CN106963316B

CN106963316B - Dishwasher and control method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN106963316B
Application number: CN201611272291.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李常寿
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2016-01-05
Filing date: 2016-12-22
Publication date: 2019-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 2036-12-22
Also published as: KR20170082033A; AU2016385274B2; WO2017119605A1; CN106963316A; EP3189764A1; AU2016385274A1; US20170188776A1; EP3189764B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher and a control method thereof. A control method of a dishwasher includes: a water supply step of supplying washing water; a pre-washing step of spraying washing water to one or more dishes; a main washing step of spraying washing water mixed with washing liquid to the dishes; a rinsing step of spraying washing water to the dishes; and a heating step of heating the washing water in one or more steps of the pre-washing step, the main washing step, and the rinsing step, wherein in the heating step, a heater sensing step of determining an operation state of a heater heating the washing water is performed in a state where circulation of the washing water is stopped.

Description

Dishwasher and control method thereof

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a dishwasher, and more particularly, to a dishwasher that performs a drying process, which is the next step of a washing process, using midnight power, and a control method of the dishwasher.

background

generally, a dishwasher is a mechanism configured to wash and dry one or more dishes held therein by spraying washing water to the dishes at high pressure. In particular, the washing water is sprayed at high pressure in the washing tub in which the dishes are held, and the sprayed washing water washes and removes food residues or contaminants from the surfaces of the dishes.

Such a dishwasher is capable of filtering out food residues contained in the washing water and reusing the used washing water. Also, the dishwasher has a dishwasher detergent or a washing liquid dissolved in the washing water to smoothly and efficiently remove food residues. A dishwasher capable of enhancing washing efficiency by increasing the temperature of washing water or generating steam using a heater is very popular.

Such a conventional dish washer includes: a housing defining an exterior appearance; a washing tub disposed in the outer case and defining a washing space for the dishes; a driving unit disposed in a lower portion of the washing tub and supplying, collecting, circulating and draining the washing water for washing the dishes; a lower/upper/top nozzle spraying the washing water supplied from the driving unit toward the dishes; and lower/upper/top storage racks capable of being drawn out between the lower/upper/top injection units within the washing tub and selectively receiving dishes according to kinds and sizes of the dishes.

Each storage rack has a plurality of moving rollers mounted in a lower surface, and a guide rail is provided in an inner wall of the washing tub. The guide rails guide the rollers to enable the storage shelves to be retracted.

Meanwhile, the user opens the door of the dishwasher to start washing dishes, and pulls out one of the storage racks disposed in the tub. Thereafter, the user puts one or more dishes on the drawn-out storage rack and pushes the storage rack back, and closes the door to start the operation of the dishwasher to wash the dishes.

Accordingly, the user starts the operation of the dishwasher, and the driving unit is implemented to supply the washing water to the upper/lower/top nozzles independently or simultaneously to start the washing process for the dishes put into the lower/upper/top storage racks.

Such a dishwasher controls heating of washing water to promote dissolution of a dishwasher detergent supplied mixed with the washing water and soak food residues stuck to dishes for a long time, so that the entire dishwashing process can be smoothly performed.

The conventional control method of such a dishwasher includes: a pre-washing step; a main washing step; rinsing; and a drying step. In the pre-washing step, the food waste is soaked so that a more reliable dishwashing process can be performed. Recently, a sterilization step is further provided after the main washing step and the rinsing step to emit ultraviolet rays or high temperature to the dishes to heat the dishes, thereby inhibiting the spread of germs or bacteria.

two methods can be proposed for the drying step. The two methods include a circulation type drying method and an exhaust type drying method. In the circulation type drying method, dishes are heated in a washing tub, and moisture is evaporated from the dishes and changed into steam, and the steam inside the washing tub is circulated and condensed in a dishwasher such that the condensed water is drained to the outside. In the exhaust type drying method, external drying air is drawn into a washing tub of a dishwasher, and the drying air absorbs moisture from steam evaporated from heated dishes, and moisture containing the moisture is discharged, thereby drying the dishes.

However, the circulation type drying method among the conventional control methods according to the related art has a disadvantage of lower efficiency in drying efficiency than the exhaust type drying method.

Meanwhile, the exhaust type drying method among the conventional control methods according to the related art also has a disadvantage of high energy consumption, even though it is suitable as a drying method of a dishwasher. In the exhaust type drying method, the washing water in the sump is heated to a preset temperature in the rinsing step to rinse the washed dishes after the main washing step, and the temperature inside the washing tub is raised enough to evaporate the moisture of the dishes, only to make the entire drying step longer.

in addition, users often accumulate and put relatively more dishes in the dishwasher. In this case, so many dishes are put into the dishwasher, and the conventional dishwasher has a disadvantage in that the drying condition is deteriorated for the dishes washed and dried/preserved therein.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to address the above-referenced problems, as well as others.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a dishwasher and a control method of the dishwasher, which can maintain a drying state of dishes even if a user leaves the dishes in the dishwasher after a drying process after a washing process.

Further, another object of the present disclosure is to provide a dishwasher capable of performing a drying process for drying dishes at night after a washing process when the dishwasher is not in use, and a control method of the dishwasher.

Still further, it is a still further object of the present disclosure to provide a dishwasher and a control method of the dishwasher, which is capable of performing a drying process for drying dishes after a washing process using relatively inexpensive night power.

to achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the embodiments, as embodied and broadly described herein, a control method of a dishwasher includes: a water supply step for supplying washing water to the dishwasher; a washing step for washing one or more dishes by using washing water; a rinsing step for rinsing the washed dishes; a drying step for drying the rinsed dishes; and a drying maintaining step for intermittently drying the dishes to maintain the drying state of the dishes.

The washing step may include: a pre-washing step for soaking food residues or dirt stained on the dishes; and a main washing step for separating food remnants or filth from the dishes.

The control method of the dish washer may further include: a drying maintaining step for confirming the selection of the drying maintaining step after the drying step.

the drying maintaining step may intermittently operate the drying module of the dishwasher for a preset time period.

the operation time of the drying module may include a preset pause time and a preset duration time of the drying module, the duration time being shorter than the pause time.

The drying maintaining step may be terminated based on the determination of the operation termination condition of the drying module.

The operation end condition of the drying module may include one of an operation termination input of the user, an opening of the door, and a start of another washing course.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a dishwasher includes: a washing tub defining a space in which one or more dishes are placed; a storage unit movable from the washing tub; a driving unit disposed in a lower unit of the washing tub and spraying washing water to the storage unit; a door opening/closing the washing tub and including a drying module drying the dishes; and a controller intermittently operating the drying module for a preset time period to maintain a drying state of the dishes placed in the washing tub.

The controller may operate the drying module after the washing step, the rinsing step, and the drying step of the dishes to maintain the drying state of the dishes.

The door may include an operating unit for controlling the dishwasher, and the operating unit may include a drying maintaining step for intermittently operating the drying module for a preset time period.

the door may include a display unit which displays an operation state of the dishwasher and which includes a drying maintaining lamp, the display unit displaying that the drying module is intermittently operated for a preset time period.

The embodiments have the following advantageous effects. The dishwasher is capable of maintaining a drying state of dishes even if a user leaves the dishes in the dishwasher after a drying process after a washing process, and a control method thereof.

Further, the dishwasher is capable of performing a drying process for drying dishes after a washing process late at night when the dishwasher is not used, and a control method thereof.

Further, the dishwasher is capable of performing a drying process for drying dishes after a washing process using relatively inexpensive night electricity, and a control method thereof.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of 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.

Drawings

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

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a dish washer according to the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an internal structure of a dishwasher according to the present disclosure;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a key part of a dishwasher according to the present disclosure; and

Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the dishwasher according to the present disclosure; and is

fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a drying condition maintaining step of the dishwasher according to the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The terms used herein are merely for convenience of description of the specification, and the terms themselves are not intended to impart any special meaning or function. In the present disclosure, those that are well known to those skilled in the art are often omitted for the sake of brevity.

The same or equivalent components may be provided with the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated. For simplicity in explanation with reference to the drawings, the size and contour of elements illustrated in the drawings may be enlarged or reduced, and it is understood that embodiments of the apparatus or control method presented herein are not limited by the drawings.

First, a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an internal structure of a dishwasher according to the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a driving unit provided in the dishwasher. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a heater assembly provided in the dishwasher.

as shown in fig. 1, 2 and 3, a dishwasher 100 according to the present disclosure includes a housing 120 defining an outer appearance of the dishwasher 100; a washing tub 130, the washing tub 130 being mounted in the outer case 120 and defining a washing space in which one or more dishes are washed, the washing tub 130 having an open front; a door 122, the door 122 opening/closing the open front of the washing tub 130; a driving unit 140 disposed in a lower portion of the washing tub 130 and supplying, collecting, circulating and draining the washing water for washing the dishes; a plurality of storage units 150, 160, and 170 detachably provided in the washing tub 130 and on which dishes are seated; a plurality of spraying units 132, 133 and 134 installed adjacent to the storage units 150, 160 and 170 and spraying washing water for washing dishes; a drying module 180, the drying module 180 discharging moisture inside the washing tub 130 to the outside of the casing 120; a controller 190, the controller 190 operating the dishwasher 100 by controlling other components; and a control panel 123, the control panel 123 being connected to the controller 190 and controlling the components.

The washing tub 130, the driving unit 140, and the spraying unit in the structure of the aforementioned dishwasher 100 may be identical or similar to the corresponding components of the conventional dishwasher according to the related art. Therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Meanwhile, the storage units 150, 160, and 170 can be taken out from the inner space of the washing tub 130 toward the open front. The plurality of memory cells 150, 160, and 170 include: a first storage unit 150 disposed in a lower portion of the washing tub 130 and having relatively large dishes stored therein, the first storage unit 150; a second storage unit 160 disposed above the first storage unit 150 and having relatively small dishes stored therein; and a third storage unit 170, the third storage unit 170 being disposed in an upper portion of the washing tub 130 and having dishes stored therein.

The plurality of spraying units 132, 133 and 134 are configured to spray washing water to dishes and tableware stored in the plurality of storage units 150, 160 and 170. The plurality of injection units 132, 133, and 134 include: a lower spray unit 134, the lower spray unit 134 being disposed in a lower portion of the washing tub 130 and spraying the washing water to the first storage unit 150; an upper spray unit 133 disposed between the first storage unit 150 and the second storage unit 160 and spraying the washing water to the first and second storage units 150 and 160; and a top spray unit 132, the top spray unit 132 being disposed in an upper portion of the washing tub 130 and spraying the washing water to the third storage unit 170 or the second storage unit 160.

Meanwhile, the door 122 is configured to open or close the open front of the washing tub 130. A hinge (not shown) is provided in a lower portion of the open front such that the door 122 can be rotated on the hinge.

A handle (128) for opening the door 122 and a control panel 123 for controlling the dishwasher 100 are provided on an outer surface of the door 122.

A drying module 180 for discharging the inside air of the washing tub 130 is disposed on an inner surface of the door 122. The drying module 180 includes: a drying path 184 provided in an inner surface of the door 122 and communicating with the washing tub (tub)130 to guide a flow path of air to an outside of the dishwasher 100; and a drying fan 182, the drying fan 182 being disposed on the drying path 184 and blowing air along the drying path. Such a drying module 180 may be selectively operated according to one of preset operation courses (e.g., drying courses) selected by a user.

The controller 190 may be implemented to control the overall operation of the dishwasher and to operate each of the units provided in the dishwasher 100 according to a set mode of the dishwasher 100. For example, the controller 190 may perform control of a general washing course and a drying maintenance course configured to maintain a drying state of dishes. The controller 190 may include an auxiliary timer 192 for time-based control of the dishwasher 100.

The control panel 123 may be an upper portion of the door 122 and include: an operation unit 124 for controlling the operation of the dishwasher 100; and a display unit 126 displaying an operation state of the dishwasher 100.

The operating unit 124 and the display unit 126 are coupled with the above-mentioned controller 190 to control the operation of the dishwasher or display the operation state of the dishwasher 100.

In this case, the operating unit 124 has a plurality of buttons, and the buttons serve as an input device for operating the dishwasher, so that the user can select a dish washing course, a dish washing reservation time. Further, the operation unit 124 may include a drying maintenance button 125 for running a drying maintenance step as illustrated in the embodiment of the present disclosure (S200, see fig. 4).

The display unit 126 is used to display information about the dishwasher set through the operation unit 124, and includes a plurality of LEDs and LCDs provided in series. Various information such as dish washing status, time, etc. may be displayed to the user using blinking of the LED and LCD. In addition, the display unit 126 may further include a drying maintenance operation lamp 127 for prompting the user of selection of the drying maintenance step (S200) in case that the user sets the start of the drying maintenance step (S200, see fig. 4) through the operation unit 124.

next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the operation of the dishwasher according to the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Each component to be described below should be understood with reference to the above description and the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the dishwasher according to the present disclosure.

First, the user places one or more dishes in the storage units 121, 122, and 123 of the dishwasher and then starts a washing program by selecting a dish washing button (not shown) provided in the operating unit 124. In this case, the user may additionally select a course for maintaining the drying state of the dishes after the drying course using the drying maintaining button 125 provided in the operation unit 124.

Meanwhile, the controller 190 shown in fig. 4 is implemented to start a water supply step (S110) for supplying water to the driving unit 140 of the washing tub 130. Once the water supply step (S110) is completed, a pre-washing step (S120) for soaking food residues or contaminants remaining on the dishes is started.

After the pre-washing step (S120), a main washing step (S130) is started to spray the washing water mixed with the dish detergent to remove food residue or dirt from the dishes. Thereafter, once the main washing step (S130) is finished, the rinsing step (S140) is started, and then the drying step (S150) for drying the dishes is started after the rinsing step (S140), only in order to complete the dish washing process.

After the pre-washing step (S120) and before the main washing step (S130), a draining step is started to drain the washing water sprayed and collected during the pre-washing step. The washing water is pumped by a washing pump (not shown) installed in the driving unit 140 and sprayed into the washing tub 130 via the spraying units 132, 133 and 134. The washing water spray program is repeatedly performed for a preset time period.

The number of spraying of the washing water is preset, and the main washing step (S130) is performed until the preset number of spraying is completed. After the main washing step (S130), the rinsing step (S140) is started. Before the rinsing step (S140) is started, the washing water supplied during the main washing step (S130) is drained.

Meanwhile, after the rinsing step (S140) is completed, a drying step (S150) is started to remove food residues or contaminants from the dishes. In the drying step (S150), hot or heated air is supplied into the washing tub 130, and moisture is evaporated from the dishes. The air changed into hot moisture is discharged to the outside of the dishwasher 100 through the drying module 180.

The water supply step (S110), the pre-washing step (S120), the main washing step (S130), the rinsing step (S140), and the drying step (S150) are considered to be similar to those in the conventional dishwasher, so that a detailed description of each step can be omitted.

meanwhile, after the drying step (150), the controller 190 determines whether the drying maintaining step (S200) is selected by the user (S160). In this case, if it is determined that the user selects the drying maintaining step (S200), the controller 190 controls the dish washing process to be completed. For example, the controller 190 may control the dishwasher 100 to be turned off or in a standby state since the entire dishwashing process is completed.

When the user sets to operate the drying maintaining step (S200), the controller 190 starts the drying maintaining step (S200) as an additional step after the drying step (S150). Meanwhile, the controller 190 controls the drying maintaining step lamp 127 of the display unit provided in the control panel 123 to display that the drying maintaining step (S200) is being performed.

hereinafter, referring to fig. 5, the drying maintaining step (S200) will be described in detail. Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a drying maintaining step of the dishwasher.

The drying maintaining step (S200) is configured to maintain a drying state of the dishes inside the washing tub 130 by periodically operating the drying module 180 according to the user' S selection if the dishes, which have been washed and dried, remain in the washing tub 130. Such a drying maintenance step (S200) may be performed for a preset time period in the daytime or at night. The drying maintaining step (S200) may be terminated according to a preset operation time, a state of the dishwasher, and a user' S selection.

As shown in fig. 5, the user selects the drying maintenance step (S200), and then the controller 190 is implemented to intermittently operate the drying fan 182 of the drying module 180 for a preset time period (S210).

For example, when the preset operation time of the drying maintenance step (S200) is set to 6 hours, the drying fan 182 is operated for 10 minutes after a pause time of 30 minutes. The controller 190 causes the drying fan 182 to be repeatedly operated for a preset operation time period (6 hours).

The preset operation time of the drying maintenance step (S200), the pause and the duration of the drying fan 182 may be varied according to the operation condition of the drying fan 182.

Meanwhile, the controller 190 senses an end condition of the drying maintaining step during the pause and duration of the drying fan 182 (S220). In other words, the drying maintaining step (S200) may be ended according to specific conditions. For example, when the user' S operation is sensed (e.g., the drying maintaining step (S200) is canceled, another washing step is started, and the door 122 provided in the dishwasher is opened during the drying maintaining step (S200)), the controller 190 may forcibly terminate the drying maintaining step (S200).

unless the completion condition of the drying maintenance step (S200) is satisfied, the controller 190 determines whether a preset operation time of the drying maintenance step (S230) has elapsed.

When it is determined that the preset operation time of the drying maintaining step (S200) has not elapsed, the controller 190 continues the intermittent operation of the drying fan operated in the drying maintaining step (S200). When the operation time of the drying maintenance step (S200) has reached the preset time period, the controller 190 completes the drying maintenance step (S200).

according to the control method of the dish washer, the drying state of the dishes under the dish washing program or kept in the dish washer can be effectively maintained, thereby providing convenience to the user.

According to the dishwasher and the control method thereof according to the present disclosure as described above, unnecessary power consumption can be prevented when an abnormal state of the heater provided in the dishwasher is sensed, and the operation state of the heater can be rapidly sensed.

The foregoing embodiments are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The teachings of the present disclosure can be readily applied to other types of methods and apparatuses. The 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 embodiments. As the present disclosure 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 construed 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 equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

1. a control method of a dishwasher, the dishwasher comprising: a washing tub defining a space in which one or more dishes are placed; a storage unit movable from the washing tub; a driving unit provided in a lower unit of the washing tub and spraying washing water to the storage unit; and a door opening/closing the washing tub and including a drying module drying the dishes, the control method including:

A selection step for selecting the drying maintenance step by a user;

A water supply step for supplying washing water to the dishwasher;

A washing step for washing one or more dishes by using the washing water;

A rinsing step for rinsing the washed dishes;

A drying step for drying the rinsed dishes; and

A drying determination step of determining a selection of the drying maintenance step after the drying step,

Wherein the drying determination step includes: ending the drying step when the drying maintaining step is selected by a user; and performing the drying maintaining step after the drying step when the drying determining step is selected by a user;

Wherein the drying maintaining step intermittently operates the drying module of the dishwasher for a preset time period.

2. The control method of a dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the washing step comprises:

A pre-washing step for soaking food residues or filth stuck on the dishes; and

A main washing step for separating the food residue or filth from the dishes.

3. the control method of a dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the operation time of the drying module includes a preset pause time and a preset duration time of the drying module, the duration time being shorter than the pause time.

4. the control method of a dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the drying maintaining step is terminated based on a determination of an operation termination condition of the drying module, and wherein the operation termination condition of the drying module includes one of an operation termination input of a user, an opening of a door, and a start of another washing course.

5. A dishwasher, comprising:

A washing tub defining a space in which one or more dishes are placed;

A storage unit movable from the washing tub;

A driving unit provided in a lower unit of the washing tub and spraying washing water to the storage unit;

A door opening/closing the washing tub and including a drying module for drying the dishes;

A control panel provided at an upper portion of the door and including an operating unit having a drying maintenance button for operating a drying maintenance step for intermittently operating the drying module for a predetermined period of time and a display unit displaying an operating state of the dishwasher; and

A controller intermittently operating the drying module for a preset time period according to a user setting of the operating unit to maintain a drying state of the dishes independently of the drying step after the step of drying the dishes.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the display unit comprises a drying maintenance light that displays that the drying module is intermittently operated for a preset time period.