Dishwasher

Abstract

A dishwasher is disclosed, by which efficiency in washing tableware difficult to be washed through water spray can be raised. The present invention includes a cabinet, a washtub provided within the cabinet to wash tableware therein, and a steam supplier enabling either steam or superheated steam to be selectively supplied to the washtub.

1 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a cabinet;   a washtub provided within the cabinet to wash tableware therein; and   a steam supplier that selectively supplies either steam or superheated steam to the washtub.   
   
   
       2 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the steam supplier comprises:
 a steam generator generating the steam by heating water; and   a superheater generating the superheated steam by heating the steam generated by the steam generator.   
   
   
       3 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 , wherein the superheater is located above the steam generator. 
   
   
       4 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 , wherein the superheater comprises a heater generating the superheated steam by heating the steam generated by the steam generator while the steam is flowing through a passage. 
   
   
       5 . The dishwasher of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the steam supplier further comprises a steam jet device provided to an end portion of the passage, to direct the steam or superheated steam into the washtub, and   wherein the heater is positioned within the steam jet device.   
   
   
       6 . The dishwasher of  claim 5 , wherein the steam jet device comprises:
 a connecting member connected with a steam hose for supplying the steam; and   a plurality of jet orifices jetting the steam supplied from the connecting member into the cabinet,   wherein the heater is provided across a plurality of the jet orifices.   
   
   
       7 . The dishwasher of  claim 4 , wherein the superheater comprises a heating part having the heater embedded therein. 
   
   
       8 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 , wherein the superheater comprises:
 a case having a storage space for accommodating the steam generated by the steam generator; and   a heater generating the superheated steam by heating the steam within the case.   
   
   
       9 . The dishwasher of  claim 8 , wherein the case is selectively airtight. 
   
   
       10 . The dishwasher of  claim 8 , wherein an exhaust means is provided within the case along a flowing direction of the steam. 
   
   
       11 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 , wherein the superheater further comprises a temperature sensor, and wherein the superheater is controlled to be driven according to a temperature measured by the temperature sensor. 
   
   
       12 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a cabinet;   a washtub provided within the cabinet to wash tableware therein;   a steam supplier that selectively supplies either steam or superheated steam to the washtub; and   a control panel having an input unit to select one of a steam-using operation course and a superheated-steam-using operation course.   
   
   
       13 . The dishwasher of  claim 12 , wherein the steam supplier comprises:
 a steam generator generating the steam by heating water; and   a superheater generating the superheated steam by heating the steam generated by the steam generator.   
   
   
       14 . The dishwasher of  claim 13 , wherein the superheater comprises a heater generating the superheated steam by heating the steam generated by the steam generator while the steam is flowing through a passage. 
   
   
       15 . The dishwasher of  claim 14 :
 the steam supplier further comprises a steam jet device provided to an end portion of the passage, to direct the steam or superheated steam into the washtub, and   wherein the heater is positioned within the steam jet device.   
   
   
       16 . The dishwasher of  claim 14 , wherein the superheater comprises a heating part having the heater embedded therein. 
   
   
       17 . The dishwasher of  claim 13 , the superheater comprising:
 a case having a storage space for accommodating the steam generated by the steam generator; and   a heater generating the superheated steam by heating the steam within the case.   
   
   
       18 . The dishwasher of  claim 13 , wherein the input unit includes a course selecting unit for selecting a sanitary course enabling the steam generator to be activated only or a powerful sterilization course enabling both of the steam generator and the superheater to be simultaneously activated. 
   
   
       19 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a cabinet;   a washtub provided within the cabinet to wash tableware therein;   a steam supplier that selectively supplies either steam or superheated steam to the washtub; and   a control panel having an option selecting unit having a plurality of course selecting parts, the option selecting unit enabling the superheated steam to be additionally used for the course.   
   
   
       20 . The dishwasher of  claim 19 , the steam supplier comprising:
 a steam generator generating the steam by heating water; and   a superheater generating the superheated steam by heating the steam generated by the steam generator.   
   
   
       21 . The dishwasher of  claim 20 , wherein the option selecting unit includes a superheated steam selecting unit enabling both of the steam generator and the superheater to be simultaneously activated. 
   
   
       22 . The dishwasher of  claim 20 , wherein the superheater comprises a heater generating the superheated steam by heating the steam generated by the steam generator while the steam is flowing through a passage. 
   
   
       23 . The dishwasher of  claim 22 , wherein
 the steam supplier further comprises a steam jet device provided to an end portion of the passage, to direct the steam or superheated steam into the washtub, and   wherein the heater is positioned within the steam jet device.   
   
   
       24 . The dishwasher of  claim 22 , wherein the superheater comprises a heating part having the heater embedded therein. 
   
   
       25 . The dishwasher of  claim 20 , wherein the superheater comprises:
 a case having a storage space for accommodating the steam generated by the steam generator; and   a heater generating the superheated steam by heating the steam within the case.