Abstract:
There is provided a method of controlling a dishwasher. The method includes performing a preliminary washing cycle, performing a main washing cycle, and performing a rinsing cycle. Steam is supplied during at least one of the main washing cycle and the rinsing cycle.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of PCT/KR07/01445 filed on Mar. 23, 2007 which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. KR 10-2006-0100608, filed on Oct. 17, 2006, which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling a home appliance and, more particularly, to a method of controlling a steam spray performed during a washing cycle for use in a home appliance, such as a dishwasher. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A dishwasher is a home appliance that is known to wash dishes by spraying high pressure washing water onto surfaces of dishes within a washing chamber. 
         [0006]    Various methods have been contemplated to improve the washing efficiency of a dishwasher, including introducing steam to improve the efficiency of removing any food residue adhered to dishes. 
         [0007]    In a conventional dishwasher, steam is generated within a washing chamber in a variety ways. For example, steam could be generated in the washing chamber when water supplied to a sump in the washing chamber is heated to a temperature where water evaporates, thereby creating steam within the washing chamber. Alternatively, a separate steam generating device could be mounted outside the washing chamber whereby steam generated within the steam generating device is introduced into the washing chamber via a steam hose. 
         [0008]    In the above-described conventional dishwashers, the steam washing function and a main washing process are performed separately. That is, the washing process is stopped while steam is introduced to the washing chamber. Steam is introduced into the washing chamber until a predetermined amount of time elapses and the temperature within the washing chamber reaches a predetermined level, then the steam washing process is finished. Any food residue adhered to the dishes in the washing chamber absorb moisture of the steam, allowing the residue to be more easily removed. Subsequently, high pressure washing water is sprayed through spray nozzles to remove the food residue from the dishes. 
         [0009]    In the above described conventional washing method, the overall washing time is prolonged because the steam washing function and the main washing process must be performed separately. Moreover, the process of generating steam does not begin until the main washing process is stopped. That is, steam does not immediately begin to be introduced into the washing chamber upon initiation of the steam washing function, rather the water must first reach the appropriate temperature to produce the steam and then the steam is introduced into the washing chamber. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, during the steam washing process of the conventional dishwasher, an initial, predetermined amount of water is supplied to generate steam at the outset of the steam washing process. If this initial amount of water is fully consumed before the predetermined time has elapsed and the predetermined temperature level has been reached, more water must be supplied and heated to the appropriate temperature to produce the steam. Thus, steam cannot be continuously supplied to the washing chamber. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    Accordingly, the disclosure is directed to a method of controlling a home appliance that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages in the art. 
         [0012]    A method of controlling a home appliance for improving washing efficiency is highly desirable. 
         [0013]    A method of controlling a home appliance that can reduce the overall washing time while effectively performing a steam washing is also highly desirable. 
         [0014]    In addition, a method of controlling a home appliance wherein the water supply used in the generation of steam is continuously heated is highly desirable. 
         [0015]    Additional features and advantages will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following. Alternatively, additional features and advantages may be learned from practice of the invention. The aforementioned features and advantages may be realized and attained by the exemplary structure or exemplary method pointed out in the written description, claims and the appended drawings. 
         [0016]    One advantage may be achieved by a method of controlling a dishwasher having a washing chamber, includes intermittently supplying washing water to the washing chamber during an operational cycle of the dishwasher; and supplying steam to the washing chamber during the operational cycle while washing water is being supplied. 
         [0017]    Another advantage may be achieved by a method of controlling a dishwasher having a washing chamber, including: a plurality of water supply periods during an operational cycle, wherein each of said water supply periods includes intermittent washing water supplying events, wherein the washing water is supplied to the washing chamber; and a soak period between two consecutive water supply periods, wherein steam is supplied to the washing chamber during a water supplying event for each water supply period. 
         [0018]    Another advantage may be achieved by a method of controlling a dishwasher having a washing chamber, including supplying washing water to the washing chamber during an operational cycle of the dishwasher, wherein the washing water is supplied to the washing chamber through a water nozzle; and supplying steam to the washing chamber while washing water is being supplied, wherein the steam is supplied to the washing chamber through a steam nozzle, separate from the water nozzle. 
         [0019]    Another advantage may be achieved by a home appliance including a washing chamber; means for intermittently supplying washing water to the washing chamber during an operational cycle of the home appliance; and means for supplying steam to the washing chamber during the operational cycle while washing water is being supplied. 
         [0020]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application. The drawings illustrate various embodiments and together with the description serve to explain some principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a dishwasher to which a control method of an embodiment of the present invention can be applied; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a graph illustrating a cycle realized by a method of controlling a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a graph illustrating a cycle of a portion A of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a graph illustrating a steam supplying process according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a dishwasher to which a control method of an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a dishwasher  10  may include a door  12  pivotally installed on a front portion of the tub  11 , a tub  11  defining a washing chamber, a sump  20  that pumps water into the tub, a heater  24  installed within the sump, a water guide  15  that may guide the water pumped by the sump  20 , a spray nozzle for spraying the washing water into the washing chamber, and racks on which objects, for example dishes, may be loaded, and a steam generating device  21  that may supply steam to the tub  11 . 
         [0029]    The racks may include an upper rack  13  provided in an upper portion of the tub  11  and a lower rack  14  provided in a lower portion of the tub  11 . The upper and lower racks  13  and  14  may be installed to be removable from the tub  11 . 
         [0030]    The water guide  15  may be vertically provided on an inner surface of the tub  11 . Opposite ends of the water guide  15  may be bent such that the water guide  15  may have a shape similar to a “C” shape. The water guide  15  may be connected to the sump  20  to guide water pumped out of the sump  20  to the spray nozzles. 
         [0031]    In addition, the spray nozzles may include a lower nozzle  19  that may be mounted on a central portion of the sump  20  to spray the washing water in various directions including, for example, in the direction of the lower rack  14 . An upper nozzle  16  may be provided within the washing chamber to spray the washing water in various directions including, for example, in the direction of the lower rack  14  and/or the upper racks  13 . A top nozzle  18  may be coupled to an upper end of the water guide  15  to spray the washing water in various directions including, for example, in a downward direction. The upper nozzle  16  may be connected to the water guide  15  by a nozzle holder  17  that extends from the upper nozzle  16 . The nozzle holder may be mounted on a portion of the water guide  15 , for example a front portion of the water guide. Whereby the upper nozzle  16  may receive the washing water from the water guide  15  via the nozzle holder  17 . 
         [0032]    Water supplied to the steam generating device  21  may be heated by the heater  22 , thereby evaporating the water into the steam. The water supplied to the steam generating device may be separate from the water supplied to the washing chamber. Further, the steam may be introduced into the tub  11  by various means. For example, a steam supply passage  23  may be connected between the steam generating device  21  and the tub to supply the steam generated in the steam generating device  21  to the tub  11  through a steam nozzle. 
         [0033]    The dishwasher may also include a locking mechanism to lock the door of the dishwasher. The internal temperature of the washing chamber may be monitored using a temperature sensor. When a user attempts to open the door of the dishwasher during any portion of a washing mode, if the sensed temperature is determined to be above a predetermined temperature, the locking mechanism may remain engaged until the sensed temperature is determined to be below the predetermined temperature. The locking mechanism may also remain engaged if a sensed water level is above a predetermined water level. If a user attempts to open the door of the dishwasher when the water level is determined to be above a predetermined level, the locking mechanism may remain engaged until water is drained from the washing chamber and the water level is determined to be below the predetermined level. 
         [0034]    An operation of dishwasher  10  will now be described. 
         [0035]    The door  12  of the dishwasher may be opened and upper rack  13  and/or lower rack  14  may be withdrawn from the tub  11 . Objects may be arranged on the racks  13  and  14 , the racks may be returned to the tub  11  and the door  12  closed. Detergent or rinse may be supplied to a dispensing container before the door  12  is closed. 
         [0036]    The dishwasher may perform a plurality of washing modes, where a controller stores control information associated with each of the plurality of washing modes. A desired washing mode may be selected and/or entered through a selector provided on a control panel of the dishwasher. In response to the selected washing mode, the controller sends a control signal to the corresponding elements of the dishwasher to perform the selected washing mode. 
         [0037]    An exemplary operation of the dishwasher  10  will now be described. After selection of a washing mode, the controller sends control signals to execute the washing mode and washing water is supplied into the sump  20  up to a predetermined water level. A sump pump (not shown) pumps the washing water out of the sump  20 . The washing water pumped out by the sump pump may be alternately directed to the water guide  15  and the lower nozzle  19 . 
         [0038]    A portion of the washing water flowing along the water guide  15  may be directed to the upper nozzle  16  along the nozzle holder  17  and the rest of the washing water may be directed to the top nozzle  18 . The washing water may be sprayed into the tub  11  through lower nozzle  19  for a predetermined time and subsequently the washing water may be sprayed through the upper nozzle  16  and/or top nozzle for a predetermined time. This alternative spaying may be repeatedly performed during the washing of the dishes. 
         [0039]    The washing water directed to the upper, top, and lower nozzles  16 ,  18 , and  19  may be sprayed into the washing chamber of the tub  11  through spraying holes formed on the nozzles. The spraying holes in the nozzles may increase the pressure of the washing water such that the food residue adhered to the dishes loaded on the upper and/or lower racks  13  and/or  14  may be removed from the dishes. 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  is a graph illustrating a cycle realized by a method of controlling a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , after a washing mode is selected, a preliminary washing cycle  100  may be performed. During a preliminary washing cycle  100 , washing water that is not mixed with detergent may be sprayed into the washing chamber of the tub  11  through nozzles  16 ,  18  and  19 . In addition, the washing water may not be heated, thus the temperature within the washing chamber may be substantially constant. At the conclusion of the preliminary wash cycle  100 , any residue removed from the dishes during the preliminary wash cycle  100  may be filtered and/or removed from the washing chamber prior to the start of the next cycle. 
         [0042]    After the preliminary washing cycle  100  is finished, a main washing cycle  110  may be performed. The main washing cycle may be repeatedly performed during one selected washing mode. Further, the main washing cycle  110  may be divided into a water supply phase and a steam supply phase. During the water supply phase of the main washing cycle, the washing water may contain detergent and may be sprayed into the washing chamber of the tub  11  through nozzles  16 ,  18  and  19 . The water supply phase of the main washing cycle may also include intermittently spraying washing water into the washing chamber. If the washing water is intermittently sprayed, the portion of the water washing phase in which washing water is not supplied to the washing chamber may be considered a soaking portion of the water washing phase. The soaking portion may allow any food residue remaining on the dishes to absorb moisture to improve removal of the residue. In addition, the water spraying portion and the soaking portion of the water washing phase may be repeated several times during the main washing cycle. 
         [0043]    In the steam supply phase of the main washing cycle  110 , water is supplied to the steam generator, heated and then supplied to the washing chamber through a nozzle. Steam may be supplied to the washing chamber at various intervals during the main washing cycle. For example, steam may be continuously supplied to the washing chamber during the main washing cycle or steam may be supplied after the water washing phase begins or steam may be introduced in intervals throughout the main washing cycle. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , steam may be supplied to the washing chamber after the water washing phase has been begun and steam may also be continuously supplied during the soaking portion of the water washing phase. The steam may be stopped for a short time after the soaking portion is finished and the water washing phase resumes. During the time in which the steam is not supplied to the washing chamber, water may be resupplied to the steam generator  21  for continuous steam generation. This allows the steam to be continuously supplied during the soaking portion of the water washing period thus the washing efficiency may be further improved. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the water supply portion of the water washing period may be further divided into an upper washing portion  114  and a lower washing portion  113  where the upper washing portion and the lower washing portion may be alternately performed. During the upper washing portion  114 , washing water may be supplied to the washing chamber via the upper nozzle  16  and/or top nozzle  18 . During the lower washing portion  113 , washing water may be supplied to the washing chamber via the lower nozzle  19 . When the water supply portion comprises an upper washing and a lower washing, steam may be supplied after the lower washing begins and may continue until the end of the soak portion. During the portion of the cycle in which steam is not supplied to the washing chamber, water may be resupplied to the steam generator. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , steam may be supplied only during the soaking portion of the water supply period of the main washing cycle. 
         [0046]    During the course of the main washing cycle, the temperature within the washing chamber continually increases until a maximum temperature is reached. As shown in  FIG. 2 , when steam is supplied to the washing chamber, the temperature within the tub temporarily increases within the washing chamber. When steam is not supplied to the washing chamber, a sump heater may be energized to heat the washing water in the sump to aid in raising the temperature of the washing water and the temperature within the washing chamber. The sump heater may be deenergized when steam is supplied to the washing chamber. 
         [0047]    At the conclusion of the main washing cycle  110 , any residue removed from the dishes during the main washing cycle  110  may be filtered and/or removed from the washing chamber prior to the start of the next cycle. The washing water used during the main washing cycle  110 , which may contain detergent, may be drained from the sump prior to the start of the next cycle. 
         [0048]    When the main washing cycle  110  is complete, a rinsing cycle may be performed. The rinsing cycle may be repeatedly performed during the selected washing mode. Further, the rinsing cycle may include a rinsing phase  120  and a heated rinse phase  130 . During the rinsing phase  120 , washing water may be sprayed into the washing chamber from the nozzles  16 ,  18  and  19  thereby rinsing any residue from the dishes. The washing water may or may not include detergent or rinse. The rinsing phase  120  may be performed using normal temperature washing water, thus the temperature within the washing chamber may be substantially consistent. 
         [0049]    A heated rinse phase  130  may be performed following the rinsing phase  120 . The heated rinse phase  130  may also include a rinsing portion for spraying the water into the washing chamber and a steam spraying portion for spraying the steam into the washing chamber. During the rinsing portion of the heated rinse phase, washing water, which may or may not include a rinse or detergent, may be sprayed into the washing chamber of the tub  11  through nozzles  16 ,  18  and  19 . The rinsing phase may also include a soaking portion in which may occur between two intermittent washing water events. The soaking portion may allow any food residue remaining on the dishes to absorb moisture to improve removal of the residue. In addition, the rinsing portion and the soaking portion may be repeated several times during the heated rinse phase. The rinsing portion of the heated rinse phase may be further divided into an upper rinse portion and a lower rinse portion. During the upper rinse portion, washing water may be supplied to the washing chamber via the upper nozzle  16  and/or top nozzle  18 . During the lower rinse portion, washing water may be supplied to the washing chamber via the lower nozzle  19 . The upper rinse portion and the lower rinse portion may be alternately performed during the heated rinse phase. 
         [0050]    In the steam supply portion of the heated rinse phase, water may be supplied to the steam generator, heated and then supplied to the washing chamber through a steam nozzle via a steam pipe. The outlet of the steam nozzle may be of a relatively small diameter, such that the nozzle may act like a barrier to the steam which may lead to an increase in pressure between the steam pipe and the steam nozzle. This pressure may increase slightly over atmospheric pressure. With an increase in pressure, the steam may be introduced into the washing chamber with significant pressure. 
         [0051]    Steam may be supplied to the washing chamber at various intervals during the heated rinse phase. For example, steam may be continuously supplied to the washing chamber during the heated rinse phase or steam may be supplied after the rinse phase begins or steam may be introduced in short bursts throughout the heated rinse phase. 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , steam may be supplied to the washing chamber after the rinse portion of the heated rinse phase has been begun and steam may also be continuously supplied during the soaking portion of the heated rinse phase. The steam may be stopped for a short time after the soaking portion is finished and the rinse portion resumes. During the time in which the steam is stopped, water may be resupplied to the steam generator  21 . In this case, since the steam may be continuously supplied during the soaking portion, the washing efficiency may be further improved. 
         [0053]    During the course of the heated rinse phase, the temperature within the washing chamber continually increases until a maximum temperature is reached. As shown in  FIG. 2 , when steam is supplied to the washing chamber, the temperature temporarily increases within the washing chamber. When steam is not supplied to the washing chamber, a sump heater may be energized to heat the washing water in the sump to aid in raising the temperature of the washing water and the temperature within the washing chamber. The sump heater may be deenergized when steam is supplied to the washing chamber. At the conclusion of the rinsing cycle, any residue removed from the dishes during the rinsing cycle may be filtered and removed from the washing chamber prior to the start of the next cycle. 
         [0054]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.