WO2008145216A1

WO2008145216A1 - Device for cleaning using microwaves

Info

Publication number: WO2008145216A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/002526
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruno Gaus; Thomas NÄGER; Thomas Peukert; Stefan Scheringer; Ingo Wiegand
Original assignee: Meiko Maschinenbau Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2007-05-30
Filing date: 2008-03-31
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Also published as: DE102007025264A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for cleaning objects (32) to be cleaned, especially in an automatic cleaning machine (1, 31) for objects to be cleaned, such as crockery, cutlery or the like, or in an automatic cleaning and disinfecting machine (51) for containers for human excretion. The object (32) to be cleaned is treated by irradiation by microwaves in a cleaning compartment (52) or in at least one treatment zone (4) before or after a first wetting with a cleaning fluid (7), in such a way that adhering dirt can be solubilised, dissolved or removed.

Description

Device for cleaning by microwaves

State of the art

From EP 1 196 650 Bl an industrial dishwasher is known which comprises a conveyor belt. On the conveyor belt, an independent wireless monitoring device is mounted, which is moved along with the conveyor belt through the different treatment zones for goods to be cleaned with the conveyor belt. The data measured via the monitoring device are recorded and evaluated in a monitoring unit. With this device, the temperatures in the individual treatment zones for each good to be cleaned record each and evaluate at a later time or simultaneously. DE 196 08 036 C5 discloses a conveyor for a multi-tank dishwasher.

Furthermore, DE 10 2005 02 428 A1 discloses a commercial dishwashing machine in which, after the final rinsing via a fan, an air flow is generated in the washing chamber. The fan draws on an air inlet mounted below a door to ambient air, which flows through the flushing chamber filled with vapor, in which the items to be washed is. Moist, warm air is optionally discharged through an intermediate condenser / heat exchanger via an air outlet located above the door into the environment. By sucked in ambient air, the items in the chamber can be dried.

DE 100 22 088 A1 relates to a program-controlled dishwasher and a device for drying dishes. In the case of the program-controlled dishwasher disclosed in DE 100 22 088 A1, a device for drying

Crockery provided, wherein the dishes in the water leading rinses is heated with circulating warm rinsing liquid in the washing and wherein a

Program step "drying" with pumped-out rinsing liquid by means of a heat exchanger, the moisture in the rinsing chamber and the items to be washed is condensed in a closed circuit condensed closed circuit. The device comprises a reservoir which can be filled during the program section "drying" with cold fresh water and / or used regeneration and rinsing water of the device's own softening device, which serves as a heat exchanger.Furthermore, a process air from the rinsing container for drying in a closed circuit leading air flow channel is provided with a circulating air blower ,

From DE 10 2005 012 114 Al a dishwasher with a drying device is known. In order to improve the drying process on the dishwasher, the dishwasher is assigned a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is associated with a flow channel having a heater and a fan, and the second heat exchanger is arranged on at least one side wall of the washing compartment.

DE 195 09 877 C2 relates to a device for cleaning and disinfecting bedpans, urine bottles and the like. According to this solution, a chamber is proposed, further comprising a steam generating chamber, a water storage tank and a water pump, wherein a water inlet pipe is formed in the chamber as an overflow pipe of the water storage tank. The steam generating chamber and the water storage tank are interconnected according to the principle of communicating vessels such that even at low water level in the water storage tank, a steam generator in the steam generating chamber is completely flooded and a steam inlet line between the steam generating chamber and chamber also an overflow pipe of the water storage tank and the water storage tank a pressure relief valve for the steam inlet pipe forms.

DE 198 31 950 C2 relates to a machine for cleaning and disinfecting PflegegeschiiT. The care harness is introduced through a door into a chamber, held there and sprayed via nozzles with steam or steam. There is provided a water box, a water inlet and a pump system for introducing cleaning liquid into a chamber. Furthermore, a heating device for the liquid is used as a steam generator, wherein the steam generated above the liquid level of the steam region is guided through a steam line into the chamber.

In the cleaning machines outlined above, the cleaning of the material to be cleaned z. B. dishes or containers from the care sector by applying fresh water at a temperature of 85 ° C or with steam with what any remaining dirt or rinsing eye are rinsed. To heat fresh water to a temperature in the order of about 85 ° C, a high energy demand is required, as well as for the production of, a disinfection of z. B. Ausscheidungsgefäßen ermöglichendem, steam, which is required in the above-mentioned cleaning and disinfecting machine. In the cleaning machines known from the prior art, the heating of a quantity of water for the final cleaning of the material to be cleaned is usually carried out in a boiler. For this purpose, a larger amount of water is heated, and optionally transferred to the vapor state, as finally for cleaning or disinfection of containers as they are used for example in the care sector, is required. This is highly unfavorable for energetic reasons, since a much smaller amount of steam for disinfection or for the final cleaning of the product to be cleaned is sufficient. Therefore, the energy balance of the above-described cleaning machines is unfavorable.

Disclosure of the invention

The invention has for its object to optimize the cleaning of goods to be cleaned or, if necessary, a disinfection of the same with regard to the introduced energy input.

According to the invention, it is proposed to achieve the cleaning and disinfection of material to be cleaned via a microwave input, wherein the microwaves produce either a targeted excitation of pollution or of the contamination film of starch, fat or protein attached or microwave entry into the material to be cleaned, which with Contamination of starch, fat or protein is provided takes place. Advantageously, by the entry of microwaves either directly into the pollution or in the material to be cleaned, to which the respective contamination adheres, an otherwise required soaking step of the pollution or the dirt films, or the use of chemicals before the actual cleaning be sprayed onto the items to be cleaned, or the use of chemicals, the cleaning liquid, such as heated fresh water, be added, avoided or reduced.

Furthermore, by virtue of the inventively proposed registration of microwaves for cleaning the material to be cleaned by a temporal shift of spectral ranges or frequency spectra, a targeted excitation of vibrations in contaminants, whether formed from starch or fat or protein, can be achieved. By targeted temporal shifting of the spectral ranges or the frequency spectra of the microwave radiation to be introduced into the contaminants or into the material to be cleaned, specific influence can be exerted on the removal of particularly stubborn or particularly common contaminants.

By the inventively proposed entry of microwaves in the contaminants or in the goods to be cleaned can, for example. An otherwise every four weeks required basic cleaning of cutlery and tableware at the site of the cleaning device can be avoided. The positive effects of the entry of microwaves in the flushing area of a cleaning device can also affect the pollution of the device itself, so that the interior automatically remains largely free from contamination.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the proposed solution according to the invention can be achieved by the entry of microwaves and a cleaning or regeneration of filters. It can e.g. Air filters, e.g. the exhaust filter above a heat recovery device to be cleaned in the manner proposed according to the invention, as well as a cleaning or solving of dried thickened fat particles on Tankabdecksieb or on the filters, which circulates the circulation pumps in the rinsing tanks z. B. upstream of a continuous dishwasher are achieved. With regard to single-chamber dishwashers (program machines) can be achieved by the entry of microwaves in the material to be cleaned a significant improvement in cleaning performance.

Brief description of the drawings

With reference to the drawings, the invention will be described in more detail below.

It shows:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a continuous-flow dishwasher

Cleaning machines,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a single-chamber cleaning machine (program automat),

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a washer-disinfector; Figure 4 is provided with a plurality of microwave sources cleaning section and

Figure 5 shows a possible waveguide configuration for applying to be cleaned Good with microwaves.

embodiments

In the following, microwaves are understood to mean an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength between 0.1 mm and 1000 m. Preferably, in the present invention, microwaves having a wavelength between 3m and 30m are used.

FIG. 1 shows a partial side view of a cleaning machine designed as a continuous-flow dishwasher.

As is apparent from Figure 1, to be cleaned Good 32 is transported in the transport direction 2 by means of a conveying direction 3 through a continuous dishwasher 1. The conveyor 3, which is formed in the illustration of Figure 1 as an endless conveyor belt, passes through a rinsing zone 4, in which a first rinsing system 5 and a second rinsing system 6 are arranged. Cleaning fluid 7, which is conveyed via a first pump 8 from a rinsing tank 9, is sprayed onto the material 32 to be cleaned via the two rinsing systems 5, 6.

The first pump 8, which circulates the cleaning fluid 7 within a Spülzonentankes 9 and conveys to the flushing systems 5 and 6, comprises a pump housing 10. Der

Rinse tank 9 is covered by a Tankabdecksieb 11. The rinsing tank 9 is through a partition 12 of a further, a pump rinsing zone 14 and a

Frischwasserklarspülzone 18 associated tank separately. The at least one rinsing zone

4, as shown in the continuous-flow dishwasher 1 according to FIG. 1, is separated by a separating curtain 13 from the further one in the transporting direction 2

Treatment zones of the continuous dishwasher 1 separated.

Within the pump rinsing zone 14, water is applied via a first spray pipe 16 and a second spray pipe 17 to the material 32 to be cleaned which has passed through at least one rinse zone 4 in order to rinse off adhering impurities, preferably in the form of a film on the product 32 to be cleaned , such as dishes, cutlery, trays and the like attach. The illustration according to FIG. 1 shows that at least one microwave source 27 is arranged in the continuous-flow dishwasher 1 behind the at least one rinsing zone 4. About this at least one microwave source 27 is an entry of microwaves 30 in the continuous dishwasher. The at least one microwave source 27 may be arranged in front of the at least one rinsing zone 4, in front of a pump rinsing zone 14 and also in front of a fresh water rinsing zone 18.

As can be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 1, at least one microwave source 27 can be installed in the tunnel roof of a tunnel in which the individual treatment zones of the continuous-flow dishwasher 1 are arranged. A propagation of microwaves 30 ermöglichender waveguide 81 extends from the roof of the tunnel in the direction of the goods to be cleaned 32. To achieve a Frischwasserklarspülvorhangs fresh water jets 22, the first spray tube 16 and second spray tube 17 a kinked Sprührohrverlauf 19 to a fanning to achieve the fresh water jets 22. Furthermore, the continuous dishwasher 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises a heat recovery device 23, a drain fan 24 and - this downstream - a drying zone 25, in which a drying fan 26 is located.

By attached to the tunnel roof at least one microwave source 27, microwaves 30 are coupled into the material to be cleaned 32.

By the at least one microwave source 27 is a targeted excitation of pollution, which is usually on the outer surface of the material to be cleaned 32. With the proposed solution according to the invention, it is possible to make a targeted stimulation of contaminants, which may consist of starch, fat, protein or the like, and not in the at least one rinsing zone 4 or not completely removed from the goods to be cleaned 32.

The at least one microwave source 27 couples in adhering to the material to be cleaned 32 dirt microwaves, so that either fall off automatically due to the relative movement with respect to the material to be cleaned 32 of this or because of the acting in the at least one rinse 4 liquid very easy from Good to be cleaned 32 can be removed. This results in the possibility of designing the at least one rinsing zone 4 shorter in duration, forming fewer rinsing zones 4 in a continuous-flow dishwasher 1, and thereby considerably shortening the overall length of a continuous-flow dishwasher. Furthermore, results from the erfmdungsgemäß proposed at least one microwave source 27 the ability to increase the transport speed and thus the throughput or the performance of the continuous dishwasher (dishes per unit time). As already mentioned above, the at least one microwave source 27 can be arranged in front of the at least one rinsing zone 4, before the final rinse zone 14 and before the fresh water rinsing zone 18.

A targeted control of the at least one microwave source 27 can be a temporal shift of the spectral range or frequency spectra, so that a targeted excitation of the dirt on the material to be cleaned 32 or alternatively excitation of the material to be cleaned 32 in its entirety by the at least one microwave source 27 can be achieved. By cleaning the material to be cleaned 32 by targeted vibration excitation of the contaminants, a soapy cleaning step can be avoided or the addition of chemical additives can be reduced. The solution proposed by the invention, in particular the interval in which to carry out basic cleaning of the material to be cleaned, be considerably extended, ideally eliminating the need for regular basic cleaning of the cleaning completely.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a single-chamber device (programmer). The 1-chamber device 31 shown in Figure 2 receives to be cleaned Good 32, which is acted upon in the illustration of Figure 2 by a cleaning chamber on the chamber roof 43 a cleaning chamber rotatably arranged wash arm 33 with cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid is stored in a tank 34, the fluid level of the cleaning fluid is indicated by reference numeral 29. The tank contents 28 (not shown) by means of a circulating pump supplied to the rotary arms 33 and passes from these via nozzle-shaped openings on the material to be cleaned 32, which is usually taken within one or more body in the cleaning chamber.

The cleaning chamber is accessible via a pivotable door 35. The pivot axis of the door 35 extends perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. The tank 34 is associated with a drain pump 36, via which heavily contaminated cleaning fluid from the tank 34 in the direction of a siphon 37 is removed. In the siphon 37 is a water barrier; behind the water barrier in the siphon 37 opens an exhaust duct 39, in which a blower 38 is located. In order to improve the drying, moist, warm air from the cleaning chamber of the single-chamber device is removed via the fan 38 and the exhaust air duct 39 and new fresh air via the supply air line 40, which may be preceded by a filter 41, in the cleaning chamber in which is to be cleaned and now to be dried Good 32, passed. The cleaning chamber is bounded by the chamber roof 43 and chamber walls 42.

As can be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 2, at least one microwave source 27 is located on one of the chamber walls 42. This comprises a waveguide 81, in which a deflection plate 85 is located. About this baffle 85, the microwaves are deflected 30 and directly - as shown in Figure 2 - directed to the good to be cleaned. Corresponding to the selected excitation spectrum, a targeted excitation of the contaminants adhering to the outer surface of the material 32 to be cleaned, whether made of starch, of fat or of egg white, can now take place or, alternatively, an excitation of the entire body of the material 32 to be cleaned, i. a cup, a plate or the like. The targeted excitation can be adjusted by the targeted setting of a spectral range or a frequency spectrum and their time shift.

The illustration according to Figure 3 is shown in a schematic representation of a washer-disinfector.

The illustration according to FIG. 3 shows that a washer-disinfector 51 comprises a chamber 52. From the chamber 52 extends a drain 53, in which a siphon 54 is formed. In Siphonbogen 54 is a, serving as an odor barrier, water supply, through which the chamber 52 is separated from the on-site sewer network, so that repelling of sewage or odor contamination of the cleaning chamber 52, especially during the disinfection step and a recontamination of the cleaning chamber 52 are effectively excluded can. On the lateral boundary walls of the cleaning chamber 52 are a number of nozzles 55, via which cleaning fluid is introduced into the cleaning chamber 52 for cleaning receptacles received in the chamber 52. In a subsequent to the cleaning process disinfection step, steam is introduced into the cleaning chamber 52 via a line 73 to disinfect the previously cleaned vessels contained therein. For introducing supply air, the cleaning chamber 52 on a supply air line 58, which opens at an orifice point 59 in this; Furthermore, extends from the cleaning chamber, an exhaust duct 57, which opens into the outlet 53 at a point which opens behind the Siphonbogen 54 stocked as a barrier serving water supply into the drain 53.

Via the nozzles 55 arranged in the roof or in the lateral boundary surfaces of the cleaning chamber 52, both an introduction of cleaning fluid into the cleaning chamber 52 and an entry of steam in the context of a disinfection step into the cleaning chamber 52 take place.

The at least one microwave source 27, which can be embedded either on a lateral boundary wall or in the roof, or in the bottom area of the cleaning chamber 52, can be a targeted stimulation of remaining on the vessels to be cleaned contaminants, be it starch, be it fat, be it protein by targeted microwave entry 30 done. The microwave source 27 comprises, for example, a waveguide 81 having an inclined deflection surface portion 85 at which the microwaves 30 are connected, e.g. can be deflected by an angle of 90 °.

Steam is applied to the cleaning chamber 52 via the water / steam unit 62 likewise shown in FIG. 3. The water / steam unit 62 is fed via a cold water or hot water inlet 60. The water enters a pot 63 and passes from this into a water tank 66 until a water feature 67 is reached. From the water tank 66, an overflow 71 extends into a steam generator 68. The heating of the steam generator 68 causes the water stored according to the water level 69 to evaporate and enter the conduit 73 as steam and the steam is fed to the nozzles 55 in the wall of the cleaning chamber 52 becomes.

Although in the illustration according to FIG. 3 only one microwave source 27 is introduced into the cleaning chamber 52, an entry of microwaves 30 into the cleaning chamber 52 can also take place via a number of microwave sources 27.

The frequency with which the microwaves are directed to the material to be cleaned for the targeted excitation of dirt adhering to it is approximately 2.445 GHz.

About the proposed solution according to the invention, for example, a heating of film-like contaminants, such as starch films or protein-containing coatings that are formed on the material to be cleaned, for example on excretory vessels over time with repeated, but only insufficient cleaning. With a corresponding time shift of the spectral range or the frequency spectrum can be deliberately stimulate soiling, so they can be removed by injecting microwaves very easily without chemical additives and separately be provided, fresh water and manual overhead soak required steps from the material to be cleaned.

The illustrations according to FIGS. 4 and 5 show, in a schematic manner, embodiments of cleaning zones.

From the illustration according to FIG. 4 it can be seen that in a cleaning room, e.g. On a continuous dishwasher, as shown in Figure 1 partially shown, may be executed, a plurality of microwave sources 27 are arranged. These each comprise a microwave source 27 and waveguides 81, into which microwaves 30 are coupled by means of an anode 89. The microwaves 30 are optionally deflected at deflecting portions 85 formed in the sidewalls of the waveguides 81, see FIG. 5 in particular, deflected, e.g. at an angle of 90 °, and thus can be targeted to the cleaned goods 32.

From the illustration according to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the design of the waveguides 81 in any desired geometries is possible, but it must be ensured that the waveguides 81 have a sufficient cross section 82. Corresponding to the geometry and the number of deflecting sections 85, a targeted admission can also be cumbersome, the respective cleaning zone passing through to be cleaned good 32 can be achieved.

In a further embodiment of the cleaning zone - as shown in Figure 4 - can be arranged in sidewalls floor or ceiling surfaces of the cleaning zones microwave generators or microwave sources 27, via which microwaves are coupled into the material to be cleaned 32. By temporally shifting the frequency spectrum or the spectral range, narrow effective bands can be realized in an optimal manner, which enable targeted excitation of contaminants, be they starch, fat, protein or the like.

Furthermore, by the coupling of microwaves proposed according to the invention, it is also possible to achieve a cleaning of filters, for example the tank cover screen 11 (cf. FIG. 1) or the filter in the exhaust fan 24 (cf. FIG. 1). about the coupling of microwave radiation embrittlement of a dirt film can be achieved so that it can easily and easily detached from the filters, or peels off during normal operation of the cleaning device by itself. For this purpose, it is also conceivable that the microwave source, which is associated with such a filter, is turned on only temporarily or at certain intervals.

As further shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cleaning zone is bounded by a plurality of walls 86 and a bottom surface 87. The coupling of microwaves 30 generating waveguide 81 may be formed running in any geometry within the cleaning zone. FIG. 5 shows that the waveguides 81 can be produced from a plurality of individual sections, which are connected to one another at flange bonds 88. The waveguides 81 have the already mentioned flow cross-section 82 and the deflecting sections 85 serving for deflecting, via which the microwaves 30 are coupled via the cross-sections 82 of the waveguides 81.

Bezueszeichenliste

1 continuous dishwasher

2 transport direction

3 conveyor

4 rinsing zone

5 First flushing system

6 Second flushing system

7 cleaning fluid

8 first pump

9 rinse tank

10 pump housings

11 tank cover strainer

12 partition wall

13 curtain

14 pump rinsing zone

15 Second pump

16 First spray pipe

17 second spray pipe

18 freshwater rinsing zone

19 spray pipe course

20 Upper spray tube

21 Lower spray tube

22 fresh water jet

23 heat recovery

24 exhaust fan

25 drying zone

26 drying fan

27 microwave source (microwave generator)

28 tank contents

29 fluid level

30 Microwave entry

31 single-chamber dishwasher

32 goods to be cleaned

33 wash arm

34 tank

35 door 36 drain pump

37 siphon

38 blowers (exhaust air)

39 exhaust duct

40 supply air line

41 filters

42 chamber wall

43 chamber roof

51 washer-disinfector

52 chamber

53 Procedure

54 siphon bottom

55 nozzle

56 door

57 exhaust air line

58 supply air line

59 mouth supply air line

60 cold water AVarmwasserzulauf

61 pump

62 water / steam unit

63 pot

65 soil

66 water tank

67 Water level in the water tank 66

68 steam generator

69 water level in the steam generator

70 partition

71 overflow

73 line

74 Safety overflow

80 blowers

81 waveguide

82 cross section

83 blower duct

85 deflection section

86 wall 87 soil

88 flange connection

89 anode

Claims

claims

A method for cleaning goods to be cleaned (32), in particular within a cleaning machine (1, 31) for goods to be cleaned (32) in the form of crockery,

Cutlery or the like, or within a washer-disinfector (51) for containers for human excretions, characterized in that the material to be cleaned (32) within a cleaning chamber (52) or in at least one treatment zone (4) before or after a first Wetting with a cleaning fluid (7) by irradiation with microwaves (30) is treated so that adhering contaminants are dissolved or removed.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that by coupling of microwaves (30) a targeted excitation of on the material to be cleaned (32) remaining contaminants takes place, so that by mechanical stresses between the soiling and the surface of the material to be cleaned ( 32) the dirt is released.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a targeted excitation of the material from which the material to be cleaned (32) is made takes place, so that by mechanical stresses between the soiling and the surface of the material to be cleaned (32) of Dirt is loosened.

4. The method according to claims 2 or 3, characterized in that a temporal shift of the spectral range and / or the frequency spectrum of the microwaves (30).

5. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a targeted excitation of contaminants

The strongest, fat and protein or protein-containing contaminants occur, either simultaneously, or in temporally successive phases of the process.

6. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the microwaves (30) via at least one microwave source

(27), which is represented by a vacuum runtime tube (magnetron).

7. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the microwaves (30) via waveguide (81) either directly in the contaminants or in the material to be cleaned (32) are coupled as such.

8. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contaminants on the material to be cleaned (32) extend in a film-like manner and the dirt film is excited to micromovements.

9. Device for cleaning material to be cleaned (32), which is cleaned in particular in at least one treatment zone (4) of a cleaning machine (1, 31) or in a cleaning chamber (52) of a cleaning and disinfecting machine (51), characterized that at least one microwave source (27) is provided, the microwaves (30) either directly on to be cleaned

Good (32) coupled residual contaminants coupled, or microwaves (30) directly into the material of the material to be cleaned (32) couples.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least one microwave source (27) in the cleaning machine (1, 31, 51) in front of or behind the at least one treatment zone (4), or in the cleaning chamber (52) is arranged.

11. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least one microwave source (27) in a continuous-flow dishwasher (1) in front of a

Pump rinsing zone (14) or in front of a fresh water rinsing zone (18) is arranged.

12. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least one microwave generator (27) acts on a waveguide (81) which extends into the at least one treatment zone (4) or in the cleaning chamber (52).

13. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the waveguide (81) has at least one deflection section (85) through which the microwaves (30) are deflected.

14. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that by means of at least one microwave source (27) Components of the cleaning machine itself, such as filters, so microwaves (30) are acted upon, that results in a cleaning effect on the components.