Control Units And Timers For Commercial Kitchenware Washers, And Related Methods

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/721,301, filed on Nov. 15, 2024. The entire disclosure of the above-referenced application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to control units (e.g., control heads, etc.) for commercial kitchenware washers (e.g., replacement control units, etc.), timers for use with commercial kitchenware washers (e.g., replacement timers that do not have cams, etc.), and methods relating thereto.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Kitchenware washers are used in commercial settings to wash wares such as dishes, cups, utensils, pots, pans, and the like. In connection therewith, the washers often have control units that operate to control different components and operations of the washers, including motors, heaters, chemical pumps, alarms, relays, solenoids, and sensing switches, etc. Typically, the control units are hard attached/wired to the washers, with seal tight conduits leading to the various operating components.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional commercial kitchenware washer;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the commercial kitchenware washer of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are front perspective views of an example embodiment of a control unit of the present disclosure, which may be installed in the commercial kitchenware washer of FIG. 1 (e.g., as a replacement for a conventional control assembly of the commercial kitchenware washer);

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the control unit of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the control unit of FIGS. 3 and 4 shown mounted to a commercial kitchenware washer;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a mount configured to couple the control unit of FIGS. 3 and 4 to the commercial kitchenware washer;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the mount of FIG. 7 shown assembled;

FIG. 9 is a front, fragmentary perspective view of an example cam timer included in the conventional control assembly of the commercial kitchenware washer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a rear, fragmentary perspective view of the cam timer of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of an example embodiment of a timer according to the present disclosure, which may be installed in the conventional control assembly of the commercial kitchenware washer as a replacement for a cam timer therein;

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the timer of FIG. 11;

FIGS. 13-15 include a series of perspective views illustrating installation of the timer of FIG. 11 to a commercial kitchenware washer; and

FIGS. 16-27 illustrate example interfaces that may be displayed at a control unit of the present disclosure, and showing different ware washing operations that may be input to the control unit.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. The description and specific examples included herein are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Conventional Kitchenware Washer (and Conventional Control Assembly)

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate an example of a conventional commercial kitchenware washer 10 (e.g., an upright dishwasher, etc.). The washer 10 includes a cabinet 12, a conventional control assembly 14 fixed to the cabinet 12 (as an original part of the washer 10 when manufactured), an inlet water assembly 16, and a drain assembly 18. The cabinet 12 includes a recirculating pump assembly, a sump assembly, and a scrap trap, shown together generally at 20, and held/disposed generally below a door assembly 22 of the cabinet 12. The conventional control assembly 14 includes components such as relays, wire-harnesses, timers (e.g., a cam timer 26 (FIGS. 9 and 10)), control buttons, indicator lights, pumps, tubing, and the like included therein, for use in controlling different components of the washer 10 (e.g., the inlet water assembly 16, the drain assembly 18, pumps 24, solenoid valve 28, shut-off valve 32, fresh water assembly 34, etc.) and performing different cleaning operations (e.g., washing, rinsing, sanitizing, etc.).

The washer 10 is configured to wash wares (e.g., dishes, cups, utensils, pots, pans, and the like) in a batch of water. As such, when a washing cycle is finished, the batch of water is dumped to the drain assembly 18 and a fresh batch of water is brought into the washer 10 and used to rinse the wares and complete the cleaning. In some embodiments, the batch of water used to rinse the wares may be used as the wash water, in the next washing cycle. Chemicals (including chlorine, detergents, other agents used in commercial dishwashing processes, etc.) may be injected into the batch of water (via the pumps 24 and corresponding chemical supplies) for use in cleaning the wares during the washing cycle and/or for use in sanitizing the wares in a final rinse cycle and/or for enhancing such rinsing.

The pumps 24 are included in a front portion of the control assembly 14 and are connected to corresponding parts of the washer 10 (e.g., chemical supplies (e.g. buckets held under the washer 10, etc.), the fresh water assembly 34, etc.) via seal tight tubes 36 connected to the pumps 24. In addition, the control assembly 14 is connected (e.g., hardwired, etc.) to an electrical supply of building 38 (in which the washer 10 is installed) via electrical conduit 40 and junction box 42 in a generally permanent manner (e.g., that is not easily disassembled and disconnected without taking the control assembly 14 apart, etc.). The water solenoid valve 28 also has electrical connections generally permanently connected to the control assembly 14, via electrical conduit 44.

As can be appreciated, the generally fixed nature of the conventional control assembly 14 to the washer 10 and to the building 38 can make repairing and maintaining the control assembly 14 time consuming and expensive, and may require service calls from trained service-persons with tools specific to the control assembly 14.

New Control Unit (or Control Head) (e.g., Replacement Control Unit, Etc.)

That said, example embodiments of the present disclosure (as described below) provide a quick and inexpensive solution to maintenance and repair of the conventional control assembly 14 of the conventional commercial kitchenware washer 10, without the need for trained service personnel, by way of a new and unique replacement control unit (or replacement control head). In particular, example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to replacement control units for conventional commercial kitchenware washers (e.g., such as washer 10, etc.). For instance, a replacement control unit of the present disclosure may be installed to the washer 10 as a replacement for the control assembly 14 (e.g., after the washer 10 is installed in the building, etc.). Further, in some examples, a control unit of the present disclosure may be installed as an original part of a commercial kitchenware washer 10 (e.g., when the washer 10 is originally made, etc.). In both cases, the control units of the present disclosure provide a solution for controlling operation of the washers that requires no tools (e.g., no wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.) to disconnect and re-connect the control units from/to the washers (e.g., users may disconnect and re-connect the control units by use of hands only, etc.). This is in stark contrast to conventional control assemblies (e.g., control assembly 14, etc.) included in conventional commercial kitchenware washers (e.g., washer 10, etc.), which (without such replacement control unit) requires significant use of tools and experienced, trained personnel to work on the control assemblies (and their components) as they are permanently attached to the washers and the buildings' electrical and water supplies.

FIGS. 3-8 illustrate an example embodiment of a control unit 146 of the present disclosure. The control unit 146 generally includes components such as relays, wire-harnesses, a timer (e.g., an electrical or digital timer that does not include mechanical cams, etc.), control buttons, indicator lights, pumps, tubing, etc. And, as will be described, the control unit 146 may be installed to the washer 10 in place of (e.g., as a replacement for, etc.) the conventional control assembly 14, or it may be included with the washer 10 as an original part (e.g., when the washer 10 is originally manufactured, etc.). In either case, the control unit 146 (when installed on the washer 10) provides a convenient solution to maintenance and repair (of the control unit 146) without the need for tools or trained service personnel to remove the control unit 146 from the washer 10 (e.g., for maintenance, etc.) and/or to then replace the control unit 146 (or a new control unit 146) onto the washer 10. In connection therewith, then, the control unit 146 is configured to control operations of the washer 10 in the same manner as the control assembly 14 (e.g., without requiring different programming, etc.).

As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the control unit 146 generally includes a body 148 and multiple pumps 124 disposed at a forward side portion of the body 148. The pumps 124 are configured to couple to the same corresponding parts of the washer 10 as the pumps 24 of the control assembly 14 (e.g., chemical supplies, the fresh water assembly 34, etc.). In connection therewith, conduits 136 extend from the pumps to either chemical supplies of the washer 10 or to the cabinet 12 for use in washing wares therein.

In this example embodiment, the pumps 124 each include quick-connect couplings to releasably connect the conduits 136 to the pumps 124 (without use of tools). For instance, each of the pumps 124 may have either a female or a male quick connector and end portions of the conduits 136 may have the other of the female or male quick connector to thereby allow the end portions of conduits 136 to be quickly connected to the pumps. Alternatively, the conduits 136 may be fixedly connected to the pumps 124 at one end portion and then connected to tubes running to the chemical supply sources (and/or to tubes 36 extending to the cabinet 12 of the washer 10) at an opposite, second end portion (e.g., at a manifold, etc.). Here, the conduits 136 from the pumps 124 may each have either a female or a male quick connector (at the second end portion) and the tubes running from the chemical supply sources (and/or extending to the cabinet 12 of the washer 10) then have the other of the female or male quick connector to thereby allow the end portions of conduits 136 from the pumps 124 to be quickly connected to the end portions of the tubes running from the chemical supply sources (and/or running to the cabinet 12). In either case, the quick-connect couplings allow the control unit 146 to be easily separated from the chemical sources and/or the cabinet 12, for example, to remove the control unit 146 from the washer 10 for repair, and to be easily attached to the chemical sources and cabinet 12, when installing the control unit 146 to the washer 10 (e.g., as a replacement control unit 146, etc.).

In connection with the above, the quick connectors included at the pumps and/or at the tubes may include any suitable connector that may be operated without tools and that will reliably connect and transport chemicals. For example, connectors from Colder Products Company of St. Paul, MN may be appropriate. Additional examples of such connectors are illustrated in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 9,943,209 (which is incorporated herein by reference). As those skilled in the art will realize, there are numerous acceptable connectors that may be used, depending on design requirements.

The control unit 146 also includes multiple electrical connectors 152 (or electrical receptacles) located at a rearward side portion of the body 148 (FIG. 5). The connectors 152 provide electrical connection between and/or power to the components of the control unit 146 (and washer 10), including the pumps 124 and a user interface 154, etc. (in generally the same manner as for the conventional control assembly 14). In this example embodiment, though, the electrical connectors 152 are configured so that corresponding cables 156 (e.g., power cables, electrical connector cables, etc.) can be selectively plugged into the control unit 146 or unplugged from the control unit 146 (at the electrical connectors 152 (or electrical receptacles)) without use of tools (e.g., such that the cables 156 are not hard wired to the control unit 146, etc.). For instance, in the illustrated embodiment, the control unit 146 includes an electrical connector 152a for connecting a building's electrical power to the control unit 146 without the use of tools. In connection therewith, the connector 152a may be a threaded connector that mates with a correspondingly threaded electrical cable 156a associated with the building's electrical power. The other connectors 152 and cables 156 may be similarly threaded, etc. That said, it should be appreciated that other types of connectors 152 and cables 156 may be used herein, in which the connectors 152 and cables 156 include other suitable connectors and cables that may be operated without tools (see, for example, electrical connectors from Mencom Corporation of Oakwood, GA, and the connectors illustrated in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 9,943,209 (which is incorporated herein by reference)).

The interface 154 of the illustrated control unit 146 is configured to control different operations of the washer 10 (when the control unit 146 is installed to the washer 10 via the conduits 136, connectors 152, and cables 156 described above). The interface 154 is located at the forward side portion of the body 148, generally adjacent the pumps 124. In connection therewith, the interface 154 includes multiple buttons 158 by which a user can provide input for controlling the different operations of the washer 10 (via connection to different components of the washer 10 through one or more of the electrical cables 156), and a display 160 (e.g., a digital display, etc.) that provides visual output to the user regarding the operations. FIGS. 16-27 illustrate examples of multiple ware washing operations that may be input to the control unit 146 (and washer 10), and displayed, via the interface 154 (e.g., an initiation operation in FIG. 16 in which a start input is provided at the interface 154; a washing (or detergent application) operation in FIG. 17 in which a detergent input is provided at the interface 154 (via the DET button); a rinsing operation in FIG. 18 in which a rinse input is provided at the interface 154 (via the RIN button); a sanitizing operation in FIG. 19 in which a sanitize input is provided at the interface 154 (via the SAN button); a cycle time operation in FIG. 20 in which a desired total wash time input is provided at the interface 154 (via the arrow buttons); a detergent time operation in FIG. 21 in which a desired wash cycle time input is provided at the interface 154 (via the arrow buttons); a drain time operation in FIG. 22 in which a desired drain time input is provided at the interface 154 (via the arrow buttons); a water fill time operation in FIG. 23 in which a desired fill time input is provided at the interface 154 (via the arrow buttons); a rinse time operation in FIG. 24 in which a desired rinse time input is provided at the interface 154 (via the arrow buttons); a rinse pump time operation in FIG. 25 in which a desired pump time input is provided at the interface 154 (via the arrow buttons); a delime time operation in FIG. 26 in which a desired delime time input is provided at the interface 154 (via D button); and a water fill operation in FIG. 27 in which a desired water fill input is provided at the interface 154 (via the arrow/wave button).

Further, the illustrated control unit 146 includes a cover 162 coupled to the forward side portion of the body 148 of the control unit 146. The cover 162 is pivotally coupled to the body 148 and is configured to be selectively positioned over the pumps 124 and the interface 154, for instance, to protect the pumps 124 and/or interface 154 from damage, etc. The cover 162 may then be moved to uncover the pumps 124 and interface 154, when desired, for access, etc.

With reference now to FIGS. 6-8, the control unit 146 is configured to couple to the cabinet 12 of the washer 10 via a mount 164 (e.g., as a modification to the washer 10 as part of replacing the conventional control assembly 14 with the control unit 146, as an original part of the washer 10 when the washer 10 is made, etc.). The mount includes a base 166 (or stand) configured to couple to a top portion of the cabinet 12 of the washer 10 (e.g., via suitable fasteners such as the same fasteners used to connect the control assembly 14 to the cabinet 12 of the washer 10, etc.), and a connector 168 (or latch) coupled to a bottom portion of the control unit 146.

In connection therewith, the base 166 includes pins 170 extending (or protruding) upward from the base 166. And, the connector 168 includes corresponding openings 172 configured to align with the pins 170. A locking bar 174 is positioned on the connector 168 and also includes openings 176 configured to align with the openings 172 of the connector 168 and with the pins 170. The locking bar 174, then, is configured to move (e.g., slide, etc.) relative to the connector 168 (and the pins 170 when received in the openings 172, 176), to selectively engage the pins 170 (e.g., within recesses 178 of the pins 170, etc.) to secure the connector 168 to the base 166 (e.g., an edge portion of the bar 174 at the openings 176 moves into the recesses 178 of the pins 170 and generally below a lip formed thereby to inhibit vertical movement of the bar 174 relative to the base 166, etc.). The connector 168 includes a resilient actuator 180 (e.g., a spring, a spring actuator, etc.) configured to bias the bar 174 into the position in which the bar 174 engages the pins 170 (with the bar 174 received in the recesses 178 of the pins 170) to help secure (e.g., selectively, etc.) the connector 168 to the base 166.

As such, the control unit 146 can be removed from the cabinet 12 of the washer 10 by sliding the bar 174 relative to the connector 168 and base 166 (e.g., toward the actuator 180, etc.) (without the use of tools). In doing so, the actuator 180 resiliently deforms as the bar 174 moves away from the pins 170 of the base 166. The bar 174 moves out of the recesses 178 of the pins 170, and the control unit 146 can be removed from the base 166 (and from the cabinet 12) by lifting the control unit 146 vertically off the cabinet 12. The bar 174 can then be released, and the resilient actuator 180 pushes the bar 174 back to a position in which the bar 174 (and the openings 176 of the bar 174) is/are partially positioned over the openings 172 of the connector 168 (FIG. 7). When desired to position the control unit 146 (or a different control unit 146) back onto the cabinet 12 of the washer 10 (again, without the use of tools), the openings 172 of the connector 168 (as coupled to the control unit 146) are aligned with the pins 170 of the base 166 and the control unit 146 is pressed down onto the base 166. In doing so, the pins 170 cam (or bias) the bar 174 toward the actuator 180 (such that the actuator 180 resiliently deforms), which allows the pins 170 to move through the openings 172, 176 of the connector 168 and the bar 174. The actuator 180 then pushes the bar 174 into position within the recesses 178 of the pins 170 to thereby secure the control unit 146 to the cabinet 12.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base 166 of the mount 164 includes openings 182 formed in a forward side portion thereof. The openings 182 generally align with the pumps 124 of the control unit 146 when the control unit 146 is positioned on the base 166. The openings 182, then, are configured to receive the conduit 136 connected to the pumps 124, so that the conduit 136 can extend generally under the control unit 146 (through the mount 164) and then to desired connectors (e.g., at a manifold, etc.) generally behind the control unit 146, behind the cabinet 12 of the washer 10, etc.

As can be appreciated from the above, the control unit 146 of the present disclosure allows for maintaining, repairing, and/or replacing the control unit 146, when included in the washer 10, more quickly, at a lower cost, and with a lesser need for trained repair personnel compared to the conventional control assembly 14. This is accomplished by providing quick connect connections, couplings, etc. between the control unit 146 and the washer 10 (and the various components of the washer 10), and where the connections, couplings, etc. can all be actuated without use of tools For example, the control unit 146 can be removed from the washer 10 by simply disconnecting the pump conduit 136 (at the respective quick connect couplings), disconnecting the electrical cables 156 (at the respective quick connect couplings), and removing the control unit 146 from the base 166 of the mount 164 (all without the use of tools). A malfunctioning control unit can thus be quickly replaced with a functioning control unit in a matter of a few minutes, perhaps in as little as five minutes. This ability to interchange control units in a short period of time may also eliminate any need to diagnose a malfunction and does not require the replacement of individual malfunctioning parts within the control unit (on site) cutting a service call time from a typical 40-90 minutes to as little as 5 minutes.

Further to the above, as noted, the control unit 146 of the present disclosure also provides for compatible/interchangeable use with the different components of the washer 10, as the conventional control assembly 14. Therefore, the control unit 146 can be used with the washer 10, in place of the conventional control assembly 14 (e.g., as a replacement for the conventional control assembly 14, etc.) without altering existing machine configurations of the washer 10 in operating electrical equipment such as motors, pumps, solenoids and so on.

Conventional Cam Timer

With reference now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the conventional control assembly 14 of the conventional commercial kitchenware washer 10 (of FIGS. 1 and 2) also includes the cam timer 26 disposed within the control assembly 14 (e.g., within a housing of the control assembly 14, etc.). The cam timer 26 includes an electro-mechanical, manually adjustable cam timer 26 configured to control different cycles of cleaning and sanitation operations of the washer 10.

In particular in the cam timer 26, cams 27 are positioned along a shaft 29, which in turn is driven by a motor 31 to rotate the cams 27. Each cam 27 is associated with a switch 33. As the cams 27 rotate (via the shaft 29 and motor 31), indentations (or protrusions) of the cams 27 contact the switches 33 at desired times (e.g., depending on the size of the cam 27, the location of the indentations (or protrusions) on the cams 27, the number of indentations (or protrusions) on the cams 27, etc.), thereby opening or closing the switches 33 to either start or stop a corresponding operation of the washer 10. With that said, in order to change a time of a given operation associated with one of the cams 27 (and corresponding switches 33), the cam 27 must be removed from the timer 26 and replaced with a different sized cam, etc. This, however, can be labor intensive and time consuming.

In connection therewith, in FIGS. 9 and 10, the illustrated cam timer 26 is limited to seven operational signals given at controlled intervals during a single cycle (e.g., motor operation, rinse operation, sanitation operation, water flow, drain operation, washing operation, etc.). In order to add or change any of these operational signals, again, different sized cams must be added to the cam timer 26 (in replacement of one of the seven cams 27 already present). But again, this modification of the cam timer 26 can be labor intensive and time consuming.

New Timer (without Cams) (e.g., Replacement Timer, Etc.)

That said, example embodiments of the present disclosure (as described below) provide a quick and inexpensive solution to modification of operational timing cycles provided by (or available to) the conventional control assembly 14 of the washer 10, without the need for trained service personnel (e.g., to replace cams, etc.), by way of a new and unique timer (or replacement timer). In particular, example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to replacement timers (e.g., digital or electric timers, etc.) for conventional commercial kitchenware washers (e.g., such as washer 10, etc.). For instance, a replacement timer of the present disclosure may be installed in the existing conventional control assembly 14 of the washer 10 as a replacement for the cam timer 26 therein. The timers of the present disclosure provide a solution for improving (and/or modifying) control of operation of the washers that requires no cams (or change in cams) to add new timer functionality. This is in stark contrast to control assemblies included in conventional commercial kitchenware washers, which require significant modification to the existing cam timers (e.g., that require cams to be changed, etc.) in order to modify such timer functionality.

FIGS. 11-15 illustrate an example embodiment of a timer 284 of the present disclosure. The timer 284 that may be installed in the control assembly 14 of the washer 10 in place of (e.g., as a replacement for, etc.) the cam timer 26. The timer 284 of the present disclosure does not include cams (e.g., does not use cams and/or does not required cams for operation, etc.). Instead, the timer 284 includes an electronic (or digital) timer 284 configured to control the same cycles of cleaning and sanitation operations of the washer 10 as the cam timer 26. However, the durations of the timer 284 may be changed without need to replace or change cams.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the timer 284 includes a body 286 having controls 288 (e.g., adjustable screws, adjustable dials, etc.) disposed on a forward side of the body 286. The controls 288 are configured to change durations of the timer 284 relating to different washing operations (e.g., for filling operations, for washing operations, for sanitation operations, for rinsing operations, etc.). For instance, the controls 288 may be rotated to increase or decrease operating times associated with the washing operations, rinsing operations, sanitation operations, etc.

The timer 284 also includes multiple electrical connectors 290 disposed on a rearward side of the body 286, along a top portion thereof (e.g., in a row along the body 286, etc.). The connectors 290 are also arranged in columns (or bays) to generally align with corresponding cam connectors 35 (and cams 27 and switches 33) of the cam timer 26, as associated each of the different timing operations to be provided by the timer 284 (e.g., as associated with each of the seven cams 27 of the cam timer 26, etc.). One connector 290 is therefore provided for each corresponding operation of the washer 10 (and for each corresponding operation conventionally controlled by the cam timer 26). When replacing the cam timer 26 with the timer 284, the cam connectors 35 can be directly connected to the corresponding electrical connectors 290, in the same arrangement as they were when removed from the cam timer 26 (without need for rewiring or reorganizing the wires). In this way (and by this particular location and arrangement of the electrical connectors 290), the timer 284 is configured as a direct replacement (e.g., a one-to-one replacement, etc.) for the cam timer 26 included in the conventional control assembly 14 of the washer 10 (e.g., to control the same operations controlled by the cam timer 26 (e.g., motor operation, rinse operation, sanitation operation, water flow, drain operation, washing operation, etc.), etc.). Indicators 292 are also provided on the body 286, in general alignment with each of the connectors 290, to provide a status for the given operation (e.g., functioning, operating, malfunctioning, not operating, etc.).

With additional reference to FIGS. 13-15, the timer 284 is configured to fit within a same footprint of the conventional control assembly 14 as the cam timer 26 (e.g., the timer 284 is sized, shaped, etc. generally the same as the cam timer 26). The electrical connectors 290 of the timer 284 also generally align with the electrical cam connectors 35 of the washer 10. And, the same fasteners may also be used to secure the cam timer 26 to the control assembly 14. As such, when desired to modify timing operations of the washer 10 (or simply replace the cam timer 26 thereof), a cover of the control assembly 14 can be removed, and the wires (or cam connectors 35) connected to each of the switches 33 of the cam timer 26 can be disconnected. The fasteners holding the cam timer 26 in the control assembly 14 are then also removed. The timer 284 may then be positioned in the same location in the control assembly 14, and secured in place via the fasteners. And, the wires (or cam cone connectors 35) can be coupled to the same corresponding connectors 290 of the timer 284 (as corresponding to the switches 33/cams 27 of the cam timer 26 from which they were removed).

In an example embodiment, a method is provided for installing a timer in a conventional control assembly of a commercial kitchenware washer as a replacement for a cam timer electrically connected in the conventional control assembly via multiple cam connectors, wherein the method comprises: disconnecting a first cam connector from the cam timer, the first cam connector associated with timing of a first washing operation of the commercial kitchenware washer; disconnecting a second cam connector from the cam timer, the second cam connector associated with timing of a second washing operation of the commercial kitchenware washer; removing the cam timer from the conventional control assembly of the commercial kitchenware washer; positioning the timer in the conventional control assembly of the commercial kitchenware washer; connecting the first cam connector to a first electrical connector of the timer, the first electrical connector of the timer associated with the timing of the first washing operation of the commercial kitchenware washer; and connecting the second cam connector to a second electrical connector of the timer, the second electrical connector of the timer associated with the timing of the second washing operation of the commercial kitchenware washer.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

Example embodiments have been provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, assemblies, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

Specific dimensions, specific materials, and/or specific shapes disclosed herein are example in nature and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The disclosure herein of particular values and particular ranges of values for given parameters are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values that may be useful in one or more of the examples disclosed herein. Moreover, it is envisioned that any two particular values for a specific parameter stated herein may define the endpoints of a range of values that may be suitable for the given parameter (i.e., the disclosure of a first value and a second value for a given parameter can be interpreted as disclosing that any value between the first and second values could also be employed for the given parameter). For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, and 3-9.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to”, “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” and the phrase “at least one of” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, seeds, members and/or sections, these elements, components, seeds, members and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, seed, member or section from another element, component, seed, member or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, seed, member or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, seed, member or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.