Method for operating a ware washer and ware washer

Abstract

The invention relates to a ware washer ( 40, 50 ) and to a method for operating a ware washer ( 40, 50 ) which is designed as a programmable machine ( 40 ) or as a conveyor ware washer ( 50 ) and which has at least one pump ( 11, 11 - 1, 11 - 2, 11 - 3, 11 - 4, 11 - 5, 11 - 6 ), at least one line system ( 12, 12 - 1, 12 - 2, 12 - 3, 12 - 4, 12 - 5, 12 - 6 ) connected to the pump ( 11, 11 - 1, 11 - 2, 11 - 3, 11 - 4, 11 - 5, 11 - 6 ), and at least one nozzle system connected to the line system ( 12, 12 - 1, 12 - 2, 12 - 3, 12 - 4, 12 - 5, 12 - 6 ) and having at least one nozzle ( 13, 13 - 1, 13 - 2, 13 - 3, 13 - 4, 13 - 5, 13 - 6, 13 - 7 ), a liquid being supplied at least intermittently to the at least one nozzle ( 13, 13 - 1, 13 - 2, 13 - 3, 13 - 4, 13 - 5, 13 - 6, 13 - 7 ) via the line system ( 12, 12 - 1, 12 - 2, 12 - 3, 12 - 4, 12 - 5, 12 - 6 ). Furthermore, a sensor device ( 30, 30′, 30 ″) connected to a control device ( 20 ) is provided for detecting a profile of the hydrostatic pressure (Pi) of the liquid in the line system ( 12, 12 - 1, 12 - 2, 12 - 3, 12 - 4, 12 - 5, 12 - 6 ) and for comparing the detected pressure profile (Pi) with a predetermined pressure profile (Ps). In order to achieve the situation where potential deviations of the water circulation capacity or potential deviations of the nozzle pressure can be ascertained and automatically reacted to correspondingly in order to counteract the deviation of the water circulation capacity, according to the invention the control device ( 20 ) is designed, in the event of a deviation of the detected pressure profile (Pi) from the predetermined pressure profile (Ps), automatically either to carry out a regulating action on the operation of the ware washer ( 40, 50 ) as a function of the size and the time gradient of a difference between the predetermined pressure profile (Ps) and the detected pressure profile (Pi) or to issue a fault warning via an optical and/or acoustic interface ( 22 ) or to issue a fault warning to a remote maintenance station via a remote control interface ( 23 ).

1 . A method for operating a ware washer having at least one pump, at least one line system connected to the pump, and at least one nozzle system connected to the line system and having at least one nozzle, the method having the following method steps:
 during the operation of the ware washer, a liquid is supplied at least intermittently to the at least one nozzle via the line system; and   the profile of the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid in the line system is detected and is compared with a predetermined pressure profile,   characterized,   in that, in the event of a deviation of the detected pressure profile from the predetermined pressure profile, at least one of the following steps is selected and executed automatically as a function of the size and the time gradient of a difference between the predetermined pressure profile and the detected pressure profile:
 i) regulating action is carried out on the operation of the ware washer; and/or 
 ii) a fault warning is issued via an optical and/or acoustic interface of the ware washer; and/or 
 iii) a warning is issued to a remote maintenance station via a remote control interface of the ware washer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the pump is a washing pump and the nozzle is a washing nozzle which is connected to the washing pump via the line system and to which a washing liquid is supplied during a washing process via the washing pump being activated, and, during the washing process, the detected pressure profile is the profile of the hydrostatic pressure of the washing liquid in the line system and is compared with the predetermined pressure profile.   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , the pump is a rinsing-clear pump and the nozzle is a rinsing-clear nozzle which is connected to the rinsing-clear pump via the line system and to which a rinsing-clear liquid is supplied during a rinsing-clear process by the rinsing-clear pump being activated, and, during the rinsing-clear process, the detected pressure profile is the profile of the hydrostatic pressure of the rinsing-clear liquid in the line system and is compared with the predetermined pressure profile. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , the ware washer having a valve and at least one rinsing-clear nozzle which is connected to the valve via a line system and to which a rinsing-clear liquid is supplied during a rinsing-clear process by the valve being opened, and, during the rinsing-clear process, the profile of the hydrostatic pressure of the rinsing-clear liquid in the line system being detected and being compared with a predetermined pressure profile. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 at least one of the steps i) to iii) being selected and executed automatically only when the deviation of the detected pressure profile from the predetermined pressure profile overshoots or undershoots a predetermined or predeterminable threshold value.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the profile of the hydrostatic pressure being detected in that the hydrostatic pressure is measured continuously within at least one predetermined time interval, or in that the hydrostatic pressure is measured at predetermined time points or events within at least one predetermined time interval, and the measured pressure values are interpolated.   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 the predetermined time interval having a predetermined or predeterminable length, and the start of the predetermined time interval being fixed by a time point at which the pump is switched on or activated in such a way that the liquid is supplied via the line system to the nozzle system having the at least one nozzle.   
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , the profile of the hydrostatic pressure being detected in that the hydrostatic pressure is measured continuously or at predetermined time points or events in a plurality of time intervals preferably directly contiguous to one another, the start of the first time interval lying at a time point preferably immediately after the expiry of a settling time of the pressure built up in the line system by the pump being switched on. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 in a case when the detected pressure profile lies continuously below the predetermined pressure profile and the amount of the difference between the predetermined pressure profile and the detected pressure profile lies continuously within a range between a first fixed threshold value and a second fixed threshold value, a minor leak in the line system or nozzle system is automatically identified; and   a corresponding fault warning then being issued via the optical and/or acoustic interface; and/or   a corresponding fault warning then being issued via the remote control interface.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 ,
 in a case when the detected pressure profile lies continuously below the predetermined pressure profile and the amount of the difference between the predetermined pressure profile and the detected pressure profile is continuously greater than the second fixed threshold value, a major leak in the line system or nozzle system is automatically identified, and a corresponding fault warning being issued via the optical and/or acoustic interface.   
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 in a case when the detected pressure profile lies continuously above the predetermined pressure profile and the amount of the difference between the predetermined pressure profile and the detected pressure profile is continuously greater than a fixed threshold value, a blockage in the line system or nozzle system is automatically identified, and a corresponding fault warning being issued via the optical and/or acoustic interface.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 in a case when, within a time interval during which the pressure profile is detected, the measured hydrostatic pressure falls continuously from a time point and undershoots a predetermined threshold value, the pump capacity of the pump being automatically adjusted down, in proportion to a detected pressure drop.   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 ,
 if the ware washer is designed as a programmable machine the running time of the treatment program is increased, preferably in proportion to the detected pressure drop; or,   if the ware washer is designed as a conveyor ware washer, the belt speed at which the washing stock to be treated is transported through the ware washer is reduced preferably in proportion to the detected pressure drop.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , the pump is a washing pump and the nozzle is a washing nozzle which is connected to the washing pump via the line system and to which a washing liquid is supplied during a washing process by the washing pump being activated,
 during the washing process the detected pressure profile of the hydrostatic pressure of the washing liquid in the line system being detected and being compared with the predetermined pressure profile, and   in a case when, within a time interval during which the pressure profile is detected, the measured hydrostatic pressure falls continuously from a time point and undershoots a predetermined threshold value, foam formation in the washing liquid is identified and a defoaming agent is added automatically to the washing liquid.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 in a case when, within a time interval during which the pressure profile is detected, the measured hydrostatic pressure increases continuously from a time point and overshoots a predetermined threshold value, a blockage occurring only during the continuous operation of the ware washer is automatically identified, and a corresponding fault warning being issued via the optical and/or acoustic interface.   
     
     
         16 . A ware washer comprising:
 at least one pump;   at least one line system connected to the pump;   at least one nozzle system connected to the line system and having at least one nozzle, a liquid being supplied at least intermittently to the at least one nozzle via the line system; and   a sensor device connected to a control device, for detecting a profile of the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid in the line system and for comparing the detected pressure profile with a predetermined pressure profile,   
       the control device is designed, in the event of a deviation of the detected pressure profile from the predetermined pressure profile, automatically to (i) carry out a regulating action on the operation of the ware washer as a function of the size and the time gradient of a difference between the predetermined pressure profile and the detected pressure profile and/or (ii) issue a fault warning via an optical and/or acoustic interface and/or (iii) issue a fault warning to a remote maintenance station via a remote control interface. 
     
     
         17 . The ware washer as claimed in  claim 16 , the ware washer having, furthermore, the following:
 at least one valve;   at least one other line system connected to the valve; and   at least one nozzle system connected to the other line system and having at least one rinsing-clear nozzle,   
       the control device designed, furthermore, for activating the valve in such a way that a liquid is supplied at least intermittently to the at least one rinsing-clear nozzle via the other line system, and 
       the sensor device being designed, furthermore, for detecting a profile of the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid in the other line system and for comparing the detected pressure profile of the other line system with a predetermined pressure profile. 
     
     
         18 . The ware washer as claimed in  claim 16 , the control device designed, furthermore, to carry out a regulating action on the operation of the ware washer or issue a fault warning only when the deviation of the detected pressure profile from the predetermined pressure profile overshoots or undershoots a predetermined or predeterminable threshold value. 
     
     
         19 . The ware washer as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 the sensor device having at least one pressure sensor and being designed to detect the profile of the hydrostatic pressure in that the hydrostatic pressure is measured continuously or at predetermined time points or events by means of the at least one pressure sensor within a predetermined time interval, and, if appropriate, the measured pressure values are interpolated.   
     
     
         20 . The ware washer as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 which, furthermore, has a device, activatable by the control device, for adding defoaming agent to the liquid.   
     
     
         21 . The ware washer as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 the PUMP is a washing pump and the nozzle is a washing nozzle which is connected to the washing pump via the line system and to which a washing liquid is supplied during a washing process by the washing pump being activated, and   the control device designed such that the detected pressure profile is a profile of the hydrostatic pressure of the washing liquid in the line system and for comparing the detected pressure profile with the predetermined pressure profile.   
     
     
         22 . The ware washer as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 the pump is a rinsing-clear pump and the nozzle is a rinsing-clear nozzle which is connected to the rinsing-clear pump via the line system and to which a rinsing-clear liquid is supplied during a rinsing-clear process by the rinsing-clear pump being activated, and the control device designed such that the detected pressure profile is a profile of the hydrostatic pressure of the rinsing-clear liquid in the line system and for comparing the detected pressure profile with the predetermined pressure profile.