Kitchenware washers and methods of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A kitchenware washing assembly in one embodiment generally includes a tank for holding fluid for washing kitchenware. The tank can include two wall portions, and an outlet positioned on each of the two wall portions. The kitchenware washing assembly can also include at least one inlet and at least two pumps for pumping the fluid from the inlet to the outlets. The kitchenware washing assembly can further include a control system with a consolidated removable control module. The consolidated removable control module may include a plurality of electronic components for substantially controlling at least one operation of the washing assembly.

1 . A kitchenware washing assembly comprising:
 a tank for holding kitchenware and fluid for washing the kitchenware, the tank having at least one wall;   at least one pump disposed outside the tank and operable for generating at least one level of turbulent fluid flow within the tank;   at least one outlet disposed on the at least one wall for dispensing fluid into the tank;   at least one inlet for receiving fluid from said tank, the pump being operable to cause fluid flow from the at least one inlet, through the pump, and to the at least one outlet;   a control module including a housing and a solid-state controller disposed at least partially within the housing;   a temperature sensor operably coupled to the control module for sensing the temperature of the fluid; and   a heater operably coupled to the control module for adjusting the temperature of the fluid;   wherein the control module is configured to adjust the temperature of the fluid, via the heater, based on the sensed temperature of the fluid, if the monitored temperature of the fluid deviates from a set point temperature;   wherein the control module is a pluggable module such that the control module can be unplugged from the washing assembly for removal from the washing assembly and can be plugged into the washing assembly for installation to the washing assembly;   wherein the control module includes a control panel for allowing a user to input information to the control module including at least one of a temperature parameter, a turbulent fluid flow parameter, and a wash cycle program.   
     
     
         2 . The kitchenware washing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is removably coupled to the at least one pump and configured to control the speed of the pump for providing multiple levels of turbulent fluid flow from the at least one outlet into the tank. 
     
     
         3 . The kitchenware washing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the control module includes a transparent cover disposed to protect the control module from fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The kitchenware washing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to indicate when fluid in tank needs to be replaced. 
     
     
         5 . The kitchenware washing assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the control module is operable to de-activate the at least one pump when the control module indicates the fluid in tanks needs to be replaced. 
     
     
         6 . The kitchenware washing assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid level sensor associated with the heater and coupled to the control module for indicating a fluid level within the tank. 
     
     
         7 . The kitchenware washing assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the control module is configured to de-activate the heater when the fluid level sensor detects a low fluid level. 
     
     
         8 . The kitchenware washing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet includes multiple outlets disposed in the at least one wall. 
     
     
         9 . A kitchenware washing system comprising the kitchenware washing assembly of  claim 1 , a scraping station coupled to the tank and a rinsing station coupled to the tank. 
     
     
         10 . The kitchenware washing system of  claim 9 , wherein in the scraping station is coupled to one side of the tanks and the rinsing station is coupled to an opposite side of the tank. 
     
     
         11 . The kitchenware washing system of  claim 9 , further comprising a cleaner dispenser system coupled to the control module. 
     
     
         12 . The kitchenware washing system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature parameter includes the set point temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The kitchenware washing system of  claim 2 , wherein the turbulent flow parameter includes a mild presoak turbulence level. 
     
     
         14 . The kitchenware washing system of  claim 2 , wherein the wash cycle program includes at least one of a presoak cycle, an intermediate cycle, and a heavy duty clean cycle. 
     
     
         15 . A kitchenware washing assembly comprising:
 a tank for holding kitchenware and fluid for washing the kitchenware, the tank having at least one wall;   at least one pump disposed outside the tank and operable for generating at least one level of turbulent fluid flow within the tank;   at least one outlet disposed on the at least one wall for dispensing fluid into the tank;   at least one inlet for receiving fluid from said tank, the pump being operable to cause fluid flow from the at least one inlet, through the pump, and to the at least one outlet;   a control module including a solid-state controller disposed at least partially within the housing;   a temperature sensor operably coupled to the control module for sensing the temperature of the fluid; and   a heater operably coupled to the control module for adjusting the temperature of the fluid;   wherein the control module is configured to adjust the temperature of the fluid, via the heater, based on the sensed temperature of the fluid, if the monitored temperature of the fluid deviates from a set point temperature;   wherein the control module is a pluggable module such that the control module can be unplugged from the washing assembly for removal from the washing assembly and can be plugged into the washing assembly for installation to the washing assembly;   wherein the control module is configured to indicate when fluid in tank needs to be replaced.   
     
     
         16 . A kitchenware washing assembly comprising:
 a tank for holding kitchenware and fluid for washing the kitchenware, the tank having at least one wall;   at least one pump disposed outside the tank and operable for generating at least one level of turbulent fluid flow within the tank;   at least one outlet disposed on the at least one wall for dispensing fluid into the tank;   at least one inlet for receiving fluid from said tank, the pump being operable to cause fluid flow from the at least one inlet, through the pump, and to the at least one outlet;   a control module including a solid-state controller disposed at least partially within the housing;   a temperature sensor operably coupled to the control module for sensing the temperature of the fluid; and   a heater operably coupled to the control module for adjusting the temperature of the fluid; and   a fluid level sensor associated with the heater and coupled to the control module for indicating a fluid level within the tank;   wherein the control module is configured to adjust the temperature of the fluid, via the heater, based on the sensed temperature of the fluid, if the monitored temperature of the fluid deviates from a set point temperature;   wherein the control module is a pluggable module such that the control module can be unplugged from the washing assembly for removal from the washing assembly and can be plugged into the washing assembly for installation to the washing assembly;   
     
     
         17 . The kitchenware washing assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the control module is configured to deactivate the heater when the fluid level sensor detects a low fluid level.