Patent Application
20250179723
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2023-0172690, filed on Dec. 1, 2023, 10-2024-0095810, filed on Jul. 19, 2024, and 10-2024-0095811, filed on Jul. 19, 2024, which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the same. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the same that may perform a refreshing cycle such as sterilization, wrinkle removal, deodorization, and drying of laundry by supplying steam and hot air to the laundry.
When laundry is washed frequently with water and detergent, the laundry may be damaged or deformed.
To solve such problem, a laundry treating apparatus has been introduced that may perform a so-called refreshing cycle of spraying steam onto the laundry without wetting the laundry in water and evaporating steam with high-temperature air to remove wrinkles or odors from the laundry or to reorganize a fiber arrangement of the laundry (See Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2021-0144451).
Such a laundry treating apparatus may also be referred to as a laundry manager, and such a laundry treating apparatus may be equipped to hang the laundry without folding or crumpling the same and supply at least one of hot air and steam to the laundry.
In the past, a laundry treating apparatus that vibrates the hung laundry to more actively expose a surface of the laundry to steam/hot air and removes dust or foreign substances from the laundry has also been introduced (Korean Patent No. 10-1285890).
Recently, a laundry treating apparatus equipped with a steam iron that is mounted in the laundry treating apparatus, but is able to directly heat or pressurize the surface of the laundry by being withdrawn to the hung laundry has appeared. Accordingly, a user may hang the laundry inside the laundry treating apparatus and then manage the laundry with a refreshing cycle, or hang the laundry inside the laundry treating apparatus or on a door or a wall and then take out the steam iron to directly supply steam and heat to the laundry and remove the wrinkles from the laundry.
Recently, a laundry treating apparatus equipped with a machine room including a refreshing module T that supplies hot air to the hung laundry and circulates hot air again to condense water dried from the laundry, and an iron module S that has a steam iron I that directly supplies steam and hot air to the surface of the laundry has appeared.
Such a laundry treating apparatus is equipped with a steam supply part T1 that supplies steam to a space where the laundry is hung and a steam generator S1 that supplies steam to the steam iron separately, and is equipped with a water supply pump T2 that supplies water to the corresponding steam supply part T1 and a high-pressure pump S2 that supplies water to the steam generator S1 separately.
Accordingly, the existing laundry treating apparatus has an advantage of being able to selectively supply steam to the space where the laundry is hung and to the steam iron I, but has disadvantages of having to include a plurality of components for heating water and also having to have a plurality of components for supplying water.
Accordingly, the existing laundry treating apparatus has fundamental problems including all of the following: a production problem in which a manufacturing process is delayed and installation costs increase because all of the corresponding components have to be placed in the machine room; a management problem in which maintenance becomes difficult because the number of components that have to be maintained and repaired increases; and a control problem in which excessive current is consumed when the steam supply part T1 and the steam generator S1 are controlled separately or simultaneously.
In addition, because the steam supply part T1 is generally equipped to spray steam with a pressure lower than that of the steam generator S1, the existing laundry treating apparatus has a problem that only steam with the lower pressure is always supplied to the space where the laundry is hung compared to the steam iron I, making it difficult to supply sufficient steam to the laundry, or requiring a great time for the laundry to be exposed to sufficient steam.
In addition, the existing laundry treating apparatus has a problem in that it is impossible or difficult to install an additional iron module when the steam iron was not initially installed.
The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may reduce a manufacturing process of the laundry treating apparatus equipped with an inner casing in which laundry is hung and a steam iron that sprays steam, and also lower manufacturing costs.
The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may be easily installed and maintained even when equipped with a refreshing module that circulates air inside an inner casing and an iron module T that includes a steam iron.
The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may simplify a configuration of a machine room in which a refreshing module and an iron module are installed.
The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may adjust a pressure of steam sprayed also to the inner casing.
The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which an additional iron module may be easily mounted at a sales location even when the iron module was not initially installed.
The present disclosure may provide a laundry treating apparatus that generates steam to be supplied to hung laundry and steam to be supplied to an iron in a single heating part, to solve the above-described problems.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may be constructed such that the heating part supplies steam into an inner casing where the laundry is hung, and the heating part may also be constructed to supply steam to the steam iron.
The heating part may be seated on a circulation duct.
The heating part may be disposed between an upper portion of the circulation duct and a bottom surface of the inner casing, and the steam iron may be disposed on a left or right side of the circulation duct.
The heating part may be connected to both the steam iron and the inner casing.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a guide pipe that guides steam supplied from the heating part to the inner casing, and a cable that guides steam supplied from the heating part to the steam iron.
The heating part may supply steam of different pressures to the guide pipe and the cable.
The heating part may supply steam at a higher pressure to the steam iron than steam supplied to the inner casing.
The heating part may further include a valve assembly that selectively opens the guide pipe and the cable.
The valve assembly may be controlled to close the cable when the guide pipe is opened, and to close the guide pipe when the cable is opened.
The heating part may further include an accommodating body that accommodates and heats water, and a pressure sensor that senses a pressure of steam generated in the accommodating body.
The valve assembly may be controlled to allow the supply of steam to the steam iron and to block the supply of the steam to the inner casing when the pressure of steam generated in the heating part is equal to or higher than a set value.
The valve assembly may be controlled to block the supply of steam to the steam iron and to supply steam to the inner casing when the pressure of the steam is equal to or lower than the set value.
The heating part may include an outlet where steam is discharged from the accommodating body, and a branch pipe connecting the outlet, the guide pipe, and the cable to each other.
The pressure sensor and the valve assembly may be coupled to the branch pipe.
The pressure sensor may be disposed upstream of the valve assembly.
The valve assembly may include a first valve coupled to the branch pipe to selectively open and close the guide pipe, and a second valve coupled to the branch pipe to selectively open and close the cable.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a water supply tank detachably disposed in front of the circulation duct to store water therein, and a water supply pump that supplies water stored in the water supply tank to the heating part.
The heating part may receive water from the water supply tank and generate steam to be supplied to the steam iron and the inner casing.
The present disclosure may reduce the manufacturing process of the laundry treating apparatus equipped with the inner casing in which the laundry is hung and the steam iron that sprays steam, and also lower the manufacturing costs.
The present disclosure may be easily installed and maintained even when equipped with the refreshing module that circulates air inside the inner casing and the iron module T that includes the steam iron.
The present disclosure may simplify the configuration of the machine room in which the refreshing module and the iron module are installed.
The present disclosure may adjust the pressure of steam sprayed also to the inner casing.
The present disclosure may easily mount the additional iron module at the sales location even when the iron module was not initially installed.
Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the present document, identical or similar components are assigned identical or similar reference numerals even in different embodiments, and descriptions thereof are replaced with the first description. A singular expression used herein includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed herein, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, it should be noted that the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, and the technical ideas disclosed herein should not be construed as being limited by the attached drawings. In the present document, an X-axis means a front and rear direction of a laundry treating apparatus, a Y-axis means a width direction of the laundry treating apparatus, and a Z-axis means a height direction of the laundry treating apparatus.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a cabinet 100 forming an outer appearance, and a door 120 pivotably coupled to the cabinet 100.
The door 120 may include a main body 121 forming a front surface of the cabinet 100, and an installation body 122 extending from one side of the main body 121 and where a display for displaying information of the laundry treating apparatus may be installed.
The cabinet 100 may be constructed such that a height is greater than a width in a left and right direction and a thickness in a front and rear direction. Accordingly, in the laundry treating apparatus, even long laundry may be hung inside the cabinet 100 without being folded.
The installation body 122 may be extended from the main body 121 while forming a step rearward of the cabinet 100.
The installation body 122 may be made of a material or may have a color different from that of the main body 121. In addition, the installation body 122 may be made of a translucent material through which light emitted from the display may be transmitted.
A handle 123 may be disposed in an area where the installation body 122 and the main body 121 are stepped.
The handle 123 may be disposed on one surface of the main body 121 to extend forward of the installation body 122 in parallel with the main body 121. As a result, the handle 123 may be disposed to at least partly overlap the installation body 122 in the front and rear direction, and may define a space that the user may grip.
The cabinet 100 and the door 120 may be made of a metal material.
An inner casing 200 that has an accommodating space 220 for accommodating the laundry defined therein and defines an opening 210 in a front side through which the laundry is introduced may be disposed inside the cabinet 100.
The inner casing 200, which has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open front surface, may have a height smaller than that of the cabinet 100. As a result, an area in which a machine room 300 to be described below may be installed may be secured in the lower portion of the cabinet 100.
The inner casing 200 may have the height greater than a width and a thickness. As a result, the laundry may be hung inside the accommodating space 220 without being folded or wrinkled.
The inner casing 200 may be made of a plastic resin material, and may be made of a reinforced plastic resin material that does not deform even when exposed to air at a temperature higher than a room temperature or heated air (hereinafter, hot air) and steam or moisture.
A hanger where the laundry may be hung in the accommodating space 220 may be disposed in an upper portion of an inner surface of the inner casing 200. The hanger may be formed in a clothes hanger shape and may be fixed to a top surface of the inner casing 200. Because of the hanger, the laundry may be disposed in the unfolded state and in a state of being suspended in air within the accommodating space 220.
A plurality of the hangers may be disposed along a width direction of the inner casing 200. As a result, a plurality of laundry pieces may be hung, spaced apart from each other within the inner casing 200.
The hanger may be constructed as a moving hanger that reciprocates or rotates in a reciprocating manner in the width direction within the inner casing 200. The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may shake the laundry inside the inner casing because of the hanger, and the laundry may be shaken inside the accommodating space 220, thereby removing foreign substances, dust, and the like, and also removing wrinkles formed on the laundry.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may be equipped with the machine room 300 in which various apparatuses are installed, which may supply at least one of high-temperature air, heated air (hereinafter, hot air), and steam to the accommodating space 220 or purify or dehumidify outside air of the cabinet 100.
The machine room 300 may be disposed separately or partitioned from the inner casing 200, but may be in communication with the accommodating space 220.
The machine room 300 may be disposed under the inner casing 200. Accordingly, when hot air and steam having a low specific gravity are supplied to the inner casing 200, hot air and steam may naturally rise in the accommodating space 220 and be supplied to the hung laundry.
The inner casing 200 may be partitioned and separated from the machine room 300 via a bottom surface 230. However, a plurality of through-holes may be defined in the bottom surface 230 to be in communication with the machine room 300.
To this end, the inner casing 200 may have a plurality of through-holes 230 that extend through one surface thereof and are in communication with the machine room 300.
Via the through-holes 230, air in the accommodating space 220 may be supplied to the machine room 300 and at least one of hot air and steam generated in the machine room 300 may be supplied to the accommodating space 220.
The through-holes 230 may include an inflow hole 232 extending through the bottom surface 230 of the inner casing 200 and allowing air inside the inner casing 200 to be discharged or sucked into the machine room 300, and an exhaust hole 231 extending through the bottom surface of the inner casing 200 and allowing hot air generated in the machine room 300 to be discharged.
The exhaust hole 231 may be defined to be biased rearward in the bottom surface of the inner casing 200. In addition, the inflow hole 232 may be defined to be biased forward in the bottom surface of the inner casing 200. As a result, a separation spacing between the inflow hole 232 and the exhaust hole 231 may be secured on the bottom surface 230 of the inner casing 200, and hot air supplied from the exhaust hole 231 may be prevented from being directly discharged to the inflow hole 232.
The through-holes 230 may further include a steam hole 233 into which steam generated in a heating part 800 to be described below is supplied. The steam hole 233 may be defined closer to the exhaust hole 231 than to the inflow hole 232. For example, the steam hole 233 may be defined on one side of the exhaust hole 231. As a result, steam discharged from the steam hole 233 may be prevented from flowing directly into the inflow hole 232.
The door 120 may be pivotably coupled to the cabinet 100.
A height of the door 120 may correspond to the height of the cabinet 100. As a result, the door 120 may open and close the opening 210, and may also shield the machine room 300.
When the door 120 is closed, the opening 210 and the machine room 300 may be prevented from being exposed forward.
The door 120 may include a door body 121 forming a main body and a sealing member 123 coupled to an inner surface of the door body 121 to seal the opening 210.
The sealing member 123 may be disposed in an area facing a periphery of the opening 210 on the inner surface of the door body 121 to seal the opening 210.
In one example, the door body 121 may include a protective panel 122 that shields the machine room 300 and protects the machine room 300 under the sealing member 123 that seals the opening 210.
The sealing member 123 may extend downward of the opening 210 to also seal a front periphery of the machine room 300.
The door 120 may include a protruding portion 125 that protrudes from the inner surface of the door body 121 such that at least a portion thereof may be inserted into the opening 210.
The protruding portion 125 may protrude from the door body 121 to an extent that it is disposed in front of the inflow hole 232 when the door 120 closes the opening 210.
The protruding portion 125 may have a width corresponding to a width of the opening 210. The protruding portion 125 may be disposed closer to a lower portion of the opening 210 or the bottom surface 230 of the inner casing 200 than to an upper end of the door body 121.
As a result, hot air and steam in the accommodating space 220 of the inner casing may be guided to be introduced into the inflow hole 232, and may be prevented from being discharged out of the opening 210 and being exposed to the machine room 300.
A height of the protruding portion 125 may be smaller than ⅓ of the height of the inner casing 200, and a thickness of the protruding portion 125 protruding from the door body 121 may be smaller than a spacing from a front edge of the bottom surface 230 to the inflow hole 232.
The door body 121 may further include a curved surface 124 extending toward the protruding portion 125 on the inner surface thereof. The curved surface 124 may be formed in a downwardly convex shape. The curved surface 124 may induce hot air and steam supplied to the accommodating space 220 to circulate inside the accommodating space 220.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a pressurizer 130 that is pivotably coupled to the inner surface of the door body 121 to pressurize the laundry, and a fixer 140 that may hang the laundry at a vertical level higher than that of the pressurizer 130.
The pressurizer 130 may pivot in a width direction of the door 120 to pressurize the laundry hung on the fixer 140.
Accordingly, by pressing the laundry hung on the fixer 140 with the pressurizer 130, the wrinkles in the laundry may be removed, and intended creases may also be formed in the laundry.
The curved surface 124 may extend from a lower end of the pressurizer 130 to the protruding portion 125. Accordingly, when water condensed in the laundry hung on the fixer 140 flows along the pressurizer 130 or the inner surface of the door body 121, water may flow along the curved surface 124 and be guided to the bottom surface 230 and may be prevented from flowing to the opening 210 or the sealing member 123. As a result, the machine room 300 may be prevented from being contaminated with water, steam, hot air, the foreign substances, and the like.
The protruding portion 125 may have an exposed surface disposed parallel to a rear surface of the inner casing 200, and a bottom surface extending from a lower portion of the exposed surface may be disposed parallel to the bottom surface 230 of the inner casing.
The exposed surface of the protruding portion 125 may have a through-hole 126 that extends through the exposed surface to allow air to enter and exit, and may have a duct through which air may flow in a space defined by the protruding portion 125, the curved surface 124, and the door body 121.
The door body 121 may have a communication hole in communication with the duct in an area of the inner surface corresponding to the pressurizer 130.
Accordingly, hot air and steam flowing in the inner casing 200 may be introduced into the through-hole 126 and discharged via the communication hole to dry the laundry hung on the pressurizer 130 or circulate air inside the inner casing 200.
The machine room 300 may be equipped with an apparatus that supplies at least one of hot air and steam to the inner casing 200.
The machine room 300 should be supplied with water necessary to generate steam and should collect steam supplied to the inner casing 200 or water condensed from the laundry. To this end, the machine room 300 may include a water supply tank 301 that stores water required for generating steam, and a drainage tank 302 that collects water condensed inside the laundry treating apparatus.
The water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302 may be disposed in a front portion of the machine room 300. As a result, it may be easy for a user to fill the water supply tank 301 with water or empty water in the drainage tank 302, and the laundry treating apparatus may be disposed without being limited by locations of a water source and a drain.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include an iron module S including a steam iron that supplies steam to a surface of the laundry. The iron module S may be installed in the machine room.
The iron module S may include one or more of a steam iron 1300 that may spray or supply at least one of heat and steam to the surface of the laundry, and a storage 1200 that stores the steam iron 1300 inside the machine room 300.
The storage 1200 may include a storage body 1210 that is mounted in the machine room 300 and provides a space in which the steam iron 1300 is stored, and an open surface 1220 that is defined in a front surface of the storage body 1210 and through which the steam iron 1300 is inserted and withdrawn.
The steam iron 1300 may be withdrawn from the machine room 300 while being withdrawn forward of the storage body 1210. The steam iron 1300 may reach the surface of the laundry hung on the fixer 140 or the hanger when withdrawn forward of the machine room 300.
The steam iron 1300 may extend from the machine room 300 into the accommodating space 220 or to a rear surface of the door 120. For example, the steam iron 1300 may transmit heat and steam to an upper end of the pressurizer 130 of the door 120, which is located upward of a midpoint in a height direction of the inner casing 200.
For example, the steam iron 1300 may reach the hanger or the fixer 140. In addition, the steam iron 1300 may move to a top surface of the accommodating space 220 or an upper end of the inner surface of the door 120 when withdrawn from the storage 1200.
The steam iron 1300 may be in contact with the surface of the laundry or may be disposed close to the surface of the laundry to directly spray heat and steam to the surface of the laundry.
The steam iron 1300 may supply heat to the surface of the laundry or may spray steam to the surface of the laundry. The steam iron 1300 may be equipped as a general steam iron or a general steamer. The steam iron 1300 may be equipped as any component as long as it satisfies a condition of removing the wrinkles that have occurred in the laundry.
Laundry L fixed to the hanger or the fixer 140 may be supported on the inner surface of the door 120 or an inner surface of the inner casing 200 and may be exposed to at least one of heat and steam supplied from the steam iron 1300. In this process, the laundry L may be refreshed or wrinkles thereof may be removed.
The iron module S may be exposed to the front surface of the machine room 300, because the steam iron 1300 should be withdrawn from the machine room 300 to the laundry hung in the inner casing 200 or on the door 120.
For example, a front surface of the iron module S may be disposed on one side of the water supply tank 301 or the drainage tank 302, and both side surfaces thereof may be disposed inside the machine room 300.
The water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302 may be shared by a refreshing module T that circulates air inside the inner casing 200 to be described later and the iron module S.
The machine room 300 may include therein the refreshing module T equipped as a component that may supply hot air and steam to the laundry hung in the accommodating space 220, circulate air inside the accommodating space, or circulate air outside the cabinet, and the iron module S including the steam iron 1300.
The refreshing module T may include all apparatuses and components that may supply at least one of hot air and steam into the inner casing 200.
Specifically, the machine room 300 may include a base 310 on which a space where the various apparatuses described above may be supported or installed, a circulation duct 320 that is installed on or extended from the base 310 and provides a flow channel through which air inside the inner casing 200 or air outside the cabinet 100 flows, a blower 350 that is mounted on the circulation duct 320 and provides power to allow air to flow, a heat supply part 340 that cools and heats air flowing along the circulation duct 320 to generate hot air, and the heating part 800 that is supported on the base 310 or mounted on the circulation duct 320 and supplies steam into the inner casing 200.
The base 310 may be formed as a plate on which the various apparatuses are installed.
The circulation duct 320 may form a flow channel through which air introduced from the inner casing 200 or the outside of the cabinet 100 flows, and may be formed in a casing shape with an open top.
The heat supply part 340 may include a heat exchanger disposed inside the circulation duct 320 to cool air, condense moisture, and reheat air, and a compressor disposed outside the circulation duct 320 to receive a refrigerant from the heat exchanger or supply the refrigerant.
The refreshing module T may further include an outside air duct 370 that sucks outside air in front of the circulation duct 320 and guides sucked air into the circulation duct 320.
The circulation duct 320 may be in communication with the outside air duct 370 and selectively suck outside air.
The water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302 may be detachably coupled to a front surface of the circulation duct 320. For example, the water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302 may be seated and disposed on the outdoor air duct 370.
The circulation duct 320 may be coupled to the base 310, but may be formed integrally with the base 310. For example, the base 310 and the circulation duct 320 may be simultaneously manufactured via injection molding.
The refreshing module T may include a base cover 360 disposed to allow the circulation duct 320 and the inflow hole 232 to be in communication with each other.
The base cover 360 may be coupled to an upper portion of the circulation duct 320 to guide air sucked in the inflow hole 232 into the circulation duct 320.
The base cover 360 may block air inside the circulation duct 320 from being discharged to the outside by shielding a top surface of the circulation duct 320. A lower portion of the base cover 360 and the top surface of the circulation duct 320 may form one surface of a flow channel of the circulation duct 320.
The base cover 360 may include an inlet 362 that allows the inflow hole 232 and the circulation duct 320 to be in communication with each other therein. The inlet 362 may be formed in a duct shape to serve as an intake duct that delivers air inside the inner casing 200 to the circulation duct 320.
The heating part 800 may be connected to the water supply tank 301 and receive water to generate steam. The heating part 800 may be seated and disposed on the circulation duct 320. Specifically, the heating part 800 may be disposed between an upper portion of the circulation duct 320 and the bottom surface of the inner casing 200.
Further, the heating part 800 may be disposed at the rear of the base cover 360.
The refreshing module T may further include a steam nozzle 900 that receives steam from the heating part 800 and supplies steam into the inner casing 200. The steam nozzle 900 may be disposed between the heating part 800 and the steam hole 233.
The steam nozzle 900 may be fixed to the bottom surface of the inner casing 200.
Water that has not been discharged from the steam nozzle 900 to the steam hole 233 but condensed may be recovered again to the heating part 800.
In one example, the steam nozzle 900 may be omitted and only the heating part 800 may be disposed. That is, the steam nozzle 900 may not be an essential component for supplying steam to the inner casing 200.
The blower 350 may allow the circulation duct 320 and the exhaust hole 231 to be in communication with each other.
The iron module S may be disposed on a left or right side of the refreshing module T inside the machine room 300. Specifically, the iron module S may be disposed outside the circulation duct 320. Thus, the iron module S may not obstruct a flow of air through the circulation duct 320.
The iron module S may be disposed at one side of the base 310 to be parallel thereto along a length direction of the circulation duct 320.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may supply steam to both the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300 via one heating part 800 and one water supply tank 301.
The heating part 800 may supply steam to both the refreshing module T and the iron module S.
That is, the refreshing module T and the iron module S may share the heating part 800. In addition, the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300 may receive steam from one heating part 800.
Specifically, the heating part 800 may receive water from the water supply tank 301 and accommodate water therein, then heat water to generate steam, and then supply steam to both the accommodating space 220 inside the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300.
Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may omit one of a component that heats water to supply steam to the inner casing 200 and a component that heats water to supply steam to the steam iron 1300. As a result, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may simplify an internal structure of the machine room 300, prevent a plurality of heating parts from consuming excessive power by heating water, and reduce a manufacturing process and a production cost.
The heating part 800 of the present disclosure may further include a valve assembly 890 that selectively supplies generated steam to the steam iron 1300 and the inner casing 200.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may control the valve assembly 890 to determine whether steam is to be supplied to the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300.
As a result, even when steam is generated in the heating part 800, steam may be prevented from being supplied to the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300 arbitrarily.
The valve assembly 890 may include a first valve 891 that determines whether to supply steam to the inner casing 200, and a second valve 892 that determines whether to supply steam to the steam iron 1300.
The heating part 800 may further include a guide pipe 1500 that guides generated steam to the inner casing 200, and a cable 1400 that guides generated steam to the steam iron 1300.
The guide pipe 1500 and the cable 1400 may be equipped as any components as long as they are able to guide steam supplied from the heating part 800 to a distal end. For example, the guide pipe 1500 and the cable 1400 may be formed in a pipe shape or may be made of a flexible material like a hose.
The first valve 891 may open and close the guide pipe 1500, and the second valve 892 may open and close the cable 1400.
The valve assembly 890 opening the guide pipe 1500 may mean a series of states in which the guide pipe 1500 is set to be in a state of being in communication with the heating part 800 and being able to receive steam, and the valve assembly 890 closing the guide pipe 1500 may mean a series of states in which the guide pipe 1500 is set to be in a state of being blocked from being in communication with the heating part 800 and not able to receive steam.
For example, the valve assembly 890 may directly open and close the guide pipe 1500, or indirectly open and close the guide pipe 1500 by opening and closing an outlet of the heating part, a separate branch pipe, or the like.
The valve assembly 890 opening the cable 1400 may mean a series of states in which the cable 1400 is set to be in a state of being able to receive steam as the cable 1400 is in communication with the heating part 800, and the valve assembly 890 closing the cable 1400 may mean a series of states in which the cable 1400 is set to be in a state of not being able to receive steam as the communication with the heating part 800 is blocked.
For example, the valve assembly 890 may directly open and close the cable 1400, or may indirectly open and close the cable 1400 by opening and closing the outlet of the heating part, the separate branch pipe, or the like.
The guide pipe 1500 and the cable 1400 may be disposed to be completely spaced apart from each other from one end to the other.
In addition, the first valve 891 and the second valve 892 may also be disposed completely spaced apart from each other. In this case, the first valve 891 may be directly coupled to the guide pipe 1500 to open and close the guide pipe 1500, and the second valve 892 may be directly coupled to the cable 1400 to directly open and close the cable 1400.
Alternatively, the first valve 891 and the second valve 892 may be coupled to a branch pipe 825 in communication with the guide pipe 1500 and be in communication with each other. Each of the guide pipe 1500 and the cable 1400 may be coupled and fixed to the branch pipe 825.
The first valve 891 and the second valve 892 may selectively open and close the branch pipe 825.
For example, the first valve 891 may be coupled to the branch pipe 825 to selectively allow the branch pipe 825 and the guide pipe 1500 to be in communication with each other to open and close the guide pipe 1500, and the second valve 892 may be coupled to the branch pipe 825 to selectively connect the branch pipe 825 with the cable 1400 to open and close the cable 1400.
The valve assembly 890 may be equipped as a solenoid valve and may be controlled by the main controller 700 to be described below.
Regardless of where the valve assembly 890 is coupled and disposed, the valve assembly 890 may be controlled to close the cable 1400 when the guide pipe 1500 is opened and to close the guide pipe 1500 when the cable 1400 is opened.
The valve assembly 890 may be controlled to prevent the cable 1400 and the guide pipe 1500 from being in communication with the heating part 800 at the same time. That is, the valve assembly 890 may be controlled such that only one of the cable 1400 and the guide pipe 1500 is opened and steam is supplied.
As a result, steam may be intensively supplied to only one of the cable 1400 and the guide pipe 1500 to secure a minimum amount of steam required for treating the laundry.
A detailed configuration of the branch pipe 825 or the like will be described later.
In addition, it is merely one embodiment that the heating part 800 has the branch pipe 825, and the heating part 800 is able to have a plurality of outlets. This will also be described later.
The blower 350 may include a blower fan 353 that provides power for air inside the circulation duct 320 to flow in one direction, and a fan housing 351 that accommodates the blower fan 353 therein and is coupled to or extended from the circulation duct 320.
The blower 350 may include an exhaust duct 352 that allows the circulation duct 320 and the exhaust hole 231 to be in communication with each other.
The exhaust duct 352 may be formed with a cross-section extending from the fan housing 351 toward exhaust hole 231 in an area size corresponding to that of exhaust hole 231.
As a result, air inside the inner casing 200 may be introduced via the base cover 360, pass through the circulation duct 320, and then be supplied back into the inner casing 200 via a fan installation portion 350.
The heat supply part 340 may include a compressor 343 installed on the base 310 to exchange heat with air flowing through the circulation duct 320. The compressor 343 may be disposed on a left or right side of the circulation duct 320, and may be disposed between the circulation duct 320 and the iron module S.
The base 310 may form a bottom surface of the laundry treating apparatus.
The base 310 may include a base bottom 311 forming a support surface. The base bottom 311 may form the bottom surface of the laundry treating apparatus.
In one example, the base bottom 311 may be seated on a top surface of the bottom surface of the cabinet 100 separately disposed to form the bottom surface of the laundry treating apparatus.
The base 310 may be integrally formed with the circulation duct 320 that forms at least a portion of the flow channel through which air flows. The circulation duct 320 may be formed by extending upward from the base bottom 311.
The circulation duct 320 may include a duct body 321 that extends from the base bottom 311 to form the flow channel, a heat exchanger installation portion 3212 that provides a space in which an evaporator 341 or a condenser 342 is installed inside the duct body 321, and an air discharger 323 that is disposed at the rear of the duct body 321 and discharges air in the duct body 321 to the blower 350.
The air discharger 323 may be formed in a pipe shape that extends rearward from the duct body 321. A diameter of the air discharger 323 may be smaller than a width of the duct body 321.
The air discharger 323 may be connected to the blower 350. Air discharged from the air discharger 323 may be guided into the inner casing 200 via the blower 350.
The circulation duct 320 may further include an outside air intake portion 322 defined by extending through a front surface of the duct body 321. The outside air intake portion 322 may be in communication with the outside air duct 370. The outside air duct 370 may be seated and supported in front of the outside air intake portion 322.
The circulation duct 320 may be installed with a damper that opens and closes the outside air intake portion 322. Opening and closing of the damper may allow or block inflow of outside air into the circulation duct 320.
The base 310 may include a compressor installation portion 312 that provides a space in which the compressor 343 is installed. The compressor installation portion 312 may be formed at one side of the base bottom 311 and may be formed integrally with the base bottom 311.
The compressor installation portion 312 may also have a protrusion formed that may support the compressor 343. The compressor installation portion 312 may be disposed to be biased to a rear side of the base 310. The compressor installation portion 312 may be disposed to at least partially overlap the air discharger 323 in a width direction.
A buffer member that reduces vibration transmitted from the compressor 343 may be installed in the compressor installation portion 312. The buffer member may be fixed to the protrusion.
The base 310 may include the compressor installation portion 312 in which the compressor 343, which supplies the refrigerant to the heat exchanger 341 and 343, is installed. The compressor installation portion 312 may be disposed outside the circulation duct 320.
The iron module S may be disposed on a left or right side of the circulation duct 320. However, the iron module S may be disposed to be spaced apart from the base 310 and also be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the machine room 300.
As a result, the machine room 300 may omit a separate base structure supporting the iron module S on the bottom surface thereof.
The circulation duct 320 may extend upward from the base bottom to form the flow channel through which air flows.
The heat supply part 340 may include the evaporator 341 that cools and condenses air flowing along the circulation duct 320, the compressor 343 that receives the refrigerant from the evaporator 341 and compresses and heats the refrigerant, and the condenser 342 that receives the refrigerant from the compressor 343 and heats air flowing along the circulation duct 320.
The heat supply part 340 may further include an expansion valve that expands the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser 342 to lower a temperature of the refrigerant.
The heat supply part 340 may include the evaporator 341 that is installed inside the circulation duct 320 and is equipped as a heat exchanger that cools and dehumidifies air that has been introduced into the circulation duct 320, the condenser 342 that is equipped as a heat exchanger that heats air that has passed through the evaporator 341 to generate hot air, the compressor 343 that supplies the refrigerant that exchanges heat with air to the condenser 342 and is disposed outside the circulation duct 320, and an expansion valve 344 that expands and cools the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser 342.
The evaporator 341 and the condenser 342 may be disposed inside the circulation duct 320, and the compressor 343 may be disposed outside the circulation duct 320.
The circulation duct 320 may include the heat exchanger installation portion 3212 that provides a space in which the evaporator 341 and the condenser 342 are installed. The heat exchanger installation portion 3212 may be defined inside the duct body 321.
The duct body 321 may have an open top surface. The condenser 343 and the evaporator 341 may be introduced via the opening of the duct body 321 and installed.
The opening of the duct body 321 may be shielded by the base cover 360, and the base cover 360 and the duct body 321 may form a flow channel through which air flows inside the circulation duct 320.
A front surface of the duct body 321 may be disposed to be spaced rearwardly apart from a front end of the base bottom 311. As a result, the base bottom 311 may secure a support surface 3111 on which at least one of the water supply tank 301, the drainage tank 302, and the outside air duct 370 described above is installed and supported.
In one example, as the duct body 321 is integrally formed with the base 310, a height of the heat exchanger installation portion 3212 may be secured greater and heights of the condenser 342 and the evaporator 341 may also be increased to that extent accordingly.
As a result, widths in the front and rear direction of the condenser 342 and the evaporator 341 may be reduced, so that the number of refrigerant pipes passing through the condenser and the evaporator may be reduced. In addition, an effect of reducing a flow loss of air passing through the condenser and the evaporator is derived.
In one example, a sum of a length of the evaporator 341 and a length of the condenser 342 may be smaller than a length of the heat exchanger installation portion 3212. Accordingly, the length in the front and rear direction of the heat exchanger installation portion 3212 may be equal to or smaller than half of the length of the duct body 321.
The blower 350 may be disposed to overlap the condenser 342 or the evaporator 341 in the front and rear direction. Therefore, air that has passed through the evaporator 341 and the condenser 342 may be introduced into the blower 350 without bending of the flow channel. That is, in a process in which air introduced into the circulation duct 320 flows to the blower 350, because there is no bending in the flow channel, the flow loss may be minimized.
A length of the iron module S may be greater than a length of the circulation duct 320.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a main controller 700 that supplies power to the heat supply part 340 and the heating part 800 of the refreshing module T or controls the heat supply part 340 and the heating part 800.
In addition, the main controller 700 may also control the iron module S simultaneously.
In one example, the main controller 700 may directly control the iron module S, but may also indirectly control the iron module S by being in communication with an independent controller that controls the iron module S. Such an embodiment will be described later. When the main controller 700 indirectly controls the iron module S, a size or a volume of the main controller 700 may be prevented from being unnecessarily expanded. That is, the main controllers 700 of the laundry treating apparatus in which the iron module S is omitted and of the laundry treating apparatus in which the iron module S is installed may be compatible with the same specifications.
The main controller 700 may be disposed inside the machine room 300. As a result, a volume of the inner casing 200 may be secured to the maximum.
The main controller 700 may be seated on the base 310.
The main controller 700 may be disposed outside the circulation duct 320.
For example, the main controller 700 may be disposed on a left or right side of the circulation duct 320.
For example, the base 310 may be equipped with a controller installation portion 313 that defines a space in which the main controller 700 may be inserted under the circulation duct 320.
The base 310 may include the controller installation portion 313 in which the main controller 700 is installed. The controller installation portion 313 may be formed between the base bottom 311 and the circulation duct 320. The controller installation portion 313 may be formed between the base bottom 311 and a bottom surface of the circulation duct 320. The controller installation portion 313 may be formed in a duct shape with one of a front surface and a rear surface opened, under the circulation duct 320.
The main controller 700 may be connected to an external power source and supplied with the power, and may supply the power to all electronically controlled components such as the compressor 343, the heating part 800, and the blower fan 353.
In addition, the main controller 700 may be equipped to control all of the electronically controlled components such as the compressor 343, the heating part 800, and the blower fan 353, and may perform various courses and options for treating the laundry.
When the main controller 700 is inserted into and supported in the controller installation portion 313, vibration or impact applied to the main controller 700 may be buffered. In addition, because the main controller 700 is disposed close to the electrical components constituting the refreshing module T, occurrence of control errors such as noise may be minimized.
In addition, when the heating part 800 is disposed on the upper side of the circulation duct 320, and the main controller 700 is disposed under the circulation duct 320. Therefore, the circulation duct 320 may be formed in a straight duct shape between the heating part 800 and the main controller 700. Therefore, a flow resistance of air passing through the circulation duct 320 may be minimized.
The circulation duct 320, the outside air duct 370, the heating part 800, the main controller 700, and the heat supply part 340 may be installed in a modular manner on the base 310. Accordingly, the base 310 may be easily installed and maintained by being extended forward from and retracted rearward into the machine room 300.
The main controller 700 may be equipped as a PCB panel, but may not be limited thereto and may be equipped as various devices for control.
The main controller 700 may be inserted into and seated in the controller installation portion 313 disposed under the circulation duct 320. The bottom surface of the circulation duct 320 may form a top surface of the controller installation portion 313. The controller installation portion 313 may be disposed downward of the air discharger 323.
The controller installation portion 313 may be formed integrally with the base bottom 311. The controller installation portion 313 may be defined as a recessed space under the circulation duct during a process of molding the circulation duct 320 on the base 310.
The main controller 700 may be slidably retracted forward into the controller installation portion 313.
A bracket 3131 may be further disposed on a surface of the main controller 700 to surround the controller. The brackets 3131 may be disposed on an upper portion and a lower portion of the controller to prevent the foreign substances from entering the controller.
In addition, the bracket 3131 may prevent a circuit board inside the main controller 700 from being damaged by heat or vibration transmitted to the main controller 700. The bracket 3131 may be made of a metal material.
As shown in the drawing, the main controller 700 may be installed at a predetermined angle with the base bottom 311. For example, the main controller 700 may be disposed to be inclined toward the reservoir 326. Accordingly, when water leaks from the upper portion of the main controller 700, water may quickly escape the main controller 700.
The main controller 700 may include a supporter 3132 that is formed to protrude from a side surface thereof.
The controller installation portion 313 may include ribs 3134 that protrude from both side surfaces of the installation portion, respectively. The supporter 3132 of the controller may be mounted on the rib 3134.
The supporter 3132 of the controller may support an entire load of the main controller 700. When the supporter 3132 of the controller is supported on the rib 3134, the main controller 700 may be spaced apart from the base bottom 311 by a predetermined distance.
The rib 3134 may be formed integrally with the base 310. The rib 3134 may be molded together with the base 310 when the base 310 is injection-molded, and may be formed integrally with the components such as the base bottom 311, the circulation duct 320, and the like.
A protrusion 3133 may be formed so as to protrude on a front surface of the main controller 700. In addition, a guide protruding rearward may be disposed on an inner surface of the controller installation portion 313. The protrusion may be coupled with the guide. The protrusion may be inserted into the guide. When the controller is introduced into the controller installation portion, the controller may be aligned at a correct location by coupling the protrusion to the guide.
In addition, locations of both side surfaces of the controller may be determined in such a way that the supporter is seated on the rib as described above. With such coupling process, the controller may be coupled at the correct location of the controller installation portion without a separate fastening member.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include the water supply tank 301 that supplies water to the heating part 800 and the drainage tank 302 that collects condensed water from the circulation duct 320 or the iron module S.
The water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302 should be selectively separated from each other in the machine room 300 for the user to easily fill the water supply tank 301 with water and discard water collected in the drainage tank 302.
The machine room 300 may further include a detachment portion 380 disposed in front of the refreshing module T to support the water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302. The detachment portion 380 may be detachably coupled to the water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302.
The detachment portion 380 may be formed in a plate shape to prevent the inside of the machine room 300 from being exposed.
A drainage pump 331 or the like may be disposed under the detachment portion 380, and the circulation duct 320 may be disposed at the rear of the detachment portion 380.
A portion of the iron module S may extend through the detachment portion 380.
The iron module S may be disposed on one side of one of the water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302. The iron module S may not be disposed between the water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302. As a result, a space in which the steam iron 1300 is seated may be secured.
The iron module S may be disposed closer to the water supply tank 301 than to the drainage tank 302. As a result, water may be saved by reducing a distance from the steam iron 1300 to the water supply tank 301.
The heating part 800 may be seated on the circulation duct 320.
Accordingly, the heating part 800 may be disposed close to the bottom surface of the inner casing 200, so that steam may be stably supplied to the inner casing 200.
The heating part 800 may be disposed between the circulation duct 320 and the bottom surface of the inner casing 200.
The heating part 800 may be supported by being seated on the base cover 360.
The base cover 360 may include an inflow body 361 that is coupled to the top surface of the circulation duct 320 to allow the inner casing 200 and the circulation duct 320 to be in communication with each other, and a shielding body 363 that extends from the inflow body 361 to shield the top surface of the circulation duct 320.
The inflow body 361 may be formed in a duct shape and allow the inflow hole 232 of the inner casing and the inside of the circulation duct 320 to be in communication with each other. The inflow body 361 may protrude upwardly of the shielding body 363.
The inflow body 361 may be disposed in front of the evaporator 341 so as not to face the evaporator 341 and the condenser 342.
The inflow body 361 may serve as an inflow duct that allows air in the inner casing 200 to flow to the circulation duct 320. The inflow body 361 may be equipped with the inlet 362 through which air in the inner casing 200 may pass.
The inlet 362 may be partitioned into a plurality of sections, and a filter may be inserted into and installed in one of the sections.
The shielding body 363 may include a blocking panel 3631 that blocks the evaporator 341 and the condenser 342 from being exposed to the outside and supports the heating part 800, a power terminal 3633 that extends from the blocking panel 3631 or the inflow body 361 and supplies power to the heating part 800, and a protective panel 3632 that accommodates therein and protects one of both side surfaces of the steam supply part 800.
A plurality of reinforcing ribs that reinforce rigidity may be disposed on an outer surface of the protective panel 3632. This prevents vibration or impact generated in the inner casing 200 or the machine room 300 from being transmitted to the heating part 800.
The heating part 800 may be supported by being seated on the base cover 360.
The heating part 800 may include an accommodating body 810 that stores therein water that generates steam.
The heating part 800 may further include an installation bracket 870 that may fix the accommodating body 810 to the base cover 360.
The installation bracket 870 may be coupled to the base cover 360 to fix the accommodating body 810.
The installation bracket 870 may include a lower panel 871 that supports a bottom surface of the accommodating body 810 and side panels 872 that support both side surfaces of the accommodating body 810 on the lower panel 871.
The installation bracket 870 may further include a support panel 873 that extends stepwise from the lower panel 871 and supports the bottom surface of the accommodating body 810. As a result, the lower panel 871 may accommodate therein and support a portion of the bottom surface of the accommodating body 810.
The compressor 343 may be disposed under the steam supply part 800.
The installation bracket 870 may block heat generated from the compressor or heat generated from the refrigerant compressed in the compressor from being transferred to the heating part 800.
The installation bracket 870 may also block fire from being transferred to the heating part 800 in the event of fire occurring in the compressor 343.
In one example, the base cover 360 may include a fastener 3631 that is disposed on the shielding body 363 and detachably coupled with the heating part 800. The fastener 3631 may be formed in a structure that is detachably coupled with a protruding portion protruding from a lower portion of the accommodating body 810.
Therefore, even when a large amount of water is contained inside the accommodating body 810, the accommodating body 810 may be stably seated on the base cover 360.
In addition, because the accommodating body 810 is disposed upward of the circulation duct 320 and has a shorter distance to the inner casing 200, condensation of steam generated in the accommodating body 810 before reaching the inner casing 200 may be minimized.
The heating part 800 may include the accommodating body 810 that may receive and store water to generate steam, and a heater 840 that is accommodated in the accommodating body 810 and heats water to generate steam.
The accommodating body 810 may be formed in a shape of an integral box, may be formed in a shape of a casing with an open top, and may accommodate the heater 840 therein.
The heating part 800 may further include a body cover 820 that is coupled to the accommodating body 810 to prevent the heater 840 from being exposed to the outside and to prevent water from leaking.
The casing cover 820 may be equipped with a water level sensor 850 that senses a water level of the accommodating body 810, and a steam sensor 860 that senses a temperature inside the accommodating body 810 or senses whether steam is generated inside the accommodating body 810.
The steam sensor 860 may also function as a pressure sensor that senses a pressure inside the accommodating body 810.
The pressure sensor may be disposed upstream of the valve assembly 890. Therefore, the valve assembly 890 may be controlled to determine whether to open or close based on the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor.
Accordingly, the main controller 700 may control the valve assembly 890 to open and close the guide pipe 1500 and the cable 1400 based on the pressure sensed by the steam sensor 860.
The heating part 800 may have only one outlet 823 through which steam is discharged. The outlet 823 may protrude in a pipe shape from the accommodating body 810.
For example, the outlet 823 may be disposed on the body cover 820 to prevent water from being discharged.
In one example, the heating part 800 may further include the branch pipe 825 coupled to the outlet 823 such that steam may be supplied to each of the cable 1400 and the guide pipe 1500 via one outlet 823. In one example, the pressure sensor 860 may be coupled and fixed to the branch pipe 825. That is, the pressure sensor 860 may be disposed anywhere as long as it may sense the pressure of steam upstream of the valve assembly 890.
The branch pipe 825 may include a main body pipe 8251 that provides a space for steam to flow, an inlet 8252 that connects the main body pipe 8251 with the outlet 823, a first discharge port 8253 that connects the main body pipe 8251 with the guide pipe 1500, and a second discharge port 8254 that connects the main body pipe 8251 with the cable 1400.
The main body pipe 8251 may be formed in a pipe shape, and may be made of a material having great rigidity such that the valve assembly 890 may be fixed.
The first valve 891 may be coupled to the first discharge port 8253 to open and close the first discharge port 8253. As a result, the first valve 891 may adjust the guide pipe 1500 to be selectively in communication with the heating part 800.
In addition, the second valve 892 may be coupled to the second discharge port 8254 to open and close the second discharge port 8254. As a result, the second valve 892 may adjust the cable 1400 to be selectively in communication with the heating part 800.
As a result, when steam is generated in the heating part 800, steam may flow into the main body pipe 8251, but may be blocked from being supplied to the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300 when the valve assembly 890 closes the discharge ports of the branch pipe 825.
The main controller 700 may control the valve assembly 890 to open when the pressure inside the heating part 800 sensed via the pressure sensor 860 is equal to or higher than an atmospheric pressure. As a result, a large amount of high-pressure steam may be supplied to the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300. As a result, a time for spraying steam in the refreshing cycle or when removing the wrinkles from the laundry may be saved, and a time for the heater 840 to operate may also be shortened. In addition, performances of the deodorization, the wrinkle removal, and the like of the laundry may be further improved.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may supply high-pressure steam to the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300 by controlling the valve assembly 890. Furthermore, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may set the pressures of steam supplied to the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300 differently.
For example, the heating part 800 may supply steam to the steam iron via the valve assembly 890 such that the pressure thereof is higher than that of steam supplied to the inner casing.
Accordingly, even when the cable 1400 is longer than the guide pipe 1500, steam may be sufficiently transmitted to the steam iron 1300, and steam with a higher pressure may be sprayed onto the surface of the laundry so that the wrinkles in the laundry may be removed more reliably.
For example, the valve assembly 890 may be controlled to allow the supply of steam to the steam iron and block the supply of steam to the inner casing when the pressure of steam generated in the heating part 800 is equal to or higher than a set value.
Conversely, the valve assembly 890 may be controlled to block the supply of steam to the steam iron and supply steam to the inner casing when a pressure of the heating part 800 or the pressure of steam is equal to or lower than the set value.
That is, when the pressure of the heating part 800 is equal to or higher than the set value, the first valve 891 may be controlled to close the guide pipe 1500, and the second valve 892 may be controlled to open the cable 1400. Conversely, when the pressure of the heating part 800 is equal to or lower than the set value, the first valve 891 may open the guide pipe 1500 based on the refreshing cycle, but the second valve 892 may be fundamentally blocked from opening the cable 1400. The set value may correspond to a pressure 2 to 3 times higher than the atmospheric pressure.
As a result, even when the heating part 800 is equipped with one unit, steam of the different pressures may be supplied to the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300 via the valve assembly 890.
Unlike the above, the heating part 800 may be equipped with the accommodating body 810 as a cylindrical pressure casing and may be equipped with two outlets.
That is, the heating part 800 may be equipped with a one-piece metal casing 811 so as to withstand the pressure of steam that is 2 to 3 times higher than the atmospheric pressure.
In addition, the heating part 800 may have the two outlets through which steam is discharged. For example, the heating part 800 may include a first outlet 8231 through which steam is discharged from the accommodating body 810, and a second outlet 8232 spaced apart from the first outlet 8231 and through which steam is discharged from the accommodating body 810.
Therefore, the heating part 800 of the present disclosure may omit the branch pipe 825.
The first outlet 8231 may be connected to the guide pipe 1500, and the second outlet 8232 may be connected to the cable 1400.
The first valve 891 may be coupled to the first outlet 8231 to open and close the guide pipe 1500, and the second valve 892 may be coupled to the second outlet 8232 to open and close the cable 1400.
The first valve 891 and the second valve 892 may be spaced apart from each other by a distance that the first outlet 8231 and the second outlet 8232 are spaced apart from each other.
Therefore, even when the steam iron 1300, the steam hole of the inner casing 200, and the like are arranged at different angles relative to the heating part 800, as the first outlet 8231 and the second outlet 8232 are spaced apart from each other, the guide pipe 1500 and the cable 1400 may be prevented from interfering with each other or from being excessively bent.
Control of the valve assembly 890 may be the same as that in the above-described embodiment.
Steam generated inside the accommodating body 810 may be directly supplied into the inner casing 200 via the guide pipe 1500. However, when steam is directly supplied into the inner casing 200 via the guide pipe 1500, there is a concern that water contained in the accommodating body 810 may also be discharged into the inner casing 200. In addition, there is a concern that water heated in the accommodating body 810 may heat the bottom surface of the inner casing 200, causing thermal damage to the inner casing 200.
To prevent such problems, the heating part 800 of the present disclosure may further include the steam nozzle 900 that receives steam generated in the accommodating body 810 and supplies steam to the inner casing 200.
The steam nozzle 900 may be coupled to a free end of the guide pipe 1500.
The steam nozzle 900 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the accommodating body 810, and may receive only steam generated in the accommodating body 810, and may not receive water contained in the accommodating body 810.
For example, the steam nozzle 900 may be disposed upward of the accommodating body 810, and may be connected thereto via the guide pipe 1500. The valve assembly 890 and the guide pipe 1500 may be disposed downward of the steam nozzle 900.
Accordingly, steam generated in the accommodating body 810 may rise because of a density difference and may be supplied to the steam nozzle 900 along a steam pipe 833, and water contained in the accommodating body 810 may not flow into the steam pipe 833 or the steam nozzle 900 because of gravity.
The steam nozzle 900 may be disposed between the bottom surface of the inner casing 200 and the accommodating body 810.
In one example, the heating part 800 of the present disclosure is equipped to receive water from the water supply tank 301 and generate steam. To this end, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a water supply 880 that supplies water contained in the water supply tank 301 to the heating part 800.
The water supply 880 may include a water supply pump 881 that provides a pressure to supply water supplied to the water supply tank 301 to the heating part 800 or the steam nozzle 900, a supply pipe 882 that is in communication with the water supply tank 301 and delivers water to the water supply pump 881, and a connection pipe 883 that connects the water supply pump 881 with the steam nozzle 900.
The supply pipe 882 may be formed as a hose connecting the water supply tank 301 with the water supply pump 881, and the connection pipe 883 may be formed as a hose connected to the water supply pump 881.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may supply water contained in the water supply tank 301 to the steam nozzle 900 rather than to the accommodating body 810.
The water supply pump 881 may not be directly connected to the accommodating body 810.
The steam nozzle 900 may receive water via the connection pipe 883 and then supply water to the heating part 800 via a water supply pipe 884. The water supply pipe 884 may be connected to a recovery pipe 824.
Because the steam nozzle 900 is disposed upward of the accommodating body 810, water supplied to the steam nozzle 900 may be automatically supplied to the accommodating body 810 via the water supply pipe 884.
The guide pipe 1500 through which steam is introduced into the steam nozzle 900 and the recovery pipe 824 through which water is discharged from the steam nozzle 900 may be formed as separate flow channels. Therefore, water supplied from the steam nozzle 900 may be prevented from interfering with flow of steam supplied from the accommodating body 810.
In one example, the water supply pipe 884 may be formed in a U-shape. That is, a middle area of the water supply pipe 884 may be disposed at a lower vertical level than both ends thereof. As a result, a certain amount of water, like a water trap, may be accumulated in the water supply pipe 884, thereby preventing steam or water supplied from the accommodating body 810 from being re-introduced via the water supply pipe 884.
In addition, because the accommodating body 810 is not directly connected to the water supply pump 881, a possibility that water introduced into the accommodating body 810 may flow back into the water supply pump 881 may be blocked.
In addition, a large amount of water may be supplied to the steam nozzle 900 at a considerable pressure via the water supply pump 881. As a result, foreign substances, bacteria, or the like accumulated or growing in the steam nozzle 900 may be washed away by water supplied to the steam nozzle 900 and may go down into the accommodating body 810. Therefore, the steam nozzle 900 may always be maintained in a clean state.
In one example, when steam supplied from the steam nozzle 900 is condensed, condensed water may be re-introduced into the accommodating body 810 via the water supply pipe 884. That is, condensate generated from the steam nozzle 900 may be recovered into the accommodating body 810 in the same direction as a flow direction of water supplied from the water supply pump 881, and may be recycled as water that generates steam. Therefore, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may prevent a water level of the water supply tank 301 from rapidly decreasing and also prevent waste of water.
Because the iron module S receives steam via the heating part 800, a component that receives water or steam separately from the heating part 800 may be omitted.
That is, when water is supplied to the heating part 800 via one water supply tank 301 and one water supply pump 881, steam may be supplied to the steam iron 1300 and the inner casing 200 via the heating part 800. Accordingly, the refreshing module T and the iron module S may share the water supply tank 301 and the water supply pump 881. As a result, a structure of the machine room 300 may be simplified.
The steam nozzle 900 may include a supply container 910 that may receive steam from the accommodating body 810 or receive water from the water supply pump 881 and accommodate the same therein.
The supply container 910 may be formed in a casing shape having an internal space that may receive and accommodate therein water or steam.
The water supply pipe 884 may be connected to the supply container 910 at a location higher than a bottom surface of the supply container 910. For example, the water supply pipe 884 may be coupled to a side surface of the supply container 910. As a result, water supplied to the supply container 910 may be prevented from flowing back to the water supply pipe 884.
The water supply pipe 884 may be connected to the supply container 910 at a location higher than the recovery pipe 824. For example, the recovery pipe 824 may be disposed such that one end is coupled to the bottom surface of the supply container 910 and the other end is coupled to the heating part 800. As a result, water supplied to the water supply pipe 884 may be automatically introduced into the recovery pipe 824.
In addition, the recovery pipe 824 may be formed in a U-shape so as to accommodate a certain amount of water inside.
In one example, the recovery pipe 824 may be disposed adjacent to the water supply pipe 884. As a result, water supplied to the water supply pipe 884 may be quickly introduced into the accommodating body 810 without remaining in the supply container 910.
In one example, the guide pipe 1500 may have one end coupled to a lower portion of the supply container 910 and the other end coupled to an upper end of the accommodating body 810 or the casing cover 820. As a result, steam generated in the accommodating body 810 may be automatically supplied to the supply container 910 because of a density difference.
The guide pipe 1500 may be connected to a location on the supply container 910 higher than the recovery pipe 824. In addition, the guide pipe 1500 may be disposed further from the water supply pipe 884 than the recovery pipe 824.
As a result, water supplied to the supply container 910 may be supplied more to the recovery pipe 824 without flowing back to the guide pipe 1500.
The guide pipe 1500 may be coupled to the bottom surface of the supply container 910.
In the bottom surface of the supply container 910, a portion where the recovery pipe 824 is coupled may be lower and a portion where the guide pipe 1500 is coupled may be higher. To this end, the bottom surface of the supply container 910 may be formed with a step or may be inclined.
The steam nozzle 900 may further include a container cover 920 coupled to an upper portion of the supply container 910. The container cover 920 may include a steam spray hole 921 defined through an upper portion thereof. The steam spray hole 921 may be in communication with the inside of the inner casing 200.
The supply container 910 may be formed in a box shape with an open top, and the container cover 920 may shield the top of the supply container 910.
Steam supplied via the guide pipe 1500 may be discharged via the steam spray hole 921 and supplied into the inner casing 200.
The guide pipe 1500 may be disposed between the steam spray hole 921 and an inner surface of the supply container 910. The steam spray hole 921 may be disposed between the water supply pipe 884 and the steam pipe 823, and may be disposed between the recovery pipe 824 and the guide pipe 1500. As a result, steam that has not been discharged via the steam spray hole 921 and is condensed may not remain inside the supply container 910 and may be discharged via the recovery pipe 824.
The steam spray hole 921 may be disposed at a center based on a width direction of the container cover 920.
The container cover 920 may be coupled to the supply container 910 in a scheme such as hook coupling. As a result, a separate fastening member coupling the container cover 920 with the supply container 910 may be omitted.
In one example, the supply container 910 may have the open top, and thus, may be advantageous in installing various shapes or structures inside, and the container cover 920 may be advantageous in installing various structures at a lower portion.
Based on the steam spray hole 921, the water supply pipe 884 and the recovery pipe 824 are disposed on one side of the supply container 910, and the guide pipe 1500 is disposed on the other side of the supply container 910.
That is, the water supply pipe 884 and the recovery pipe 824 may be disposed adjacent to each other, and the guide pipe 1500 may be disposed further from the water supply pipe 884 than the recovery pipe 824.
Accordingly, water flowing to the water supply pipe 884 may be supplied to the supply container 910 along a direction I. Water supplied to the supply container 910 may be immediately discharged along a direction II to the recovery pipe 824 and supplied to the steam casing 810. Steam supplied from the steam pipe 823 may be supplied to the supply container 910 along a direction III and discharged to the steam spray hole 921, and condensed water may be discharged along the direction II to the recovery pipe 824 and re-supplied to the heating part 810.
In the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure, when the compressor 343 and the blower fan 353 are operated, air supplied from the outside of the cabinet 100 and air supplied from the inner casing 200 are cooled while passing through the evaporator 341, and water vapor contained in the air is condensed.
Water condensed in the evaporator 341 may accumulate on the bottom surface of the circulation duct 320.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a reservoir 326 defined as a portion of the bottom surface of the duct body 321 is recessed to collect condensate condensed in the evaporator 341.
The reservoir 326 is a space defined as the portion of the bottom surface of the duct body 321 is recessed, and is able to form one side surface of a controller installation portion 313.
The reservoir 326 may be defined to be recessed downward from the bottom surface of the circulation duct 320.
The reservoir 326 may be formed integrally with the circulation duct 320. The reservoir 326 may be formed by forming the portion of the bottom surface of the circulation duct 320 to be recessed while injection-molding the circulation duct 320 onto the base 310.
The reservoir 326 may have at least a portion of a top surface thereof disposed parallel to the heat exchanger installation portion 3212.
The base 310 may include a guide pipe 3263 that discharges water collected in the reservoir 326 to the outside.
The guide pipe 3263 may protrude from a lower portion of the reservoir 326 to the outside of the circulation duct 320. The guide pipe 3263 may discharge water stored in the reservoir to the outside of the base. This may prevent water collected in the reservoir 326 from decaying or flowing back to the bottom surface of the circulation duct 320.
The circulation duct 320 may include a partition wall 3211 that extends from an inner surface of the duct body 321. The partition wall 3211 may protrude inwardly from an inner wall of the circulation duct 320, or an outer wall of the circulation duct 320 may be recessed inward and protrude inward. The partition wall 3211 may guide a location where the heat exchanger 341 and 343 is installed, and may prevent air entering the heat exchanger from passing by bypassing the heat exchanger. The partition wall 3211 may be disposed in the reservoir 326.
The drainage tank 302 may be formed in a shape of a box that stores water.
The drainage tank 302 may include a supply hole for receiving water defined in a rear surface, and the supply hole may be defined closer to an upper end than to the bottom surface of the drainage tank 302.
The detachment portion 380 may include a load support 381 on which at least one of the drainage tank 302, the water supply tank 301, and the iron module S may be supported, and a detachment support 382 disposed on the load support 381 in front of the circulation duct 320 and on which the drainage tank 302 and the water supply tank 301 may be seated.
The load support 381 may be formed in a plate shape to support bottom surfaces of the water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302, and the detachment support 382 may also be formed in a plate shape to support rear surfaces of the water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302.
The detachment portion 380 may include a detachment separator 383 protruding from the load support 381 so as to be disposed between the water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302. The detachment separator 383 may separate the water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302 from each other by a predetermined spacing. As a result, when one of the water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302 is withdrawn, the other of the water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302 may be prevented from being withdrawn arbitrarily.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a drainage 330 that collects water condensed in the circulation duct 320 into the drainage tank 302.
The drainage 330 may include the drainage pump 331 that receives water from the guide pipe 3263 and a drainage hose 333 that receives water from the drainage pump 331 and guides water to the drainage tank 302.
The drainage 330 of the present disclosure may further include a discharge pipe 334 that allows the drainage hose 333 and the drainage tank 302 to be in communication with each other. The discharge pipe 334 may receive water from the drainage hose 333 and guide water into the drainage tank 302.
In one example, the discharge pipe 334 may be directly connected to the drainage hose 333 or may be formed integrally with the drainage hose 333.
However, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may install the discharge pipe 334 in the circulation duct 320 such that water may be continuously supplied even when a water level inside the drainage tank 302 reaches a full level, and the circulation duct 320 may be constructed to receive water flowing back from the discharge pipe 334 or the drainage tank 302 again therein.
As a result, the circulation duct 320 and the reservoir 326 may temporarily perform the role of the drainage tank 302 to expand a water storage capacity. As a result, water may be prevented from overflowing out of the drainage tank 302.
For example, the detachment portion 380 may include a detachment communication portion 384 that is defined to extend through the detachment support 382 so as to allow the drainage hose 333 and the drainage tank 302 to be in communication with each other.
The detachment communication portion 384 may be defined in an area facing the supply hole defined in the drainage tank when the drainage tank 302 is seated on the load support 381.
The discharge pipe 334 may extend from the circulation duct 320 or may extend from the detachment portion 380. The discharge pipe 334 may be formed as an injection-molded product. Accordingly, the discharge pipe 334 may stably fix a distal end of the drainage hose 333 and prevent the drainage hose 333 from being bent abruptly.
In addition, the discharge pipe 334 may be formed as an injection-molded product in a shape of a pipe fixed to the circulation duct 320 or the support 381, so that an installation location thereof may always be fixed. Accordingly, a distal end of the discharge pipe 334 and the supply hole defined in the drainage tank 302 are always positioned in correct locations, so that condensate supplied from the drainage pump 331 may be stably introduced into the drainage tank 302.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a backflow portion 335 that allows water contained inside the drainage tank 302 to flow back into the circulation duct 320 or the drainage 330.
The backflow portion 335 may be formed under the discharge pipe 334 and may allow the circulation duct 320 and the inside of the drainage tank 302 to be in communication with each other. The backflow portion 335 may receive water inside the drainage tank 302 and guide water into the circulation duct 320.
The circulation duct 320 may have the evaporator 341 and the condenser 342 disposed therein. In this regard, the evaporator 341 may be disposed in front of the condenser 342 in the circulation duct 320.
The backflow portion 335 may be defined in a front surface of the circulation duct 320. In this regard, when water introduced into the circulation duct 320 from the backflow portion 335 comes into contact with the evaporator 341 or the like, the evaporator 341 may be unnecessarily corroded or contaminated and an efficiency of the evaporator 341 in cooling air may decrease.
Therefore, to prevent water supplied from the backflow portion 335 from coming into contact with the evaporator 341 along air directed toward the evaporator 341, the evaporator 341 may be disposed closer to a rear side of the circulation duct 320 than the backflow portion 335.
The backflow portion 335 or the discharge pipe 334 may be exposed forward of the circulation duct 320 by extending through the detachment communication portion 384. When the drainage tank 302 is seated on the detachment support 382, a distal end of the backflow portion 335 or the discharge pipe 334 may be inserted into the drainage tank 302.
As a result, water discharged out of the circulation duct 320 via the drainage pump 331 may be collected in the drainage tank 302 along the drainage hose 333 and the discharge pipe 334.
When the water level of the drainage tank 302 reaches the discharge pipe 334 or the backflow portion 335, water overflowing out of the backflow portion 335 may be introduced into the circulation duct 320 again along the backflow portion 335 and be prevented from leaking out of the machine room 300.
A guide flow channel 338 may extend along a width direction of the front surface of the circulation duct 320. One end of the guide flow channel 338 may be disposed to be in communication with the backflow portion 335, and the other end thereof may be disposed above the reservoir 326.
In addition, the circulation duct 320 may further include a blocking wall 337 that guides water introduced from the backflow portion 335 to the guide flow channel 338.
The bottom surface 230 may introduce air inside the inner casing 200 into the circulation duct 320 via the inflow hole 232, and may receive air dehumidified and heated while passing through the circulation duct 320, via the exhaust hole 231. In addition, steam supplied from the heating part 800 may be received via the steam hole 233.
However, the bottom surface 230 except for the through-holes may block air, moisture, and foreign substances inside the inner casing 200 from flowing out into the machine room 300.
The detachment portion 380 may be disposed in a front side of the machine room 300 to prevent external air, moisture, and foreign substances from being introduced into the machine room 300.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may install the iron module S in the machine room 300. As a result, the iron module S may be prevented from being exposed to air, moisture, and the foreign substances inside the inner casing 200.
In addition, the machine room 300 may have the entire components disposed under the bottom surface 230, so that the machine room 300 may be disposed and installed independently of the inner casing 200. As a result, the machine room 300 may be manufactured as a module and installed in the cabinet 100.
The iron module S may be installed in the machine room 300 in a modular manner. Therefore, the iron module S may also be selectively installed in the machine room 300 without affecting the internal configurations of the machine room 300 and the cabinet 100.
Therefore, even when the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure is a product that does not have the iron module S, the iron module S may be installed in the machine room 300 in the future.
The iron module S may be disposed to one of both side surfaces of the machine room 300. The iron module S may minimize interference with existing components such as the circulation duct 320.
Furthermore, because the iron module S receives necessary steam via the heating part 800 and the water supply 880 installed in the refreshing module T, components for independently generating steam may be omitted.
For example, the iron module S may omit all of a separate water supply tank for storing water, a separate steam generator for heating water, and a separate drainage for draining condensed water. Therefore, the iron module S may include only the cable 1400 that may be connected to the heating part 800 to receive steam or transmit condensed water, the steam iron 1300 that is coupled to the cable 1400 to spray steam, the storage 1200 that may safely store the steam iron 1300 in the machine room, and the independent controller that may control the steam iron 1300, and other separate components may be omitted.
Therefore, the machine room 300 may omit a base structure for supporting the components of the iron module S on one side of the circulation duct 320.
Furthermore, because the steam iron 1300 and the like are disposed in the front portion of the machine room 300, the rear portion of the machine room 300 where the steam iron 1300 is disposed may be secured as an empty space without installing a separate component.
Therefore, installation and maintenance of the iron module S may be greatly facilitated.
Specifically, the iron module S may further include the storage 1200 that may store the steam iron 1300, which supplies at least one of heat and steam to the laundry, inside the machine room 300.
The storage 1200 may be defined as a housing that provides a space that may accommodate the steam iron 1300 therein.
The storage 1200 may include a drawer 1230 that is equipped of a drawer type that is extended forward from the machine room 300.
The drawer 1230 may be equipped to move in the front and rear direction in the detachment portion 380, and may be extended from the detachment portion 380.
The detachment portion 380 may include support ribs that support both side surfaces of the drawer 1230 in a through-hole, and the drawer 1230 may include rails that slide the support ribs on both side surfaces thereof.
The drawer 1230 may have an open top, so that the steam iron 1300 may be withdrawn therefrom or inserted thereinto and stored therein. Accordingly, when the storage 1200 is extended, the steam iron 1300 may be withdrawn from the top of the drawer 1230 and move to the surface of the laundry.
The machine room 300 may be constructed such that a front surface thereof is shielded, and may include the detachment portion 380 that may support the water supply tank 301 and the drainage tank 302.
The detachment portion 380 may have an area size corresponding to an area size of the front surface of the machine room 300, and when coupled with a frame disposed between the cabinet 100 and the inner casing 200, may block the interior of the machine room 300 from being exposed forward.
The detachment portion 380 may include the through-hole that extends through the detachment support 382 and allows the drawer 1230 or the steam iron 1300 and the cable 1400 to be withdrawn or inserted. The through-hole may be defined on one side of an area where the water supply tank 301 is seated.
The drawer 1230 may be inserted or a periphery of the drawer 1230 may be supported via the through-hole, so that the drawer 1230 may be fixed to the machine room 300.
As a result, the iron module S may separate the detachment portion 380 from the machine room 300 and then install the drawer 1230 containing the steam iron 1300 and the cable 1400 therein into the machine room from a location in front of the machine room.
Thereafter, the installation may be completed by connecting the cable 1400 to the heating part 800 in the rear portion of the machine room 300 and connecting the same to the main controller 700.
In addition, the detachment portion 380 may be re-installed on the front surface of the machine room 300, and may also be disposed to insert the storage 1200 into the through-hole or allow the storage 1200 to pass through the through-hole.
As a result, because a space on one side of the circulation duct 320 is secured as an empty space from the front portion to the rear portion of the machine room, the installation or maintenance and repair of the iron module S may be made easy.
The iron module S may be installed independently of and separately from the refreshing module T, but may be in communication with the heating part 800 disposed in the machine room 300. As a result, the iron module S may receive steam generated from water stored in the water supply tank 301.
Accordingly, the iron module S being connected to a separate water source or placing an additional water supply tank may be omitted.
In addition, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may supply steam to both the inside of the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300 via the single water supply tank 301.
Water stored in the water supply tank 301 may be supplied to the heating part 800 via the connection pipe 883 by passing through the water supply pump 881 via the supply pipe 882 when the water supply pump 881 is operated.
When the connection pipe 883 is connected to the steam nozzle 900, water may be supplied to the heating part 800 via the steam nozzle 900.
When water supplied to the heating part 800 is heated, steam may be generated, and the steam may be discharged via the outlet 823.
The valve assembly 890 may selectively open the outlet 823, selectively open the branch pipe 825, or selectively open the guide pipe 1500 and the cable 1400 to selectively move the steam from the heating part 800 to the outside.
When the valve assembly 890 opens the guide pipe 1500, steam that has passed through the guide pipe 1500 may be discharged to the steam hole of the inner casing 200, or, when the steam nozzle 900 is disposed, may be discharged to the steam hole via the steam nozzle 900.
When the valve assembly 890 opens the cable 1400, steam that has passed through the cable 1400 may flow to the steam iron 1300 and be discharged.
In one example, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may control only one of the refreshing module T and the iron module S to operate. This is not only because the iron module S is unable to operate when the door is closed, but also to prevent excessive power consumption.
When at least one of the closing of the door and the operation of the refreshing module T occurs, the second valve 892 may be controlled to close the cable 1400 such that steam is not supplied to the cable 1400.
When at least one of the opening of the door and termination of the operation of the refreshing module T occurs, the first valve 891 may be controlled to close the guide pipe 1500 such that steam is not supplied to the guide pipe 1500.
The circulation duct 320 may further include an inlet pipe 3264 that guides water discharged from the drainage structure 2600 to the reservoir 326.
A direction in which the inlet pipe 3264 is directed and a direction in which the guide pipe 3263 is directed may be different from each other.
For example, the guide pipe 3263 may be formed on the front surface of the circulation duct 320, and the inlet pipe 3264 may be formed on a left side surface or a right side surface of the circulation duct 320.
The inlet pipe 3264 may be disposed in an area corresponding to a side surface of the reservoir 326 in the side surface of the circulation duct 320.
The inlet pipe 3264 may allow the inside of the reservoir 326 and the outside of the circulation duct 320 to be in communication with each other, and may protrude outward from the side surface of the circulation duct 320.
The inlet pipe 3264 may be installed at a vertical level higher than that of a bottom surface of the reservoir 326 or the guide pipe 3263.
When the drainage structure 2600 discharges water to the inlet pipe 3264, water may be collected in the reservoir 326 and discharged via the guide pipe 3263 to be in communication with the drainage 330.
Therefore, a separate drainage tank for the iron module S may be omitted.
The iron module S may be installed independently of and separately from the structure of the machine room 300, but may be in communication with the drainage 330 of the refreshing module T via the heating part 800 and the circulation duct 320.
As a result, the iron module S may discharge residual water into the drainage tank 302. Therefore, a structure in which the iron module S includes an additional drainage tank 302 or is connected to a separate sewer may be omitted.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may recover steam that is condensed without being discharged from the iron module S or water accumulated in the guide pipe 1500 to the heating part 800 via the cable 1400.
Water recovered in the heating part 800 may flow into the circulation duct 320 via the drainage pipe. As a result, water recovered in the heating part 800 and residual water collected in the circulation duct 320 may be collected in the drainage tank 302 via the drainage.
The main controller 700 may be connected to the external power source and supplied with the power.
The main controller 700 may not only supply the power to the refreshing module T, such as the heat supply part 340, the heating part 800, the water supply 880, the drainage 330, and the blower 350, but also supply the power to all of the electrical components of the laundry treating apparatus 1.
In one example, in the iron module S, the power should also be supplied to the steam iron 1300.
To this end, the main controller 700 may also supply the power to the iron module S.
In addition, the steam iron 1300 needs to have a spray amount of steam, a pressure of steam, and a temperature of steam adjusted by user's manipulation.
In this case, when the main controller 700 is constructed to supply the power to the iron module S or control the iron module S, there is a concern that a size of the main controller 700 may become greater than an area size of the circulation duct 320, and there is a concern that the main controller 700 may not be compatible with a laundry treating apparatus that does not have the iron module S.
Accordingly, the iron module S may further include an independent controller 4000 that may supply the power to the steam iron 1300 or may control the steam iron 1300.
In one example, the steam iron 1300 may be equipped as a component separate from the independent controller 4000.
When the independent controller 4000 is disposed inside the steam iron 1300, the steam iron 1300 may become too large for the user to grip, and a weight of the steam iron 1300 may also make it impossible for the user to grip the steam iron 1300.
Therefore, the iron module S of the present disclosure may not install the independent controller 4000 in the steam iron 1300, but install the independent controller 4000 inside the storage 1200.
As a result, the steam iron 1300 may be equipped with a simple configuration that only includes an ON/OFF switch, a steam spray switch, and the like.
The independent controller 4000 may not be directly connected to the external power source, but may be connected to the main controller 700 via a wire so as to receive the necessary power from the main controller 700. In this case, the main controller 700 may perform a role of an external power source for the iron module S.
Therefore, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a control line L1 that electrically connects the independent controller 4000 with the main controller 700.
The independent controller 4000 may receive the power via the control line L1.
In addition, the independent controller 4000 may be connected to the main controller 700 via a communication line to receive various types of information from the main controller 700.
The communication line may be disposed separately from the control line L1, but may extend together with the control line L1. For example, the communication line and the control line L1 may be disposed independently of each other, but may be built into a single rubber hose-like connecting line L2 and guided to the independent controller 4000.
As a result, a possibility of the wires connecting the independent controller 4000 with the main controller 700 inside the machine room 300 being arranged in a complex manner or tangled with each other is eliminated, so that assembly/repair may be facilitated.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a base module 3000 that seats the independent controller 4000 and the storage 1200 in the machine room. In this case, the independent controller 4000 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the storage 1200, and may prevent heat generated from the independent controller 4000 from being transferred to the steam iron 1300 or prevent heat generated from the steam iron 1300 or the cable 1400 from being transferred to the independent controller 4000 as much as possible.
The independent controller 4000 may receive information on whether the door 120 has closed the opening 210 and information on whether the refreshing module T is operating, which may be recognized by the main controller 700, via the control line L1, and, and control the iron module S.
The iron module S may be operated regardless of a control state of the refreshing module T because of the independent controller 4000. However, the iron module S is constructed to operate only when the door 120 is opened, and the heat supply part 340 and the heating part 800 should be controlled to operate on the premise that the door 120 is not opened. To this end, the independent controller 4000 is constructed to receive the power from the main controller 700 via the control line L1 and be in communication with the main controller 700 at the same time, so as to recognize the opening state of the door 120 and the operating states of the heat supply part 340 and the heating part 800 to control the iron module S.
In one example, the steam iron 1300 may further include the control line L1 built into the cable 1400 and connected to the independent controller 4000 or the main controller 700. The steam iron 1300 may be supplied with the power from the independent controller 4000 via the control line L1, and may also be controlled via the independent controller 4000.
The steam iron 1300 may additionally include an independent heater that may further heat and spray steam inside a head (a distal end) thereof. Because the heater is equipped separately from the independent controller 4000, a volume thereof may be reduced, and the steam iron 1300 may be maintained in a compact size.
The independent controller 4000 may be coupled to and fixed to the storage 1200. For example, the storage 1200 may be coupled to a rear surface of the independent controller 4000.
Alternatively, the independent controller 4000 may be equipped integrally with the storage 1200 and built into the storage 1200.
In this case, the iron module S may omit additional placement of a separate base module.
The independent controller 4000 may receive the power or a control signal from the main controller 700 via the wire L2.
The independent controller 4000 may transmit one or more of the power and the control signal transmitted from the main controller 700 to the steam iron 1300 via a control line L3.
The steam iron 1300 may receive water from the heating part 800 via the cable 1400. In this regard, the steam iron 1300 may be connected to the cable 1400 supplied from the heating part 800 and the control line L3 by separately placing an additional cable 1410.
For example, the additional cable 1410 may be equipped as a separate cable that accommodates the cable 1400 and the control line L3 therein.
To this end, the storage 1200 may further include a connector 1230 on a rear surface thereof to which both the cable 1400 and the control line L3 may be coupled and connected.
Accordingly, the cable 1400 may extend from the heating part 800 to the connector 1230, and the control line L3 may extend from the independent controller 4000 to the connector 1230.
The additional cable 1410 to be described below may have one end coupled to the connector 1230 on an inner surface of the storage 1200 and the other end connected to the steam iron 1300, thereby connecting the cable 1400 and the control line L3 to the steam iron 1300.
The additional cable 1410 may be equipped as a component separate from the cable 1400 and the control line L3. In this case, the additional cable 1410 may include therein a transport tube connected to the cable 1400 and an additional line connected to the control line L3.
As a result, the cable 1400 and the control line L3 may be detachably coupled to the rear surface of the storage 1200, and the additional cable 1410 may be detachably coupled to an inner front surface of the storage 1200. As a result, it may be easy to install the iron module S in the machine room 300, and it may also be easy to connect the steam iron 1300 to the independent controller 4000 and the heating part 800.
The storage 1200 of the present disclosure may include the storage body 1210 that stores the steam iron 1300 inside the machine room, and a cover door 1130 that is pivotably disposed in front of the storage body 1210 or on the detachment portion 380 to shield the inside of the storage body 1210.
The storage 1200 may include the open surface 1220 defined in the front surface of the storage body 1210 and through which the steam iron 1300 may be withdrawn.
The cover door 1130 may expose the steam iron 1300 accommodated in the storage body 1210 via simple pivoting. As a result, a component such as the drawer for withdrawing the steam iron 1300 forward from the storage 1200 may be omitted.
The cover door 1130 may have an area size to shield the open surface 1220 or the through-hole of the detachment portion 380. When the cover door 1130 shields the open surface 1220 or the through-hole, the cover door 1130 may be disposed parallel to the water supply tank 301.
The cover door 1130 may have a lower end pivotably disposed on the detachment portion 380 and an upper end constructed to be movable away from the storage 1200.
Accordingly, when the door 120 is closed, the cover door 1130 may automatically close the open surface 1220 of the storage.
The storage 1200 may further include an iron seating portion 1190 that supports the steam iron 1300 at a lower portion of the storage 1200. The iron seating portion 1190 may be constructed such that the head of the steam iron 1300 is detachable therefrom.
The iron seating portion 1190 may include a seating body 1191 mounted on the storage body 1210, and a seating groove 1192 recessed into a top surface of the seating body 1191 to allow the head of the steam iron 1300 to be mounted therein.
The iron seating portion 1190 may be accommodated in the storage body 1210 without being withdrawn via the open surface 1220.
The storage body 1210 may include a first body 1211 mounted on a support panel 3200 and a second body 1212 coupled to a top of the first body 1211 to provide a space for storing the steam iron 1300 therein.
A front portion of the first body 1211 may form a lower portion of the open surface 1220, and a front portion of the second body 1212 may form an upper portion of the open surface 1220.
The iron seating portion 1190 that supports the steam iron 1300 may be installed inside the storage body 1210.
The support panel 3200 may further include a hinge 3400 to which the cover door 1130 is pivotably coupled at the front.
The hinge 3400 may be disposed forward of the iron seating portion 1190 and the open surface 1220.
The hinge 3400 may ascend to a vertical level at which a lower end of the cover door 1130 may be disposed at a bottom of the through-hole 385. Accordingly, the cover door 1130 may selectively shield or open the through-hole 385.
The cover door 1130 may open the through-hole 385 to expose the open surface 1220 and the steam iron 1300.
The cover door 1130 may close the through-hole 385 to block the open surface 1220 and the steam iron 1300 from being exposed to the outside.
Referring to
In addition, the steam iron 1300 may be withdrawn and spray steam onto the surface of the laundry, then be inserted into the through-hole 385 again and be inserted into the open surface 1220 to be mounted on the iron seating portion 1190 starting from a head 1310.
The cable 1400 may be connected at one end to the heating part 800 and at the other end to the connector 1230 to move steam.
In one example, the control line L3 may be connected from the independent controller 4000 to the connector 1230 to transmit one or more of the power and the control signal transmitted from the independent controller 4000 or the main controller 700 into the storage 1200.
The additional cable 1410 may allow all of steam, the power, and the control signal supplied from the cable 1400 and the control line L3 to move, and may have one end connected to the connector 1230 and the other end connected to the steam iron 1300.
The additional cable 1410 may be detachable from the connector 1230.
Referring to
Referring to
In addition, at least a portion of the cable 1400 may be supported on the rear surface of the cover door 1130.
Therefore, the user may easily insert the steam iron 1300 and the cable 1400 into the through-hole 385, and it may be sufficient for the storage body 1210 to provide a space that accommodates therein only a portion of the steam iron 1300 and a portion of the cable 1400 as long as it accommodates the iron cover 1350 therein.
In other words, the space between the open surface 1220 and the through-hole 385 may be utilized as a space that accommodates the steam iron 1300 and the cable 1400 therein.
Therefore, overall length and volume of the iron module S may be reduced.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may heat the single heating part 800 to supply steam to both the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300.
In addition, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may determine whether to supply steam to the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300 via the valve assembly 890 even when steam is generated in the heating part 800.
To this end, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a mode check step A1 of checking whether a command for operating the iron module S is input or whether the iron module S is activated, or whether a command for operating the refreshing module T is input or whether the refreshing module T is activated.
The mode check step A1 may correspond to sensing via an operation command input to the main controller 700 or the independent controller 4000.
Alternatively, the mode check step A1 may perform the determination via whether the door 120 is opened or closed. That is, this is because only the iron module S may be activated when the door 120 is opened, and the iron module S may not be able to be activated when the door 120 is closed.
When it is determined in the mode check step A1 that the refreshing module T is operating, a first opening step A2-1 of opening the first valve 891 may be performed.
In this case, the second valve 892 may be closed to prevent steam from flowing arbitrarily to the steam iron 1300.
When the heating part 800 is equipped to immediately provide steam to the inner casing 200 when steam is generated and only steam with a pressure corresponding to the atmospheric pressure is provided to the inner casing 200, the first valve 891 will be maintained in an open state from the beginning, so that the first opening step A2-1 may correspond to maintaining of the open state of the first valve 891.
In the first opening step A2-1, simple operation A3-1 of simply operating the heating part 800 until water is converted into steam may be included. That is, the heating part 800 may simply heat water until steam may be generated.
When steam is generated, the heating part 800 may perform a steam spray step A6 of naturally spraying steam to the inner casing 200 along the guide pipe 1500 via the first valve 891.
When it is determined in the mode check step A1 that the iron module S is operating, a first closing step A2-2 of closing the second valve 892 may be performed. In this case, the first valve 891 may also be closed, thereby preventing steam from arbitrarily flowing to the inner casing 200.
The heating part 800 may perform a high-pressure operation step A3-2 of heating steam until the pressure of steam reaches the atmospheric pressure or higher. The pressure sensor 860 may perform a pressure sensing step A4 of sensing that the pressure inside the heating part 800 corresponds to the set value, and the heating part 800 may maintain the high-pressure operation step A3-2 until the pressure corresponds to the set value.
In the pressure sensing step A4, when the pressure inside the heating part 800 reaches the set value, a second opening step A5 of opening the second valve 892 may be performed.
In the second opening step A5, the first valve 891 may be kept closed. As a result, the steam spray step A6 of spraying steam generated in the heating part 800 only to the steam iron 1300 may be performed.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a plurality of valve assemblies 890, regardless of whether the outlet 823 of the heating part 800 is equipped as a single unit and branches to the steam iron 1300 and the inner casing 200 via the branch pipe 825 or whether the outlet 823 includes a plurality of outlets respectively allowing the steam iron 1300 and the inner casing 200 to be connected to the heating part 800.
The first valve 891 may open and close the guide pipe 1500 that supplies steam from the heating part 800 to the inner casing 200, and the second valve 892 may open and close the cable 1400 that supplies steam from the heating part 800 to the steam iron 1300.
In one example, the inner casing 200 and the steam iron 1300 may be physically supplied with steam at the same time.
However, because the refreshing cycle is performed when the door 120 closes the accommodating space 220 of the inner casing, it is preferable that steam is supplied to the inner casing 200 only when the door 120 closes the cabinet 100.
In addition, because the steam iron 1300 is assumed to be withdrawn from the machine room 300, it is preferable that steam is supplied only when the door 120 opens the cabinet 100.
Therefore, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may control the valve assembly 890 such that only one of the guide pipe 1500 and the cable 1400 is opened.
In addition, because the steam iron 1300 directly sprays steam and heat onto the surface of the laundry in an open space to remove the wrinkles from the laundry, and the inner casing 200 humidifies the laundry with steam in a closed space, it may be preferable that the pressure of steam supplied to the steam iron 1300 is set to be higher than the pressure of steam supplied into the inner casing 200, and it may also be advantageous for the pressure of steam supplied into the inner casing 200 to be higher than the atmospheric pressure.
As a result, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may set the control of the first valve 891 and the second valve 892 differently depending on whether the steam iron 1300 and the heat supply part 340 are in operation, whether the door is open, and the pressure state of steam generated in the heating part 800.
For example, before the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure receives the power, or before the refreshing cycle or the steam iron starts operating even when the power is supplied, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a closing step S1 of controlling the valve assembly 890 to close all of steam-related flow channels.
In the closing step S1, the first valve 891 may be controlled to close the guide pipe 1500, and the second valve 892 may be controlled to close the cable 1400.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a heating step S2 of operating the heating part 800 to boil water and generate steam when the refreshing cycle starts or a command to operate the steam iron is input.
The heating step S2 may be performed while the closing step S1 is performed. Therefore, in the heating step S2, water other than steam may be prevented from being supplied to the guide pipe 1500 and the cable 1400, and even when steam is generated in the heating step S2, steam may be prevented from being supplied to the guide pipe 1500 and the cable 1400 arbitrarily.
The heating step S2 may be continuously operated until steam is generated in the heating part 800. The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a sensing step S3 of sensing whether steam is generated in the heating part 800. The sensing step S3 may include identifying whether steam is generated via the temperature sensor or the pressure sensor 2300 coupled to the heating part 800.
When it is sensed that steam is generated in the heating part 800, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may first determine at least one of whether the door 120 is opened and whether a pressure of generated steam has reached a target value.
For example, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may maintain the second valve 892 in the closed state when the door is closed, and may maintain the first valve 891 in the closed state when the door is open.
In addition, even when the door is closed, when the pressure of steam does not reach the reference value, the first valve 891 may be maintained in the closed state, and even when the pressure of steam reaches a reference value, the first valve 891 may be opened only when a current step corresponds to the steam spray step in the refreshing cycle.
In addition, even when the door is open, when the pressure of steam does not reach the set value higher than the reference value, the second valve 892 may be maintained in the closed state, and even when the pressure of steam reaches the set value, the second valve 892 may be opened only when a spray button or the like is pressed on the steam iron 1300.
For example, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a determining step S4 of determining whether the door is open in the sensing step S3 or the operating step S2.
When it is sensed in the determining step S4 that the door is open, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a high-pressure determining step S5-1 of determining whether the pressure of the heating part 800 has reached the set value (or a maximum value) while keeping the first valve 891 closed in any case.
In this case, the operating step S2 of the heating part 800 may be continued until the pressure of steam reaches the set value.
In the high-pressure determining step S5-1, when the pressure of steam reaches the set value, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a spray step S6-1 of opening the second valve 892. In the spray step S6-1, steam may be sprayed at a high pressure to the steam iron 1300 and the first valve 891 may still be maintained in the closed state.
When it is sensed in the determining step S4 that the door is closed, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a target determining step S5-2 of determining whether the pressure of the heating part 800 has reached the reference value (the target value) while keeping the second valve 892 closed in any case.
In this case, the operating step S2 of the heating part 800 may be continued until the pressure of steam reaches the reference value.
In the target determining step S5-2, when the pressure of steam reaches the reference value, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a supply step S6-2 of opening the first valve 891. In the supply step S6-2, steam may be sprayed into the inner casing 200, and the second valve 892 may still be maintained in the closed state.
The reference value may be set higher than the atmospheric pressure, and may be set to be higher than 1 atm and lower than 2 atm.
The set value may be set to be equal to or higher than 2 atm and lower than 4 atm as described above.
In addition, whether the door is closed may be determined by a reed switch, a magnet, and the like disposed in the door 120 and the cabinet 100.
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 elements of the claims of the present disclosure, it should be considered to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2023-0172690 | Dec 2023 | KR | national |
| 10-2024-0095810 | Jul 2024 | KR | national |
| 10-2024-0095811 | Jul 2024 | KR | national |
