Dishwasher and controlling method thereof

Abstract

Disclosed a controlling method of a dishwasher comprising a washing tub defining a washing space in which one or more dishes are loaded and washed; a storage unit in which the dishes are loaded; an injection unit injecting wash water to the dishes; a sump provided in a lower portion of the washing tub; and a driving unit supplying and circulating the wash water stored in the sump to the injection unit, the controlling method for cleaning the washing space comprising: a water supply step for supplying wash water; a preliminary cleaning step for injecting the wash water to the storage unit without the dishes, the washing tub and the injection unit to clean the storage unit, the washing tub and the injection unit; a main cleaning step for injecting the wash water mixed with dishwashing detergent to the storage unit, the washing tub and the injection unit; a rinsing step for rinsing the storage unit, the washing tub and the injecting unit by injecting wash water; and a drying step for drying the storage unit, the washing tub and the injection unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A controlling method of a dishwasher, the dishwasher comprising a washing tub in which one or more dishes are loaded to be washed; a storage unit, within the washing tub, in which the dishes are loaded; an injection unit injecting wash water onto the dishes; a sump provided in a lower portion of the washing tub; and a driving unit supplying and circulating the wash water stored in the sump to the injection unit, the controlling method for cleaning the washing space comprising:
 a water supply step of supplying wash water;   a preliminary cleaning step of injecting the wash water to the storage unit without the dishes, the washing tub, and the injection unit to clean the storage unit, the washing tub, and the injection unit;   a main cleaning step of injecting the wash water mixed with dishwashing detergent to the storage unit, the washing tub, and the injection unit;   a rinsing step of rinsing the storage unit, the washing tub, and the injecting unit by injecting wash water; and   a drying step of drying the storage unit, the washing tub, and the injection unit.   
     
     
         2 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a clean sensing step of counting the rinsing step,   wherein the dishwasher performs a washing step, a rinsing step, and a drying step for washing the dishes.   
     
     
         3 . The controlling method of  claim 2 , wherein the clean sensing step comprises:
 a counting step of cumulatively counting the operation frequency of the rinsing step;   a comparing step of comparing the cumulative counts with preset counts; and   an alarm step of generating an alarm when the cumulative counts satisfy the preset counts.   
     
     
         4 . The controlling method of  claim 3 , wherein the alarm step turns on a clean alarm lamp of the dishwasher. 
     
     
         5 . The controlling method of  claim 3 , wherein the clean alarm lamp is turned off, when cleaning of the washing tub is complete after the alarm step. 
     
     
         6 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a contaminant removing step of supplying the wash water to the driving unit and draining the wash water without circulation of the wash water, after the preliminary cleaning step.   
     
     
         7 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a steam heating step of supplying steam into the washing tub and heating the washing tub, after the preliminary cleaning step.   
     
     
         8 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the injection unit comprises a top injection unit, an upper injection unit, and a lower injection unit, and the main cleaning step comprises:
 a first main cleaning step of heating and injecting the wash water; and   a second main cleaning step of injecting the wash water using only the top injection unit.   
     
     
         9 . The controlling method of  claim 8 , wherein the rinsing step comprises:
 a first rinsing step of injecting the wash water;   a second rinsing step of heating and injecting the wash water; and   third rinsing step of injecting the wash water using only the top injection unit.   
     
     
         10 . The controlling method of  claim 8 , wherein the top injection unit, the upper injection unit, and the lower injection unit are sequentially operated at preset intervals. 
     
     
         11 . The controlling method of  claim 8 , wherein the order from the longest duration time to the shortest duration time is the top injection unit, the upper injection unit, and the lower injection unit. 
     
     
         12 . A dishwasher, comprising:
 a washing tub in which one or more dishes are loaded;   a storage unit detachably provided in the washing tub for loading the dishes therein;   an injection unit injecting wash water to the dishes;   a sump provided in a lower portion of the washing tub;   a driving unit supplying and circulating the wash water stored in the sump to the injection unit;   a control panel allowing a user to manipulate and control a dishwashing course and washing state; and   a controller comparing cumulative counts of washing and rinsing steps for the dishes with preset counts and indicating an alarm for a cleaning step of the washing space.   
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher of  claim 12 , the control panel comprises:
 a manipulation unit comprising a cleaning button for allowing the user to manipulate the washing and cleaning of the washing space.   
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher of  claim 12 , wherein the control panel comprises:
 a cleaning alarm lamp displaying activation and completion of the cleaning step.   
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher of  claim 12 , wherein the injection unit comprises:
 a top injection unit,   an upper injection unit, and   a lower injection unit,   wherein the driving unit simultaneously or selectively supplies wash water to the top, upper, and lower injection units.   
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher of  claim 14 , wherein the driving unit comprises:
 a heating chamber supplied wash water from the sump and defining a predetermined space for heating the supplied wash water;   a pumping chamber provided above the heating chamber and defining a predetermined space for pumping the wash water supplied to the heating chamber to the injection unit; and   a heater assembly connected to a bottom surface of the heating chamber and forming the bottom of the heating chamber and the lowermost surface of the driving unit, the heater assembly comprising a heater heating the wash water stored in the heating chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher of  claim 16 , wherein the heater heats the wash water flowing into the heating chamber and generates high-temperature wash water or steam.