Performance monitoring system for warewashing machines
AssigneeEcolab Inc.
InventorsClyde A. Bailey, Eric L. Padelford, Daniel F. Brady, Eduardo S. Koehler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for monitoring the performance of a warewashing machine generates proactive alarms that audible and/or visibly instruct operators to take corrective action of temperature, rinse pressure, loading, or other machine deficiencies occur. A data input feature enables the operator to add production data to the report for the calculation of machine efficiency. A water consumption measurement device provides realistic utility, water and sewage costs calculations for the warewashing machine.
Claims15
An apparatus for monitoring a warewashing machine, comprising:
- (a) sensor means for detecting alarm conditions in the warewashing machine;
- (b) input means connected to the sensor means for receiving signals therefrom indicating the alarm condition;
- (c) activation means connected to the input means for notifying an operator when the alarm condition has occurred;
- (d) recording means connected to the input means for storing an indication of the alarm condition in a memory for later reporting;
- (e) reset means for temporarily disabling the activation means for notifying the operator of the alarm condition;
- and
- (f) timer means for specifying a time period for the temporarily disabled alarm so that when the time period elapses the operator is once again notified by the activation means that the alarm condition has occurred.
An apparatus for monitoring a warewashing machine, comprising:
- (a) sensor means for detecting an active rinse cycle in the warewashing machine;
- (b) input means connected to the sensor means for receiving signals therefrom indicating the active rinse cycle;
- (c) recording means connected to the input means for recording an elapsed time period for the active rinse cycle;
- (d) calculating means connected to the recording means for calculating a water consumption value using the elapsed time period and a known flow rate;
- and
- (e) reporting means connected to the calculating means for reporting the water consumption value.
An apparatus for monitoring a warewashing machine, comprising:
- (a) first input means for receiving data from an operator indicating a total value of a customer's production;
- (b) first recording means connected to the first input means for recording a total value of a customer's production;
- (c) sensor means for detecting an active warewashing machine;
- (d) second input means connected to the sensor means for receiving signals therefrom indicating the active warewashing machine;
- (e) second recording means connected to the second input means for recording an elapsed time period for the active warewashing machine;
- (f) calculating means connected to the second recording means for calculating a total value of operating hours using the elapsed time period;
- and
- (g) reporting means connected to the first and second recording means for reporting a comparison between the total value of a customer's production and the total value of the machine's operating hours.
An apparatus for monitoring a warewashing machine, comprising:
- (a) sensor means for detecting operational information in the warewashing machine;
- (b) data entry means for inputting production information;
- (c) recording means, connected to the sensor means and the data entry means, for storing indications of the operational information and the production information in a memory for later reporting;
- and
- (d) reporting means, connected to the recording means, for comparing the production values with the operational information and printing efficiency information determined therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.