Food debris filtering apparatus for dishwasher and method thereof

Abstract

An improved food debris filtering apparatus for a dishwasher and a method thereof capable of more effectively discharging food debris by separating the same from washing water and resupplying the filtered washing water so as to wash dishes, so that dish washing efficiency is increased, which includes a filtering apparatus for filtering washing water polluted during a dish washing operation; a washing water circulation unit for supplying the washing water filtered by the filtering apparatus to a spray arm; a washing water discharging unit, such as a discharging pump, for discharging pan of washing water lo containing food debris to the outside of the system; a flowing path opening/closing unit disposed at a washing water discharging path for selectively opening/closing the washing water discharging path in cooperation with the washing water circulation unit or the washing water discharging unit; and a food debris gathering and storing unit disposed between the washing water circulation unit and the washing water discharging path for filtering washing water filtered by the filtering apparatus and for gathering and storing the food debris contained in the washing water.

1. A food debris filtering apparatus for a dishwasher, comprising:
 a filtering apparatus for filtering washing water polluted during a dish washing operation;  
 washing water circulation means for supplying the washing water filtered by said filtering apparatus to a spray arm;  
 washing water discharging means, such as a discharging pump,  for discharging pan  part of the washing water containing food debris to the  outside of the system  dishwasher;  
 flowing path opening/closing  opening and closing means disposed at a washing water discharging path for  to selectively opening/closing  open and close said washing water discharging path based upon a pressure in the washing water discharging path and in cooperation with one of said washing water circulation means or  and said washing water discharging means; and  
 food debris gathering and storing means disposed between the washing water circulation means and said washing water discharging path for filtering washing water filtered by the filtering apparatus and for gathering and storing the food debris contained in the washing water.  
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said washing water  flowing opening/closing  path opening and closing means is  comprises an opening/closing  opening and closing valve engaged to the  an entrance of a discharging tube of the washing water discharging means, said opening/closing  opening and closing valve being movable upwardly and downwardly. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said discharging tube includes an engaging section formed at the  an inner surface thereof for opening/closing  opening and closing the discharging tube by preventing the opening/closing  opening and closing valve from moving upwardly in a horizontal state. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said food debris gathering and storing means includes an assistant filter engaged to an axis of said spray arm for filtering washing water, a washing water induction tube for connecting said assistant filter and the washing water circulation means, and a food debris induction tube for connecting the assistant filter and the  a discharging tube and for storing the filtered food debris. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said assistant filter comprises a food debris gathering box, said food water  debris gathering box being cylindrical and hollow so that the axis of the spray arm can pass therethrough, and a fourth  filter formed with a net having a plurality of net eyes having a certain size  sized to be capable of filtering a relatively  small size  food debris. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said washing water induction tube and said food debris induction tube include a  connected to connection tube  tubes disposed at lower both sides  a bottom of the food debris gathering box for connecting the washing water induction tube and the food debris induction tube . 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said spray arm includes a plurality of lower surface spry  spray openings so as to come off  configured to remove food debris clogged at  in the fourth  assistant filter in cooperation with  by spraying washing water sprayed therefrom . 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 ,  A food debris filtering apparatus for a dishwasher, comprising:
   a filtering apparatus for filtering washing water polluted during a dish washing operation;    
   washing water circulation means for supplying the washing water filtered by said filtering apparatus to a spray arm;    
   washing water discharging means for discharging part of the washing water containing food debris to outside of the dishwasher;    
   flowing path opening and closing means disposed at a washing water discharging path for selectively opening and closing said washing water discharging path in cooperation with one of said washing water circulation means and said washing water discharging means; and    
   food debris gathering and storing means disposed between the washing water circulation means and said washing water discharging path for filtering washing water filtered by the filtering apparatus and for gathering and storing the food debris contained in the washing water,   
 wherein said spray arm includes a plurality of lower surface spry  spray openings so as to come off  configured to remove food debris clogged at  in the fourth filter in cooperation with  food debris gathering and storing means by spraying washing water sprayed therefrom .  
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said food debris gathering and storing means includes food debris reverse flowing prevention means for preventing food debris from reversely flowing toward the  said washing water circulation means in a discharging mode. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said food debris reverse flowing prevention means is an opening/closing  opening and closing valve disposed at the  an upper end of a washing water induction-side connection tube of the  a food debris gathering box of the food debris gathering and storing means, said food debris reverse flowing prevention means being movable upwardly and downwardly. 
     
     
       11. A food debris filtering method for a dishwasher, comprising the steps of:
 a discharging path blocking step which stops a driving of washing water discharging means in a dish washing mode and blocks a washing water discharging path in cooperation with a washing water circulation means;  
 a washing water circulation and refiltering step which sprays a part of washing water filtered by a filtering apparatus in cooperation with a driving of said  the washing water circulation means and supplies the  a remaining part thereof to an assistant filter;  
 a food debris gathering and storing step which gathers food debris filtered by the assistant filter and stores the thusly  filtered food debris in a certain  box;  
 a washing water discharging flowing path opening step which stops a driving of the washing water circulation means and opens a washing water flowing path by driving the washing water discharging means in a discharging mode; and  
 a food debris discharging step which discharges food debris to the  outside of the system  dishwasher together with washing water in cooperation with a driving of the washing water discharging means.  
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein said  the food debris gathering and storing step is directed to  includes downwardly spraying washing water from the  a lower surface of the  a spray arm, so that food debris particles clogged at  in the assistant filter come off therefrom  are removed by a pressure of the washing water. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the flowing path opening and closing means open and close said washing water discharging path based upon a pressure in the washing water discharging path. 
     
     
       14. A food debris filtering apparatus for a dishwasher, comprising:
   a filtering apparatus that filters washing water polluted during a dish washing operation;        a washing water circulator that supplies the filtered washing water to a spray arm;        a washing water discharger that discharges part of the washing water containing food debris to outside of the dishwasher;        a flowing path opener and closer disposed at a washing water discharging path that selectively opens and closes said washing water discharging path in cooperation with one of said washing water circulator and said washing water discharger; and        a food debris gathering unit disposed between the washing water circulator and said washing water discharging path that filters washing water filtered by the filtering apparatus and that gathers and stores the food debris contained in the washing water, a top side of said food debris gathering unit comprising a filter.     
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said filter filters small food debris. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said spray arm includes a plurality of lower surface spray openings configured to remove food debris clogged in the filter by spraying washing water. 
     
     
       17. A food debris filtering apparatus for a dishwasher, comprising:
   a filtering apparatus that filters washing water polluted during a dish washing operation;        a washing water circulator that supplies the filtered washing water to a spray arm;        a washing water discharger that discharges part of the washing water containing food debris to outside of the dishwasher;        a flowing path opener and closer disposed at a washing water discharging path that selectively opens and closes said washing water discharging path in cooperation with one of said washing water circulator and said washing water discharger; and        a food debris gathering unit disposed between the washing water circulator and said washing water discharging path that filters washing water filtered by the filtering apparatus and that gathers and stores the food debris contained in the washing water, wherein a bottom surface of said food debris gathering unit is connected to a plurality of tubes.     
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said food debris gathering unit includes a filter engaged to an axis of said spray arm for filtering washing water, a washing water induction tube for connecting said filter and said washing water circulator, and a food debris induction tube for connecting said filter and a discharging tube.