EP1699338A1

EP1699338A1 - Dishwasher for kosher operation

Info

Publication number: EP1699338A1
Application number: EP04803488A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas RÖDERER; Norbert Suhm
Original assignee: Meiko Maschinenbau GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Meiko Maschinenbau GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2003-12-08
Filing date: 2004-12-03
Publication date: 2006-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-03
Also published as: ATE461651T1; DE10357256B3; WO2005053500A1; DE502004010946D1; US20060180179A1; IL170032A; EP1699338B1

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic dishwasher ( 1 ) which can be operated in several operating modes ( 71, 72, 73, 74 ). The automatic dishwasher ( 1 ) proposed according to the invention can be switched from a first operating mode ( 71 ) to a second operating mode ( 72 ) only when a third operating mode ( 73 ) called kosher operation is executed. During the third operating mode ( 73 ) "Kosher operation", the interior of the automatic dishwasher ( 1 ) is cleaned with a heated cleaning fluid whose temperature lies above the maximum temperature occurring in the normal operation of the automatic dishwasher ( 1 ). The endless conveyor belt ( 10 ) of the automatic dishwasher ( 1 ) is treated by a cleaning device ( 43 ) during the third operating mode ( 73 ) "Kosher operation"; moreover, a water tank ( 25 ) of the automatic dishwasher ( 1 ) is heated to a higher temperature than the temperature which occurs in the normal operation of the automatic dishwasher ( 1 ). In an operating mode called "Sabbath operation", the current to the drive mechanism of the automatic dishwasher is interrupted via a light barrier ( 52 ).

Description

Dishwasher for kosher operation

Technical field

The invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular a belt dishwasher, which is used for commercial purposes. The dishwasher proposed according to the invention can be used both in kosher operation and on religious holidays, such as the Sabbath.

State of the art

From the company brochure "Dishwasher with belt transport" from Meiko Maschinenbau GmbH & Co KG No. 2031.03.03 / KD / 4.000D, a belt transport dishwasher is known in which the items to be washed are transported on a continuous conveyor belt. The food to be cleaned is positioned on the conveyor belt at the machine inlet and first passes through a discharge of dirt. Food residues falling down inside the dirt discharge are rinsed off via spray nozzles from which the water to be cleaned emerges from the underside and the top. The machine inlet is covered by a hood. Below the conveyor belt there are one or more coarse screens that catch the falling food waste. Smallest food residues can be retained using a fine sieve arranged underneath. Below the fine sieve there is a collecting container for the rinsing water dripping from the dirt discharge.

The machine inlet and the subsequent rough cleaning area, seen in the transport direction of the items to be cleaned, are arranged one behind the other. The items to be cleaned are treated with hot wash water within these wash zones. The hot rinse water emerges both from spray nozzles which are arranged below the endless conveyor belt and from spray nozzles which are to be cleaned Rinse the items to be cleaned from the top. After passing through a first rinsing zone, the items to be cleaned are conveyed from the endless conveyor belt into at least one further rinsing zone, in which they are also rinsed off by spray jets. The rinsing water emerging from the spray nozzles within the said rinsing zones is heated to a higher temperature, with which the items to be cleaned, which are taken up on the endless conveyor belt, are rinsed off. After the second rinse zone, the items to be cleaned can either be transported to a rinse zone or to another rinse zone.

A cascade-shaped collecting container is provided below the rinse zones or the rinse zone. The receptacle is divided into individual segments by individual partition walls. The partitions are dimensioned so that when a certain water level is reached in each segment, the rinsing water overflows into the previous segment. A wash pump is assigned to each segment of the wash water tank, with which wash water is fed from the respective segment of the wash water storage tank to the individual spray nozzles of the respective wash zone or rinse zone after filtering the wash liquor.

A heat recovery unit is provided behind the rinse zone of the known automatic belt conveyor, to which an exhaust air cleaning unit can optionally be assigned. This unit is followed by a drying blower, via which warm air can be applied to the cleaned and rinsed items to be cleaned, so that this is dried and cooled by the continuous drying process. The drying station is followed by a tableware delivery, from which the cleaned, rinsed and dried dishes can be removed from the automatic belt conveyor either manually or automatically. On the operating side of the automatic tapes machine known from the company brochure mentioned, the individual rinsing zones are accessible by retractable contactors. Under the shooters there are curtain elements with which the individual rinsing zones are provided to prevent splash water from escaping from the side. As standard, a curtain set per wash zone is supplied with the dishwasher with belt conveyor

The kosher diet is defined according to the religious law of the Jews, which is laid down in the Torah as the core of the Jewish faith. The word kosher denotes everything that was made or prepared according to the religious law of the Jews. The kosher diet follows the rules of kashrut (Jewish dietary regulation). After that, only four-footed animals can be eaten that chew their food and split it Have hooves. Pigs, for example, or rabbits are not included. Poultry, on the other hand, is kosher. For fish, only those with fins and scales are released for consumption. The fifth book of Moses is the basis for the ban on eating meat and milk or milk products at the same time. After eating meat, wait 6 hours before eating or drinking a milk product. It is also a rule to use separate pots, cutlery and other dishes for the food. The Torah, as the centerpiece of Jewish belief, also prohibits the eating of blood. Meat needs special treatment, which means bleeding, rinsing and then sprinkling with salt. This way of treating the meat also entails a traditional slaughtering method, namely slaughtering.

In view of these basic provisions of the Jewish faith, it has heretofore been necessary to wash dishes which came into contact with milk products in one dishwasher and those which came into contact with meat or meat products on another dishwasher which differs from the first-mentioned dishwasher rinse and clean. With regard to the effort to be made, the investment costs to be incurred and the space required, this represents a considerable investment in order to take into account the nutritional regulations arising from the kashrut with regard to the nutritional regulations to be transferred for the cleaning of dishes.

Another requirement of the Jewish faith requires that a candle not be lit during the Sabbath. The ignition of a candle is equivalent to the actuation of an electrical switch. The operation of electrically driven machines, however, requires the intervention of a machine operator, depending on the operating states or in the event of a fault, which is associated with the actuation of a switch these days. If a dishwasher, such as the belt conveyor dishwasher known from the company brochure mentioned above, is operated during the Sabbath, the electrical dishwasher can be at a standstill for a longer period of time in the event of a malfunction, which can lead to considerable downtimes if an immediate one occurs Intervention is not possible because it would require the operation of an electrical switch.

Presentation of the invention

In view of the regulations outlined above from the Jewish faith circle, the invention is based on the object of a dishwasher, in particular a commercial Lendable dishwasher, to be designed in such a way that in the same dishwasher both dishes that have come into contact with milk products and dishes that have come into contact with meat can be cleaned and the same dishwasher can also be operated trouble-free during the Sabbath or other Jewish holidays.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of patent claim 1.

The advantage of the solution proposed according to the invention can be seen primarily in the fact that different types of crockery can now be washed in one and the same commercially usable dishwasher, which includes in particular those that have previously come into contact with milk products as well as crockery that contains meat or Meat dishes has come into contact. By performing a "kosher cleaning step" between an operating mode in which dishes that have come into contact with milk products are cleaned and an operating mode in which dishes that come into contact with meat or meat dishes are cleaned, a kosher step is carried out , after which the entire machine is cleaned with a cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid is brought up to a temperature which is up to 10 ° C higher than the maximum that occurs in the dishwasher in normal operation according to Jewish beliefs.

Furthermore, the dishwasher with belt transport that can be used in the Jewish faith has a cleaning system that serves to clean the endless conveyor belt for the items to be cleaned. This belt remains in the automatic dishwasher both in the operating mode "cleaning dishes that have come into contact with milk products" and in the operating mode "cleaning dishes that have come into contact with meat or meat dishes" in the machine and is cleaned by a cleaning device during the kosher Step cleaned. Between the manual cleaning of the machine and a "kosher step" there is a cleaning step for belt cleaning. This can be done, for example, by cleaning brushes assigned to the endless conveyor belt. These are arranged such that the endless conveyor belt is brushed off by cleaning brushes, for example, both from its top and from its bottom. The endless conveyor belt is made of plastic and is permanently installed in the dishwasher. It is a large plastic component that cannot be replaced. Around the endless conveyor belt remaining in the automatic dishwasher both in the operating mode "cleaning dishes that have come into contact with milk products" and in the operating mode "cleaning dishes that have come into contact with meat or meat dishes" To be able to use it, the endless conveyor belt is brushed mechanically before the "kosher step".

Furthermore, the dishwasher proposed according to the invention, which can be used in the Jewish faith, has a hanging curtain which can be replaced in the individual washing zones and which during the kosher step switches between one of the operating modes "cleaning dishes that came into contact with milk products" and "cleaning dishes that came into contact with meat or meat products" is hung as a curtain in the individual washing zones accessible from the operating side of the automatic dishwasher.

Furthermore, in view of the kosher regulations of the Torah, the centerpiece of the Jewish faith, provision can be made to heat the rinse water tank of the dishwasher according to the invention to a temperature which is above the maximum rinse water or fresh water temperature that occurs during normal operation of the dishwasher. In this context, one can also speak of “kosher” the inside of the water tank of the dishwasher.

In the machine control of an automatic dishwasher designed in this way, it is only possible to switch between the operating mode "cleaning dishes for dairy products" and "cleaning dishes for meat / meat products" if there is a "kosher step" between switching between the operating modes mentioned. and the endless conveyor belt was cleaned. A direct switch from one operating mode of the dishwasher proposed according to the invention to the other operating mode is not possible and is prevented by the machine control.

It is also implemented in the machine control that the proposed dishwasher switches off automatically in emergencies during the Sabbath, avoiding the triggering of a spark, ie by actuating an electrical switch via an operator. In the Sabbath operating mode, it must be ensured that, in the event of a fault, the dishwasher is switched off automatically by the machine control system without an operator having to act. For example, the automatic belt transport drive can be switched off by switching off the belt feed and the pump drive at the moment of the absence of a reflected optical signal in the context of a light barrier, without the intervention of an operator being necessary. For the Sabbath operating mode, it is provided that the belt conveyor dishwasher operates at a certain speed with regard to the feed of the endless conveyor belt. Timers are installed for each operating mode, ie for "cleaning dishes that have come into contact with milk products" and "cleaning dishes that have come into contact with meat or meat dishes". The automatic dishwasher is started up by operating a switch which can be implemented, for example, as a key switch. The actual start of the dishwasher during the Sabbath takes place through the time switching assigned to the operating modes.

Depending on the selected operating mode, the respective first curtains assigned to the operating mode “cleaning dishes that have come into contact with milk products” or the second curtains for the operating mode “cleaning dishes or meat dishes that have come into contact” are hung in the automatic dishwashers. The dishwasher starts in the respective operating mode with the function of filling or heating the water tanks. After reaching the set temperature, the actual rinsing process begins in the selected operating mode until the timer stops the operating mode. The curtains assigned to the operating mode are then exchanged for the curtains required in the "Kosher step" operating mode, since a "Kosher step" is required. If the timer assigned to the previous, selected operating mode is switched off, the "kosher step" is triggered. After the "kosher step" has ended, a rinsing process is started again in accordance with the setting of the time switches for the operating mode "cleaning dishes that have come into contact with milk products" or the operating mode "cleaning dishes that have come into contact with meat or meat dishes". In order to operate the dishwasher again on weekdays, the Sabbath operating mode must be switched off using the corresponding switch.

If there is a power failure or the main switch is OFF during the Sabbath operating mode, the dishwasher switches back to the normal Sabbath operating mode after a voltage recovery after the power failure and the dishwasher starts the program sequence with filling / heating the water tanks.

If a belt limit switch is activated during the Sabbath operating mode, which is done by moving a limit switch function through a piece of crockery not removed from the endless conveyor belt, the drive of the endless conveyor belt is switched off. This causes a light barrier to be switched off. In a cycle of, for example The supply voltage of the light barrier is switched on for 15 s by a short pulse. If it is recognized that the limit switch rocker is free again, the drive of the endless conveyor belt switches on; if, on the other hand, the limit switch rocker is not recognized as free, the supply voltage is switched off again for a period of about 15 s. In the event of an EMERGENCY STOP function, which can occur when the corresponding switch is actuated, the dishwasher switches off completely. The EMERGENCY STOP switch is switched off. The supply voltage of the EMERGENCY STOP switch is switched on again every 60 s by a short pulse. If the EMERGENCY STOP switch is unlocked again, the dishwasher starts the washing program again with a step "start washing on Sabbath". If the EMERGENCY STOP takes place in the Sabbath operating mode during the “kosher step”, the operating mode “kosher step” continues normally after the EMERGENCY STOP switch has been activated. If the dishwasher is in the Sabbath mode and there is a washing program at the time of the EMERGENCY STOP, the machine program starts again after the EMERGENCY STOP switch has been activated with the step "Heating up before the kosher step".

If, however, the EMERGENCY STOP switch is not unlocked, the supply voltage is switched off again for a period of about 60 s.

If an overload of the endless conveyor belt is detected during the Sabbath operation of the automatic dishwasher, which can be done, for example, by a tableware or cutlery item blocking the belt feed, the rinsing operation is automatically switched off. The belt overload switch is de-energized. This is switched on again, for example, within a time window of 30 s by a short pulse of the supply voltage. If the belt overload switch is activated, the flushing operation starts again after a beep. On the other hand, if the belt overload switch is not activated, the supply voltage is switched off for a time window of 30 s. This cycle of switching the belt overload switch on and off is carried out up to 3 times. If it is detected after the third pass that the tape overload switch is still not free, the polling cycle is set to 5 min. elevated. Is this polling cycle of 5 min. also run through 3 unsuccessful runs, the dishwasher switches off completely and can no longer be started automatically in Sabbath mode.

drawing

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows:

FIG. 1 shows a section through an automatic dishwasher equipped with a belt conveyor,

FIG. 2 shows the overflow or drain system of a conveyor belt automatic dishwasher,

3 shows the machine outlet with a movably mounted limit switch,

FIG. 4 shows the view of a light barrier arrangement,

FIG. 5 shows the connection between a mirror surface and a limit switch strip,

Figure 6 is a deflected limit switch strip and

7 shows a control panel for a machine control of an automatic dishwasher according to the illustration in FIG. 1.

variants

A belt conveyor dishwasher is shown in the illustration according to FIG. At the machine inlet 2, the items to be cleaned are applied to an endless conveyor belt 10. The endless conveyor belt 10 is moved continuously by means of a drive 24 arranged in the area of a tableware dispenser 23 and conveys the items to be cleaned through the belt conveyor dishwasher. A coarse cleaning 3 is followed by rinsing off coarse food residues which fall into a coarse sieve 4 arranged under the endless conveyor belt 10, under which an optional fine sieve 5 can be arranged. Below the fine sieve 5 there is a collecting drain 6 in which the rinsing water is collected. After passage of the coarse cleaning 3, the items to be cleaned are transported into a first washing zone 7, which can be followed by a second washing zone 8 or also several further washing zones. A final rinse of the dishes previously cleaned in the first rinse zone 7 and the second rinse zone 8 or further rinse zones follows in a rinse zone 9. The endless conveyor belt 10 is conveyed in the conveying direction 11 by the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1. In the first rinse zone 7 there are upper spray nozzles 13 above the items to be cleaned and lower spray nozzles 12 below the endless conveyor belt 10, via which the items to be cleaned are sprayed with rinse water. During operation of the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1, the first washing zone 7 is closed to the side against escaping splashing water. Seen in the conveying direction 11 of the items to be cleaned, a pre-clearing 3 is closed by a first curtain 40 against spray water escaping to the outside. The first rinsing zone 7 adjoining the pre-clearing 3 is separated from the second rinsing zone 8 by a further first curtain 40, at the exit of which a further first curtain 40 is arranged, as seen in the conveying direction 11 of the items to be cleaned. The final rinse zone 9 following the second rinse zone, comprising a pump rinse 31 and a fresh water rinse 32, is delimited by a further first curtain 40 against a heat recovery module 17. Behind the drying zone 22 there is another first curtain 40, with which the drying zone 22 is shielded from the outside in the direction of the tableware output 23. A segment of a water tank 25 is located below the first rinsing zone 7. The segment of the water tank 25 assigned to the first rinsing zone 7 is separated from other segments of the water tank 25 by a partition wall 26. At the bottom of the water tank assigned to the first washing zone 7 there is a circulation pump 29 for the washing water, to which a filter 30 is assigned. The individual partition walls 26, which subdivide the water tank 25 into individual segments assigned to the rinse zones 7 or 8 or the rinse zone 9, can be designed, for example, as sheet metal walls.

The lower or upper spray nozzles 12, 13 are supplied with circulated rinsing water via the circulation pump 29 assigned to the first rinsing zone 7.

After passage through the first rinsing zone 7, while the endless conveyor belt 10 is being conveyed in the conveying direction 11, the items to be cleaned which have been taken up therein enter a second rinsing zone 8. Upper spray nozzles 15 and lower spray nozzles 14 are located within the second washing zone 8. This is followed by further washing of the items to be cleaned within the second washing zone 8 with washing water which has been brought to an elevated temperature. While the temperature of the rinsing water received in the water tank 25 and the heated fresh water introduced into the rinse zone 9 is approximately 80 ° C. to 85 ° C., the water injected within the pre-clearing 3 has a temperature of a maximum of 42 ° C., which is the kosher -Requirements are sufficient. A lower temperature of the water injected within the pre-clearing 3 would go hand in hand with the disadvantage of greasing the items to be cleaned. The second rinsing zone 8 is also assigned a segment of the water tank 25, on the bottom of which a circulation pump 29 with an associated filter 30 is received. The upper spray nozzles 15 and the lower spray nozzles 14 are supplied with flushing water via this circulation pump 29 assigned to the segment of the water tank 25 of the second flushing zone 8.

The second rinsing zone 8 is followed by a rinsing zone 9 in the conveying direction 11 of the items to be cleaned. Within the rinse zone 9, the items to be cleaned previously cleaned in the first rinse zone 7 and the second rinse zone 8 are rinsed with the addition of a rinse aid, so that the items to be cleaned are cleaned without stains. A pump is also assigned to the rinse aid zone 9, with which the spray nozzles in the rinse aid zone 9 are supplied with fresh water, possibly with the addition of a detergent or a rinse aid. In the rinse zone 9 there is a pump rinse 31 and a pure fresh water rinse 32.

A heat recovery module 17, in which a cooling register 18 is accommodated, adjoins the rinse zone 9 in the conveying direction 11 of the items to be cleaned. The heat recovery module 17 also has a blower 19.

The heat recovery module 17 is followed by a drying module 20, in which a hot air dryer 21 designed as a fan is arranged. As it passes through the drying zone 22, the previously cleaned and rinsed items to be cleaned, which have been taken up on the endless conveyor belt 10, are dried and cooled, so that they can be removed from the endless conveyor belt 10 in the dish dispenser 23. In addition, the drive 24 for the endless conveyor belt 10, which is not shown in more detail in FIG.

In addition, the conveyor belt dishwasher 1 according to the invention comprises a cleaning device 43, with which the endless conveyor belt 10, which is accommodated in the machine and is made of plastic, can be cleaned both on its upper side and on its lower side. The cleaning device 43, formed by a pair of oppositely arranged brushes, is arranged between the pump clear rinse 31 and the fresh water clear rinse 32.

In addition, the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a limit switch bar 50, to which a first light barrier 52 is assigned and a further tere, second light barrier 52, which detects an overload of the drive 24 of the endless conveyor belt 10 and, for example, switches off the drive 24 in the case of a part of the cleaning material which hinders the conveyance of the endless conveyor belt 10.

If the belt conveyor dishwasher 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used in the "cleaning dishes milk products" operating mode, the first washing zone 7 and the second washing zone 8, as well as the entry side in the area of the machine inlet 2 and the exit side in the area of the dish dispenser 23 are provided by first curtains 40 protected. Spray water in this operating mode therefore only contaminates the first curtains 40.

In the operating mode "cleaning dishes meat / meat products", the first curtains 40 are replaced by second curtains 41, which consequently come into contact in this operating mode with the spray water produced there with the spray water produced in this operating mode.

Switching from one of the operating modes mentioned to the other operating mode is prevented by the machine control in the case of conveyor belt dishwashing machines which are used in the Jewish faith. Before the operating mode is switched over, an operating mode “kosher step” is forced, which involves changing the first curtains 40 on the dishwasher 1 for the operating mode “cleaning dishes milk products” or the second curtains 41 for the operating mode “cleaning dishes meat / meat products” A third curtain 42 is required for the operating mode “kosher step”. In the context of the operating mode “kosher step”, the third curtains 42 only become at the inlet of the pre-clearing 3 in the area of the machine inlet 2 or behind the drying zone 22 at the outlet Harness issue 23 hung.

In the operating mode "kosher step", which is forced when switching from the above operating modes for "cleaning dishes milk products" or "cleaning dishes meat / meat products", the entire interior of the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1 is cleaned with a cleaning medium which is up to is heated to 90 ° C. to 95 ° C., accordingly to a temperature that is higher than the maximum operating temperature of approximately 85 ° C. that occurs during operation of the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1. By cleaning the entire inner area of the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1 coming into contact with splash water as shown in FIG. 1, according to the Jewish rite of faith it is ensured that remaining food residues or splash water residues, which could either be contaminated with milk product residues or meat product or meat food residues , are removed and the conveyor belt dishwasher 1 is kosher in the sense of the Jewish faith.

Furthermore, in the "Kosher step" operating mode, the endless conveyor belt 10 is cleaned by a cleaning device 43, so that both the underside of the endless conveyor belt 10 and the top thereof are mechanically brushed off. The endless conveyor belt 10, consisting of individual plastic links, is thus kosher in the sense of the Jewish kashrut.

The replacement of the first curtains 40 or the second curtains 41 by a third curtain 42 to be used only in the “kosher step” operating mode prevents contamination of the “cleaning dishes for milk products” operating mode, ie the first curtains 40 or the second Curtains 41, which are hung in the operating mode "cleaning dishes meat / meat products" at the relevant hanging points of the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1.

The heating of the water tank 25 within the “kosher step” operating mode ensures that its content is also kosher in the sense of kashrut.

The conveyor belt dishwasher 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a limit switch strip 50 which triggers an automatic shutdown of the drive 24 of the endless conveyor belt 10. A first light barrier 52 is assigned to the limit switch strip 50, while a second light barrier 52 is assigned to the drive 24, which is preferably mounted on a rocker. The first and second light barriers 52 mentioned are described in more detail in the context of the “Sabbath mode” operating mode.

FIG. 2 shows the overflow or drain system of a conveyor belt automatic dishwasher suitable for kosher operation. In the area of the rinse aid zone 9, a first fill line 47 opens out from a fresh water connection, not shown, within the segment of the water tank 25 below the rinse aid zone 9. A valve 49 is received in the first fill line 47. The partition of the segment of the water tank 25 below the rinse zone 9 is designed as an overflow 28, so that water can overflow into the segment of the water tank 25 below the second rinse zone 8. The partition wall 26 of the segment below the second rinse zone 8 is also designed as an overflow 28. Via this overflow 28, the water flows into the segment of the water tank 25 below the first rinsing zone 7. The segment of the water tank 25 below the first rinsing zone 7 comprises a second outlet 46, since the segment of the water tank 25 below the first rinsing zone 7 is separated from the pre-clearing 3 by a partition 33.

The segment of the water tank 25 below the pre-clearing 3 is filled via a second filling line 48, in which a valve 49 is also integrated. The outflow of water from the segment of the storage tank 25 below the pre-clearing 3 takes place via an outflow 45, which opens into the collection outflow 6 of the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1. The waste water from the conveyor belt dishwashing machine flows through this into a waste water system.

A circulation pump 29 and a filter 30 are assigned to each of the segments of the water tank 25. The pre-clearing zone 3 is supplied with fresh water separately via the second filling line 48. The water used in the pre-clearing 3 only has a temperature of at most 42 ° C., while the water injected in the first rinsing zone 7 and in the second rinsing zone 8 and in the rinsing zone 9 has a temperature in the range between 55 ° C. and 85 ° C. having.

The belt conveyor dishwashing machines 1 each shown in section in FIGS. 1 and 2 have a separation of the tank segment of the pre-clearing 3 with respect to the cascade water flowing over the overflows 28 from the segments of the storage tank 25 of the first washing zone 7 and the second washing zone 8 and the final rinse 9 on. The conveyor belt automatic dishwasher accordingly has two outlets 45, 46. The waste water is brought together outside the tanks mentioned in the collecting outlet 6. The distance between the last wash arm of the pre-clearing 3 and the tank separation 33 is at least 40 cm. The segment of the storage tank 25, which is assigned to the pre-clearing 3, has a separately controlled own tank heating, since the temperature of the water used in the pre-clearing 3 in the flushing operation must not exceed a temperature of 42 ° C. In the belt conveyor dishwasher 1 proposed according to the invention, no washing temperatures higher than 85 ° C. occur. The limit switch strip 50 is not queried via a magnetic switch, but via a first light barrier 52. Two sets of lower and upper belt brushes are used as the cleaning device 43, which are arranged between the pump clear rinse 31 and the fresh water clear rinse 32. The wastewater pumps used are provided in all segments of the storage tank 25 with respect to a program sequence that takes place automatically in the “Sabbath mode” operating mode. While in the "Sabbath mode" operating mode of the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1, the "Kosher step" operating mode is started automatically after each rinsing mode, the "Kosher mode" operating mode is started manually outside the Sabbath, ie on normal weekdays. For this purpose, the third curtains 42 must be hung in before the "Kosher process" operating mode starts. Then the kosher process starts, the drain pumps are activated, whereby a run-on time of the drain pumps of approximately 2 minutes is guaranteed. The conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1 can be cleaned manually for a subsequent period of approximately 30 minutes. During the above-mentioned period of 30 min required for manual cleaning, the drain pumps pump off cyclically (cycle: every 2 min for 30 s). The cleaning device 43, which can be designed as a pair of brushes, is then used, the brushes brushing off the top and bottom of the endless conveyor belt 10. The endless conveyor belt 10 runs at the fastest speed and the final rinse within the final rinse zone 9 is in operation. This process step takes two complete belt roundings of the endless conveyor belt 10 at the fastest speed. During the belt cleaning process, the drain pumps drain the water. After the belt cleaning process has ended, the belt conveyor dishwasher 1 is filled and the water is heated to a kosher temperature of approximately 95 ° C. Once the kosher temperature has been reached in each of the segments of the storage tank 25, the operating mode “kosher step” starts. This means that the circulation pumps 29, the drive of the endless conveyor belt 10 and the exhaust air extraction are in operation. The duration of the operating mode "Kosher process" is limited to two complete belt turns with an average machine speed. Then all segments of the storage tank 25 are emptied. This is followed by a removal of the cleaning device 43 and a removal of the third curtains 42 at the machine inlet 2 and at the tableware outlet 23.

The operating mode "Kosher step" running between the operating mode "cleaning dishes for dairy products" or the operating mode "cleaning dishes for meat / meat products" cannot be interrupted, except for working day operation, where an interruption by opening a If the program sequence is interrupted during the “Kosher step” operating mode when filling / heating the storage tank 25, which can be done, for example, by opening a door, the conveyor belt dishwasher 1 continues to fill or heat. If the program sequence is interrupted during the “kosher step” operating mode, the pumps and the drive 24 switch off. When the doors on the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1 are closed again, the “kosher step” operating mode runs exactly at the point at which he was interrupted further. In operating mode "Sabbath mode" means that the door switches that monitor the door opening do not function, so that in the "Sabbath mode" operating mode, the "Kosher step" operating mode is not interrupted by opening the door. The "Kosher step" operating mode is activated by the EMERGENCY STOP Switch is interrupted, the conveyor belt dishwasher 1 is completely switched off. After unlocking the EMERGENCY STOP switch, the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1 starts again exactly at the point at which it was stopped. However, if the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1 was in the “Kosher process step” operating mode during washing, the program starts again with the step of heating the water before the “Kosher step”.

Between the washing of milk and meat dishes, a completely ended operating mode "kosher step" must always be switched. If a rinsing process is started according to the operating mode for meat or milk, a light indicating the "kosher step" goes out on a control panel. The machine control system always remembers the last rinsing process, even if the voltage fails. It is generally not common to repeat the previous rinsing process after performing a "kosher step". However, if this is desired in exceptional cases, the start button for the corresponding rinsing program must be pressed for at least 5 s. It must not be possible under any circumstances be to switch from the operating mode "cleaning dishes for milk products" to the operating mode "cleaning dishes for meat / meat products" or vice versa, without cleaning the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1 by means of the operating mode "kosher step".

Figure 3 shows the machine outlet with a movably arranged limit switch strip.

The endless conveyor belt 10 made of plastic material is deflected in the area of the tableware outlet 23. In the endless conveyor belt 10, a crockery part 51 is drawn, which was not removed from the tableware edition 23 and consequently strikes the movably mounted limit switch strip 50. This pivots away and thus triggers the drive 24 of the endless conveyor belt 10 to stop. The conveying direction of the endless conveyor belt 10 is indicated by the arrow 11.

Figure 4 shows the view of a light barrier arrangement which is assigned to the movably mounted limit switch strip. A first light barrier 52 is placed below the tableware output 23 of the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1. This is received on a housing 54. The movably mounted limit switch strip 50 is not shown in FIG. 4 for reasons of clarity. The first light barrier 52, which at the Is attached to the outside of the housing 54, is connected to the machine control system via a connecting line 55. A circular opening 58 is formed in the housing 54 of the limit switch arrangement, behind which lies a movably mounted mirror surface 53. In the non-deflected state of the limit switch strip, the mirror surface 53 reflects light coming from the first light barrier 52. The drive 24 of the endless conveyor belt 10 remains in operation. Only when a crockery part 51 not removed from the endless conveyor belt 10 hits the limit switch bar 50 does the mirror surface 53 behind the opening 58 pivot away and the reflection of emitted light beams by the first light barrier 52 is interrupted.

Figure 5 shows the connection between a mirror surface and the movably mounted limit switch strip.

In the lower area, the movably mounted limit switch bar 50 - indicated by the double arrow according to FIG. 5 - has a bracket 56. The bracket 56 is connected via a return spring 57 to the machine frame of the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1. The mirror surface 53 is attached to the bracket 56. If the movably mounted limit switch strip 50 is deflected downward in the direction of the double arrow, for example by hitting a tableware part 51, the bracket 56 pivots and consequently the mirror surface 53 received on the bracket 56 swivels out. This thus emerges from the opening 58 of the housing 54 4, so that no light is thrown back to the first light barrier 52.

Thus, the drive 24 of the endless conveyor belt 10 is switched off.

Figure 6 shows a deflected limit switch strip. In addition to the function of switching off the drive 24 of the endless conveyor belt 10, an overload function is also implemented on the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1 proposed according to the invention. For this purpose, the drive motor 59 is mounted on a rocker bearing 60. The drive motor 59 drives a deflection wheel of the endless conveyor belt 10 in the area of the tableware output 23 of the conveyor belt dishwasher 1 via a belt or chain drive. If its feed in the conveying direction 11 is inhibited by a non-removed crockery part 51 or a cutlery or crockery part remaining in the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1, the drive motor 29 is deflected from its normal position on the rocker bearing 60. Because of this, one moves with the drive motor 59 connected mirror surface 53 out of the area of a second light barrier 52 shown in Figure 1, so that the Drive motor 59 can be switched off even when the endless conveyor belt 10 is overloaded.

The illustration according to FIG. 7 shows a control panel of a conveyor belt automatic dishwasher which is able to carry out a separate operating mode “kosher step” and an operating mode “Sabbath mode”.

The belt transport dishwasher 1 shown in FIG. 1 is operated by means of the control panel 70 shown in FIG. The operating mode "cleaning dishes for milk products" is switched on via the first switch 71. Within this operating mode, the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1 is provided with the first curtains 40. After the end of a cleaning program, ie a complete passage of the dishes to be cleaned through the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1, a direct switch to the operating mode "cleaning dishes for meat / meat products" that can be triggered via a second switch 72 is excluded. It is not possible to switch directly from one operating mode to the other operating mode. This is ensured by the fact that switching from one operating mode to the other and vice versa requires the execution of the operating mode "kosher step". In order to trigger the operating mode "cleaning dishes for meat / meat products", the third switch 73 for the operating mode "kosher step" must be operated. Depending on the previous operating mode of the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1, the first curtains 40 or second curtains 41 received in these are removed and replaced by the third curtains 42 to be used exclusively in the “kosher step” operating mode. After inserting the third curtains 42 for the “kosher step” operating mode, the areas contaminated by spray water and contaminated in the previous operating modes of the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1 are cleaned by a cleaning fluid which is at a temperature of approximately 90 ° C. to 95 ° C. is heated, thus a temperature which is 5 ° C to 10 ° C above the maximum temperature occurring during normal operation of the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1. Furthermore, within the operating mode "kosher step", the endless conveyor belt 10, which consists of individual, articulated plastic links, is cleaned kosher by a cleaning system 43 that can be designed as brushes in the sense of kashrut. Furthermore, during the “kosher step” operating mode, the water tank 25 is also heated to a temperature that is above the maximum temperature of the rinsing water or fresh water sprayed in the automatic conveyor dishwasher 1. Furthermore, the control panel 70 shown in FIG. 7 comprises a fourth switch 74, which can be actuated, for example, by means of a key or the like. Via the fourth switch 74, the conveyor belt dishwasher 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, can be used for a Jewish holiday, for example the Sabbath, adapted operating mode are transferred. If the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1 is switched to this operating mode by actuating the fourth switch 74, the conveyor belt dishwasher 1 operates largely automatically, although manual intervention is permitted and switches itself off when faults occur. If the conveyor belt dishwasher 1 is operated, for example, during the Sabbath, ie in the period from Friday to Saturday, it is ensured that the belt conveyor dishwasher 1 will automatically switch off the drive 24 when a fault occurs with regard to the advancement of the endless conveyor belt 10 switches off so that no damage can occur. Limit switches, by means of which the feed of the endless conveyor belt 10 in the conveying direction 11 are monitored, can be assigned to both the rocker bearing 60 of the drive motor 59 and the limit switch bar 50. The limit switches are preferably designed as first and second light barriers 52. The light barriers 52 emit a light beam onto a deflectable mirror surface 53 which is received on a bracket 56. If the bracket 56 is deflected due to a crockery part 51 blocking the feed of the endless conveyor belt 10, the mirror 53 reflecting the light beam emitted by the light barrier 52 is deflected out of the area of the light barrier 52, so that the receiver part of the light barrier 52 does not recognize a reflected beam. Due to the absence of the reflected light beam, the drive 24, 59 of the endless conveyor belt 10 is switched off. After the crockery part obstructing the advancement of the endless conveyor belt 10, the deflecting mirror returns to its original position and the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1 starts operating again.

The fourth switch 74, operating mode “Sabbath mode”, operating mode of the conveyor belt dishwasher, means that there is no function that can be switched electrically by an operator. Everything runs automatically. A clock circuit provided as part of the machine control is out of function, the door switches are also deactivated. In the “Sabbath mode” operating mode, the conveyor belt dishwasher 1 operates at a lower speed. A separate timer is assigned to each operating mode, "ie the operating mode cleaning dishes for milk products" or "cleaning dishes for meat / meat products". The fourth switch 74 is switched on in good time before the Sabbath. Corresponding first or second curtains 40 and 41 are to be hung in the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1. When switching on the time assigned to the corresponding operating mode the conveyor belt conveyor starts the timer with the function of filling / heating the storage tank 25 with water. When the target temperature for rinsing is reached, the respective rinsing process begins until the timer stops the rinsing process. The first and second curtains 40, 41 are exchanged for the third curtains 42; then the "Kosher step" operating mode is started via the timer. After the "Kosher step" operating mode has ended, a rinsing process is started again following the settings of the timers. In order to operate the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher 1 again in the weekday mode, the fourth switch 74 is switched off.

If there is a power failure during the "Sabbath mode" operating mode, or if the main switch is turned OFF, the conveyor belt automatic dishwasher is switched on again via the machine control and the normal operating mode "Sabbath mode", i.e. after a power failure. The conveyor belt dishwasher 1 begins in the program sequence with the filling or heating of the water tanks. If the belt limit switch function is triggered via a crockery part 51 abutting the limit switch bar 50, the limit switch bar 50 is deflected downward and switches off the drive motor 49 of the drive 40 of the endless conveyor belt 10. The first light barrier 52 is switched off. The supply voltage of the first light barrier 52 is switched on every 15 s by a short pulse. If it is determined that the limit switch bar 50 is free again, the feed of the endless conveyor belt begins in the conveying direction 11. If, however, the limit switch bar 50 is not yet free, the supply voltage is switched off for a further 15 s.

If an EMERGENCY STOP function occurs, the conveyor belt dishwasher is switched off completely. The EMERGENCY STOP switch is then switched off and a pulse of the supply voltage of the EMERGENCY STOP switch is switched on every 60 s. If this is unlocked again, the program starts again with the step "Start / flushing operation on the Sabbath". If the "Kosher step" is activated in the "Sabbath mode" operating mode at the time of the EMERGENCY STOP, the Kosher will run after activation If, on the other hand, the machine program is in the "Sabbath mode" operating mode in the wash program at the time of the EMERGENCY STOP switch, the wash program starts again with the "Heating up" step after the EMERGENCY STOP switch has been activated before the kosher step ". If, on the other hand, the EMERGENCY STOP switch has not yet been unlocked, the supply voltage is switched off for a further 60 s. In the event of the detection of an overload function, ie by inhibiting the advance of the endless conveyor belt 10 in the conveying direction 11, the rinsing operation is switched off and a belt overload switch is switched off. This is done via the second light barrier 52. The supply voltage of the belt circuit breaker is switched on again every 30 s by a short pulse. If this is activated, the rinsing operation begins; if the corresponding belt overload switch has not yet been activated, the supply voltage is switched off again for 30 s. The cycle of this cycle can take place three or three times or more, for example. If the belt overload switch is still not free after the third time, the polling cycle is increased to 5 min. If this cycle has also been unsuccessful three times, the conveyor belt dishwasher 1 switches off completely and can no longer be started automatically in the "Sabbath mode" operating mode.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Tape transport dishwasher

machine infeed

pre-clearance

coarse screen

fine screen

Collective drain first rinse zone second rinse zone rinse zone

Endless conveyor belt

Direction of material to be cleaned lower spray nozzles upper spray nozzles lower spray nozzles upper spray nozzles

Heat recovery module

cooling coil

fan

drying module

dryer

drying zone

dishes output

Endless belt drive

water tank

partition wall

when cover

overflows

circulating pump

filter

Pump rinsing

Fresh-water rinsing

separation

first curtain (cleaning mode dairy products) second curtain (operating mode cleaning meat products) third curtain (operating mode "Kosher") cleaning device for endless belt common process sequence pre-clearing (separate) second process first filling line second filling line valve limit switch bar crockery part light barrier mirror surface housing connecting line bracket return spring opening drive motor rocker bearing drive motor deflected position limit switch bar 50

Control panel first switch operating mode "milk" second switch operating mode "meat" third switch operating mode "Kosher" fourth switch operating mode "Sabbath"

Claims

claims

1. A method of operating an automatic dishwasher (1) with an endless conveyor belt (10) which continuously feeds cleaning items, which is driven by a drive (24) which can be controlled by a machine control, and the automatic dishwasher (1) in a plurality of operating modes (71, 72, 73 , 74) can be operated with the following method steps: a) when switching from a first operating mode (71) "cleaning dishes for dairy products" to a second operating mode (72) "cleaning dishes for meat or meat products" and vice versa the execution of a third operating mode "kosher step" (73) is forced, b) during the third operating mode (73) "kosher step", the inside of the dishwasher (1) is cleaned with a cleaning fluid whose temperature is above that during normal operation of the dishwasher (1) occurring rinse water or fresh water temperature, c) during the third operating mode (73) "Kosher operation eb ", the endless conveyor belt (10) is continuously cleaned by a cleaning device (43), d) during the third operating mode (73)" Kosher operation ", the dishwasher (1) with an exclusively in the third operating mode (73) "Kosher operation" curtain (43) to be used and e) during a fourth operating mode (74) "Sabbath operation" is a shutdown function of the drive (24, 59) of the endless conveyor belt (10) in the event of overloading and when shutdown via light barriers (72).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the third operating mode (73) "kosher mode" the cleaning fluid for cleaning the areas of the automatic dishwasher contaminated in the first operating mode (71) or in the second operating mode (72) has a temperature between 90 ° C and has 95 ° C.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that during the third operating mode (73) "Kosher operation" the endless conveyor belt (10) is continuously cleaned on the top and bottom by a cleaning system (43).

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that in the third operating mode (73) "Kosher operation" the cleaning system (73) is provided with a set of cleaning brushes corresponding to the previous operating mode (71) or (72).

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the first operating mode (71) "cleaning dishes milk products" only the first curtains (40) are hung in the dishwasher.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the second operating mode (72) "cleaning dishes for meat products" only the second curtains (41) are hung on the dishwasher (1).

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that when changing from the first operating mode (71) "cleaning dishes milk products" to the second operating mode (72) "cleaning dishes for meat products" and vice versa always the third operating mode (73) "Kosher Operation "is carried out.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the dishwasher (1) via a fourth switch (74) provided on the control panel (70) can be converted into an operating mode “Sabbath mode”, in which an automatic shutdown occurs when faults occur the drive (24 59) of the endless conveyor belt (10) as well as the circulation pumps (29) and the fresh water supply.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that in the fourth operating mode (74) of the dishwasher (1) a blocking of the conveying movement (11) of the endless conveyor belt (10) is detected by a limit switch (50) designed as a light barrier (52) ,

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the detection of the blocked endless conveyor belt (10) takes place via a light barrier (52), which with a via a blocking of the conveying movement (11) of the endless Conveyor belt (10) operated lever system (56) deflectable mirror triggers a power cut-off.