Dish Rack Notch Design for Oversized Container Angle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dish racks for oversized containers in commercial dish machines often require containers to be angled, leading to water deflection outside the machine, causing inefficiencies, inconsistent results, and safety hazards due to water displacement, and they cannot accommodate multiple containers simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A dish rack with a porous base and upstanding sidewalls featuring notches and a wire framework that supports oversized containers at a controlled angle within the machine, preventing water spray from being deflected out and allowing multiple containers to be washed simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If oversized containers are placed at an angle in a conventional dish rack to fit within the machine, then the container can be accommodated, but water is deflected out of the machine causing inefficiencies and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is divided into multiple sections with individual container positioning areas. Each section has its own notches and support structures that can independently accommodate containers at different angles, preventing water deflection from one container from affecting others while maintaining proper water flow containment for each container
Solution Approach 2:
The rack structure acts as an intermediary between the container and the dish machine. By providing notches, support surfaces, and angular positioning features, the rack mediates the interaction to ensure containers are held at angles that direct water flow back into the machine rather than allowing deflection outward
2Reliability
If containers are washed one at a time in a single rack, then proper positioning is achieved, but productivity and throughput are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is segmented into multiple independent container positioning zones, each capable of holding and properly positioning a container. This segmentation allows multiple containers to be washed simultaneously while maintaining the reliability of proper positioning and water flow control for each individual container
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple container positioning capabilities are merged into a single rack structure. The rack combines several notching patterns, support surfaces, and angular positioning features in one unit, enabling simultaneous washing of multiple containers while maintaining consistent washing quality for each
3Device complexity
If a simple rack structure is used, then device complexity is low, but the rack cannot control container angle to prevent water displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The rack employs local quality variations through strategically placed notches of different depths and angles, support surfaces at specific locations, and localized structural features. These localized variations enable precise control of container positioning and water flow direction without requiring complex overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The rack utilizes asymmetric notching and support surface design to control container orientation. By creating asymmetric engagement points and support geometries, the rack naturally guides containers into the correct angular position that prevents water deflection, achieving control without symmetric complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a dish rack for accommodating oversized containers in an automated dish machine. The rack includes a generally porous base surrounded by upstanding sidewalls and at least a pair of notches in one sidewall or opposing sidewalls configured for receiving an edge of the an oversized container. One form of the invention includes a wire framework having a base and one or more stanchions that extend generally upwardly from the base. The notches and wire framework are configured for supporting an oversized container at an angled position within an automated dish machine to inhibit spray from being directed out of the dish machine.