GB2033737A

GB2033737A - Dish washing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2033737A
Application number: GB7936116A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: VENTURINI P
Current assignee: VENTURINI P
Priority date: 1978-10-18
Filing date: 1979-10-18
Publication date: 1980-05-29
Also published as: NL7907697A; DE2942051A1; IT1099936B; FR2438998B3; BE879491A; PT70335A; ES485160A1; IT7828874A0; FR2438998A1

Abstract

A dish washing machine comprises a container (2) in which a rotatable basket for kitchenware is arranged, a hinged cover (3) for the container, spray means (16, 17) arranged to direct liquid substantially upwardly, and spray means (27, 28) arranged inside said cover to direct liquid substantially downwardly, flexible conduit means (21, 22) connecting spray means (27, 28) to a washing circuit and a rinsing circuit respectively. A filter for use in the machine is comprised of a perforated basket shaped element (40) and perforated disc shaped element (41), see Fig. 5. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dish washing machine This invention relates to dish washing ma chines particularly those suitable for bars, restaurants and large communities and particularly to such machines as used for washing particular kitchenware, such as glasses, cups, saucers and spoons.

Such machines generally comprise a body provided with a vat within which a kitchen ware containing basket is disposed and a cover, possibly of transparent material, which provides for the closure of the vat during the operation of the machine. Within the vat the conventional device for spraying, heating and exhausting the water, for rotating the basket and for providing the necessary rinsing cycles are arranged. Some known machines of this kind have some disadvantages limiting the use thereof or making said use more difficult in order to obtain accurately cleaned kitchenware.

First, the water jet occurs from below since the nozzles are arranged on the vat bottom and, in this manner, it is difficult to obtain a complete cleaning of the upper portion of the kitchenware (e.g. the glasses can remain externally soiled even after the washing operation). The washing times are rather long in order to obtain a complete cleaning due to the direction of the water jets and it is often necessary to repeat the washing or rinsing cycle in order to have a satisfactory cleaning.

Furthermore, in the dish washing machines of the kind wherein the cover is removably mounted space problems arise during the loading of the machine when the cover is removed from the machine. Finally the filters for the water are of the closed type and therefore the cleaning thereof can be only partially accomplished under a water jet.

The present invention provides a dish washing machine comprising a body provided with a vat in which a rotatable basket designed to contain the kitchenware is arranged, a cover for closing the vat during the operation of the machine, spray means arranged on the vat bottom and directed substantially upwardly, a washing circuit, a rinsing circuit and a filter, characterised in that said cover is hinged to the machine body and is provided with additional spray means which are arranged inside said cover, are intended to co-operate with the spray means arranged on the vat bottom and are directed substantially downwardly, flexible conduit means being provided which connect said additional spray means to the washing circuit and the rinsing circuit respectively.

Preferably the machine includes a filter comprising a basket shaped element and a disc shaped element to be inserted into the basket shaped element, the filter being provided with sets of holes of different configuration.

The invention will now be described in connection with an embodiment thereof intended in a non-limiting sense and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a dish washing machine in a closed position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ma chine with the cover in an open position; Figure 3 shows a detail of the cover; and Figure 4 is a plan view of a basket element of a filter for the dish washing machine; Figure 5 is a side view of the filter of the dish washing machine; and Figure 6 is a plan view of a disc element of the filter.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the dish washing machine comprises a body 1 provided with a stainless steel vat 2 and a cover 3. The cover 3 is of a transparent plastics material of frusto-conical shape and is secured to the body 1 by means of a hinge 4 permitting the pivoting of the cover by about 90 when it is necessary to gain access to the inside of the vat. Suitable adjustable feet 5 permit the machine to bear on a plane.

Inside the vat an electrical resistor 8 is disposed providing for the heating of the water to a temperature set by a thermostat 10. A pipe 9 vertically extending into the vat and connected to the drain of the machine serves to keep the water at a constant level above the heating resistor.

A basket for holding the dishes, not shown in order to simplify the drawing, is arranged on a rotor formed by a rim 11 provided on a spider 12 which can rotate, under the thrust of the water jets impinging on the basket, about an upstanding pin 13. Two radially extending conduits 14 and 15 made of brass, arranged in a converging relationship to each other inside the vat and closed at the end facing the vat centre are provided with nozzles 16 and 17 from which the water is sprayed by a pump not shown, at the time of washing.

The nozzle conduit 14 which is intended to deliver the washing water has a greater diameter than the nozzle conduit 15 which is intended to deliver the rinsing water. Also the nozzles 16 and 17 which are of the type having a semispherical outlet end provided with a slot, have different sizes.

The hot water fot the washing operation is drawn through a filter 20 from the vat by means of a pump which discharges it into the nozzle conduit 14 whereas the rinsing water from a water network is passed into the nozzle conduit 15.

Two hoses 21 and 22 are connected to the nozzle conduit 14 and the nozzle conduit 15 respectively. These hoses are connected by means of clamps 23 to a pair of nozzle conduits 24 and 25 which are slightly bent in order to follow the shape of the cover. The other end of the nozzle conduits 24 and 25 is closed and these nozzle conduits are provided sidewise with holes within which nozzles 27 and 28, like the nozzles 16 and 17 respectively, are mounted. These nozzles are so secured to the cover as to prevent the slot facing the inside of the vat.

The operation of the machine is as follows.

The vat is filled with water up to the level permitted by the pipe 9. The basket containing the kitchenware is fitted into the vat and the starting knob is operated whereupon the lemp signalling the operation of the machine is automatically lit. Then, the time of washing cycle and the energisation of the heating resistor are programmed on a control board 30. The water contained in the vat, once it is heated, is drawn by the pump through the filter 20 and discharged into the nozzle conduits 14 and 24 and sprayed under pressure through the nozzles 1 6 and 27. The water jets cause the rotation of the basket so that all the kitchenware is sprayed and washed.

Water, in addition to impinging directly on the kitchenware, rebounds also against the cover walls, thereby exerting a strong mechanical action on the kitchenware.

After a preset time period has elapsed the rinsing cycle occurs which consists in introducing clean water from a water network into the nozzle conduits 15 and 25 which project the water against the kitchenware through the associated nozzles.

In Fig. 3 there is shown in detail the fastening of the nozzle conduits 24 and 25 to the cover 3. Conduit 24, which is angled to follow the cover shape, is provided with two holes in which nozzles 27 are mounted. These nozzles, through corresponding holes provided in the cover, are fastened thereto by means of washers 31 engaging under the nozzle head and spacers 32.

It should be understood that when the cover is lifted as shown in Fig. 2 the hoses are slightly bent. A projection 34 secured to the cover keeps a push button 33 depressed when the cover is lowered. When the cover is lifted (e.g. during the operation) the dish washing machine is shut down.

In the inner centre portion of the cover a splash guard is provided which prevents water splashes from flowing through steam exit holes 37 provided in a circular array in the upper centre portion of the cover.

It should be apparent that the nozzle arrangement within the cover is not limited to that described herein, but can be provided for example by means of pipe fittings connected to the hoses which terminate in one or more nozzles. In this case the cover will be provided with suitable holes into which said fittings are pressed and sealed. The pipe fittings shown can be applied also on the side surface of the cover or in another location suitable to produce washing efficiency.

From the preceding description it wilt be apparent that both during the washing and the rinsing cycle the kitchenware is struck by a double set of sprays (upper and lower) and the kitchenware condition can be visually observed through the domed transparent cover.

The filter 20 is shown in more detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. It is comprised of a basket structure 40 within which a perforated disc 41 is inserted under pressure near the rim so that it can be separated again for cleaning.

The disc is provided with a fitting 42 for attachment to conduit 14. The filter preferably is not circular-symmetric and in the embodiment illustrated it is cut along a chord (44 and 45 on the disc and the basket respectively) so as to facilitate the mounting and fastening operation in the appropriate seat provided on the body of the dish washing machine.

The basket 40 is formed of a plurality of flat circular portions 43 of successively decreasing diameter joined by part conical portions 43A and reinforced by means of ribs 46. The disc 41 has a peripheral edge 47 and a circular sectioned conduit 42 diametrically opposed to the chord 44. The disc is provided with an array of holes 48 of varying shape while the basket is provided with a circular array of square holes 49 provided on the annuli 43 of the basket parallel to the disc and a circular array of smaller rectangular holes 50 provided on the conical surfaces 43A. Holes of the arrays 50 on the conical surfaces are of configuration different from that of holes of the arrays 48, 49 and 51 on the surfaces normal to the filter axis. The end portion 43B of smaller diameter is also provided with an array of holes 51 similar to those of the disc 41.Both elements 40 and 41 are preferably made of a plastics material by a moulding process. The illustrated structure permits a good filtering action of the water with a treatment of the impurities and other particles and the possibility of separating the two components permits the cleaning of the filter to be carried out when necessary.

With the machine according to the invention and due to the technical features thereof, the complete washing cycle is very short, generally of the order of minutes and therefore it can be performed several times per day and the machine can be used with a high operating frequency also during rush hours.

Furthermore this dish washing machine has reduced dimensions in comparison with the now commercially available machines and therefore the insertion of this machine in any bar or a possibly built-in application thereof is considerably facilitated.

Claims

1. A dish washing machine comprising a body provided with a vat in which a rotatable basket designed to contain the kitchenware is arranged, a cover for closing the vat during the operation of the machine, spray means arranged on the vat bottom and directed substantially upwardly, a washing circuit, a rinsing circuit and a filter, characterised in that said cover is hinged to the machine body and is provided with additional spray means which are arranged inside said cover, are intended to co-operate with the spray means arranged on the vat bottom and are directed substantially downwardly, flexible conduit means being provided which connect said additional spray means to the washing circuit and the rinsing circuit respectively.

2. A dish washing machine according to Claim 1 including a filter comprised of a basket shaped element and a disc shaped element to be inserted into the basket shaped element, both elements being provided with a set of holes of different configuration.

3. A dish washing machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the cover is of substantially frusto-conical shape.

4. A dish washing machine according to any of Claims 1 to 3 in which the additional spray means comprise two nozzle pipes each closed at one end, each of which is provided with a set of nozzles directed towards the inside of the machine.

5. A dish washing machine according to Claim 4 in which the nozzle pipes are fastened to the cover by means of the nozzles and are convergent toward the cover centre.

6. A dish washing machine according to any of Claims 1 to 5 in which the washing and rinsing circuits are formed of conduits radially arranged and provided with nozzles.

7. A dish washing machine according to any of Claims 1 to 6 in which the cover is provided with a splash guard and holes for the exit of steam.

8. A dish washing machine according to Claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon in which the basket shaped element of the filter is formed of flat annular portions having successively decreasing diameters joined by conical portions and reinforced by radially extending ribs and the disc shaped element has a conduit extending therefrom.

9. A dish washing machine according to Claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon in which the holes lying on planes perpendicular to the filter axis have a configuration different from those provided on the conical surfaces at a small angle to the filter axis.

10. A dish washing machine substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.