JP2538273Y2 - Rack feeding mechanism of dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rack feeding mechanism for a dishwasher, and more particularly, includes a dishwasher and a rack unloading device, and the rack unloading device is provided. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mechanism for automatically transmitting a rack from a dishwasher to a rack unloader in a dishwasher disposed at a position intersecting with a rack loading direction of the dishwasher.

2. Description of the Related Art Dishwashers that automatically wash a large number of dishes such as dishes, bowls, cups, etc. after being provided for eating and drinking are mainly installed in kitchens such as coffee shops and restaurants, and are suitably used for business purposes. . If the basic structure of the dishwasher is described as an example, a washing tank having upper and lower nozzles horizontally rotating by the jet reaction force of the washing liquid, and a box-shaped casing that covers the washing tank and defines a washing chamber inside. And a pump for supplying a cleaning liquid to the nozzle under pressure, so that a rack accommodating tableware to be cleaned can be stored in the cleaning chamber. As a structure for storing the rack in the washing room and taking out the rack after the washing from the washing room, a door type in which an opening / closing door is provided at the front of the casing, and the washing room is covered by the casing from above. In addition, there is an up-and-down opening / closing type in which a rack can be inserted into and taken out of an upper portion of the washing tank by elevating the casing.

In any type, upon cleaning, after carrying the rack containing the tableware required for cleaning into the cleaning room, high-temperature cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the tableware in the rack from the upper and lower rotating nozzles, and the main cleaning is performed for a required time, and then Hot water is sprayed from the nozzle onto the tableware and rinsed for a required time to complete the tableware washing.

By the way, in the conventional dishwashing machine, both the operation of loading the rack accommodating the tableware to be washed into the machine and the operation of unloading the rack after washing out of the machine require human labor. In a normal cafe or restaurant scale, the amount of dishwashing is not so large, so this is no problem.However, in a hotel with a large banquet room or a kitchen in a large-scale drive-in, this becomes a problem that can not be ignored. I have.

That is, in the large-scale eating and drinking facilities described above, when a large number of dishes requiring cleaning are generated at one time, one worker handles loading and unloading of the racks because of excessive work in terms of the amount of work and the work time. And the operating rate of the washing machine is reduced. Therefore, in such a case, it is general that two workers share the work of loading and unloading the rack, but in this case, a drawback that the labor cost increases is pointed out.

Therefore, as a washing machine for large-scale eating and drinking facilities, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-7970, washable dishes are placed on an endless conveyor belt, and shower pipes provided above and below the belt are used. There has been proposed a continuous washing apparatus for washing the tableware with the operation of the belt.

The belt-type cleaning device described above can clean a large amount of dishes, but the cleaning time is limited while the dishes are passing through the shower zone. There are disadvantages that are not enough. In addition, in order to obtain sufficient washing and rinsing, the operating speed of the tableware conveying belt may be reduced or the shower zone may be set longer, but the former inevitably increases the washing time and reduces the washing efficiency. The latter is disadvantageous in that it requires a long space in the kitchen.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, it is conceivable to arrange a rack carrying-in device upstream of the above-mentioned vertically movable tableware washing machine and to arrange a rack carrying-out device downstream. It is also conceivable that a rack loading table is arranged upstream of the dishwasher and a rack unloading device is arranged downstream, so that only the rack is manually loaded into the washing machine. With this configuration, when a large number of dishes requiring cleaning are generated at once, the dishes can be efficiently washed.

However, when the rack loading device or rack loading table, the dishwasher and the rack loading device are arranged in series, washing and rinsing of the dishes can be sufficiently performed, but the entire device becomes long and a limited pinch is provided. There is still the disadvantage of requiring a large space in a small kitchen. Moreover,
It is often difficult to arrange each unit in series due to the relationship with other kitchen appliances.

Therefore, when disposing the dishwashing device according to the above-described configuration in a limited kitchen, the rack loading device or the rack loading table, the dishwasher, and the rack unloading device may be “key-shaped” such as a right-turn or a left-turn. It is recommended that the dishwasher be installed along the corner of the kitchen. With this arrangement, even if a sufficient space is not secured in the kitchen, the space can be effectively used.

By the way, in the case of such a key-shaped arrangement, in a vertically movable tableware washing machine, since the washing chamber is covered with a casing from above and hermetically sealed, both devices for loading and unloading racks are required. It is necessary to install the casing at a position that does not hinder the elevating of the casing. Therefore, unless the rack after washing is sent out from the washing position in the dishwasher, automatic unloading by the rack unloading device is not achieved. Therefore, in the dishwasher according to the key-shaped arrangement, how to send the rack from the dishwasher to a predetermined position of the rack unloading device is a problem to be solved.

Object of the Invention This invention has been proposed in view of the above problems inherent in the dishwashing apparatus in which the above-described rack unloading device is arranged at a position intersecting with the rack loading direction in the dishwasher, and is proposed to appropriately solve the problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide a suitable means for automatically sending out a washed rack located inside a dishwasher to a rack unloading device.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and appropriately achieve the intended purpose, the rack delivery mechanism of the dishwasher according to the present invention raises and lowers the casing and loads the rack into the cleaning tank. A dishwasher that allows carry-out, and a rack unloading device that is disposed adjacent to the dishwasher in a positional relationship intersecting with the rack carrying-in path of the dishwasher and pulls out the rack from the dishwasher. In the dishwashing apparatus, a motor is provided at a corner of the washing tank of the dishwasher opposite to the rack unloading side and has an output shaft directed upward, and one end is fixed to the output shaft. Being always standing parallel to the side of the washing tank facing the unloading side to avoid interference with the elevation of the casing,
When the motor is driven, the arm oscillates horizontally by a required angle above the washing tank, so that the other open end can reach almost directly above the washing tank. When the arm is swung horizontally by the drive of the motor, the rack whose open end is located in the washing tank is set to a size capable of being pushed out to a position where the rack can be pulled out by the rack unloading device. It is characterized by having been done.

Next, a preferred embodiment of the rack feeding mechanism of the dishwasher according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration in which each unit of a rack carrying-in device, a rack carrying-out device (lifter device) and a wagon, which will be described later, is arranged in a key shape, centering on a dishwasher employing a rack delivery mechanism according to the embodiment. It is a schematic perspective view shown. Although the left-handed (in the flow direction of the rack) key-shaped unit array is shown in the embodiment, a right-turned key-shaped unit array can be obtained only by changing the arrangement of the rack delivery mechanism. Further, in the embodiment, a case where a rack delivery mechanism is adopted in a dishwasher configured to automatically carry in and out a rack to and from a dishwasher will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, the present invention can be suitably applied to a dishwasher having a configuration in which a rack carry-in table is provided on the upstream side of the dishwasher and a rack unloading device is provided on the downstream side, and the rack is manually loaded.

(Regarding Rack Loading Device) As shown in FIG. 1, a rack loading device 24 for loading the rack 14 up to a predetermined position of the washing tank 11 in the dishwashing machine 10 is disposed on the front side of the dishwasher 10 described later. ing.
The base 25 constituting the rack carrying-in device 24 is installed so that the level of the rack mounting portion matches the level of the upper surface of the cleaning tank 11. A pusher 32 that can reciprocate in the longitudinal direction is attached to an upper surface of the base 25 via a drive mechanism 29 disposed on the base 25, and the pusher 32
Is carried into the washing position of the dishwasher 10 (see FIG. 3A).

(About Dishwashing Machine) A dishwashing machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a rectangular washing tank 11 that is entirely open upward and a vertically movable box-shaped casing 12 that can cover the washing tank 11 from above. Basically, the casing 12 has a washing chamber defined therein with the washing tank 11 covered. The structure of the dishwasher itself is a general dishwasher for business use, and the rotating nozzles 15 and 15 (only the lower nozzle 15 is shown) facing each other horizontally in an up-and-down relationship, a washing liquid and rinsing water Pump and other members such as a hot water storage tank (all not shown)
Are arranged. In the washing tank 11, a rack 14 accommodating tableware 13 to be used and requiring washing can be placed at a fixed position just above the lower nozzle 15.

The casing 12 is provided so as to be able to move up and down along a pair of guide rails 73 provided on the back side of the washing tank 11. An elevating mechanism (not shown) is provided on the back side of the cleaning tank 11.
The casing 12 is moved up and down along the guide rails 73 via the elevating mechanism, and the
It is configured to move between an open position allowing the loading and unloading of the rack 14 with respect to the cleaning position and a cleaning position where the rack 14 is closed in a state where the rack 14 is stored in the cleaning tank 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, guides 84 and 85 protruding upward by a predetermined height are provided on the upper edge of the cleaning tank 11 on one side and the rear side opposite to the side on which a lifter device 37 described later is disposed. Is done. The guide 84 provided on the side functions to guide the rack 14 carried in by the rack carrying-in device 24 to the cleaning position of the cleaning tank 11 in a correct posture, and the guide 84 provided on the back surface. Reference numeral 85 functions to guide the rack 14 delivered by the rack delivery mechanism described later to be carried out in a correct posture.

(Regarding the rack delivery mechanism) As will be described later, the dishwasher shown in FIG. 1 has a lifter device 37 as a rack unloading device adjacent to the dishwasher 10 in a positional relationship intersecting with the loading line of the rack loading device 24. They are arranged and have a key-shaped unit arrangement (left-turning) as a whole. In view of this, the dishwasher 10 is provided with a mechanism for sending the washed dishware rack 14 to a lifter device 37 located in a direction intersecting with the rack carry-in device 24. Therefore, this mechanism will be described below.

In particular, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, a motor 21 is disposed on one side of the washing tub 11 in the dishwasher 10 with its output shaft 21a directed upward, and a rack is pushed out to the output shaft 21a. One end of the arm 22 is fixed. This arm 22
Is in the state before the operation, as shown in FIG.
It is located parallel to the side surface of the washing tank 11 and stands by at a position where it does not hinder the elevation of the casing 12. Then, the motor 22 is driven to move the arm 22 in a predetermined direction (second direction).
By horizontally swinging clockwise (in the example in the figure, clockwise) and moving the open end to almost directly above the cleaning tank 11 as shown in FIG. The rack 14 can be pushed out of the washing machine 10 by a predetermined length.

In order to function in this manner, the length of the arm 22 is adjusted such that when the arm 22 is swung to reach just above the cleaning tank 11, the open end of the arm 22 connects the rack 14 to a lifter device 37 to be described later.
Is set to a size that can be pushed out to a position where it can be carried out (see FIG. 4). Therefore, in the dishwasher arranged in a key shape, automatic removal of the rack 14 from the dishwasher 10 can be achieved. Further, since the delivery mechanism of the embodiment is an arm swing type, as shown in FIG. 3, the distance between the dishwasher 10 and the wall surface of a kitchen or the like can be shortened, and the sandwiching space can be effectively used. Available. Preferably, a roller 22a is pivotally connected to the open end of the arm in order to smoothly send out the rack 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning tank 11 is provided with a regulating member 23 for regulating the position of the rack at a front edge parallel to the direction in which the rack 14 is pushed out. That is, as shown in the illustrated example, the rack feed-out mechanism is of the above-described arm swing type, so that when the rack 14 located directly above the cleaning tank 11 is pressed by the arm 22, it is inevitably counterclockwise. It is anticipated that, when receiving the rotational force in the direction, it is horizontally “torked” (when the arm is clockwise), and the delivery posture of the downstream lifter device 37 is shifted (biased). In such a case, by providing the regulating member 23, when the arm 22 swings and pushes the rack 14 as described above, the side portion of the rack 14 comes into contact with the regulating member 23 and moves. Posture deviation is regulated.

Since the regulating member 23 is pivotally supported via a pivot 23a and is slightly rotatable back and forth with respect to a perpendicular,
When the rack 14 is transferred from the rack carrying-in device 24 to the cleaning tank 11, the regulating member 23 in contact with the rack 14 rotates slightly and escapes, so that smooth feeding is achieved. Also a regulating member
23 is located between the dishwasher 10 and the rack carrying-in device 24, but the regulating member 23 is provided at a level that does not hinder the carrying-in of the rack 14 by the rack carrying-in device 24. Of course.

(Regarding the rack unloading device) The rack unloading device of the embodiment is a lifter device including a lifting pedestal 51 that is raised and lowered in a horizontal posture by an appropriate lifting mechanism 44.
37, the rack 14 sent out by the rack sending-out mechanism is provided inside the elevating platform 51.
A loading device 62 is provided which retracts the rack 14 toward the wagon 67 located on the downstream side while being retracted to the home position 51. The rack unloading device is a dishwasher
For example, a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, or the like that can carry out the rack 14 sent out by a predetermined length from 10 may be used.

(Regarding the lifter device and the wagon) As shown in FIG. 1, on one side of the dishwasher 10 (on the side opposite to the side where the motor 21 is provided), the rack 14 having been washed is placed with the dishwasher 10. Out of the rack
A lifter device 37 for stacking 14 on a wagon 67 described later is installed. The lifter device 37 is provided with a transport body 42 that can move up and down along the outer frame 40. The transport body 42 is provided with a lifting platform 51. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, an elevating mechanism 44 for the transport body 42 is disposed on one side of the frame body 40 that intersects with the rack unloading direction. It is configured to move up and down along the frame 40.

As shown in FIG. 4, a chain 59 is disposed inside the elevating gantry 51 so as to be able to run in the longitudinal direction (the direction in which the rack 14 is carried in). A pair of protrusions 60 and 81 which can protrude by the height are arranged at predetermined intervals. In a standby state (a state shown in FIG. 4) before the rack 14 is carried into the carrier 42, the projection 60 located on the entrance side of the rack 14
From the dishwasher 10 to transfer the rack 14 to the carrier 42. The projection 81 located on the outlet side in the state described above contacts the rear end of the rack 14 transferred to the carrier 42 (not shown) to load the rack 14 into the wagon 67. Function.

On the opposite side of the lifter device 37 with the dishwasher 10 therebetween, as shown in FIG. 1, a wagon 67 movably configured via a plurality of (four in the embodiment) casters 71 is detachably set. You. In this wagon 67, L-shaped shelf members 70, 70 parallel to the loading direction of the racks 14 are opposed to each other, separated by a dimension that allows the racks 14 to be placed. A plurality of sets (four sets in the embodiment) of the step members 70, 70 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction.

Next, the operation of the rack delivery mechanism of the dishwasher according to the embodiment will be described. First, the rack 14 accommodating dirty tableware used for use is placed on the base 25 of the rack carrying-in device 24. When the drive mechanism 29 of the loading device 24 is started in this state, the rack 14 placed on the base 25 is pushed by the pusher 32 as shown in FIG. It is carried onto the tank 11.

When the rack 14 is carried into the dishwasher 10, the casing 12 descends to cover the washing tank 11, and surrounds the rack 14 located above the washing tank. Cover the casing 12
When the appropriate detecting means detects, the washing in the dishwasher 10 is started, and when the washing and rinsing of the dish 13 is completed after a predetermined time, the elevating mechanism is driven in reverse to raise the casing 12. At this time, the arm of the rack delivery mechanism
The reference numeral 22 stands by at a position where there is no problem in raising and lowering the casing 22.

Next, when the motor 21 of the rack delivery mechanism disposed on the side of the dishwasher 10 is started and the arm 22 is horizontally swung, the rack 14 is substantially in the carrying-in direction as shown in FIG. 3 (b). Extruded in a 90 ° crossing direction. At this time, since the lateral movement of the rack 14 is regulated by the guide 85 and the regulating member 23, the rack 14 is fed into the lifter device 37 in a correct posture.

When the feeding of the rack 14 toward the lifter device 37 is completed, the motor 21 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, the arm 22 is returned to the original position, and the carry-in of the rack 14 scheduled to be washed next time is awaited.

The rack 14 pushed out to a predetermined position of the lifter device 37 by the arm 22 is thereafter moved to a dishwasher via a loading device 62 disposed on the lift base 51 as shown in FIG.
10 is completely pulled out and transferred to the elevating gantry 51. Further, when the rack 14 is transferred to the lifting stand 51,
The carrier 42 is moved upward by the drive mechanism 44 disposed in the lifter device 37, and the shelf members 70, 70 at the required positions of the wagon 67 are moved.
Positioning is stopped in front of. Next, the loading device 62
Is restarted, and the rack 14 is loaded from the lifting stand 51 to the shelf members 70, 70 of the wagon 67.

Effect of the Invention According to the rack feeding mechanism of the dishwasher according to the present invention, the rack after washing located in the dishwasher is directed to the rack unloading device arranged in a direction intersecting with the rack loading line to the dishwasher. And can be sent out automatically. That is, in a state where the dishwashing device is arranged in a key shape along the corner of a kitchen or the like, the rack can be automatically unloaded, and the limited space in the kitchen can be effectively used, and the working environment can be improved. Improvement can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the entire configuration of a dishwasher provided with a dishwasher employing a rack delivery mechanism according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing the rack delivery mechanism shown in FIG. FIGS. 3 and 3 are cross-sectional plan views of the washing tank in the dishwasher. FIG. 3 (a) shows a standby state of a rack delivery mechanism, and FIG. 3 (b) shows a state where the rack delivery mechanism is operated. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a state in which the rack is sent out, and FIG. 10: Dishwasher, 11: Washing tank 12: Casing, 13: Tableware 14: Rack, 21: Motor 22: Arm 37: Lifter device

Continued on the front page (56) References JP-A-63-79629 (JP, A) JP-A-61-191303 (JP, U) JP-A-52-46485 (JP, U) JP-A-56-91560 (JP) , U) Japanese Utility Model Hei 2-63776 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application No. 51-139975 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application No. 55-50622 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] The washing tank (1) is moved up and down by a casing (12).
A dishwasher (10) that allows loading and unloading of the rack (14) into and out of the dishwasher (10), and is disposed adjacent to the dishwasher (10) in a positional relationship that intersects the rack loading path of the dishwasher (10). And a rack unloading device (37) for pulling out the rack (14) from the dishwasher (10). The rack unloading side in the washing tank (11) of the dishwasher (10) The output shaft (21
a) the motor (21) with its a) pointing upward, and one end fixed to this output shaft (21a), always positioned parallel to the side of the washing tank (11) facing the rack unloading side. The motor (21) swings horizontally by a required angle above the washing tank (11) when the motor (21) is driven, so as to avoid the interference with the raising and lowering of the casing (12). And an arm (22) capable of reaching almost directly above the washing tank (11). The length of the arm (22) is controlled by the motor (21). When the rack (1) is moved, the arm open end is located in the washing tank (11).
4) is set to a size that allows the rack unloading device (37) to push out to a position where the drawer can be pulled out.