Patent Publication Number: US-6712082-B2

Title: Kitchenware washing apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates generally to kitchenware washing apparatus and more particularly to kitchenware washing apparatus wherein energy consumption is reduced and the efficiency of wash cycles is increased. 
     2. Background Art 
     There are available a wide variety of kitchenware washing machines. A concern with many of the machines is the amount of energy required to heat wash and rinse water as well as to control the temperature of each. Another concern is the volume of scrap material which is not removed from the kitchenware before being placed in the machine. The scrap material can cause a drain to become clogged or accumulate in the machine. 
     Thus, there is a need for a kitchenware washing apparatus which reduces energy consumption and at the same time reduces problems associated with scrap material. 
     The objects of the invention therefore are: 
     a. Providing an improved kitchenware washing apparatus. 
     b. Providing a kitchenware washing apparatus which reduces energy consumption. 
     c. Providing a kitchenware washing apparatus wherein the rinse water temperature and wash water temperature can be controlled with a single heating element. 
     d. Providing a kitchenware washing apparatus which reduces problems associated with scrap and particle material. 
     e. Providing a kitchenware washing apparatus wherein a particle accumulator is located in a compact manner in the apparatus. 
     f. Providing a kitchenware washing apparatus of the foregoing type which is easily accommodated under a counter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing objects are accomplished and the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the kitchenware washing apparatus of this invention which includes a cabinet having an interior for receiving the kitchenware. A fluid input member and a fluid output member are operatively connected to the interior of the cabinet for the delivery and removal of a cleaning fluid. A wash tank member has an open top and a heated tank member is operatively connected to the wash tank member. 
     In a preferred manner, the heater tank member and the wash tank member are constructed with a common wall and the common wall is a bottom wall of the wash tank member and a top wall of the heated tank member. 
     Also, in a preferred manner, the common wall has a tiered configuration. 
     In one aspect, there is present a scrap basket in the wash tank member for the collection of large pieces of material and a particle accumulator in a fluid connection with an overflow opening in the wash tank, the particle accumulator located inside a housing of the apparatus. 
     In another aspect, the particle accumulator member is defined by a slideable drawer with a perforated wall. 
     In still another aspect, the perforated wall of the slideable drawer is positioned at a bottom of the drawer. 
     These and still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows. In the detailed description below, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in reference to the full scope of the invention. Rather, the invention may be employed in other embodiments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dishwashing station showing the kitchenware washing apparatus positioned therein. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration of the kitchenware washing apparatus showing a washing function. 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a rinsing function. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the kitchenware washing apparatus showing the left and front sides. 
     FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the kitchenware washing apparatus. 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of the kitchenware washing apparatus. 
     FIG. 7 is a back view of the kitchenware washing apparatus. 
     FIG. 8 is a left side view of the kitchenware washing apparatus. 
     FIG. 9 is a right side view of the kitchenware washing apparatus. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the heater and wash tanks inside of the kitchenware washing apparatus. 
     FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the passage of drain water from the wash tank. 
     FIG. 12 is a view of the kitchenware washing apparatus with the cabinet broken away illustrating the internal components. 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a heating element and thermostat. 
     FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view showing the top of the wash tank and the placement of a scrap basket thereon. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the kitchenware washing apparatus generally  10  has a cabinet  12  providing an internal chamber into which kitchenware such as glasses and dishes are placed for washing. The washing apparatus  10  is dimensioned to be placed under a wash counter  11  having the usual basins  15  and faucet  17 . 
     As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, there are the wash arms  14  which are supplied with water from wash pump  16  by means of the lines  18  and  19  and the hose  20 . Also in the chamber  12  are the rinse arms  21  which are supplied with water from the lines  28  and  29  as well as line  27  with line  27  being connected at one end to the heated tank member  26  and at the other end to the vacuum breaker  35 . Water is supplied to the tank member  26  by means of lines  23  and  25  which are interconnected to a pressure regulator  24 . Although not shown, kitchenware would be placed in the customary manner on racks supported on tracks so as to position the kitchenware between the wash arms  14  and the rinse or spray arms  21 . 
     FIGS. 4,  5  and  6  show the particle accumulator  31  located inside the housing  32  of the washing apparatus  10 . It is of a slidable and removeable drawer type with a perforated bottom well  34 . See also FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the line and hose connections to the wash  14  and spray  21  arms as well as a drainage system which includes the drain hose  37  from the wash tank  45  as well as a drain hose  39  from the drain valve  65  (see FIG.  12 ). 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate opposite sides of the kitchenware washing apparatus where it is seen in FIG. 8 the wash pump  16  and the hose  20  for feeding water to the wash arms  14 . In FIG. 9, which is the right side, there is seen at the bottom the heated tank member  26  as well as the thermostat temperature sensing element  72 . 
     FIGS. 10 and 14 show the heated tank member  26  and the wash tank  45 . As seen in FIG. 10, a common wall  47  separates the two and provides a top wall for heated tank member  26  and a bottom wall for the wash tank  45 . As seen in FIG. 13, a heater element  70  is shown. It is located in the heated tank member  26  for heating the water therein. It is regulated by the heater thermostat  72 . There are also drain holes  54  in the common wall  47  which allows for drainage of the wash tank  45  such as by connection with drain hose  37  (see FIG.  7 ). The tiered wall  47  facilitates drainage of the tank  45 . 
     FIG. 11 illustrates the overflow feature of the wash tank  45  into the drain system. As seen in FIG. 14 there is an overflow  50  near the top of the wash tank  45 . This allows excess water to flow out of the tank and into the drain passages  60  and  61  where water will be conveyed by means of a hose connected to the hose connection  63  and ultimately to the drain valve  65 . The pump inlet  52  is also shown for connection to the inlet of pump  16 . A scrap basket  56  with a perforated bottom  57  is placed in the wash tank  45  and is positioned on flanged surfaces  59 . 
     Referring to FIG. 12, there is seen the various components of the kitchenware washing apparatus with respect to each other. In this instance, the controls indicated at  43  are of the standard cam and contactor type for controlling the various valves, the heater and wash pump for introduction, heating and drainage of water from the various components as is customary in a kitchenware washing apparatus. 
     An important feature of the kitchenware washing apparatus is the common wall  47  between the heated tank member  26  and the wash tank  45 . This allows the single heater element  70  to maintain heated water not only in the heated tank member  26  but also in the wash tank  45 . Another important feature is the particle accumulator  31  in the housing of the washing apparatus. This allows for a compact design of the washing apparatus for under the counter location. 
     Operation 
     A better understanding of the kitchenware washing apparatus will be had by a description of its operation with particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The heated tank member  26  is filled with line pressure water such as by introducing water through the lines  23 ,  24  and  25 . The wash tank  45  is filled by introducing water into the rinse arms  21  from which water will flow into the wash tank  45 . Once these two tanks are filled with water, the wash cycle is ready to begin. Wash pump  16  will be activated which will pump water from the wash tank  45  by means of inlet  52  into the lines  18  and  19  so as to cause water to flow from the wash arms  14  and over the dishware. The wash water will flow back into the wash tank  45 . The preferred wash cycle is 94 seconds and will recycle approximately 59 gallons of water through the wash arms and back into the wash tank. The next cycle is a preferred 16 second rinse cycle which allows about 0.86 gallons of fresh water with a temperature of a minimum of 180° F. from the heated tank  26  to flow out the rinse arms  21 . Fresh water should have a temperature of 140° F. when it is placed in the heated tank  26 . The fresh water will flow from the rinse arms  21  from the heated tank member  26  to flow over the kitchenware and down into the wash tank  45 . This supplies fresh water to the wash tank  45 . It also will effect an overflow condition in the wash tank  45  and thereby remove any particulate matter to flow out of the overflow  50  and into the particle accumulator  31  where it can be removed. It will also be appreciated that during the previous description of the flow of water back into the wash tank  45  that any heavy material such as large pieces of food or even pieces of china from the dishware will be retained on the scrap basket  56  in the wash tank  45 . 
     The unique combined wash tank member and heated tank member have been described for operation with an overflow system. It is obvious that it could be used in a kitchenware washing apparatus where an overflow system is not employed. Further, where the kitchenware washing apparatus is preferably used for an under the counter kitchenware washing machine, it can be utilized in one that is above the counter. This invention is therefore not to be limited except as set forth in the following claims.