Hood-Type Dishwasher Zoning for Parallel 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 washware, leading to inefficient use and manual handling, which compromises cleaning capacity and resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

A hood-type dishwasher with a treatment chamber divided into two zones, allowing independent treatment of washware based on soiling levels, where lightly soiled items are processed in a main zone and heavily soiled items in an auxiliary zone, with adjustable parameters for each zone to optimize cleaning capacity and resource efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single treatment chamber is used to clean all washware, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity decreases during peak times due to long cycle times for heavily soiled items

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

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment chamber is divided into two independent treatment zones: a main treatment zone for lightly soiled washware and an auxiliary treatment zone for heavily soiled washware. Each zone can operate independently with its own wash system, allowing parallel processing of different washware types and significantly increasing cleaning capacity during peak times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If a longer wash program is selected for heavily soiled washware, then the cleaning precision is improved, but the loss of time increases and blocks the dishwasher for other tasks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning qualityVSAvoidprogram duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the treatment chamber into main and auxiliary zones, the dishwasher can run a long wash program in the auxiliary zone for heavily soiled items while simultaneously running a short wash program in the main zone for lightly soiled items. This eliminates the blocking effect and allows continuous productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each treatment zone is equipped with independently adjustable wash parameters (temperature, spray pressure, cycle duration) tailored to the specific cleaning needs of the washware type assigned to that zone, optimizing cleaning quality for each local area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the treatment chamber is divided into multiple zones, then the productivity increases through parallel processing, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimultaneous processing capacityVSAvoidzone separation structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment chamber is divided into two treatment zones separated by a partition wall, with each zone having its own wash system. This segmentation enables parallel processing while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Both treatment zones utilize the same basic wash system components (pump, spray nozzles, control unit), allowing the system to handle different washware types with standardized equipment rather than requiring completely separate systems for each zone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If manual handling is used for heavily soiled washware, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the productivity decreases and cleaning capacity is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated cleaning capacityVSAvoidloading and unloading process
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The automated treatment chamber is segmented into zones that can be independently accessed and loaded/unloaded, allowing operators to efficiently handle different types of washware in each zone without interfering with the automated washing process in other zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 by allowing simultaneous processing of lightly and heavily soiled washware without reducing the main zone's capacity, while optimizing energy, water, and chemical usage.

Implementation Method 1

a wash pump, a line system which is connected to the wash pump... 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 EffectHydraulic: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

sprayed onto the washware to be cleaned through the wash nozzles in the treatment chamber. The sprayed wash liquid then flows back into the wash tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid spray: Fluid Spray

Implementation Method 3

The treatment chamber generally has arranged beneath it a wash tank in which liquid from the treatment chamber can flow back due to the force of gravity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3777636A1Dishwasher in the form of a commercial utensil washer or dishwasher which is designed as a batch dishwasher
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP3777636A1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3777636A1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3777636A1 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).