Modular Dishwasher Loading System with Adaptive Handling Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dishwashing systems face challenges in achieving high throughput, cost efficiency, and flexibility in handling varying cleaning situations, often requiring manual interventions and being inflexible due to specific tailoring to place settings.
Innovation Solution
A modular system for loading a conveyor dishwasher comprising a detection module, interchangeable handling modules, a feed unit, and a control module that evaluates item status data to selectively feed items to appropriate handling modules based on their usability, ensuring efficient and adaptable cleaning operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single dishwasher with multiple lanes is used, then throughput is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple independent handling modules, each responsible for a specific task (removing obstructing items, food scraps, napkins, drinking glasses, cutlery, or other crockery). These modules can be selectively activated based on the detected item composition, avoiding the need for a fully complex multi-lane dishwasher while maintaining high throughput through targeted parallel processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The handling modules are designed with universal interfaces that allow them to be reversibly coupled to and decoupled from the system. A single modular unit can perform multiple functions depending on which sub-modules are attached, replacing the need for dedicated single-function devices and reducing overall system complexity.
2Productivity
If dishwashers are specifically tailored to place settings, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts its configuration by selectively coupling and decoupling handling modules based on the detected item composition. The control module receives data about the items to be cleaned and activates only the necessary handling modules, allowing the system to optimize for specific cleaning scenarios while maintaining versatility across different place settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its operational parameters by selecting different combinations of handling modules based on the detected item types. This allows the same physical infrastructure to be optimized for different cleaning scenarios (e.g., glass-heavy vs. cutlery-heavy placements) without requiring physical reconfiguration or dedicated equipment for each scenario.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual interventions are used, then flexibility is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The handling modules operate autonomously based on automated detection and control. The detection module identifies items to be cleaned, the control module processes this information and determines which handling modules are needed, and the system automatically activates the appropriate modules without requiring manual intervention. This maintains flexibility through automated decision-making while significantly improving productivity through continuous operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate dishwashers are used, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple handling modules are merged into a single integrated system that shares common infrastructure (detection module, control module, feed unit, conveyor device). This consolidation provides the adaptability of multiple specialized devices while reducing overall complexity by eliminating redundant components and simplifying the system architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention proposes a modular system (120) for loading a conveying apparatus (118) of a conveyor dishwasher (114). The modular system (120) comprises: A. at least one detection module (146) for sensing status data relating to supplied washware (112); B. a plurality of interchangeable handling modules (168), wherein the handling modules (168) are each intended to perform an individual handling function for handling the washware (112) using at least one actuator (170); C. at least one feeding unit (164) for selectively feeding the supplied washware (112) to the handling modules (168); D. at least one control module (152), wherein the control module (152) has at least one registering unit (158), wherein the handling modules (168) and the individual handling function thereof can be registered, and deregistered, at the registering unit (158), wherein the control module (152) has at least one processor (156) and is programmed to evaluate the status data and to assess a respective situation of the supplied washware (112); and to detect which handling modules (168) are registered at the registering unit (158), whether the respective individual handling function of the handling modules (168) is usable in the respective washware situation, and to activate the feeding unit (164) such that washware (112) is fed to the handling modules (168) in accordance with the usability. The invention also proposes a cleaning system (110) which comprises the modular system (120), and further proposes a method for cleaning washware (112).