Filter apparatus and clothes treating apparatus having the same

A filter apparatus positionable outside a washing machine and connectable to a drain device of the washing machine, the filter apparatus comprising:

• a filter case configured so that, with the filter apparatus connected to the drain device, water from the drain device is flowable through the filter case;
• a filter detachably mountable inside the filter case;
• a filtering flow path formed inside the filter case so that water flowing through the filtering flow path passes through the filter while the filter is mounted inside the filter case;
• a bypass flow path formed inside the filter case so that water flowing through the bypass flow path bypasses the filter while the filter is mounted inside the filter case;
• at least one sensor configured to obtain information about a state of the filter;
• an opening and closing device, including a connecting door to open and close the bypass flow path and a door motor to operate the connecting door, configured to open and close the bypass flow path so as to guide water flowing from the drain device into the filter case to the filtering flow path or the bypass flow path;
• a controller configured to control the opening and closing device based on the obtained information about the state of the filter;
• a moving part arranged to be inside the filter while the filter is mounted inside the filter case, and configured to be movable in a first direction inside the filter by foreign substances collected inside the filter;
• and
• an elastic body to apply an elastic force to the moving part in a second direction opposite to the first direction,
• wherein the at least one sensor is mounted on the filter case to detect movement of the moving part.

A filter apparatus positionable outside a washing machine and connectable to a drain device of the washing machine, the filter apparatus comprising:

• a filter case configured so that, with the filter apparatus connected to the drain device, water from the drain device is flowable through the filter case;
• a filter detachably mountable inside the filter case;
• a filtering flow path formed inside the filter case so that water flowing through the filtering flow path passes through the filter while the filter is mounted inside the filter case;
• a bypass flow path formed inside the filter case so that water flowing through the bypass flow path bypasses the filter while the filter is mounted inside the filter case;
• at least one sensor configured to obtain information about a state of the filter;
• an opening and closing device, including a connecting door to open and close the bypass flow path and a door motor to operate the connecting door, configured to open and close the bypass flow path so as to guide water flowing from the drain device into the filter case to the filtering flow path or the bypass flow path;
• a controller configured to control the opening and closing device based on the obtained information about the state of the filter;
• a moving part arranged to be inside the filter while the filter is mounted inside the filter case, and configured to be movable in a first direction inside the filter by foreign substances collected inside the filter;
• and
• a deformable member covering at least a portion of the moving part and being deformable according to movement of the moving part,
• wherein the at least one sensor is mounted on the filter case to detect movement of the moving part.