Washing apparatus

Claim 1

A conveyorized washer unit for washing dishes, glasses and the like, comprising; a housing having a washing zone and a rinsing zone spaced therefrom, and including a conveyor for carrying said dishes and glasses through said zones, and spray pan means disposed in operative relation to said zones and being adapted to convey wash solution and rinse water away from said zones as washing and rinsing occurs; a plurality of spray nozzles disposed in said zones for cleansing the dishes and glasses carried therethrough; a tank for containing the wash solution, the tank being connectible to pump means adapted to supply said solution under pressure to the spray nozzles; a float member buoyantly supportable by wash solution in said tank to indicate continuously and automatically the level thereof; a diverter trough pivotally supported by the washer unit and being disposed to underlie at least part of each of the washing and rinsing zones, the diverter trough having liquid retaining side walls and two oppositely disposed open ends for discharging liquid received in said trough; and connecting linkage means operatively coupling the float member and trough together such that the float member automatically and continuously indicates the level of wash solution in said tank, and causes the trough to be moved pivotally in response to a change in the level of wash solution in said tank, the diverter trough being operative to divert wash solution from said tank in response to an indicated high level thereof and divert rinse water to said tank in response to an indicated low level thereof, thereby automatically maintaining the level of wash solution in the tank relatively constant.