing zone and a conveyor apparatus. A camera system is configured to capture at least one image of a portion of the conveyor apparatus. An evaluation device is configured to determine an average degree of soiling of washware present in the portion of the conveyor apparatus at the time of the image capture and/or a average type of soiling of the washware present in the portion of the conveyor apparatus at the time of the image capture. A control device is configured to initiate, automatically or optionally automatically depending on the determined average degree of soiling and/or depending on the determined average type of soiling, at least one measure influencing the quality of a washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone and/or a measure influencing the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher.