Conveyor Warewasher Dirt Removal for Clean Wash Liquid Recirculation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In conveyor dishwashers with recirculation circuits, the continuous circulation of wash liquid leads to the comminution of dirt particles, making it difficult to separate them effectively, resulting in increased contamination and a worsening washing result over time.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher design featuring a tank-covering screen with a dirt-collecting region that is upwardly open to allow dirt separation and a closed dirt-discharging pipe system, utilizing a dirty-water pump to actively remove collected dirt from the wash system, preventing recontamination and improving washing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wash liquid is continuously recirculated in the wash zone, then washing efficiency is maintained, but dirt particles are comminuted and recontamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts dirt particles from the recirculating wash liquid by introducing a suction device that actively removes particles larger than 0.6 mm through a screen. This separation allows the wash liquid to be cleaned and recirculated without the harmful comminuted dirt, resolving the contradiction between maintaining washing efficiency and preventing recontamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of a screen and suction device that mediates between the recirculating wash liquid and the dirt particles. The screen acts as a physical barrier to separate particles, while the suction device actively removes them, allowing the wash liquid to maintain its cleaning effectiveness without recontamination.
2Ease of operation
If an open dirt-collecting region is used, then dirt can be easily discharged, but fine dirt particles escape and recontaminate the wash system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a screen as a flexible barrier that covers the dirt-collecting region. This screen allows easy discharge of collected dirt while simultaneously acting as a filter to prevent fine particles from escaping back into the wash liquid, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and prevention of fine dirt escape.
3Manufacturing precision
If a screen with small mesh size is used to separate fine dirt, then separation efficiency increases, but the screen clogs more quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the dirt removal process into two stages: first, a screen captures larger particles ( >0.6 mm), and second, a suction device with adjustable nozzle removes remaining fine particles. This segmentation allows the screen to use a relatively large mesh size (avoiding rapid clogging) while still achieving high overall separation efficiency through the combined action of both stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the suction nozzle adjustable, allowing dynamic adaptation to different dirt conditions. The nozzle can be positioned to optimize suction of fine particles while the screen handles coarser material, extending screen service life while maintaining high separation efficiency through dynamic operation.
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
The solution effectively prevents recontamination of washware, maintains a consistent washing result, and extends the service life of wash liquid, reducing water, detergent, and energy usage by ensuring efficient dirt removal and recirculation.
Implementation Method 1
to separate off particles of dirt from the wash liquid which has been sprayed and flows back into the wash tank under gravitational force
Implementation Method 2
the dirt-collecting system has at least one dirty-water pump which is arranged in the dirt-discharging pipe system and by means of which the particles of dirt collected in the dirty-water-collecting region are actively fed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a dishwasher which is designed in the form of a box-type dishwasher or of a conveyor dishwasher (50) and has at least one wash system (51, 52) designed in the form of a recirculation circuit. The wash system (51, 52) has a nozzle system with at least one wash nozzle (13-1, 13-2) for spraying wash liquid onto the wash ware which is to be cleaned, also has a wash tank (14; 14-1, 14-2) for collecting at least some of the sprayed wash liquid, and additionally has a wash pump (11; 11-1, 11-2) by means of which wash liquid collected in the wash tank (14; 14-1, 14-2) is fed to the at least one wash nozzle (13-1, 13-2). There is also a dirt-collecting system (70) which is assigned to the at least one wash system (51, 52) and has at least one tank-covering screen (20; 20-1, 20-2), in order to separate off particles of dirt from the wash liquid which has been sprayed and flowed back into the wash tank (14; 14-1, 14-2) under gravitational force. In order for the particles of dirt which are washed off the wash ware during operation of the dishwasher to be separated effectively from the wash liquid, the dirt-collecting system (70) also has a dirt-collecting region (71) which is arranged in the wash system (51, 52) and is intended for collecting the particles of dirt which have been separated off from the wash liquid with the aid of the tank-covering screen (20; 20-1, 20-2), wherein the dirt-collecting region (71) is open at the top, but closed all the way around the sides, and wherein there is also a dirt- discharging pipe system (72, 73; 72-1, 73-1; 72-2, 73-2) which is connected to the dirt- collecting region (71) and by means of which the particles of dirt collected in the dirt- collecting region (71) are discharged from the wash system (51, 52).