Patent Application
20250027260
The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus that has a separate space for caring for, storing, and displaying laundry or items.
A laundry treating apparatus refers to an apparatus developed for washing and drying laundry at home and in a laundry, and for removing wrinkles on the laundry. What is classified as the laundry treating apparatus includes a washing machine that washes the laundry, a dryer that dries the laundry, a washing machine/dryer that has both a washing function and a drying function, a clothes care apparatus that refreshes the laundry, a steamer that removes the wrinkles from the laundry, and the like.
In particular, the clothes care apparatus is an apparatus that helps keep the laundry fresh and clean. The clothes care apparatus may remove fine dust attached to the laundry, deodorize the laundry, dry the laundry, and add fragrance to the laundry. In addition, generation of static electricity may be prevented, wrinkles may be removed from the laundry using dehumidified air or steam, and the laundry may be sterilized.
Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2014-0108454 discloses a typical laundry treating apparatus. That is, in a case of the typical laundry treating apparatus, a treatment room in which the laundry is accommodated and cared for using steam and hot air is formed inside a cabinet, and a hanger bar where the laundry is hung extends in a left and right direction inside the treatment room. A machinery room containing mechanical devices necessary for the laundry caring may be located under the treatment room and may supply hot air and steam to the treatment room. Additionally, when the laundry is hung on the hanger bar using a hanger, the laundry may be disposed in a front and rear direction of the cabinet. Additionally, the treatment room may be equipped with a shelf where a bag, a hat, and other goods that require care may be mounted.
However, this is an apparatus that focuses on simply caring for the laundry. Therefore, there is no separate space to display or store laundry inside. Additionally, using the treatment room may not also be energy efficient when an amount of laundry to be cared for is small. In one example, when a front surface of the door is made of a transparent material such that a user may check the laundry hung inside, an insulation performance via the front surface of the door is reduced, making it difficult to achieve the purpose of laundry caring.
In addition, because the hanger bar may only move in the left and right direction from a fixed location, there may be inconvenience in the user having to reach inside the treatment room to hang the laundry when hanging the laundry.
In addition, with a development of clothes and accessories made of various materials, there may be a need for a space to separately store and display laundry that require delicate care, such as a leather product or a silk product, or a separate space where temperature and humidity may be adjusted on a regular basis to store and display items such as the bag or the hat.
Additionally, this is the apparatus that focuses on simply caring for the laundry. Therefore, there is a problem of having to prepare a separate display room or showcase room to store and display the laundry. In addition, even when the separate display room is defined in the laundry treating apparatus, it needs to be controlled separately from the treatment room. Additionally, to make the display room or the showcase room stand out, the display room or the showcase room may require a lighting device that may change an intensity and a color of lighting.
The treatment room may have lighting to illuminate the interior. In the case of lighting disposed in the treatment room, a structure to withstand steam or hot air supplied to the treatment room may be required.
Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2019-0141286 discloses a laundry treating apparatus that separately has the treatment room for accommodating therein and caring for the laundry and a storage room where laundry that has been cared for is stored and the temperature is adjustable. However, there is a problem in that the laundry treating apparatus takes up a great amount of space indoors because the treatment room and the storage room are arranged in the left and right direction. In addition, because an air conditioner for the storage room is not disposed separately, but an air conditioner for the treatment room is used in the storage room in a connected manner, independent temperature and humidity adjustment only for the laundry stored in the storage room is not available during use of the treatment room.
In one example, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2019-0139400 discloses a laundry treating apparatus with the treatment room and the storage room divided from each other in the front and rear direction, but a laundry caring function is equipped only in the treatment room and there is no separate mechanical device to manage the temperature and the humidity of the storage room. When the laundry that has been treated or cared for is simply stored in the storage room, the stored laundry may be affected by changes in surrounding temperature and humidity. For example, when the laundry is stored without the temperature and humidity adjustment, a moisture content of the laundry may increase and the laundry may become damp, or surrounding odors may be absorbed again. To solve such problem, an apparatus to manage the temperature and the humidity of the laundry even during the storage is needed.
In addition, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2019-0139400 discloses a laundry treating apparatus in which the treatment room on a front side and the storage room on a rear side are separated from each other and the treatment room is hinged to a side surface of the storage room. However, considering an usage environment in which the laundry treating apparatus is used, a size of the laundry treating apparatus has no choice but to consider a standard size of furniture such as a typical closet. This is because the laundry treating apparatus is disposed next to or adjacent to the closet rather than being disposed alone indoors, away from the closet. Therefore, when the treatment room and the storage room are coupled to each other in a form similar to the hinge coupling of the typical door, durability of the hinge may be a problem because of a size of the treatment room, and interference may occur with the furniture located near when the treatment room pivots relative to the storage room. To solve such problem, the laundry treating apparatus should protrude forward as much as the size of the treatment room to resolve the interference between the surrounding furniture and the hinge. However, when the laundry treating apparatus protrudes more than other furniture, sense of unity with the surrounding furniture may be ruined.
Additionally, a new hinge structure that may withstand loads of the structure for the display room and the structure for supporting the display room may be needed. Additionally, the display room may be used as a space to show the accommodated laundry or the goods to the user and at the same time as a space where the laundry or the goods are able to be cared for. Therefore, it is necessary to have a separate mechanical device that may adjust the temperature and the humidity for the display room.
Korean Patent No. 10-1561439 shows a main frame with a front surface open that is compression-molded to extend in one direction, a lighting unit installed inside the main frame to emit light, a light transmissive plate coupled to the front surface of the main frame, and a moisture-proof sealing member. However, when the light transmissive plate has a curved shape, not only is it difficult to apply the structure, but a moisture-proof structure for the lighting unit is also reflected. In addition, there is no structure that may be coupled with another member, so that it is suitable only for single use or full assembly method.
First, the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus with a space divided into a first chamber and a second chamber for caring of laundry or goods.
Second, the present disclosure is to provide the second chamber where temperature and humidity may be adjusted independently of the first chamber where temperature and humidity may be adjusted for sterilization, deodorization, drying, and wrinkle removal of laundry or goods.
Third, the present disclosure is to provide a hinge structure that may prevent interference with adjacent furniture when opening and closing a door assembly containing a second chamber, considering a size of the second chamber.
Fourth, the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus where a hanger bar is disposed and an air circulation direction based on the hanger bar is set, considering a size of a space of the first chamber with a length in a front and rear direction reduced by the second chamber.
Fifth, the present disclosure is to provide a door assembly that may be automatically withdrawn from a cabinet by sensing opening of the door assembly by a user.
Sixth, the present disclosure is to enable check of laundry or goods accommodated in the second chamber via a front surface of the door assembly.
Seventh, the present disclosure is to allow illuminance and color of lighting that emits light toward the second chamber to be changed depending on laundry or goods.
Eighth, the present disclosure is to provide the first chamber that executes a course to care for laundry by receiving steam or hot air based on the course selected by the user, and the second chamber that constantly monitors inside temperature and humidity for laundry accommodated inside based on user's settings.
Ninth, the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that includes a treatment space that intensively cares for laundry by spraying hot air and/or steam and a showcase room that displays and stores laundry, and includes a lighting device that provides lighting for the showcase room.
Tenth, the present disclosure is to provide a lighting device that may directly or indirectly illuminate the showcase room.
Eleventh, the present disclosure is to provide a lighting device that may dissipate heat and moisture.
Twelfth, the present disclosure is to allow illuminance and color of the lighting installed in the showcase room to be changed based on laundry and goods.
Thirteenth, the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that has a treatment space that intensively cares for laundry by spraying hot air and/or steam and a showcase room where display and caring are available, in a divided manner.
Fourteenth, the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may adjust temperature and humidity of the showcase room independently of the treatment space where sterilization, drying, and wrinkle removal are performed.
Fifteenth, the present disclosure is to adjust temperature and humidity of the showcase room.
Sixteenth, the present disclosure is to allow intensity or color of lighting disposed in the showcase room to be changed based on user's choice.
To solve the above-mentioned problems, provided is a laundry treating apparatus that simultaneously includes a styling area for caring for laundry and a showcase area for displaying laundry while caring for the same at all times. To solve the above-mentioned problems by dividing the styling area and the showcase area from each other, provided is the laundry treating apparatus that simultaneously has the styling area for caring for the laundry and the showcase area for storing and displaying the laundry while caring for the laundry at all times. By dividing the styling area and the showcase area from each other, a front surface of the showcase area may be made of a transparent material, so that an insulation performance of the styling area may be maintained while interior check is available.
Reflecting a size of the styling area that is reduced because of the showcase area, a hanger bar of the laundry treating apparatus may be disposed in a front and rear direction. On the other hand, an air circulation direction in a first chamber of the laundry treating apparatus may be a left and right direction.
Independently of air circulation and steam spray in the styling area, the laundry treating apparatus may include an air circulator and an air treater to adjust temperature and humidity in the showcase area.
The laundry treating apparatus may include a lighting device whose intensity and color may be adjusted to suit the laundry or items accommodated in the showcase area.
Considering a size of the showcase area, a door assembly including the showcase may be automatically extended and then slid. In addition, a separate door accessing the showcase may use a push & pull method.
More specifically, to solve above-mentioned problems, provided is a laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet including a first inlet defined in a front surface thereof, a first chamber that is located inside the cabinet and accommodates laundry or goods therein via the first inlet, an auxiliary chamber located at a lower side inside the cabinet and defining therein a space separated from the first chamber, a door assembly that opens and closes the first inlet, and a second chamber located inside the door assembly and defining therein a space separated from the first chamber and the auxiliary chamber to accommodate the laundry or the goods therein, and the first chamber includes a first area located on the auxiliary chamber; and a second area located in front of the auxiliary chamber and accommodating at least a portion of the second chamber therein when the door assembly closes the first inlet.
Along a front and rear direction of the cabinet, a front-and-rear length of the second area may be equal to or smaller than a front-and-rear length of the first area.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a first chamber bottom surface forming a bottom surface of the first chamber, and the bottom surface of the first chamber may be formed to be stepped along the front and rear direction of the cabinet.
The first chamber bottom surface may include a first bottom surface forming a bottom surface of the first area, and a second bottom surface forming a bottom surface of the second area, and a vertical level of the first bottom surface may be higher than a vertical level of the second bottom surface.
The second bottom surface may face at least a portion of a lower portion of the door assembly when the door assembly closes the first inlet.
The door assembly may include an accommodating body including a second inlet defined in a front surface thereof to allow the second chamber formed therein to be in communication with the outside, and a door of the second chamber that opens and closes the second inlet, and at least a portion of the accommodating body may be accommodated in the first area when the door assembly closes the first inlet.
At least a portion of the door of the second chamber may be made of a material that allows visible light to pass therethrough.
A width of the accommodating body may decrease rearwards from the second inlet. That is, the accommodating body may have a tapered shape.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a first hinge pivotably coupling the door assembly to the cabinet, and a second hinge pivotably coupling the door of the second chamber to the accommodating body.
The first hinge may include a plurality of first hinges.
The first hinge may include a first upper hinge located at an upper portion of the first chamber; and a first lower hinge located at a lower portion of the first chamber, a portion of each of the first upper hinge and the first lower hinge may be located spaced apart from both side surfaces of the first chamber, another portion of each of the first upper hinge and the first lower hinge may be pivotably coupled to a rear surface of the accommodating body so as to be spaced apart from both side surfaces of the accommodating body, and the first hinge may extend the door assembly forward of the cabinet and then move the door assembly along a width direction of the cabinet and pivot the door assembly to open the first inlet.
The second hinge may include a plurality of second hinges, and one end of each of the plurality of second hinges may be located in the accommodating body and the other end of each of the plurality of second hinges may be located on an inner surface of the door of the chamber facing the second inlet of the door of the second chamber, so that the second hinge may pivot the door such that an angle between the second inlet and the door of the second chamber increases or decreases.
The first hinge may include a first link and a second link that are pivotably coupled to the cabinet and the accommodating body, but are positioned spaced apart from each other.
The first link and the second link may move the door assembly parallel to the first inlet when opening and closing the first inlet
The first hinge may move the door assembly forward away from the first inlet via the pivoting of the first link and the second link, and then move the door assembly parallel to the first inlet.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include an opening/closing driver that is located on an inner surface of the first chamber and pushes the door assembly to separate the door assembly from the first inlet.
The opening/closing driver may include an opening/closing body that forms an outer appearance, an opening/closing motor disposed inside the opening/closing body, and an opening/closing link that is connected to the opening/closing motor and pushes the door assembly in a direction away from the first inlet when the opening/closing motor rotates.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include an air supply that is located inside the auxiliary chamber and circulates air in the first chamber, an air intake port located on a bottom surface of the first chamber, in communication with the first chamber, and sucking air from the first chamber into the air supply, and an air discharge port located on the bottom surface of the first chamber, in communication with the first chamber, and discharging air that has passed through the air supply into the first chamber.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a first bottom surface forming a bottom surface of the first area, and a second bottom surface forming a bottom surface of the second area, and the air intake port and the air discharge port may be located on the first bottom surface.
The air intake port and the air discharge port may be disposed along the width direction of the cabinet.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a steam supply that is located in the auxiliary chamber and generates and supplies steam to the first chamber, and a steam discharge port that is located at a bottom of the first chamber and discharges steam into the first chamber.
The steam discharge port may be located closer to the air discharge port than to the air intake port.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a water supply tank that supplies water for generating the steam in the steam supply, and a drain tank that stores condensate generated in the air supply and the first chamber, and the water supply tank and the drain tank may be detachably inserted into the auxiliary chamber via a front surface of the auxiliary chamber.
Lengths of the water supply tank and the drain tank along the front and rear direction of the cabinet may be greater than lengths thereof along the height direction of the cabinet.
The air supply may further include a heat exchanger for dehumidifying and heating circulating air of the first chamber, and the water supply tank and the drain tank may be located above the heat exchanger.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a hanger body that is located at an upper side inside the first chamber and hangs the laundry thereon, and the hanger body may extend along the front and rear direction of the cabinet.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include an air supply that is located in the auxiliary chamber and circulates air in the first chamber, an air intake port located at a lower portion of the first chamber, in communication with the first chamber, and sucking air from the first chamber into the air supply, and an air discharge port located at a lower portion of the first chamber, in communication with the first chamber, and discharging air that has passed through the air supply into the first chamber, and the air intake port and the air discharge port may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the cabinet.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a hanger support that supports the hanger body movably in the front and rear direction.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a hanger bar fixing groove defined in one of the hanger support and the hanger body, and a movement preventing protrusion disposed on the other of the hanger support and the hanger body and insertable into the hanger bar fixing groove depending on whether the door assembly is opened.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a laundry driver that generates a rotational force for a reciprocating movement of the hanger body, and a power converter connected to the laundry driver to cause the reciprocating movement of the hanger body along the front and rear direction.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a hanger mounting portion for hanging the laundry accommodated in the second chamber, and a direction of the laundry hung on the hanger mounting portion may be the same as a direction of the laundry hung on the hanger body.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include an air circulator located inside the accommodating body to circulate air in the second chamber.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include an air treater located inside the accommodating body to circulate air in the second chamber.
The air circulator and the air treater may be operated even when the door assembly is opened.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include an air supply disposed inside the auxiliary chamber to circulate air in the first chamber, and the air circulator and the air treater may be operated independently of the operation of the air supply.
The air circulator may include a heater that heats circulating air of the second chamber to adjust a temperature of the second chamber.
The air treater may include a dehumidifier to dehumidify air circulating through the air treater.
The door assembly may further include a shelf that is detachably disposed in the second chamber and supports the laundry or the goods accommodated in the second chamber.
In one example, the laundry treating apparatus may include a cabinet including a first inlet defined in a front surface thereof, a first chamber that is located inside the cabinet and accommodates laundry or goods therein via the first inlet, an auxiliary chamber located at a lower side inside the cabinet and defining therein a space separated from the first chamber, and a door assembly that opens and closes the first inlet and includes a second chamber that accommodates the laundry or the goods therein, and at least a portion of the second chamber may be accommodated in a space between the first inlet and the auxiliary chamber when the door assembly closes the first inlet.
In one example, the laundry treating apparatus may include a cabinet including a first inlet defined in a front surface thereof, a first chamber that is located inside the cabinet and accommodates laundry or goods therein via the first inlet, an auxiliary chamber located at a lower side inside the cabinet and defining therein a space separated from the first chamber, a door assembly including a second inlet defined in a front surface thereof, including an accommodating body defining a second chamber therein and a door of the second chamber that opens and closes the second inlet, and opening and closing the first inlet, a first hinge that separates the door assembly from the first chamber and then moves the door assembly along the width direction of the cabinet to open the first inlet, and a second hinge that opens the second inlet by moving the door of the second chamber such that the angle between the door of the second chamber and the front surface of the accommodating body increases.
At least a portion of the second chamber may be located in front of the auxiliary chamber inside the first chamber when the door assembly closes the first inlet.
In one example, the laundry treating apparatus may include a cabinet including a first inlet defined in a front surface thereof, a first chamber that is located inside the cabinet and accommodates laundry therein via the first inlet, an auxiliary chamber located at a lower side inside the cabinet and defining therein an installation space separated from the first chamber, a door assembly that opens and closes the first inlet, and a first hinge that connects the door assembly to the cabinet, the door assembly may include an accommodating body including a second inlet defined in a front surface thereof and at least partially accommodated inside the first chamber when the door assembly is closed, a second chamber located inside the accommodating body, formed separately from the first chamber and the auxiliary chamber, and in communication with the outside via the second inlet, a door of the second chamber that opens and closes the second inlet, and a second hinge that connects the door of the second chamber to the accommodating body, the first hinge may extend the door assembly forward of the cabinet, move the door assembly along the width direction of the cabinet, and pivot the door assembly to open the first inlet, and the second hinge may pivot the door of the second chamber to open the second inlet.
The water supply tank and the drain tank may be located above the air supply or the steam supply.
In one example, the laundry treating apparatus may include a cabinet including a first inlet defined in a front surface thereof, a first chamber that is located inside the cabinet and accommodates laundry therein via the first inlet, an auxiliary chamber located at a lower side inside the cabinet and defining therein an installation space separated from the first chamber, and a door assembly that is coupled to the cabinet to open and close the first inlet, and the door assembly may include an accommodating body including a second inlet defined in a front surface thereof and at least partially accommodated inside the first chamber when the door assembly is closed, a second chamber located inside the accommodating body, formed separately from the first chamber and the auxiliary chamber, and in communication with the outside via the second inlet, and a door of the second chamber that opens and closes the second inlet.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a first hinge that pivots such that the door assembly is extended forward of the cabinet and then moved along the width direction of the cabinet, and a second hinge that pivots to open the second inlet via the pivoting of the door of the second chamber when the door of the second chamber is opened.
When the door assembly is closed, the door assembly may move along the width direction of the cabinet to face the first inlet, and then close the first inlet.
To solve above-mentioned problems, a laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet including a first inlet defined in a front surface thereof, a first chamber that is located inside the cabinet and accommodates laundry therein via the first inlet, a second chamber located at a lower side inside the cabinet and defining therein an installation space separated from the first chamber, and a door assembly that is coupled to the cabinet and opens and closes the first inlet, and the door assembly includes an accommodating body including a second inlet defined in a front surface thereof, an accommodating housing disposed inside the accommodating body, in communication with the outside via the second inlet, and defining therein an accommodating space separated from the first chamber and the second chamber, and a line lighting that is disposed in the accommodating housing in parallel with the second inlet and illuminates the accommodating space.
The line lighting may include a linear heat dissipating body including an insertion hole defined in one surface thereof, an LED assembly that is disposed inside the heat dissipating body and emits light, and a protective cover coupled to the insertion hole.
The line lighting may further include an end cover coupled to each of both ends of the line lighting.
The line lighting may further include a body fastening hole defined through the heat dissipating body in a direction opposite to the insertion hole, and the line lighting may be coupled to an inner surface of the accommodating housing by a fastening member via the body fastening hole.
The door assembly may further include a line lighting installation portion defined as a portion of the inner surface of the accommodating housing is recessed toward the accommodating body in parallel with the second inlet, wherein the protective cover is inserted into the line lighting installation portion.
The line lighting may further include a body sealing member located between the protective cover and the heat dissipating body to prevent moisture or foreign substances of the accommodating space from penetrating into the heat dissipating body.
The line lighting may include a plate-shaped heat dissipating body extending in one direction, an LED assembly that is disposed on one surface of the heat dissipating body and emits light, and a protective cover coupled to the heat dissipating body to cover the LED assembly.
The door assembly may further include a line lighting installation portion defined through an inner surface of the accommodating housing in parallel with the second inlet along the inner surface of the accommodating housing such that the protective cover is inserted thereinto, and the line lighting may be inserted into and coupled to the line lighting installation portion.
The heat dissipating body may further include a recessed portion defined as an area coupled to the protective cover is recessed, and a body fastening hole defined through the heat dissipating body along a periphery of the recessed portion, and the line lighting may be coupled to an outer surface of the accommodating housing by a fastening member via the body fastening hole when being inserted into the line lighting installation portion.
A portion of the protective cover may be inserted into the accommodating space.
The line lighting may further include a body sealing member disposed along a perimeter of a top surface of the protective cover and preventing moisture or foreign substances of the accommodating space from penetrating into the LED assembly.
The protective cover may be made of a light diffusion material.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include an accommodating space top surface forming a top surface of the accommodating space, an accommodating space bottom surface forming a bottom surface of the accommodating space, an accommodating space left side surface connecting the accommodating space top surface with the accommodating space bottom surface to form a left side surface of the accommodating space, an accommodating space right side surface connecting the top surface of the accommodating space with the accommodating space bottom surface to form a right side surface of the accommodating space, and an accommodating space rear surface connecting the accommodating space top surface, the accommodating space bottom surface, and the accommodating space left side surface and the accommodating space right side surface to form a rear surface of the accommodating space, and the line lighting may include a front line lighting located closer to the second inlet than to the accommodating space rear surface, and a rear line lighting located closer to the accommodating space rear surface than to the second inlet.
The front line lighting may include a first front line lighting disposed along a width direction of the door assembly in the accommodating space top surface, a second front line lighting disposed along a height direction of the door assembly in the accommodating space left side surface, and a third front line lighting disposed along the height direction of the door assembly in the accommodating space right side surface.
The rear line lighting may include a first rear line lighting disposed along a width direction of the door assembly in the accommodating space top surface, a second rear line lighting disposed along a height direction of the door assembly in the accommodating space left side surface, and a third rear line lighting disposed along the height direction of the door assembly in the accommodating space right side surface.
The front line lighting and the rear line lighting may illuminate different areas of the accommodating space.
The door assembly may further include an upper lighting that is located between the front line lighting and the rear line lighting in the accommodating space top surface and emits light downward toward the accommodating space.
The door assembly may further include a lower lighting that emits light upward from the accommodating space bottom surface toward the accommodating space.
The line lighting may be able to change an intensity and a color of light.
The door assembly may further include a shelf located in the accommodating space and for supporting goods accommodated in the accommodating space, and the shelf may include a shelf body with an open top surface, an upper cover coupled to the open top surface of the shelf body to support the goods, and a shelf lighting that is disposed in the shelf body and irradiates light.
The shelf lighting may include an upper shelf lighting that irradiates light via the upper cover, and a lower shelf lighting that irradiates light downward of the shelf body.
A laundry treating apparatus described in the present disclosure includes a cabinet including a first inlet defined in a front surface thereof, a first chamber that is located inside the cabinet and accommodates laundry therein via the first inlet, a second chamber located at a lower side inside the cabinet and defining therein an installation space separated from the first chamber, and a door assembly that is coupled to the cabinet and opens and closes the first inlet.
The door assembly includes an accommodating body including a second inlet defined in a front surface thereof, an accommodating space defined inside the accommodating body to accommodate goods including the laundry therein via the second inlet, an accommodating space lighting disposed in an inner surface of the accommodating space, wherein the accommodating space lighting is able to adjust an intensity and a color of light illuminating the accommodating space, an accommodating door that opens and closes the second inlet, and an inputter/outputter that is disposed in the accommodating door and receives an input of a user or display information.
The inputter/outputter may include an accommodating space inputter/outputter that displays a menu related to the first chamber and receives the input, a first chamber inputter/outputter that displays a menu related to the accommodating space and receives the input, and a user notifier that displays information related to the menu input via the accommodating space inputter/outputter and the first chamber inputter/outputter.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a proximity sensor that is disposed in the door assembly and senses that the user is approaching or moving away, and a controller that controls the accommodating space lighting, the inputter/outputter, and the proximity sensor, and when the proximity sensor senses that the user is approaching to be within a preset first sensing area, the controller may activate some of the accommodating space inputter/outputter, the first chamber inputter/outputter, and the user notifier of the inputter/outputter so as to be selected by the user.
The accommodating space inputter/outputter may include an accommodating space selector that receives selection of the accommodating space by the user, and a first chamber selector that receives selection of the first chamber by the user, and when the proximity sensor senses that the user is approaching to be within the first sensing area, the controller may activate one of the accommodating space selector and the first chamber selector so as to be selected by the user.
The controller may maintain the activation of the accommodating space selector and the first chamber selector such that the user is able to select the other selector even after selecting one of the accommodating space selector and the first chamber selector.
When the proximity sensor senses that the user is approaching to be within the first sensing area, the controller may adjust the intensity of light of the accommodating space lighting to a preset first lighting intensity.
When sensing the input of the accommodating space selector, the controller may adjust the intensity of light of the accommodating space lighting to a preset second lighting intensity, and the second lighting intensity may be greater than the first lighting intensity.
When the proximity sensor senses that the user moves away out of a preset second sensing area, the controller may adjust the intensity of light of the accommodating space lighting to a preset third lighting intensity, and the third lighting intensity may be smaller than the second lighting intensity.
The proximity sensor may be located at a preset first vertical level along a height direction of the door assembly.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a shelf detachably coupled to a rear surface of the accommodating space to support the goods in the accommodating space, and a shelf lighting disposed in the shelf, wherein the shelf lighting is able to adjust an intensity and a color of light illuminating the accommodating space.
The controller may also be able to control the shelf lighting, and when the proximity sensor senses that the user is approaching to be within the first sensing area, the controller may turn on the accommodating space lighting and the shelf intensity lighting with a preset first lighting intensity.
The accommodating space inputter/outputter may include an accommodating space selector that receives selection of the accommodating space by the user, and a first chamber selector that receives selection of the first chamber by the user, when sensing the input of the accommodating space selector, the controller may adjust the accommodating space lighting to have a preset second lighting intensity, and the second lighting intensity may be greater than the first lighting intensity.
When the proximity sensor senses that the user moves away out of a preset second sensing area, the controller may adjust the accommodating space lighting to have a preset third lighting intensity, and the third lighting intensity may be smaller than the second lighting intensity.
The door assembly may further include an air circulator that circulates and heats air in the accommodating space, and an air treater that circulates and dehumidifies air in the accommodating space, the accommodating space inputter/outputter may include
The controller may be able to change the intensity and the color of light of the accommodating space lighting based on one adjustment mode selected by the user among a plurality of preset adjustment modes provided in the lighting mode.
The door assembly may further include a fingerprint sensor that recognizes a fingerprint of the user.
First, the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus with the space divided into the first chamber that accommodates the laundry or the goods therein and the second chamber that accommodates the laundry or the goods therein separately from the first chamber.
Second, the present disclosure may independently adjust the temperature and the humidity of the first chamber and the temperature and the humidity of the second chamber independently of each other.
Third, the present disclosure may prevent the interference with the adjacent furniture when the door assembly is opened and closed considering the size of the second chamber disposed inside the door assembly.
Fourth, the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus in which the air circulation direction is set based on the arrangement of the hanger bar where the laundry is hung and the arrangement direction of the hanger bar, taking into account the reduction of the space for accommodating the laundry in the first chamber.
Fifth, the present disclosure may provide the door assembly that may be automatically withdrawn from the cabinet by sensing the opening of the door assembly by the user.
Sixth, the present disclosure may check the laundry or the items accommodated in the second chamber via the front surface of the door assembly.
Seventh, the present disclosure may change the illuminance and the color of the lighting installed in the second chamber to suit the laundry or the goods.
Eighth, the present disclosure may provide the first chamber that performs the course to care for the laundry by receiving steam or hot air based on the course selected by the user, and the second chamber that constantly monitors the internal temperature and humidity of the laundry stored inside based on the settings of the user.
Ninth, the separate display room may be provided.
Tenth, the lighting device to illuminate the display room may be provided.
Eleventh, the lighting device is able to dissipate heat and moisture, thereby preventing damage to the internal components.
Twelfth, the present disclosure may increase the display effect by changing the illuminance and the color of the lighting installed in the showcase room to suit the laundry and the items.
Thirteenth, the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus in which the treatment space that intensively cares for the laundry by spraying steam and the showcase room capable of display and caring are divided from each other.
Fourteenth, the present disclosure may supply hot air or perform the dehumidification to care for the laundry accommodated in the showcase room.
Fifteenth, the present disclosure may adjust the temperature and the humidity based on the laundry and the goods stored in the showcase room.
Sixteenth, the present disclosure may change the intensity or the color of the lighting disposed in the showcase room at all times based on the user's selection.
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A configuration of a device or a method for controlling the same to be described below is only for describing an embodiment of the present disclosure, not for limiting the scope of the present disclosure, and reference numerals used the same herein refer to the same components.
Specific terms used herein are only for convenience of description and are not used as a limitation of the illustrated embodiment.
For example, expressions indicating that things are in the same state, such as “same”, “equal”, “homogeneous”, and the like, not only indicate strictly the same state, but also indicate a state in which a tolerance or a difference in a degree to which the same function is obtained exists.
For example, expressions indicating a relative or absolute arrangement such as “in a certain direction”, “along a certain direction”, “parallel”, “orthogonal”, “central”, “concentric”, “coaxial”, or the like not only strictly indicate such arrangement, but also indicate a state in which a relative displacement is achieved with a tolerance, or an angle or a distance that achieves the same function.
In order to describe the present disclosure, the description below will be achieved on the basis of a spatial orthogonal coordinate system with an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis orthogonal to each other. Each axial direction (an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction, or a Z-axis direction) means both directions in which each axis extends. Adding a ‘+’ sign in front of each axial direction (a +X-axis direction, a +Y-axis direction, or a +Z-axis direction) means a positive direction, which is one of the two directions in which each axis extends. Adding a ‘−’ sign in front of each axial direction (a −X-axis direction, a −Y-axis direction, or a −Z-axis direction) means a negative direction, which is the other of the two directions in which each axis extends.
Expressions referring to directions such as “front (+Y)/rear (−Y)/left (+X)/right (−X)/up (+Z)/down (−Z)” to be mentioned below are defined based on a XYZ coordinate axis. However, this is to describe the present disclosure such that the present disclosure may be clearly understood. In one example, each direction may be defined differently depending on the standard.
The use of terms such as ‘first, second, third’ in front of the components to be mentioned below is only to avoid confusion of the components referred to, and is independent of the order, importance, or master-slave relationship between the components. For example, an invention including only the second component without the first component may also be implemented.
As used herein, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, laundry includes not only tops such as a dress shirt and a blouse, but also bottoms such as jeans. In addition, it is a concept that includes all laundry that requires daily care, such as a suit, a jumper, leather clothes, and the like. Therefore, it may include uniforms such as a school uniform or a company uniform. In addition, as used herein, a term ‘goods’ has been used as a term including items such as a hat, a scarf, a handkerchief, a bag, or a doll, excluding typical laundry, and also including things such as a watch and an accessory. However, herein, even when only one of the terms ‘laundry’ and ‘goods’ is used, such term may be interpreted to include both the laundry and the goods in the context of the present document. In other words, the two are not used to exclude each other, but to include each other.
In addition, the laundry treating apparatus 1 may further include a blowing unit (not shown) that is located inside the auxiliary chamber 20 and sucks air from the first chamber 10, and a heat pump unit (not shown) that dehumidifies and heats the sucked air and then discharges the air to the first chamber 10.
The cabinet 15 may be made of a metal material, but may also be made of a plastic material as long as it may maintain strength. Additionally, the first chamber 10 may be formed by an inner casing manufactured by plastic injection molding. The first chamber 10 may be coupled to the cabinet 15 by a frame (not shown).
The laundry that requires the care may be placed in the first chamber 10, and the laundry may be cared for in a refreshing way via the blowing unit (not shown), the heat pump unit (not shown), and the steam unit (not shown) located inside the auxiliary chamber 20. That is, a function of sterilizing and deodorizing the laundry and removing wrinkles formed by use may be performed using steam and/or heated air via the blowing unit (not shown), the heat pump unit (not shown), and the steam unit (not shown) located inside the auxiliary chamber 20.
The first chamber 10 may include a laundry support 90 for hanging the laundry at an inner upper portion of the first chamber 10. The laundry support 90 may accommodate thereon a hanger where the laundry is hung, and may be connected to a driver (not shown) that may reciprocate the laundry support part 90 in a left and right direction. The movement of the laundry support 90 may shake the laundry, ultimately removing foreign substances, including fine dust, attached to the laundry. Additionally, while shaking the laundry mounted on the laundry support 90, the wrinkles in the laundry may be removed to some extent by being exposed to steam or moisture supplied from the auxiliary chamber 20.
That is, the laundry support 90 may allow the laundry to be hung in an unfolded state by a self-weight thereof inside the first chamber 10, so that the laundry may be evenly exposed to dehumidified and heated air and/or steam supplied from the auxiliary chamber 20.
An air supply port 21 and a steam supply port 22 for supplying steam generated by the steam unit (not shown) and air dehumidified and heated by the heat pump unit (not shown) inside the auxiliary chamber 20 to the first chamber 10, and an air intake port 23 for sucking air from the first chamber 10 by the blowing unit (not shown) may be located on a first chamber bottom surface 11.
As shown in
The air intake port 23 may be located close to the inlet 12 on the first chamber bottom surface 11. Accordingly, the air supply port 21 and the air intake port 23 are arranged along a front and rear direction of the cabinet 15. On the other hand, the laundry support 90 extends along a width direction of the cabinet 15. This is to ensure that air discharged from the air supply port 21 is uniformly supplied to the laundry hanging on the laundry support 90.
Air inside the first chamber 10 will circulate by being discharged through the air supply port 21 and sucked via the air intake port 23. A water supply tank 31 and a drain tank 33 may be constructed to be independently detachable from a tank module frame (not shown). Otherwise, the water supply tank 31 and the drain tank 33 may be coupled into one and detachable at the same time.
As described above, the existing laundry treating apparatus 1 is an apparatus only for the laundry care and utility thereof as an apparatus for storage or display, including the laundry care, is not high. In addition, the existing laundry treating apparatus does not have a separate space for a case in which an amount of laundry or goods is small, so that input electrical energy may not be utilized efficiently.
In a case of expensive laundry or items, care via temperature and humidity adjustment, as well as display are required. Herein, reflecting such need, it is disclosed that the laundry treating apparatus has a space at a front side that is separate from the first chamber 10 and is able to independently adjust the temperature and the humidity.
The cabinet 110 may include a cabinet top surface 112 that forms a top surface of the cabinet 110, a cabinet rear surface 115 that forms a rear surface of the cabinet 110, and a cabinet left side surface 113 and a cabinet right side surface (not shown) that form both side surfaces of the cabinet. The cabinet left side surface 113 and the cabinet right side surface (not shown) will be disposed to face each other. The cabinet top surface 112, the cabinet left side surface 113, and the cabinet right side surface 114 may be integrally formed.
The cabinet 110 includes the first inlet 131 in the front surface thereof. Therefore, the first chamber 130 is accessible via the first inlet 131. The cabinet 110 may further include the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary chamber 150 located under the first chamber 130 inside the cabinet 110.
The first chamber 130 may include a first area 1301 (see
The first chamber 130 may be a space where the laundry is accommodated and cared for. The first chamber 130 may also be called a treatment room. The auxiliary chamber 150 may be a space where an electrical device or a mechanical device for supplying hot air or steam to the first chamber 130 is installed. The auxiliary chamber 150 may also be called a machinery room. The second chamber 550, as a space separate from the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary chamber 150, may also be called an auxiliary care room, a showcase room, or a display room.
When the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131, at least a portion of the second chamber 550 is located inside the first chamber 130, so that the second chamber 550 may be located in front of the auxiliary chamber 150.
The door assembly 500 may serve as a door that opens and closes the first inlet 131. A user will need to open and close the door assembly 500 to access the first chamber 130.
Additionally, the door assembly 500 may include the second chamber 550 therein for caring for, displaying, and storing the laundry or the goods. That is, the door assembly 500 may simultaneously perform the role of the door that opens and closes the first inlet 131, as well as the role of the space for caring for, storing, and displaying the laundry or the goods accommodated therein.
The door assembly 500 may include a second inlet 512 (see
Considering that, when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131, at least a portion of the second chamber 550 is located in the second area 1302, which is located closer to the first inlet 131 than a rear surface of the first chamber 130 inside the first chamber 130, at least a portion of the receiving body 510 will be located in the second area 1302 when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131.
At least a portion of the second chamber 550 may be accommodated in a space between the first inlet 131 and the auxiliary chamber 150 when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131.
Accordingly, when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131, the second chamber 550 may be located in front of the auxiliary chamber 150 inside the first chamber 130.
Accordingly, the auxiliary chamber 150 may be positioned at a predetermined distance rearward from the first inlet 131 to accommodate at least a portion of the door assembly 500 inside the first chamber 130.
As shown in
In one example, the door assembly 500 may mount a laundry hanger 830 (see
As shown in
When the door 530 of the second chamber is opened, the door assembly 500 may accommodate the laundry or the items in the second chamber 550 through the second inlet 512.
Accordingly, a front surface of the door 530 of the second chamber may be made of a transparent material. It may be made of a completely transparent material, but on the other hand, may also be made of a translucent material.
To this end, the door 530 of the second chamber may include an opening (not shown) in which at least a portion of a front surface is opened, and may include a door frame 533 of the second chamber forming a frame of the door 530 of the second chamber and a door window 531 of the second chamber surrounded by the door frame 533 of the second chamber and coupled to the door frame 533 of the second chamber.
At least a portion of the door window 531 of the second chamber may be made of the transparent material or may be made of the translucent material. Additionally, the door window 531 of the second chamber may be transparent but may have a color.
The door frame 533 of the second chamber may be disposed to surround an outer surface of the door window 531 of the second chamber. In contrast, the door frame 533 of the second chamber may be coupled to a rear surface of the door window 531 of the second chamber, so that only the door window 531 of the second chamber may be exposed in a forward direction of the door 530 of the second chamber.
In one example, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include an opening/closing driver 170 that pushes the door assembly 500 to automatically open the door assembly 500. The opening/closing driver 170 may be disposed between the cabinet top surface 112 and a first chamber top surface 132 forming a top surface of the first chamber 130.
Referring to
One opening/closing driver 170 may be sufficient, but there may be a plurality of opening/closing drivers. The opening/closing driver 170 may be disposed not only between the cabinet top surface 112 and the first chamber top surface 132, but also on a first chamber bottom surface 135 forming a bottom surface of the first chamber. Alternatively, the opening/closing driver 170 may be located between the first chamber bottom surface 135 and a bottom surface of the cabinet 110.
The reason why there are the plurality of opening/closing drivers 170 is to prevent deformation of the door assembly 500 or a hinge structure that couples the door assembly 500 to the cabinet from occurring as the door assembly 500 is pushed from above or below and thus a force is concentrated on one side or unnecessary torque is generated.
Referring to
When the accommodating body 510 corresponds to an outer body, the accommodating housing 559 may correspond to an inner body. Ultimately, the accommodating housing 559 may form an inner surface of the second chamber 550.
A predetermined empty space may be defined between the accommodating body 510 and the accommodating housing 559, and a mechanical device for conditioning air in the second chamber 550 or various wires may be installed in the empty space.
Accordingly, the door assembly 500 may include the second inlet 512 at the front surface thereof and the accommodating housing 559 forming the second chamber 550 inside the accommodating body 510.
The accommodating housing 559 may include a second chamber top surface 551 (see
In one example, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may sterilize, deodorize, remove the wrinkles from, and dry the laundry by spraying hot air or steam to the laundry accommodated in the first chamber 130. In particular, insulation of the laundry treating apparatus 100 may be important for the drying and the steam spraying.
In particular, this is because an overall insulation performance may be deteriorated when there is no insulating material because at least the portion of the door 530 of the second chamber is made of the material that allows visible light to pass therethrough. Additionally, there may be a risk of burns when the user unintentionally touches the door with hand during the steam spraying or the drying. To prevent this, the second chamber 550 should be formed separately from the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary chamber 150. In particular, in the door assembly 500, an insulating layer using the insulating material or air may be formed in the empty space between the accommodating body 510 and the accommodating housing 559.
In one example, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a laundry driver 640 located between the first chamber top surface 132 and the cabinet top surface 112 to reciprocate a hanger body 610 (see
In one example, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a first hinge 120 that pivots such that, when the door assembly 500 is opened, the door assembly 500 is withdrawn forward of the cabinet 110 and then moves along a width direction of the cabinet 110, and a second hinge 520 (see
When the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131, the door assembly 500 will move in a reverse order of opening the door assembly 500.
The first hinge 120 may move the door assembly 500 while maintaining an angle between the door assembly 500 and the first inlet 131. That is, when the door assembly 500 moves, the first hinge 120 will allow the second inlet 512 to always face forward.
In other words, when the door assembly 500 is moved, an angle formed by the door assembly 500 with a front surface of the cabinet will be maintained. To this end, the first hinge 120 may separate the door assembly 500 from the first chamber 130 and then move the same along the width direction of the cabinet 110 to open the first inlet 131.
Considering an usage pattern of the users, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may not be installed in an isolated manner, but may be installed and used indoors as of a built-in type. Accordingly, a size of the laundry treating apparatus 100 may be determined by considering a standard size of a closet or furniture installed adjacent thereto.
Accordingly, while the external size of the laundry treating apparatus 100 remains the same, a size of the door assembly 500 including the second chamber 550 increases, so that a volume of the first chamber 130 may decrease. Additionally, to prevent interference with the adjacent furniture when opening and closing the door assembly 500, it is preferable that a portion of the accommodating body 510 is inserted into and accommodated inside the first chamber 130.
To this end, to prevent the interference between the first chamber 130 and the furniture adjacent to the laundry treating apparatus 100, the first hinge 120 may open and close the door assembly 500 as described above.
On the other hand, the second hinge 520, which will be described later, will open the second inlet 512 by moving the door 530 of the second chamber such that an angle between the door 530 of the second chamber and the front surface of the accommodating body 510 increases.
That is, similar to a hinge of a general door, the angle between the door 530 of the second chamber and the second inlet 512 may change while opening and closing the door 530 of the second chamber.
Referring to
The first chamber 130 may be made of a plastic or metal material. In the case of plastic material, the first chamber 130 may be formed via injection molding.
The auxiliary chamber 150 may be disposed to be separated from the first chamber 130 at an inner lower portion of the cabinet 110. The electrical or mechanical devices necessary for spraying hot air and/or steam into the first chamber 130 may be disposed in the auxiliary chamber 150. Considering that operation of the mechanical device causes vibration or noise and considering weights of the various mechanical devices, it is preferable that the auxiliary chamber 150 is located under the first chamber 130.
In a case of the typical laundry treating apparatus 1, the first chamber bottom surface 135 may be formed extend to the first inlet 131 and the auxiliary chamber 150 may be located beneath an entirety of the first chamber bottom surface 135. However, in the present disclosure, considering that the door assembly 500 is inserted into the first chamber 130, it may be preferable for the auxiliary chamber 150 to be formed in a lower portion of the first chamber 130.
Accordingly, an auxiliary chamber front surface 151, which is a front surface of the auxiliary chamber 150 facing the door assembly 500, will be located at the rear of the first inlet 131. This may mean that a step height is formed on the first chamber bottom surface 135 in a side view of the first chamber 130.
On the other hand, in another example, the second chamber 550 may be located upward of the auxiliary chamber 150 between the first inlet 131 and the auxiliary chamber 150. However, in this case, when the door assembly 500 is closed, the second chamber 550 will protrude into the first chamber 130.
In addition, in the case of another example, because the second chamber 550 is located upward of the auxiliary chamber 150, there is no interference between the auxiliary chamber 150 and the second chamber 550, so that the first chamber bottom surface 135 may not have the step height.
That is, when the door assembly 500 is inserted into the first chamber 130, a lower portion of the accommodating body 510 will face the auxiliary chamber front surface 151 and an upper portion of the accommodating body 510 will face the first chamber rear surface 136. That is, when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131, the second chamber 550 will be located in front of the auxiliary chamber 150 inside the first chamber 130.
Therefore, a length of a rear surface of the accommodating body 510 inserted into the first chamber 130 is greater than a vertical length from the first chamber top surface 132 to the first chamber bottom surface 135 along a height direction of the cabinet 110 and is smaller than a vertical length from the first chamber top surface 132 to the first chamber bottom surface 135.
Accordingly, the first chamber bottom surface 135 may be formed to be stepped. Referring to
Referring to
The auxiliary chamber 150 may be located beneath the first bottom surface 1351. Accordingly, the air intake port 137, the air discharge port 138, and the steam discharge port 139 may be located on the first bottom surface 1351 rather than on the second bottom surface 1352.
Additionally, a length from the first chamber top surface 132 to the first bottom surface 1351 may be smaller than a length from the first chamber top surface 132 to the second bottom surface 1352.
Referring to
One of the air intake port 137 and the air discharge port 138 may be located close to one side surface of the two side surfaces 113 and 114 of the cabinet 110, and the other of the air intake port 137 and the air discharge port 138 may be located close to the other side surface of the two side surfaces 113 and 114 of the cabinet 110.
Additionally, the steam discharge port 139 may be located closer to the air discharge port 138 than the air intake port 137.
A length in the front and rear direction of the second bottom surface 1352 may be set considering a depth at which the portion of the door assembly 500 is inserted into the first inlet 131.
For example, the depth at which the door assembly 500 is inserted into the first inlet 131 may be equal to or greater than ⅙ and equal to or smaller than ½ of a length in the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110. This is because the depth at which the door assembly 500 is inserted into the first inlet 131 should be ⅙ or greater considering a size of the goods accommodated in the second chamber 550, and it is preferable that the depth at which the door assembly 500 is inserted into the first inlet 131 is equal to or smaller than ½ for preventing overturning of the cabinet 110 considering a weight of the door assembly 500.
A water supply tank 481 for supplying water for the steam generation and a drain tank 485 for storing condensate may be inserted into the auxiliary chamber 150 through the auxiliary chamber front surface 151. That is, the auxiliary chamber front surface 151 may include a water supply tank insertion hole (not shown) and a drain tank insertion hole (not shown) into which the water supply tank 481 and the drain tank 485 are inserted, respectively, and the water supply tank 481 and the drain tank 485 may be inserted into or separated from the auxiliary chamber 150 via the water supply tank insertion hole and the drain tank insertion hole.
Referring to
Additionally, the water supply tank 481 and the drain tank 485 may have lengths along the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110 that are greater than lengths along the height direction of the cabinet 110. This is to maximally utilize the compact space of the auxiliary chamber 150.
The air supply 410 may include an air supply duct 411 that sucks air from the first chamber 130, a discharge duct 419 that discharges air to the first chamber 130, and a connecting duct 413 that connects the air supply duct 411 with the discharge duct 419 to circulate air. The air supply 410 may further include a blowing unit 412 that generates a suction force to suck air from the first chamber 130. The blowing unit 412 may be located between the connection duct 413 and the discharge duct 419 or between the air supply duct 411 and the connection duct 413.
The air supply duct 411 will be in communication with the air intake port 137, and the discharge duct 419 will be in communication with the air discharge port 138.
Considering that the air intake port 137 and the air discharge port 138 are arranged in the left and right direction of the cabinet 110, the air supply duct 411, the connecting duct 413, and the discharge duct may also be arranged along the width direction. Accordingly, air circulating in the first chamber 130 may form an air flow that circulates along the left and right direction of the cabinet 110 until it is discharged from the air discharge port 138 and introduced into the air intake port 137.
That is, air discharged from the air discharge port 138, which is located close to one side surface of both side surfaces of the cabinet 110, will ascend along said one side surface and then descend along the other side surface of both side surfaces of the cabinet 110 to be introduced into the air intake port 137.
A heat exchanger (not shown) for heat exchange with circulating air may be further included inside the connecting duct 413. The heat exchanger may be formed as a heater, but may be formed as a heat pump in terms of energy efficiency. The heat pump may include an evaporator and a condenser for heat exchange with a refrigerant.
Accordingly, the heat exchanger may cool and dehumidify air sucked via the air supply duct 411 via the heat exchange with the refrigerant circulating through the heat exchanger, and then heat the air again to create high-temperature dry air. The high-temperature dry air may be again supplied into the first chamber 130 to dry the laundry hung in the first chamber 130.
To place the electric devices or the mechanical devices in the space of the auxiliary chamber 150 as efficiently as possible, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a base 470 that forms a bottom surface of the auxiliary chamber 150, and a supporter 489 that defines a predetermined installation area on the base 470.
The steam supply 450 may be located in the installation area, and the connecting duct 413 including the heat exchanger may be located above the supporter 489. The space of the auxiliary chamber 150 may be used more efficiently by being divided in the height direction of the cabinet 110.
A controller 490 may also be located inside the auxiliary chamber 150. The controller 490 may control the steam supply 450, the air supply 410, the laundry support to be described later, the opening/closing driver, various sensors and an inputter/outputter, a second chamber lighting 590, and a shelf lighting 587.
Referring to
The water supply tank 481 and the drain tank 485 may be located between the connecting duct 413 and the first chamber bottom surface 135. This is because an extra space is defined above the connecting duct 413 because of a vertical dimension of the discharge duct 419 and the water supply tank 481 and the drain tank 485 are able to be installed using such space.
Accordingly, inside the auxiliary chamber, the base 470, the steam supply 450, the connecting duct 413, the water supply tank 481, and the drain tank 485 may be arranged sequentially from the bottom along the height direction.
The compressor 417 may be located on one side of the supporter 489. Considering a size and vibration of the compressor 417, the compressor 417 may be located closer to the cabinet rear surface 115 than to the auxiliary chamber front surface 151 or the first inlet 131.
Referring to
In contrast, the supporter 489 is formed by a rectangular mounting portion extending in the width direction of the cabinet 110, and front and rear mounting surfaces that extend from front and rear side surfaces among side surfaces of the mounting portion and are coupled to the base 470, respectively. In other words, the supporter 489 may be formed as one member rather than as two separate members like the first supporter 4891 and the second supporter 4892. That is, one member may form a rectangular parallelepiped shape together with the base 470, and the steam supply 450 may be located inside the rectangular parallelepiped shape.
The user may cause the laundry treating apparatus 100 to perform a desired operation via the inputter/outputter 700 by touching the inputter/outputter 700 with hand. Alternatively, the user may cause the laundry treating apparatus 100 to perform the desired operation by pressing or touching a button disposed on the inputter/outputter 700. The inputter/outputter 700 may have an inputter that receives the command of the user and an outputter that outputs the state of the laundry treating apparatus 100 separated from each other.
The controller 490 may sense and process an user input via the inputter/outputter 700, and display the state of the laundry treating apparatus 100 or results via the inputter/outputter 700.
In one example, the door assembly 500 may be relatively heavy, unlike a regular door, because of the second chamber 550 included inside. Therefore, it may be difficult for the user to open and close the door assembly 500 manually. Additionally, considering design, the door assembly 500 may not have a separate handle for manually opening and closing the door assembly 500.
To this end, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include the opening/closing driver 170 that pushes the door assembly 500 to open the same when the user wishes to open the door assembly 500. The controller 490 may control the opening/closing driver 170 to open the door assembly 500.
The inputter/outputter 700 may include a door opening inputter 711 that senses a door opening command of the user. For example, when the user selects a door opening menu in the inputter/outputter 700, the controller 490 may sense the same and operate the opening/closing driver 170 to open the door assembly 500.
Alternatively, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may include a proximity sensor 791 disposed in the door assembly 500. Accordingly, when the user is located within a predetermined sensing area of the proximity sensor 791, the controller 490 may sense user's approach and may operate the opening/closing driver 170 to open the door assembly 500.
The proximity sensor 791 may be located in the front surface of the door assembly 500, that is, in the door 530 of the second chamber. For example, the proximity sensor 791 may be located adjacent to the inputter/outputter 700.
Alternatively, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may open the door assembly 500 by operating the opening/closing driver 170 when the user inputs the door opening command via an app or a remote controller.
That is, considering that, when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131, at least the portion of the second chamber 550 is located in the second area 1302, which is located closer to the first inlet 131 than to the rear surface of the first chamber 130 inside the first chamber 130, at least the portion of the accommodating body 510 will be located in the second area 1302 when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131.
Additionally, to hang the laundry inside the first chamber 130, the user may access the first area 1301 through the first inlet 131 and the second area 1302. That is, a laundry support 600 to be described later will be located in the first area 1301 when the door assembly 500 is closed.
Accordingly, at least the portion of the second chamber 550 will be accommodated in the space between the first inlet 131 and the auxiliary chamber 150 when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131.
In this regard, the rear surface of the door assembly 500, that is, at least a portion of an accommodating body rear surface 5105 (see
In one example, an embodiment in which the second chamber 550 is located upward of the auxiliary chamber 150 may also be considered. However, a space located under the second chamber 550 may have a problem of defining a stagnant area in which air does not circulate well.
In addition, the first chamber 130 and the second chamber 550 may be in communication with each other, but in this case, when treating the laundry inside the first chamber 130, the laundry located inside the second chamber 550 should also be treated, so that the laundry accommodated in the second chamber 550 is not able to be separately cared for. Additionally, when the first chamber 130 and the second chamber 550 are simply in communication with each other, the condensate generated because of a temperature difference between the first chamber 130 and the second chamber 550 is not able to be treated. For example, when steam is sprayed into the first chamber 130, the steam may enter the second chamber 550 and generate the condensate in the second chamber 550, but because the first chamber 150 is operating, the condensate generated in the second chamber 550 may be treated.
In one example, a bottom surface of the first area 1301 corresponds to the first bottom surface 1351 of the stepped first chamber bottom surfaces 135, and a bottom surface of the second area 1302 corresponds to a second chamber bottom surface 1352.
Considering the weight of the door assembly 500 and the sizes of the various electrical devices or mechanical devices accommodated inside the auxiliary chamber 150, a length FR2 in the front and rear direction of the second area 1302 may be equal to or smaller than a length FR1 in the front and rear direction of the first area 1301 along the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110. This is because there is the risk of overturning of the laundry treating apparatus 100 because of the weight of the door assembly 500 when the length FR2 in the front and rear direction of the second area 1302 exceeds the length FR1 in the front and rear direction of the first area 1301.
In addition, no empty space is created between the accommodating body 510 and the auxiliary chamber 150 because of the second chamber 550, so that not only may the spaces of the first chamber 130 and the second chamber 550 be used more efficiently, but also may the stagnant area that may cause flow stagnation during the air circulation be eliminated.
In one example, a vertical dimension of the second chamber 550 may be greater than a vertical dimension of the first chamber 130. This is because the vertical level of the first bottom surface 1351 is higher than the vertical level of the second bottom surface 1352 because of a vertical dimension of the auxiliary chamber 150. Accordingly, the second chamber 550 may accommodate therein laundry relatively longer than the laundry accommodated in the first chamber 130.
Specifically, the vertical dimension of the second chamber 550 may be greater than that of the first area 1301.
Referring to
That is, the first chamber bottom surface 135 will be formed in the stepped shape by including the first bottom surface 1351 and the second bottom surface 1352, which has the relatively lower vertical level than the first bottom surface 1351 because of the auxiliary chamber 150 located under the first chamber bottom surface 135.
The second chamber 550 formed inside the door assembly 500 will be accommodated in the second area 1302. Accordingly, the length of the second chamber 550 may be greater than the length of the first area 1301. That is, the second chamber 550 may accommodate therein the laundry relatively longer than the laundry accommodated in the first chamber 130. Accordingly, the user will be able to accommodate laundry of various lengths in the laundry treating apparatus 100 and care for the laundry.
Additionally, the auxiliary chamber 150 may serve as a stopper to prevent the door assembly 500 from being pushed back any further. The door assembly 500 will be located in the second area 1302 located on the second bottom surface 1352 inside the first chamber 130. That is, the lower portion of the accommodating body 510, which forms at least a portion of an outer appearance of the door assembly 500, will face the auxiliary chamber front surface 151.
Ultimately, even when an unintended external force is applied to the door assembly 500 and the door assembly 500 is pushed into the first chamber 130, the auxiliary chamber 150 may prevent the door assembly 500 from moving into the first chamber 130 by a certain depth or more.
Considering that the laundry is accommodated in the first area 1301, the vertical dimension of the first area 1301 will be greater than the vertical dimension of the auxiliary chamber 150.
Additionally, to prevent the overturning caused by the weight of the door assembly 500, a length in the front and rear direction of the first area 1301 will be equal to or greater than a length in the front and rear direction of the second area 1302.
Considering that at least the portion of the second chamber 550 is inserted into the second area 1302, an area multiplied by a width and a height of the second area 1302 will be greater than an area of the second chamber rear surface 555. That is, an open area of the first inlet 131 will be greater than the area of the second chamber rear surface 555.
A vertical dimension of the front surface of the door assembly 500 will be greater than the vertical dimension of the second area 1302. That is, a vertical dimension of the first inlet 131 will be smaller than a front surface vertical dimension of the door 530 (see
The opening/closing driver 170 may push the door assembly 500 forward, causing the door assembly 500 to be withdrawn in a direction away from the first inlet 131. Thereafter, the user may pull or push a side surface of the door assembly 500 using a gap created between the door assembly 500 and the first inlet 131 to move the door assembly 500 to one side of the cabinet 110.
It may be preferable that, during the opening and the closing of the door assembly 500, the front surface of the door assembly 500 is maintained to face forward at all times. This is because, as the inputter/outputter 700 (see
That is, even when the first chamber 130 is open, the user may execute a care mode of the second chamber 550. In other words, the door assembly 500 may be constructed to move away from the first inlet 131 such that the front surface of the door assembly 500 faces forward, and then move to one side of the cabinet 110 such that the front surface of the door assembly 500 is parallel to the first inlet 131. To this end, the laundry treating apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure may use a scheme of kinematic parallelogram four-bar linkages.
Accordingly, the user may open and close the door assembly 500 while maintaining the first inlet 131 and the door assembly 500 facing away from each other. Accordingly, the door assembly 500 may maintain the direction parallel to the first inlet 131 during the opening and the closing.
That is, an angle between the front surface of the cabinet 110 and the door assembly 500 may be maintained constant. To this end, the first hinge 120 may move the door assembly 500 forward of the first chamber 130 to separate the same from the first inlet 131 and then move the door assembly 500 along the width direction of the cabinet 110. That is, even when the location of the door assembly 500 changes, the direction the door assembly 500 faces may remain the same when opening and closing the first inlet 131. This is because when the door assembly 500 opens the first inlet 131, the front surface of the door assembly 500 moves while being directed in the forward direction of the cabinet 110, in the same manner as when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131.
However, in a case of opening and closing the second inlet 512, the direction in which the front surface of the door 530 of the second chamber faces may change. Unlike the first hinge 120, when the second hinge 520 opens the door 530 of the second chamber, the second inlet 512 and the door 530 of the second chamber pivot relative to each other, so that an angle between the second inlet 512 and the door 530 of the second chamber may always change (see
Referring to
One opening/closing driver 170 may be sufficient, but there may be a plurality of opening/closing drivers. The opening/closing driver 170 may be disposed not only between the cabinet top surface 112 and the first chamber top surface 132, but also on the first chamber bottom surface 135 that forms the bottom surface of the first chamber. Alternatively, the opening/closing driver 170 may be located between the first chamber bottom surface 135 and the bottom surface of the cabinet 110.
The reason why there are the plurality of opening/closing drivers 170 is to push the door assembly 500 from the upper and lower sides to prevent the deformation of the door assembly 500 or the hinge structure that couples the door assembly 500 to the cabinet from occurring as the force is concentrated on one side or the unnecessary torque is generated.
The opening/closing driver 170 may not be in contact with the accommodating body 510. The laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include the first hinge 120 in the four-bar linkages scheme.
The opening/closing driver 170 may include an opening/closing body 171 forming an outer appearance thereof, an opening/closing motor 173 located inside the opening/closing body 171, and an opening/closing link 172 that pushes the door assembly 500 to move the same in the direction away from the first inlet 131 using a rotational force generated by the opening/closing motor 173.
One surface of the opening/closing link 172 may have gear teeth, so that the opening/closing link 172 may move in the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110 in a rack and pinion-like manner. That is, when several gears engage and rotate with a rotation shaft of the opening/closing motor 173 to reduce a rotational speed, and some of the gears engage and rotate with the gear teeth disposed on one surface of the opening/closing link 172, as the opening/closing link 172 moves forward and protrudes, the door assembly 500 may move in the direction away from the first inlet 131.
When the opening/closing driver 170 pushes the door assembly 500 and a gap or a predetermined separation distance (or an opening distance) is created between the first inlet 131 and the door assembly 500, the user may manually push or pull the door assembly 500 to move the same.
Accordingly, a maximum moving distance of the opening/closing link 172 may be a distance until the accommodating body 510, which was inserted into the first chamber 130, is withdrawn from the first inlet 131.
When the opening/closing link 172 moves the door assembly 500 by the predetermined opening distance, the controller 490 may rotate the opening/closing motor 173 in an opposite direction, so that the opening/closing link 172 may move to be inserted back into the opening/closing body 171. This is because, when the opening/closing link 172 does not return to an original location thereof, the door assembly 500 may collide with the opening/closing link 172 as the closing of the door assembly 500 is performed by the user, unlike the opening.
Accordingly, considering the case in which the user closes the door assembly 500, the controller 490 may return the opening/closing link 172 to the original location thereof by rotating the opening/closing motor 173 in the opposite direction.
That is, to move the opening/closing link 172 from a first location, which is an initial location, to a second location defined ahead of the first location, the controller 490 may rotate the opening/closing motor 173 in a first direction. The opening/closing link 172 is not in contact with the door assembly 500 in the first location, but will be in contact with the door assembly 500 while moving to the second location. Thereafter, the opening/closing driver 170 will move the door assembly 500 in the forward direction of the cabinet 110 by the predetermined opening distance.
Thereafter, when the opening/closing motor 173 rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the opening/closing link 172 may return from the second location to the first location.
Additionally, because the opening/closing driver 170 does not need to be operated when the door assembly 500 is closed, the controller 490 will operate the opening/closing driver 170 only when the door assembly 500 is opened.
Even when the user closes the door assembly 500, the front surface of the door assembly 500 may always be maintained facing forward.
As shown in
To this end, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may be equipped with the first hinge 120 of the parallelogram four-bar linkages type. That is, while pivotably connecting the door assembly 500 to the cabinet 110, the first hinge 120 may open and close the door assembly 500 such that the front surface of the door assembly 500 always faces forward.
As shown, the second chamber 550 may be located in front of the first chamber 130. Additionally, because the door assembly 500 includes the second chamber 550 therein, at least the portion of the accommodating body 510 may be inserted into the first chamber 130.
Considering the built-in type, a height and a depth FD1 of the laundry treating apparatus 100 will be designed in consideration of a size of the furniture F1 and F2 disposed adjacently. Here, the depth FD1 refers to the length in the front and rear direction of the laundry treating apparatus 100. The second chamber 550 may be disposed at a side of the laundry treating apparatus 100, but in this case, the width occupied by the laundry treating apparatus 100 becomes too great, which will not be desirable.
Additionally, to utilize the second chamber 550 not only for caring for the laundry but also for the display and exhibition purposes, it will be desirable for the second chamber 550 to be located in front of the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary chamber 150.
In addition, because placing objects to overlap each other in the depth direction of the second chamber 550 is not suitable for the display and exhibition purposes, a depth SD1 of the door assembly 500 will be smaller than the depth FD1 of the laundry treating apparatus.
However, it may not be desirable for the second chamber 550 to protrude beyond the laundry treating apparatus 100 in consideration of sense of unity with the adjacent furniture. Accordingly, to not change the depth FD1 of the laundry treating apparatus, the portion of the second chamber 550 may be inserted into the first chamber 130.
When the portion of the door assembly 500 is inserted into the first chamber 130, a problem may occur when opening the door assembly 500 because of the size of the door assembly 500.
When the door assembly 500 is hinged to one side of the cabinet 110, a distance from one side of the cabinet 110 to a point indicated by IA, that is, a corner where the accommodating body rear surface 5105 and an accommodating body right side surface 5103 meet each other when the door assembly 500 pivots should be considered. This is to prevent the corner from interfering with one side surface of the first chamber 130. Ultimately, when the door assembly 500 is hinged to one side of the cabinet 110, the depth SD1 of the door assembly 500 or the width of the accommodating body rear surface 5105 should be reduced.
When the door assembly 500 is hinged to the other side of the cabinet 110, interference of an opposite corner should be considered. However, because the problem is the same, only the case in which the door assembly 500 is hinged to one side is described herein.
The depth (or a thickness) of the door assembly 500 may be equal to or greater than ⅙ and equal to or smaller than ½ of the length in the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110. This is in consideration of a size of the goods accommodated in the second chamber 550. For example, it may be a numeric value determined by considering a small standard size and a large standard size of bags carried by adult women.
Considering such numeric value, there may be a limit in reducing the depth SD1 of the door assembly 500 or a width SW1 of the accommodating body rear surface 5105.
In addition, referring to
Even when the door assembly 500 opens without the interference, a portion of the first inlet 131 may be obscured by the accommodating body 510, causing inconvenience to the user. Here, “obscured” refers to a case in which the angle formed by the first inlet 131 and the door assembly 500 is an acute angle.
To solve such problem, referring to
The first hinge 120 may open and close the first inlet 131 such that the open direction of the second inlet 512 is maintained when the door assembly 500 is opened and closed, and the second hinge 520 may open and close the second inlet 512 via the pivoting of the door 530 of the second chamber.
Maintaining the opening direction of the second inlet 512 means that the door assembly 500 moves while maintaining the direction thereof when the door assembly 500 is opened or closed. When the user is located in front of the door assembly 500, the user will face the second chamber 550. Even when the user opens or closes the door assembly 500, the direction of the door assembly 500 does not change, so that the user may always check the second chamber 550.
In other words, the link disposed in the first hinge 120 pivots, but the second chamber 550 may always face forward via pivoting and translation of the door assembly 500. Accordingly, the door assembly 500 will move in the front and rear direction or the width direction of the cabinet 110 in parallel with the first inlet 131 to open and close the first inlet 131.
In other words, when the door assembly 500 has opened or has closed the first inlet 131 or is opening or closing the first inlet 131, a location and a direction from one arbitrary point of the door assembly 500 to another arbitrary point will not change.
The laundry treating apparatus 100 may include the first hinge 120 connecting the door assembly 500 to the cabinet 110 between both side surfaces of the cabinet 110. The first hinge 120 may be located at the upper portion and/or the lower portion inside the cabinet 110. Specifically. The first hinge 120 may include a first upper hinge 128 disposed on the first chamber top surface 132 and a first lower hinge 129 disposed on the first chamber bottom surface 135.
The first chamber top surface 132 may have a stepped shape. Accordingly, the first chamber top surface may include a stepped surface 1323 (see
In this case, the first upper hinge 128 may be located in front of the stepped surface 1323 on the first chamber top surface 132.
The first lower hinge 129 may be located in front of the auxiliary chamber 150 or on the second bottom surface 1352.
Referring to
On the other hand, as shown in
To this end, lengths of the first link 1251 (see
Referring to
More specifically, referring to
More specifically, the door assembly 500 may further include a front panel 518 coupled to the front surface of the accommodating body 510. The second inlet 512 may be defined through the front panel 518.
Accordingly, the door assembly 500 may further include the front panel 518 formed to face the door 530 of the second chamber while surrounding the second inlet 512 and coupled to the accommodating housing 559 and the accommodating body 510.
Alternatively, the front panel 518 may be formed integrally with the accommodating housing 559 and then be coupled to the accommodating body 510 with the open front surface.
Accordingly, the front panel 518 may be coupled to the front surfaces of the accommodating body 510 and the accommodating housing 559, and the laundry treating apparatus 100 may accommodate the laundry or the goods in the second chamber 550 formed inside the accommodating housing 559 through the second inlet 512 extending through the front panel 518.
Because the door 530 of the second chamber may have a size corresponding to a size of the front panel 518 surrounding the second inlet 512, the size of the door 530 of the second chamber may be greater than a size of the second inlet 512.
When the door 530 of the second chamber is closed, the door 530 may be coupled to the front panel 518 to close the second inlet 512.
The second hinge 520 may be coupled to the front panel 518 or the accommodating body 510.
That is, the front panel 518 may include a front upper panel 5181 that forms an upper portion of the front panel, a front lower panel 5184 that forms a lower portion of the front panel, and a front left panel 5182 and a front right panel 5183 that connect respective side surfaces of the front upper panel 5181 and respective side surfaces of the front lower panel 5184 to each other.
The second inlet 512 may be defined by the front upper panel 5181, the front lower panel 5184, the front left panel 5182, and the front right panel 5183. That is, the front panel 518 will be located surrounding the second inlet 512. This is to prevent wires, circuit boards, and various devices that may be located between the second chamber 550 and the accommodating body 510 from being exposed to the user.
The second inlet 512 may be defined in a square shape.
The front upper panel 5181 may include an air inlet 51813 defined through the front upper panel 5181. Air in the second chamber 550 may circulate through the air inlet 51813. The air inlet 51813 may be defined to extend along the width direction of the door assembly 500.
Therefore, when the door 530 of the second chamber is closed, because the air inlet 51813 is located in the front panel 518, the air inlet 51813 will face the door 530 of the second chamber.
The door 530 of the second chamber may be coupled to the front surface of the accommodating body 510, that is, the front panel 518 including the second inlet 512, to open and close the second inlet 512. That is, the door 530 of the second chamber may be coupled to the front panel 518 so as to cover at least an area including the air inlet 51813 and the second inlet 512.
That is, when the door 530 of the second chamber is closed, the second chamber 550 will be in communication with the internal space located between the accommodating body 510 and the second chamber 550 via the air inlet 51813.
Additionally,
The door assembly 500 may further include the hanger assembly 800 disposed in the second chamber 550 to hang the laundry. The hanger assembly 800 may be mounted on or coupled to a hanger mounting portion 5554 disposed in the second chamber 550. The hanger assembly 800 is a kind of accessory and is detachable from the second chamber 550.
Specifically, the door assembly 500 may further include the hanger mounting portion 5554 that may install or mount the hanger assembly 800 on the second chamber rear surface 555. The hanger mounting portion 5554 may vary depending on a shape of the hanger assembly 800. For example, in a case of the hanger assembly 800, which has an outer appearance of a general ring-shaped hanger, the hanger mounting portion 5554 may be in a shape of a hook protruding from the second chamber rear surface 555. The user may display the laundry by hanging the ring of the hanger assembly 800 on the hook.
In contrast, as shown in
In one example, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include the shelf 580 (see
Specifically, the second chamber rear surface 555 may include the shelf mounting portion 5552 in the form of the groove or the hole that extends along the width direction of the door assembly 500.
The shelf 580 may be in a shape of a rectangular sheet. The shelf 580 may include a shelf coupling portion 811 for coupling to the shelf mounting portion 5552 at a rear surface thereof. The shelf mounting portion 5552 may include a plurality of shelf mounting portions. Accordingly, the shelf 580 may also include a plurality of shelves coupled to the shelf mounting portions 5552, respectively.
The shelf mounting portion 5552 is coupled to the second chamber rear surface 555, and this is to separate both side surfaces of the shelf 580 from both side surfaces of the second chamber for air circulation in the second chamber 550, which will be described later.
Referring to
The link 125 may include the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 that pivotably connect the hinge receiving portion 121 with the hinge coupling portion 127.
That is, the first hinge 120 may include the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 that are pivotably coupled to the cabinet 110 and the accommodating body 510 but are spaced apart from each other.
The first hinge 120 may move the door assembly 500 forward to be away from the first inlet 131 via the pivoting of the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 and then move the door assembly 500 parallel to the first inlet 131.
Because the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 are connected so as to be pivotable at different points of the hinge receiving portion 121 and the hinge coupling portion 127, an overall outline may be in the form of four-bar linkages. In particular, because the hinge receiving portion 121 and the hinge coupling portion 127 are respectively coupled and fixed to the cabinet 110 and the door assembly 500, only the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 may pivot. Therefore, it may have a similar mechanism to the parallelogram four-bar linkages.
That is, when the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 pivot, the hinge receiving portion 121 and the hinge coupling portion 127 are only able to move to be parallel to each other. Ultimately, the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 will also pivot in parallel with each other by being spaced apart from each other.
The door assembly 500 will move in the direction parallel to the first inlet 131.
The door assembly 500 may move with the door 530 of the second chamber always facing forward. Accordingly, the user may always see the second chamber 550 when opening and closing the door assembly 500.
Additionally, when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet, the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 may be disposed in the direction parallel to the door assembly 500 and be in contact with the door assembly 500. This may be referred to as the first location or a folded state. When the opening/closing driver 170 pushes the door assembly 500, the door assembly 500 may pivot and be withdrawn forward simultaneously by the first hinge 120. Further, the door assembly 500 will finally be moved to one side of the laundry treating apparatus by the first hinge 120.
The first link 1251 and the second link 1252 of the first hinge 120 pivot, but because they are spaced apart from each other, the front surface of the door assembly 500 always faces forward. Accordingly, it may appear to the user that the door assembly 500 is withdrawn in the direction away from the first inlet 131 and then moves laterally.
Strictly speaking, because the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 pivot at a distance from each other, the door assembly 500 pivots by each individual link. However, because the front surface of the door assembly 500 is always fixed facing forward, the door assembly 500 may appear to be performing the translational motion.
Herein, it is described that the door assembly 500 moves forward by the predetermined distance by the opening/closing driver 170 and then moves laterally. This type of door may be called a gliding door or a swing door.
Considering lengths of the first link 1251 and the second link 1252, the first hinge 120 may open the door assembly 500 without interfering with the adjacent furniture. Additionally, when the door assembly 500 is completely opened, the door assembly 500 moves to one side of the laundry treating apparatus 100 and does not obscure the first inlet. Such state may be referred to as an unfolded state. This is to facilitate access to the inputter/outputter 700 even when the door assembly 500 is opened or moved.
The first link 1251 and the second link 1252 may pivot at an angle greater than 90 degrees (°) and smaller than 180 degrees (°) from the folded state to the unfolded state.
Referring to
Because a thickness of the door 530 of the second chamber is smaller than a thickness of the door assembly 500 and the door 530 is coupled to the front surface of the accommodating body 510, the second hinge 520 does not need to operate like the first hinge 120. Therefore, unlike the first hinge 120 moving away from the first inlet 131 and then moving in the direction parallel to the first inlet 131, the second hinge 520, like a general hinge, may be located at one side of the accommodating body 510 and pivot the door 530 of the second chamber, thereby opening and closing the door 530 of the second chamber.
However, when the second hinge 520 is constructed to be exposed to the outside, interference with the adjacent furniture may occur, so that the second hinge 520 may be installed on an inner surface of the door 530 of the second chamber, that is, a surface facing the second inlet 512 among both surfaces of the door 530 of the second chamber, and the accommodating body, so that the second hinge 520 may not be exposed to the outside when the door 530 of the second chamber is closed.
Accordingly, a portion of the second hinge 520 may be coupled to the accommodating body 510, and another portion of the second hinge may be coupled to the inner surface of the door 530 of the second chamber.
When the second hinge 520 pivots and the state of the door 530 of the second chamber is changed from the closed state to the open state, a maximum opening angle Θ of the door 530 of the second chamber may be equal to or greater than 90 degrees (°) and smaller than 180 degrees (°). When the maximum opening angle of the door 530 of the second chamber is equal to or greater than 180 degrees (°), the interference with the adjacent furniture may occur.
Similar to the member receiving portion 521, the member coupling portion 527 may also include a first fastening hole 5271 and a second fastening hole 5272, which are fastening holes for fixing the member coupling portion 527 to the inner surface of the door 530 of the second chamber.
The second hinge 520 may include a plurality of second hinges, and may include a second upper hinge 528 connecting upper portions of the door 530 of the second chamber and the accommodating body 510 to each other, and a second lower hinge 529 connecting lower portions of the door 530 of the second chamber and the accommodating body 510 to each other.
Referring to
Considering the size of the second chamber 550, the auxiliary chamber 150 must be located at the rear of the door assembly 500, and therefore may be located separately in a portion under the first chamber 130.
To this end, the first chamber bottom surface 135 may be stepped along the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110. The first chamber bottom surface 135 may include the first bottom surface 1351 and the second bottom surface 1352 having the different vertical levels, and the vertical level of the first bottom surface 1351 may be higher than the vertical level of the second bottom surface 1352.
The auxiliary chamber 150 may be located under the first bottom surface 1351. Accordingly, because the length in the front and rear direction of the auxiliary chamber is reduced, the air supply duct 411 will be located close to one of both side surfaces of the cabinet 110 to efficiently place the mechanical devices inside the auxiliary chamber 150. That is, the air supply duct 411 will be disposed in a direction facing the one side surface.
The connecting duct 413 may also be disposed in the left and right direction or the width direction of the cabinet 110.
The supporter 489 may also be disposed in the left and right direction of the cabinet 110.
Additionally, the air intake port 137 in communication with the air supply duct 411 and the air discharge port 138 in communication with the discharge duct 419 may be disposed in the left and right direction of the cabinet 110.
Ultimately, the flow of air circulating through the air supply 410 may be shown as shown in
Referring to
Ultimately, air that has flowed along the other side surface of the first chamber 130 will flow to the air supply 410 through the air intake port 137.
Air introduced into the air intake port 137 will first flow downward along the air supply duct 411. Thereafter, air will pass through the blowing unit 412 and flow upward again toward the connecting duct 413. This is because the blowing unit 412 is located on the base 470, while the connecting duct 413 is located above the supporter 489.
That is, air will flow downward and then flow upward again from the air supply duct 411 to the connecting duct 413. This is to prevent condensate that may be introduced via the air supply duct 411 from flowing into a heat exchanger 415 together. The condensate may be separated from air at a lower portion of the air supply duct before being introduced into the blowing unit 412 as the air flow direction changes.
In the case of steam supplied via the steam supply 450 (see
As the circulation direction of air and steam in the laundry treating apparatus 100, which is the present disclosure, is set to the left and right direction rather than the front and rear direction, a direction of the laundry support 600, especially the hanger body 610, which hangs the laundry, may also be set differently.
To manage the laundry, air and steam should be evenly distributed throughout the laundry. When the hanger body 610 is disposed in the width direction, only laundry hung close to the air discharge port 138 and the steam discharge port 139 may be managed, and laundry hung far away may not be cared for well because of the laundry hung close to the ports.
Therefore, for uniform distribution of air and steam, it will be desirable for the laundry support 600 to be disposed along the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110.
In one example, it may be inconvenient for the user to hang the laundry on the laundry support 600. This is because, as a plurality of hanger grooves 6111 defined in the laundry support 600 are arranged in the front and rear direction, distances from the first inlet 131 to the hanger grooves 6111 are all different from each other. Therefore, hanging the laundry in the deepest hanger groove may cause discomfort to the user.
To solve such problem, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may include the laundry support 600 disposed along the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110, and the hanger body 610 including the plurality of hanger grooves 6111 of the laundry support 600 may be extendable forward. Therefore, the user will be able to extend the hanger body 610 forward via the first inlet 131 and hang the laundry thereon without inconvenience of having to bend down.
The laundry support 600 may further include the laundry driver 640 that generates a rotational force and a power converter 660 that converts the rotational movement of the laundry driver 640 into a reciprocating movement along the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110.
The laundry driver 640 may be located between the first chamber top surface 132 and the cabinet top surface 112 to prevent exposure to the user and to prevent breakdown caused by steam and hot air supplied to the first chamber.
Additionally, the laundry driver 640 may be supported by a hanger frame (not shown) that supports the laundry driver 640. The hanger frame may also be located between the first chamber top surface 132 and the cabinet top surface 112, and both ends of the hanger frame may be coupled to the cabinet frame (not shown) that forms a skeleton of the cabinet 110 or the cabinet 110. This is to prevent vibration of the laundry driver 640 from being transmitted into the first chamber 130.
The laundry driver 640 may include a power motor 641 and a power transmitter 642 that is connected to a rotation shaft of the power motor and transmits power to the power converter.
In addition, the laundry driver 640 may further include a pulley fixing member 6425 that is supported on the moving hanger frame and supports the driven pulley 6422.
The power converter 660 may include a rotatable portion 661 that is connected to the driven pulley 6422 and rotates together when the driven pulley 6422 rotates, and a converting member 662 that converts the rotation of the rotatable portion 661 into a reciprocating movement. The rotatable portion 661 may perform a circular motion of a certain radius by the rotatable portion 661 constructed to rotate at a distance from a rotation shaft direction of the driven pulley 6422.
Specifically, the rotatable portion 661 may include a rotatable connecting member connected to the rotation shaft at one end, an arm member connected to the other end of the rotatable connecting member in a direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft, and inserted rotatable member connected to the converting member 662 in a direction parallel to the rotation shaft at the other end of the arm member.
The hanger support 620 may include a first support 622 and a second support 624 that support both ends of the hanger support, respectively. The first support 622 and the second support 624 will support the hanger support 620 when the hanger support 620 performs the reciprocating movement along the front and rear direction by the converting member 662.
The laundry support 600 may include the hanger body 610 that is located below the hanger support 620 so as to be spaced apart therefrom and hangs the laundry thereon. The hanger support 620 and the hanger body 610 may extend along the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110.
The hanger support 620 and the hanger body 610 may be coupled to each other to perform the reciprocating movement by the laundry driver 640.
The hanger body 610 may include the plurality of hanger grooves 6111 where the laundry may be hung.
The hanger body 610 is coupled to the hanger support 620, but is extendable forward via the first inlet 131 when necessary. That is, the hanger support 620 may further include a moving rail 615 for moving the hanger body 610 forward. The hanger body 610 may further include a moving guider 617 that is located on the hanger body 610 and couples the hanger body 610 to the moving rail 615. When the moving guider 617 moves on the moving rail 615, the hanger body 610 may move in the front and rear direction along the moving rail 615.
Referring to
The hanger bar 611 and the upper hanger body 612 may be spaced apart from each other and face away from each other. The hanger bar 611 and the upper hanger body 612 may be located to be spaced apart from each other and to be parallel with each other to define a hanging space 6101, which is a space accessible to the user for hanging the laundry. The hanger bar 611 and the upper hanger body 612 may be coupled to each other by each connecting body 619 connecting each of both ends of the hanger bar 611 with each of both ends of the upper hanger body 612.
That is, the hanging space 6101 may be defined by the hanger bar 611, the upper hanger body 612, and each connecting body 619 connecting each of both ends of the hanger bar 611 with each of both ends of the upper hanger body 612.
In other words, the hanger body 610 may include the hanging space 6101 defined through the cabinet 110 in the width direction when the hanger body 610 is disposed in the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110. The plurality of hanger grooves 6111 where the laundry may be hung may be located in a bottom surface of the hanging space 6101.
Specifically, the laundry support 600 may be located along the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110 in the first area 1301. When the laundry support 600 is located in the first area 1301, the hanger bar 611 will be fixed to the upper hanger body 612 and will perform the reciprocating movement along the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110 along with the upper hanger body 612 when the laundry driver 640 rotates. Thereafter, when the door assembly 500 is opened, the user may extend the hanger bar 611 from the upper hanger body 612 and move the same in a direction toward the first inlet 131.
That is, when the door assembly 500 is opened, the hanger bar 611 may be extended from the upper hanger body 612 toward the first inlet, and at least a portion of the hanger bar 611 may be located in the second area 1302.
In one example, when the laundry driver 640 rotates, the hanger body 610 and the hanger support 620 will perform the reciprocating movement together along the front and rear direction. Therefore, when the hanger body 610 is retracted, the hanger body 610 may unintentionally move in the front and rear direction along the moving rail 615 when the coupling with the hanger support 620 is not fixed.
This is a problem that occurs because the extension and retraction direction of the hanger body 610 is the same as the reciprocating movement direction of the hanger body 610.
To solve such problem, referring to
The hanger bar stopper 621 may include the movement preventing protrusion 625 that may be inserted into the hanger bar fixing groove 613 and a moving motor 626 for inserting the movement preventing protrusion 625 into the hanger bar fixing groove 613 or separating the same from the hanger bar fixing groove 613.
The hanger bar stopper 621 may automatically insert the movement preventing protrusion 625 into the hanger bar fixing groove 613 or separate the same from the hanger bar fixing groove 613 depending on whether the door assembly 500 is opened.
To this end, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a door opening/closing sensor 793 that senses whether the door assembly 500 is opened or closed. When the door opening/closing sensor 793 senses the opening of the door assembly 500, the controller 490 may operate the moving motor 626 to separate the movement preventing protrusion 625 from the hanger bar fixing groove 613. In contrast, when the door opening/closing sensor 793 senses the closing of the door assembly 500, the controller 490 may operate the moving motor 626 in an opposite direction to insert the movement preventing protrusion 625 into the hanger bar fixing groove 613.
Referring to
That is, when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131, the controller 490 will insert the movement preventing protrusion 625 into the hanger bar fixing groove 613 to couple the hanger body 610 with the hanger support 620. This is to prepare for the reciprocating movement of the laundry support 600 in the future.
When the door assembly 500 is opened, there is a high possibility that the user will extend the hanger body 610 forward, so that the controller 490 may separate the movement preventing protrusion 625 from the hanger bar fixing groove 613 in preparation therefor. Therefore, even when the user moves the hanger body 610 forward, interference between the hanger body 610 and the movement preventing protrusion 625 will not occur.
The shelf 580 may store the laundry or the goods thereon. The shelf 580 may include the plurality of shelves. Additionally, because the shelf 580 is detachable from the shelf mounting portion 5552, the spacing between the plurality of shelves may be adjusted based on the size of the goods being displayed.
The hanger housing 832 may include a central support 8323 located at a center of the hanger housing 832 and an extension support 8321 extending from the central support 8323 to both sides and supporting the laundry.
Top and side surfaces of the extension support 8321 and a bottom surface of the hanger housing 832, that is, the central support 8323 and a bottom surface of the extension support 8321, may include a steam supply hole 836 that may supply steam to the laundry hung on the laundry hanger 830 and an air supply hole 834 that may supply air.
The steam supply hole 836 and the air supply hole 834 may include a plurality of steam supply holes and a plurality of air supply holes, respectively. Because it is hygienic for steam and air to have different flow channels, the steam supply hole 836 and the air supply hole 834 will not be in communication with each other.
Referring to
The laundry hanger 830 may further include a steam unit 835 located inside the hanger housing 832 to generate steam and supply steam to the laundry via the steam supply hole 836.
The laundry hanger 830 may further include a hanger fan 833 located in the hanger housing 832 to suck air from the outside of the hanger housing 832 and supply air via the air supply hole 834.
Specifically, an inlet hole (not shown) defined through a front surface of the hanger housing 832 and the hanger fan 833 located in the inlet hole to suck air may be further included.
The laundry hanger 830 may further include a hanger heater (not shown) located at the rear of the hanger fan 833 to heat sucked air. Sucked air may be heated via the hanger heater and then supplied via the air supply hole 834.
Accordingly, the air supply hole 834 will able to supply hot air or air at a room temperature.
The steam unit 835 and the hanger fan 833 may be located at a center of the hanger housing 832. This is to maintain balance of the laundry hanger 830 by reflecting weights of the steam unit 835 and the hanger fan 833.
The laundry hanger 830 may further include a spacer 831 to prevent the laundry hung on the laundry hanger 830 from being in contact with the extension support 8321. The spacer 831 may define a predetermined space between the laundry and the extension support 8321 to prevent the air supply hole 834 and the steam supply hole 836 located in the extension support 8321 from unintentionally clogging by being in contact with the laundry.
Referring to
In the shoulder 8321, the left and right side surfaces of the hanger housing 832, and the bottom surface of the hanger housing 832, the steam supply hole 836 that may supply steam to the laundry hung on the hanger assembly 800 and the air supply hole 834 that may supply air may be located.
The steam supply hole 836 and the air supply hole 834 may include the plurality of steam supply holes and the plurality of air supply holes. Because it is hygienic for steam and air to have the different flow channels, the steam supply hole 836 and the air supply hole 834 will not be in communication with each other.
Referring to
A size of the steam supply hole 836 may be smaller than a size of the air supply hole 834. This is to allow steam to be discharged while being sprayed.
The air supply hole 834 may include an upper air supply hole 8341 defined in the shoulder 8321, a side air supply hole 8343 defined in each of both sides of the hanger housing 832, and a lower air supply hole 8345 defined in the bottom surface of the hanger housing 832.
The hanger housing 832 may include an open bottom surface and may further include a lower housing 8325 coupled to the open bottom surface. In this case, the lower air supply hole 8345 will be defined through the lower housing 8325.
The steam supply hole 836 may include an upper steam supply hole 8361 defined in the shoulder 8321, a side steam supply hole 8363 defined in each of both sides of the hanger housing 832, and a lower steam supply hole 8365 defined in the bottom surface of the hanger housing 832.
The hanger housing 832 may include the open bottom surface and may further include the lower housing 8325 coupled to the open bottom surface. In this case, the lower steam supply hole 8365 will be defined through the lower housing 8325.
The hanger assembly 800 may further include the spacer 831 to prevent the laundry hung on the hanger assembly 800 from being in contact with the shoulder 8321. The spacer 831 may define a predetermined space between the laundry and the shoulder 8321 to prevent the air supply hole 834 and the steam supply hole 836 located in the shoulder 8321 from unintentionally clogging by being in contact with the laundry.
That is, the ring 837 may include a connection terminal 8371 for receiving power or receiving the control signal from the controller 490. Accordingly, when the ring 837 is mounted on the hanger mounting portion 5554, the connection terminal 8371 and the connection terminal contact portion 55542 may be electrically connected to each other. The connection terminal 8371 may include a plurality of connection terminals, and the number of connection terminal contact portions 55542 may also be equal to the number of connection terminals 8371. This is to achieve separate connections for the power supply and the control signal.
The hanger housing 832 may include the neck 8323 that supports the neck area of the laundry and the shoulder 8321 that supports the shoulder area of the laundry. A shape of the neck 8323 and the shoulder 8321 may be that of a general hanger.
The hanger assembly 800 may further include the spacer 831 to separate the shoulder 8321 from the shoulder area of the laundry hung on the shoulder 8321. The spacer 831 may be coupled to the shoulder 8321 to prevent the laundry and the shoulder 8321 from coming into close contact with each other.
The hanger assembly 800 may further include the hanger fan 833 disposed inside the hanger housing 832 to suck air from the accommodating space 550 and supply air to the laundry hung on the hanger assembly 800. Specifically, the inlet hole (not shown) defined through the front surface of the hanger housing 832 and the hanger fan 833 located in the inlet hole to suck air may be further included.
Additionally, the hanger assembly 800 may further include a hanger heater 839 that heats air sucked by the hanger fan 833. The sucked air may be heated via the hanger heater 839 and then supplied via the air supply hole 834. Accordingly, the air supply hole 834 may supply hot air or air at the room temperature.
The hanger housing 832 may include a housing through-hole 8329 for sucking air from the accommodating space 550 by the hanger fan 833. The hanger fan 833 may be located in the housing through-hole 8329.
The hanger assembly 800 may further include the steam unit 835 located inside the hanger housing 832 to generate steam and supply steam to the laundry via the steam supply hole 836.
Additionally, the hanger assembly 800 may further include a hanger water supply tank 838 for supplying water to the steam unit 835. The hanger housing 832 may include a water supply tank installation portion 8328 into which the hanger water supply tank 838 is detachably coupled.
The water supply tank installation portion 8328 may be recessed inward from the hanger housing 832. When the hanger water supply tank 838 is coupled to the water supply tank installation portion 8328, an outer surface of the hanger housing 832 and a front surface of the hanger water supply tank 838 will be able to form a smooth coplanar surface.
The steam unit 835 and the hanger fan 833 may be located at the center of the hanger housing 832. This is to maintain the balance of the hanger assembly 800 by reflecting the weights of the steam unit 835 and the hanger fan 833.
The hanger assembly 800 may further include an air flow channel body 851 that is disposed inside the hanger housing 832 and is for discharging air sucked by the hanger fan 833 to the air supply hole 834.
The air flow channel body 851 may be formed in a similar shape to the hanger housing 832.
The air flow channel body 851 may include an internal air hole 854 defined through a top surface or a side surface of the air flow channel body 851 to discharge air sucked by the hanger fan 8328 via the air supply hole 834. The internal air hole 854 may further include an upper internal air hole 8541 defined at a location corresponding to the upper air supply hole 8341 and a side internal air hole 8543 defined at a location corresponding to the side air supply hole 8343.
In one example, a lower portion of the air flow channel body 851 may have an open shape.
Likewise, the hanger assembly 800 may further include a steam flow channel body 852 disposed inside the hanger housing 832 to discharge steam generated by the steam unit 835 to the steam supply hole 836.
The steam flow channel body 852 may include the internal air hole 854 defined through a top surface or a side surface of the steam flow channel body 852 to discharge air sucked by the hanger fan 8328 via the steam supply hole 836. The internal steam hole 856 may further include an upper internal steam hole 8561 defined at a location corresponding to the upper steam supply hole 8361 and a side internal steam hole 8563 defined at a location corresponding to the side air supply hole 8343.
In one example, a lower portion of the steam flow channel body 852 may have an open shape.
The hanger water supply tank 838 may be located at a center of the steam flow channel body 852. That is, the steam flow channel body 852 may include a first steam body 8321 and a second steam body 8322 located under both shoulders 8321 inside the hanger housing 832 for an installation space of the hanger water supply tank 838, respectively, and a steam connecting body 8323 that allows the first steam body 8321 and the second steam body 8322 to be in communication with each other.
The first steam body 8321 and the second steam body 8322 are in communication with each other by the steam connecting body 8323, which is to equalize internal steam pressures of the first steam body 8321 and the second steam body 8322 to prevent steam from excessively coming out of only one side.
The first steam body 8321 and the second steam body 8322 may have shapes that are symmetrical to each other about the steam connecting body 8323.
Because the steam connecting body 8323 only needs to connect both shoulders to each other, the steam connecting body 8323 may be smaller in size than the first steam body 8321 and the second steam body 8322.
Accordingly, the hanger water supply tank 838 and the steam unit 835 may be located under the steam connecting body 8323.
The steam flow channel body 852 may be located in front of the air flow channel body 851. That is, the steam flow channel body 852 may be located closer to the supply tank installation portion 8328 than the air flow channel body 851. This is to shorten a flow channel to the hanger water supply tank 838.
Likewise, when the air supply hole 834 and the steam supply hole 836 are defined in two rows in the top, side, and bottom surfaces of the hanger housing 832, the steam supply hole 836 may be located closer to one surface of the hanger housing 832 where the supply tank installation portion 8328 is located than the air supply hole 834.
The hanger fan 833 and the hanger water supply tank 838 may be located in the same direction. Additionally, the hanger heater 839 may be located above the steam flow channel body 852.
The controller 490 may control the hanger heater 839, the hanger fan 833, and the steam unit 835.
Because the purposes of the second chamber 550 include the display, the door assembly 500 may further include lightings 587 and 590 to make the goods or the laundry accommodated in the second chamber 550 to stand out.
The upper lighting 591 may radiate light downward on the accommodated goods. Therefore, the goods illuminated by the upper lighting 591 will be able to achieve a highlight effect that focuses attention of the user looking at the second chamber.
The door assembly 500 may further include a lower auxiliary space (not shown) located separately in a lower portion of the second chamber 550 inside the accommodating body 510. That is, the door assembly 500 may further include the lower auxiliary space (not shown) separated from the second chamber 550 between the accommodating body 510 and the second chamber 550. The lower auxiliary space may include the electrical and mechanical devices required for the door assembly 500.
Accordingly, the second chamber 550 may define a space independent of the first chamber 130. Here, the independent space means that temperature and humidity may be adjusted separately from the first chamber 130. This is to enable the temperature and humidity adjustment independently of the first chamber 130 to use the second chamber 550 for the display and care purposes.
The independent temperature and humidity adjustment of each chamber is to prevent energy from being wasted as hot air or steam is unnecessarily supplied to the other chamber when only one of the first chamber 130 and the second chamber 550 is used. Additionally, both chambers may be used with different temperatures and humidities for different purposes.
The laundry treating apparatus 100 may spray steam or supply hot air using the various electrical or mechanical devices disposed in the auxiliary chamber 150 only when it is necessary to care for the laundry accommodated in the first chamber 130. In addition, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include an air conditioner (not shown) separately disposed to dehumidify or heat air of the second chamber 550 to care for the laundry accommodated in the second chamber 550.
The air conditioner may include at least one of an air circulator 560 and an air treater 570, which will be described later.
Referring to
The second chamber top surface 551 may include a lighting installation hole 5512 defined through the second chamber top surface 551. The upper lighting 591 may irradiate light to the second chamber 550 via the lighting installation hole 5512.
The upper lighting 591 may emit light with a color of one of cooldaylight, incandlelight, and daylight colors.
The laundry treating apparatus 100 may include the cabinet 110 including the first inlet 131 defined in the front surface, the first chamber 130 located inside the cabinet 110 and accommodating the laundry via the first inlet 131, the auxiliary chamber 150 located at the lower side inside the cabinet 110 to define the installation space separate from the first chamber 130, the door assembly 500 coupled to the cabinet 110 to open and close the first inlet 131, the second chamber 550 located inside the door assembly 500 and formed separately from the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary chamber 150, and the air circulator 560 disposed in the door assembly 500 to circulate air in the second chamber 550.
That is, the door assembly 500 may further include the air circulator 560 located between the second chamber 550 and the accommodating body 510 to circulate air in the second chamber 550. The air circulator 560 may suck air of the second chamber 550 via the air inlet 51813 defined through the front upper panel 5181 and then discharge air that has passed through the circulator 560 to the second chamber 550 via an air outlet 5511 located in the second chamber top surface 551.
Referring to
The second chamber 550 may be formed by an accommodating housing 559 located inside the accommodating body 510. That is, the accommodating body 510 may include the second inlet 512 in the front surface thereof and may include the accommodating housing 559 forming the second chamber 550 therein. Therefore, the accommodating housing 559 may include the second chamber top surface 551, the second chamber bottom surface 554, the second chamber left side surface 552 and the second chamber right side surface 553 connecting the second chamber top surface 551 with the second chamber bottom surface 554, and the second chamber rear surface 555.
Referring to
In contrast, when air in the second chamber 550 may be circulated, the air circulator 560 may be located anywhere between the accommodating body 510 and the accommodating housing 559.
Referring to
The heater 561 may include a circulating heater 5611 that heats air passing through the circulating flow channel 563. In addition to the circulating heater 5611, the heater 561 may be implemented in other ways as long as it may heat air passing through the circulating flow channel 563. For example, the circulation heater 5611 may be formed in a film shape to surround the circulating flow channel 563.
The circulating flow channel 563 may include a first circulating duct 5631 that sucks air of the second chamber 550 and allows air to flow, and a second circulating duct 5632 that is in communication with the first circulating duct 5631 and allows air sucked into the first circulating duct 5631 to flow and discharges air to the second chamber 550.
The door assembly 500 may further include the air inlet 51813 that is located at the upper portion of the door assembly 500 and is in communication with one end of the circulating flow channel 563 to suck air from the second chamber 550, and the air outlet 5511 that is located at the upper portion of the door assembly 500 and is in communication with the other end of the circulating flow channel 563 to discharge air to the second chamber 550.
The first circulating duct 5631 may be in communication with the air inlet 51813 located in the front panel 518, and the second circulating duct 5632 may be in communication with the air outlet 5511 located in the second chamber top surface 551.
The air circulator 560 may further include a circulating fan 565 that rotates to suck air from the second chamber 550.
The circulating fan 565 may suck air from the second chamber 550 by using a motor to generate a suction force via a fan disposed on the rotation shaft of the motor.
Specifically, the circulating fan 565 may be located on the circulating flow channel.
For example, the circulating fan 565 may be located adjacent to the air inlet 51813 or adjacent to the air outlet 5511. Inside the circulating flow channel 563, the circulating fan 565 may be located upstream or downstream from the heater 561.
The heater 561 may be located inside the second circulating duct 5632.
Referring to
Accordingly, a length of the circulating flow channel 563 along the width direction of the door assembly 500 may be greater than a length of the circulating flow channel 563 along the front and rear direction of the door assembly 500.
That is, lengths of the first circulating duct 5631 and the second circulating duct 5632 along the width direction of the door assembly 500 may be greater than lengths of the first circulating duct 5631 and the second circulating duct 5632 along the front and rear direction of the door assembly 500, respectively.
Additionally, the first circulating duct 5631 may be located on the second circulating duct 5632.
Additionally, the first circulating duct 5631 may be located closer to the door of the second chamber than the second circulating duct 5632. This is because circulating air rearward is more advantageous in terms of heat loss than circulating air forward.
Because of a shape of the circulating flow channel 563, the circulating fan 565 may include a plurality of circulating fans. The plurality of circulating fans 565 may be arranged along the width direction of the door assembly 500.
Likewise, the heater 561 may include a plurality of heaters (not shown). Alternatively, a coil heater that generates heat in the single heater may be formed to extend along the width direction of the door assembly 500. That is, the coil heater may be formed in a serpentine shape.
In one example, the door assembly 500 may include a circulating temperature sensor 797 that measures the temperature of the second chamber 550. A detailed description thereof will be made later with reference to
Referring to
Accordingly, because the air inlet 51813 located in the front upper panel 5181 is not in contact with the door of the second chamber, the air inlet 51813 may be in communication with the second chamber 550. That is, when the door 530 of the second chamber closes the second inlet 512, air in the second chamber 550 may flow to the air circulator 560 via the air inlet 51813.
Referring to
In one example, the air circulator 560 may adjust the temperature of the second chamber 550 by circulating and simultaneously heating air in the second chamber 550 via the heater 561. A volume of the second chamber 550 is not only smaller than a volume of the first chamber 130, but also the second chamber 550 has a main purpose of adjusting the temperature and the humidity when displaying the laundry hung in the second chamber 550, so that the heater 561 may be sufficient with only the circulating heater 5611 unlike the heat pump module disposed inside the auxiliary chamber 150.
The heater 561 may operate only when heating air in the second chamber 550. That is, when a temperature of air in the second chamber 550 reaches a preset target temperature, the operation of the heater 561 may be stopped.
To this end, the door assembly 500 may include the circulating temperature sensor 797 (see
Based on the temperature measured by the circulating temperature sensor 797, the controller 490 may control the circulating fan 565 and the circulating heater 5611. When the temperature is higher than the target temperature, the controller 490 may stop the circulating heater 5611 and operate only the circulating fan 565.
The door assembly 500 may further include the air treater 570 located between the accommodating body 510 and the second chamber bottom surface 554 to suck air from the second chamber 550 and circulate air.
The air treater 570 may circulate air in the second chamber 550 similarly to the air circulator 560. When the air treater 570 is located in the upper portion of the second chamber 550, the air circulator 560 may be located in the lower portion of the second chamber 550.
That is, the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may be located anywhere as long as they may purify air in the second chamber 550. Additionally, to condition air in the second chamber 550, only one of the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may be disposed.
Referring to
That is, the door assembly 500 may further include the bottom suction hole 5541 located in the bottom surface of the second chamber 550 and in communication with a first treating duct 5731, and the bottom discharge hole 5542 located in the bottom surface of the second chamber 550 and in communication with a second treating duct 5732.
When the bottom suction hole 5541 is located at a center of the second chamber bottom surface 554, the bottom discharge hole 5542 may be located close to the second chamber left side surface 552 or the second chamber right side surface 553. To form a flow channel between the bottom suction hole 5541 and the bottom discharge hole 5542, the bottom discharge hole 5542 and the bottom suction hole 5541 may be arranged along the width direction of the door assembly 500 in the second chamber bottom surface 554.
The bottom suction hole 5541 may include a plurality of bottom suction holes and the plurality of bottom suction holes may be located close to both side surfaces of the second chamber 550. That is, when one bottom suction hole 5541 is close to the second chamber left side surface 552, another bottom suction hole 5541 may be located close to the second chamber right side surface 553.
A bottom suction cover (not shown) including a plurality of through-holes may be coupled to the bottom discharge hole 5541.
The bottom discharge hole 5542 may be defined to extend along the front and rear direction of the door assembly 500 to circulate air along one side surface of the second chamber 550.
Referring to
While the air circulator 560 includes the heater 561 to supply hot air to the second chamber, the air treater 570 may include the dehumidifier 571 to dehumidify air of the second chamber 550.
The dehumidifier 571 may be implemented using a heat pump unit, but considering a size of a space where the dehumidifier is installed, the dehumidifier 571 may include a thermoelectric module 5711 utilizing the Peltier effect.
Unlike the air supply 410, which circulates and dehumidifies air in the first chamber 130, the dehumidifier 571, which circulates and dehumidifies air in the second chamber 550, circulates air in the second chamber 550 that has the volume relatively smaller than the volume of the first chamber 130, so that a bulky device such as a heat pump may not be needed.
In addition, because the second chamber 550 is to maintain the temperature and the humidity during the display, much condensate will not be generated as in a drying process of drying the laundry by operating the air supply 410 in the first chamber 130. Therefore, moisture condensed in the dehumidifier 571 may naturally evaporate.
In one example, the door assembly 500 may include a lower lighting 599 that is located on the second chamber bottom surface 554 and emits light upward. This is to irradiate light to the goods to be disposed on the second chamber bottom surface 554. Because the second chamber bottom surface 554 includes the bottom discharge hole 5542 and the bottom suction hole 5541, the lower lighting 599 may be formed in a shape of a plate in a remaining area excluding those.
The lower lighting 599 may emit light with a color of one of cooldaylight, incandlelight, and daylight colors.
The dehumidifier 571 may be formed in a shape of the thermoelectric module and may be located on the circulating flow channel. When electricity is applied to the thermoelectric module because of the Peltier effect, a temperature of one surface of the thermoelectric module will fall below the room temperature and a temperature of the other surface will rise above the room temperature.
Accordingly, air passing through the one surface will be cooled and dehumidified as a temperature thereof drops. On the other hand, air passing through the other surface that is heated will become high-temperature dry air as a temperature thereof rises.
The dehumidifier 571 may include the thermoelectric module 5711, a thermoelectric cooler 57113 that is coupled to the one surface, which is cooled, among the surfaces of the thermoelectric module 5711 to cool air, and a thermoelectric heater 57115 that is coupled to the other surface to heat air.
The thermoelectric cooler 57113 may be formed in a fin shape to expand a cross-sectional area of the one surface, which is cooled, of the thermoelectric module 5711, thereby enabling more effective heat exchange with air passing through the thermoelectric cooler 57113. The fin may include a plurality of fins, and may be referred to as a cooling fin.
The thermoelectric heater 57115 may also be formed in the fin shape to expand a cross-sectional area of one surface, which is heated, of the thermoelectric module 5711, thereby enabling more effective heat exchange with air passing through the thermoelectric heater 57115.
The fin may include a plurality of fins, and may be referred to as a heating fin. The thermoelectric heater 57115 is originally to dissipate heat from the other surface, which is heated, of the thermoelectric module 5711 to the outside, but this means that the thermoelectric heater 57115 heats air passing through the thermoelectric heater 57115.
The treating flow channel 573 may include the first treating duct 5731 that sucks air from the second chamber 550 and allows air to flow, and the second treating duct 5732 that is in communication with the first treating duct 5731 to allow air that has passed through the first treating duct 5731 to the second chamber to be discharged.
The first treating duct 5731 and the second treating duct 5732 may include the thermoelectric cooler 57113 and the thermoelectric heater 57115 of the thermoelectric module 5711, respectively. Accordingly, air passing through the first treating duct 5731 will be dehumidified, and air passing through the second treating duct 5732 will be heated.
Specifically, air sucked in communication with the bottom suction hole 5541 will be cooled by the thermoelectric module 5711 while passing through the first treating duct 5731. Air cooled while passing through the first treating duct 5731 will be heated by the thermoelectric module 5711 while passing through the second treating duct 5732.
To this end, the thermoelectric module 5711 may be located between the first treating duct 5731 and the second treating duct 5732, so that the thermoelectric cooler 57113 may be in contact with the first treating duct 5731 or may be inserted into the first treating duct 5731, and the thermoelectric heater 57115 may be in contact with the second treating duct 5732 or may be inserted into the second treating duct 5732.
That is, the first treating duct 5731 may be located upward of the second treating duct 5732.
The first treating duct 5731, the thermoelectric module 5711, and the second treating duct 5732 may be stacked sequentially from top to bottom.
The air treater 570 may include a treating fan 575 for circulating air in the second chamber 550 via the treating flow channel 573.
In one example, to smoothly dissipate heat of the thermoelectric heater 57115 separately from the treating fan 575, the thermoelectric heater 57115 may include a heat dissipating fan 576. Additionally, the thermoelectric heater 57115 may be a plurality of heat dissipating fins or a plurality of heating fins formed in the fin shape.
That is, the air treater 570 may further include the treating fan 575 that is located in the first treating duct 5731, sucks air from the second chamber 550, and guides air to the thermoelectric cooler 57113, and the heat dissipating fan 576 that guides air that passes through the first treating duct 5731 to the second treating duct 5732.
The fin-shaped thermoelectric heater 57115 may be attached to the thermoelectric module 5711 to help dissipate heat from the thermoelectric module 5711 and effectively heat air passing through the second treating duct 5732.
The heat dissipating fan 576 may increase a speed of air passing through the treating flow channel 573 such that heat transfer occurs more effectively in the thermoelectric heater 57115. Air passing through the second treating duct 5732 will ultimately be able to more effectively exchange heat with the thermoelectric heater 57115 by the heat dissipating fan 576. To this end, the heat dissipating fan 576 may be located between the thermoelectric cooler 57113 and the thermoelectric heater 57115.
Because a space between the second chamber bottom surface 554 and an accommodating body bottom surface 5104 is narrow, the first treating duct 5731 and the second treating duct 5732 may be disposed to extend along the width direction of the door assembly 500.
In addition, as shown in
The thermoelectric module 5711 will be located between the first treating duct 5731 and the second treating duct 5732.
Accordingly, air introduced into the first treating duct 5731 via the bottom suction hole 5541 may meet the thermoelectric cooler 57113 and be cooled, so that air will flow towards one side surface of the accommodating body 510 along the first treating duct 5731, that is, along the width direction of the door assembly 500.
Thereafter, air passing through the first treating duct 5731 will flow to the second treating duct 5732 that is in communication with one end of the first treating duct 5731. Because the second treating duct 5732 is located under the first treating duct 5731, air passing through the first treating duct 5731 will also flow downward.
Air that has entered the second treating duct 5732 will flow toward the other side surface of the accommodating body along the second treating duct 5732, that is, along the width direction of the door assembly 500.
That is, because of narrowness of the space in which the air treater 570 is mounted, when the bottom discharge hole 5542 is located closer to one side surface among both side surfaces of the accommodating body than to the other side surface around the bottom suction hole 5541, the first treating duct 5731 may be formed to extend in a direction opposite to the side on which the bottom discharge hole 5542 is located, that is, toward the other side surface of the accommodating body 510.
Accordingly, a length of the second treating duct 5732 may be greater than a length of the first treating duct 5731.
The air treater 570 may further include the treating fan 575 to smoothly suck air of the second chamber 550 in the first treating duct 5731. Additionally, the air treater 570 may further include the heat dissipating fan 576 to smoothly dissipate heat from the thermoelectric module 5711 and allow air in the treating flow channel to flow quickly.
The air treater 570 may adjust the humidity of the second chamber 550 by circulating and simultaneously dehumidifying air in the second chamber 550 via the dehumidifier 571. Not only is the volume of the second chamber 550 smaller than the volume of the first chamber 130, but also the main purpose of the second chamber 550 is the adjustment of the temperature and the humidity when displaying the laundry hung in the second chamber 550, so that the dehumidifier 571 may be sufficient with only the thermoelectric module 5711 unlike the heat pump unit disposed inside the auxiliary chamber 150.
The dehumidifier 571 may operate only when dehumidifying air in the second chamber 550. That is, when the humidity of air in the second chamber 550 reaches a preset target humidity, the operation of the dehumidifier 571 may be stopped.
To this end, the door assembly 500 may include a humidity sensor 795 (see
The humidity sensor 795 is shown as being located at a lower portion of one of both side surfaces 552 and 553 of the second chamber 550, but the humidity sensor 795 may be located anywhere as long as it may measure the humidity of the second chamber 550.
In addition, to allow air discharged via the second treating duct 5732 to be discharged into the second chamber 550 with a temperature equal to or higher than a preset treatment temperature, the air treater 570 may further include an auxiliary heater 57321 inside the second treating duct 5732. To this end, the air treater 570 may further include a treatment temperature sensor 799 located inside the second treating duct 5732 to measure the temperature of discharged air. However, unlike this, the treatment temperature sensor 799 may be located elsewhere.
The humidity sensor 795 may be a temperature/humidity sensor that may also measure the temperature. In this case, the treatment temperature sensor 799 may be replaced by the humidity sensor 795. Accordingly, the humidity sensor 795 may be disposed in the second treating duct 5732 to measure the temperature and the humidity of air that has passed through the thermoelectric heater 57115. Accordingly, rotation speeds of the heat dissipating fan 576 and the treating fan 575 may be controlled or current flowing in the thermoelectric module may be adjusted.
The controller 490 may control the auxiliary heater 57321 to operate when the temperature measured via the treatment temperature sensor 799 is lower than the treatment temperature.
The treatment temperature may be the same as or different from the target temperature. This is because the temperature of the second chamber 550 is set to the target temperature, but the temperature of air discharged from the air treater 570 may be different therefrom. This is because an amount of air circulating via the air circulator 560 is greater than an amount of air circulating via the air treater 570.
To this end, the door assembly 500 may separately include temperature sensors 797 and 799 for the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570. Otherwise, the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may share the circulating temperature sensor 797.
Additionally, the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may operate independently of the air supply 410 and the steam supply 450 required to care for the laundry hung on the laundry support 600 of the first chamber 130. That is, the temperature and the humidity of air in the second chamber 550 may be adjusted regardless of the first chamber 130.
Additionally, when necessary, only one of the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may operate.
This is because the second chamber 550 has the purpose of display and storage, and thus, needs to be constantly adjusted in the temperature and the humidity. To this end, the second chamber 550 may be formed by the separate space that is separated from the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary chamber 150, and the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may be connected to operate independently of the air supply 410 and the steam supply 450.
Accordingly, even when the door assembly 500 opens the first inlet 131, the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may operate. On the other hand, when the door assembly 500 is opened, the operations of the air supply 410 and the steam supply 450 may be stopped. This is for safety.
That is, the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may operate even when the door assembly 500 is opened.
As shown in
The plurality of shelves 580 may be arranged along the height direction of the door assembly 500 at the uniform spacing. Alternatively, some of the plurality of shelves 580 may be arranged at different spacings.
The shelf 580 may include the shelf coupling portion 811 to be coupled to the shelf mounting portion 5552 located in the second chamber rear surface 555. The shelf coupling portion 811 may be formed to protrude from the shelf 580 toward the second chamber rear surface 555 so as to be inserted into a hole or a groove defined in the shelf mounting portion 5552.
Because the shelf mounting portion 5552 extends along the width direction of the door assembly 500, the shelf coupling portion 811 may also be formed to correspond thereto.
In one example, the shelf 580 may be coupled only to the second chamber rear surface 555 and not to both side surfaces of the second chamber 550. This is because, when the shelf 580 is coupled to three surfaces, it may be difficult for the user to separate or couple the shelf 580 and air circulation in the second chamber 550 may be blocked.
Accordingly, because the shelf 580 is formed in the shape of the square plate, there may be a predetermined gap between each of both side surfaces of the second chamber 550 and each of both side surfaces of the shelf 580.
Additionally, the air circulator 560 discharges air via the air outlet 5511, which is located at the rear portion of the second chamber top surface 551. Therefore, the shelf may include a ventilating portion defined through the shelf 580 along the height direction of the door assembly 500 at a rear portion of the shelf 580 for air circulation by the air circulator 560.
The ventilating portion 584 will prevent air circulating along the height direction of the door assembly 500 from being interrupted by the shelf 580 at the rear portion of the second chamber 550.
That is, air flowing downward from the second chamber top surface 551 via the air outlet 5511 may pass through the ventilating portion 584.
That is, the door assembly 500 may further include the shelf 580 detachably disposed on the rear surface of the second chamber 550 and the ventilating portion 584 defined through the shelf 580, and the ventilating portion 584 may be located closer to the rear surface of the second chamber 550 than the first inlet 131, so that air discharged via the air circulator 560 may flow via the ventilating portion 584.
Additionally, both left and right ends of the shelf 580 may not be coupled to the second chamber 550, but may be spaced apart from both side surfaces 552 and 553 of the second chamber 550. Air discharged from the air treater 570 may circulate via the gap.
That is, air discharged via the bottom discharge hole 5542 located adjacent to one of both side surfaces 552 and 553 of the second chamber 550 will be able to circulate inside the second chamber 550 via the gap.
The shelf 580 may simply be formed in the shape of the plate. However, because the second chamber 550 is used for displaying the laundry or the goods, the door assembly 500 may further include the lightings 587 and 590 to make the laundry or the goods accommodated and displayed in the second chamber 550 stand out.
The lightings 587 and 590 may include the second chamber lighting 590 disposed in the second chamber 550 and the shelf lighting 587 disposed in the shelf 580.
In other words, the door assembly 500 may further include the shelf 580 located in the second chamber 550 to support the goods accommodated in the second chamber 550, and the shelf 580 may include a shelf body 5811 with an open top surface, an upper cover 5814 that is coupled to the open top surface of the body 5811 to support the goods, and the shelf lighting 587 disposed on the shelf body 5811 to emit light.
Additionally, the shelf lighting 587 may include an upper shelf lighting 5871 that irradiates light via the upper cover 5814 and a lower shelf lighting 5872 that irradiates light downward of the shelf body 5811.
When the upper shelf lighting 5871 is intended to illuminate the goods disposed on the upper cover 5814 upward, the lower shelf lighting 5872 is intended to illuminate the goods disposed on another shelf 580 located below downward.
The shelf 580 may further include a side frame 5816 and an upper frame 5815 to reinforce strength in consideration of a weight of the goods supported by the shelf 580. The side frame 5816 may be coupled to surround front and both side surfaces of the shelf body 5811. The upper frame 5815 may be coupled to the open top surface of the shelf body portion 581 to support the upper cover 5814.
The shelf 580 may further include the ventilating portion 584 for air circulating along the height direction of the second chamber 550. The ventilating portion 584 may include a body ventilating hole 5841 located at the rear portion of the shelf body assembly 581 and defined through the shelf body 5811 and an upper ventilating hole 5842 defined through the upper frame 5815. When the shelf body 5811 and the upper frame 5815 are coupled to each other, the body ventilating hole 5841 and the upper ventilating hole 5842 will face each other.
The body ventilating hole 5841 and the upper ventilating hole 5842 may be defined to extend along the width direction of the door assembly 500. Additionally, the body ventilating hole 5841 and the upper ventilating hole 5842 may include a plurality of ventilating holes and a plurality of upper ventilating holes, respectively. Even when the body ventilation hole 5841 and the upper ventilation hole 5842 include the plurality of ventilating holes and the plurality of upper ventilating holes, respectively, a shape and the number of body ventilating holes 5841 will be the same as those of upper ventilating holes 5842, and the body ventilating hole 5841 and the upper ventilating hole 5842 will face each other.
The upper frame 5815 may include a cover installation hole 58411 defined through the upper frame. The cover installation hole 58411 may be defined to allow light from shelf lighting 587, which will be described later, to pass therethrough.
The cover installation hole 58411 may be located in front of the upper ventilating hole 5842. The upper cover 5814 may be coupled to the cover installation hole 58411. Therefore, a shape of the cover installation hole 58411 will correspond to a shape of the upper cover 5814.
The shelf 580 may further include the shelf lighting 587 disposed on the shelf body 5811 to emit light. The shelf lighting 587 may include the upper shelf lighting 5871 for illuminating light to the goods supported on the upper cover 5814 and the lower shelf lighting 5872 for illuminating light to the goods located below the shelf body 5811.
The upper shelf lighting 5871 is for illuminating light to the goods supported on the upper cover 5814, and the lower shelf lighting 5872 is for illuminating light to the goods located below the shelf 580. This is because the shelf 580 may include the plurality of shelves and another shelf 580 may be located below one shelf 580.
To improve the display effect, it will be desirable for the upper shelf lighting 5871 to emit light via an entirety of the plate-shaped upper cover. On the other hand, the lower shelf lighting 5872 may be formed in a linear form, so that light may be focused only on the goods. This is because, based on the goods, spotlight lighting is desirable from above, and soft lighting is desirable from below.
To this end, the shelf lighting 587 may include a shelf light diffuser 5873 for diffusion and reflection of the upper shelf lighting 5871. The shelf light diffuser 5873 may be made of a light diffusion material.
This is because using the light diffusion material may prevent the user from being dazzled by the lighting and make light emitted from the lighting soft and subtle. Therefore, an interior design may be better when the light diffusion material is used than when the light diffusion material is not used.
The shelf light diffuser 5873 may be located under the upper cover 5814 and diffuse light of the upper shelf lighting 5871 in a plate shape. Therefore, light from the upper shelf lighting 5871 will be diffused in the form of the plate via the shelf light diffuser 5873 and then irradiated to the goods via the upper cover 5814.
In one example, the upper cover 5814 may be made of a transparent or translucent material to allow light to pass therethrough.
Each of the upper shelf lighting 5871 and the lower shelf lighting 5872 may include a light-emitting diode (LED). The upper shelf lighting 5871 and the lower shelf lighting 5872 may be in the linear shape. Accordingly, the upper shelf lighting 5871 and the lower shelf lighting 5872 may emit light with a color of one of cooldaylight, incandlelight, and daylight colors.
The upper shelf lighting 5871 may be formed to extend along the width direction of the door assembly 500 inside the shelf body 5811.
While the upper shelf lighting 5871 irradiates light in the form of the plate via the shelf light diffuser 5873, the lower shelf lighting 5872 may irradiate light in a form of a line.
The lower shelf lighting 5872 may irradiate light downward of the shelf 580. To this end, the lower shelf lighting 5872 may be disposed under the shelf body 5811. The shelf 580 may further include a lower shelf lighting cover 5819 to cover the lower shelf lighting 5872.
The lower shelf lighting cover 5819 may be made of a transparent or translucent material.
The lower shelf lighting 5872 may be located in a lower front side of the shelf body 5811.
The lower shelf lighting 5872 may be located at a front side inside the shelf body 5811 and may irradiate light via a lower lighting through-hole (not shown) defined through the shelf body 5811. In this regard, the lower shelf lighting cover 5819 may be coupled to the lower lighting through-hole (not shown).
Accordingly, the upper shelf lighting 5871 may irradiate light forward from a rear side of the shelf body 5811. Light emitted forward will be reflected and diffused by the shelf light diffuser 5873, pass through the upper cover 5814, and travel upward of the shelf 580.
On the other hand, light emitted by the lower shelf lighting 5872 will be directed downward of the shelf 580 via the lower shelf lighting cover 5819.
The shelf 580 may include a shelf power supply 585 to supply power to the shelf lighting 587. To prevent a wire from being exposed, the shelf power supply 585 may be formed to protrude from the rear side of the shelf 580 toward the second chamber rear surface 555.
Accordingly, the shelf power supply 585 may be located at a center of the shelf coupling portion 811. Correspondingly, the shelf mounting portion 5552 may include a shelf power connecting portion 55523 into which the shelf power supply 585 is inserted.
That is, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may include the cabinet 110 including the first inlet 131 defined in the front surface thereof, the first chamber 130 located inside the cabinet 110 and accommodating the laundry therein through the first inlet 131, the auxiliary chamber 150 located at the lower side inside the cabinet 110 to define the installation space separated from the first chamber 130, and the door assembly 500 that is coupled to the cabinet 110 to open and close the first inlet 131.
In addition, the door assembly 500 may include the accommodating body 510 including the second inlet 512 defined in the front surface thereof, the accommodating housing 559 disposed inside the accommodating body 510, in communication with the outside via the second inlet 512, and forming the second chamber 550 separated from the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary chamber 150, and the line lighting 592 disposed in the accommodating housing 559 in parallel with the second inlet 512 to illuminate the second chamber 550.
As described above, since the accommodating housing 559 may form the second chamber 550, so that the accommodating housing 559 may include the second chamber top surface 551 that forms the top surface of the second chamber 550, the second chamber left side surface 552 and the second chamber right side surface 553 extending downward from both left and right ends of the second chamber top surface 551 to form the left and right side surfaces of the second chamber 550, respectively, and the second chamber rear surface 555 connected to the second chamber top surface 551, the second chamber left side surface 552, and the second chamber right side surface 553 to form the rear surface of the second chamber 550.
The line lighting 592 may be disposed along a perimeter of the second chamber 550 in a form of a line. That is, the line lighting 592 may be disposed along each of the second chamber top surface 551, the second chamber left side surface 552, and the second chamber right side surface 553.
The line lighting 592 may be disposed along the width direction of the door assembly 500 in the second chamber top surface 551. The line lighting 592 may be disposed along the height direction of the door assembly 500 in each of the second chamber left side surface 552 and the second chamber right side surface 553.
The line lighting 592 disposed along the width direction of the door assembly 500 in the second chamber top surface 551 may be disposed along the height direction of the door assembly 500 in each of the second chamber left side surface 552 and the second chamber right side surface 553.
The line lighting 592 may be arranged in two lines along the second chamber top surface 551, the second chamber left side surface 552, and the second chamber right side surface 553. The line lighting 592 may include a front line lighting 5921 located at the front side of the second chamber 550 and a rear line lighting 5925 located at the rear of the front line lighting 5921 in the second chamber 550.
That is, the line lighting 592 may include the front line lighting 5921 located closer to the second inlet 512 than the second chamber rear surface 555, and the rear line lighting 5925 located closer to the second chamber rear surface 555 than the second inlet 512.
The upper lighting 591 may be located in the second chamber top surface 551 between the front line lighting 5921 and the rear line lighting 5925.
The rear line lighting 5925 may be located between the front line lighting 5921 and the second chamber rear surface 555.
The front line lighting 5921 and the rear line lighting 5925, like the shelf lighting 587, the upper lighting 591, and the lower lighting 599, may change color depending on selection of the user.
The front line lighting 5921 may emit light with a color of one of cooldaylight, incandlelight, and daylight colors. Rather than always emitting light with the color of only one of cooldaylight, incandlelight, and daylight colors, the front line lighting 5921 may emit any color via color conversion. Additionally, the front line lighting 5921 may emit light of an RGB color. Here, the RGB color refers to a color created using trichromacy alone or in combination. This may be implemented by the LED.
Likewise, the rear line lighting 5925 may also emit light with cooldaylight, incandlelight, daylight, and RGB colors.
When the front line lighting 5921 plays a role of key lighting that creates an atmosphere of the second chamber 550, the rear line lighting 5925 may play a role of back lighting that further enhances the atmosphere created by the key lighting at the rear side of the second chamber 550.
Accordingly, the user will be able to change the color of the line lighting 592 to create a desired atmosphere to make the goods stand out in the second chamber. For example, the controller 490 may create various atmospheres using the line lighting 592, the shelf lighting 587, the upper lighting 591, and the lower lighting 599 based on the selection of the user. This is because the controller 490 is able to change intensities and colors (or wavelengths) of the line lighting 592, the shelf lighting 587, the upper lighting 591, and the lower lighting 599.
Additionally, the user may adjust intensities and colors (or wavelengths) of light emitted from the line lighting 592, the shelf lighting 587, the upper lighting 591, and the lower lighting 599 to suit preference thereof.
The second chamber left side surface 552 and the second chamber right side surface 553 may be inclined along the front and rear direction of the door assembly 500. Accordingly, a width between the second chamber left side surface 552 and the second chamber right side surface 553 may decrease from the second inlet 512 to the second chamber rear surface 555.
The second chamber left side surface 552 may include a first left side surface 5521 and a second left side surface 5522. The second chamber left side surface 552 may further include a left connecting surface 5523 connecting the first left side surface 5521 with the second left side surface 5522. The left connecting surface 5523 may be formed to be bent from one end of the first left side surface 5521 toward the accommodating body left side surface and may be connected to one end of the second left side surface 5522.
The second chamber right side surface 553 may include a first right side surface 5531 and a second right side surface 5532. The second chamber right side surface 553 may further include a right connecting surface 5533 connecting the first right side surface 5531 with the second right side surface 5532. The right connecting surface 5533 may be formed to be bent from one end of the first right side surface 5531 toward the accommodating body right side surface and may be connected to one end of the second right side surface 5532.
The front line lighting 5921 may include a first front line lighting 59211 installed in the second chamber top surface 551, a second front line lighting 59213 installed in the second chamber left side surface 552, and a third front line lighting 59215 installed in the second chamber right side surface 553.
In other words, the front line lighting 5921 may include the first front line lighting 59211 disposed along the width direction of the door assembly 500 in the second chamber top surface 551, the second front line lighting 59213 disposed along the height direction of the door assembly 500 in the second chamber left side surface 552, and the third front line lighting 59215 disposed along the height direction of the door assembly 500 in the second chamber right side surface 553.
The second front line lighting 59213 and the third front line lighting 59215 may be installed in the first left side surface 5521 and first right side surface 5531, respectively. Further, a second rear line lighting 59253 and a third rear line lighting 59255 may be installed in the left connecting surface 5523 and the right connecting surface 5533, respectively.
The first left side surface 5521 may include a front left installation portion 55251 defined along the height direction in the first left side surface 5521. The front left installation portion 55251 may be defined in a form of a groove or a hole, so that the second front line lighting 59213 may be inserted into the front left installation portion 55251.
The left connecting surface 5523 may include a rear left installation portion 55252 defined along the height direction in the left connecting surface 5523. The rear left installation portion 55252 may be defined in a form of a groove or a hole, so that the second rear line lighting 59253 may be inserted into the rear left installation portion 55252.
The first right side surface 5531 may include a front right installation portion 55351 defined along the height direction in the first right side surface 5531. The front right installation portion 55351 may be defined in a form of a groove or a hole, so that the third front line lighting 59215 may be inserted into the front right installation portion 55351.
The right connecting surface 5533 may include a rear right installation portion 55352 defined along the height direction in the right connecting surface 5533. The rear right installation portion 55352 may be defined in a form of a groove or a hole, so that the third rear line lighting 59253 may be inserted into the rear left installation portion 55252.
The first front line lighting 59211 and a first rear line lighting 59251 may be inserted into a front upper installation portion 5515 and a rear upper installation portion 5515 defined in the second chamber top surface 551, respectively. The front upper installation portion 5515 and the rear upper installation portion 5515 may also be defined in a form of a hole or a groove.
The front line lighting 5921 and the rear line lighting 5925 may illuminate different areas of the second chamber 550.
Considering an arrangement structure of the front line lighting 5921 and the rear line lighting 5925, the first front line lighting 59211 may irradiate light downward from the front side of the second chamber top surface 551. The second front line lighting 59213 may irradiate light from the first left side surface 5521 toward the first right side surface 5531 and the door 530 of the second chamber. The third front line lighting 59215 may irradiate light from the first right side surface 5531 toward the first left side surface 5521 and the door 530 of the second chamber. This is because the first left side surface 5521 and the first right side surface 5531 are constructed to be inclined.
The rear line lighting 5925 may include the first rear line lighting 59251 disposed along the width direction of the door assembly 500 in the second chamber top surface 551, the second rear line lighting 59253 disposed along the height direction of the door assembly 500 in the second chamber left side surface 552, and the third rear line lighting 59255 disposed along the height direction of the door assembly 500 in the second chamber right side surface 553.
The first rear line lighting 59251 may irradiate light downward from the rear side of the second chamber top surface 551. The second rear line lighting 59253 may irradiate light from the left connecting surface 5523 toward the second chamber rear surface 555. The third rear line lighting 59255 may irradiate light from the right connecting surface 5533 toward the second chamber rear surface 555. This is because, as the left connecting surface 5523 and the right connecting surface 5533 are bent toward the accommodating body from the first left side surface 5521 and the first right side surface 5531, respectively, the left connecting surface 5523 and the right connecting surface 5533 face the second chamber rear surface 555 at an angle.
The upper lighting 591 may be disposed in the lighting installation hole 5512 defined through the second chamber top surface 551. The lighting installation hole 5512 may include a plurality of lighting installation holes, and the upper lighting 591 may also include a plurality of upper lightings accordingly. The upper lighting 591 may illuminate the laundry hung on the hanger mounting portion 5554.
The upper lighting 591 may further include an upper lighting cover 5911 to prevent moisture or dust from entering the upper lighting 591.
The first front line lighting 59211 may be formed to extend along the width direction of the door assembly 500. The second front line lighting 59213 and the third front line lighting 59215 may be formed to extend along the height direction of the door assembly 500.
The rear line lighting 5925 may be located at the rear of the upper lighting 591. The rear line lighting 5925 may include the first front line lighting 59211 disposed in the second chamber top surface 551, and the second front line lighting 59213 and the third front line lighting 59215 disposed in both side surfaces of the second chamber 550, respectively.
Referring to
The lower lighting 599 may illuminate light in a form of the plate onto the bottom surface of the second chamber 550. To this end, the lower lighting 599 may include a light diffuser made of the light diffusion material, similar to the upper shelf lighting 5871 of the shelf lighting 587.
The door assembly 500 may have the lower lighting 599 that is located in the second chamber bottom surface 554 and emits light upward. This is to irradiate light to the goods to be disposed on the second chamber bottom surface 554. Because the second chamber bottom surface 554 includes the bottom discharge hole 5542 and the bottom suction hole 5541, the lower lighting 599 may be formed in the shape of the plate in a remaining area excluding those.
The lower lighting 599 and the upper lighting 591 may emit light with cooldaylight, incandlelight, and daylight colors.
The front line lighting 5921 may include the first front line lighting 59211 installed in the second chamber top surface 551, the second front line lighting 59213 installed in the first left side surface 5521, and the third front line lighting 59215 installed in the first right side surface 5531. The first front line lighting 59211 will be formed to extend along the width direction of the door assembly 500, and the second front line lighting 59213 and the third front line lighting 59215 will be formed to extend along the height direction of the door assembly 500.
The rear line lighting 5925 may include the first rear line lighting 59251 installed in the second chamber top surface 551, the second rear line lighting 59253 installed in the second chamber left side surface 552, and the third rear line lighting 59255 installed in the second chamber right side surface 553. The first rear line lighting 59251 will be formed to extend along the width direction of the door assembly 500, and the second rear line lighting 59253 and the third rear line lighting 59255 will be formed to extend along the height direction of the door assembly 500.
The first rear line lighting 59251 will be located between the upper lighting 591 and the air outlet 5511. The second chamber top surface 551 may further include a rear upper installation portion 55152 located between the lighting installation hole 5512 and the air outlet 5511 and into which the first rear line lighting 59251 is inserted.
The first shelf line lighting may be located between the upper lighting 591 and the second inlet 512. The second chamber top surface 551 may further include a front upper installation portion 55151 located between the lighting installation hole 5512 and the second inlet 512 and into which the first front line lighting 59211 is inserted.
When the line lighting 592 irradiates light toward the second chamber 550, heat is generated, so that it is necessary to dissipate the heat generated by the line lighting 592. Additionally, air in the second chamber 550 may be hot or contain a lot of moisture. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the line lighting 592 from hot air or moisture.
To this end, the line lighting 592 may be equipped with a protective cover and a heat dissipating structure.
Referring to
The heat dissipating body 5935 may be formed in a shape of a long line in one direction and may have a U-shaped or channel-shaped cross-section.
The protective cover 5939 may be made of the light diffusion material. Therefore, the protective cover 5939 may function as a light diffuser. Additionally, the protective cover 5939 may be made of a translucent or transparent material. The protective cover 5939 may be hooked to the heat dissipating body 5935.
Referring to
The heat dissipating body 5935 may be made of aluminum, which is not only resistant to moisture but also has effective heat transfer performance.
Referring to
The line lighting 592 may be coupled to an inner surface of the accommodating housing 559 by a fastening member 5937 via the body fastening hole 59351.
That is, the line lighting 592 may be coupled to each of the second chamber top surface 551, the second chamber left side surface 552, and the second chamber right side surface 553 via the body fastening hole 59351 using the fastening member 5937.
The body fastening hole 59351 may include a plurality of body fastening holes.
The door assembly 500 may further include the line lighting installation portion 5905 defined in parallel with the second inlet 512 as a portion of the inner surface of the accommodating housing 559 is recessed toward the accommodating body 510, and into which the protective cover 5939 is inserted.
In other words, the door assembly 500 may include the line lighting installation portion 5905 defined along the second chamber top surface 551 and both side surfaces of the second chamber 550.
Specifically, the line lighting installation portion 5905 may include the upper installation portion 5515 located in the second chamber top surface 551, the left installation portion 5525 located in the second chamber left side surface 552, and the right installation portion 5535 located in the second chamber right side surface 553. The line lighting installation portion 5905 may have a groove shape or a hole shape.
The upper installation portion 5515 may include the front upper installation portion 5515 and the rear upper installation portion 5515. The left installation portion 5525 may include the front left installation portion 55251 and the rear left installation portion 55252. Additionally, the right installation portion 5535 may include the front right installation portion 55351 and the rear right installation portion 55352.
The LED assembly 5936 may include an LED 59362 that emits light, and a printed circuit board (PCB) 59361 that is coupled to the LED 59362 to control the LED 59362. The LED 59362 may further include a heat transfer member 59363 that transfers heat generated from the LED 59362 and the PCB 59361 to the heat dissipating body 5935.
In one example, the line lighting 592 may further include a body sealing member 5932 disposed between the protective cover 5939 and the heat dissipating body 5935 to prevent penetration of moisture and foreign substances. That is, the body sealing member 5932 may be located between the protective cover 5939 and the heat dissipating body 5935 and prevent moisture or foreign substances from the second chamber 550 from penetrating into the heat dissipating body 5935.
In addition, an area where the heat dissipating body 5935 is coupled to the line lighting installation portion 5905 by the fastening member 5937 may further include a fastening sealing member 59371 to prevent moisture and foreign substances from penetrating.
Referring to
The heat dissipating body 5945 may be formed to extend in one direction, and the recessed portion 59452 may be recessed in a direction toward the accommodating body 510 when the heat dissipating body 5945 is coupled to the accommodating housing 559.
The protective cover 5949 may be formed in an angled U-shape or a channel shape and may define a space in which the LED assembly 5946 may be accommodated when coupled to the plate-shaped heat dissipating body 5945. That is, the protective cover 5949 may cover the LED assembly 5946.
The protective cover 5949 may be made of the light diffusion material.
The protective cover 5949 may function as a light diffuser. Additionally, the protective cover 5949 may be made of a translucent or transparent material. The protective cover 5949 may be formed in the U-shape or the channel shape and may be coupled to the heat dissipating body 5935.
The heat dissipating body 5945 may include a body fastening hole 59451 defined therethrough along a perimeter of the recessed portion 59452. The heat dissipating body 5945 may be made of aluminum, which is not only resistant to moisture but also has effective heat transfer performance.
The body fastening hole 59451 may be include a plurality of body fastening holes.
Referring to
The protective cover 5949 may have a stepped top surface that emits light. The body sealing member 5942 may be located on the stepped surface formed around the top surface of the protective cover 5949. In this regard, while the body sealing member 5942 is coupled to the outer surface of the accommodating housing 559, a portion of the top surface of the protective cover 5949 may be inserted into the second chamber 550.
The line lighting installation portion 5905 may be defined through the inner surface of the accommodating housing 559 in parallel with the second inlet 512 along the inner surface of the accommodating housing 559 such that the protective cover 5949 is inserted thereinto.
Accordingly, in the line lighting 592, when the plate-shaped heat dissipating body 5945 is coupled to the outer surface of the accommodating housing 559, the portion of the top surface of the protective cover 5949 may be inserted into the second chamber.
The heat dissipating body 5945 may be coupled to the line lighting installation portion 5905 using a fastening member 5947. When the protective cover 5949 is inserted into the second chamber 550 via the line lighting installation portion 5905, the protective cover 5949 and the inner surface of the accommodating housing 559 may form a smooth surface without a step.
Referring to
The line lighting installation portion 5905 may include the upper installation portion 5515 located in the second chamber top surface 551, the left installation portion 5525 located in the second chamber left side surface 552, and the right installation portion 5535 located in the second chamber right side surface 553.
The upper installation portion 5515 may include the front upper installation portion 5515 and the rear upper installation portion 5515. The left installation portion 5525 may include the front left installation portion 55251 and the rear left installation portion 55252. Additionally, the right installation portion 5535 may include the front right installation portion 55351 and the rear right installation portion 55352.
Accordingly, the line lighting 592 may be coupled to the second chamber top surface 551, the second chamber left side surface 552, and the second chamber right side surface 553 via the body fastening hole 59451 using a fastening member 5947.
The LED assembly 5946 may include an LED 59462 that emits light, and a printed circuit board (PCB) 59361 that is coupled to the LED 59462 to control the LED 59462. The LED 59462 may further include a heat transfer member 59463 that transfers heat generated from the LED 59462 and the PCB 59461 to the heat dissipating body 5945.
In another embodiment, line lighting 592 may be located in the first chamber 130 rather than in the accommodating space 550. For example, the line lighting 592 may be installed in the first chamber top surface 132, the first chamber rear surface 136, and both side surfaces 133 and 134 of the first chamber. In this case, the same heat dissipating and moisture proof structures described in
An accommodating space lighting 590 and the shelf lighting 587 shown in
The accommodating space lighting 590 may include the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, and the line lighting 592. Further, the line lighting 592 may include the front line lighting 5921 and the rear line lighting 5925. Again, the front line lighting 5921 may include the first front line lighting 59211 located in an accommodating space top surface 551, and the second front line lighting 59213 and the third front line lighting 59215 located in both side surfaces 552 and 553 of the accommodating space. The rear line lighting 5925 may also include the first rear line lighting 59251 located in the accommodating space top surface 551, and the second rear line lighting 59253 and the third rear line lighting 59255 located in both side surfaces 552 and 553 of the accommodating space.
The front line lighting 5921 may be located closer to the second inlet 512 than the rear line lighting 5925. Additionally, the upper lighting 591 may be located between the front line lighting 5921 and the rear line lighting 5925.
Each of the accommodating space lighting 590 and the shelf lighting 587 may include a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to emit light. The controller 490 may change the intensity and color of light by controlling the accommodating space lighting 590 and the shelf lighting 587 based on preference of the user and the type of goods stored in the accommodating space 550.
To this end, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include the inputter/outputter 700 that receives the user input and outputs information to the user to control the lightings 587 and 690.
In particular, the inputter/outputter 700 may be formed to extend in the accommodating door window 531 along the height direction of the door assembly 500. Specifically, the inputter/outputter 700 may be located on the accommodating door frame 533. However, this is only an example, and as long as it is easy for the user to access the inputter/outputter 700, the inputter/outputter 700 may be located anywhere in the front surface of the accommodating door 530.
The inputter/outputter 700 may sense the input (or an input command) of the user when the user touches a specified location of the inputter/outputter 700. The input of the user may refer to sensing the user's touch and generating an electrical signal corresponding to the input to be transmitted to the controller 490.
That is, as the user touches a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the inputter/outputter 700, what the user has selected may be sensed and the user's input may be transmitted to the controller 490. The controller 490 may operate the laundry treating apparatus 100 using the input information. Further, information about processing results thereof or a current state may be displayed via the inputter/outputter 700.
In contrast, the inputter/outputter 700 may be equipped with a touch display, and the user's input may be sensed as an icon displayed on the display is touched. Additionally, the controller 490 may output necessary information on the display.
Additionally, the display may be made of a transparent or translucent material and may be disposed on the accommodating door window 531.
The door assembly 500 may further include the proximity sensor 791 that is disposed in the door assembly 500 and senses whether the user is approaching or moving away. The proximity sensor 791 may be implemented in one of an electromagnetic induction scheme, a magnetic scheme, and an optical scheme.
The proximity sensor 791 may be located at a preset first vertical level along the height direction of the door assembly 500. The first vertical level may approximately overlap an area where the inputter/outputter 700 is located. Accordingly,
The vertical level of the proximity sensor 791 may be set considering safety. In other words, when the proximity sensor 791 reacts in the same way even when children or pets approach, there may be a risk of a safety accident. To prevent this, the first vertical level may be set to 1400 mm, taking into account an average height of children in the third grade of elementary school.
The proximity sensor 791 may sense that the user is located within a preset sensing area. Accordingly, the proximity sensor 791 may sense the user approaching within the sensing area or the user leaving the sensing area.
Additionally, the proximity sensor 791 may be set to have different sensing areas when the user approaches and when the user moves away.
The door assembly 500 may further include the fingerprint sensor 792 located on the inputter/outputter 700 to recognize a fingerprint of the user. The controller 490 may recognize the user's fingerprint via the fingerprint sensor 792 and then allow only a registered user to open the accommodating door 530.
For example, the accommodating door 530 may further include a door hook (not shown) located on an inner surface of the accommodating door 530, and the accommodating body 510 may include a hook locking device (not shown) coupled to the door hook. The controller 490 will be able to allow only the user registered user via the fingerprint sensor 792 to release the hook locking device and open the accommodating door 530.
The controller 490 may open the accommodating door 530 only when the user touches the fingerprint sensor 792 for a preset fingerprint recognition time or more. This is to prevent the hook lock device from being released whenever there is an unnecessary touch. For example, the fingerprint recognition time may be set to 3 seconds. The controller 490 may be programmed to recognize that the user has an intention to access the accommodating space 550 only when the user touches the fingerprint sensor for 3 seconds or more.
Additionally, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may allow the accommodating door 530 to be opened using a registered card or tag instead of the fingerprint sensor 792. To this end, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include the NFC reader 796 located on the inputter/outputter 700 to recognize the registered card or tag.
The card or tag may exchange information with the NFC reader 796 using a near field communication (NFC) scheme. The card may be formed in various shapes as well as square. When a chip capable of NFC communication is built inside to enable communication with the NFC reader 796, the card and the tag may be formed in any shape.
The fingerprint sensor 792 may be located at a location overlapping an accommodating space indicator 719, which is displayed such that the user may select the accommodating space 550. This is to utilize an area occupied by the inputter/outputter 700 more efficiently. Therefore, when the user touches an accommodating space selector 711 for the fingerprint recognition time or longer, the controller 490 will release a locked state of the accommodating door 530.
When describing the inputter/outputter 700 using
However, because sensing areas of a plurality of sub-inputters/outputters equipped in the inputter/outputter should not overlap each other, unless otherwise specified herein, the sub-inputters/outputters may be viewed as occupying respective areas that do not overlap each other.
The first chamber inputter/outputter 780 may include a menu that the user may select to care for the laundry in the first chamber 130. In particular, the first chamber inputter/outputter 780 may include a first chamber indicator 789 indicating that the first chamber inputter/outputter 780 is an inputter/outputter related to the first chamber 130, a first chamber selector 781 that senses a user's touch to select the first chamber 130, and a door assembly opening inputter 785 for opening the door assembly 500.
The accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 may include a menu that the user may select to care for and store the goods, including the laundry, in the accommodating space 550.
The accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 may include the accommodating space indicator 719 indicating that the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 is an inputter/outputter related to the accommodating space 550, and the accommodating space selector 711 that senses a user's touch to select the accommodating space 550.
In addition, the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 may include a mode interface 770 that may select a treatment mode for caring for the laundry or the goods by operating the air circulator 560, the air treater 570, and the hanger assembly 800, a lighting mode that adjusts the intensities and the colors of light of the accommodating space lighting 590 and the shelf lighting 587, and a storage mode that stores the laundry or the goods accommodated in the accommodating space at a preset storage temperature and a preset storage humidity.
Specifically, the mode interface 770 may include a treatment mode inputter 714 that senses selection of the treatment mode, and a treatment mode outputter 713 that indicates that the treatment mode has been selected. When the user touches the treatment mode inputter 714, the controller 490 may notify the user that the treatment mode has been selected via the treatment mode outputter 713. For example, the treatment mode outputter 713 may emit light.
The mode interface 770 may further include a lighting mode inputter 718 that senses selection of the lighting mode and a lighting mode outputter 717 that indicates that the lighting mode has been selected. When the user touches the lighting mode inputter 718, the controller 490 may notify the user that the lighting mode has been selected via the lighting mode outputter 717. For example, the lighting mode outputter 717 may emit light.
Additionally, the mode interface 770 may further include a storage mode inputter 716 that senses selection of the storage mode and a storage mode outputter 715 that indicates that the storage mode has been selected. When the user touches the storage mode inputter 716, the controller 490 may notify the user that the storage mode has been selected via the storage mode outputter 715. For example, the storage mode outputter 715 may emit light.
Accordingly, the controller 490 may sense a command input via the mode interface 770 and perform the treatment mode, the lighting mode, and the storage mode.
In addition, the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 may further include an initiation inputter 712 for selecting one of the treatment mode, the lighting mode, and the storage mode and then initiating the selected mode.
In one example, to prevent confusion of the user, the first chamber inputter/outputter 780 and the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 may be displayed separately from each other. To this end, the inputter/outputter 700 may include a notifier 760 disposed between the first chamber inputter/outputter 780 and the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710.
The notifier 760 may display a menu selected in the first chamber or a detailed selection menu related to the menu selected in the mode interface 770.
To this end, the inputter/outputter 700 may further include a movement selector 765 for changing the detailed menu output on the notifier 760. The movement selector 765 may include a first movement selector 7651 and a second movement selector 7652 for changing the detailed menu. The first movement selector 7651 and the second movement selector 7652 may change the detailed menus output on the notifier 760 so as to appear in opposite orders. Accordingly, the user will be able to quickly find a desired detailed menu via the first movement selector 7651 and the second movement selector 7652.
In addition, the inputter/outputter 700 may further include a first division indicator 7451 and a second division indicator 7452 to more clearly separate the first chamber inputter/outputter 780 and the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 from each other.
Additionally, considering the material of the laundry or the goods accommodated, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may provide various treatment modes to the user. Detailed menus related to the various treatment modes will be displayed in the notifier 760, and the user will be able to select one of them.
In one example, an activated sub-inputter/outputter among the various sub-inputters/outputters of the inputter/outputter 700 may vary depending on a situation.
Herein, the term ‘activated’ may mean a state in which a specific inputter/outputter is able to receive the user input. This may mean that the controller 490 enables the user to recognize the specific inputter/outputter by turning light on the specific inputter/outputter or an icon representing the specific inputter/outputter.
Conversely, herein, a term ‘deactivated’ may mean a state of not responding even when the user touches a specific inputter/outputter. The controller 490 may prevent the user from selecting the specific inputter/outputter by turning off light on the specific inputter/outputter or an icon representing the specific inputter/outputter.
When the user is far away, the controller 490 may determine that no new input or command will be received by the user and deactivate the inputter/outputter. This may be called a standby mode. Even in the standby mode, the controller 490 may sense the user's approach using the proximity sensor 791.
When the proximity sensor 791 senses that the user has approached to be within the sensing area, the controller 490 is able to expect the user to select the first chamber 130 or the accommodating space 550, so that the accommodating space indicator 719, the accommodating space selector 711, the first chamber indicator 789, the first chamber selector 781, and the door assembly opening inputter 785 may be activated.
Additionally, the controller 490 will be able to recognize the user's fingerprint via the fingerprint sensor 792 located overlapping the accommodating space indicator 719.
Alternatively, the controller 490 will be able to recognize the user's card or tag via the NFC reader 796.
When the user presses the door assembly opening inputter 785, the controller 490 may operate the opening/closing driver 170 to extend the door assembly 500 forward.
Referring to
In one example, because the user may select the first chamber 130, the controller 490 may maintain the first chamber indicator 789, the first chamber selector 781, and the door assembly opening inputter 785 in the activated state.
Additionally, the controller 490 may activate the movement selector 765.
Referring to
This also applies when the user selects the storage mode or the lighting mode. Referring to
Additionally, the controller 490 may change the intensities or the colors of light of the accommodating space lighting 590 and the shelf lighting 587 using the proximity sensor 791.
Table 1 below shows whether the inputter/outputter is activated and whether the intensities or the colors of the lightings 587 and 690 are changed based on the sensing of the user by the proximity sensor 791.
Referring to Table 1, the preset sensing area that may sense the user by the proximity sensor 791 may be set differently for when the user approaches and when the user moves away.
The proximity sensor 791 may be set to sense the user when the user approaches to be within a preset first sensing area. Preferably, the first sensing area may be an area within 30 cm (centimeter) from the proximity sensor 791. The proximity sensor 791 may be set to not sense the user when the user moves away out of a preset second sensing area. Preferably, the second sensing area may be an area within 80 cm from the proximity sensor 791. This takes into account an arm length of an adult male.
Alternatively, the first sensing area and the second sensing area may also be set to the same range, for example, 80 cm.
When the proximity sensor 791 is not able to sense the user, that is, when it is determined that the user is outside the first sensing area, the controller 490 may deactivate the inputter/outputter 700. This may be called the standby mode.
In this regard, to reduce the energy consumption of the laundry treating apparatus 100, the upper lighting 591, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587 may be in an OFF state. Because the lower lighting 599 is virtually identical to the upper shelf lighting 5871 of the shelf lighting 587, the lower lighting 599 is able to operate in the same manner as the shelf lighting 587 and is therefore written together.
When the laundry treating apparatus 100 is in the storage mode to be described later, the controller 490 may turn on the rear line lighting 5925 and the shelf lighting 587. To display the goods accommodated in the accommodating space 550 in the storage mode, the controller 490 may allow only the rear line lighting 5925 and the shelf lighting 587 to emit light weakly.
When not in the storage mode, and when the user is located out of the first sensing area, the controller 490 may turn off the lightings 587 and 690 and deactivate the inputter/outputter 700.
When the proximity sensor 791 senses that the user approaches to be within the first sensing area, the controller 490 may activate some sub-inputters/outputters of the inputter/outputter 700 to be selected by the user.
That is, the controller 490 may activate the accommodating space selector 711 and the first chamber selector 781 such that the user may select one of the accommodating space selector 711 and the first chamber selector 781. Accordingly, the user will be able to select one of the accommodating space 550 and the first chamber 130.
Additionally, the controller 490 may also display the accommodating space indicator 719 and the first chamber indicator 789. This is to guide the user on which component to select in the inputter/outputter 700. Additionally, the controller 490 may activate the door assembly opening inputter 785. This is because the user may open the door assembly 500 before using the first chamber 130.
In one example, when sensing the user's approach via the proximity sensor 791, the controller 490 may turn on the rear line lighting 5925, the shelf lighting 587, and the lower lighting 599.
Additionally, the upper lighting 591 and the front line lighting 5921 may be turned on. In Table 1, the upper lighting 591 and the front line lighting 5921 are written as ON/OFF. This is because the upper lighting 591 and the front line lighting 5921 may be turned on or off. This is because it is for showing the user the accommodating space when the user approaches the laundry treating apparatus 100, and the accommodating space 550 has not been selected yet.
Additionally, the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587 may have a dimming function. The dimming function refers to a function that allows the intensity or brightness of light to be automatically adjusted as desired.
Therefore, when the dimming function and ON or OFF are combined with each other, the lightings 587 and 690 may be gradually turned on and gradually turned off. Additionally, when the dimming function and the intensity adjustment or the color adjustment are combined with each other, the lightings 587 and 690 may gradually change in the intensity and color from an initial intensity or an initial color to a changed intensity or a changed color.
Accordingly, when the user approaches, the controller 490 may gradually turn on the accommodating space lighting 590 and the shelf lighting 587 to have a preset first lighting intensity. In this regard, the colors of the lightings 587 and 690 may be set in one of a plurality of adjustment modes, which will be described later.
Herein, the first lighting intensity may not be any specific intensity, but a light intensity obtained as the light intensities of the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587 are adjusted and combined with each other.
The first lighting intensity means that brightness of the accommodating space 550 is weak, and is weaker than a second lighting intensity to be described later.
That is, the controller 490 may dim on the rear line lighting 5925, the shelf lighting 587, and the lower lighting 599 to have the first lighting intensity, and may also dim on the upper lighting 591 and the front line lighting 5921 to have the first lighting intensity or keep those in the OFF state.
In one example, the user may approach the laundry treating apparatus 100 and select one of the accommodating space selector 711 and the first chamber selector 781.
In addition, the controller 490 may keep the accommodating space selector 711 and the first chamber selector 781 activated such that the user may select the other selector even after selecting one of the accommodating space selector 711 and the first chamber selector 781.
For example, when the user selects the accommodating space selector 711, the controller 490 may keep the first chamber selector 781 activated. Additionally, the controller 490 will also keep the door assembly opening inputter 785 activated. This is because the accommodating space 550 and the first chamber 130 may operate independently. Additionally, the controller 490 will continue to display the first chamber indicator 789.
In contrast, when the user selects the first chamber selector 781, the controller 490 may activate the first chamber inputter/outputter 780. Additionally, the controller 490 may maintain the display of the accommodating space indicator 719 and the activation of the accommodating space selector 711.
When the user presses the accommodating space selector 711, the controller 490 may turn on the upper lighting 591, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, the shelf lighting 587, and the lower lighting 599 to have the preset second lighting intensity in association with control of the inputter/outputter 700.
Herein, as with the first lighting intensity, the second lighting intensity may not be any specific intensity, but a light intensity obtained as the light intensities of the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587 are adjusted and combined with each other.
Because the user selected the accommodating space 550, the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587 may be dimmed to have a light intensity greater than the first lighting intensity. That is, the intensities of light in the lightings 587 and 690 may gradually increase from the first lighting intensity to the second lighting intensity.
That is, when the user presses the accommodating space selector 711, the controller 490 may adjust the light intensities of the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587 to be the second lighting intensity. Further, the second lighting intensity may be greater than the first lighting intensity. That is, light at the second lighting intensity may be brighter than light at the first lighting intensity.
In one example, when the proximity sensor senses that the user moves away from the laundry treating apparatus 100, the controller 490 may deactivate the inputter/outputter 700.
The light intensity of the accommodating space lighting 590 may be adjusted to a preset third lighting intensity. Even at this time, using the dimming function, the intensities of light in the lightings 587 and 690 may gradually decrease from the second lighting intensity to the third lighting intensity.
Herein, as with the first lighting intensity, the third lighting intensity may not be any specific intensity, but a light intensity obtained as the light intensities of the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587 are adjusted and combined with each other.
The third lighting intensity may be smaller than the second lighting intensity. This is because there is no need to brightly illuminate the accommodating space 550 because the user is moving away.
When the user does not use the accommodating space 550 or the user sets all of the lightings 587 and 690 to be turned off, the controller 490 may deactivate the inputter/outputter and then turn off all of the lightings 587 and 690 when the user moves away.
On the other hand, when the user uses the storage mode, which will be described later, the controller 490 may adjust the light intensities of the lightings 587 and 690 to the third lighting intensity.
In this regard, the controller 490 may determine that the user is moving away via the proximity sensor 791 based on the second sensing area. The first sensing area and the second sensing area may be the same, but may be set differently.
Herein, the description has been made assuming the case of including all of the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587, but even when the laundry treating apparatus 100 includes only some of the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587, the laundry treating apparatus 100 will be able to operate in the same manner as above.
In one example, the controller 490 may perform a security mode to safely store the goods stored in the accommodating space 550. That is, the controller 490 may allow the accommodating door 530 to be opened and closed only by the user registered in the fingerprint sensor 792.
Accordingly, the controller 490 may allow the accommodating door 530 to be opened only when the user touches the fingerprint sensor 792 for the preset fingerprint recognition time or longer.
The security mode may also be implemented via the NFC reader 796 instead of the fingerprint sensor 792. That is, the controller 490 may allow the accommodating door 530 to be opened only by the user holding the registered card or tag.
The storage mode refers to a mode that manages the temperature and the humidity for the goods displayed in the accommodating space 550 and allows the goods to be viewed from the outside via the accommodating door window 531. Accordingly, when the storage mode is selected, the controller 490 may adjust the temperature and the humidity of the accommodating space 550 using the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570. Additionally, the controller 490 may illuminate the goods accommodated in the accommodating space 550 using the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587. As described above, in this regard, the controller 490 may control each of the lightings 587 and 690 based on one of a plurality of adjustment modes to be described later.
The storage mode may be selected by the user via the storage mode inputter 716 of the inputter/outputter 700. Alternatively, as shown in
Referring to
Thereafter, when a command to initiate the treatment mode selected by the user is sensed via the initiation inputter 712, the control method of the present disclosure may perform (S300) the selected treatment mode. In the treatment mode, the controller 490 may combine the operations of the air circulator 560, the air treater 570, and the hanger assembly 800 to perform the selected treatment mode. This is described in
When the performance (S300) of the treatment mode is completed, the control method of the present disclosure may determine (S500) whether the user is located within the preset sensing area via the proximity sensor 791. The sensing area may be the first sensing area or the second sensing area.
When not sensing the user for a preset sensing time via the proximity sensor 791 (S550), the control method of the present disclosure may perform (S700) the storage mode. Preferably, the sensing time may be set to 3 seconds.
When the controller 490 senses the user before the sense time elapses via the proximity sensor 791, the control method of the present disclosure may notify (S600) that the treatment mode has ended via the notifier 760.
The lighting mode may be selected independently of the treatment mode or the storage mode. That is, even while performing the treatment mode or the storage mode, the user may select the lighting mode via the lighting mode inputter 718 and then select one among the plurality of adjustment modes. Additionally, even when the first chamber 130 is selected, the lighting mode may be selected regardless.
Even when the first chamber 130 is selected, the user may press the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 to change settings of the lighting mode at any time.
In any case, when the user selects the lighting mode and then selects one of the plurality of adjustment modes, the controller 490 may return the inputter/outputter 700 to a state representing an original mode after a preset return time elapses. Preferably, the return time may be 5 seconds.
For example, when the storage mode is being performed, the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 and the notifier 760 may be activated in the inputter/outputter 700. Then, the storage mode outputter 715 may be turned on, and the notifier 760 may display a detailed menu related to the storage mode. In this regard, when the user adjusts the intensity or the color of the lighting via the lighting mode, the notifier 760 will display the detailed menu related to the storage mode after 5 seconds.
Additionally, while the laundry treating apparatus 100 caring for the laundry via the first chamber 130, the user may change settings of the lighting mode by selecting a desired adjustment mode among the plurality of adjustment modes. The notifier 760 may output information related to the caring of the first chamber 130 again after 5 seconds.
Table 2 below shows an example of the plurality of adjustment modes that the user may select. The adjustment mode is a mode related to detailed settings of the lighting mode. The user may select one of the plurality of adjustment modes.
That is, the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 may include the mode interface 770 that provides the treatment modes from which a treatment mode that operates the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may be selected, and the lighting modes from which a lighting mode that adjusts the intensity and the color of light of the accommodating space lighting 590 may be selected, and the controller 490 may activate the mode interface 770 when sensing the input of the accommodating space selector 711.
The lighting mode may provide the plurality of adjustment modes to the user. Accordingly, the user may select one of the plurality of adjustment modes, and the controller 490 may change the intensity and the color of light of the accommodating space lighting 590 based on the one adjustment mode.
Additionally, the controller 490 may change the intensity and the color of light of the shelf lighting 587.
In a first adjustment mode, the controller 490 may turn off the upper lighting 591, set the color of the front line lighting 5921 to the cooldaylight, and set the colors of the rear line lighting 5925, the shelf lighting 587, and the lower lighting 599 to white. In this regard, the intensity of the front line lighting 5921 may be set to be weak.
Table 1 also shows whether the intensities or the colors of light of the lightings 587 and 690 are changed in the storage mode, but when the user selects one of the plurality of adjustment modes in the lighting mode, even in the storage mode, the intensities or the colors of light of the lightings 587 and 690 will be able to be changed based on the selected one adjustment mode.
As shown in Table 2, the second adjustment mode to the fifth adjustment mode, like the first adjustment mode, may allow the controller 490 to change the intensities or the colors of light of the lightings 587 and 690.
The sixth adjustment mode is a case of turning all of the lightings 587 and 690 off.
In addition, in the lighting mode, the user may individually adjust the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587.
Referring to Table 1, the rear line lighting 5925 may emit light in any of color modes that may render the white, cooldaylight, daylight, incandlelight or various chromatic colors. Even in a case of the same white color, various colors may exist, such as transparent and clean white, bright and bluish white, and slightly yellowish white.
When expressing this in color temperature, white may be 4000K (Kelvin temperature), daylight may be 5500K, cooldaylight may be 6500K, and incandlelight may be 2000K. The color temperature is a method of expressing light of a light source as a numerical value, and a unit is K (Kelvin temperature). The more red the light source, the lower the color temperature, and the more blue the light source, the higher the color temperature.
As described above, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may include the air supply 410 that is located inside the second chamber 150 and circulates air in or supplies hot air to the first chamber 130, and the steam supply 450 that supplies steam to the first chamber 130.
In addition, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may include the air circulator 560 that is disposed in the door assembly 500 and circulates air in or supplies hot air to the accommodating space 550, and the air treater 570 that dehumidifies air in the accommodating space 550.
The inputter/outputter 700 may display the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 and the first chamber inputter/outputter 780 in the divided manner. This is because the accommodating space 550 and the first chamber 130 are constructed independently of each other. Accordingly, the controller 490 may control the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 independently of the air supply 410 and the steam supply 450.
That is, the operations of the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may be unrelated to the operations of the air supply 410 and the steam supply 450.
Therefore, the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may operate even when the door assembly 500 is opened.
The air circulator 560 may include the circulating flow channel 563 that allows air in the accommodating space 550 to flow and the heater 561 that heats air passing through the circulating flow channel 563, and the air treater 570 may include the treating flow channel 573 that allows air in the accommodating space 550 to flow and the dehumidifier 571 that dehumidifies air passing through the treating flow channel 573.
The heater 561 may include the circulating fan 565 that is located in the circulating flow channel 563 and sucks air in the accommodating space 550 and the circulating heater 5611 that is located in the circulating flow channel 563 and heats air passing through the circulating flow channel 563.
The dehumidifier 571 may include the treating fan 575 that is located in the treating flow channel 573 and sucks air in the accommodating space 550, the thermoelectric module 5711 that cools and heats air passing through the treating flow channel 573, and the heat dissipating fan 576 that dissipates heat generated from the thermoelectric module to air passing through the treating flow channel.
The dehumidifier 571 may include only one of the treating fan 575 and the heat dissipating fan 576.
Additionally, the door assembly 500 may further include the hanger assembly 800 that is located inside the accommodating space and hangs the laundry thereon. The hanger assembly 800 may be mounted on the hanger mounting portion 5554. In this regard, the connection terminal contact portion 55542 and the connection terminal 8371 may be electrically connected to each other to supply electricity to the hanger assembly 800 and transmit a control signal.
In addition, the hanger assembly 800 may include the hanger housing 832 that forms the outer appearance of the hanger assembly 800, the hanger fan 833 that is disposed in the hanger housing 832 to suck air in the accommodating space 550, the hanger heater 839 that heats air sucked by the hanger fan 833, and the steam unit 835 that is located below the hanger fan 833 in the hanger housing 832 to supply steam to the laundry hung on the hanger assembly 800.
Accordingly, the controller 490 may control the air circulator 560, the air treater 570, and the hanger assembly 800. Specifically, the controller 490 may control the heater 561, the dehumidifier 571, and the hanger assembly 800.
More specifically, the controller 490 may control the circulating fan 565 and the circulating heater 5611 in the heater 561, the treating fan 575, the thermoelectric module 5711, and the heat dissipating fan 576 in the dehumidifier 571, and the hanger fan 833, the hanger heater 839, and the steam unit 835 in the hanger assembly 800.
When the user selects the treatment mode or the storage mode via the inputter/outputter 700, the controller 490 may will be able to perform the treatment mode or the storage mode. That is, when the user selects one of the plurality of detailed treatment modes or one of the plurality of detailed storage modes via the inputter/outputter 700, the controller 490 may control the operations of the heater 561, the dehumidifier 571, and the hanger assembly 800 based on the selected detailed mode.
The detailed treatment modes set operating times of the heater 561, the dehumidifier 571, and the hanger assembly 800 differently depending on the material of the laundry or the goods. Additionally, one of the detailed treatment modes may be a treatment mode for dehumidifying and drying the laundry hung in the accommodating space. Likewise, the detailed storage modes set the operating times of the heater 561, the dehumidifier 571, and the hanger assembly 800 differently depending on the material of the laundry or the goods.
For example, the first treatment mode may be a case in which the material of the laundry is general fiber. In the first treatment mode, the controller 490 may supply steam by operating the steam unit 835 for a preset first pattern time Ta1, and may operate the hanger fan 833 and the hanger heater 839 for a preset second pattern time Ta2 when the first pattern time Ta1 elapses.
The first pattern time Ta1 is followed by the second pattern time Ta2 continuously without interruption.
For example, the first pattern time Ta1 may be 4 minutes. The second pattern time Ta2 may be 7 minutes.
Additionally, the controller 490 may operate the dehumidifier 571 during the second pattern time Ta2. That is, the controller 490 will operate the treating fan 575, the heat dissipating fan 576, and the thermoelectric module 5711.
Additionally, the controller 490 may operate the heater 561 during the first pattern time Ta1 and the second pattern time Ta2. That is, the circulating fan 565 and the circulating heater 5611 will be operated.
Accordingly, the controller 490 may set the humidity of the accommodating space 550 to a preset first caring humidity. Preferably, the first caring humidity may be relative humidity equal to or higher than 15% (percent) and equal to or lower than 40%.
Additionally, the controller 490 may set the temperature of the accommodating space 550 to a preset first caring temperature. Preferably, the first caring temperature may be equal to or higher than 30° C. (Celsius temperature) and equal to or lower than 45° C.
For reference, air in the accommodating space may be heated via the hanger heater 839, the circulating heater 5611, and the thermoelectric module 5711. The temperature of the accommodating space is a temperature when the temperature of air heated via the hanger heater 839, the circulating heater 5611, and the thermoelectric module 5711 is measured using the temperature sensor 797. The humidity is humidity measured using the humidity sensor 795.
For example, the second treatment mode may be a case in which the material of the laundry is leather. In the second treatment mode, the controller 490 may supply steam by operating the steam unit 835 for a preset first control time Tb1, and operate the hanger fan 833 for a preset second control time Tb2 when the first control time Tb1 elapses.
During the second control time Tb3, the controller 490 may operate only the hanger fan 833 while stopping the operation of the hanger heater 839.
For example, the first control time Tb1 may be 1 minute. The second control time Tb2 may be 15 minutes.
Unlike in the first treatment mode, the first control time Tb1 during which the steam unit 835 operates and the second control time Tb3 during which the hanger fan 833 rotates may not be continuous. In this case, there may be a pause time between the first control time Tb1 and the second control time Tb2.
Additionally, the controller 490 may operate the dehumidifier 571 during the second control time Tb2. That is, the controller 490 will operate the treating fan 575, the heat dissipating fan 576, and the thermoelectric module 5711. When there is the pause time, the controller 490 may operate the dehumidifier 571 only during a time excluding the pause time from the second control time Tb2.
Additionally, the controller 490 may operate the heater 561 during the first control time Tb1 and the second control time Tb2. That is, the controller 490 will operate the circulating fan 565 and the circulating heater 5611.
Accordingly, the controller 490 may set the humidity of the accommodating space 550 to a preset second caring humidity. Preferably, the second caring humidity may be relative humidity equal to or higher than 15% (percent) and equal to or lower than 40%.
Additionally, the controller 490 may set the temperature of the accommodating space 550 to a preset second caring temperature. Preferably, the second caring temperature may be equal to or higher than 15° C. (Celsius temperature) and equal to or lower than 25° C. This is considering that the material of the laundry is the leather.
For the second caring temperature, the controller 490 may circulate air in the accommodating space by not operating the hanger heater 839 and operating only the circulating fan 565 while intermittently operating the heater 561. The same applies to the air treater 570. That is, the controller 490 may circulate and cool air in the accommodating space 550 by rotating only the treating fan 575 and the heat dissipating fan 576.
For example, the third treatment mode may be a mode of dehumidifying and drying the laundry hung in the accommodating space 550. Accordingly, the controller 490 may operate the hanger fan 833, the hanger heater 839, the heater 561, and the dehumidifier 571 for a preset treatment time Tc. Preferably, the treatment time Tc may be 11 minutes.
That is, the controller 490 will operate the treating fan 575, the heat dissipating fan 576, and the thermoelectric module 5711 during the treatment time Tc. Additionally, the controller 490 will operate the circulating fan 565 and the circulating heater 5611.
Accordingly, the controller 490 may set the humidity of the accommodating space 550 to a preset third caring humidity. Preferably, the third caring humidity may be relative humidity equal to or higher than 15% (percent) and equal to or lower than 40%.
Additionally, the controller 490 may set the temperature of the accommodating space 550 to the preset second caring temperature. Preferably, the second caring temperature may be equal to or higher than 30° C. (Celsius temperature) and equal to or lower than 45° C.
In contrast, when the user directly selects the storage mode via the inputter/outputter 700, the controller 490 may perform the storage mode.
Because the storage mode has one purpose of storing and displaying the goods accommodated in the accommodating space, the storage mode may not be performed for a specific time, but may be maintained continuously until the user selects another mode. Therefore, unlike the first to third treatment modes, there may be no separate end time.
In the storage mode, the storage temperature and the storage humidity may vary depending on the material of the laundry or the goods stored in the accommodating space 550.
This is to care for the laundry and the goods stored in the accommodating space 550 in an optimal state. The storage temperature may be equal to or higher than 15° C. and equal to or lower than 25° C., and the storage humidity may be relative humidity equal to or higher than 15% and equal to or lower than 40%.
To this end, the controller 490 may operate the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 while stopping the operation of the hanger assembly 800 in the storage mode. That is, the controller 490 may maintain the storage temperature and the storage humidity by operating the circulating fan 565, the circulating heater 5611, the treating fan 575, the heat dissipating fan 576, and the thermoelectric module 5711.
Because the laundry or the goods have already been cared for via the treatment mode, the operation of the hanger assembly 800 is not necessary in the storage mode.
In addition, when the material of the stored laundry or the goods is the leather, the controller 490 may perform the preset first storage mode, and when the material of the stored laundry or the goods is the general fiber, the controller 490 may perform the preset second storage mode.
After performing the treatment mode, when the user is sensed within the sensing area during the sensing time, the controller 490 may notify the user via the notifier 760 that the treatment mode is ended instead of performing the storage mode. Thereafter, when the user selects the storage mode via the inputter/outputter 700, the controller 490 may perform the storage mode.
The present disclosure may be modified and implemented in various forms, so that the scope of rights thereof is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Therefore, when the modified embodiment includes components of the patent claims of the present disclosure, it should be regarded as falling within the scope of the rights of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2021-0148504 | Nov 2021 | KR | national |
| 10-2021-0148506 | Nov 2021 | KR | national |
| 10-2021-0151416 | Nov 2021 | KR | national |
| 10-2022-0121808 | Sep 2022 | KR | national |
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/707,124, filed on May 2, 2024, which is a National Stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/KR2022/016975, filed on Nov. 2, 2022, which claims the benefit of Korean Application Nos. 10-2021-0148504, filed on Nov. 2, 2021, 10-2021-0148506, filed on Nov. 2, 2021, 10-2021-0151416, filed on Nov. 5, 2021 and 10-2022-0121808, filed on Sep. 26, 2022. The contents of the prior applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 18707124 | Jan 0001 | US |
| Child | 18752341 | US |
