Patent ID: 6432216
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: A47L

Abstract:
A method of sensing soils in an automatic dishwasher having an interior wash chamber for receiving wash liquid and a sump region disposed at the bottom of the wash chamber, a wash pump disposed in the sump region and having an intake through which wash liquid is drawn from the sump, the wash pump having a main outlet and a secondary outlet, and a lower wash arm that receives wash liquid from the main outlet, the method comprising the steps of:drawing wash liquid through the sump region into the wash pump intake; selectively directing wash liquid from the wash pump main outlet to the lower wash arm; directing wash liquid from the wash pump secondary outlet to a soil collector; collecting soils in the soil collector having a filter; spraying wash liquid from the lower wash arm through at least one jet and toward the filter when the wash liquid is directed to the lower wash arm; disabling the lower wash arm to discontinue the flow of wash liquid to the lower wash arm; and sensing soils in the soil collector with a pressure sensor when the wash liquid is not directed to the lower wash arm.