Hood-Type Dishwasher Zoning for Mixed Soil Batch Washing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial batch dishwashers face bottlenecks during peak times due to long cycle times required for heavily soiled items, leading to reduced capacity and increased manual handling, while resources like energy, water, and chemicals are not optimized for efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A hood-type dishwasher with a treatment chamber divided into two zones, allowing independent treatment of washware based on soiling levels, where the main zone handles lightly soiled items efficiently and an auxiliary zone handles heavily soiled items with extended cycles, optimizing resource use and capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single treatment chamber is used to handle all washware, then the dishwasher structure remains simple, but during peak times the long cycle times for heavily soiled items block the dishwasher and reduce overall capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedishwasher capacityVSAvoidtreatment chamber structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment chamber is divided into two independent treatment zones: a first treatment zone for lightly soiled items with shorter cycle times, and a second treatment zone for heavily soiled items with extended cycle times. This segmentation allows parallel processing of different washware types, increasing overall dishwasher capacity during peak times without requiring a completely separate machine.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If extended cycle times are used for heavily soiled items, then wash performance improves, but the dishwasher is blocked for longer periods reducing overall throughput

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewash performanceVSAvoiddishwasher capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the treatment chamber into two zones with different cycle times, the system can maintain high wash performance for heavily soiled items in the second zone while simultaneously processing lightly soiled items in the first zone, thereby preventing bottlenecks and maintaining overall throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system varies the treatment parameters (cycle time, spray intensity, temperature) for different zones based on the soiling level of the washware. The second treatment zone uses extended cycle times and intensified washing parameters for heavily soiled items, while the first zone uses shorter, lighter cycles for lightly soiled items, optimizing both wash performance and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If resources are allocated to handle heavily soiled items with extended cycles, then cleaning quality improves, but energy, water, and chemical consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning qualityVSAvoidresource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different resource intensities to different zones based on local needs. The second treatment zone for heavily soiled items receives extended cycle times and higher resource allocation, while the first treatment zone for lightly soiled items uses reduced resources. This local differentiation optimizes cleaning quality where needed while minimizing overall resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The control system adjusts washing parameters (water flow rate, spray pressure, temperature, chemical dosage, cycle duration) based on the detected soiling level and selected program for each zone. This parameter optimization ensures adequate cleaning quality for heavily soiled items while reducing resource waste on lightly soiled items.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This solution enables continuous operation during peak times without blocking the dishwasher, improving wash performance for heavily soiled items while maintaining capacity for lightly soiled items, and reducing energy, water, and chemical consumption.

Implementation Method 1

The wash liquid contained in the wash tank can be conveyed from the wash pump to the wash nozzles via the line system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

The sprayed wash liquid then flows back into the wash tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid spray: Fluid Spray

Implementation Method 3

the treatment chamber has a first treatment zone and at least one further, second treatment zone, wherein items of washware can be treated independently of one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpatial separation:

Data Source

PatentEP3311723B1Dishwasher in the form of a commercial utensil washer or dishwasher which is designed as a batch dishwasher
Publication Date: 2020.10.07 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP3311723B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3311723B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3311723B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a dishwasher (1) in the form of a commercial utensil washer or dishwasher which is designed as a batch dishwasher and is realized as a hood-type dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher (1) has a treatment chamber (2) with at least one wash system which is designed as a recirculation system, wherein the treatment chamber (2) has a first treatment zone (6) and at least one further, second treatment zone (7), wherein items ofwashware can be treated independently of one another and at least temporarily at the same time in the first and in the at least one second treatment zone (6, 7).