Ecolab USA Inc.

Conor Sylvester Smith

Paul R Kraus

Paul Dominic Christian

Rachel Marie McGinness

Elizabeth Minhee Han

Rachel Marie Mcginness

Alissa R Ellingson

Kyle David Wood

Amani Babekir

Daniel R Wald

Donna Thi Nguyen

Jonathan Charles Butwinick

Karl Alan Heinbuch

Matthew Paul Molinaro

Kaitlin Lake

Image classification is used to dynamically control one or more wash parameters in an automated cleaning machine. An imaging device installed in the wash chamber of the cleaning machine captures one or more image(s) of articles to be cleaned at various times throughout a cleaning process. A computing device analyzes the captured image(s) to classify the images as to an article type and a rack volume. Based on the article type classification and the rack volume, the computing device dynamically controls one or more parameters of the cleaning process to achieve a satisfactory cleaning and/or sanitizing result.

Control of cleaning machine cycles using machine vision

Systems and/or methods for the monitoring and/or control of thermal sanitization in automated cleaning machines are described. A cleaning machine controller may predict a number of heat unit equivalents that will be delivered during a cleaning process based on a sump temperature difference (i.e., a change in the temperature of the cleaning solution in the sump) experienced at or near the beginning of the cleaning process. One or more cleaning process parameters may be adjusted and/or controlled based on the sump temperature difference in order to ensure that a target number of heat unit equivalents are delivered in order to achieve thermal sanitization of the wares subjected to the cleaning process.

Monitoring and control of thermal sanitization in automated cleaning machines

An automated cleaning machine may include one or more short cleaning cycles in which the duration of a cleaning cycle is shortened relative to the duration of a default cleaning cycle. During a short cleaning cycle, other cleaning cycle parameters may also be adjusted to ensure that the articles subjected to the short cleaning cycle are adequately cleaned and sanitized. For example, the wash temperature, rinse temperature, and/or cleaning product amounts or concentrations, may be adjusted to account for the shortened duration of the cleaning cycle. The automated cleaning machine may further include one or more short cycle mode(s) during which short cleaning cycle parameters are used and one or more default cycle mode(s) during which default cleaning cycle parameters are used.

Automated cleaning machine processing using shortened cycle times

The disclosure relates to pH sensitive color indicators which indicate the efficacy of a cleaning composition for antimicrobial activity by exhibiting a color change. In particular, the pH sensitive color indicators comprise a pH sensitive dye and a substrate, wherein the dye is bound to the substrate. In an aspect of the disclosure, the dye can be chemically bound, physically bound, coated on a substrate, or painted on a substrate.

pH sensitive color indicator for sanitizing applications

Experimental color data obtained from a plurality of cleaning process verification coupons is used to determine optimized cleaning process parameters in an automated cleaning machine. Color data may also be obtained from cleaning process verification coupon(s) to verify the efficacy of a real-world cleaning processes in an automated cleaning machine and/or to obtain one or more suggested corrective action(s) in the event the cleaning process yields an unsatisfactory cleaning result. Based on the optimized cleaning process parameters, an automated cleaning machine may automatically adjust one or more cleaning process parameters to correct for non-optimized parameters sensed during execution of a cleaning process to help prevent an unsatisfactory cleaning result.

Verification of cleaning process efficacy

A system may monitor usage of a cleaning chemical and indicate when the chemical has expired and needs to be replaced. In some examples, the system includes a reservoir containing the chemical and a sensor associated with the reservoir that can detect user interaction with the chemical in the reservoir. The system may track an amount of time until the chemical in the reservoir is deemed to have expired and provide a user alert indicating expiration of the chemical. The system can control the amount of time remaining until the chemical is deemed to have expired based on the detected addition of the object to the reservoir.

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Saint Louis Park, MN, United States of America

Conor Sylvester Smith