Dishwasher and method for controlling same

Abstract

A dishwasher is proposed. The dishwasher includes a cabinet defining an appearance, and opened at a side thereof; a door configured to open or close an open front of the cabinet; a tub disposed in the cabinet, and defining a space in which dishes are washed; a dispenser disposed on a side of the door, and supplying detergent into the tub; and a spray arm having a plurality of spray nozzles in which spray holes opened in different directions are formed to spray wash water, a height of the spray arm being adjusted in at least two stages, wherein the plurality of spray nozzles comprises at least two dispenser spray nozzles to spray the wash water into the dispenser according to the adjusted height of the spray arm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher, comprising:
 a cabinet defining an appearance, and opened at a side thereof;   a door configured to open or close an open front of the cabinet;   a tub disposed in the cabinet, and defining a space in which dishes are washed;   a dispenser disposed on a side of the door, and supplying detergent into the tub; and   a spray arm having a plurality of spray nozzles in which spray holes opened in different directions are formed to spray wash water, a height of the spray arm being adjusted in at least two stages,   wherein the plurality of spray nozzles comprises at least two dispenser spray nozzles to spray the wash water into the dispenser according to the adjusted height of the spray arm.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rack disposed in the tub, and holding the dishes,   wherein the spray arm is rotatably disposed under the rack, and   the dispenser is disposed on a side of the rack to be spaced apart therefrom.   
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the spray arm is divided into a first spray part extending to a side with respect to a rotating axis about which the spray arm rotates, and a second spray part extending in a direction opposite to the first spray part with respect to the rotating axis, and
 each of the first spray part and the second spray part comprises at least one dispenser spray nozzle having a spray hole to spray the wash water into the dispenser.   
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher of  claim 3 , wherein the dispenser spray nozzle comprises:
 a first dispenser spray nozzle configured to spray the wash water into the dispenser in a highest height of the spray arm; and   a second dispenser spray nozzle configured to spray the wash water into the dispenser in a lowest height of the spray arm,   a spacing distance between the first dispenser spray nozzle and a center of the spray arm is formed greater than a spacing distance between the second dispenser spray nozzle and the center of the spray arm.   
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher of  claim 4 , wherein an angle between an imaginary horizontal line formed in a direction where the spray arm extends and a direction in which the wash water is sprayed upwards from the first dispenser spray nozzle is formed smaller than an angle between the imaginary horizontal line and a direction in which the wash water is sprayed upwards from the second dispenser spray nozzle. 
     
     
         6 . A dishwasher, comprising:
 a cabinet defining an appearance, and opened at a side thereof;   a door configured to open or close an open front of the cabinet;   a tub disposed in the cabinet, and defining a space in which dishes are washed;   a dispenser disposed on a side of the door, and supplying detergent into the tub;   an upper rack disposed at an upper position in the tub, and holding the dishes;   a lower rack disposed in the tub, disposed under the upper rack, and holding the dishes;   a lower spray arm provided under the lower rack to spray wash water upwards;   an upper spray arm disposed under the upper rack to be adjustable in height, and spraying the wash water upwards; and   at least two dispenser spray nozzles disposed on the upper spray arm to spray the wash water to the dispenser according to the adjusted height of the upper spray arm.   
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher of  claim 6 , wherein the dispenser spray nozzle comprises:
 a first dispenser spray nozzle configured to spray the wash water into the dispenser in a highest height of the spray arm;   a second dispenser spray nozzle configured to spray the wash water into the dispenser in a lowest height of the spray arm; and   a third dispenser spray nozzle formed in a height between the first dispenser spray nozzle and the second dispenser spray nozzle,   the first dispenser spray nozzle is more distant from a center of the upper spray arm than the third dispenser spray nozzle, and   the second dispenser spray nozzle is closer to the center of the spray arm than the third dispenser spray nozzle.   
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling a dishwasher, comprising:
 a preliminary washing step of performing mechanical washing on dishes by spraying wash water;   a main washing step of performing chemical washing on the dishes using washing detergent, after the preliminary washing step;   a rinsing step of rinsing the dishes, which has been subjected to the main washing step, with water; and   a dispenser spray step of spraying the wash water into a dispenser in which detergent is temporarily stored, prior to the main washing step.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the dispenser spray step comprises:
 a step of supplying water into the tub;   a step of opening an opening formed in the dispenser; and   a step of supplying the wash water to the opening of the dispenser through a spray arm that sprays the wash water.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the dispenser spray step comprises:
 after the opening of the dispenser is opened,   a step of regulating a path to supply the wash water to only an upper spray arm, among the upper spray arm disposed in the tub and a lower spray arm disposed under the upper spray arm.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the dispenser spray step further comprises:
 a step of heating the supplied water.