Batch dishwasher and method for operating a batch dishwasher

Abstract

The invention relates to a commercial dishwasher ( 1 ) which is in the form of a batch dishwasher and has a treatment chamber ( 2 ) for accommodating washware which is to be cleaned and also has a drying device for drying washware which is accommodated in the treatment chamber ( 2 ) as required. The treatment chamber ( 2 ) is divided into a first region ( 2 a ) and a second region ( 2 b ) which is or can be physically separated from said first region. The drying device has a first sorption unit ( 3 ) containing a reversibly dehydratable dry material and has a first fan ( 5 ), which is associated with the first sorption unit ( 3 ), for forming a first air circuit in the first region ( 2 a ) as required in such a way that air is conducted out of the first region ( 2 a ) through the first sorption unit ( 3 ) and then returned to the first region ( 2 a ). The drying device has a second sorption unit ( 4 ) containing a reversibly dehydratable dry material and has a second fan ( 6 ), which is associated with the second sorption unit ( 4 ), for forming a second air circuit in the second region ( 2 b ) as required in such a way that air is conducted out of the second region ( 2 b ) through the second sorption unit ( 4 ) and then returned to the second region ( 2 b ).

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A batch dishwasher having a treatment chamber for accommodating washware which is to be cleaned and a drying device for drying washware which is accommodated in the treatment chamber,
 wherein the treatment chamber is divided into a first region and a second region which is or can be physically separated from said first region, and   wherein the drying device has a first sorption unit containing a reversibly dehydratable dry material and has a first fan, which is associated with the first sorption unit, for forming a first air circuit in the first region in such a way that air is conducted out of the first region through the first sorption unit and then returned to the first region, and wherein the drying device has a second sorption unit containing a reversibly dehydratable dry material and has a second fan, which is associated with the second sorption unit, for forming a second air circuit in the second region in such a way that air is conducted out of the second region through the second sorption unit and then returned to the second region.   
     
     
         19 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 18 ,
 wherein the treatment chamber is formed in such a way that washware can be introduced into the first region of the treatment chamber or removed from the first region of the treatment chamber while, independently of this, washware can be introduced into the second region of the treatment chamber or removed from the second region of the treatment chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 19 ,
 wherein the treatment chamber has a door or hood which is associated with the first region and has a further door or hood which is associated with the second region.   
     
     
         21 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 18 ,
 wherein the drying device has a first heating unit, which is associated with the first sorption unit, for heating the dry material of the first sorption unit, and has a second heating unit, which is associated with the second sorption unit, for heating the dry material of the second sorption unit.   
     
     
         22 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 21 ,
 wherein the heating unit associated with the first sorption unit and/or the heating unit associated with the second sorption unit are/is formed in such a way that, as a result of electrical energy and/or heat being supplied, the corresponding heating unit heats the dry material in the associated sorption unit in such a way that at least some of the moisture which was previously absorbed by the dry material is released by the dry material again.   
     
     
         23 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 22 ,
 wherein a control device is also provided, said control device being designed to actuate the fan associated with the first sorption unit, the heating unit associated with the first sorption unit, the fan associated with the second sorption unit, and the heating unit associated with the second sorption unit during a drying phase in the first region of the treatment chamber in such a way that air is conducted out of the first region through the first sorption unit in such a way that the dry material of the first sorption unit absorbs moisture from the air stream while, at the same time as or with a time delay with respect to or during a wash and/or final rinse phase in the second region of the dishwasher, the dry material of the second sorption unit is heated and air is conducted out of the treatment chamber through the second sorption unit, which contains the heated dry material, in such a way that moisture is desorbed from the dry material and at least a portion of the thermal energy which was previously introduced into the dry material and at least a portion of the moisture which is desorbed from the dry material is discharged from the second sorption unit with the aid of the air stream which is conducted through the second sorption unit.   
     
     
         24 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 23 ,
 wherein the control device is also designed to actuate the heating unit associated with the second sorption unit during the drying phase in the second region of the treatment chamber in such a way that the dry material of the second sorption unit is heated by thermal energy being supplied, and wherein the control device is also designed to actuate the fan associated with the second sorption unit with a time delay with respect to or at the same time as the actuation of the heating unit associated with the second sorption unit in such a way that air is conducted out of the second region of the treatment chamber through the second sorption unit.   
     
     
         25 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 24 ,
 wherein a sensor device which is connected or can be connected to the control device is also provided for the purpose of ascertaining the moisture-absorption capacity and/or the temperature of the dry material of the first and/or second sorption unit, and wherein the control device is designed to selectively and automatically initiate or to selectively and automatically terminate the adsorption phase and/or the desorption phase of the corresponding sorption unit as a function of the ascertained moisture-absorption capacity and/or temperature of the dry material of the first and/or second sorption unit.   
     
     
         26 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 18 , which also has a first wash system which is associated with the first region and has a second wash system which is associated with the second region, wherein the first and second wash system are each in the form of a recirculation circuit and have a nozzle system with at least one wash nozzle for spraying wash liquid onto the washware which is accommodated in the corresponding region of the treatment chamber, a wash tank, which is arranged beneath the corresponding region of the treatment chamber, for capturing at least a portion of the wash liquid which is sprayed in the corresponding region of the treatment chamber, and at least one wash pump for supplying wash liquid which has collected in the wash tank to the at least one wash nozzle, wherein a first final rinse system, which is associated with the first region, and a second final rinse system, which is associated with the second region, each with at least one final rinse pump and a final rinse nozzle system, which is arranged in the corresponding region of the treatment chamber, are provided in order to spray final rinse liquid in the region of the treatment chamber during a final rinse phase in the first or second region of the treatment chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 18 ,
 wherein the drying device has a first heat exchanger unit which is associated with the first sorption unit in such a way that, when the first air circuit is formed, at least a portion of the drying air which is routed through the first sorption unit then passes the first heat exchanger unit, and wherein the drying device has a second heat exchanger unit which is associated with the second sorption unit in such a way that, when the second air circuit is formed, at least a portion of the drying air which is routed through the second sorption unit then passes the second heat exchanger unit.   
     
     
         28 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 18 ,
 wherein the drying device has a heat exchanger unit which is jointly associated with the first and second sorption units in such a way that, when the first and/or second air circuits or circuit are/is formed, at least a portion of the drying air which is routed through the first and/or second sorption unit then passes the common heat exchanger unit.   
     
     
         29 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 27 ,
 wherein the first and second heat exchanger units each have a heat exchanger which is cooled with water and also have an inlet which is connected or can be connected to a fresh water supply line, and have an outlet which is connected or can be connected to the first and/or second wash nozzle system and/or to the first and/or second final rinse nozzle system.   
     
     
         30 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 18 ,
 wherein the dry material contains type-Y zeolite.   
     
     
         31 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 18 ,
 wherein a sensor device for the purpose of ascertaining the moisture-absorption capacity and/or the temperature of the dry material of the first and/or the second sorption unit and a control device are also provided, wherein the control device is designed to induce the output of a corresponding visual and/or audible indication or regeneration of the dry material when the ascertained moisture-absorption capacity and/or the temperature of the dry material falls below/exceeds a predefined or predefinable value.   
     
     
         32 . A method for operating a a batch dishwasher having a treatment chamber for accommodating washware which is to be cleaned, wherein the treatment chamber is divided into a first region and a second region which is or can be physically separated from said first region, and wherein the method comprises the following method steps:
 i) during an adsorption phase in the first or second region of the treatment chamber, air is conducted out of the corresponding region of the treatment chamber through a sorption unit, which contains a reversibly dehydratable dry material, in such a way that the dry material absorbs moisture from the air stream, wherein the air is then returned to the region of the treatment chamber; and   ii) during a desorption phase in the first or second region of the treatment chamber, the dry material of the sorption unit is heated and air is conducted out of the corresponding region of the treatment chamber through the sorption unit, which has the heated dry material, in such a way that moisture is desorbed from the dry material and at least a portion of the thermal energy which was previously introduced into the dry material and at least a portion of the moisture which was desorbed from the dry material are discharged from the sorption unit with the aid of the air stream which is conducted through the sorption unit, wherein at least a portion of the thermal energy which is discharged from the sorption unit with the air stream being transferred in a heat exchanger unit to cooling water of the heat exchanger unit, and wherein the cooling water which is heated in the heat exchanger unit is then sprayed in the treatment chamber of the dishwasher as final rinse liquid during a final rinse phase and/or as wash liquid during a wash phase.   
     
     
         33 . The method as claimed in  claim 32 ,
 wherein, in method step ii), the air stream which is conducted through the sorption unit which contains the heated dry material is then cooled in the heat exchanger unit in such a way that at least a portion of the moisture which was previously desorbed from the dry material and discharged from the sorption unit with the air stream is condensed, and wherein the air is returned to the corresponding region of the treatment chamber again after passing the heat exchanger unit.   
     
     
         34 . The method as claimed in  claim 32 ,
 wherein the dishwasher has a first sorption unit and at least one second sorption unit, these sorption units being operated in antiphase to one another in such a way that, in the first sorption unit, the method step ii) is carried out and the dry material of the first sorption unit is regenerated, while, in the second sorption unit, the method step i) is carried out and the dry material of the second sorption unit absorbs moisture from the air which is circulating in the second region of the treatment chamber of the dishwasher.   
     
     
         35 . A batch dishwasher having a treatment chamber for accommodating washware to be cleaned and a drying device for drying washware,
 wherein the treatment chamber is divided into a first region and a second region which is physically separated from said first region, and   wherein the drying device has:
 a first sorption unit containing a reversibly dehydratable dry material, and a first fan associated with the first sorption unit for forming a first air circuit in the first region for conducting air out of the first region through the first sorption unit and then back to the first region, and 
 a second sorption unit containing a reversibly dehydratable dry material, and a second fan associated with the second sorption unit for forming a second air circuit in the second region for conducting air out of the second region through the second sorption unit and then back to the second region. 
   
     
     
         36 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 35 ,
 wherein the drying device has:
 a first heating unit associated with the first sorption unit for selectively heating the dry material of the first sorption unit so as to release at least some previously absorbed moisture from the dry material of the first sorption unit, and 
 a second heating unit associated with the second sorption unit for selectively heating the dry material of the second sorption unit so as to release at least some previously absorbed moisture from the dry material of the second sorption unit. 
   
     
     
         37 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 36 , further comprising:
 a control device configured to actuate the fan associated with the first sorption unit, the heating unit associated with the first sorption unit, the fan associated with the second sorption unit, and the heating unit associated with the second sorption unit during a drying phase in the first region of the treatment chamber in such a way that air is conducted out of the first region through the first sorption unit so that the dry material of the first sorption unit absorbs moisture from the air stream while, at the same time as or with a time delay with respect to or during a wash and/or final rinse phase in the second region of the dishwasher, the dry material of the second sorption unit is heated and air is conducted out of the treatment chamber through the second sorption unit so that at least some moisture is desorbed from the dry material of the second sorption unit and is discharged from the second sorption unit.