DISHWASHER AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

 A dishwasher control method for a dishwasher, the dishwasher comprising a washing tub comprising an upper storage unit and a lower storage unit for receiving dishes; a top injection unit provided over the upper storage unit; an upper injection unit provided between the upper storage unit and the lower storage unit; a lower injection unit provided under the lower storage unit; and a driving unit for selectively supplying wash water to each of the injection units, the dishwasher control method comprising: a setting step for setting one of an upper operation mode, a lower operation mode and a normal operation mode according to a user's selection; and an injecting step for injecting the wash water wherein the injection duration times and rotation number of the top, upper and lower injection units are differentiated according to the settings of the setting step.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0001169 filed on January 5, 2016 in Korea, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a dishwasher, more particularly, to a dishwasher capable of intensively washing the area where many dishes are piled up according to locations of dishes stored therein, and a controlling method thereof.

Background of the Disclosure

[0003] Generally, a dishwasher is the mechanism configured to wash and dry one or more dishes held therein by injecting wash water to the dishes at a high pressure. Specifically, wash water is injected in a washing tub where dishes are held at a high pressure and the injected wash water washes and clean out food scraps or contaminants from surfaces of dishes.

[0004] Such a dishwasher is capable of filtering the food scraps contained in the wash water and reusing the used wash water. Also, the dishwasher has dishwashing detergent or liquid dissolved in the wash water to remove the food scraps smoothly and efficiently. The dishwashers capable of enhancing washing efficiency by raising the temperature of wash water or generating steam, using a heater, have been widely popular.

[0005] Such the conventional dishwasher includes a case defining an exterior appearance; a washing tub provided in the case and defining a washing space for dishes; a driving unit provided in a lower portion of the washing tub and supplying, collecting, circulating and draining washing water for washing the dishes; lower/upper/top injecting nozzles injecting the washing water supplied by the driving unit to dishes; and lower/upper/top storage racks extractable between the lower/upper/top injection units within the washing tub and selectively accommodating dishes according to kinds and sizes of dishes.

[0006] Meanwhile, a user opens a door of the dishwasher to start dishwashing and takes out one of the storage racks arranged in the washing tub. Then, the user puts one or more dishes in the taken-out storage rack and pushes the storage rack before closing the door, to put the dishwasher into operation so as to wash the dishes.

[0007] Hence, the user puts the dishwasher into operation and the driving unit is implemented to supply wash water to the upper/lower/top injection nozzles independently or simultaneously, to start the washing process for the dishes put in the lower/upper/top storage racks.

[0008] Diverse courses for washing dishes are provided in the conventional dishwasher in accordance with the related art. However, preset courses based on dish loading states of the storage units are not provided.

[0009] In other words, a plurality of storage units such as lower/upper/top storage units are provided in the conventional dishwasher and dish loading may be concentrated on a specific one of the storage units. However, the upper/lower/top injecting units provided in the conventional dishwasher inject wash water to the dishes at uniform intervals or injection pressure, regardless of dish loading states, so that dishwashing efficiency can be deteriorated disadvantageously.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0010] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to address the above-noted and other problems.

[0011] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a dishwasher capable of washing the area where many dishes are piled up according to locations of dishes stored therein, and a controlling method thereof.

[0012] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the embodiments, as embodied and broadly described herein, a controlling method of a dishwasher comprising a washing tub comprising an upper storage unit and a lower storage unit in which one or more dishes are loaded; a top injection unit provided over the upper storage unit; an upper injection unit provided between the upper storage unit and the lower storage unit; a lower injection unit provided under the lower storage unit; a driving unit selectively supplying wash water to each of the injection units, the controlling method comprises a setting step for setting the upper operation mode and the lower operation mode according to a user's selection; and an injecting step for injecting the wash water by differentiating the duration times and rotation number of the top, upper and lower injection units according to the settings of the setting step.

[0013] The upper operation mode may set the duration time of the lower injection unit to be shorter than the duration times of the top and upper injection units.

[0014] The upper operation mode may set the amount of the wash water supplied to the lower injection unit to be smaller than the amount of the wash water supplied to the top and upper injection units.

[0015] The upper operation mode may set the duration times of the top and upper injection units to be equal to the duration time of a normal operation mode and the duration time of the lower injection unit to be shorter than the duration time of the normal operation mode.

[0016] The upper operation mode may set the amount of the wash water supplied to the top and upper injection units to be equal to the amount of the wash water supply in the normal operation mode and the amount of the wash water supplied to the lower injection unit to be smaller than the amount of the wash water supply in the normal operation mode.

[0017] The upper operation mode may set the duration time of the top injection unit to be shorter than the duration times of the upper and lower injection units.

[0018] The lower operation mode may set the amount of the wash water supplied to the top injection unit to be smaller than the amount of the wash water supplied to the upper and lower injection units.

[0019] The lower operation mode may set the duration times of the upper and lower injection units to be equal to the duration mode of a normal operation mode and the duration time of the top injection unit to be shorter than the duration time of the normal operation time.

[0020] The lower operation mode may set the amount of the wash water supplied to the upper and lower injection units to be equal to the amount of the wash water in the normal operation mode and the amount of the wash water supplied to the top injection unit to be smaller than the amount of the wash water supply in the normal operation mode.

[0021] The duration time and the wash water supply amount of the top, upper or lower injection unit may be variable by the pressure of the wash water supplied by the driving unit.

[0022] The driving unit may comprise a transfer valve changing a path of the wash water to the top, upper and lower injection units, and the transfer valve may be configured to differentiate an opening/closing time of a flow path to the top, upper and lower injection units according to the selected storage unit.

[0023] The setting step may further comprise an injecting step for injecting the wash water by setting the duration times of the top, upper and lower injection units, when the upper operation mode or the lower operation mode is not set.

[0024] The controlling method of the dishwasher may further comprise a displaying step for displaying the contents set according to the settings of the setting step.

[0025] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a dishwasher comprises a washing tub comprising an upper storage unit and a lower storage unit in which one or more dishes are loaded; a top injection unit provided over the upper storage unit; an upper injection unit provided between the upper storage unit and the lower storage unit; a lower injection unit provided under the lower storage unit; a driving unit selectively supplying wash water to the top, upper and lower injection units; a control panel selecting and displaying a loaded state of the dishes loaded in the upper and lower storage units; and a controller washing the dishes loaded in the upper or lower storage unit by differentiating the duration times and the rotation number of the top, upper and lower injection units.

[0026] The control panel may comprise a manipulation unit comprising upper/lower selection buttons for selecting a state of the dishes loaded in the upper storage unit or the lower storage unit.

[0027] The control panel may comprise a display unit comprising upper/lower selection lamps displaying the selected one of the upper/lower selection buttons.

[0028] The controller may control the duration times of the top, upper and lower injection units by controlling the supply time of the wash water supplied by the driving unit.

[0029] The controller may control the rotation numbers of the top, upper and lower injection unit by controlling the amount of the wash water supplied by the driving unit.

[0030] The embodiments have following advantageous effects. The dishwasher is capable of intensively washing the area where many dishes are piled up according to locations of dishes stored therein, and a controlling method thereof. Accordingly, the dishwasher has an advantageous effect of enhanced dishwashing efficiency.

[0031] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which are given by illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal structure of the dishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram illustrating the dishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective diagram illustrating a heater assembly of the dishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a structure of the dishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating operation mode settings of the dishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the dishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0033] Referring to the accompanying drawings, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

[0034] Use of such terminology herein is merely intended to facilitate description of the specification, and the terminology itself is not intended to give any special meaning or function. In the present disclosure, that which is well-known to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art has generally been omitted for the sake of brevity.

[0035] Regardless of numeral references, the same or equivalent components may be provided with the same reference numbers and description thereof will not be repeated. For the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, the sizes and profiles of the elements illustrated in the accompanying drawings may be exaggerated or reduced and it should be understood that embodiments of a device or a controlling method presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings.

[0036] First of all, a dishwasher in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal structure of the dishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram illustrating a dishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective diagram illustrating a heater assembly of the dishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a structure of the dishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0038] The present disclosure relates to a driving unit 160 capable of performing the function for moving wash water and the function for heating the wash water at the same time, and the apparatus including the driving unit 160. FIG. 1 illustrates one example of the dishwasher including the driving unit 160 in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the dishwasher 100 may include a cabinet 110; a washing tub 120 provided in the cabinet and providing a washing space; an injection units 124, 126, and 126 injecting wash water to one or more washing objects; and a driving unit 160 for supplying wash water to the injection units 124, 125 and 126.

[0040] Storage units 121, 122 and 123 for storing washing objects therein may be provided in the washing tub 120. The storage units 121, 122 and 123 may include a top storage unit 123 provided adjacent to an inner top surface of the washing tub 120; an upper storage unit 121 provided in an upper portion of the washing tub 120; and a lower storage unit 122 provided in a lower portion of the washing tub 120.

[0041] The washing tub 120 is open by a door 112 coupled to one surface of the cabinet 110. After opening the washing tub 120, using the door 112, a user is able to take out the storage units 121, 122 and 123.

[0042] Meanwhile, an upper portion of an external surface of the door 112 may be provided a manipulation unit 114 for controlling the operation of the dishwasher; a display unit 115 displaying operational states of the dishwasher 100; and a control panel 113 connected with the display unit 115 and including a controller 190 controlling each of the components (see FIG. 4).

[0043] In this instance, the manipulation unit 114 may include a plurality of buttons (not shown) for allowing the user to select a plurality of washing courses. Moreover, the manipulation unit 114 may further include an upper/lower selection button 114a for selecting to intensively wash the upper storage unit 121 or the lower storage unit 122 according to the dishes loaded in the upper or lower storage units 121 or 122.

[0044] The display unit 115 may include a plurality of lamps (not shown) showing operational states of the dishwasher. Moreover, the display unit 115 may include an upper/lower lamp 115a showing that the upper or lower storage unit 112 or 121 is intensively washed according to the user's selection (see FIG. 4).

[0045] A drying module 116 is provided in an inner surface of the door 112 to exhaust the humid air of the dishes dried in the washing tub 120 outside the dishwasher 100, in communication with the washing tub 120. The drying module 116 includes a drying path 174 provided in the inner surface of the door 122 and connecting the washing tub 120 with an external space of the dishwasher; and a drying fan 118 provided on the drying path 117 and blowing the air along the drying path 117 toward the external space of the dishwasher 100.

[0046] When the storage units 121, 122 and 123 include the top storage unit 123, the upper storage unit 121 and the lower storage unit 122, the injection units 124, 125, 126 may include a top injection unit 126 provided above the top storage unit 123 and injecting wash water to the top storage unit 123; an upper injection unit 124 provided between the top and upper storage units 123 and 121 and injecting wash water to the top and upper storage units 123 and 121; and a lower injection unit 125 provided under the lower storage unit 122 and injecting wash water to the lower storage unit 122.

[0047] In this instance, the wash water injected to washing objects from the injections units 124, 125 and 126 (the wash water remaining in the washing tub 120) may be collected in the sump 130.

[0048] The sump 130 provided under the washing tub 120 serves as the means for storing wash water. The sump 130 is partitioned off from the washing tub 120 by a sump cover 135. The sump cover 135 has a water-collecting hole 136 allowing an internal space of the washing tub 120 to communicate with an internal space of the sump 13.

[0049] Meanwhile, the sump 130 is connected to a water supply source (not shown) via a water supply path 131. The water supply path 131 may be closable by a water supply valve 132 controlled by a controller (not shown). The wash water held in the sump 130 may be drained outside the dishwasher via a drainage path 133 and a drainage pump 134.

[0050] The wash water stored in the sump 130 is supplied to the injection units 124, 125 and 126 via the water supply paths 151, 152 and 153. The water supply paths 151, 152 and 153 includes a connection path 155 connected with the driving unit 160; a top water supply path 153 connecting the top injection unit 126 with the connection path 155; an upper water supply path 151 connecting the upper injection unit 124 with the connection path 155; and a lower water supply path 152 connecting the lower injection unit 125 with the connection path 155.

[0051] The upper injection unit 124 is rotatably coupled to the upper water supply path 151 and the lower injection unit 125 is rotatably coupled to the lower water supply path 152.

[0052] The top water supply path 153, the upper water supply path 151 and the lower water supply path 152 are branched from the connection path 155. A flow transfer valve 154 may be provided at the branched points from the connection path to open and close and transfer the flow.

[0053] Meanwhile, the controller 190 may control the flux and supply time of the wash water supplied to the top supply path 153, the upper supply path 151 and the lower supply path 152 by controlling a transfer valve 154 provided in the connection path 155 according to the user's selection input to the upper/lower button 114a.

[0054] The driving unit 160 may include a body 160a fixed in the cabinet 110; a partition wall 160b partitioning off an internal space of the body 160a into a pumping chamber (PC) and a heating chamber (HC); a communicating hole 164 provided in the partition wall 160b and allowing the pumping chamber (PC) to communicate with the heating chamber (HC); an inlet connecting the sump 130 with the heating chamber (HC); an outlet 169 connecting the pumping chamber (PC) with the connection path 155; an impeller 168 provided in the pumping chamber (PC); and a heater assembly 180 provided in a bottom surface of the heating chamber (HC).

[0055] As shown in FIG. 2, the body 160a is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open top and an open bottom. A cover 162 is provided in the open top 161 provided in a top of the body 160a (in other words, a top surface of the pumping chamber (PC)). The heater assembly 180 is detachably coupled to the open bottom 163 (in other words, a bottom surface of the heating chamber (HC)).

[0056] The heater assembly 180 is provided in the lowermost part of the driving unit 160 and defines the bottom surface of the heating chamber (HC), so that the heating chamber (HC) can perform the wash water heating function and the wash water circulation function simultaneously. In addition, the heater assembly 180 is detachable out of the driving unit 160 from the body 160a.

[0057] The impeller 168 serves as the means for moving the wash water supplied to the pumping chamber (PC) from the heating chamber (HC) toward the outlet 169 and is rotatable by a motor provided in an outer surface of the body 160a.

[0058] In this instance, the motor 170 may be fixed to the cover 162 and a shaft 171 of the motor is directly connected to the impeller 168 through the cover 162.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 3, the heater assembly 180 may include a housing 181 defining a bottom surface of the heating chamber (HC); and a heater 182 provided in the outer surface of the heating chamber (HC) and heating the housing 181. Accordingly, the heater 182, the housing 181, the pumping chamber (PC) and the heating chamber (HC) may be sequentially disposed according along the height of the body 160a, only to form mutual vertical arrangement.

[0060] Meanwhile, to transfer the thermal energy supplied by the heater 182 to the wash water held in the heating chamber (HC), it is preferred that the housing 181 is made of a conductor such as metal.

[0061] The housing 181 may include an accommodating groove 183 for locating the heater 182 outside the heating chamber (HC); and a securing portion 184 securing the housing 191 to the body 160a. The accommodating groove 183 may be provided in a predetermined shape capable of maximizing the surface area of the housing 181 heat-exchanging with the wash water. FIG. 3 illustrates one example of the accommodating groove 183 projected toward the internal space of the heating chamber (HC).

[0062] A heater cover 185 may be further provided and fixed to the housing 181 to prevent the heater 182 inserted in the accommodating groove 183 from becoming exposed outside the accommodating groove 183. The heater cover 185 serves the means for shutting off the wash water or foreign substances permeating into the heater 182 as well as preventing internal components of the dishwasher near the driving unit 160 from directly contacting with the heater 182.

[0063] The heater 182 may include a heater body 160a generating the thermal energy once provided with electric currents; and first and second terminals supplying electric currents to the heater body 160a. The first terminal and the second terminal may be exposed outside the accommodating groove 183 and the heater body 160a may not be exposed outside the accommodating groove 183 by the heater cover 185.

[0064] The housing 181 defines the bottom surface of the heating chamber (HC) in the heater assembly 180 having the structure mentioned above. Accordingly, the heater assembly 180 may supply warm water (in other words, heated wash water) to the injection unit 12, 125 and 126, when the impeller 168 is rotated during the operation of the heater 182 (in other words, while the heater 182 is being operated).

[0065] The heating chamber (HC) is located in the lowermost portion of the path for circulating and moving wash water and the housing 181 heated by the heater 182 defines the bottom surface of the heating chamber (HC), so that wash water can always collects in the heating chamber (HC).

[0066] Accordingly, the overheat of the heater 182 may be prevented without adjusting a water level additionally and the amount of the wash water which has to be supplied for steam or warm water may be minimized.

[0067] The heater assembly 180 is provided in the bottom surface of the heating chamber (HC) and the driving unit 160 mentioned above may perform a function as a steam generator, when only the heater 182 is operated after the predetermined amount of wash water is supplied to the heating chamber (HC).

[0068] To perform the function for generating steam, the driving unit 160 has to include a steam outlet hole 166 for exhausting the steam generated in the heating chamber (HC) outside.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 1, the steam outlet hole 166 may be in communication with the washing tub 120 via a steam supply unit 140. The steam supply unit 140 may include a steam nozzle 141 fixed to the washing tub 120; and a steam supply pipe 142 connecting the steam nozzle 141 and the steam outlet hole 166 with each other. The steam outlet hole 166 may be lower than the partition wall 160b and higher than the inlet 165.

[0070] Meanwhile, when the steam outlet hole 166 is provided in the heating chamber (HC), a steam valve 143 has to be further provided in at least one of the steam outlet hole 166 and the steam supply pipe 143 to prevent external air from coming into the heating chamber (HC).

[0071] The driving unit 160 having the structure mentioned above may be driven to supply the steam inside the heating chamber (HC) to the washing tub 120 via the steam supply pipe 142. As an alternative example, the steam may be supplied to the washing tub 120 via the injection unit 124, 125 and 126 and the collecting hole 136.

[0072] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating operation mode settings of the dishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 5, the dishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure may perform the intensive washing for a specific one of the upper or lower storage unit 121 or 122, where many dishes are stored or loaded, according to the amount of the loaded dishes.

[0074] Meanwhile, the user selects the upper or lower storage unit 121 or 122 before starting the dishwashing process of the dishwasher 100, using the upper/lower selection button 114a of the manipulation unit 114. The controller 190 determines the storage unit selected by the user and intensively washes the dishes loaded in the determined storage unit.

[0075] In this instance, the controller 190 has to determine the storage unit selected by the user. First of all, the controller 190 determines whether the storage unit selected by the user's manipulation of the upper/lower selection button 114a is the upper storage unit 121 (S110). When it is determined that the storage unit selected by the user is the upper storage unit 121, the controller 190 sets an upper operation mode as an operation mode of the dishwasher (S120).

[0076] The controller 190 determines whether the storage unit selected by the user's manipulation of the upper/lower selection button 114a is the lower storage unit 122 (S130). When it is determined that the storage unit selected by the user is the lower storage unit 122, the controller 190 sets a lower operation mode as an operation mode of the dishwasher (S140).

[0077] In this instance, the display unit 115 may display the storage unit selected by the user via the upper/lower display lamp 115a provided therein according to the determination of the user's selection.

[0078] Meanwhile, the controller 190 sets a normal operation mode as the current operation mode if the user does not select one of the upper and lower storage units in the storage unit selecting step (S150).

[0079] The normal operation mode is implemented to uniformly wash the dishes loaded in the upper and lower storage units 121 and 122. The normal operation mode is implemented to operate the top injection unit 126 provided over the upper storage unit 121, the upper injection unit 124 provided between the upper and lower storage units 121 and 122, and the lower injection unit 125 provided under the lower storage unit 122 alternatively at present intervals, so as to wash the dishes loaded in the upper and lower storage units 121 and 122 uniformly.

[0080] The top injection unit 126, the upper injection unit 124 and the lower injection unit 125 may supply a preset amount of wash water to a top supply path 153, an upper supply path 151 and a lower supply path 152 for a preset time period, respectively.

[0081] For example, in the normal operation mode, the top injection unit 126, the upper injection unit 124 and the lower injection unit 125 are sequentially operated approximately at two-minute intervals to wash the dishes. The operation may be repeated several times to dozens of times according to the preset duration time.

[0082] In this instance, the duration time of the top injection unit 126, the upper injection unit 124 and the lower injection unit 125 is not limited. The duration time and the amount of the supplied wash water to the top, upper and lower injection units 126, 124 and 125 may be maintained relatively uniformly.

[0083] Meanwhile, the upper operation mode is configured to intensively wash the dishes loaded in the upper storage unit 121. The duration time of the top injection unit 126 provided over the upper storage unit 121, the duration time of the upper injection unit 124 provided between the upper and lower storage units 121 and 122, and the duration time of the lower injection unit provided under the lower storage unit 122 may be set different from each other, to alternatively operate the top injection unit 126, the upper injection unit 125 and the lower injection unit 125 and intensively wash the dishes loaded in the upper storage unit 121.

[0084] In case the current operation mode is set as the upper operation mode, the duration times and the wash water supply amounts of the top and upper injection units 124 are maintained to be equal to the duration time and the amount of the wash water supply amount which are set for the normal operation mode. The duration time and the wash water supply amount of the lower injection unit 125 is maintained to be smaller than the duration time and the wash water supply amount of the top or upper injection unit 126 or 124.

[0085] When the washing for the dishes loaded in the upper storage unit 121 is performed in the upper operation mode, the controller 190 controls the currents applied to the motor 170 provided in the driving unit 160 to differentiate the rotation numbers and wash water injection pressure of the top, upper and lower injection units 126 and 124 from each other.

[0086] The lower operation mode is configured to intensively wash the dishes loaded in the lower storage unit 122. The duration time of the top injection unit 126 provided over the upper storage unit 121, the duration time of the upper injection unit 124 provided between the upper and lower storage units 121 and 122, and the duration time of the lower injection unit provided under the lower storage unit 122 may be set different from each other, to alternatively operate the top injection unit 126, the upper injection unit 125 and the lower injection unit 125 and intensively wash the dishes loaded in the lower storage unit 122.

[0087] Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, the operation of the dishwasher in accordance with the selection of the operation modes mentioned above will be described in detail.

[0088] As shown in the drawing, the user puts one or more dishes in the storage units 121, 122 and 123 of the dishwasher and then starts a washing process by selecting a dish-washing button (not shown).

[0089] The user manipulates the upper/lower selection button 114a provided in the manipulation unit 114 so as to intensively wash the dishes loaded in a specific storage unit, when dishes are intensively loaded in a specific one of the storage units 121, 122 and 123 of the dishwasher.

[0090] For example, when dishes are intensively loaded in the upper storage unit 121 (or the lower storage unit 122), the user manipulates the upper/lower selection button 114a so as to control the upper storage unit 121 (or the lower storage unit) to be intensively washed.

[0091] Meanwhile, once the dishwasher 100 is put into operation, a water supply step (S110) starts to start water supply to the driving unit 160 of the washing tub 120. Once the water supply step (S110) is complete, a preliminary washing step (S120) starts to soak food scraps stained on the dishes.

[0092] Once the preliminary washing step (S120) is complete, a main washing step (S130) starts to inject the wash water mixed with detergent so as to remove the food scraps or contaminants from the dishes.

[0093] Hence, the main washing step (S130) is complete and then a rinsing step (S140) starts. Once the rinsing step (S140) is complete, a drying step (S150) for drying the washed dishes starts and then the dishwashing process finishes.

[0094] Before the main washing step (S130) starts after the preliminary washing step (S120), a drainage step starts to collect and drain the wash water having injected during the preliminary washing step.

[0095] The wash water is pumped by the driving unit 160 and injected into the washing tub 120 via the upper injection unit 124 and the lower injection unit 125. Such a wash water injecting process is repeatedly performed for a preset time period.

[0096] As an alternative example, a wash water injecting frequency is preset and the main washing step (S130) is performed until the preset injecting frequency. After the main washing step (S130), the rinsing step (S140) starts and the wash water supplied in the main washing step (S130) before the rinsing step (S140). Meanwhile, the rinsing step (S140) finishes and a drying step (S150) for removing moisture from the dishes then starts. The drying step (S150) is implemented to supply hot air to the washing tub 120 and evaporate the moisture remaining on the dishes.

[0097] In this instance, the air changed into a state of a high temperature and humidity is exhausted outside the dishwasher 100 by a drying module (not shown).

[0098] Meanwhile, in the preliminary washing step (S220), the main washing (S230) and the rinsing step (S240), the top injection unit 126, the upper injection unit 124 and the top injection unit 126 are rotated and provided with wash water at preset intervals according to the operation of the transfer valve 154 only to wash the dishes.

[0099] When the upper/lower selection button 114a is selected by the user's manipulation of the manipulation unit 114, the duration times of the top, upper and lower injection units 126, 124 and 125 may be set different from each other in the preliminary washing step (S220), the main washing step (S230) and the rinsing step (S240) for the selected upper or lower storage unit 121 or 122.

[0100] For example, when the upper operation mode is selected to intensively wash the dishes loaded in the upper storage unit 121, the top and upper injection units 126 and 124 are operated at two-minute intervals and the lower injection unit 125 is operated at one-minute intervals.

[0101] When the lower operation mode is selected to intensively wash the dishes loaded in the lower storage unit 122, the upper and lower injection units 124 and 125 are operated at two-minute intervals and the top injection unit 126 is operated at one-minute intervals. In such the lower operation mode, the duration time of the lower injection unit 125 is reduced so that the overall washing time can be reduced.

[0102] In the upper operation mode and the lower operation mode, the duration times of the top, upper and lower injection units 126, 124 and 125 may be variable into the illustrated time.

[0103] According to the embodiments of the present disclosure mentioned above, when dishes are intensively loaded in one of the upper and lower storage units, the one in which the dishes are intensively loaded may be intensively washed. The overall dishwashing time may be reduced by reducing the duration times of the top, upper and lower injection units 126, 124 and 125.

[0104] The foregoing embodiments are merely exemplary and are not to be considered as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of methods and apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments. As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be considered broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds, are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dishwasher control method for a dishwasher, the dishwasher comprising a washing tub (120) comprising an upper storage unit (121) and a lower storage unit (122) for receiving dishes; a top injection unit (126) provided over the upper storage unit; an upper injection unit (124) provided between the upper storage unit and the lower storage unit; a lower injection unit (125) provided under the lower storage unit; and a driving unit (160) for selectively supplying wash water to each of the injection units, the dishwasher control method comprising:

a setting step for setting one of an upper operation mode, a lower operation mode and a normal operation mode according to a user's selection; and

an injecting step for injecting the wash water wherein the injection duration times and rotation number of the top, upper and lower injection units are differentiated according to the settings of the setting step.

2. The dishwasher control method of claim 1, wherein the upper operation mode sets the injection duration time of the lower injection unit to be shorter than the injection duration time of the top injection unit and/or the injection duration time of the upper injection unit.

3. The dishwasher control method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper operation mode sets the amount of the wash water supplied to the lower injection unit to be less than the amount of the wash water supplied to the top injection unit and/or the amount of the wash water supplied to the upper injection unit.

4. The dishwasher control method of claim 1, wherein the normal operation mode sets:

the injection duration time of the top injection unit, the injection duration time of the upper injection unit and the injection duration time of the lower injection unit; and

the amount of the wash water supplied to the top injection unit, the amount of the wash water supplied to the upper injection unit, and the amount of the wash water supplied to the lower injection unit.

5. The dishwasher control method of claim 4, wherein the upper operation mode sets:

the injection duration time of the top injection unit and/or the injection duration time of the upper injection unit to be equal to the injection duration time of the normal operation mode; and

the injection duration time of the lower injection unit to be shorter than the injection duration time of the normal operation mode.

6. The dishwasher control method of claim 4 or 5, wherein the upper operation mode sets:

the amount of the wash water supplied to the top injection unit and/or the amount of the wash water supplied to the upper injection unit to be equal to the amount of the wash water supplied, respectively, in the normal operation mode; and

the amount of the wash water supplied to the lower injection unit to be less than the amount of the wash water supplied, in the normal operation mode.

7. The dishwasher control method of claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the lower operation mode sets the injection duration time of the top injection unit to be shorter than the injection duration time of the upper injection unit and/or the injection duration time of the lower injection unit.

8. The dishwasher control method of any of claims 4-7, wherein the lower operation mode sets the amount of the wash water supplied to the top injection unit to be less than the amount of the wash water supplied to the upper injection unit and/or the amount of the wash water supplied to the lower injection unit.

9. The dishwasher control method of claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the lower operation mode sets:

the injection duration time of the upper injection unit and/or the injection duration time of the lower injection unit to be equal to the injection duration times, respectively, of the normal operation mode; and

the injection duration time of the top injection unit to be shorter than the injection duration time of the normal operation mode.

10. The dishwasher control method of any of claims 4, 5, 6 or 9, wherein the lower operation mode sets:

the amount of the wash water supplied to the upper injection unit and/or the amount of the wash water supplied to the upper injection unit to be equal to the amount of the wash water supplied, respectively, in the normal operation mode; and

the amount of the wash water supplied to the top injection unit to be less than the amount of the wash water supplied in the normal operation mode.

11. The dishwasher control method of any preceding claim, wherein the injection duration time and the wash water supply amount of the top, upper or lower injection unit are varied by varying the pressure of the wash water supplied by the driving unit.

12. The dishwasher control method of any preceding claim, comprising using a transfer valve (154) to change a path of the wash water supplied to the top, upper and lower injection units.

13. The dishwasher control method of claim 12, wherein an opening/closing time of flow paths to the top, upper and lower injection units is differentiated according to the settings of the settings step.

14. The dishwasher control method of any preceding claim, further comprising a displaying step for displaying the settings of the setting step.

15. A dishwasher comprising:

a washing tub (120) comprising an upper storage unit (121) and a lower storage unit (122) for receiving dishes;

a top injection unit (126) provided over the upper storage unit;

an upper injection unit (124) provided between the upper storage unit and the lower storage unit;

a lower injection unit (125) provided under the lower storage unit;

a driving unit (160) for selectively supplying wash water to each of the injection units;

a control panel (113) arranged to set one of an upper operation mode, a lower operation mode and a normal operation mode according to a user's selection; and

a controller (190) arranged to control washing of the dishes loaded in the upper or lower storage unit by differentiating the injection duration times and the rotation number of the top, upper and lower injection units.

Drawing