CN115739751A

CN115739751A - Ware washing machine with steam extraction unit

Info

Publication number: CN115739751A
Application number: CN202211040746.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 安德鲁·J·卡普特; 莱尔·J·奥斯特林
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 2021-09-02
Filing date: 2022-08-29
Publication date: 2023-03-07
Also published as: EP4147626A1

Abstract

An appliance washing machine includes a chamber having a washing zone, a front access opening, a left access opening, and a right access opening. At least one spray arm is arranged to spray liquid towards the washing zone. A lid assembly having multiple sides is movable between a lowered and closed position for washing and a raised open position for appliance access. An air exchange system is provided for drawing hot water vapor from the chamber and providing heated air into the chamber.

Description

Ware washing machine with steam extraction unit

Technical Field

The present application relates generally to warewash machines (warewash machines), and more particularly to hood-type warewash machines having controlled extraction of hot water vapor.

Background

Warewashers have become fairly standardized in the industry. Typically, standard ware washing machines have a washing chamber with an access opening that allows ware to be placed within the washing chamber for a washing operation. A typical hood-type warewasher includes a housing that partially defines a wash zone having a front access opening, a left access opening, and a right access opening, and at least one spray arm disposed above and/or below the wash zone. A lid assembly having multiple sides is movable between a down/closed position for washing and an up/open position for appliance access. In the closed position, a cover assembly having a plurality of sides closes the front, left and right access openings, and in the open position, the front, left and right access openings are open to allow access to the wash zone for toilet access.

In the washing and rinsing cycles of hood machines, the chamber is filled with hot water vapour. When the cycle is over, the operator raises the hood/door and a large amount of hot water vapor leaves the machine, creating an uncomfortable working environment. Hot water vapor exiting the machine also rises to the ceiling and may contact the facility walls, causing the ceiling to drip and often creating a hot working environment that may need to be conditioned, increasing facility costs.

It is desirable to provide a hood type machine that adequately addresses the problems associated with hot water vapor escape.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, an appliance washing machine includes: a housing partially defining a chamber having a washing zone, the chamber having a front access opening, a left access opening and a right access opening. At least one spray arm is disposed above or below the washing zone, the spray arm being configured to spray liquid toward the washing zone. The multi-sided lid assembly includes a plurality of wall sections that are movable between a lowered and closed position for washing and a raised and open position for appliance ingress and egress, wherein in the raised and open position each of the plurality of wall sections is raised. An air exchange system is fluidly connected with the chamber and includes an extraction compartment and an introduction compartment, both located outside the chamber. A condenser is included in the extraction compartment, wherein an incoming water path from the cold water input to the warewasher passes through the condenser. The extraction compartment includes an air outlet opening to the ambient environment of the perimeter, a first air mover associated with the extraction compartment and selectively controllable to move hot water vapor from the chamber into the extraction compartment, through the condenser, and out the air outlet. The introduction compartment includes at least one heater, an air inlet from the ambient environment of the perimeter, and a second air mover associated with the introduction compartment and selectively controllable to move ambient air into the introduction compartment via the air inlet, past the heater to be heated, and into the chamber.

A. In one aspect, an appliance washing machine includes: a housing partially defining a chamber having a washing zone, the chamber having a front access opening, a left access opening and a right access opening. At least one spray arm is disposed above or below the washing zone, the spray arm being configured to spray liquid towards the washing zone. A multi-sided lid assembly includes a movable front wall section, a left wall section, a right wall section, and a top wall section, movable between a lowered and closed position for washing and a raised open position for appliance access. The stationary chamber rear wall comprises an outlet opening which is fluidly connected with the vapour extraction unit at the backside of the rear wall. The vapor extraction unit includes a housing having a condenser therein, wherein incoming water from the cold water inlet to the warewasher passes through the condenser, wherein the housing includes an air outlet to the surrounding ambient environment and at least one air mover that selectively controls movement of hot water vapor from the chamber into the vapor extraction unit over the condenser and out the air outlet.

B. In one embodiment, the ware washer according to the preceding paragraph a includes: a controller configured to control a ware cleaning cycle of the ware washing machine, the ware cleaning cycle including a washing operation and a rinsing operation, the controller further configured to operate the vapor extraction unit by controlling each of (i) water flow through the condenser and (ii) operation of the at least one air mover such that hot water vapor is extracted from the chamber by the vapor extraction unit while water flows through the condenser at least after a rinsing operation of the ware cleaning cycle is completed.

C. In one embodiment of the warewasher according to paragraph a or paragraph B, the controller operates a flow control device in the form of a valve or pump to control the flow of water through the condenser.

D. In one embodiment of the ware washer according to any of the preceding paragraphs a-C, the steam extraction unit comprises a water flow path to allow condensed water within the housing to flow back into the chamber.

E. In one embodiment of the warewasher of the preceding paragraph D, the water flow path passes through the outlet opening to the chamber.

F. In an embodiment of the ware washer of any of the preceding paragraphs a through E, the auxiliary housing is formed in part by the auxiliary housing and in part by a rear wall of the ware washer housing, wherein the auxiliary housing is mounted to a back side of the rear wall.

G. In an embodiment of the warewasher of the preceding paragraph F, a gasket is disposed between the back side of the rear wall and the auxiliary housing.

H. In one embodiment of the warewasher of any of the preceding paragraphs a through G, the outlet opening is located in a lower portion of the rear wall and hot water vapor is extracted from the lower portion of the chamber during operation of the at least one air mover, while make-up air enters the chamber by flowing under a bottom of the front, left and/or right wall sections of the multi-sided hood assembly such that hot water vapor within the upper portion of the multi-sided hood assembly is substantially retained in the upper portion during operation of the vapor extraction unit.

I. In one embodiment of the ware washer of any of the preceding paragraphs a through H, the controller is configured to operate the steam extraction unit for a set period of time at the end of a rinsing operation of the ware cleaning operation.

J. In one embodiment of the warewasher of the preceding paragraph I, the controller is configured to activate the end-of-cycle alert only after operation of the vapor extraction unit is complete.

K. In one embodiment of the ware washer of any of the preceding paragraphs a through J, the ware washer includes an electric latch mechanism movable between a hood latched condition for retaining the hood assembly having the plurality of sides in the closed position and a hood unlatched condition permitting the hood assembly having the plurality of sides to be moved to the open position, wherein the controller is configured to retain the electric latch mechanism in the hood latched condition during operation of the vapor extraction unit.

L. in one embodiment of the warewasher of the preceding paragraph L, the ware cleaning cycle ends after a set period of time and the controller is configured to switch the electric latch mechanism to the hood unlocked state.

M. in one embodiment of the warewasher of any of the preceding paragraphs a-L, the condenser is fluidly connected to receive incoming water from a cold water input of the warewasher and deliver the incoming water to a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the incoming water and water flowing from the chamber along the drain flow path, wherein the incoming water is delivered into a hot water booster of the warewasher after passing through the heat exchanger.

N. in one embodiment of the ware washer of the preceding paragraph M, the ware washer further includes a hot water input connected to deliver inlet water to the tank of the chamber.

In another aspect, a method of operating the warewasher of any of the preceding paragraphs a through N includes: performing a ware cleaning cycle of a ware washing machine, the ware cleaning cycle comprising: (ii) after step (i), performing a washing operation in which washing liquid is sprayed through the washing nozzle, (ii) performing a rinsing operation in which rinsing water is sprayed through the rinsing nozzle, and (iii) after step (ii), operating the steam extraction unit by controlling each of (a) water flow through the condenser and (b) operation of the at least one air mover such that some of the hot water vapor is extracted from the lower section of the chamber through the steam extraction unit while the water flows through the condenser.

P. in another aspect, an appliance washing machine includes: a housing partially defining a chamber having a washing zone, the chamber having a front access opening, a left access opening and a right access opening. At least one spray arm is disposed above or below the washing zone, the spray arm being configured to spray liquid toward the washing zone. A multi-sided lid assembly includes a movable wall section, the multi-sided lid assembly movable between a lowered closed position for washing and a raised open position for appliance access, the multi-sided lid assembly closing the front, left and right access openings when the multi-sided lid assembly is in the lowered closed position, the front, left and right access openings opening to allow access to the wash zone for appliance access when the multi-sided lid assembly is in the raised open position. A vapor extraction unit is mounted on the warewasher and fluidly connectable to the chamber, the vapor extraction unit including a housing having a condenser through which incoming water to the warewasher passes, wherein an air outlet is provided from the housing to the surrounding ambient environment, and at least one air mover is positioned to move hot water vapor from the chamber into the vapor extraction unit over the condenser and then out the air outlet.

Q. in one embodiment of the warewasher of the preceding paragraph P, the warewasher includes a controller to control a warewasher cleaning cycle of the warewasher, the warewasher cleaning cycle including a wash operation followed by a rinse operation, the controller being further configured to operate the vapor extraction unit by controlling each of (i) water flow through the condenser and (ii) operation of the at least one air mover such that hot water vapor is extracted from the chamber through the vapor extraction unit while the water flows through the condenser at least after the rinse operation of the warewasher cleaning cycle ends.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a hood-type warewasher;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a vapor extraction unit of a warewasher;

FIG. 3 shows a side elevational view of the warewasher;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the supplemental air flow below the lower edge of the shroud wall section;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic depiction of water flow in a warewasher;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the air extraction and intake unit;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the unit of FIG. 6 on a warewasher;

FIG. 8 shows another side view of the unit of FIG. 6 on a ware washer; and

fig. 9 shows an embodiment of the air intake unit.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1-5, a warewasher 10 includes a housing 12 (e.g., having a support frame and a panel) that partially defines a chamber 14 having a wash zone 16. The chamber 14 includes a front access opening 18, a left access opening 20 and a right access opening 22 through which the appliance can be moved into and out of the chamber for cleaning. One or more spray arms (e.g., wash arm(s) 23a and rinse arm(s) 23b with respective wash and rinse nozzles) are disposed above and/or below the wash zone. The spray arm is configured to spray liquid towards the washing zone 16. In a common machine, both a wash spray arm 23a fed by a pump 24 (fig. 5) that recirculates liquid from a collection tank or tank 26 below the wash zone and a rinse spray arm 23b fed by a pump (or line pressure) that delivers hot water from a hot water booster 98 may be provided. The arms may be, for example, rotating arms and/or stationary arms. The upper set of arms and the lower set of arms may be implemented.

According to fig. 1, a multiple sided hood assembly 30 includes a movable front wall section 32, a left wall section 36, a right wall section 38, and a top wall section 40 (e.g., forming a box-type hood structure open at the bottom), and the hood assembly may or may not have a movable rear wall section 34. The various wall sections move together as a unit so that the lid assembly with multiple sides can be moved (according to arrow 42) between a lowered closed position (e.g., according to fig. 3) for washing and a raised open position (e.g., according to fig. 1) for appliance access. When the multi-sided cover assembly is in the closed position, the cover assembly closes the front access opening 18, the left access opening 20 and the right access opening 22, thereby containing cleaning spray within the chamber during cleaning of the appliance. When the multi-sided lid assembly is in the open position, as shown in fig. 1, the front access opening 18, the left access opening 20 and the right access opening 22 are open to allow access to the wash zone for toilet access. A pivoting handle 44 may be provided to facilitate movement of the shroud assembly 30 by an operator.

A stationary chamber rear wall 50 is provided at the rear side of the washing chamber and in embodiments where the hood assembly comprises a rear wall section 34, the wall 50 is at least partially located behind the wall section 34 when the hood is closed. The rear wall 50 comprises an outlet opening 52 and in embodiments comprising the rear wall section 34, the rear wall section 34 may comprise a cut-out in order to avoid blockage of the opening 52 when the cover is closed. The outlet opening 52 is fluidly connected to a vapor extraction unit 54 (fig. 2) on the backside of the back wall 50. The vapor draw unit 54 includes a housing 56 having a condenser 58 therein, which includes a condenser coil.

According to fig. 5, cold feed water from a cold water line input 90 (e.g., controlled by a solenoid valve 90a along the line) to the machine passes through the condenser 58. An enclosure outlet 60 (fig. 2) to the surrounding ambient is also provided, in this case at the top of the enclosure. At least one air mover 62 (e.g., here two side-by-side axial fans 62 a) is provided to move hot water vapor from the chamber 14 into the vapor extraction unit 54 above the condenser 58 and then to the environment through the housing outlet 60. Here, an axial fan 62 is mounted above the housing outlet 60. Other types of air movers (e.g., other fan types or blowers) can be used to move the air, and the location of such air movers can vary.

A machine controller 100 (fig. 1) is provided to control the appliance cleaning cycles of the machine, wherein the cycles include a wash operation followed by a rinse operation. As used herein, the term controller is intended to broadly encompass any circuit (e.g., a solid state, application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a combinational logic circuit, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)), (a plurality of) processors (e.g., a shared processor, special purpose processor, or group of processors including hardware or software that executes code), software, firmware, and/or other components, or a combination of some or all of the foregoing, that performs the control functions of the machine or any of its components.

The controller 100 is configured to operate the water vapor extraction unit 54 by controlling each of: (i) The flow of water through the condenser 58 is controlled (e.g., by opening solenoid valve 90a, or alternatively operating a pump or other flow control device) and the operation of the air mover(s) (e.g., by connecting electrical power to the fan motor) so that hot water vapor is drawn from the chamber by the vapor draw unit while cold water flows through the condenser 58, at least after the rinsing operation of the appliance cleaning operation is completed. This process condenses water vapor from the humid air so that the air delivered to the housing outlet 60 is not excessively hot and/or humid.

According to fig. 3, the hot water vapor extraction unit 54 includes an internal water flow path for condensed water to flow from the unit back into the chamber. The water flow path shown is through the outlet opening to the chamber (e.g., the bottom wall 64a of the housing shell 64 is angled to direct falling condensate back through the opening 52). According to fig. 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the housing is formed partly by the auxiliary housing 64 and partly by the rear wall 50 of the machine housing, wherein the auxiliary housing 64 is mounted to the back side of the rear wall, and the sealing gasket 66 is sealed along at least a majority of the circumference of the housing to the wall interface.

According to fig. 1, the outlet opening 52 is located on a lower portion 68 of the rear wall (e.g., a lower 1/3 portion, or a lower 1/4 or lower 1/5 portion of the rear wall aligned with the chamber 12). During operation of the fan 62, hot water vapor (indicated by arrows 70 in fig. 3) is drawn from the lower portion of the chamber, while make-up air 72 enters the chamber by passing under the bottom of the front, left and/or right wall sections of the multi-sided hood assembly (see, e.g., fig. 4). With this arrangement, during operation of the water vapor extraction unit, hot water vapor is also captured and retained within the upper portion 74 of the multi-sided shroud assembly, thereby retaining a large portion of the desired thermal energy within the machine from cleaning cycle to cleaning cycle. In addition, the volume of air extracted by the vapor extraction unit after the rinse operation of the cycle may be provided to help ensure that moist, hot vapor is retained in the upper portion 74 of the hood assembly (e.g., by extracting a volume of air that is less than the volume within the hood assembly, such as less than 50% of the total hood volume, or less than 40% of the total hood volume, or less than 30% of the total hood volume).

In some embodiments, at the end of the rinse operation (as suggested by the hood assembly position in fig. 4), the hood assembly 30 may be raised slightly (manually or automatically by a controller) to enhance the inflow of make-up air.

In one embodiment, the controller 100 is configured to operate the steam extraction unit for a set period of time (e.g., between 5 seconds and 30 seconds) upon completion of a rinsing operation of the appliance cleaning operation. The controller 100 is further configured to (i) initiate an end-of-cycle alert (e.g., a visual alert such as a light or indication on the machine interface 102 and/or an audible alert) only after the end of operation of the vapor extraction unit, and/or (ii) lock the lid assembly in the off state until the end of operation of the vapor extraction unit. With respect to such hood locking, according to fig. 3, an electric latch mechanism 80 (e.g., solenoid or motor operated) is movable between a hood latched state for holding the hood assembly including the plurality of sides in the closed position and a hood unlatched state (as shown in fig. 3) that allows the hood assembly including the plurality of sides to be moved to the open position. After a set period of time, the appliance cleaning cycle ends and the controller 100 switches the electric latch mechanism to the hood unlocked state. In one embodiment, the controller 100 is configured to maintain the electric latch mechanism 80 in a hood latched state during operation of the vapor extraction unit for locking purposes. In the illustrated embodiment, the latch mechanism 80 includes a pivoting latch member 82 that engages some portion of the hood assembly (e.g., the top rear edge of the hood assembly or a bracket that is the rear of the hood assembly) when rotated in the direction of arrow 84 for latching purposes.

As best seen in fig. 5, the condenser 58 is fluidly connected to receive (e.g., under control of valve 90 a) incoming water from a cold water input 90 of the machine and then deliver the incoming water (via path 90 b) to a heat exchanger 94 (e.g., with a counter-flow coil) that exchanges heat between the incoming water and water flowing from the chamber to a drain along a drain flow path 96. After the incoming water passes through the heat exchanger 94, the incoming water is delivered to the hot water booster 98 of the machine, which feeds the rinse arm(s) 23 b. The hot water inlet 93 is connected (e.g., under control of a solenoid valve 93 a) to deliver incoming water to the tank/box 26 of the chamber.

The described system draws in water vapor at the end of each cycle, condensing the water before opening the chamber door closure. This is accomplished by drawing air from the lower portion of the chamber and passing the air through a condenser (e.g., comprising copper coils). The condenser causes cold incoming water to travel through the condenser. Energy from the hot water vapor is transferred to the cold water traveling through the copper coil, causing the water vapor to lose temperature and condense. The condenser may use a cross-flow heat exchange method. In one example, the water initially travels horizontally through the coil, moving upward within the housing after only a few horizontal travels. The hot water vapor travels vertically upward through the housing until it eventually condenses. Cold water enters the bottom of the condenser and steadily raises the temperature until it finally exits at the top.

Thus, the system reduces the hot humid vapor that exits when the door is opened, improves operator comfort and experience, and reduces room conditioning requirements. The temperature of the incoming water also rises.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the system may work with a completely closed enclosure. For a fully closed hood, the goal is to keep some hot water vapor inside the hood and only remove enough vapor, the hot water vapor remaining inside the hood is not a problem for the operator. By keeping the hot water vapour within the upper part of the fully closed hood, energy is kept within the machine and can be used for the next cycle. This result is achieved by removing vapor primarily from the lower portion of the hood. The opening 52 provided to the unit 54 and the CFM of the 2 axial fans work together to allow the high water vapor temperature to be maintained inside the chamber, while also eliminating the vapors that might normally escape when the door is opened at the end of the cycle.

It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not intended to be taken by way of limitation, and that other variations and modifications are possible. For example, a controllable baffle may be provided at or along the outlet 52 to effect a closed flow path during the wash and rinse operations of the cleaning cycle, and then open the flow path for the cyclic vapor extraction operation.

Furthermore, in an alternative embodiment, as shown in fig. 6 to 8, both the air extraction unit 105 and the air intake unit 107 are arranged behind the back side of the ware washer 110, the chamber 116 and the rear wall 150. Although only a portion of the machine 110 is shown in the figures, it is understood that the machine 110 is comparable in overall configuration to the machine 110 (e.g., having a movable hood and wash system and a rinse system and user interface as described above). In fig. 6, the air extraction unit 105 and the air intake unit 107 are formed with a combined housing or casing 156 and associated gasket 166, the housing 156 at least partially defining an extraction compartment 180 and an introduction compartment 182. The compartments may be separated from one another by an interior housing wall 184 (e.g., forming two distinct flow paths that are substantially sealed from one another). Here too, the compartments 180 and 182 are formed in part by the backside of the ware washer, as described above.

The two

units

105 and 107 form part of an air exchange system 109 which includes an extraction compartment 180 and an air intake compartment 182. Included in compartment 180 is a condenser 158, wherein incoming water from a cold water input to the machine passes through condenser 158 (in a similar manner as described above for machine 10). The air outlet 160 of the compartment 180 is open to the ambient environment of the perimeter and one or more axial fans or other air movers 162 associated with the extraction compartment 180 and selectively controllable (e.g., by the controller 200) to move hot water vapor from the chamber 116 into the compartment 105, through the condenser 158, and then out of the air outlet 160 (e.g., per the flow direction 190 in fig. 7). Including at least one heater 155 in the intake compartment 107, and an air inlet 161 from the ambient environment of the perimeter, one or more axial fans or other air movers 163 are associated with the intake compartment 107 and are selectively controllable (e.g., by the controller 200) to move ambient air into the air inlet, past the heater(s) 155 to be heated, and then into the chamber 116 (e.g., per each flow direction 192 in fig. 8).

The machine controller 200 may be configured with various user selectable cleaning cycles, with one or more cleaning cycles involving operation of both the air extraction unit 105 and the suction unit 107. By way of example, the controller 200 is configured to perform an appliance cleaning cycle comprising a wash operation and a rinse operation, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the air exchange system 109 to: (a) Performing a draw operation that involves controlling each of (i) water flow through the condenser 158 and (ii) operation of the air mover 162 such that, at least after a rinse operation of the appliance cleaning cycle is complete, hot water vapor is drawn from the chamber through the compartment 105 (through/past the condenser 158) and expelled from the air outlet 160 as water flows through the condenser 158; and (b) performing a drying operation involving controlling each of (i) the energisation of the heater 155 and (ii) the operation of the air mover 163 such that, at least after the extraction operation of the appliance cleaning cycle is complete, ambient air is drawn from the surrounding ambient environment through the air inlet 161 and through the compartment 107 (via/past the heater 155) and to the chamber whilst the heater 155 is energised to heat incoming air. Step (a) above represents a cyclic moisture extraction and heat recovery step. Step (b) represents a airing step which may be useful for certain types of appliances where airing is inefficient.

In one example, the controller 200 is configured such that the airing operation occurs only after the air mover 162 is turned off to end the draw operation (i.e., there is no time overlap in the air flow between the draw and airing operations). Where the temperature sensor 196 is associated with the chamber 116, the controller 200 may also be configured such that, during a airing operation, the energisation of the heater 155 is controlled such that the temperature within the chamber 116 sensed by the temperature sensor 196 does not exceed a maximum threshold. For example, the heater 155 may be de-energized when the set temperature (Tset) is reached and re-energized at the detected lower temperature (Tset-5F.). In other examples, more elaborate methods may be employed (e.g., changing the level of energization of the heaters and/or turning off less than all of the heaters when more than one heater is present).

Although the above-described embodiment of the machine 110 contemplates forming the air extraction unit 105 and the suction unit 107 as part of the same housing or casing, the two units may be formed of different housings. By way of example, fig. 9 shows an air intake unit 107' that includes its own housing or case 156-7 and associated gasket 166. For this embodiment, the suction unit 107' is simply an additional component added to the machine 10 described above. Other variations and modifications are possible.

Claims

1. An appliance washing machine comprising:

a housing at least partially defining a chamber having a washing zone, the chamber having a front access opening, a left access opening, and a right access opening;

at least one spray arm disposed above or below the wash zone, the spray arm configured to spray liquid toward the wash zone; and

a multi-sided lid assembly comprising a movable front wall section, a rear wall section, a left wall section, a right wall section, and a top wall section, the multi-sided lid assembly movable between a lowered and closed position for washing and a raised and open position for appliance access, wherein in the raised and open position, each of the front wall section, the rear wall section, the left wall section, the right wall section, and the top wall section is raised to form a space to retain hot water vapor within the multi-sided lid assembly;

a fixed chamber back wall comprising at least one air exchange opening;

an air exchange system located behind the fixed chamber back wall, the at least one air exchange opening fluidly connected with the air exchange unit, the air exchange system including at least one auxiliary housing at least partially defining a first compartment and a second compartment;

wherein a condenser is included in the first compartment, wherein incoming water from a cold water inlet to the ware washer passes through the condenser, wherein the first compartment includes an air outlet to ambient surroundings, a first air mover associated with the first compartment and selectively controllable to move hot water vapor from the chamber into the first compartment, through the condenser, and out the air outlet;

wherein the second compartment includes at least one heater, an air inlet from a surrounding ambient environment, a second air mover associated with the second compartment and selectively controllable to move ambient air into the air inlet, past the heater to be heated, and into the chamber.

2. The warewasher of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller configured to perform at least a first ware cleaning cycle of the ware washing machine, the ware cleaning cycle including a wash operation and a rinse operation, the controller further configured to operate the air exchange system as part of the first ware cleaning cycle by:

(a) Performing a draw operation involving controlling each of (i) water flow through the condenser and (ii) operation of the first air mover such that, at least after the rinse operation of the appliance cleaning cycle is complete, hot water vapor is drawn from the chamber through the first compartment and expelled from the air outlet as water flows through the condenser;

and

(b) Performing a drying operation involving controlling each of (i) energization of the heater and (ii) operation of the second air mover such that, at least after completion of the extraction operation of the appliance cleaning cycle, ambient air is extracted from the surrounding ambient environment through the air inlet and through the second compartment to the chamber when the heater is energized to heat incoming air.

3. The ware washer of claim 2 wherein the controller is configured such that the dry operation occurs only after the first air mover is turned off to end the draw operation.

4. The ware washer of claim 2 further comprising a temperature sensor associated with the chamber, wherein the controller is configured such that during the dry operation, energization of the heater is controlled such that the temperature within the chamber sensed by the temperature sensor does not exceed a maximum threshold.

5. The warewasher of claim 1 wherein the first compartment is substantially sealed from the second compartment.

6. The ware washer of claim 1 wherein the at least one auxiliary housing is a single auxiliary housing defining both the first compartment and the second compartment.

7. The ware washer of claim 1 wherein the at least one auxiliary housing comprises a first auxiliary housing defining the first compartment and a second auxiliary housing defining the second compartment.

8. An appliance washing machine comprising:

a multi-sided lid assembly including a plurality of wall sections, the multi-sided lid assembly movable between a lowered and closed position for washing and a raised and open position for appliance access, wherein in the raised and open position each of the plurality of wall sections is raised;

an air exchange system fluidly connected to the chamber, the air exchange system comprising an extraction compartment and an introduction compartment, both the extraction compartment and the introduction compartment being located outside the chamber;

wherein a condenser is included in the first compartment, wherein an incoming water path from a cold water inlet to the ware washer passes through the condenser, wherein the first compartment includes an air outlet to ambient surroundings, a first air mover associated with the first compartment and selectively controllable to move hot water vapor from the chamber into the first compartment, through the condenser, and out the air outlet;

wherein the second compartment includes at least one heater therein, an air inlet from the ambient environment of the perimeter, a second air mover associated with the second compartment and selectively controllable to move ambient air into the air inlet, past the heater to be heated, and into the chamber.

9. The warewasher of claim 8 further comprising:

a controller configured to perform at least a first ware cleaning cycle of the ware washing machine, the first ware cleaning cycle comprising a wash operation and a rinse operation, the controller further configured to operate the air exchange unit as part of the first ware cleaning cycle by:

and

(b) Performing a drying operation involving controlling each of (i) energisation of the heater and (ii) operation of the second air mover such that, at least after the extraction operation of the appliance cleaning cycle is complete, ambient air is drawn from the surrounding ambient environment through the air inlet and through the second compartment to the chamber whilst the heater is energised to heat incoming air.

10. The ware washer of claim 9 wherein the controller is configured such that the dry out operation occurs only after the first air mover is turned off to end the draw operation.

11. The ware washer of claim 9 further comprising a temperature sensor associated with the chamber, wherein the controller is configured such that during the dry operation, energization of the heater is controlled such that the temperature within the chamber sensed by the temperature sensor does not exceed a maximum threshold.

12. The warewasher of claim 8 wherein the first compartment is substantially sealed from the second compartment.