Dishwasher and control method thereof

Abstract

A dishwasher includes: a tub defining a space that is configured to receive a target object to be washed, a sump disposed below the tub and configured to receive water, a pump connected to the sump and configured to move the water in the sump to the space of the tub, an air jet generator configured to receive a part of the water discharged from the pump and configured generate air bubbles in the water, and a control valve configured to control a flow of the water to the air jet generator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a tub defining a space that is configured to receive a target object to be washed;   a sump disposed below the tub and configured to receive water;   a pump connected to the sump and configured to move the water in the sump to the space of the tub;   an air jet generator configured to receive a part of the water discharged from the pump and configured generate air bubbles in the water; and   a control valve configured to control a flow of the water to the air jet generator.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises:
 a housing,   a water inlet pipe that protrudes from a first side of a circumferential surface of the housing and that is connected to the sump,   a water outlet pipe that protrudes from the first side of the circumferential surface of the housing and that is connected to a spray nozzle disposed inside the space,   an impeller rotatably disposed inside the housing and configured to move water inside the housing, and   a branch pipe that protrudes from a circumferential surface of the water outlet pipe and that is configured to move a part of water flowing through the water outlet pipe to the air jet generator,   wherein the control valve is configured to control a flow of water to the branch pipe.   
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a connection pipe connecting the branch pipe to the air jet generator,   wherein the control valve is disposed at the connection pipe.   
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 , wherein the pump further comprises:
 a heater configured to heat the water inside the housing, and   a steam discharge pipe that protrudes from a circumferential surface of the water outlet pipe and that is configured to supply steam to the space of the tub,   wherein the branch pipe protrudes below the steam discharge pipe.   
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the control valve is configured to, based on a main wash cycle of washing the target object using a detergent being completed, block the flow of the water to the air jet generator. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a connection pipe configured to move a part of the water discharged from the pump to the air jet generator,   wherein the control valve is configured to, based on a main wash cycle of washing the target object using a detergent being completed, reduce an opening area of a flow path provided inside the connection pipe.   
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher of  claim 6 , wherein the air jet generator has a Venturi tube shape and is configured to pulverize air introduced through an air inlet hole with water flowing through a flow path perpendicular to a bottom surface of the tub. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 , wherein the spray nozzle is configured to spray water to the space. 
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the air jet generator is configured to discharge the water having air bubbles to the space. 
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the air jet generator includes:
 an air crushing pipe including a first pipe providing (i) an inlet at a lower side of the air crushing pipe, (ii) an opening in a water flowing direction, and (iii) a cross-sectional area reducing in the water flowing direction, and a second pipe disposed above the first pipe, the second pipe providing (i) an opening in the water flowing direction and (ii) a cross-sectional area increasing in the water flowing direction, and   an air tab disposed at an upper portion of the second pipe and vertically provided with a plurality of air holes.   
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher of  claim 10 , wherein an air inlet hole is provided at a first side of the air crushing pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher of  claim 11 , wherein the air inlet hole is provided at an upstream end of the second pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher of  claim 11 , wherein the air inlet hole is provided at a lower end of the second pipe. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher of  claim 11 , wherein the air inlet hole is provided perpendicularly to a direction of a flow path where the water flows into the second pipe. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher of  claim 11 , wherein the air jet generator includes an air chamber, and
 wherein the air inlet hole provides fluid communication between an inside of the air crushing pipe and an outside of the air crushing pipe through the air chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher of  claim 15 , wherein the air inlet hole is defined at a lower end of the air chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher of  claim 15 , wherein the air chamber defines an external air inlet hole through which external air is introduced. 
     
     
         18 . The dishwasher of  claim 10 , wherein, based on the pump being operated, the water flows upwards from the first pipe towards the second pipe. 
     
     
         19 . A method for controlling a dishwasher, the method comprising:
 receiving water by a sump;   operating a pump to move the water in the sump to a space inside a tub disposed in the dishwasher;   controlling a control valve so that a part of the water discharged from the pump is supplied to an air jet generator that is configured to generate air bubbles in the water;   opening a dispenser to supply a detergent to the space;   stopping the pump and operating a drain pump to drain the water from the sump;   receiving water by the sump again;   operating the pump to move the water in the sump to the space; and   controlling the control valve to block the supply of the water discharged from the pump to the air jet generator.   
     
     
         20 . A method for controlling a dishwasher, the method comprising:
 performing a main wash cycle of operating a pump and removing foreign substances from a target object to be washed placed inside a space of the dishwasher using a detergent; and   performing a rinse cycle of operating the pump and washing the target object having undergone through the main wash cycle using water,   wherein, in the main wash cycle, a control valve is controlled to cause a part of the water from the pump to move to an air jet generator that is configured to generate air bubbles,   wherein, in the rinse cycle, the control valve is controlled to block a part of the water from the pump from being introduced to the air jet generator.