Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Work handled in bulk or groups
Patent
1996-11-01
1999-03-02
Morgan, Kriellion S.
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Work handled in bulk or groups
134 252, 134 70, 134 72, 134 5D, A45B 1912
Patent
active
058765158
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for washing items in an automatic washing line wherein the items to be washed are conveyed to a washing zone in succession and a sensor is used to detect the presence of an item in the sensor area of the sensor.
The invention also relates to an automatic washing apparatus for washing items, the apparatus comprising an accumulation area for accumulating items to be washed in succession into a line, a conveyor in the accumulation area for conveying the items to the washing zone, and a sensor for detecting the presence of an item in the sensor area of the sensor.
In institutional kitchens, such as hotel or restaurant kitchens, large quantities of dishes are washed daily. Washing is effected by placing the dishes in racks which are conveyed through a washing line. Such washing lines usually comprise prewash, main wash and rinsing.
The operating costs of a washing line consist of water, energy and detergent consumed. Previously attention has not been paid to what the idle running costs of such a washing line may be. Unexpectedly, calculations show that the idle running costs of a kitchen washing e.g. 500 standard-sized racks daily may, at worst, exceed FIM 100.000 per year.
Idle running is caused by the wash running although no racks are conveyed through the line or there is space between the racks. With the line empty, water, energy and detergents are wasted.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method enabling a cut in operating costs by decreasing idle running. To obtain this goal, the method of the invention is characterized in that when the items are conveyed to the washing zone, a sensor is used to detect the presence of a new item essentially immediately after the last item which has passed the sensor area of the sensor, and in case of non-presence of a new item, washing in the washing zone is interrupted until the next item input towards the washing zone has reached the item that has passed the sensor area of the said sensor.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for washing items, the apparatus allowing the realization of the above economical method that will save operating costs. The apparatus of the invention is characterized in that it comprises the sensor which is arranged to detect if there is a new item essentially immediately after the item which has passed the sensor area, and in addition the washing apparatus comprises a programme which will interrupt the wash in the washing zone on the basis of information supplied by the sensor regarding the non-presence of a new item. Additionally the apparatus may comprise a separate sensor for detecting the location of the last item on line, whereby a programme will give a command to stop the wash programme in the washing zone on the basis of information supplied by the sensor. Correspondingly the location of the first item may be detected by means of a suitable sensor whereby the wash programme will start once a new line reaches that point. A similar idea may also be used separately in the different sub-zones of the apparatus; sub-zones that have a separate wash programmes, e.g. prewash, main wash and rinsing.
It is an essential idea of the invention that washing takes place in the washing area mainly only when the area is filled with items to be washed, whereby detergent, water and electricity will be utilized in the best possible way. The washing of items in the washing zone is thus interrupted if the items are not followed by items to be washed and the wash is not completed until new items to be washed arrive in the washing zone as a continuation of the existing ones. According to a preferred embodiment, a certain quantity of items to be washed is assembled in succession, preferably a quantity corresponding to the length of the washing zone, and the wash is started when a full quantity of items, i.e. a group of items, is accumulated and waiting to
REFERENCES:
patent: 4334547 (1982-06-01), Diebel et al.
patent: 4357176 (1982-11-01), Anthony
patent: 4561904 (1985-12-01), Eberhardt, Jr.
patent: 5259889 (1993-11-01), Payzant
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