Dishwasher

Abstract

A dishwasher is disclosed, by which a manufacturing cost of the dishwasher can be reduced in a manner of reducing the number of pumps used for the dishwasher. The present invention includes a tub ( 1 ), a sump ( 20 ) provided under the tub ( 1 ) to store water, a wash passage ( 51 ) guiding the water stored in the sump ( 20 ) to the tub ( 1 ), a drain passage ( 52 ) guiding the water stored in the sump ( 20 ) to be discharged from the tub ( 1 ), a driving unit ( 10 ) provided tinder the sump ( 20 ), the driving unit ( 10 ) pumping the water after grinding garbage contained in the introduced water, and a passage switching valve ( 60 ) provided to a diverging portion between the wash passage ( 51 ) and the drain passage ( 52 ) to enable the water pumped by the wash pump to be selectively supplied to the wash passage ( 51 ) or the drain passage ( 52 ).

1 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a tub;   a sump provided under the tub to store water;   a wash passage guiding the water stored in the sump to the tub;   a drain passage guiding the water stored in the sump to be discharged from the tub;   a driving unit provided under the sump, the driving unit pumping the water after grinding garbage contained in the introduced water; and   a passage switching valve provided to a diverging portion between the wash passage and the drain passage to enable the water pumped by the wash pump to be selectively supplied to the wash passage or the drain passage.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a garbage chamber, into which a portion of the water pumped by the wash pump is introduced, the garbage chamber collecting the garbage contained in the introduced water; and   a discharge valve opening/closing a discharge port for discharging the garbage collected in the garbage chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 , wherein the discharge valve is turned on if the passage switching valve connects the wash pump and the drain passage together. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher of  claim 3 , wherein the passage switching valve and the discharge valve are linked together to interoperate. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher of  claim 4 , further comprising a link means for enabling the passage switching valve and the discharge valve interoperate to interoperate together. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , the driving unit comprising:
 a motor providing a driving force; and   an impeller connected to a shaft of the motor to rotate.   
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher of  claim 6 , the driving unit further comprising a disposer grinding the garbage contained in the water, wherein the disposer is provided over the impeller. 
     
     
         8 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a tub;   a sump provided under the tub to store water;   a wash passage guiding the water stored in the sump to the tub;   a drain passage guiding the water stored in the sump to be discharged from the tub;   a driving unit provided under the sump, the driving unit pumping the water after grinding garbage contained in the introduced water; and   a garbage chamber having an inlet communicating with the wash passage and a discharge port for discharging collected garbage,   wherein the discharge port is provided over the driving unit.   
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher of  claim 8 , wherein the discharge port and a top of the driving unit are configured to communicate with each other. 
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher of  claim 8 , the driving unit comprising:
 a motor providing a driving force;   an impeller connected to a shaft of the motor to rotate; and   a disposer grinding the garbage contained in the water.   
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher of  claim 10 , wherein the disposer is provided over the impeller. 
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher of  claim 8 , further comprising a discharge valve opening/closing the discharge port. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher of  claim 12 , further comprising a passage switching valve provided to a diverging portion between the wash passage and the drain passage to enable the water pumped by the wash pump to be selectively supplied to the wash passage or the drain passage. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher of  claim 13 , wherein the passage switching valve and the discharge valve are linked together to interoperate. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher of  claim 14 , further comprising a link means for enabling the passage switching valve and the discharge valve interoperate to interoperate together.