Dishwasher and control method thereof

Abstract

Disclosed a control method of a dishwasher comprising a main-washing cycle for washing one or more washing objects which are held in a tub; a rinsing cycle for rinsing the washing objects washed in the main-washing cycle by injecting wash water; a normal drying cycle for drying the washing objects rinsed in the rinsing cycle, wherein the main-washing cycle comprises a pre-steam water supply step for supplying steam water to a sump so as to supply steam to the tub; a pre-steam supply step for generating steam by heating a heater and supplying the steam to the tub; a main-wash water supply step for supplying wash water for washing to the sump, without draining the steam water supplied to the sump; a main-washing step for washing the washing objects by circulating the supplied wash water; and a main-wash water drainage step for draining the wash water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control method of a dishwasher, comprising:
 rinsing one or more objects in a rinsing cycle by injecting wash water;   drying the objects in a steam drying cycle by supplying steam;   drying the objects in a normal drying cycle, without supplying steam,   wherein the rinsing cycle comprises:
 supplying rinse water to a sump in a rinse water supply step; 
 injecting the rinse water via an injection arm in a rinse water circulating step by driving a pump; and 
 draining the rinse water from the sump in a rinse water drainage step, and 
   wherein the steam drying cycle comprises:
 supplying drying steam water in a drying steam water supply step to dry the objects; and 
 supplying steam to a tub in a drying steam supply step, 
 wherein a water level of the steam water supplied in the drying steam water supply step is lower than a steam outlet hole provided in the pump for exhausting steam. 
   
     
     
         2 . The control method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 washing the objects in a pre-washing cycle by supplying the wash water not mixed with dishwashing liquid; and   washing the objects in a main-washing cycle by supplying the wash water mixed with the dishwashing liquid,   wherein the pre-washing cycles and the main-washing cycle are before the rinsing cycle.   
     
     
         3 . The control method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting one of a plurality of courses in a course/option selecting step,   wherein when a steam refresh course is selected in the course/option selecting step, the rinsing cycle, the steam drying cycle, and the normal drying cycle are implemented.   
     
     
         4 . The control method of  claim 1 , wherein the rinsing cycle further comprises:
 injecting rinse water in a first rinsing step via a top arm at a first preset temperature for a first preset time period; and   injecting rinse water in a second rinsing step via an upper arm and a lower arm at a second preset temperature for a second preset time period,   wherein the second rinsing step is after the first rinsing step, and   wherein the first preset time period is shorter than the second preset time period.   
     
     
         5 . The control method of  claim 4 , wherein the second rinsing step comprises a rinse water heating step for heating a pump heater. 
     
     
         6 . The control method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 injecting rinse water in a third rinsing step via the top arm at a third preset temperature for a third preset time period,   wherein the third rinsing step is after the second rinsing step.   
     
     
         7 . The control method of  claim 1 , wherein the normal drying cycle comprises:
 exhausting steam from the tub in a first drying step by opening a door or via an exhaustion duct.   
     
     
         8 . The control method of  claim 1 , wherein the dishwasher comprises:
 a circulation duct, in communication with the tub, for circulating air inside the tub; and   a dehumidifier provided in the circulation duct, and   wherein the normal drying cycle comprises:   circulating humid air inside the tub toward the circulation duct and removing moisture by using the humidifier in a second drying step.   
     
     
         9 . The control method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting a course or an option adding steam to the selected course in a course/option selecting step.   
     
     
         10 . The control method of  claim 9 , wherein when a steam refresh course is selected in the course/option selecting step, the steam refresh course is implemented and comprises a rinsing cycle, a steam cycle, and a normal drying cycle. 
     
     
         11 . The control method of  claim 1 , wherein the drying steam supply step comprises:
 supplying wash water to the sump in a first water supply step to wash the sump and the pump; and   draining the supplied wash water in a first drainage step.   
     
     
         12 . The control method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 circulating the wash water supplied to the sump and the pump in a first circulating step by driving the pump and washing internal spaces of the sump and the pump,   wherein the first circulating step is after the first drainage step.   
     
     
         13 . The control method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 supplying steam water to the sump in a second water supply step to generate steam,   wherein the second water supply step is after the first drainage step, and   wherein the first drainage step drains all of the wash water supplied in the first water supply step.   
     
     
         14 . The control method of  claim 11 , wherein the first drainage step drains a predetermined amount of the wash water supplied in the first water supply step and generates steam by using the remaining wash water.