Warewash machine with moveable table and multi-position rack support track

A warewash machine includes a housing at least in part defining a washing chamber having an access opening and a door mounted for movement between a closed position for washing and an open position for inlet/outlet of wares through the access opening. At least one nozzle is included for emitting liquid into the washing chamber. A table is connected to the machine for movement between a load/unload position and a storage position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to machines for washing wares, and more particularly to a warewash machine that includes a movable table and/or a multi-position rack support track.

BACKGROUND

Warewash machines are frequently used by industries, such as restaurants, for washing relatively large and high numbers of wares. Often, the wares, are placed in a rack for ease of handling and to maintain separation between the wares during washing. With the rack full of wares, the rack can be heavy. Often times warewash machines are located adjacent to separate tables that can temporarily hold racks prior to loading and after unloading from a machine. However, in some environments limited space does not permit placement of a table adjacent the warewash machine. It would be desirable to provide a warewash machine that includes its own movable table for use in such limited space environments.

Some warewash machines have front and side access openings to the washing chamber so that the wares do not have to be removed from the washing chamber through the same access opening through which they were placed into the washing chamber. Certain machines can be configured for either side opening to side opening type loading and unloading (i.e., a through configuration) or front opening to side opening type loading and unloading (i.e., a corner configuration). It would be desirable to easily facilitate both such configurations.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, a warewash machine includes a housing at least in part defining a washing chamber having an access opening and a door mounted for movement between a closed position for washing and an open position for inlet/outlet of wares through the access opening. At least one nozzle is included for emitting liquid into the washing chamber. A table is pivotably mounted to the machine for movement between a load/unload position in which the table extends outwardly from the housing in a rack supporting orientation at a height corresponding to a lower edge of the access opening, and a storage position in which the table is retracted from the load/unload position.

In another aspect, a warewash machine includes a housing at least in part defining a washing chamber having an access opening and a door mounted for movement between a closed position for washing and an open position for inlet/outlet of wares through the access opening. At least one nozzle is included for emitting liquid into the washing chamber. A table is connected to the machine for movement from a load/unload position in which the table extends outwardly from the housing in a rack supporting orientation at a height corresponding to a lower edge of the access opening and a storage position in which the table is retracted from the load/unload position.

In another aspect, a warewash machine has a corner track and through track configuration. The warewash machine includes a housing at least in part defining a washing chamber having a front access opening and first and second side access openings and a rack support track positionable in first and second orientations within the washing chamber for having a dish rack rest thereon during washing. The rack support track includes a substantially horizontal portion for vertically supporting a dish rack and an upright guide portion connected to and extending up from a side of the substantially horizontal portion, the upright guide portion is configured to guide and position a side of a dish rack. When the rack support track is positioned in the first orientation, the upright guide portion extends along the first side access opening to provide a corner track machine configuration in which dish racks are loaded and unloaded through the front access opening and the second side access opening. When the rack support track is positioned in the second orientation, the rack support track is rotated ninety degrees relative to its position when in the first orientation such that the upright guide portion extends along the front access opening to provide a through track configuration in which dish racks are loaded and unloaded through the first side access opening and the second side access opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a warewash machine10includes a frame12, a lower housing14, an upper housing16(FIG. 5) spaced from the lower housing and a washing chamber18located between the upper and lower housings. For the placement and removal of wares into and out of the washing chamber18, a set of access openings20,22,24are provided. The access openings20,22,24are disposed at the front26and sides28,30, respectively, of the warewash machine10and are each formed between the upper and lower housings14,16and associated frame members32,34,36,38. At a rear side40of the warewash machine10, a rear housing panel41is fixedly attached to the warewash machine, e.g., to inhibit access to the washing chamber18from the rear side40. To control access to the washing chamber18from the front26and sides28,30, a three-sided door42is provided that can slide between closed and open positions using arm44.

Extending outwardly at the front26of the warewash machine10is a table50. Table50is pivotably mounted to the warewash machine10and is shown in a load/unload position with a broad, planar upper surface52extending outwardly from the front26of the warewash machine in a rack supporting orientation in which a rack will be supported vertically above the floor. In the illustrated embodiment the table is angled slightly from the horizontal to as to extend slightly upward in a direction moving from the access opening to the opposite end of the table. This angled orientation allows liquid that is deposited on the table to flow back toward the access opening and into the machine. In another example, the table may be substantially horizontal. As will be described in greater detail below, the table50can be pivoted from its load/unload position (e.g., for supporting a rack of wares) to a vertical storage position (e.g., for cleaning the table during a routine ware washing operation).

Referring now toFIG. 2, table50includes a substantially planar first portion54and a relatively short, substantially planar second portion56. The first portion54is offset from the second portion56by a bend58formed between the first and second portions of the table50. The bend58extends between side edge60and opposite side edge62and substantially parallel to axis S. Extending about a periphery of the first portion54of the table50is an upwardly extending lip64. The lip64extends upwardly from the upper planar surface52of the table and along the sides60,62and end66. Disposed at second portion56are openings70that can allow water drainage, e.g., when the table50is in the load/unload position.

Located at opposite sides at the second portion56are projections72and74, respectively. The projections72,74have an end78that extends outwardly beyond the sides and are positioned adjacent bend76such that the long axis of each of the projections are aligned with axis S. As shown, the projections72,74are cylindrical, however, any other suitable shape can be used.

To connect the table50to the machine10, pivot mounts76and78includes an aperture81extending through a wall80that is sized to receive a respective projection72,74. Alternatively, in some embodiments, projections72and74include an aperture sized to receive a pin extending from the pivot mounts76,78. Other hinge configurations are possible. The pivot mounts76,78and table50can be mounted to the machine10within the washing chamber18via the mount brackets85that include mount holes87for receiving mount fasteners (not shown). The table could be mounted to the machine during initial manufacture, or could be provided as a stand-alone piece for installation on machines at customer sites as a retrofit or upgrade part.

In some embodiments, the first portion54, second portion56, bends58,76and lip64are ail formed from a single sheet of material, such as a metal sheet (e.g., of stainless steel). In the illustrated embodiment the projections72,74are formed separately as cylindrical members and then attached to the mount end of the table50(e.g., by welding). As an alternative, the projections could be unitary with the rest of the table (e.g., projections formed from the metal sheet itself. Other table configurations are contemplated, such as a table formed of a wire weldment or plastic mesh. Upper surface52, in some cases, may include a texture (not shown) for increasing surface friction of the upper surface, and/or a friction-increasing article, such as a rubber or plastic pad, may be disposed or affixed to the upper surface.

Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 4, section views show table50mounted to machine10in each of the load/unload and storage positions, respectively. Projection74forms a portion of a hinge connection between the table50and stationary pivot mount78. The hinge connection forms pivot axis S that is positioned within the washing chamber18and extends substantially parallel to and below upper edge80of lower housing14. Referring now toFIG. 3, in the load/unload position, the table50extends from within the washing chamber18and through the access opening. Bend58has a contour corresponding to the upper edge80and inner side83of the lower housing14and the table50is shaped to allow the door42to fully close, e.g., to perform a washing operation while the table is in the load/unload position (seeFIG. 5). The door42, while in the closed position, limits movement of the table50toward the storage position.

While in the load/unload position, the upper edge80of the lower housing14serves as support structure for the table50to maintain the table in a relatively horizontal orientation. The upper edge80contacts a lower surface82of the table50at the inward side of the first portion54and supports the table at a location110spaced horizontally from the pivot axis S. An L-shaped bracket84(FIG. 3) is also shown and is provided to act as a water deflector when the table is in the storage position.

Referring toFIG. 4, table50is shown in the storage position. In the storage position, the table50is pivoted upward and rests against a stop88(e.g., a metal bar welded to one or both of the pivot mounts; see alsoFIG. 2). When in the storage position, the shape of the table50is such that the table's center of gravity is located inward of the pivot axis S in order to help maintain the table50in the vertical, storage position by biasing the table50against the stop88.

Referring now toFIGS. 6 and 7, when in the storage position, the table50is positioned within the washing chamber18and spaced from the access opening20. While in this position, the door42can be closed and, for example, a washing operation can be performed with the table50disposed within the washing chamber18. This can provide a convenient way to wash the table50, e.g., while washing wares.

Referring back toFIG. 1, to aid in locating a rack within the washing chamber18, a rack support track90is included. Referring toFIG. 8, the rack support track90is a wire form weldment of multiple wires92(e.g., 5/16 inch stainless steel rods that are bent and that are spot or TIG welded together to provide a rigid track structure). In some embodiments, the rack support track90can be formed of a single piece of material. The rack support track90includes a horizontal portion94and a vertical portion96extending upwardly along a side edge98of the horizontal portion forming an L-shaped track portion for guiding a rack as it is slid across the horizontal portion94. The remaining three sides of the rack support track have like configurations so that any one of such sides can engage the chamber hooks106described below.

Referring toFIG. 9, the rack support track90is supported within the washing chamber by support structure located at the front and rear of the washing chamber. As shown, the rack support track90is supported at the front of the washing chamber by a pair of tank chamber mounts100and102, each having an upper surface104against which the rack support track can rest. The rack support track90is supported along the rear of the washing chamber by hooks106. The rack support track90, although supported by the support structure, e.g., to allow a rack of wares to be supported thereon, is unrestricted for movement in a direction such that the rack support track90can be moved manually.

Referring now toFIG. 10, the vertical portion96is shown located adjacent side access opening24forming a corner track configuration. That is, the vertical portion allows a rack to slide along the horizontal portion94through the front access opening20, e.g., in the direction of arrow105, and through side access opening22, e.g., in the direction of arrow107, but inhibits a rack from sliding along the horizontal portion through side access opening24. By reorienting the rack support track90(e.g., manually) to position the vertical portion96adjacent the front access opening20, for example by rotating the rack support track 90 degrees in the direction of arrow108, a through track configuration can be provided. That is, the vertical portion96allows a rack to slide along the horizontal portion through the side access openings22and24, but inhibits a rack from sliding along the horizontal portion94through the front access opening20. In the illustrated embodiment the rack support track can be reoriented (e.g, rotated) without use of tools or additional fasteners such as screws or bolts.

A number of detailed embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, the table could be mounted to pivot downward from the load/unload position so that in the storage position the table lies against the front surface of the lower housing. Further, while a pivoting table has been shown in the illustrated embodiment, a sliding drawer type table arrangement could be provided. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.