Industrial dishwasher monitor/controller with speech capability

In a dishwasher system having rinse water receiving means, detergent receiving means and detergent dispensing means, and wash tank means for holding a quantity of water, monitor/controller apparatus comprising:

• electrode means for both measuring the concentration of detergent in the water in said wash tank means and for detecting when said wash tank is empty;
• detergent dispenser control means for activating said detergent dispensing means to add detergent to the water in said wash tank means when said electrode means detects that the concentration of detergent in the water in said wash tank is less than a preselected concentration value;
• detergent fault means for detecting when the concentration of detergent in said wash tank does not reach said preselected concentration value after said detergent dispenser means has been activated for a preselected length of time and for transmitting a first speech message when said detergent fault is detected;
• rinse water fault means for detecting when the temperature of water in said rinse water receiving means falls below a preselected minimum rinse water temperature value and for transmitting a second speech message when said rinse water temperature fault is detected;
• rinse water detection means for detecting when water is flowing through said rinse water receiving means into said dishwasher;
• and
• wash water purge fault means responsive to said electrode means and said rinse water detection means for detecting if the cumulative length of time that water has been flowing in said rinse water receiving means since the last time said wash tank means was empty exceeds a preselected dirty water delay period and for transmitting a third speech message when said purge fault is detected.