Abstract: A food equipment device, such as a warewasher, includes a powered component, the powered component being one of a heating element or a pump or a fan, and a power line path for delivering power to the powered component. A contactor is provided for controlling power delivery to the powered component, the contactor including main power contacts connected in the power line path and auxiliary contacts that operate the same as, or opposite to, the main power contacts. A monitoring system is operatively connected to the auxiliary contacts to monitor an open or closed state of the auxiliary contacts and includes a voltage source operatively connected to one of the auxiliary contacts and an electrical sensor for detecting one of (i) a voltage condition of the other auxiliary contact or (ii) a current flow condition between the auxiliary contacts.

Abstract: A food equipment device, such as a warewasher, includes a powered component, the powered component being one of a heating element or a pump or a fan, and a power line path for delivering power to the powered component. A contactor is provided for controlling power delivery to the powered component, the contactor including main power contacts connected in the power line path and auxiliary contacts that operate the same as, or opposite to, the main power contacts. A monitoring system is operatively connected to the auxiliary contacts to monitor an open or closed state of the auxiliary contacts and includes a voltage source operatively connected to one of the auxiliary contacts and an electrical sensor for detecting one of (i) a voltage condition of the other auxiliary contact or (ii) a current flow condition between the auxiliary contacts.

Abstract: A warewash machine includes a housing defining a ware inlet, a ware outlet and an internal chamber including a plurality of sequential spray zones including at least one wash zone and a rinse zone downstream of the wash zone in a ware conveyance direction. A vent path leads from the chamber leading to a vent outlet for connecting to a building ventilation system. A damper is provided for controlling a flow area at a location along the vent path. A controller is connected to control a position of the damper, the controller configured to adjust a position of the damper based upon input from at least a first temperature sensor, wherein the first temperature sensor is located at one of (i) the ware inlet, (ii) the ware outlet or (iii) along the vent path. Methods of operating a warewash machine are also provided.

Abstract: A method of draining a wash tank of a warewash machine involves: (a) turning off, or maintaining off, both a booster tank heater and a wash tank heater of the machine; (b) simultaneously operating a rinse pump, operating a drain pump and opening a booster fill valve of the machine so that all of the following take place at the same time: (b1) fresh water is delivered through a heat exchanger to the booster tank; (b2) fresh water is delivered by the rinse pump from the booster tank to a rinse spray system and falls down into the wash tank; and (b3) liquid from the wash tank is delivered by the drain pump to a drain flow path and through the heat exchanger to exchange heat with the fresh water delivered through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A food equipment device, such as a warewasher, includes a powered component, the powered component being one of a heating element or a pump or a fan, and a power line path for delivering power to the powered component. A contactor is provided for controlling power delivery to the powered component, the contactor including main power contacts connected in the power line path and auxiliary contacts that operate the same as, or opposite to, the main power contacts. A monitoring system is operatively connected to the auxiliary contacts to monitor an open or closed state of the auxiliary contacts and includes a voltage source operatively connected to one of the auxiliary contacts and an electrical sensor for detecting one of (i) a voltage condition of the other auxiliary contact or (ii) a current flow condition between the auxiliary contacts.

Abstract: A device for recovering energy from hot wares includes a standalone cabinet structure having a housing that defines an internal rack receiving space and an energy recovery system associated with the cabinet structure. The rack receiving space is sized to receive and hold multiple racks of hot wares at the same time. The energy recovery system is configured to transfer heat from the hot wares to a fluid passing through the cabinet structure. A method of recovering heat from wares, and a warewash machine that includes an energy recovery system are also described.

Abstract: A warewash machine includes a housing defining a ware inlet, a ware outlet and an internal chamber including a plurality of sequential spray zones including at least one wash zone and a rinse zone downstream of the wash zone in a ware conveyance direction. A vent path leads from the chamber leading to a vent outlet for connecting to a building ventilation system. A damper is provided for controlling a flow area at a location along the vent path. A controller is connected to control a position of the damper, the controller configured to adjust a position of the damper based upon input from at least a first temperature sensor, wherein the first temperature sensor is located at one of (i) the ware inlet, (ii) the ware outlet or (iii) along the vent path. Methods of operating a warewash machine are also provided.

Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one spray zone in which a liquid is recirculated from a tank to a spray tube assembly having a plurality of spray nozzles. The spray tube assembly includes a plurality of spray tubes, each including an input end and a distal end connected to a tube support, which has a fixed part and a cover movable between a closed and open positions. Each distal end has an opening that is covered in the closed position and uncovered, perhaps fully, in the open position. The tube support may include at least one latching assembly for holding the cover in the closed position. The cover and the access door may be cooperatively configured such that, when the cover is in the open position, the cover prevents the access door from moving to the closed operating position.

Abstract: A warewash machine for washing wares includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having an inlet side, an outlet side, multiple spray zones between the inlet side and the outlet side, and a conveyor arrangement for moving wares along a conveyance path through the multiple spray zones in a ware travel direction. A prescrapping zone is located toward the inlet side of the chamber, the prescrapping zone having a blow-off system comprising a plurality of prescrapping nozzles and a compressed air feed line for delivering compressed air to the prescrapping nozzles.

Abstract: A warewash machine for washing wares includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having an inlet side, an outlet side, multiple spray zones between the inlet side and the outlet side, and a conveyor arrangement for moving wares along a conveyance path through the multiple spray zones in a ware travel direction. A prescrapping zone is located toward the inlet side of the chamber, the prescrapping zone having a blow-off system comprising a plurality of prescrapping nozzles and a compressed air feed line for delivering compressed air to the prescrapping nozzles.

Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone. A refrigerant medium circuit includes a first condenser and a second condenser, the first condenser located upstream of the second condenser in the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant medium circuit includes a first flow path through the first condenser and a second flow path in bypass of the first condenser, and a valve for selectively controlling whether at least some refrigerant medium flows along the first flow path or the second flow path.

Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone. A refrigerant medium circuit includes a first heat exchanger arranged to deliver refrigerant medium heat to a first fluid and a second heat exchanger arranged to provide a heat exchange relationship between the refrigerant medium and a second fluid, the first heat exchanger located upstream of the second heat exchanger in the refrigerant medium circuit. A bypass arrangement for causing at least some refrigerant medium to selectively bypass at least one of the first condenser or the second condenser based upon subcooled refrigerant medium condition.

Abstract: A warewash machine carries out at least one of (i) delivering both compressed air and rinse liquid to a plurality of wash spray nozzles of the warewash machine for spraying onto the wares during at least part of a washing operation of a ware cleaning cycle, wherein the wash liquid is recirculated from a wash tank below the spray zone; or (ii) lowering wares from the spray zone into a wash tank below the spray zone to submerge the wares within wash liquid of the wash tank and delivering compressed air into the wash tank during at least part of a washing operation of a ware cleaning cycle; or (iii) delivering both compressed air and rinse liquid to a plurality of rinse spray nozzles of the warewash machine for spraying onto the wares during at least part of a rinsing operation of a ware cleaning cycle.

Abstract: A batch-type warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares to be cleaned, the chamber having a chamber access opening and a single spray zone, with at least one spray system for spraying liquid onto wares in the single spray zone. A door is movable between a closed position covering the chamber access opening and an open position away from the chamber access opening to allow wares to be moved in and out of the chamber. A curtain structure is mounted on the machine, the curtain structure located behind the door when the door is in the closed position. The curtain structure remains in position and at least partially covers the chamber access opening when the door is in the open position so as to retain hot moist air within the chamber when the door is moved to the open position upon completion of a ware cleaning cycle.

Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one spray zone in which a liquid is recirculated from a tank to a spray tube assembly having a plurality of spray nozzles. The spray tube assembly includes a plurality of spray tubes, each including an input end and a distal end connected to a tube support, which has a fixed part and a cover movable between a closed and open positions. Each distal end has an opening that is covered in the closed position and uncovered, perhaps fully, in the open position. The tube support may include at least one latching assembly for holding the cover in the closed position. The cover and the access door may be cooperatively configured such that, when the cover is in the open position, the cover prevents the access door from moving to the closed operating position.

Abstract: A warewash machine includes in-situ tank soil load reduction that involves at least one of: (i) prior to addition of fresh water, draining the collection tank via a path that exits the collection tank at a location lower than a primary overflow path until wash liquid level in the collection tank drops below a standard operating level, and thereafter adding fresh water; or (ii) draining the collection tank via a path that exits the collection tank at a location lower than a primary overflow path while simultaneously adding fresh water; or (iii) adding fresh water such that wash liquid level in the collection tank rises above a standard operating level, and thereafter carrying out draining of the collection tank.

Abstract: A warewash machine for washing wares includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone with an associated spray system for spraying liquid onto wares passing therethrough, wherein a downstream drying zone includes a blower for blowing air onto wares passing therethrough. The blower includes an ambient intake operatively connected to an ambient air flow path, a machine intake operatively connected to an internal machine air flow path and an exhaust intake operatively connected to a machine exhaust air flow path.

Abstract: A warewash machine for washing wares includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one spray zone. A spray system is provided in the spray zone for spraying liquid onto wares for cleaning. A tank captures sprayed liquid that falls within the spray zone. The tank includes a primary recirculation path for delivering liquid from the tank to the spray system, and a secondary recirculation path for delivering water out of the tank and back into the tank, without spraying within the spray zone, in order promote mixing within the tank.

Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone. A refrigerant circuit includes multiple condensers including a condenser to deliver refrigerant heat to incoming water that is being delivered into the machine. A primary flow path for incoming water passes through a waste heat recovery unit and a secondary flow path for incoming water bypasses the waste heat recovery unit. A valve is provided for selectively controlling whether refrigerant flows along the primary flow path or the secondary flow path based upon a subcooled condition of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit.

Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone. A refrigerant medium circuit includes a first condenser and a second condenser, the first condenser located upstream of the second condenser in the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant medium circuit includes a first flow path through the first condenser and a second flow path in bypass of the first condenser, and a valve for selectively controlling whether at least some refrigerant medium flows along the first flow path or the second flow path.