Method for operating a ware washer and ware washer

Abstract

A ware washer, which is designed as a programmable machine or as a conveyor ware washer, has 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, a liquid being supplied at least intermittently to the at least one nozzle via the line system. A sensor device connected to a control device is provided for detecting a profile of the volumetric flow rate of the liquid in the line system and for comparing the detected flow rate profile with a predetermined flow rate profile. The control device is designed, in the event of a deviation of the detected flow rate profile from the predetermined flow rate profile, automatically either to 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 flow rate profile and the detected flow rate profile or to issue a fault warning via an optical and/or acoustic interface or to issue a fault warning to a remote maintenance station via a remote control interface.

1 . A method for operating a ware washer which is designed as a programmable machine or as a conveyor 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 flow rate of the liquid in the line system is detected and is compared with a predetermined flow rate profile,
 characterized, 
 in that, in the event of a deviation of the detected flow rate profile from the predetermined flow rate 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 flow rate profile and the detected flow rate 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 ,
 wherein the at least one pump is has a washing pump and the at least one 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 wherein, during the washing process, the profile of the volumetric flow rate of the washing liquid in the line system is detected and compared with the predetermined flow rate profile.   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 wherein the ware washer has a final rinse pump and at least one final rinse nozzle which is connected to the final rinse pump via a final rinse line system and to which a final rinse liquid is supplied during a final rinse process by the final rinse pump being activated, and wherein, during a final rinse process, the profile of the volumetric flow rate of the final rinse liquid in the final rinse line system is detected and compared with the a predetermined final rinse flow rate profile.   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 wherein the ware washer has a valve and at least one final rinse nozzle which is connected to the valve via a final rinse line system and to which a final rinse liquid is supplied during the final rinse process by the valve being opened, and   wherein, during the final rinse process, the profile of the volumetric flow rate of the final rinse liquid in the final rinse line system is detected and compared with a predetermined final rinse flow rate profile.   
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one of the steps i) to iii) is selected and executed automatically only when the deviation of the detected flow rate profile from the predetermined flow rate profile overshoots or undershoots a set threshold value.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the profile of the volumetric flow rate is detected in that the volumetric flow rate is measured continuously within at least one predetermined time interval, or in that the volumetric flow rate is measured at predetermined time points or events within at least one predetermined time interval, and the measured flow rate values are interpolated.   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 wherein the time interval has a set length, and wherein the start of the time interval is 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 7 ,
 wherein the profile of the volumetric flow rate is detected in that the volumetric flow rate 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 starting time of the flow rate generated in the line system by the pump being switched on.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein, in a case when the detected flow rate profile lies continuously above the predetermined flow rate profile and the amount of the difference between the predetermined flow rate profile and the detected flow rate profile lies continuously within the range between a first fixed threshold value and a second fixed threshold value, a minor leak in the line system or nozzle system is concluded automatically, and   wherein a corresponding fault warning then is issued via the optical and/or acoustic interface; and/or   wherein a corresponding fault warning then is issued via the remote control interface.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 ,
 wherein, in a case when the detected flow rate profile lies continuously above the predetermined flow rate profile and the amount of the difference between the predetermined flow rate profile and the detected flow rate profile is continuously above the second fixed threshold value, a major leak in the line system or nozzle system is concluded automatically, and a corresponding fault warning is issued via the optical and/or acoustic interface.   
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein, in a case when the detected flow rate profile lies continuously below the predetermined flow rate profile and the amount of the difference between the predetermined flow rate profile and the detected flow rate profile is continuously above a fixed threshold value, a blockage in the line system or nozzle system is concluded automatically, and a corresponding fault warning is issued via the optical and/or acoustic interface.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 ,
 wherein the at least one pump is has a washing pump and the at least one 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 wherein, during the washing process, the profile of the volumetric flow rate of the washing liquid in the line system is detected and compared with the predetermined flow rate profile.   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein, 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 flow rate drop; or
 wherein, if the ware washer is designed as a conveyor ware washer, the speed at which the washing items to be treated are transported through the ware washer is reduced preferably in proportion to the detected flow rate drop.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein, in a case when, within a time interval during which the flow rate profile is detected, the measured volumetric flow rate increases continuously from a time point and overshoots a predetermined threshold value, the pump capacity of the pump is automatically adjusted down, preferably in inverse proportion to a detected flow rate rise.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in one of  claim 1 ,
 wherein, in a case when, within a time interval during which the flow rate profile is detected, the measured volumetric flow rate decreases continuously from a time point and undershoots a predetermined threshold value, a blockage occurring only during the continuous operation of the ware washer is concluded automatically, and a corresponding fault warning is issued via the optical and/or acoustic interface.   
     
     
         16 . A ware washer, in particular commercial dishwasher or utensil ware washer, which is designed as a programmable machine or as a conveyor ware washer and has the following:
 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 volumetric flow rate of the liquid in the line system and for comparing the detected flow rate profile with a predetermined flow rate profile,   characterized,   in that the control device is designed, in the event of a deviation of the detected flow rate profile from the predetermined flow rate profile, automatically either to 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 flow rate profile and the detected flow rate profile or to issue a fault warning via an optical and/or acoustic interface or to issue a fault warning to a remote maintenance station via a remote control interface.   
     
     
         17 . The ware washer as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 wherein the ware washer has, furthermore, the following:
 at least one valve; 
 at least one final rinse line system connected to the valve; and 
 at least one nozzle system connected to the line system and having at least one final rinse nozzle, 
   wherein the control device is designed, furthermore, for activating the valve in such a way that a liquid is supplied at least intermittently to the at least one final rinse nozzle via the final rinse line system, and   wherein the sensor device is designed, furthermore, for detecting a profile of the volumetric flow rate of the liquid in the final rinse line system and for comparing the detected flow rate profile with a predetermined final rinse flow rate profile.   
     
     
         18 . The ware washer as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 wherein the control device is designed, furthermore, to carry out a regulating action on the operation of the ware washer or to issue a fault warning only when the deviation of the detected flow rate profile from the predetermined flow rate profile overshoots or undershoots a set threshold value.   
     
     
         19 . The ware washer as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 wherein the sensor device has at least one flow sensor, and is designed to detect the profile of the volumetric flow rate in that the volumetric flow rate is measured continuously or at predetermined time points or events by means of the at least one flow sensor within a predetermined time interval, and, if appropriate, the measured flow rate values are interpolated.   
     
     
         20 . The ware washer as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 wherein the at least one pump is ware washer has a washing pump and the at least one 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 wherein the sensor device connected to the control device is designed for detecting the profile of the volumetric flow rate of the washing liquid in the line system and for comparing the detected flow rate profile with the predetermined flow rate profile.   
     
     
         21 . The ware washer as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 wherein the at least one pump is ware washer has a final rinse pump and the at least one nozzle is a final rinse nozzle which is connected to the final rinse pump via the line system and to which a final rinse liquid is supplied during a final rinse process by the final rinse pump being activated, and   wherein the sensor device connected to the control device is designed for detecting the profile of the volumetric flow rate of the final rinse liquid in the line system and for comparing the detected flow rate profile with the predetermined flow rate profile.