Patent ID: 7670439
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: A47L

Abstract:
1. A method of macerating food particles entrained in washing fluid of a dishwasher comprising: activating a drive motor to rotate a driveshaft, along with a hub member and an impeller coupled to the driveshaft; establishing a flow of washing fluid through operation of the impeller with the washing fluid flowing through an apertured plate arranged between the hub member and the impeller; and shifting a chopper blade attached to the hub member from a first position, which is spaced from the apertured plate a first distance, to a second position which is closer to the apertured plate, wherein, when in the second position, said chopper blade is adjacent the apertured plate and rotation of the hub member imparts a rotation to the chopper blade to macerate food particles entrained in the flow of washing fluid, wherein activation of the motor causes rotation of the chopper blade and operation of the impeller which establishes the flow of washing fluid that causes the chopper blade to shift from the first position wherein the chopper blade is spaced from the apertured plate by the first distance to the second position wherein the chopper blade is moved closer to the apertured plate for macerating food particles entrained in the flow of washing fluid and in an event that the impeller starves or ceases to operate, the chopper blade remains in a position spaced from the aperture plate.