Dishwasher and Method of Controlling the Same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher that can save wash water for cleaning and a method of controlling the dishwasher. A method of controlling a dishwasher according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a method of controlling a dishwasher having a circulation channel through which wash water is supplied to wash a plurality of arms by a wash pump after collecting the wash water, sprayed in to a tub from the plurality of wash arms, in a sump, and the method includes: performing a first water-supplying for supplying a predetermined amount of wash water into the dishwasher by opening a water supply valve; performing a first washing where the plurality of wash arms spray the wash water into the tub to be circulated by operating the wash pump; performing a first draining for saving recycling wash water as much as the volume of the circulation channel and draining the rest of the wash water to the outside of the dishwasher by operating the wash pump and the drain pump; and performing a second water-supplying for supplying the amount of wash water except the amount of the recycling wash water from a predetermined amount of wash water into the dishwasher by opening the water supply valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling a dishwasher having a circulation channel through which wash water is supplied to a plurality of wash arms by a wash pump after collecting the wash water in a sump, the wash water having been previously sprayed into a tub from the plurality of wash arms, the method comprising:
 performing a first water-supplying for supplying a predetermined amount of wash water into the dishwasher by opening a water supply valve;   performing a first washing, wherein the plurality of wash arms sequentially spray the wash water into the tub to be circulated by operating the wash pump;   performing a first draining for saving recycling wash water and draining the rest of the wash water to the outside of the dishwasher by operating the wash pump and a drain pump; and   performing a second water-supplying for supplying the predetermined amount of wash water minus the amount of the recycling wash water saved into the dishwasher by opening the water supply valve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing a second washing, wherein the plurality of wash arms sequentially spray the wash water into the tub by operating the wash pump; and   performing a second draining for completely draining the wash water to the outside of the dishwasher by stopping the wash pump and operating the drain pump.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 performing a third water-supplying for supplying the predetermined amount of wash water into the dishwasher by opening the water supply valve.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing a second washing, wherein the plurality of wash arms sequentially spray wash water into the tub by operating the wash pump; and   performing a second draining for saving recycling wash water and draining the rest of the wash water to the outside of the dishwasher by operating the wash pump and the drain pump.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a channel switch unit for selectively supplying wash water to at least one of the plurality of wash arms is disposed in the circulation channel, and
 the channel switch unit is controlled to adjust the amount of recycling wash water in the first draining.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first draining includes:
 operating the wash pump and controlling the channel switch unit in accordance with the amount of recycling wash water;   operating the drain pump while the wash pump is operating; and   stopping both of the wash pump and the drain pump, when there is no load sensed in the drain pump.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first draining includes:
 operating the wash pump and controlling the channel switch unit in accordance with the amount of recycling wash water;   operating the drain pump while the wash pump is operating; and   stopping the wash pump and then stopping the drain pump, when there is no load sensed in the drain pump.   
     
     
         8 . A dishwasher, comprising:
 a tub;   a plurality of wash arms for spraying wash water into the tub;   a sump for collecting the wash water sprayed into the tub;   a drain pump for draining the wash water collected in the sump to the outside;   a wash pump for supplying the wash water collected in the sump to the plurality of wash arms; and   a controller to operate the wash pump forming a circulation channel through which the wash water is supplied to the plurality of wash arms and to operate the drain pump to save recycling wash water in the circulation channel and draining the remainder of the wash water outside the dishwasher.   
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a water supply valve for supplying wash water from an external water supply,   wherein the controller opens the water supply valve to supply a predetermined amount of wash water minus the amount of the recycling wash water from the external water supplier after saving the recycling wash water and draining the rest of the wash water.   
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher of  claim 8 , wherein the controller stops the wash pump and the drain pump when there is no load sensed in the drain pump. 
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher of  claim 8 , further comprises:
 a channel switch unit for selectively supplying wash water to at least one of the plurality of wash arms.   
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher of  claim 11 , wherein the controller controls the channel switch unit to adjust the amount of the recycling wash water. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher of  claim 11 , further comprises a plurality of wash arm connection channels connecting the plurality of wash arms to the sump, respectively,
 wherein the sump has a plurality of connection taps respectively connected with the plurality of wash arm connection channels, and selectively opened/closed by the channel switch unit,   wherein the channel switch unit comprises:   a rotary plate having a plurality of switch holes corresponding to at least one of the connection taps; and   a channel switch motor for rotating the rotary plate,   wherein the controller is configured to control the channel switch motor to adjust the amount of the recycling wash water.