Abstract:
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.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     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  
       [0002]     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.  
         [0003]     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  
       [0004]     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.  
         [0005]     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.  
         [0006]     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.  
         [0007]     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a warewash machine.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a table of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a section view along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a section view along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  with the table in the storage position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the warewash machine of  FIG. 1  with door closed and table in the load/unload position.  
         [0013]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are side views of the warewash machine of  FIG. 1  with the table in the storage position and the door in the closed and open position, respectively.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective of an embodiment of a rack support track.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a portion of the warewash machine of  FIG. 1  including the rack support track of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a section view of the warewash machine of  FIG. 1  along line  10 - 10 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a warewash machine  10  includes a frame  12 , a lower housing  14 , an upper housing  16  ( FIG. 5 ) spaced from the lower housing and a washing chamber  18  located between the upper and lower housings. For the placement and removal of wares into and out of the washing chamber  18 , a set of access openings  20 ,  22 ,  24  are provided. The access openings  20 ,  22 ,  24  are disposed at the front  26  and sides  28 ,  30 , respectively, of the warewash machine  10  and are each formed between the upper and lower housings  14 ,  16  and associated frame members  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 . At a rear side  40  of the warewash machine  10 , a rear housing panel  41  is fixedly attached to the warewash machine, e.g., to inhibit access to the washing chamber  18  from the rear side  40 . To control access to the washing chamber  18  from the front  26  and sides  28 ,  30 , a three-sided door  42  is provided that can slide between closed and open positions using arm  44 .  
         [0018]     Extending outwardly at the front  26  of the warewash machine  10  is a table  50 . Table  50  is pivotably mounted to the warewash machine  10  and is shown in a load/unload position with a broad, planar upper surface  52  extending outwardly from the front  26  of 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 table  50  can 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).  
         [0019]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , table  50  includes a substantially planar first portion  54  and a relatively short, substantially planar second portion  56 . The first portion  54  is offset from the second portion  56  by a bend  58  formed between the first and second portions of the table  50 . The bend  58  extends between side edge  60  and opposite side edge  62  and substantially parallel to axis S. Extending about a periphery of the first portion  54  of the table  50  is an upwardly extending lip  64 . The lip  64  extends upwardly from the upper planar surface  52  of the table and along the sides  60 ,  62  and end  66 . Disposed at second portion  56  are openings  70  that can allow water drainage, e.g., when the table  50  is in the load/unload position.  
         [0020]     Located at opposite sides at the second portion  56  are projections  72  and  74 , respectively. The projections  72 ,  74  have an end  78  that extends outwardly beyond the sides and are positioned adjacent bend  76  such that the long axis of each of the projections are aligned with axis S. As shown, the projections  72 ,  74  are cylindrical, however, any other suitable shape can be used.  
         [0021]     To connect the table  50  to the machine  10 , pivot mounts  76  and  78  includes an aperture  81  extending through a wall  80  that is sized to receive a respective projection  72 ,  74 . Alternatively, in some embodiments, projections  72  and  74  include an aperture sized to receive a pin extending from the pivot mounts  76 ,  78 . Other hinge configurations are possible. The pivot mounts  76 ,  78  and table  50  can be mounted to the machine  10  within the washing chamber  18  via the mount brackets  85  that include mount holes  87  for 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.  
         [0022]     In some embodiments, the first portion  54 , second portion  56 , bends  58 ,  76  and lip  64  are ail formed from a single sheet of material, such as a metal sheet (e.g., of stainless steel). In the illustrated embodiment the projections  72 ,  74  are formed separately as cylindrical members and then attached to the mount end of the table  50  (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 surface  52 , 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.  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , section views show table  50  mounted to machine  10  in each of the load/unload and storage positions, respectively. Projection  74  forms a portion of a hinge connection between the table  50  and stationary pivot mount  78 . The hinge connection forms pivot axis S that is positioned within the washing chamber  18  and extends substantially parallel to and below upper edge  80  of lower housing  14 . Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in the load/unload position, the table  50  extends from within the washing chamber  18  and through the access opening. Bend  58  has a contour corresponding to the upper edge  80  and inner side  83  of the lower housing  14  and the table  50  is shaped to allow the door  42  to fully close, e.g., to perform a washing operation while the table is in the load/unload position (see  FIG. 5 ). The door  42 , while in the closed position, limits movement of the table  50  toward the storage position.  
         [0024]     While in the load/unload position, the upper edge  80  of the lower housing  14  serves as support structure for the table  50  to maintain the table in a relatively horizontal orientation. The upper edge  80  contacts a lower surface  82  of the table  50  at the inward side of the first portion  54  and supports the table at a location  110  spaced horizontally from the pivot axis S. An L-shaped bracket  84  ( FIG. 3 ) is also shown and is provided to act as a water deflector when the table is in the storage position.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , table  50  is shown in the storage position. In the storage position, the table  50  is pivoted upward and rests against a stop  88  (e.g., a metal bar welded to one or both of the pivot mounts; see also  FIG. 2 ). When in the storage position, the shape of the table  50  is such that the table&#39;s center of gravity is located inward of the pivot axis S in order to help maintain the table  50  in the vertical, storage position by biasing the table  50  against the stop  88 .  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , when in the storage position, the table  50  is positioned within the washing chamber  18  and spaced from the access opening  20 . While in this position, the door  42  can be closed and, for example, a washing operation can be performed with the table  50  disposed within the washing chamber  18 . This can provide a convenient way to wash the table  50 , e.g., while washing wares.  
         [0027]     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , to aid in locating a rack within the washing chamber  18 , a rack support track  90  is included. Referring to  FIG. 8 , the rack support track  90  is a wire form weldment of multiple wires  92  (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 track  90  can be formed of a single piece of material. The rack support track  90  includes a horizontal portion  94  and a vertical portion  96  extending upwardly along a side edge  98  of the horizontal portion forming an L-shaped track portion for guiding a rack as it is slid across the horizontal portion  94 . The remaining three sides of the rack support track have like configurations so that any one of such sides can engage the chamber hooks  106  described below.  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the rack support track  90  is supported within the washing chamber by support structure located at the front and rear of the washing chamber. As shown, the rack support track  90  is supported at the front of the washing chamber by a pair of tank chamber mounts  100  and  102 , each having an upper surface  104  against which the rack support track can rest. The rack support track  90  is supported along the rear of the washing chamber by hooks  106 . The rack support track  90 , 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 track  90  can be moved manually.  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , the vertical portion  96  is shown located adjacent side access opening  24  forming a corner track configuration. That is, the vertical portion allows a rack to slide along the horizontal portion  94  through the front access opening  20 , e.g., in the direction of arrow  105 , and through side access opening  22 , e.g., in the direction of arrow  107 , but inhibits a rack from sliding along the horizontal portion through side access opening  24 . By reorienting the rack support track  90  (e.g., manually) to position the vertical portion  96  adjacent the front access opening  20 , for example by rotating the rack support track 90 degrees in the direction of arrow  108 , a through track configuration can be provided. That is, the vertical portion  96  allows a rack to slide along the horizontal portion through the side access openings  22  and  24 , but inhibits a rack from sliding along the horizontal portion  94  through the front access opening  20 . 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.  
         [0030]     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.