Patent Application
20250043485
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0101577, filed on Aug. 3, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus, and more particularly to a laundry treating apparatus including an output unit configured to output a screen.
A laundry treating apparatus is an apparatus that performs a laundry treating process, such as loading clothing, bedding, etc. (hereinafter referred to as laundry) into a drum and removing contaminants from the laundry.
The laundry treating apparatus may perform processes such as washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying of laundry, and the laundry treating apparatus may be categorized into a top-loading type laundry treating apparatus and a front-loading type laundry treating apparatus based on a method of loading laundry into the drum.
The laundry treating apparatus may include a cabinet defining the appearance thereof, a tub received in the cabinet, a drum which is rotatably mounted in the tub and into which laundry is loaded, and a detergent supply device configured to supply detergent into the drum.
When the laundry treating apparatus is configured to wash laundry, the drum may be rotated by a motor in the state in which water and detergent are supplied to the laundry received in the drum, and the laundry may be removed by friction between the drum and washing water.
The detergent supply device has a detergent supply function to improve the washing effect. Here, the detergent means a material that improves the washing effect, such as fabric detergent, fabric softener, and fabric bleach. The detergent may be powdered detergent or liquid detergent.
When the laundry treating apparatus is configured to dry laundry, on the other hand, the laundry treating apparatus may provide dry air to the laundry to remove moisture from the laundry.
The laundry treating apparatus may include a cabinet, a drum rotatably provided in the cabinet, and a heating means configured to heat or dry air provided to the laundry.
As dry air is provided to the laundry received in the drum, moisture present in the laundry may be evaporated and removed by the dry air, whereby the laundry may be dried.
Meanwhile, when the amount of laundry is large or when different processes, such as washing and drying of the laundry, are to be performed together, a plurality of laundry treating apparatuses may be used.
Related document KR 10-2008-0021921 A1 discloses a laundry treating apparatus including a plurality of treating apparatuses. The apparatus disclosed in the related document includes a first treating apparatus and a second treating apparatus.
Each of the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus of the related document includes a drum provided in a cabinet to perform a laundry treating process. Meanwhile, each of the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus is provided with a control panel.
The control panel may be provided with an output unit configured to output a screen. Accordingly, the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus of the related document may provide different kinds of information through the respective output units.
However, when the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus perform independent treating processes, outputting information through the output unit of each of the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus may be inconvenient because a user must check the plurality of output units and provision of a separate output unit for each treating apparatus may increase the manufacturing process time and complicate the design of the control panel.
In addition, when information of different treating apparatuses is to be provided through one output unit, if a button configured to change the treating apparatus from which information is output is provided on one screen, the design and structure of the control panel, etc. may be complicated, case of use of the button separated from the screen may be reduced, and it may be difficult for the user to identify how to use the button, etc.
For example, if there is a plurality of power buttons, it may be difficult to identify which button is used for which apparatus, and manufacture may be more expensive and time-consuming than if there is a single button.
In addition, when courses of the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus are performed simultaneously, if a single power button is used to operate both apparatuses, the apparatuses are simultaneously powered on or off, and therefore it is not possible to use only one apparatus, whereby unnecessary power is wasted.
Therefore, it is important in the art to which the present disclosure pertains to selectively power on/off a plurality of treating apparatuses using a single power button and to select and power off only one apparatus in a simultaneous cycle.
The present disclosure is to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of effectively outputting information of a plurality of treating apparatuses through a single output unit.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of effectively powering on/off a plurality of treating apparatuses using a single power button.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of powering off one treating apparatus while a plurality of treating apparatuses is simultaneously operated using a single power button.
A further aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of preventing a plurality of treating apparatuses from being simultaneously powered off while the plurality of treating apparatuses is simultaneously operated using a single power button.
Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments of the disclosure.
In a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a first treating apparatus and a second treating apparatus may be powered on or off by a single power button.
When the first treating apparatus is powered on, an output unit displays a welcome screen and then displays a first course selection screen.
The first course selection screen may include a mode selection object capable of selecting a mode of the second treating apparatus, and when the mode of the second treating apparatus is selected, the second treating apparatus is powered on, and the output unit outputs a second course selection screen.
The laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first treating apparatus, a second treating apparatus, an output unit, an input unit, and a power button.
The first treating apparatus includes a first receiving unit configured to receive laundry, the second treating apparatus includes a second receiving unit configured to receive laundry, the output unit is provided in the first treating apparatus or the second treating apparatus so as to output a screen, the input unit is provided in the first treating apparatus or the second treating apparatus so as to receive a user command for selecting a target to be displayed on the screen, and the power button is provided as a single button in one of the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus so as to be manipulated by a user. The output unit outputs a simultaneous screen configured to display both progress information of a first course to be performed by the first treating apparatus and progress information of a second course to be performed by the second treating apparatus, among a plurality of courses for treating the laundry, and the simultaneous screen includes a first course object configured to display the progress information of the first course and a second course object configured to display the progress information of the second course. When the second course object is selected and the power button is manipulated, the second treating apparatus is powered off and the first treating apparatus remains on.
When the first course object is selected and the power button is manipulated, the first treating apparatus may be powered off and the second treating apparatus may remain on.
The output unit and the input unit may be provided in the first treating apparatus, and when the first course object is selected and the power button is manipulated, the output unit and the first treating apparatus may be powered off and the second treating apparatus may remain on.
The screen may include a first course selection screen on which a first course to be performed by the first treating apparatus, among a plurality of courses for treating the laundry, is displayed for selection by the input unit, and the first course selection screen may include a mode selection object configured to display one of the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus as selectable. The first treating apparatus may be powered on when the power button is manipulated, when the first treating apparatus is powered on, the output unit may output the first course selection screen, and when the second treating apparatus displayed through the mode selection object is selected, the second treating apparatus may be powered on.
When the power button is manipulated on the simultaneous screen, the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus may be simultaneously powered off.
The screen may further include a second option display screen on which option information of the second course and the second course object are displayed, when the second course object is selected on the simultaneous screen, the output unit may output the second option display screen, and when the power button is manipulated on the second option display screen, the second treating apparatus may be powered off and the first treating apparatus may remain on.
When the power button is manipulated on the second option display screen, the output unit may output a first course progress screen on which the first course object may be displayed excluding the second course object.
The screen may include a first course progress screen on which the first course object may be displayed excluding the second course object, when the first course object is selected on the simultaneous screen, the output unit may output a first option display screen on which option information of the first course and the first course object may be displayed, when the first course object is selected on the first option display screen, the output unit may output the first course progress screen.
The first option display screen may include an X button configured to remove the first option display screen, and when the X button is selected, the output section may output the first course progress screen.
The first course progress screen may include a mode selection object configured to display one of the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus as selectable, and when the second treating apparatus is selected through the mode selection object and the power button is manipulated, the second treating apparatus may be powered off and the first treating apparatus may remain on.
When a reference time elapses while the second treating apparatus is paused and the first treating apparatus is operated, the second treating apparatus may be powered off and the first treating apparatus may remain on.
The input unit may be provided in the output unit, and may detect a touch signal of a user on the screen.
The power button may be spaced apart from the input unit.
The output unit may output a simultaneous screen configured to display both progress information of a first course to be performed by the first treating apparatus and progress information of a second course to be performed by the second treating apparatus, among a plurality of courses for treating the laundry, and the simultaneous screen may include a first course object configured to display the progress information of the first course and a second course object configured to display the progress information of the second course. When the first course object is selected and the power button is manipulated, the first treating apparatus may be powered off and the second treating apparatus may remain on.
The screen may include a first course selection screen on which a first course to be performed by the first treating apparatus, among a plurality of courses for treating the laundry, is displayed for selection by the input unit, and the first course selection screen may include a mode selection object configured to display one of the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus as selectable. The first treating apparatus may be powered on when the power button is manipulated, when the first treating apparatus is powered on, the output unit may output the first course selection screen, and when the second treating apparatus displayed through the mode selection object is selected, the second treating apparatus may be powered on.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, show embodiment(s) of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. In the drawings:
Now, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that the embodiments of the present disclosure can be easily implemented by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.
However, the present disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In order to clearly illustrate the present disclosure in the drawings, parts not pertinent to the description have been omitted, and similar parts throughout the specification have been designated by similar reference numerals.
In this specification, duplicate descriptions of the same components will be omitted.
It will be understood that, when a component is referred to as being “connected to” or “coupled to” another component in this specification, the component may be directly connected to or coupled to the other component, or intervening components may be present. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another component, there are no intervening components present.
In addition, the terms used in this specification are provided only to explain specific embodiments, but are not intended to restrict the present disclosure.
Also, in this specification, a singular representation may include a plural representation unless it represents a definitely different meaning from the context.
It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “has” and the like, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.
In addition, as used herein, the term “and/or” includes any combination of a plurality of listed items or any one of the plurality of listed items. As used herein, “A or B” may include A, B, or both A and B.
The laundry treating apparatus 1 may perform a treating course C0 for treating laundry. When the laundry treating apparatus 1 includes a plurality of treating apparatuses, each of the plurality of treating apparatuses may perform the treating course C0.
The treating course C0 treats the laundry in various ways, such as washing the laundry, drying the laundry, and removing wrinkles from the laundry. The laundry loaded into the treating apparatus may be treated through the treating course C0 and provided to the user.
A plurality of different treating courses C0 may be preset and provided for selection by the user. For example, the plurality of treating courses C0 may include at least one of a washing course C11 for washing the laundry, a drying course C12 for drying the laundry, and a washing-drying course C13 in which washing and drying of the laundry are performed successively.
The laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a controller 70, and the plurality of treating courses C0 may be prestored in the controller 70 and provided to the user.
The treating course C0 may include at least one cycle. The treating course C0 may be defined as including at least one of a water supply cycle, a detergent supply cycle, a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle a draining cycle, a spin-drying cycle, and a drying cycle.
The water supply cycle may be a cycle in which water is supplied to a tub into which the laundry is loaded, the detergent supply cycle may be a cycle in which detergent is supplied to the tub, the washing cycle may be a cycle in which a drum is rotated to wash the laundry in the state in which the detergent is present in the tub, the rinsing cycle may be a cycle in which the drum is rotated to rinse the laundry in the state in which water is supplied to the tub and no detergent is present in the tub, the draining cycle may be a cycle in which the water in the tub is drained out of the tub, the spin-drying cycle may be a cycle in which the drum is rotated to separate water present in the laundry from the laundry in the state in which no water is supplied to the tub, and the drying cycle may be a cycle in which hot dry air is supplied into the drum or the tub to remove moisture from the laundry.
The plurality of treating courses C0 may be preset to differ from each other in at least one cycle and stored in the controller 70. The user may select any one of the plurality of treating courses C0 to treat the laundry, as needed.
Meanwhile,
The first treating apparatus 10 includes a first cabinet 11. The first cabinet 11 has a space defined therein and may form the appearance of the first treating apparatus 10.
The first cabinet 11 may include a front panel, a rear panel, a side panel, and a top panel. The plurality of panels may be coupled to form the first cabinet 11. A first laundry inlet 18 through which the exterior and interior of the cabinet communicate with each other may be formed in one surface of the first cabinet 11.
A first door 19 may be coupled to the first cabinet 11 and configured to selectively close the first laundry inlet 18. For example, the first door 19 may be rotatably coupled to the front panel and provide to close the first laundry inlet 18 depending on the rotational position thereof.
The laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a control panel 100. The control panel 100 may include an input unit 120 and an output unit. However, the input unit 120 and the output unit are not necessarily provided at the control panel 100.
The user may check course setting information or course progress information from information output through the output unit, and may issue various commands to the controller 70, such as changing the course setting by manipulating the input unit 120 to generate an input signal. A detailed description of the control panel 100 and the controller 70 will be given later.
Meanwhile, the interior of the first treating apparatus 10 is shown
The interior of the first treating apparatus 10, defined by the first cabinet 11, may include a first tub 12 and a first receiving unit configured to receive laundry. The first tub 12 may be provided in the first treating apparatus 10 to receive water.
The first tub 12 may include a first tub opening facing the first laundry inlet 18. Accordingly, laundry loaded by the user through the first laundry inlet 18 after opening the first door 19 may pass through the first laundry inlet 18 and the first tub opening and be received in the first tub 12.
The first receiving unit may be provided in the first cabinet 11 to receive the laundry. The first receiving unit may be configured in various forms. For example, the first receiving unit may be in the form of a basket provided in the first door 19 or a first drum 13 provided in the first tub 12, and may be provided in plural.
That is, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first receiving unit may include a first drum 13. The first drum 13 may be rotatably provided in the first tub 12. The laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a first driving unit 14, wherein the first drum 13 may be connected to the first driving unit 14 to receive rotational force therefrom.
The first drum 13 may receive laundry. The first drum 13 may include a first drum 13 opening facing the first tub opening. Accordingly, laundry loaded by the user through the first laundry inlet 18 may be received in the first drum 13 via the first tub opening and the first drum 13 opening.
The laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first water supply unit. The first water supply unit 15 may receive water from the outside, such as by being connected to an external water source. The first water supply unit 15 may include a water supply hose, which is the flow path of water and a water supply valve configured to regulate the flow of water.
The laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first rinse supply unit 16. The first detergent supply unit 16 may store detergent and may be configured to supply detergent into the first tub 12 when detergent is required to perform the treating process C0 for treating the laundry.
The laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first drainage unit 17. The first drainage unit 17 may be connected to the first tub 12 and configured to discharge water present in the first tub 12 to the outside of the first cabinet 11. The first drainage unit 17 may include a drainage hose through which water flows and a drainage pump configured to generate flow force of the water.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, water and detergent may be supplied into the first tub 12 via the first water supply unit 15 and the first detergent supply unit 16 when the washing course C11 for washing the laundry is performed, and washing of the laundry may be performed by rotation of the first drum 13 by the first driving unit 14, and the water and detergent in the first tub 12 may be discharged to the outside of the first cabinet 11 via the first drainage unit 17 as needed.
Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first treating apparatus 10 may include a heating unit 30. The heating unit 30 may be configured to receive air from the first drum 13, dehumidify and heat the air, and supply the same back into the first drum 13, to heat air outside the first cabinet 11 and supply the same into the first drum 13, or to heat air present in the first drum 13.
The first treating apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure does not necessarily need to include the first tub 12, and the first tub 12 may be omitted as needed. That is, the embodiment of the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to a washing machine, but may be a dryer with the tub removed or a washer-dryer capable of performing washing and drying.
Meanwhile, when the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes only the first treating apparatus 10, i.e., only one treating apparatus, the first treating apparatus 10 may be understood as the laundry treating apparatus 1.
That is, the first cabinet 11, the first tub 12, the first drum 13, etc. of the first treating apparatus 10 may all be referred to as a cabinet, a tub, a drum, etc. representative of the laundry treating apparatus 1 of the present disclosure.
Meanwhile,
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first treating apparatus 10 may be configured to communicate with the outside. A first communication unit of the first treating apparatus 10 for communication may be configured to enable communication in various ways such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. However, it is not necessary that the first communication unit be provided.
When the first communication unit is provided, the first treating apparatus 10 may communicate directly with a user terminal 3 or communicate with a communication medium 4 disposed outside the laundry treating apparatus 1. In the case of communicating with the communication medium 4, information exchange with a server 2 is possible through the communication medium 4.
The user terminal 3 may be any one of a variety of devices having a communication function. For example, the terminal 3 may be any one of a variety of devices having a communication function, such as a mobile phone, a computer, or a tablet PC.
The first treating apparatus 10 may exchange information with the terminal 3 through a communication process with the terminal 3 or exchange information with the server 2 through a communication process with the communication medium 4, as needed.
Furthermore, the terminal 3 may exchange information with the server 2, and the first treating apparatus 10 may exchange information with the server 2 through the communication medium 4, thereby indirectly exchanging information with the terminal 3.
For example, the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20 may be connected using a direct wireless communication method, such as Bluetooth, to exchange information, may communicate with each other through the communication medium 4, or may be indirectly connected through information exchange with the server 2 via the communication medium 4. Various disposition relationships between the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20 may be implemented.
Meanwhile,
The first treating apparatus 10 may include the first cabinet 11, the first tub 12, and the first drum 13 corresponding to the first receiving unit. The second treating apparatus 20 may include a second cabinet 21, a second tub 22, and a second drum 23 corresponding to a second receiving unit, which are different from those of the first treating apparatus 10.
The first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20 may perform the treating course C0 for treating the laundry independently of each other or in conjunction with each other. For example, the first treating apparatus 10 may perform a first course C1, which is one of plurality of treating courses C0 for treating the laundry, and the second treating apparatus 20 may perform a second course C2, which is one of the plurality of treating courses C0.
In the present disclosure, the treating course C0 performed by the first treating apparatus 10 may be referred to as the first course C1 and the treating course C0 performed by the second treating apparatus 20 may be referred to as the second course C2 for convenience of description. Each of the first course C1 and the second course C2 may be any one of a washing course, a drying course, and a washing-drying course.
For example, the first treating apparatus 10 may be a washing machine capable of performing the washing course C11, and the second treating apparatus 20 may be a dryer capable of performing the drying course. Alternatively, each of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20 may be a washing machine capable of performing the washing course or a dryer capable of performing the drying course.
Alternatively, at least one of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20 may be a washer-dryer capable of performing the washing course, the drying course, and the washing-drying course. For example, the first treating apparatus 10 shown in
The first treating apparatus 10 or the second treating apparatus 20 may include the heater when configured to perform the drying course, and may include the detergent supply unit and the water supply unit when configured to perform the washing course.
Meanwhile, referring to
That is, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, one of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20 may include the control panel 100 and the other may not include the control panel 100. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first treating apparatus 10 may include the control panel 100 and the second treating apparatus 20 may not include the control panel 100.
Meanwhile,
The first treating apparatus 10 may be disposed on the second treating apparatus 20. The first treating apparatus 10 may include the control panel 100, and the second treating apparatus 20 may not include the control panel 100.
The first treating apparatus 10 may include a first laundry inlet 18 for loading laundry, and the second treating apparatus 20 may include a second laundry inlet 28 for loading laundry. However, the first laundry inlet 18 and the second laundry inlet 28 may not necessarily be exposed to the outside at all times.
For example, in the laundry treating apparatus 1 shown in
The first laundry inlet 18 and the first door 19 may be located at the front of the first treating apparatus 10 so as to face the user. The control panel 100 may be disposed higher than the first door 19.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first treating apparatus 10 may have large volume than the second treating apparatus 20. That is, the amount of laundry that can be treated by the first treating apparatus 10 may be greater than the amount of laundry that can be treated by the second treating apparatus 20.
Accordingly, the height of the first treating apparatus 10 may be higher than the height of the second treating apparatus 20. The volume of the first drum 13 may be greater than the volume of the second drum 23. The user may select and use one or both of the first treating device 10 and the second treating device 20 depending on the amount of laundry to be treated.
Meanwhile,
When the second treating apparatus 20 is disposed under the first treating apparatus 10, i.e., when the second treating apparatus 20 is configured to support the load of the first treating apparatus 10, the second treating apparatus 20 may be configured as a front-loading type like the first treating apparatus 10, may be a top-loading type but include an apparatus drawer 40 configured to be withdrawn forward from the second cabinet 21.
The second receiving unit may be provided in the second cabinet 21 to receive laundry. The second receiving unit may be configured in various forms. For example, the second receiving unit may be in the form of a basket provided in the second door 29 or a second drum 23 provided in the second tub 22, and may be provided in plural.
That is, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the second receiving unit may include a second drum 23. A space in which the apparatus drawer 40 is received may be formed in the second cabinet 21. The second tub 22 and the second drum 23 may be provided in the apparatus drawer 40. The second laundry inlet 28 through which laundry is loaded may be provided in the top of the apparatus drawer.
Meanwhile,
For example, the second treating apparatus 20 may be configured as a dryer by omitting the second tub 22 or the like, or may be configured as a washer-dryer by further including a heater. However, for convenience of description, the second treating apparatus 20 will be described hereinafter based on the structure shown in
The second treating apparatus 20 may include a second cabinet 21 and an apparatus drawer 40. The second cabinet 21 may be disposed under the first cabinet 11 to support the load of the first cabinet 11. In addition, the apparatus drawer 40 may be moved rearward to be received in the second cabinet 21 or may be moved forward to be withdrawn from the second cabinet 21.
An opening through which the apparatus drawer 40 is moved may be formed in the front of the second cabinet 21. The second cabinet 21 may be a drawer-type treating apparatus having a length in a height direction less than a length in a width direction.
The apparatus drawer 40 may be provided at the front thereof with a gripping portion configured to be gripped by the user. The user may grip the gripping portion provided at the front of the apparatus drawer 40 received in the second cabinet 21 to withdraw the apparatus drawer 40.
The second tub 22 and the second drum 23 may be provided in the apparatus drawer 40. At least a part of each of the second tub 22 and the second drum 23 may be withdrawn from the second cabinet 21 along with the apparatus drawer 40. The second tub 22 may be configured to receive water therein, and the second drum 23 may be rotatably mounted in the second tub 22 and configured to receive laundry loaded through the second laundry inlet 28.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first treating apparatus 10 may be a front-loading type and the second treating apparatus 20 may be a top-loading type. The first laundry inlet 18 of the first treating apparatus 10 may be located at the front of the first cabinet 11, and the second laundry inlet 28 of the second treating apparatus 20 may be located at the top of the apparatus drawer 40.
The second door 29 configured to open and close the second laundry inlet 28 may be provided at the top of the apparatus drawer 40. However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto, and the second laundry inlet 28 of the second treating apparatus 20 may also be located at the front of the second cabinet 21.
The second treating apparatus 20 may include a second driving unit 24. The second driving unit 24 may be fixed to the second tub 22, the second cabinet 21, or the apparatus drawer 40. The second driving unit 24 may be coupled to the second drum 23 to rotate the second drum 23.
The second treating apparatus 20 may include a second water supply unit 25. The second water supply unit 25 may be connected to the outside of the second cabinet 21 to receive water therefrom. The second water supply unit 25 may be connected to the first treating apparatus 10 or an external water source to receive water therefrom.
The second treating apparatus 20 may include a second detergent supply unit 26. The second detergent supply unit 26 may be configured to supply detergent into the second tub 22 for the treating course C0 performed in the second treating apparatus 20.
The second detergent supply unit 26 may store detergent independently of the first detergent supply unit 16 or may receive detergent from the first detergent supply unit 16 and provide the same to the second tub 22.
The second water supply unit 25 may be directly connected to the second tub 22 to supply water into the second tub 22 or may be connected to the second detergent supply unit 26 to supply water to the second detergent supply unit 26, and the second detergent supply unit 26 may supply both water and detergent into the second tub 22.
The second treating apparatus 20 may include a second drainage unit 27, and the second drainage unit 27 may be configured to discharge the water in the second tub 22 to the outside of the second cabinet 21.
Meanwhile,
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 70 may be provided in one or in plural. For example, the controller 70 may be provided at only one of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20, or may be defined as including a first controller 70 provided in the first treating apparatus 10 and a second controller 70 provided in the second treating apparatus 20.
In one treating apparatus, the controllers 70 may be provided in one or in plural, as needed. For example, the controller 70 may be provided in plural and configured to control different power consuming devices.
For example, the controller 70 may include a driving controller 70 configured to control the driving unit, a water supply controller 70 configured to control the water supply unit, a drainage controller 70 configured to control the drainage unit, a panel controller 70 configured to control the control panel 100.
In addition, the controller 70 may be defined as a plurality of controllers different from each other when viewed from a controlled processing perspective.
For example, the controller 70 may include at least one of a storage unit configured to store information, a treating apparatus configured to process the information, and a communication unit configured to perform communication in a wired or wireless fashion.
That is, although the controller 70 may be referred to as a single unit in the present disclosure, the controller may be referred to as a plurality of controllers 70 from structural and control role perspectives, as needed.
The controller 70 may control the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20. The controller 70 may be provided in any one or each of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20.
The controller 70 may be directly or indirectly connected to the first drum 13 of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second drum 23 of the second treating apparatus 20 to rotate the first drum 13 in order to perform the first course C1 or to rotate the second drum 23 in order to perform the second course C2.
The controller 70 is connected to an output unit 110 provided in the control panel 100 to control a screen D1 output from the output unit 110. A detailed description of the screen D1 output from the output unit 110 will be given later.
Meanwhile, a control panel 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in
The output unit may provide various kinds of information, such as auditory information and visual information, to the user. For example, the output unit may include a speaker configured to output sound to provide information, and may include a screen output device configured to output the screen D1 that provides information to the user.
Hereinafter, the output unit 110 will be described based on the form that includes a display and is configured to output the screen D1 for convenience of description. However, the speaker may be further included.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the output unit 110 may output various screens D1. The controller 70 may prestore various screens D1 to be output from the output unit 110. The controller 70 may control the output unit 110 to change the screens D1 output from the output unit 110.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the screens D1 output from the output unit 110 may include a first apparatus screen associated with the first treating apparatus 10 and a second apparatus screen associated with the second treating apparatus 20. In addition, the screen D1 may include a simultaneous screen D40 on which information related to the first treating apparatus 10 and information related to the second treating apparatus 20 are displayed together.
Meanwhile, the plurality of screens D1 output from the output unit 110 may be divided according to information displayed. For example, the screens D1 may include a start screen D10 that provides boot information of the first treating apparatus 10 or the second treating apparatus 20, a course selection screen D20 that displays a treating course C0 that can be performed by the first treating apparatus 10 or the second treating apparatus 20, an option display screen that displays option information of the treating course C0, an option setting screen for setting one of a plurality of options for the treating course C0, and a course progress screen D30 that displays progress information of the treating course C0 being performed by the first treating apparatus 10 or the second treating apparatus 20.
Meanwhile, the plurality of screens D1 that are divided according to the information displayed may be further divided according to the treating apparatus. For example, the course selection screen D20 may be divided into a first course selection screen D20 that displays a first course C1 of the first treating apparatus 10 and a second course selection screen D20 that displays a second course C2 of the second treating apparatus 20.
The course progress screen D30 may include a first course progress screen D30 that displays progress information of the first course C1 and a second course progress screen D30 that displays progress information of the second course C2.
The controller 70 may control the output unit 110 to output any one of the first apparatus screen for the first treating apparatus 10, the second apparatus screen for the second treating apparatus 20, and the simultaneous screen D40 that displays both information of the first treating apparatus 10 and information of the second treating apparatus 20.
In addition, the controller 70 may control the output unit 110 to output any one of the plurality of screens D1, such as the start screen D10, the course selection screen D20, and the course progress screen D30, depending on the power state of the treating apparatuses or the progress state of each treating course C0.
The input unit 120 may be configured to receive user commands. For example, the input unit 120 may generate an input signal in response to user manipulation, and the input signal may be transmitted to the controller 70 so as to be converted into various user commands.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the output unit 110 may display various objects on the screen D1. The various objects may be displayed on the screen for selection, and the input unit 120 may receive a user command for the user to select one of the displays on the screen D1.
For example, the input unit 120 may be provided in the output unit 110 and configured to detect a touch signal from the user on the screen D1. That is, the input unit 120 may correspond to a touch film provided on the display on which the screen D1 is output from the output unit 110.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the input unit 120 and the output unit 110 may be provided in any one of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20. In addition, the input unit 120 and the output unit 110 may be provided on any one of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20.
Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, a power button 130 and a start-stop button 140 may be provided. The buttons may be of various types, such as a mechanical type or a touch type.
The power button 130 may be provided to power on or off the first treating apparatus 10 and/or the second treating apparatus 20. The start-stop button 140 may be provided for the user to start or stop the first course C1 of the first treating apparatus 10 and/or the second course C2 of the second treating apparatus 20.
The power button 130 and the start-stop button 140 may be provided for each of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20, but in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the power button 130 and the start-stop button 140 may be provided for only one of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20.
For example, when the first treating apparatus 10 is provided with the power button 130 and the start-stop button 140, the second treating apparatus 20 may not have the power button 130 and the start-stop button 140. In addition, the first treating apparatus 10 may have one power button 130 and one start-stop button 140.
In this case, the power button 130 may be used to change the power state of the second treating apparatus 20 in addition to the power state of the first treating apparatus 10. The power button 130 may regulate the power of one of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20 selected by the user.
In addition, the start-stop button 140 may be used to determine whether to start/stop the first course C1 and whether to start/stop the second course C2. The start-stop button 140 may be used to determine whether to start/stop the course of one of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20 selected by the user.
Meanwhile, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may not have an apparatus switching button for switching between the first apparatus screen associated with the first treating apparatus 10 and the second apparatus screen associated with the second treating apparatus 20 in the output unit 110.
As will be described later, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the user may select one of the mode related to the first treating apparatus 10 and the mode related to the second treating apparatus 20 displayed on the output unit 110 to determine the treating apparatus displayed on the screen D1.
Meanwhile, the control panel 100 may be provided in the front panel of the cabinet 10. The front panel may be provided with the laundry inlet 18, and may be provided with a door 19 configured to open and close the laundry inlet 18.
The control panel 100 may be disposed above the door 19 in the front panel. The control panel 100 may have a shape approximately extending in the width direction of the cabinet 10, wherein the extending length of the control panel 100 may be less than the width of the cabinet 10.
However, the position of the output unit 110 and/or the input unit 120 is not necessarily limited thereto, and for example, the output unit 110 and/or the input unit 120 may be provided in the first door 19 instead of the front panel.
When the control panel 100 is provided in the first door 19, a substrate constituting the control panel 100, an outer panel, the input unit 120, and the output unit 110 may be provided in the first door 19.
Even when the output unit 110 and/or the input unit 120 is provided in the second treating apparatus 20, the output unit and/or the input unit may be provided in the front panel of the second cabinet 21 or in the second door 29.
The power button 130, the start-stop button 140, and the output unit 110 may be provided in the control panel 100. For example, the power button 130 and the start-stop button 140 may be disposed on both sides of the output unit 110, which includes a display and outputs a screen.
The power button 130 may be disposed on one side of the output unit 110, and the start-stop button 140 may be disposed on the other side of the output unit 110. The power button 130, the start-stop button 140, and the output unit 110 may be located in the control panel 100 based on the perimeter of the control panel 110, and the color of each of the power button 130 and the start-stop button 140 may be identical or similar to the color of the control panel 100.
Meanwhile, in
First, when power is applied to the laundry treating apparatus 1 through the power button 130, a start process P1 in which the controller 70 determines the states of various components and prepares to perform a course may be performed, and the output unit 110 may output the start screen D10 that informs the user of the start process P1.
After the start process P1 is completed, the controller 70 may perform the course selection process P2. A plurality of treating courses C0 for treating the laundry may be prestored in the controller 70, and the user may select any one of the plurality of treating courses C0 in the course selection process P2.
Also, in the course selection process P2, various options for the course may be adjusted by the user. The output unit 110 may output an option display screen for providing option information in the course selection process P2. In addition, the output unit 110 may output an option setting screen for changing a setting value of one of the options of a course that is a current target to be performed in the course selection process P2.
When the start-stop button 140 is manipulated in the state in which any one treating course C0 is a target to be performed in the course selection process P2, the controller 70 may perform a course progress process P3 in which the treating course C0 is performed.
In the course progress process P3, the controller 70 may perform the treating course C0 in which options, etc. are determined through the course selection process P2, and the output unit 110 may output a course progress screen D30 that displays the progress of the treating course C0.
Meanwhile,
The screen D1 shown in
Specifically, the course selection screen D20 may display at least some of the plurality of treating courses C0. The course selection screen D20 may display a course object D103 corresponding to each of the plurality of treating courses C0 so as to be selected by the user.
The user may select any one of the plurality of treating courses C0 displayed on the course selection screen D20 as a treating course to be performed by a user command through the input unit 120.
In the course selection screen D20, the plurality of course objects D103 may be arranged in one direction. For example, the plurality of course objects D103 may be arranged in a width direction, a height direction, or an oblique direction of the cabinet 11.
The course objects D103 other than the target to be performed may be disposed on one side and/or the other side of the target to be performed. The target to be performed may be displayed so as to have a larger size than the others of the plurality of course objects D103.
For example, as shown in
Meanwhile, as described above, the course selection screen D20 may display a course object D103 representing each treating course C0, and the course object D103 may have a border line so as to be visually identified by the user.
In addition, the course object D103 may include a color or image that is different from the remainder of the screen D1 except for the course object D103.
The course object D103 may include a course name D104 indicating the name of a treating course C0 corresponding thereto, and may include an estimated time D105 indicating the estimated time when the treating course C0 is performed.
Meanwhile, when a user command, an input signal, or a touch signal for selecting the course object D103 through the input unit 120 is transmitted to the controller 70, the controller 70 may control the output unit 110 to output an option display screen on which option information of the treating course C0 is displayed.
The user may select the course object D103 to output the option display screen, and may select any one of the plurality of options displayed on the option display screen to change the setting value for the option.
Meanwhile, the course selection screen D20 may display a mode selection object D51 for displaying a plurality of modes that may be selected by the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20 on the screen.
Specifically, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first treating apparatus 10 and/or the second treating apparatus 20 may be operated in at least one mode. For example, the first treating apparatus 10 may be operated in any one of a washing mode M11 in which the wash course C11 for washing the laundry is performed, a drying mode M12 in which the drying course C12 is performed, and a washing-drying mode M13 in which the washing-drying course C13 is performed. The second treating apparatus 20 may also be operated in at least one mode.
The course selection screen D20 may display treating courses C0 according to a mode that is currently being performed, among the plurality of modes including the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20.
The mode selection object D51 may be displayed to include the name of the mode that is currently being performed, and when the mode selection object D51 is selected, the controller 70 may control the output unit 110 to output a mode selection screen D50 on which the plurality of modes is displayed for selection. A further detailed description of the plurality of modes will be given later.
Meanwhile, in consideration of the limited size of the screen D1, the course selection screen D20 may display only some of the plurality of treating courses C0 set in the controller 70.
The user may change the treating course C0 displayed on the course selection screen D20 by an input signal such as sliding the screen D1.
However, if the number of treating courses C0 stored in the controller 70 in the mode is large, it may be cumbersome for the user to check all of the plurality of treating courses C0 by sliding or the like.
Accordingly, the output unit 110 may display a course view object D101 for outputting a larger number of treating courses C0 than the number displayed at once on the course selection screen D20 as selectable.
When the course view object D101 is selected by the user, the output unit 110 may display a plurality of treating courses C0 that may be provided to the user according to the current mode on the screen in a number greater than the number displayed on the course selection screen D20.
For example, when the course overview object D101 is selected, the output unit 110 may display all of the plurality of treating courses C0 that are currently available as selectable. If the number of the plurality of treating courses C0 is excessively large, the plurality of treating courses C0 may be displayed on the screen in the form of a plurality of pages.
Meanwhile, the course selection screen D20 may display a setting object D102. When the setting object D102 is selected by the user, a setting screen for setting the first treating apparatus 10 or the second treating apparatus 20 may be displayed on the screen.
The course selection screen D20 may display an indicator D110. The indicator D110 is an indication for indicating the state of the first treating apparatus 10 or the second treating apparatus 20, and may be displayed in a shape corresponding to information to be provided to the user.
The indicator D110 displayed on the screen may be provided in plural to indicate different kinds of information. For example, the plurality of indicators D110 may indicate various kinds of apparatus information such as communication state information and schedule state information.
Meanwhile,
The course progress screen D30 may include the mode selection object D51, the setting object D102, and the indicator D110. In addition, the course progress screen D30 may display the course object D103, and the course object D103 may include a course name D104 indicating the name of the treating course C0 that is currently being performed, a remaining time D106 indicating the remaining time until completion of the treating course C0 that is currently being performed, a cycle description D107 to describe the cycle that is currently being performed during the treating course C0, and a time display D108 indicating the extent to which the treating course C0 has been performed heretofore.
The time display D108 may be displayed in a certain line corresponding to the entirety of the treating course C0 to display differently the cycle that has been treated and the remaining cycle or the time taken heretofore and the remaining time such that the user can conveniently check the remaining cycle or the remaining time.
Meanwhile,
A single power button 130 is provided in only one of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20. That is, when provided in the first treating apparatus 10, the power button 130 is not provided in the second treating apparatus 20, and when provided in the second treating apparatus 20, the power button 130 is not provided in the first treating apparatus 10.
Even if there are three or more treating apparatuses, a single power button 130 may be provided in only one of the treating apparatuses, and the power button 130 may selectively power on/off the three or more treating apparatuses. However, the following description is limited to the case of two treating apparatuses for convenience of description.
When the power button 130 provided only in the first treating apparatus 10 is manipulated in the state in which the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20 are off, the first treating apparatus 10 is powered on and the second treating apparatus 20 remains off.
Conversely, when the power button 130 provided only in the second treating apparatus 20 is manipulated, the second treating apparatus 20 is powered on, and the first treating apparatus 10 is powered off. In the case of three or more treating apparatuses, the treating apparatus having the power button 130 may be powered on and the other treating apparatuses may be powered off.
When the first treating apparatus 10 is powered on, the output unit 110 outputs a first course selection screen D21.
The first course selection screen D21 displays a course name of one of a plurality of laundry treating courses and includes a plurality of first course selection objects that can be selected.
The first course selection object includes a selection object from which a course corresponding to a mode being performed among a plurality of modes of the first treating apparatus 10 can be selected.
The selectable modes of the first treating apparatus 10 include, but are not necessarily limited to, a washing-drying mode, a washing mode, and a drying mode. However, the following description will be given based on the three modes for convenience of description.
Selectable courses of the washing-drying mode include a standard course, an artificial intelligence course, a bedding course, a small quantity rapid course, a towel course, an economical boiling course, a course in which rinsing, spin-drying, and drying are sequentially performed, a course in which spin-drying and drying are sequentially performed, and a drum sterilization care course.
Selectable courses of the washing mode may further include a wool/delicate course and a timed washing course in addition to the selectable courses of the washing-drying mode, and the course including the drying cycle may be omitted.
Selectable courses of the drying mode may further include a bedding shaking course, a time drying course, and a steam sterilization course in addition to the courses of the washing mode, and the economical boiling course, the timed washing course, and the course in which rinsing and spin-drying are sequentially performed may be omitted.
Other courses may be further included in addition to the above courses, and some may be excluded from the courses. However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto.
In addition, the first course selection screen D21 further includes a mode selection object D51 for switching between the modes of first treating apparatus 10 and outputting a mode list in which modes of the second treating apparatus 20 are displayed.
When the mode selection object D51 is selected, any one of the plurality of modes of the first treating apparatus 10 and the mode of the second treating apparatus 20 may be selected.
The mode of the second treating apparatus 20 may be, but is not limited to, a small quantity washing mode, and may further include the modes of the first treating apparatus 10. The second treating apparatus 20 may have a larger capacity than the first treating apparatus 10, and the mode of the second treating apparatus 20 may include other modes for treating laundry. However, the mode of the second treating apparatus 20 will be described hereinafter as a small quantity washing mode for convenience of description.
When the mode selection object D51 is selected and the mode of the second treating apparatus 20, i.e. the small quantity washing mode, is selected, the second treating apparatus 20 is powered on in the state in which the second treating apparatus 20 is off, and the output unit 110 outputs a second course selection screen D22.
The second course selection screen D22 displays a course name of one of the plurality of laundry treating courses and includes a plurality of second course selection objects that can be selected.
The second course selection object includes a selection object from which a course corresponding to the mode of the second treating apparatus 20 can be selected.
The selectable mode of the second treating apparatus 20 is, but is not necessarily limited to, a small quantity washing mode; however, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
Selectable courses of the small quantity washing mode include a small quantity washing course, a small quantity boiling course, a baby clothes course, a course in which rinsing and spin-drying are sequentially performed, a drum sterilization course, a cotton underwear course, a wool/delicate course, and a pet care washing course.
Other courses may be further included in addition to the above courses, and some may be excluded from the courses. However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto.
Meanwhile,
When both the course of the first treating apparatus 10 and the course of the second treating apparatus 20 are in progress, the output unit 110 outputs a simultaneous screen D40 that displays progress information of the first course in progress of the first treating apparatus 10, includes a selectable first course object D41, displays progress information of the second course in progress of the second treating apparatus 20, and includes a selectable second course object D42
When the second course object D42 is selected and the power button 130 is manipulated on the simultaneous screen D40, the second treating apparatus 20 is powered off and the first treating apparatus 10 remains on, and the first course continues to proceed.
When the second treating apparatus 20 is powered off, the output unit 110 outputs a first course progress screen D31 on which the first course object D41 is displayed alone while the second course object D42 is excluded from the simultaneous screen D40.
In addition, when the first course object D41 is selected and the power button 130 is manipulated on the simultaneous screen D40, the first treating apparatus 10 may be powered off, the second treating apparatus 20 may remain on, the second course may continue to proceed, and the output unit 110 may output a second course progress screen D32.
If the output unit 110 and the input part 120 are provided only in the first treating apparatus 10, when the first treating apparatus 10 is powered off, the output unit 110 and the input part 120 are also powered off, and the second course may proceed in the state in which the second treating apparatus 20 is on.
Meanwhile,
When the power button 130 is manipulated without selecting the first course object D41 or the second course object D42 on the simultaneous screen D40, the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20 may be powered off.
Meanwhile,
When the second course object D42 is selected on the simultaneous screen D40, the output unit 110 may output the second option display screen D62 on which the option information of the second course in progress is displayed.
There is option information corresponding to each of a plurality of second courses, and the option information of the small quantity washing course may include the number of rinses and water temperature.
When the course is in progress, the course may be deactivated so as not to be selected, and when the course is paused, the course may be activated so as to be selected.
When the power button 130 is manipulated on the second option display screen D62, the second treating apparatus 20 is powered off and the first treating apparatus 10 remains on, whereby the output unit 110 may output the first course progress screen D31.
Similarly, when the first course object D41 is selected on the simultaneous screen D40, the output unit 110 may output a first option display screen D61, and when the power button 130 is manipulated in the state in which the first option display screen D61 is output, the first treating apparatus 10 is powered off, the second treating apparatus 20 remains on, and the output unit 110 outputs the second course progress screen D32.
The first option display screen D61 may further include the first course object D41 and an X button D63 configured to remove the first option display screen D61.
When the first course object D41 or the X button D63 is selected, the first option display D61 may be removed, and the output unit 110 may output the first course progress screen D31.
The first course progress screen D31 may include the mode selection object D51, and when the mode of the second treating apparatus 20 is selected through the mode selection object D51 and the power button 130 is manipulated, the second treating apparatus 20 may be powered off, the first treating apparatus 10 may remain on, and the output unit 110 may output the first course progress screen D31.
Similarly, the second option display screen D62 may further include the second course object D42 and the X button D63, and when the second course object D42 or the X button D63 is selected on the second option display screen D62, the second option display screen D62 may be removed, and the output unit 110 may output the second course progress screen D32.
The second course progress screen D32 may include the mode selection object D51, and when the mode of the first treating apparatus 10 is selected through the mode selection object D51 and the power button 130 is manipulated, the first treating apparatus 10 may be powered off, the second treating apparatus 20 may remain on, and the output unit 110 may output the second course progress screen D32.
Meanwhile,
The first treating apparatus 10 or the second treating apparatus 20 may be powered off when the reference time elapses without any manipulation while the first treating apparatus 10 or the second treating apparatus 20 is paused.
When one of the first treating apparatus 10 and the second treating apparatus 20 is powered off as the reference time elapses without any manipulation while the apparatus is paused, the other treating apparatus may remain on, and the output unit 110 may output the course progress screen D30 of the treating apparatus in progress and may output a message that the paused treating apparatus was not used and powered off.
As is apparent from the above description, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of effectively outputting information of a plurality of treating apparatuses through a single output unit.
In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of effectively powering on/off a plurality of treating apparatuses using a single power button.
In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of powering off one treating apparatus while a plurality of treating apparatuses is simultaneously operated using a single power button.
In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of preventing a plurality of treating apparatuses from being simultaneously powered off while the plurality of treating apparatuses is simultaneously operated using a single power button.
While the present disclosure has been shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those ordinary skilled in the art that various improvements and changes may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the technical ideas of the present disclosure as provided by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2023-0101577 | Aug 2023 | KR | national |
