Patents by Inventor Harald Disch

Harald Disch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11957291
    Abstract: A system (10) for loading at least one conveyor warewasher (1, 1?) with washware includes a feed conveyor belt (11) for delivering washware to at least one loading region of the conveyor warewasher (1, 1?) and a detection system (15), in particular an optical one, configured to detect at least one of the following parameters of the washware on the feed conveyor belt (11) when delivering the washware (9a, 9b, 9c) to the loading region: (i) a type of the washware, (ii) a degree of soiling of the washware, and/or (iii) an order of the washware and/or an alignment of the washware relative to the feed conveyor belt (11). The detection system (15) has an assigned evaluation device, which is configured to control the delivery of the washware to the at least one loading region as a function of at least one of the detected parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Martin Schrempp, Harald Disch, Adrian Boldt
  • Patent number: 11950743
    Abstract: A dishwasher (1), in particular a commercial dishwasher (1), which is in the form of a box-type dishwasher and has a treatment chamber (2) which can be closed and in which washware can be treated in accordance with a predefined or predefinable treatment program, wherein a washware detector apparatus (51) is designed to detect the type of washware to be, wherein the washware detector apparatus (51) has an optical identification system, which is oriented toward the washware to be treated, and an evaluation device, wherein the optical identification system is designed to record at least a portion of the light reflected by the washware to be treated as a reflection image, and wherein the evaluation device is designed to automatically distinguish between different types of washware on the basis of the recorded reflection image, wherein the extent of the reflection provides information about the type of washware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Harald Disch, Björn S. Himmelsbach, Markus Heidt, Verena Wiedenhöfer
  • Publication number: 20240108194
    Abstract: A conveyor warewasher includes at least one washing zone, at least one rinsing zone and a conveyor apparatus. A camera system is configured in order to capture at least one image of an portion of the conveyor apparatus continuously or at predetermined or determinable times and/or events. An image processing device is associated with the camera system and is configured to determine a position, orientation and/or alignment of washware items present in the at least one captured image. An evaluation device is further provided that is adapted to determine based on the determined position, orientation, and/or alignment of the washware items whether, at the time of the image capture, washware items are present in the portion of the conveyor apparatus (2) that: i) are transported incorrectly oriented by the conveyor apparatus (2); and/or ii) are transported misaligned by the conveyor apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Harald DISCH, Martin SCHREMPP
  • Publication number: 20240099550
    Abstract: A conveyor warewasher has at least one washing zone, at least one rinsing zone and a conveyor apparatus. A camera system is arranged above or below or to the side of the conveyor apparatus and is configured in order capture at least one image of a portion of the conveyor apparatus, preferably continuously or at predetermined or determinable times and/or events. An evaluation device is configured in order to evaluate and determine on the basis of the at least one image whether, at the time of the image capture, washware of the following washware category was present in the portion of the conveyor apparatus: reusable plasticware, in particular in the form of plastic trays, plastic mugs, plastic bowls, plastic covers for plastic bowls, and/or plastic plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Harald DISCH, Martin SCHREMPP
  • Publication number: 20240099549
    Abstract: A conveyor warewasher has at least one washing zone, at least one rinsing zone and a conveyor apparatus. A device for sensing a loading of the conveyor apparatus, which device is configured in order to determine, continuously or at predetermined or determinable times and/or events, a loading of the conveyor apparatus with washware. A control device is configured in order to, during a learning or observation phase over at least one observation period or over a plurality of observation periods each relating to a washing shift or a washing day of the conveyor warewasher or a portion thereof, determine a chronological profile of the loading of the conveyor apparatus with washware to be conveyed, wherein the control device is configured in order to deduce a pattern or a regularity based on the determined chronological profile of the loading of the conveyor apparatus with washware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Harald DISCH, Martin SCHREMPP
  • Publication number: 20240099541
    Abstract: A conveyor warewasher has at least one washing zone, at least one rinsing zone and a conveyor apparatus. A camera system is configured to capture at least one image of a portion of the conveyor apparatus. An evaluation device is configured to determine an average degree of soiling of washware present in the portion of the conveyor apparatus at the time of the image capture and/or a average type of soiling of the washware present in the portion of the conveyor apparatus at the time of the image capture. A control device is configured to initiate, automatically or optionally automatically depending on the determined average degree of soiling and/or depending on the determined average type of soiling, at least one measure influencing the quality of a washing liquid to be sprayed in the at least one washing zone and/or a measure influencing the cleaning performance of the conveyor warewasher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Harald DISCH, Martin SCHREMPP
  • Publication number: 20240099545
    Abstract: A counter system for transferring foodstuffs, wherein the counter system has a first region assigned to the counter staff and a second region segregated therefrom and assigned to the customer. The counter system also has a dishwasher for cleaning items of washware, in particular in the form of mugs, cups, glasses, bowls or plates. The dishwasher has a treatment zone, an introduction region and a removal region, wherein the introduction region is accessible from the second region of the counter system and the removal region is accessible from the first region of the counter system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Harald DISCH, Martin SCHREMPP, Adrian BOLDT, Jeffrey R. NEWCOMER, Joel HIPP
  • Patent number: 11930981
    Abstract: A dishwasher (1) for cleaning drinking vessels, wherein the dishwasher (1) has a treatment zone (3) and a conveyor apparatus (6) for conveying the items of washware (2) to be cleaned from an introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1) through the treatment zone (3) to a removal region (5) of the dishwasher (1). The conveyor apparatus (6) is configured to convey a previously defined or definable group of items of washware (2) to be cleaned in batches from the introduction region (4) through the treatment zone (3) and then to feed the group of items of washware (2) as cleaned items of washware (2) to the removal region (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Harald Disch, Martin Schrempp, Adrian Boldt, Benjamin Franz, Roland Werner, David Reinhart, Björn Brodowski
  • Patent number: 11889964
    Abstract: A counter system (10) for transferring at least partially unpackaged foodstuffs, wherein the counter system (10) has a first region (11) assigned to the counter staff and a second region (12) segregated therefrom and assigned to the customer. The counter system (10) has a dishwasher (1) for cleaning items of washware (2). The dishwasher (1) has at least one treatment zone (3) and at least one conveyor apparatus (6) for conveying the items of washware (2) to be cleaned from an introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1) through the treatment zone (3) of the dishwasher (1) to a removal region (5) of the dishwasher (1), wherein the introduction region (4) of the dishwasher (1) is accessible from the second region (12) of the counter system (10) and the removal region (5) of the dishwasher (1) is accessible from the first region (11) of the counter system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Harald Disch, Martin Schrempp, Adrian Boldt, Jeffrey R. Newcomer, Joel Hipp
  • Publication number: 20240016362
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a washing system configured as a recirculation loop and a dirt discharge system associated with the washing system. The dirt discharge system is associated with a separator apparatus configured so as to separate at least a portion of the washing liquid required to empty a dirt collection region of the dirt discharge system and discharged together with the dirt particles from the dirt collection region from the dirt particles discharged from the dirt collection region and to return the separated washing liquid back to the water circulation of the dishwasher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Harald DISCH, Martin SCHREMPP
  • Publication number: 20230414059
    Abstract: A dishwasher for cleaning washware items in the form of drinking vessels, is configured as a counter module of a counter system and includes a treatment zone having a placement area and a removal area associated therewith. The washware item to be cleaned can be manually placed into the treatment zone via the placement area and the cleaned washware item be manually removed from the treatment zone via the removal area, wherein the placement area and the removal area are disposed opposite one another with the interposition of the treatment zone. At least one bracket is provided in the treatment zone for releasably securing and/or positioning the washware item placed in the treatment zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Harald DISCH, Martin SCHREMPP, Adrian BOLDT, Axel BECK, Jeffrey R. NEWCOMER
  • Publication number: 20230404360
    Abstract: A conveyor warewasher for cleaning washware includes at least one washing zone at least one rinsing zone and a conveyor apparatus for conveying the washware therethrough. A camera system is arranged above or below or to the side of the conveyor apparatus and is configured to capture at least one image of an area of the conveyor apparatus. An evaluation device is configured to evaluate and determine on the basis of the classification performed whether, at the time of the image capture, at least one of the following categories of washware was present in the area of the conveyor apparatus: cutlery or pieces of cutlery; pots, pans, or GN containers; glasses, in particular drinking glasses; trays or tray-like objects; plates, cups, or bowls; utensils; other washware; mixed washware; plastic washware; or no washware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventor: Harald DISCH
  • Patent number: 11844480
    Abstract: A batch dishwasher is realized as a hood-type dishwasher having a treatment chamber (2) with at least one recirculating wash system for spraying wash liquid in the treatment chamber (2), and has at least one final rinse system for spraying final rinse liquid in the treatment chamber (2). The treatment chamber (2) has a first treatment zone (6) and at least one further, second treatment zone (7), wherein items of washware can be treated independently of one another and at least temporarily at the same time in the first and in the at least one second treatment zone (6, 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Harald Disch, Adrian Boldt
  • Publication number: 20230371777
    Abstract: A conveyor for transporting dishes, in particular drinking containers, through at least one treatment zone of a dishwasher and/or for feeding dishes to the dishwasher. The conveyor includes a circulating conveyor system, a plurality of retaining elements connected to the circulating conveyor system and configured in order to releasably receive and/or releasably retain drinking containers, in particular in a positively locking manner and preferably at least in a sectionally or partially positively locking manner, and a support system for at least partially and/or sectionally supporting the drinking containers, received by the retaining elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Harald DISCH, Martin SCHREMPP, Benjamin FRANZ, Björn BRODOWSKI, Adrian BOLDT, Norbert LITTERST, Harry BRAUN, Frank ZOLLER
  • Patent number: 11786100
    Abstract: A dishwasher (1) for cleaning washware items (2) in the form of drinking vessels is configured as a counter module of a counter system and includes at least one treatment zone (3) having a placement area (4) associated with the treatment zone (3) and a removal area (5) associated with the treatment zone (3), wherein the washware item (2) can be placed into the treatment zone (3) via the placement area (4) and the cleaned washware item (2) can be removed from the treatment zone (3) via the removal area (5), wherein the placement area (4) and the removal area (5) are disposed opposite one another with the interposition of the treatment zone (3). At least one bracket (15) is provided in the treatment zone (3) for in releasably securing and/or positioning the washware item (2) placed onto a placement surface (20) in the treatment zone (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Harald Disch, Martin Schrempp, Adrian Boldt, Axel Beck, Jeffrey R. Newcomer
  • Patent number: 11723507
    Abstract: A conveyor dishwashing machine (1) has at least one washing zone (7), and at least one final rinse zone (8) which is connected downstream (as viewed in the transport direction (T) of the wash items) of the at least one washing zone (7). The conveyor dishwashing machine (1) has a transport apparatus for transporting the wash items through the treatment zones (6, 7) of the conveyor dishwashing machine (1) so that the wash items are situated at least in regions in a washing plane (5) which runs horizontally. The washing plane (5) is configured as a main washing plane, and there is at least one additional washing plane (6) in at least one of the treatment zones (7, 8) of the conveyor dishwashing machine (1), in which additional washing plane (6) wash items can be treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Harald Disch, Beatrix Buchert, Martin Schrempp, Don E. Iles
  • Patent number: 11627860
    Abstract: A dishwasher (1) in the form of a commercial utensil washer or dishwasher which is designed as a batch dishwasher and is realized as a hood-type dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher (1) has a treatment chamber (2) with at least one wash system which is designed as a recirculation system, wherein the treatment chamber (2) has a first treatment zone (6) and at least one further, second treatment zone (7), wherein items of washware can be treated independently of one another and at least temporarily at the same time in the first and in the at least one second treatment zone (6, 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Dietrich Berner, Harald Disch, Martin Schrempp
  • Patent number: 11608233
    Abstract: A system (10) for loading different conveying tracks (2, 3, 4) of at least one in particular commercial conveyor dishwasher (1, 1?). The system (10) includes a feed conveyor belt (11) for delivering washware (9a, 9b, 9c) to loading regions of the at least one conveyor dishwasher (1, 1?). The system (10) further includes a sorting arrangement for sorting the washware (9a, 9b, 9c) delivered to the loading regions of the at least one conveyor dishwasher (1, 1?) via the feed conveyor belt (11) according to previously defined or definable washware groups. The sorting arrangement is associated with at least one loading arrangement (13a, 13b, 13c) for automatically loading the different conveying tracks of the at least one conveyor dishwasher (1, 1?) with washware (9a, 9b, 9c) of one of the previously defined or definable washware groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Harald Disch, Martin Schrempp, Adrian Boldt
  • Publication number: 20220338706
    Abstract: A dishwasher (1) for cleaning washware items (2) in the form of drinking vessels is configured as a counter module of a counter system and includes at least one treatment zone (3) having a placement area (4) associated with the treatment zone (3) and a removal area (5) associated with the treatment zone (3), wherein the washware item (2) can be placed into the treatment zone (3) via the placement area (4) and the cleaned washware item (2) can be removed from the treatment zone (3) via the removal area (5), wherein the placement area (4) and the removal area (5) are disposed opposite one another with the interposition of the treatment zone (3). At least one bracket (15) is provided in the treatment zone (3) for in releasably securing and/or positioning the washware item (2) placed onto a placement surface (20) in the treatment zone (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Harald DISCH, Martin SCHREMPP, Adrian BOLDT, Axel BECK, Jeffrey R. NEWCOMER
  • Publication number: 20220313054
    Abstract: A conveyor dishwasher for cleaning washware, in particular in the form of drinking vessels, wherein the conveyor dishwasher has at least one treatment zone and a housing, wherein the conveyor dishwasher also has a dirty-side feed -in region, by way of which washware which is to be cleaned in the at least one treatment zone is fed in manually, and a clean-side discharging region by way of which washware cleaned in the at least one treatment zone is discharged and removed manually, and a transporting apparatus for transporting washware from the feed-in region, through the at least one treatment zone, to the discharging region. The feed-in region and the discharging region are formed in one and the same side of the housing of the conveyor dishwasher or in directly adjacent sides of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Harald DISCH, Martin SCHREMPP