LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS

Abstract

Provided is a laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet having an inlet disposed in a front surface thereof, a tub having a tub inlet which is facing the inlet of the cabinet, wherein the tub is configured to accommodate water therein, a drum disposed in the tub, and configured to accommodate laundry therein, a driver including a rotation shaft coupled to a rear portion of the tub and configured to rotate the drum and a spider configured to couple the rotation shaft to the drum. Additionally, the laundry treatment apparatus may further include an induction module coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the tub that is configured to form a magnetic field for heating the drum. Further, the spider may include a central portion protruding inside of the drum, and an end portion that extends from the central portion toward a drum outer circumferential surface.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, laundry treating apparatuses may include a washing machine for washing laundry, a dryer for drying the laundry, and a refresher for refreshing the laundry.

In the laundry treating apparatus, the washing refers to a process of removing contaminants from clothes by adding water and detergent and using a mechanical action, and the drying refers to a process of removing moisture contained in wet laundry.

A conventional laundry treating apparatus is configured to heat the laundry or water in order to increase a washing efficiency or dry the laundry.

In a laundry treating apparatus of the related art, a heater is directly inserted into a tub configured to accommodate water therein so as to heat water. Additionally, laundry or water can be heated by supplying hot air into a drum which includes the laundry therein.

However, because heating water with the heater must satisfy an essential condition that the heater must always be submerged in water, there is a fundamental limitation that the laundry is not able to be heated when there is no water.

In addition, supplying the hot air to the drum has a problem in that a configuration is complicated because a duct through which the hot air is circulated or supplied requires a heat pump system that separately heats the air in the duct. Additionally, there is a problem that the laundry or water is not able to be heated with the hot air when water is contained inside the drum.

In order to solve such problem, recently, a laundry treating apparatus that directly heats a drum made of metal via an induced current has appeared (see Korean Patent Publication Application No. 10-2019-0016866).

FIG. 1 shows a related art laundry treating apparatus that directly heats a drum via an induced current. Referring to FIG. 1(a), the laundry treating apparatus may include a tub T for accommodating a drum made of metal therein, and an induction module I coupled to the tub so as to generate an induced current in the drum. The induction module I may generate an induced magnetic field so as to generate an eddy current in the drum, and heat the drum itself while the eddy current generated in the drum is converted into thermal energy.

Accordingly, the related art laundry treating apparatus is able to dry the laundry or heat water by heating the drum as needed, regardless of whether the drum is submerged in water or not.

The induction module I may be coupled to and fixed to the tub T, and may be coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the tub T so as to prevent a collision with the drum. Because the tub T is made of a plastic material, the magnetic field generated by the induction module I may be transmitted to the drum as it is.

In one example, the larger the induction module I is, the larger the area of contact with the drum, so that a heating performance of the drum may be increased. However, because the induction module I is a component that generates an electromagnetic field, when the induction module I becomes excessively large, there is a problem that other components made of the metal may be heated or may be applied with the electromagnetic field and may be damaged through the generated heat.

In addition, the induction module I is configured to heat the drum accommodated in the tub T, and a length of the drum accommodated in the tub T is smaller than a length of the tub T, so that a length of the induction module I in a front and rear direction may be smaller than a total length of the tub T. In addition, because the drum rotates inside the tub T, a circumferential width of the induction module I may be smaller than a diameter of the drum.

However, the related art laundry treating apparatus has a problem in that the length and the width of the induction module I are too small compared to the total length of the tub T, so that the drum is not able to be effectively heated.

In particular, in the related art laundry treating apparatus, the induction module I is disposed so as to face only a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the drum, so that the entire drum is not able to be evenly heated. Rather, only a portion of the drum adjacent to the induction module I is able to be heated. Therefore, heat is not uniformly distributed across the drum. Therefore, designing the induction module I with optimal length and width can solve the above-described problem.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The present disclosure provides a size of an induction module that may improve performance of drying laundry or increasing a temperature of water by heating a drum made of metal accommodated in a tub for storing water.

Additionally, the present disclosure provides a size of an induction module that may prevent interference with other components of the laundry treating apparatus while improving performance of drying laundry or increasing a temperature of water by heating a drum made of metal accommodated in a tub for storing water.

Further, the present disclosure provides a maximum length of an induction module capable of heating the drum while blocking other components from being heated or blocking application of an electromagnetic field.

In addition, the present disclosure provides a length of an induction module capable of heating only components of the drum necessary for heating laundry or water accommodated in the drum.

Technical Solution

The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus in which the induction module has a length smaller than a length in a front and rear direction of a tub capable of accommodating water and a drum therein. Specifically, a front end of the induction module may be disposed to be rearwardly spaced apart from a front surface of the tub, and a rear surface of the rub. The present disclosure provides a size of an induction module that may improve performance of drying laundry or increase a temperature of water by heating a drum made of metal accommodated in a tub for storing water.

The present disclosure provides a size of an induction module that may prevent interference with other components while improving performance of drying laundry or increasing a temperature of water by heating a drum made of metal accommodated in a tub for storing water.

The present disclosure provides a maximum length of an induction module capable of heating the drum while blocking other components from being heated or blocking application of an electromagnetic field.

The present disclosure provides a length of an induction module capable of heating only components of the drum necessary for heating laundry or water accommodated in the drum.

In addition, the present disclosure may provide that an end of the induction module may be disposed to be forwardly spaced apart from a rear surface of the tub.

In one example, in the present disclosure, the induction module may be disposed to be rearwardly spaced apart from a front surface of the drum. For example, the front end of the induction module may be disposed to be rearwardly spaced apart from the front surface of the drum, and the rear end of the induction module may be disposed to be forwardly spaced apart from a rear surface of the drum. As a result, even when the induction module has a maximum length, the length of the induction module may be smaller than lengths of the tub and the drum.

In one example, the induction module may be disposed in a region corresponding to an outer circumferential surface of the drum so as to prevent other components disposed ahead of and at the rear of the outer circumferential surface of the drum from being heated, thereby potentially damaging the other components. Specifically, the induction module may be disposed forwardly of a spider to which a rotation shaft for rotating the drum at the rear of the drum is coupled. In addition, the induction module may be disposed rearwardly of a balancer disposed in front of the drum and attenuating vibration.

As a result, the induction module may be spaced apart from front and rear ends of the drum by a predetermined length. For example, the induction module may be spaced apart from the front end of the drum by about 10 mm to 40 mm, and may be spaced apart from the rear end of the drum by about 10 mm to 40 mm.

Further, a front end of the induction module may be disposed rearwardly of the balancer. The induction module may be disposed rearwardly of a drum front portion and may be disposed rearwardly of a portion where the drum front portion and the drum outer circumferential surface are coupled to each other.

The spider may include a central portion protruding inwardly of the drum, wherein the rotation shaft extends to the central portion, and a fixing portion extending from the central portion toward an outer circumferential surface of the drum and coupled to a rear surface of the drum.

Additionally, the induction module may be disposed forwardly of the fixing portion. In one example, at least a portion of the induction module may be able to be disposed to overlap with the central portion. This is because the central portion is not affected because the central portion is spaced apart from the induction module by a distance equal to or greater than a heating distance.

At least a portion of the induction module may be able to be disposed to overlap with the central portion. A rear end of the induction module may be able to be disposed between a front surface of the central portion and a front surface of the fixing portion.

The induction module may be disposed to be spaced apart from a front end of the tub so as to be spaced apart from the input panel by a safety distance, and the induction module may be disposed to be spaced apart from a rear end of the tub so as to be spaced apart from the water supply valve by an interference distance, thereby ensuring that the input panel and the water supply valve are not overheated by the induction module.

In one example, the induction module may have a length smaller than the aforementioned maximum length. However, depending on a heating efficiency of the drum and the required number of windings of the coil, the length may be greater than 65/100 of the length of the drum outer circumferential surface.

Additionally, the tub may have a plurality of coupling portions for induction modules of various lengths to be all installed such that the induction modules of the various lengths may be installed on the tub.

For example, the tub of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a first coupling portion capable of being coupled to an induction module having a first length, and a second coupling portion capable of being coupled to an induction module having a second length greater than the first length. The second coupling portion may be disposed spaced apart from the first coupling portion in at least one of a forward direction and a rearward direction. As a result, a length in a front and rear direction of the induction module may be set to be in a range from 65/100 of a total length of an outer circumferential surface of the drum to 99/100 of the total length of the outer circumferential surface of the drum.

The induction module may extend from a center of the outer circumferential surface of the drum forward and rearward by an equal distance.

Advantageous Effects

The present disclosure may improve performance of drying the laundry or increasing the temperature of water by heating the drum made of the metal accommodated in the tub for storing water.

In addition, the present disclosure may prevent the interference with other components while improving performance of drying the laundry or increasing the temperature of water by heating the drum made of the metal accommodated in the tub for storing water.

Further, the present disclosure may heat the drum while blocking other components from being heated or blocking the application of the electromagnetic field.

Additionally, the present disclosure may heat only the components of the drum necessary for heating the laundry or water accommodated in the drum.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an induction arrangement of a related art laundry treating apparatus.

FIG. 2 shows a structure of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows an induction module of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a base structure of an induction module according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a structure in which a coil is wound in an induction module according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a structure configured to install magnets in an induction module according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a coil structure of an induction module according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows a region in which an induction module may be installed in a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of an induction module of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 shows a minimum shape of an induction module of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows a tub structure in which induction modules of different sizes may be installed according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Herein, the same or similar reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar components even in different embodiments, and a description of the same or similar components is replaced with the first description. Singular expressions used herein include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, in describing the embodiment disclosed herein, when it is determined that detailed descriptions of related known technologies may obscure the gist of the embodiment disclosed herein, the detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. In addition, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiment disclosed herein, and do not limit the technical idea disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure.

A laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include a cabinet 10 that forms an outer appearance of the apparatus, a tub 20 disposed inside the cabinet, and a drum 30 that is rotatably accommodated inside and the tub 20. The drum 30 may be configured to accommodate laundry (or an object-to-be-dried or an object-to-be-refreshed) therein.

The cabinet 10 may include an inlet 17 defined in a front surface of the cabinet 10 and through which the laundry (or the object-to-be-dried or the object-to-be-refreshed) is inserted into or withdrawn from. The cabinet 10 may include a door 16 pivotably mounted on the cabinet so as to open and close the inlet 17.

The door 16 may include an annular door frame 161 and a viewing window 162 disposed at a central portion of the door frame. The tub 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis parallel to or maintaining an angle of approximately 0 to 30° with a bottom surface of the cabinet so as to define a space in which water may be stored. Additionally, the tub 20 may include a tub inlet 27 defined in a front surface thereof which communicates with the inlet 17.

The tub 20 may be supported by a support 70 and fixed inside the cabinet 10. Additionally, the support 70 may include a damper 71 for supporting a bottom surface of the tub 20 and a spring 72 for supporting a top surface of the tub 20. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the tub 20 can include a plurality of springs 72 on any of the side surfaces, or a plurality of dampers 71 on any of the side surfaces. Accordingly, vibration transmitted to the tub 20 by rotation of the drum 30 may be attenuated via the damper 71 and the spring 72.

The drum 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis parallel to or maintaining an angle of approximately 0 to 30° with the bottom surface of the cabinet configured to accommodate the laundry (or the object-to-be-dried or the object-to-be-refreshed) therein, and has a drum inlet 31 defined in a front surface thereof so as to be in communication with the tub inlet 27.

Therefore, a user may put the laundry (or the object-to-be-dried or the object-to-be-refreshed) into an inner space of the drum 30 via the inlet 17, the tub inlet 27, and the drum inlet 31, or withdraw the laundry (or the object-to-be-dried or the object-to-be-refreshed) from the inner space of the drum 30.

In addition, the drum 30 may include a drum outer circumferential surface 32 for accommodating the laundry therein and a drum rear surface 33 disposed at the rear of the drum and coupled to a driver 40. The drum outer circumferential surface 32 includes multiple through-holes 321 defined therein. This is to allow water stored in the tub 20 to flow into the drum as well as to allow water discharged from the laundry (or the object-to-be-dried or the object-to-be-refreshed) to be discharged to an inner space of the tub 20.

A lifter 34 for stirring the laundry (or the object-to-be-dried or the object-to-be-refreshed) when the drum rotates may be further disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum 30.

In addition, the drum 30 may further include a balancer 35 coupled to the drum outer circumferential surface 32 from the front so as to compensate for eccentricity inside the drum 30. A plurality of balls or fluid having a mass configured to compensate for the eccentricity may be accommodated inside the balancer 35.

The laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include the driver 40 for rotating the drum 30. The driver 40 may be coupled to the tub 20 so as to rotate the drum 30. The driver 40 may be include a stator 41 fixed to a rear surface of the tub 20 so as to generate a rotating magnetic field, a rotor 42 that rotates by an electromagnetic action with the stator, and a rotation shaft 43 that extends through the rear surface of the tub 20 and connects the drum rear surface 33 and the rotor 42 to each other. In addition, the driver 40 may further include a spider 44 coupled to the drum rear surface 33 so as to rotate the drum 30.

The spider 44 may be configured to surround one end of the rotation shaft 43, and one surface thereof may be coupled to the drum rear surface 33 and may be coupled to the rotor 42 via the rotation shaft 43.

Further, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may further include water supply means 50 for receiving water from an outside of the laundry treating apparatus 1.

The water supply means 50 may include a water supply valve 51 coupled to the cabinet 10 and in communication with an external water supply source, a water supply pipe 52 extending from the water supply valve 51 and configured to receive water, a detergent box 53 configured to receive water from the water supply pipe 52 and store detergent therein, and a supply pipe 54 that supplies at least one of water and detergent to the tub 20 by connecting the detergent box 53 and the tub 20 to each other.

The detergent contained in the detergent box 53 may be diluted with water introduced from the water supply pipe 52 and supplied to the tub 20 via the supply pipe 52. The detergent box 53 may include a housing fixed in a space between the top surface of the tub 20 and the cabinet 10, and a detergent accommodating portion configured to extend in a forward direction from and retracted into the housing.

The laundry treating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a drainage 60 that discharges water inside the tub 20 to the outside of the cabinet 10.

The drainage 60 may include a drain pipe 61 that discharges water from the tub 20, a drain pump 62 connected to the drain pipe 61 to provide power for discharging the water to the outside of the cabinet 10, and an extension pipe 63 extending from the drain pump 62 to the outside of the cabinet 10.

Additionally, the drain pump 62 and the drain pipe 61 are disposed below the tub 20 such that water in the tub 20 is more easily discharged by gravity.

Next, a gasket 28 may be disposed between the inlet of the cabinet 10 and the tub inlet 27. The gasket 28 may prevent water disposed inside the tub 20 from leaking into the cabinet 10. In addition, the gasket 28 may be made of an elastic material so as to prevent vibration of the tub 20 from being transmitted to the cabinet 10.

Further, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include an input panel 11 configured to receive a command to operate the laundry treating apparatus 1. The input panel 11 may be disposed on a front surface of the laundry treating apparatus 1, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the input panel 11 may be configured to receive a series of commands for supplying power to the laundry treating apparatus or for the laundry treating apparatus to perform a washing course or a drying course for washing or drying the laundry. Additionally, the user may input other commands into the input panel 11. For example, the user may control a duration and a temperature of the washing course and drying course.

The input panel 11 may be formed as a user interface and may include display means such as a liquid crystal or a light to display information of the laundry treating apparatus.

Next, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may be configured to perform the heating of water, and drying and refreshing (steam treatment) of the laundry (or the object-to-be-dried or the object-to-be-refreshed). To this end, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include an induction module I for heating the drum 30.

The induction module I may be utilized when performing at least one function of the washing, the drying, and the refreshing.

The induction module I may be mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, and a coil 600 formed by winding an electric wire may be installed inside the induction module I. The induction module I is configured to heat the circumferential surface of the drum 30 via a magnetic field generated by applying a current to the coil 600.

The magnetic field may be generated via an alternating current whose phase changes flows to the coil 600 located outwardly of the circumferential surface of the drum 30. For example, the coil 600 may form a radial alternating magnetic field based on the Ampere's circuital law.

Such alternating magnetic field is concentrated around the drum 30 made of a conductor with high magnetic permeability. Magnetic permeability as used herein refers to an extent to which a medium is magnetized with respect to a given magnetic field. In this regard, based on the Faraday's law of induction, an eddy current is formed on the drum 30. Such eddy current flows along the drum 30 made of the conductor and then is converted into Joule heat by a resistance of the drum 30 itself, and accordingly, an inner wall of the drum 30 is directly heated. Accordingly, laundry or water inside the drum 30 can be heated. For example, when the inner wall of the drum 30 is directly heated, an air temperature inside the drum 30 and a temperature of the laundry in contact with the inner wall of the drum 30 rise together. Accordingly, because the laundry may be directly heated, drying may be performed faster compared to a drying apparatus using only hot air, which is an indirect method of heating laundry, or a low-temperature dehumidifying method of drying laundry.

In addition, even when the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure is formed to operate as both a washing machine and a dryer, water may be heated without a separate heat wire and flow channel exposed inside the tub 20, and water may continuously come into contact with the inner and outer walls of the drum 30. Therefore, faster water heating may be achieved compared to a method in which the separate heater is formed at a lower portion of the tub 20 and water is heated using the heater.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the induction module I of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

The induction module I is mounted on the circumferential surface of the tub 20 and is configured to heat the circumferential surface of the drum 30 via the magnetic field generated by applying a current to the coil 600 around which the wire is wound.

The induction module I may include a base 100 for installing the coil 600 on a top surface of the tub 20. The base 100 may be fixed to the circumferential surface of the tub 20, and may extend through the rotation shaft 43. In addition, the base 100 may be disposed on a horizontal surface parallel to the ground. The base 100 may be formed in a rectangular plate shape or rectangular shape having a predetermined thickness, and a length in the front and rear direction thereof may be greater than a width corresponding to a circumferential direction of the tub 20.

The base 100 may include a base body 110 that may be disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, a seating surface 120 disposed on a top surface of the base body 110 and on which the coil 600 is wound, a bottom surface 130 disposed on a bottom surface of the base body 110 and facing the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, and a fixing portion 140 for coupling the base body 110 to the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20.

At least one of the base body 110 and the seating surface 120 may have a curved cross-section so as to concentrate a magnetic field generated from the coil 600 to the drum 30. In addition, the base 100 may have seating ribs 200 protruding upward from the seating surface 120 and on which the coil is wound. The seating ribs 200 may extend outwardly from the seating surface 120 like a screw which defines an installation space 230 for the coil 600, in which the coil 600 is seated or inserted.

In order to concentrate the magnetic field generated by the coil 600 toward the drum 30 rather than the cabinet 10, the induction module I may include a magnet 310 that is disposed on the base 100 and is a bar magnet, and a magnet cover 320 for fixing the magnet 310 to the base 100 from above.

Multiple magnets 310 may be arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other along a direction in which the coil 600 is wound. The magnet 310 may be located above the coil 600, but may be disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the wire constituting the coil 600 so as to be simultaneously disposed above an inner portion and an outer portion of the coil.

The magnet cover 320 may further include a housing body 321 having a rectangular plate shape or rectangular shape with a predetermined thickness corresponding to the shape of the base 100, a magnet installation portion 322 defined on the housing body 321 and in which the magnet 310 is seated, and an air flow hole 323 defined to extend through the housing body 321 and spaced apart from the magnet installation portion 322.

The magnet installation portion 322 may determine a space in which the magnet 310 is accommodated and installed.

The induction module I may include a base cover 400 for fixing the magnet cover 320 to the base 100 and preventing the coil 600 from deviating. The base cover 400 may include a cover body 410 having a rectangular plate shape or rectangular shape with a predetermined thickness, and an air discharge hole 420 defined in a central portion of the cover body 410 and through which hot air flows by convection or is blown by a blowing fan 500.

The blowing fan 500 that supplies air into the induction module I may be coupled to the base cover 400. The blowing fan 500 allows air to flow into the induction module I so as to prevent overheating of the induction module I. Specifically, air may be introduced into the base cover 400 via the air discharge hole 420. Inside the induction module, a space is defined between the base cover 400, a magnet coupling portion 300, and the base 100, and an air flow space is defined by an air flow hole 323 or the like. In addition, an air passing hole 111 is defined in the base body 110. Thus, air may cool the coil 600 in the inner space and may be discharged to the outside of the induction module via the air passing hole 111.

In addition, because the magnet cover 320 and the base cover 400 are formed as separate members, air may flow on a top surface of the magnet 310. Thus, overheating of the magnet 310 may be prevented.

In addition, because the magnet cover 320 and the base cover 400 are formed as the separate members, the magnet 310 may be easily detachable and easily exchanged, and a part fixing the magnet 310 may be easily injection-molded because of not having a closed surface.

Hereinafter, a structure for fixing the base 100, the magnet cover 320, and the base cover 400 to the tub 20 will be described in more detail.

The base 100 may include the fixing portion 140 disposed at a corner of the base body 110 and having a fixing hole 141 defined therein into which a screw is inserted. The fixing portion 140 may be configured to protrude from each of both sides of front and rear ends of the base body 110.

The tub 20 may include multiple coupling portions 25. The coupling portions 25 may be a hole configured to communicate with the fixing hole 141.

In addition, the magnet cover 320 may include a magnet fixing portion 330 disposed at a corner of the housing body 321. The magnet fixing portion 330 may include a magnet fixing hole 321 defined therein to communicate with the fixing hole 141 and into which the screw is inserted. Further, the magnet fixing portion 330 may protrude from each of both sides of front and rear ends of the housing body 321.

In addition, the base cover 400 may include a cover fixing portion 430 protruding from each of front and rear ends of the cover body 410 and having a cover fixing hole 431 defined there in communication with the fixing hole 141.

Accordingly, one screw may extend through the cover fixing hole 431, the magnet fixing hole 331, and the fixing hole 141. Additionally, the one screw can be fixed to the coupling portion 25.

FIG. 4 shows the base 100 of the induction module. The induction module I may serve as a fixing member for fixing the coil 600 to the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, and may include the base 100 mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 such that the coil 600 does not deviate even when the tub 20 vibrates.

FIG. 4(a) shows a top surface of the base 100, and FIG. 4(b) shows a bottom surface of the base 100.

Referring to FIG. 4(a), the base 100 may include the base body 110 disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, the seating surface 120 disposed such that the coil 600 is seated on the top surface of the base body 110, and the seating ribs 200 protruding from the seating surface 120 and fixed as the coil 600 is wound thereon. The base body 110 may have the air passing hole 111 defined in a thickness direction.

The seating ribs 200 may extend to a top surface of the air passing hole 111. For example, the seating ribs 200 may be formed on the seating surface 120 regardless of a shape of the air passing hole 111. Additionally, the seating ribs 200 may extend outwardly along a circumference of the seating surface 120.

When extending outwardly, the seating ribs 200 may be spaced apart from each other by a certain spacing so as to define the installation space 230 in which the coil 600 is installed therebetween. The seating ribs 200 may extend outwardly along a shape of a circle or an ellipse whose diameter gradually increases outwardly on the seating surface. In addition, the seating ribs 200 may extend in a track shape with an area increasing outwardly of the seating surface.

The track shape is a shape in which a straight portion and a curved portion are mixed with each other. The track shape may mean a shape capable of maximizing an area in which the coil 600 is seated of the seating surface 120 compared to the circular or elliptical shape.

A shape in which the coil 600 is wound may be determined based on the shape in which the seating ribs 200 extend from the seating surface 120. For example, the shape of the coil 600 may be circular, elliptical shaped, or track shaped.

The seating rib 200 may protrude or extend from the seating surface 120, and may have a height greater than a thickness of the coil 600. The seating ribs 200 may allow turns of the wound coil 600 to be spaced apart from each other so as not to be in contact with each other, thereby preventing a short circuit. As a result, it is not necessary to coat the coil 600 wound on the seating ribs 200 with an insulating film. Additionally, a thickness of the insulating film is able to be minimized, thereby reducing a production cost.

The seating ribs 200 may include slots narrower than a wire diameter of the coil 600 such that the coil 600 is tight-fitted, and a width of the installation space 230 may be in a range from approximately 93% to 97% of the wire diameter of the coil 600. When the coil 600 is tight-fitted into the installation space 230, even though the vibration of the tub 20 is transmitted to the coil 600, the coil 600 may be fixed in the installation space 230. Therefore, the coil 600 does not depart from the installation space 230, and a movement of the coil 600 itself is suppressed, so that noise that may occur due to a gap between the coil 600 and the seating ribs 200 may be prevented.

In one example, upper ends of the seating rib 200 may be bent after the coil 600 is inserted so as to shield at least a portion of a top portion of the coil 600. To this end, the upper ends of the seating ribs 200 may be bent or heat-treated. For example, the upper ends of the seating ribs 200 may be bent into a “T” shape. Thus, the upper end of the seating rib 200 may form a fixing hook 221 for fixing the coil 600.

Referring to FIG. 4(a), after the coil 600 is tight-fitted into the installation space 230, the seating rib 200 may be melted as a top surface thereof is pressurized. Then, the melted upper end of the molten seating rib 200 may spread to both sides so as to cover top surfaces of turns of the coil 600 on both sides. Accordingly, the coil 600 may be encased by the molten seating rib 200.

As the coil 600 is tight-fitted into the installation space 230 and the upper end of the seating rib 200 is melted, a path along which the coil 600 may deviate may be physically blocked, and noise caused by the vibration of the tub 20 may be prevented by preventing the movement of the coil 600. Therefore, durability may be improved as a gap between parts is eliminated.

In the above description, it is assumed that the coil 600 is disposed on the top surface of the base 100, but the seating rib 200 may protrude downwardly of the base 100 such that the coil 600 is disposed on the bottom surface of the base 100.

FIG. 4(b) shows the bottom surface of base 100. The air passing hole 111 may be exposed to the bottom surface 130 of the base 110. In addition, referring to FIG. 4(b), a support bar 131 may be disposed on the bottom surface of the base 110. The support bar 131 may be configured to reinforce adhesion between the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 and the base 100 and to reinforce rigidity of the base 100.

The base 100 may have a through-hole 112 disposed at a center of the seating surface 120 where the coil 600 is not wound, and the through-hole 112 may include a plurality of through-holes spaced apart from each other by a predetermined spacing along the front and rear direction of the tub 20. In addition, the support bar 131 may radially extend from the through-hole 112 extending through the base 100.

When the fixing portion 140 is fixed to the coupling portion 25 disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 is pressurized by the support bar 131. Accordingly, the base 100 may be coupled to the tub 20 with a greater pressure compared to a case in which the entire bottom surface of the base 100 is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20. Accordingly, even when the tub 20 vibrates, a base housing does not easily move or escape from the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20. FIG. 5 shows a structure of the coil 600 of the induction module.

The seating ribs 200 may be formed from a position adjacent to an outermost edge of the seating surface 120 toward a center thereof, and each turn of the coil 600 may be wound between the adjacent two seating ribs 200.

Referring to in the zoomed in portion of FIG. 5, the wire constituting the coil 600 may be tight-fitted by being in surface contact with the two adjacent seating ribs 200.

The laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include a control panel 15 that is configured to control the supply of the current to the coil 600. Additionally, both ends of the coil 600 may be coupled to the control panel 15. One end of the coil 600 may extend toward the through-hole 321 disposed at the center of the seating surface 120, and an other end thereof may extend on the seating surface 120 toward the outermost edge of the seating rib 200.

The coil 600 may extend from the control panel 15 toward the seating surface 120 via the bottom surface 130 of the base body 110, be wound on the seating ribs 200, and then be connected to the control panel 15.

Accordingly, the coil wound on the seating ribs 200 may extend to the bottom surface 130 and then be connected to the control panel 15. This has an effect of preventing disconnection and deviation problems by reducing a vibration phase difference generated along a wire 81a by allowing the coil 600 to be connected to the base 100 via the bottom surface, which is a point where a vibration displacement of the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 is the smallest.

In one example, both ends of the coil 600 may extend to a rear portion of the tub 20 and extend to the control panel 15. This configuration has the benefit that a vibration amplitude is small at the rear portion of the tub 20 because of the close proximity to the driver 40.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed structure of the magnet cover 320.

The induction module I may further include the magnet cover 320 coupled to the base 100 so as to cover the installation space 230. The magnet cover 320 may include a housing body 321 configured to be coupled to the top surface of the base 100 and preventing the coil 600 and the magnet 310 from deviating. A bottom surface of the housing body 321 may be formed to be in close contact with the upper ends of the seating ribs 200 of the base 100.

A plurality of magnet installation portions 322 protruding downwards may be defined on a bottom surface of the magnet cover 320. The magnet installation portion 322 may provide a space for accommodating the magnet 310 therein and, at the same time, may adhere closely to the upper end of the seating rib 320 so as to shield the seating rib 320 with a greater pressure. As a result, despite the vibration of the tub 20, the vibration noise caused by the gap or the deviation of the coil 600 may be prevented.

The plurality of magnet installation portions 322 may be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the coil 600. In addition, the magnet installation portion 322 may be formed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the coil 600. Therefore, the entire coil may be firmly fixed without pressing the entire coil.

In one example, the magnet installation portion 322 is formed integrally with the housing body 321. Therefore, at the same time as the magnet cover 320 is coupled to the base 100, the magnet installation portion 322 presses the coil 600. Therefore, a separate means or step for pressurizing the coil 600 is not required.

The magnet 310 may be inserted into and mounted in the magnet installation portion 322. Accordingly, when the magnet 310 is fixed to the magnet cover 320, the magnet may be fixed above the coil 600 as the magnet cover 320 is coupled to the base housing.

Because each magnet 310 is preferably disposed at a specific position on the top surface of the coil 600 in order to efficiently concentrate the magnetic field in a direction of the drum 30, when the magnet 310 moves by the vibration of the tub 20, not only the noise problem but also a problem of lowering a heating efficiency may occur.

More specifically, the magnet installation portion 322 may be formed of both side walls that protrude downward from the bottom surface of the magnet cover 320 which face each other, and may have an open surface 3221 such that a bottom surface of the magnet 310 mounted in the magnet installation portion 322 may face one surface of the coil 600.

In this case, a movement of the magnet 310 in a left and right direction may be suppressed by both of the side walls, and the open surface 3221 may allow the magnet 310 to come closer to the top surface of the coil 600. As the magnet 310 is closer to the coil 600, the magnetic field is guided more intensively in the direction of the drum 30. As a result, the drum 30 may be stably and uniformly heated.

The magnet installation portion 322 may further include a stopper protruding inward so as to prevent the magnet 310 from deviating downward.

In one example, the magnet cover 320 may include detachable hooks 324 that protrude downward at both corners and are detachably coupled to the base 100.

FIG. 7 shows an arrangement of the coil 600 and the magnet 310 installed in the induction module I.

The coil 600 may be formed in the concentric circle, ellipse, or track shape on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20. The track shape may include both straight portions and curved portions, with the curved portions being disposed to connect adjacent straight portions.

The magnet 310 acts as a blocking member for transmission of the magnetic field so as to prevent the heating of other nearby components other than the drum 30, and to increase the heating efficiency by concentrating the magnetic field generated by the coil 600 in the direction of the drum 30.

The magnet 310 may be formed as the bar magnet. The magnet 310 is located above the coil 600, but is preferably disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the coil 600. This is to cover the inner portion and the outer portion of the coil at the same time.

The magnet 310 may include a plurality of bar magnets having the same size, and the plurality of magnets 310 may be spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the coil 600.

This is because it difficult to perform the uniform heating as an amount of magnetic field radiated to the drum 30 varies for each portion of the circumferential surface of the drum 30 when the magnets 310 are placed only at specific positions. Therefore, in order to uniformly induce the magnetic field generated by the coil 600 in the direction of the drum 30, it is preferable that the plurality of magnets 310 are disposed to be spaced apart from each other along the circumference of the coil 600.

Furthermore, when there are the same number of magnets 310, it is preferable that the magnets 310 are intensively disposed in portions of the coil 600 adjacent to front and rear portions of the tub 20.

Specifically, the coil 600 may be divided into first straight portions 610 extending in a front and rear direction, curved portions 620 disposed at both ends of the straight portion, and second straight portions 630 disposed at front and rear portions of the coil 600.

The first straight portion 610 may be longer than the second straight portion 630 so as to correspond to the length of the drum 30.

More magnets may be disposed in the curved portion 620 and the second straight portion 630 than in the first straight portion 610. As a result, the drum 30 may be uniformly heated by allowing more magnetic field to be radiated to a region with a small area of the coil 600.

FIG. 8 shows a range in which the induction module may be installed.

The induction module I is configured to heat the drum 30 to heat water or the laundry accommodated in the drum 30.

As the induction module I has a greater area or length, a heating performance for heating the drum 30 may increase. Because the induction module I is coupled to the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, the length of the induction module I may correspond to a tub length TI corresponding to a length of the tub outer circumferential surface 21.

However, when the induction module I has the length corresponding to the tub length TI, components other than the drum 30 may be heated, and there may be a risk of causing unnecessary magnetic field interference or overheating to other electronic products such as the input panel 11 or the water supply valve 51.

Accordingly, the induction module I of the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may have a length or an area that prevents components other than the drum 30 from being heated. The induction module I may be rearwardly spaced apart from a front end of the tub outer circumferential surface 21 so as to be spaced apart from the input panel 11 by a safety distance. In addition, the induction module I may be forwardly spaced apart from a rear end of the tub outer circumferential surface 32 so as to be spaced apart from the water supply valve 51 by an interference distance. Accordingly, the safety distance and the interference distance prevents the input panel 11 and the water supply valve 51 from becoming overheated by the induction module I.

The safety distance may be a length corresponding to a length from the input panel 11 to the front end of the drum outer circumferential surface 32, and the interference distance may be a length corresponding to a length from the water supply valve 51 to the rear end of the drum outer circumferential surface 32.

As a result, the induction module I may be disposed at a predetermined distance from the front and rear ends of the tub outer circumferential surface 21. Specifically, the induction module may be disposed toward a central portion of the tub 20.

In one example, the induction module I does not need to heat the components other than the drum 30. In addition, the induction module I may sufficiently achieve the heating purpose by heating only a region inside the drum 30 capable of heating the laundry and water.

The drum 30 may include the drum outer circumferential surface 32 formed in the cylindrical shape and configured to accommodate the laundry therein. Additionally, the drum rear surface 33 may be coupled to the driver 40 so as to rotate the drum outer circumferential surface 32, and the drum inlet 31 may be disposed in a front end of the drum outer circumferential surface 32 and include a smaller diameter than the drum outer circumferential surface 32.

Because the drum outer circumferential surface 32 is a region that accommodates the laundry therein and is in contact with the laundry, the induction module I is configured to heat the drum outer circumferential surface 32 and not to heat the drum inlet 31 and the drum rear surface 33. Therefore, this configuration allows for improved energy efficiency.

In addition, because the drum outer circumferential surface 32 is formed in the cylindrical shape, and the disk-shaped drum rear surface 33 and the tube-shaped drum inlet 31 are coupled to both ends of the drum outer circumferential surface 32, the energy efficiency may be further increased when the induction module I is configured so as not to heat a portion where the drum outer circumferential surface 32 and the drum rear surface 33 are coupled to each other and a portion where the drum inlet 31 and the drum outer circumferential surface 32 are coupled to each other.

Therefore, an optimal heating region in the drum 30 for heating the laundry may correspond to the drum outer circumferential surface 32, which may be defined as an effective heating surface.

More specifically, a region excluding the portions where the drum inlet 31 and the drum rear surface 33 are coupled to the drum outer circumferential surface 32 at the front and rear ends of the drum outer circumferential surface 32 may be defined as the effective heating surface.

As a result, the induction module I may be disposed to face the effective heating surface, and a maximum length of the induction module I may correspond to a length of the effective heating surface. Accordingly, the length of the induction module I may correspond to a drum length D1 from the front end to the rear end of the drum outer circumferential surface 32.

In one example, the drum rear surface 33 is coupled to the spider 44 to which the rotation shaft 43 extends. The spider 44 may include a central portion 441 to which the rotation shaft 43 extends and an end portion 442 radially extending from the central portion 441.

The central portion 441 may be thicker than the end portion 442 because the central portion 441 is a place to which the rotation shaft 43 extends and receives the highest load. In addition, the end portion 442 may be formed in a shape of a plurality of ribs radially extending from the central portion 441 toward the drum outer circumferential surface 32 in order to effectively transfer power transmitted from the central portion 441 to the drum 30.

A rear surface of the central portion 441 to which the rotation shaft 43 does not extend may protrude further forward to secure a length of the rotation shaft 43 while maintaining rigidity. Additionally, the end portion 442 may extend radially from the central portion 441 so as to be inclined rearwardly so as to prevent a washing volume from being reduced unnecessarily by the central portion 441.

The drum rear surface 33 may be bent forward so as to accommodate and be in contact with a portion of the spider 44 in order to strengthen a force of coupling with the spider 44. As a result, when the spider 44 is coupled to the drum rear surface 33, at least a portion of the spider 44 may be disposed forwardly of the rear end of the drum outer circumferential surface 32. For example, the central portion 441 may be disposed forwardly of the rear end of the drum outer circumferential surface 32 and disposed inside the drum 30, and at least a portion of the fixing portion 441 may also be disposed forwardly of the rear end of the drum outer circumferential surface 32 and disposed inside the drum 30.

The spider 44 is made of a metal material. Accordingly, the spider 44 is rigid. Therefore, when the induction module I has the length corresponding to the length of the drum outer circumferential surface 32 and faces the spider 44, the induction module I may unnecessarily heat the spider 44. In addition, as the spider 44 is heated, the rotation shaft 43 and the rotor 42 may be heated, so that the driver 40 may be damaged. Therefore, the induction module I may have a length so as to be spaced apart from the spider 44 at the rear end of the outer circumferential surface of the drum.

• • regarding this regard, because the end portion 442 of the spider 44 is coupled to the drum rear surface 33 and extends close to the drum outer circumferential surface 32, a rear end 12 of the induction module I may be disposed forwardly of the fixing portion 441.

In one example, because at least a portion of the central portion 441 of the spider 44 is disposed forwardly of the end portion 442 and is similarly made of the metal material, when the induction module I is disposed forwardly of the end portion 442 and is disposed to face the central portion 441, there may be a possibility that the induction module I heats the central portion 441. Therefore, it is preferable that the rear end 12 of the induction module I be disposed forwardly of the central portion 441.

However, the central portion 441 is spaced apart from in the induction module I by a radius of the drum rear surface than the end portion 442. Because the induced magnetic field is reduced by a square of the spaced distance or more, the magnetic field generated by the induction module I may not reach the central portion 441 or only a small amount thereof may reach the central portion 441, making it difficult to heat the central portion 441. Accordingly, this configuration does not overheat the central portion 441 of the spider 44. Therefore, the rear end 12 of the induction module I may be disposed to be able to overlap with the central portion 441.

As a result, on the outer circumferential surface of the tub, the rear end 12 of the induction module I may be disposed forwardly of a front surface d of the end portion 442 and forwardly of a front surface c of the central portion 441. However, the drum outer circumferential surface 32 disposed on both sides of the central portion 441 also needs to be heated, and the central portion 441 is difficult to be heated by the induction module I, so that the rear end 12 of the induction module I may be disposed in a region between the front surface c of the central portion 441 and the front surface d of the end portion 442. Therefore, at least a portion of the induction module I may be disposed to be able to overlap the central portion 441 without overheating the central portion 441.

The drum 30 may further include a lifter 34 disposed to protrude inwardly from the drum outer circumferential surface 32. The lifter 34 may have a length smaller than the length of the drum outer circumferential surface 32 such that the laundry is stirred while passing through a space between front and rear ends of the lifter 34 and the drum 30. Accordingly, the induction module I may be disposed to overlap the lifter 34 and may have a length greater than the length of the lifter 34.

Additionally, the drum 30 may include the balancer 35 coupled to the drum inlet 331 or the front end of the drum outer circumferential surface 32. The balancer 35 is configured to compensate for the eccentricity of the drum 30. Because the drum rear surface 33 is coupled to the spider 34 connected to the driver 40, the drum inlet 331 may be formed as a free end, which may be vulnerable to the vibration. Accordingly, the balancer 35 may be disposed along a circumferential direction on an outer circumferential surface of the drum inlet 331 or the drum outer circumferential surface 32 to compensate for eccentric vibration of the entire drum 30, thereby reducing vibration noise at the drum inlet 331.

Specifically, the balancer 35 may contain a fluid capable of compensating for the vibration or may have a ball with a load therein. In this regard, when the induction module I heats the drum inlet 331 or the drum outer circumferential surface 32 and thus the balancer 35 is heated, or when the balancer 35 is directly heated by the induction module I, the balancer 35 may be damaged or a heating performance may decrease. Accordingly, a front end I1 of the induction module I may be disposed at the rear of a front surface a of the balancer so as to minimize heat transfer to the balancer 35.

Moreover, the induction module I may be disposed rearwardly of a rear surface b of the balancer so as to fundamentally block heating of the balancer 35. Accordingly, the balancer 35 will not be overheated by the induction module I.

In addition, the front end I1 of the induction module I may be disposed at the rear of a drum front portion 331 corresponding to the drum inlet 331. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the gasket 28 from being deformed or damaged as the drum inlet 331 is heated.

In addition, the front end 11 of the induction module I may be disposed at the rear of a region where the drum front portion 331 and the drum outer circumferential surface 32 are coupled to each other, so that heating of the drum front portion 331 may be fundamentally prevented. In addition, the induction module I may be disposed rearwardly of a coupling portion where the drum front portion 331 and the drum outer circumferential surface 32 are coupled to each other.

As a result, the length of the induction module I may be smaller than the tub length TI and smaller than the drum length D1. A maximum length of the induction module I may be a length in a case in which the front end I1 is disposed at the rear of the front end of the drum outer circumferential surface or the rear of the balancer 35, and the rear end 12 is disposed ahead of the rear end of the drum outer circumferential surface or the fixing portion 441 of the spider 44.

As a result, the induction module I may be spaced apart from the front and rear ends of the drum as well as the front and rear ends of the tub by a predetermined length. The maximum length of the induction module I may not be 100% identical to and may be slightly smaller than the length of the drum outer circumferential surface. For example, the length L1 of the induction module I may be approximately 99% of the drum length D1, which is the length of the drum outer circumferential surface.

In one example, the induction module I may extend from a center of the drum outer circumferential surface 32 forward and rearward by an equal distance. This is to prevent one side of the drum outer circumferential surface 32 from being overheated or insufficiently heated by allowing the same heat to be transferred to the front and rear portions of the drum outer circumferential surface 32. Accordingly, the drum outer circumferential surface can be heated more uniformly.

FIG. 9 shows a shape of an induction module.

The induction module I of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the base 100. A length L1 in the front and rear direction of the base 100 may correspond to the length of the induction module I, and a length L2 in the width direction of the base 100 may correspond to a width of the induction module I. The length in the width direction may be regarded as a length in the circumferential direction of the tub outer circumferential surface 21.

Because the coil 600 is wound on the seating surface 120 of the base 100, an area of the base 100 may correspond to an area of the coil 600. The base 100 may have the maximum length L1 in a case in which a front end thereof is disposed at the rear of the balancer 35 or the front end of the drum outer circumferential surface and a rear end thereof is disposed forwardly of a front end of the end portion 442.

In one example, the length L2 in the width direction of the base 100 may be automatically determined based on a maximum width for not interfering with other components on the top surface of the tub 20 or the number of windings of the coil 600.

A diameter of the coil 600 may be preset, and the number of windings and the area of the coil 600 may be equal to or greater than minimum values at which hot water washing or a drying cycle may be completed by heating the drum 30. Accordingly, the length L2 in the width direction of the base 100 may be a fixed value.

When the base 100 has a maximum area, the length L1 may be greater than the width L2. In one example, the length L1 in the front and rear direction of the base 100 may be smaller than approximately 99% of the total length of the drum outer circumferential surface 32.

In one example, the length L1 in the front and rear direction of the base 100 must be greater than approximately 65% of the total length of the drum outer circumferential surface 32 to achieve minimum heating performance for washing or drying the drum 30.

In other words, when the length L1 in the front and rear direction of the base 100 is smaller than approximately 65% of the total length of the drum outer circumferential surface 32, because the entire laundry accommodated in the drum 30 is not able to be dried or the entire region from the front to the rear of the drum 30 is not able to be heated, the hot water washing or the drying cycle is not able to be completed.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment in which the induction module I formed with a minimum size.

The length of the induction module I may be the same as the width L2 of the induction module. However, the length of the induction module I is not able to be smaller than the width L2 of the induction module. This is because the width L2 of the induction module is a value automatically determined by the number of windings of the coil 600 when a diameter of a central portion 121 around which the coil is wound is determined. Therefore, the length of the induction module may be maximally reduced so as to be equal to the width L2 of the induction module. Therefore, the minimum shape of the induction module I or the coil 600 may correspond to a cube. Accordingly, if the induction module I has a smaller length L1 than a length of the width L2, the hot water washing or the drying cycle is not able to be completed.

Next, FIG. 11 shows a structure of a tub to which various shapes of the induction module may be coupled.

As described above, the length L1 of the induction module I of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may be set in a range smaller than approximately 99% and greater than approximately 65% of the length of the drum outer circumferential surface 32 or the length of the effective heating surface.

In addition, the length L1 of the induction module I of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may be set to be greater than the width L2 of the induction module I in a region between the front end of the drum outer circumferential surface or the rear end of the balancer 35 and the front end of the end portion 442.

Consequently, because the heating performance may be guaranteed when the length L1 of the induction module I is set within the above range, the length of the induction module I can be changed based on consideration of strategies and costs.

However, when the tub 20 is manufactured with different positions of the coupling portion 25 as the length L1 of the induction module I is changed, a cost of manufacturing the tub 20 may be excessive.

Therefore, the coupling portion 25 may include a plurality of coupling portions such that different induction module I having various lengths L1 may be installed on the tub 20.

Specifically, the coupling portion 25 may include a first coupling portion 251 that may be coupled to the induction module I when the induction module I is disposed on the tub outer circumferential surface 21 to have a first length.

The first coupling portion 251 may be disposed at a position to be coupled to the induction module I having the first length. For example, the first coupling portions 251 may be disposed in regions corresponding to regions of four corners of the base 100 having the first length.

The coupling portion 25 may further include a second coupling portion 252 that may be coupled to the induction module I when the induction module I is disposed on the tub outer circumferential surface 21 to have a second length greater than the first length. The second coupling portion 252 may be disposed at a position to be coupled to the induction module I with the second length. For example, the second coupling portions 252 may be disposed in regions corresponding to regions of four corners of the base 100 having the second length.

To allow for easier manufacturing of the coupling portions 25, the tub 20 may be configured as a front tub body 211 and a rear tub body 212, which are coupled to each other.

The second coupling portion 252 disposed on the front tub body 211 may be disposed forwardly of the first coupling portion 251 disposed on the front tub body 211, thereby being disposed closer to the inlet 27 than the first coupling portion 251. The second coupling portion 252 disposed on the rear tub body 211 may be disposed rearwardly of the first coupling portion 251 disposed on the rear tub body 211, thereby being disposed closer to the driver 40 than the first coupling portion 251. Thus, the first coupling portions 251 may be disposed between the second coupling portions 252.

In addition, the width of the base 100 as the first length and the width of the base 100 as the second length are determined based on the diameter and the number of windings of the coil 600, so that they may be equal to each other. Accordingly, the first coupling portion 251 and the second coupling portion 252 may be disposed parallel to each other in the front and rear directions.

Therefore, in the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure, two or more types of induction module I with varying lengths may be installed on one tub 20.

The present disclosure may be implemented in various forms, so that the scope of the rights thereof is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Therefore, when the modified embodiment includes components of claims of the present disclosure, it should be regarded as belonging to the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A laundry treating apparatus comprising: a cabinet having an inlet disposed in a front surface thereof;a tub having a tub inlet facing the inlet of the cabinet, the tub being configured to accommodate water therein;a drum disposed in the tub, the drum being configured to accommodate laundry therein;a driver including: a rotation shaft coupled to a rear portion of the tub and configured to rotate the drum; anda spider configured to couple the rotation shaft to the drum; andan induction module coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the tub, the induction module being configured to form a magnetic field for heating the drum,wherein the spider includes: a central portion protruding inside of the drum; anda fixing portion extending from the central portion toward a drum outer circumferential surface and is coupled to a rear surface of the drum,wherein the rotation shaft extends to the central portion of the spider, andwherein the induction module is disposed forward of the fixing portion.

15. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the induction module overlaps with the central portion of the spider.

16. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14, wherein a front surface of the central portion is disposed forward of a front surface of the fixing portion, and wherein a rear end of the induction module is disposed between the front surface of the central portion and the front surface of the fixing portion.

17. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a balancer coupled to a front end of the drum, the balancer being configured to compensate for eccentricity of the drum, wherein a front end of the induction module is disposed rearwardly of the balancer.

18. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14, wherein the drum includes: the drum outer circumferential surface for accommodating the laundry therein; anda drum front portion coupled to a front end of the drum outer circumferential surface and configured to face the tub, andwherein the induction module is disposed rearwardly of the drum front portion.

19. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the induction module is disposed rearwardly of a coupling portion where the drum front portion and the drum outer circumferential surface are coupled to each other.

20. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14, wherein the tub includes: a first coupling portion configured to be coupled to an induction module having a first length; anda second coupling portion configured to be coupled to an induction module having a second length greater than the first length.

21. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second coupling portion is spaced apart from the first coupling portion in at least one of a forward direction and a rearward direction.

22. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an input panel coupled to the front surface of the cabinet and configured receive a command for controlling the driver or the induction module, wherein the induction module is spaced apart from the input panel by a predetermined distance.

23. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a water supply valve coupled to a rear surface of the cabinet and configured to supply water to the tub, wherein the induction module is spaced apart from the water supply valve by an interference distance.

24. A laundry treating apparatus comprising: a cabinet having an inlet disposed in a front surface thereof;a tub having a tub inlet facing the inlet of the cabinet, the tub being configured to accommodate water therein;a drum disposed in the tub, the drum being configured to accommodate laundry therein;a driver including a rotation shaft coupled to a rear portion of the tub and configured to rotate the drum; andan induction module coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the tub, the induction module being configured to form a magnetic field for heating the drum,wherein a length in a front and rearward direction of the induction module is greater than or equal to a width of the induction module, andwherein the induction module is only disposed over a central portion of an outer circumferential surface of the drum, and is not disposed at end portions of the outer circumferential surface of the drum.

25. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 24, wherein a minimum width of the induction module is set to approximately 65% of a total length of the outer circumferential surface of the drum.

26. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 24, wherein the induction module extends from a center of the outer circumferential surface of the drum forward and rearward by an equal distance.

27. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 24, wherein the length of the induction module in the front and rearward direction is set to be in a range from approximately 65% of a total length of an outer circumferential surface of the drum to approximately 100% of the total length of the outer circumferential surface of the drum.