Abstract:
A conveyor warewasher includes splash curtains that function differently according to their orientation. The top connection part of the splash curtains and the connections mounted on the warewasher are designed to attach the curtain only when the curtain is hung in the proper orientation and not when the curtain is hung in reverse. A splash curtain for a warewasher includes functionally distinct front and rear sides. The arrangement of hook-receptive slots on the splash curtain is asymmetric so that the hook arrangement that they will receive differs when the curtain&#39;s orientation is reversed.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This application relates generally to curtains for use in conveyor-type ware washing machines, and more specifically to a curtain configuration that assures proper orientation and placement of the curtain in a warewasher. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Conveyor warewashers are used as an economical way to clean and sanitize dishes in a commercial environment. By providing a machine with multiple stations, each dedicated to a different step in the warewash cycle, it is possible to quickly and conveniently wash ware simply by allowing it to move through the washer. 
         [0003]    Curtains are often used to separate different stations within the warewasher, as well as creating a barrier at the ware entrance and exit. The curtains contain the spray within each station, as well as retaining heat and aiding in the regulation of the temperature necessary to properly clean the ware. 
         [0004]    Some curtains may have multiple layers of different lengths, to accommodate the movement of ware through the conveyer while leaving some layers intact. These curtains may not function as desired when hung backwards. 
         [0005]    Different curtains may be hung at different places in the warewasher, and the curtains may not function as designed if their locations are juxtaposed. 
         [0006]    It would be desirable to provide a warewasher curtain that prevents a backward attachment of the curtain to the warewasher. It would also be desirable to prevent a given curtain from being hung in a position intended for a different curtain. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In one aspect, a conveyer warewasher includes a housing with an internal station for spraying ware with liquid. A conveying system moves ware from an infeed end through the housing to an outfeed end. A curtain hangs across the conveyance path. The curtain functions differently if it is hung backwards. However, the top part of the curtain and connectors on the warewasher are configured so that they will not attach if the curtain is backwards. 
         [0008]    In a further aspect, the warewasher also includes a second curtain that is functionally distinct from the first curtain. The two curtains are each designed so that they cannot be hung at the location intended for the other. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, a splash curtain for a conveyer warewasher, configured for orientation-specific installation, includes a top connection part and flexible curtain material that hangs down from the top connection part to create a waterproof, insulating barrier. The curtain functions differently if it is hung backwards. However, the top connection part includes multiple slot-type openings, spaced asymmetrically along the curtain, for receiving hanger brackets. The result of the asymmetric configuration is that the connection arrangement when the curtain is facing front side forward is different than when the curtain is facing back side forward. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side, angled view of a warewasher housing showing splash curtains in place; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a side elevation view of the unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a long, layered splash curtain; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  shows the splash curtain pushed from the front by a ware object; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  shows the splash curtain pushed from the rear by a ware object; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows the top connection part of the long, layered splash curtain; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4A  shows the top connection part of  FIG. 3  attached to warewasher connectors; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4B  shows the curtain and warewasher connectors of FIG.  4 ., with the curtain orientation reversed; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5A  shows the short splash curtain hung on its warewasher connectors; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5B  shows the short splash curtain of  FIG. 5A  with the warewasher connectors of  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 5C  shows the long, layered splash curtain of  FIG. 4  with the warewasher connectors of  FIG. 5A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a warewasher housing  10  may include a conveyance path  20  and multiple stations for washing: a power-wash station  12 , a power-rinse station  14 , and a final rinse station  16 . Each station  12 ,  14 ,  16  includes nozzles for spraying liquid on ware passing therethrough (e.g., spray arms  100 ,  102  and  104  with nozzle openings therein). Any suitable conveyor mechanism may be used to convey ware along the path. Stations are separated by curtains. In one embodiment, a long curtain  31  is located at the outfeed  24  of the path  20 , retaining water, vapor, and heat that might otherwise escape the warewasher housing  10 . A short curtain  32  separates the final rinse station  16  from the power-rinse station  14 . A curtain  33  separates the power-wash station  12  from the power-rinse station  16 . A long curtain  34  is located at the infeed  22  of the path  20 , again retaining water, vapor, and heat that might otherwise escape the warewasher housing  10 . It is recognized that various machine configurations are possible with different numbers and types of spray zones or stations. 
         [0022]    One embodiment of a long curtain  30 , such as the curtains  34 ,  31  located at the infeed and outfeed in  FIG. 1 , is shown in  FIG. 2 . Four layers  41 ,  42 ,  43 , and  44  are shown. Front layer  41  is shorter than layer  42 , which in turn is shorter than layer  43  and back layer  44  (which in this embodiment are the same length). The top section of the curtain material is looped to form a receiving space for a curtain rod  80 , with sections of the material cut out to form openings  60  for hanging the curtain  30  as described below and shown in  FIG. 4A . Slits  45  are located in each layer, but are staggered in position between layers. An arrow  50  is used to show the direction in which wares should come into contact with the curtain to achieve proper curtain function. 
         [0023]    When ware is conveyed past the curtain  30  in the correct direction  50 , it contacts a number of layers of the curtain according to the ware height. For example, a tray of silverware might only be tall enough to contact layers  43  and  44 , which are the longest. Those layers are pushed toward the back of the curtain  30 , while layers  42  and  41  remain in place. A taller tray, such as for dishware, might contact layer  42  as well, leaving only front layer  41  in place. The layer or layers that remain in place continue to perform the primary function of the splash curtain  30 , which is to retain water, vapor, and heat rather than allow them to pass the location where the curtain  30  is hung. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate the difference between the ware interaction when the curtain is hung correctly and when the curtain  30  is hung backwards.  FIG. 2A  shows a short object  52  passing along the conveyance path in the correct direction, contacting and moving layers  43  and  44  while layers  42  and  41  remain in place.  FIG. 2B  in contrast shows the same short object  52  passing along the conveyance path with the curtain  30  reversed. When the object contacts back layer  44 , in this direction it also moves layers  43 ,  42 , and  41 . None of the layers are left undisturbed to properly carry out the curtain&#39;s barrier function. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , however, the top connection part of the long curtain  30  is not symmetrical. Instead, the openings  60  are spaced asymmetrically. The openings  60  may be defined by the bottom portion of the curtain rod  80  and the edge of the curtain material at each cut out section as shown, although other embodiments are possible. The connectors  70  are located within the machine and spaced such that they fit easily into the openings  60  when the curtain is hung correctly, as shown in  FIG. 4A . However, as shown in  FIG. 4B , the connectors will not fit into the openings when the orientation of the curtain  30  is reversed. This prevents the user from inadvertently hanging the curtain  30  in a reversed orientation where it functions differently. 
         [0026]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , a short curtain  32  may be used internally in order to provide a barrier without contacting the ware at all. This may be necessary so that the ware are not covered when entering a next station. Short curtain  32  may contain fewer layers than long curtain  30  and may be symmetric. However, short curtain  32  does not function to provide the same barrier to retain water, vapor, and heat as does a long curtain. Short curtain  32  does not provide the expected amount of retention if hung in a location designed for a long curtain, such as the infeed  22  or outfeed  24 . Similarly, a long curtain  30  may cover the ware in an undesirable way if hung in a location designed for a short curtain  32 , such as between the power-wash and power-rinse stations  12  and  14  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0027]    An embodiment of a short curtain  32  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The short curtain  32  may include openings  62  which are spaced symmetrically. Connectors  72  are spaced such that they fit easily into openings  62  when the curtain is hung, as shown in  FIG. 5A . However, this configuration of openings and connectors is incompatible with the design used for the long curtain  30 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , connectors  70  spaced for the long curtain will not fit into openings  62  of the short curtain. Similarly, connectors  72  spaced for the short curtain will not fit into openings  60  of the long curtain. This prevents the user from inadvertently hanging the long and/or short curtains in the wrong locations where they function differently. 
         [0028]    As is shown in  FIG. 1  with curtains  31  and  34 , multiple curtains at locations where the same curtain function is appropriate may be of identical design. Where juxtaposition of curtains will not effect their ability to function, multiple identical curtains may be used, and multiple identically spaced sets of connections mounted at different locations on the warewasher. Similarly, where curtain function is not inhibited by reversed orientation, connections may be symmetrical and allow for the curtain to be hung in either orientation, as illustrated with short curtain  32 . 
         [0029]    The curtain functions as a barrier to water, vapor, and heat while permitting ware to pass through. In one embodiment, the curtain material is a flexible material that is substantially waterproof and insulating, such as thermoplastic. 
         [0030]    It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not intended to be taken by way of limitation. Other variations are possible.