LAUNDRY TREATMENT APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

Disclosed is a control method of a laundry treatment apparatus including an accommodator in which clothes are accommodated, a circulation flow path for introducing air discharged from the accommodator into the accommodator, a heat exchanger including a fan for moving air along the circulation flow path, a first heat exchanger for cooling air introduced into the circulation flow path, and a second heat exchanger for heating air passing through the first heat exchanger, a storage for storing condensate of the air passing through the first heat exchanger, a drain tank for providing a space in which condensate is stored, a washer for washing the first heat exchanger by spraying water to the first heat exchanger, a drain for draining water of the storage, a flow path controller including a housing for receiving water from the drain, a washer water pipe for connecting the housing and the washer, a tank water pipe for connecting the housing and the drain tank, a disk rotatably provided inside the housing, and a disk through hole that is formed through the disk and sequentially opens the washer water pipe and the tank water pipe during rotation of the disk, and a position detector for detecting a position of the disk through hole.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

A laundry treatment apparatus is a generic term for devices for washing and drying washable items (to be washed) represented by clothes, drying dry items (to be dried), and washing and drying items that need to be treated.

A conventional laundry treatment apparatus for drying includes a drum providing a space in which clothes are accommodated, a circulation flow path for guiding air discharged from the drum to a drum, a fan for moving air along the circulation flow path, and a heat exchanger for sequentially performing dehumidification and heating of the air introduced into the circulation flow path.

The heat exchanger provided in the above structure includes a first heat exchanger for cooling air inside the circulation flow path, and a second heat exchanger for heating air passing through the first heat exchanger. Since air discharged from the drum is condensed while passing through the first heat exchanger, a storage for collecting condensate is provided inside or outside the circulation flow path. The condensate stored in the storage is discharged to the outside of the laundry treatment apparatus through a drain pump or stored in a drain tank provided inside the laundry treatment apparatus.

In a conventional laundry treatment apparatus, it may be possible to wash the first heat exchanger by spraying condensate of the storage to the first heat exchanger through a washer (Publication No. 10-2019-0128944). The above-described laundry treatment apparatus needs to include a flow path controller for supplying condensate supplied from the drain pump to any one of the washer and the drain tank.

The flow path controller includes a housing for receiving condensate from the drain pump, a washer supply inlet for guiding the condensate inside the housing to the washer, a tank supply inlet for guiding the condensate inside the housing to the drain tank, and a disk-shaped valve body rotatably provided inside the housing. The valve body includes a disk through hole for controlling opening and closing of the washer supply inlet and the tank supply inlet according to a rotation angle of the valve body. Thus, a conventional laundry treatment apparatus may control the rotation angle of the valve body to open the washer supply inlet or control opening and closing of the tank supply inlet.

However, the above-described laundry treatment apparatus has a disadvantage in that it is difficult to determine the position of the disk through hole provided in the valve body. During an operation of the fan, a pressure inside the storage decreases, and during the operation of the fan, when the disk through hole is in an open state of the tank supply inlet, outside air flows into the drain pump (a water level inside a pump housing in which a pump impeller is accommodated is lowered), and thus the drainage performance of the drain pump may decrease. Therefore, positioning the disk through hole is an important design consideration to prevent deterioration of a function of the laundry treatment apparatus.

In addition, the conventional laundry treatment apparatus has a problem that occurs when a foreign material is caught between the valve body and the housing (when the valve body is constrained to the housing and it is difficult to rotate).

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

An object of the present disclosure devised to solve the problem lies on a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof for detecting the position of a disk through hole for controlling opening and closing of a washer supply inlet for supplying condensate to a washer and a tank supply inlet for supplying condensate to a drain tank.

An object of the present disclosure devised to solve the problem lies on a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof for recognizing and resolving a cause of an abnormal state by performing an operation for checking the position of a disk through hole when a water level of a storage in which condensate is stored is determined to be in an abnormal state.

Solution to Problem

The object of the present disclosure can be achieved by providing a laundry treatment apparatus including an accommodator in which clothes are accommodated, a circulation flow path for introducing air discharged from the accommodator into the accommodator, a heat exchanger including a fan for moving air along the circulation flow path, a first heat exchanger for cooling air introduced into the circulation flow path, and a second heat exchanger for heating air passing through the first heat exchanger, a storage for storing condensate of the air passing through the first heat exchanger, a drain tank for providing a space in which condensate is stored, a washer for washing the first heat exchanger by spraying water to the first heat exchanger, a drain for draining water of the storage, a flow path controller including a housing for receiving water from the drain, a washer water pipe for connecting the housing and the washer, a tank water pipe for connecting the housing and the drain tank, a disk rotatably provided inside the housing, and a disk through hole that is formed through the disk and sequentially opens the washer water pipe and the tank water pipe during rotation of the disk, and a position detector for detecting a position of the disk through hole.

The control method of the laundry treatment apparatus may include a drying operation of supplying air to the accommodator by operating the heat exchanger, a disk rotation operation of executing a control command for moving the disk through hole to a point at which the washer water pipe is opened and a control command for moving the disk through hole to a point at which the tank water pipe is opened while the drying operation is performed, and a determining operation of determining whether the disk through hole is positioned at a point input according to the control command through the position detector.

The control method of the laundry treatment apparatus may include a forced rotation operation of, when determining that the disk through hole is not positioned at a position input according to the control command, forcibly rotating the disk by supplying overcurrent to a motor for rotating the disk.

In the forced rotation operation, the disk may alternately perform clockwise rotation and counterclockwise rotation.

After the forced rotation operation is completed, the disk rotation operation and the determining operation may be performed again, and when it is determined that the disk through hole is not positioned at a point input according to the control command in the determining operation performed again, the forced rotation operation may be performed again.

The control method of the laundry treatment apparatus may further include a notification operation of notifying a user of a failure of the flow path controller when a number of performing of the forced rotation operation is equal to or greater than a preset reference number.

The disk rotation operation and the determining operation may be initiated when a water level of the storage reaches a preset reference water level.

The reference water level may be set to a water level required to wash the first heat exchanger.

The object of the present disclosure can be achieved by providing a control method of a laundry treatment apparatus including an accommodator in which clothes are accommodated, a circulation flow path for introducing air discharged from the accommodator into the accommodator, a heat exchanger including a fan for moving air along the circulation flow path, a first heat exchanger for cooling air introduced into the circulation flow path, and a second heat exchanger for heating air passing through the first heat exchanger, a storage for storing condensate of the air passing through the first heat exchanger, a drain tank for providing a space in which condensate is stored, a washer for washing the first heat exchanger by spraying water to the first heat exchanger, a drain for draining water of the storage, a flow path controller including a housing for receiving water from the drain, a washer water pipe for connecting the housing and the washer, a tank water pipe for connecting the housing and the drain tank, a disk rotatably provided inside the housing, and a disk through hole that is formed through the disk and sequentially opens the washer water pipe and the tank water pipe during rotation of the disk, and a position detector for detecting a position of the disk through hole, the method including a drying operation of supplying air to the accommodator by operating the heat exchanger, a drainage operation of, when a water level of the storage reaches a preset reference water level while the drying operation is performed, controlling the flow path controller and the drain to move the condensate of the storage to the drain tank, a disk rotation operation of, when a time when the water level of the storage, measured after the drainage operation is completed, reaches the reference water level is within a preset reference time, executing a control command for moving the disk through hole to a point at which the washer water pipe is opened and a control command for moving the disk through hole to a point at which the tank water pipe is opened, and a determining operation of determining whether the disk through hole is positioned at a point input according to the control command through the position detector.

The control method of the laundry treatment apparatus may further include a forced rotation operation of, when determining that the disk through hole is not positioned at a position input according to the control command, forcibly rotating the disk by supplying overcurrent to a motor for rotating the disk.

After the forced rotation operation is completed, the disk rotation operation and the determining operation may be performed again, and when it is determined that the disk through hole is not positioned at a point input according to the control command in the determining operation performed again, the forced rotation operation may be performed again.

The control method of the laundry treatment apparatus may further include a notification operation of notifying a user of a failure of the flow path controller when a number of performing of the forced rotation operation is equal to or greater than a preset reference number.

The control method of the laundry treatment apparatus may further include a blowing stop operation of stopping an operation of the fan when it is determined that the disk through hole is positioned at a point input according to the control command, and a redrainage operation of operating the drain after an operation of the fan is stopped.

The control method of the laundry treatment apparatus may further include a notification operation of, when a time when the water level of the storage, measured after the re-drainage operation is completed, reaches the reference water level is within the reference time, displaying a failure of the drain or a request to empty the drain tank to a user.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present discourse provides a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof for detecting the position of a disk through hole for controlling opening and closing of a washer supply inlet for supplying condensate to a washer and a tank supply inlet for supplying condensate to a drain tank.

The present discourse provides a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof for recognizing and resolving a cause of an abnormal state by performing an operation for checking the position of a disk through hole when a water level of a storage in which condensate is stored is determined to be in an abnormal state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of a laundry treatment apparatus.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a heat exchanger.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a drain.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a washer and a drain tank.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of a flow path controller.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a washer, a drain, and a flow path controller.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a control method of a laundry treatment apparatus.

FIG. 10 shows a control method of a laundry treatment apparatus according to another embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Meanwhile, elements or control method of apparatuses which will be described below are only intended to describe the embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to restrict the scope of the present disclosure. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a laundry treatment apparatus 100 may include an accommodator 17 provided inside a cabinet 1 to provide a space for accommodating an object to be treated (clothes, etc.) therein, a circulation flow path 2 for re-supplying air discharged from the accommodator 17 to a drum, and a heat exchanger 3 for exchanging heat with the air introduced into the circulation flow path 2.

The cabinet 1 may include a front surface 11 positioned on a front side of the laundry treatment apparatus, a rear surface 12 positioned on a rear side of the laundry treatment apparatus, and a base 13 defining a bottom surface of the laundry treatment apparatus.

The front surface 11 may include a cabinet inlet 111 for putting in and taking out clothes, and the cabinet inlet 111 may be provided to be closed by a door 115 rotatably fixed to the front surface 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the front surface 11 may include a control panel. The control panel may include a display 114 for displaying a control command to be selected by a user, and an input interface 113 for allowing the user to select the control command displayed on the display 114.

The accommodator 17 may be provided as a drum rotatably provided inside the cabinet 1. The drum 17 may be provided with a cylindrical drum body 171 having an open front surface and an open rear surface.

In order to rotatably support the drum body 171, the cabinet 1 may include a front panel 14 for rotatably supporting the front surface of the drum body 171, and a rear panel 15 for rotatably supporting the rear surface of the drum body 171.

The front panel 14 may include a front panel body 141 fixed to the front surface 11 or the cabinet 1, a drum inlet 142 formed through the front panel body, and a drum exhaust hole 143 for discharging air inside the drum body 171 to the circulation flow path 2.

The drum inlet 142 may be connected to the cabinet inlet 111. Accordingly, when the door 115 opens the cabinet inlet 111, the user may put clothes into the drum body 171 through the cabinet inlet 111 and the drum inlet 142, or take out clothes from the drum body 171.

For filtering the air discharged from the drum body 171, the drum exhaust hole 143 may include a filter detachably fixed to the front panel body 141.

The rear panel 15 includes a rear panel body 151 fixed to the rear surface 12 or the cabinet 1, and a drum supply hole 152 formed through the rear panel body 151.

The drum body 171 is rotatable by a driver 18 provided inside the cabinet 1. The driver 18 may include a drum motor 181 and a belt 182 connecting a rotating shaft of the drum motor and a circumferential surface of the drum body 171.

In order to stir the clothes inside the drum body 171, a lifter 172 may be further provided inside the drum body 171. The lifter 172 may be provided as a board protruding from the circumferential surface of the drum body 171 toward the center of rotation of the drum body.

The circulation flow path 2 may include a first duct 21 connected to the drum exhaust hole 143, a second duct 22 connected to a drum supply hole 152, and a third duct 23 (connection duct) connecting the first duct and the second duct. The connection duct 23 may be fixed to the base 13.

As shown in FIG. 3, the heat exchanger 3 may include a fan 36 for moving air along the circulation flow path 2, and heat pumps 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 for sequentially performing dehumidification and heating of air moving along the circulation flow path.

The fan 36 may include a fan impeller 361 positioned inside the circulation flow path 2, and a fan motor 362 positioned outside the circulation flow path 2 to rotate the fan impeller 361.

The heat pump may include a refrigerant pipe 33 defining a flow path through which a refrigerant circulates, a compressor 34 for moving the refrigerant along the refrigerant pipe 33, a first heat exchanger 31 fixed to the refrigerant pipe 33 and transferring heat of air introduced into the connection duct 23 to the refrigerant, a second heat exchanger 32 fixed to the refrigerant pipe 33 and transferring heat of the refrigerant to air passing through the first heat exchanger 31, and a control valve 35 for controlling a pressure of the refrigerant.

The connection duct 23 may include a duct body 231 fixed to the base 13, and a duct cover 232 defining an upper surface of the duct body. As shown in FIG. 4, the duct body 231 may include a first mounting part 233 on which the first heat exchanger 31 is mounted, a second mounting part 234 on which the second heat exchanger 32 is mounted, and a third mounting part 235 (fan mounting part) in which the fan impeller 361 is rotatably accommodated.

The air introduced into the connection duct 23 may be condensed while passing through the first heat exchanger 31, may be heated while passing through the second heat exchanger 32, and may move to the drum body 171 through the second duct 22 and the drum supply hole 152.

The base 13 may include a storage 61 (first collector) in which condensate generated when the air passing through the first heat exchanger 31 is condensed is stored. FIG. 4 shows an example of the case in which the storage 61 is positioned outside the connection duct 23, and in this case, the storage 61 and the connection duct 23 may be connected to each other through a duct drain hole 239.

A bottom surface of the storage 61 may be positioned at a lower point than a bottom surface of the first mounting part 233 to naturally drain condensate falling from the first heat exchanger 31 to the bottom surface of the first mounting part 233, into the storage 61.

In addition, the connection duct 23 may include a support to prevent the condensate from contacting the first heat exchanger 31 and the second heat exchanger 32 and to facilitate discharge of condensate inside the first mounting part 233.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support may include a support plate 237 for supporting a bottom surface of the first heat exchanger 31 and a bottom surface of the second heat exchanger 32, a separation plate 2371 for positioning the support plate 237 at a predetermined height from a bottom surface of the connection duct 23, and a support plate through hole 238 formed through the support plate 237 and providing a flow path through which condensate passes.

As shown in FIG. 2, the condensate stored in the storage 61 may be discharged to a drain tank 62 (second collector) through a drain 63. The drain tank 62 may be provided to be located at a point higher than the storage 61.

As shown in FIG. 5, the drain tank 62 may include a drawer 621 provided to be withdrawn from the cabinet 1 to provide a space in which condensate is stored, and a drawer through hole 622 formed through an upper surface of the drawer 621.

The front surface 11 may include an outlet 112 for putting in and taking out the drawer 621 and a tank housing 16 provided inside the cabinet 1 to accommodate a space in which the drawer 621 is accommodated.

The condensate discharged from the storage 61 through the drain 63 may move to the tank housing 16 through a tank water pipe 728, and the condensate discharged from the tank water pipe 728 may move into the drawer 621 through the through hole 622. A process in which condensate moves to the drain tank 62 from the storage 61 will be described below in detail.

The laundry treatment apparatus 100 may further include a washer 5 for washing the first heat exchanger 31 by spraying the condensate stored in the storage 61.

The washer 5 may be fixed to the duct cover 232 and may include a plurality of nozzles for spraying water to the first heat exchanger 31. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the washer 5 includes a first nozzle 51, a second nozzle 52, and a third nozzle 53. The three nozzles may be arranged in a width direction of the duct cover 232 (X-axis direction).

The condensate stored in the storage 61 may be supplied to the washer 5 through a flow path controller 7, or may also be supplied to the drain tank 62.

As shown in FIG. 6, the flow path controller 7 may include a housing body 71 and a housing cover 72. The housing body 71 may have one open surface, and the housing cover 72 may be provided to close the open surface of the housing body 71. Any one of the housing body 71 and the housing cover 72 may be fixed to an upper surface (the duct cover 232) of the connection duct 23.

The housing body 71 and the housing cover 72 may be coupled to each other to form a space 75 in which water (condensate) supplied from the drain 63 is stored, and the housing body 71 may include a housing inlet 711 for introducing condensate into the space 75.

The housing cover 72 may include washer supply inlets 721, 722, and 723 for discharging water inside the flow path controller 7 to the washer 5. As described above, when the washer 5 includes three washing nozzles 51, 52, and 53, the washer supply inlet may include a first nozzle supply inlet 721, a second nozzle supply inlet 722, and a third nozzle supply inlet 723.

Condensate discharged from the washer supply inlets 721, 722, and 723 may be supplied to each nozzle of the washer 5 through a washer water pipe. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the washer water pipe includes a first water pipe 725 connecting the first nozzle supply inlet 721 and the first nozzle 51, a second water pipe 726 connecting the second nozzle supply inlet 722 and the second nozzle 52, and a third water pipe 727 connecting the third nozzle supply inlet 723 and the third nozzle 53.

The housing cover 72 may include a tank supply inlet 724 for guiding water inside the flow path controller 7 to the drain tank 62. The above-described tank water pipe 728 may connect the tank supply inlet 724 and the tank housing 16.

In order to control opening and closing of the above-described supply inlets 721, 722, 723, and 724, the flow path controller 7 may include a valve 73 and a valve motor 74 for controlling an operation of the valve.

The valve 73 may include a disk 731 (valve body) for dividing the space 75 inside the flow path controller into a space in which the supply inlets 721, 722, 723, and 724 are positioned and a space in which the housing inlet 711 is positioned, and a disk through hole 732 formed through the disk.

The disk 731 may be fixed to a valve body rotating shaft 741 provided through the housing body 71. Thus, when the valve body rotating shaft 741 is rotated by the valve motor 74, the position of the disk through hole 732 included in the disk 731 may be changed.

As shown in FIG. 7, the first nozzle supply inlet 721, the second nozzle supply inlet 722, the third nozzle supply inlet 723, and the tank supply inlet 724 may be disposed on a rotation path of the disk through hole 732 by the valve motor 74. Thus, when the position of the disk through hole 732 is controlled through the valve motor 74, only a desired supply inlet may be opened among four supply inlets.

The laundry treatment apparatus 100 may include a position detector 8 for detecting the position of the disk through hole 732.

The position detector 8 may include a magnet 81 fixed to the disk 731, and a magnetic force detection sensor 82 included in the housing cover 72 and detecting magnetic force of the magnet 81.

When the housing cover 72 includes four supply inlets 721, 722, 723, and 724, the magnetic force detection sensor 82 may include a first sensor 821 for detecting magnetic force of the magnet 81 when the disk through hole 732 opens the first nozzle supply inlet 721, a second sensor 822 for detecting magnetic force of the magnet 81 when the disk through hole 732 opens the second nozzle supply inlet 722, and a third sensor 823 for detecting magnetic force of the magnet 81 when the disk through hole 732 opens the third nozzle supply inlet 723.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the first sensor 821 is positioned between the first nozzle supply inlet 721 and the second nozzle supply inlet 722, the second sensor 822 is positioned between the second nozzle supply inlet 722 and the third nozzle supply inlet 723, and the third sensor 823 is positioned between the third nozzle supply inlet 723 and the tank supply inlet 724.

When receiving a control signal transmitted from the first sensor 821, the controller 9 included in the laundry treatment apparatus 100 may the first nozzle supply inlet 721 to be opened, when receiving a control signal transmitted from the second sensor 822, the controller 9 may determine the second nozzle supply inlet 722 to be opened, and when receiving a control signal transmitted from the third sensor 823, the controller 9 may determine the third nozzle supply inlet 723. When none of the three sensors receives a control signal, the controller 9 may determine that the disk through hole 732 opens the tank supply inlet 724. Accordingly, the above-described laundry treatment apparatus 100 may determine which supply inlet the disk through hole 732 opens among a plurality of supply inlets 721, 722, 723, and 724.

As shown in FIG. 8, the drain 63 may include a drain pump 631 for draining condensate of the storage 61, and a drain pipe 632 connecting the drain pump 631 and the housing inlet 711.

When the drain pump 631 is operated, condensate inside the storage 61 may be supplied to the flow path controller 7 through the drain pipe 632. In this situation, when the disk through hole 732 opens any one of the three washer supply inlets 721, 722, and 723, condensate inside the flow path controller 7 may be sprayed to the first heat exchanger 31 through the nozzles 51, 52, and 53 connected to the open supply inlet. Thus, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 may enable hygienic management of the first heat exchanger.

When the disk through hole 732 opens the tank supply inlet 724 in a situation in which the drain 63 operates, the condensate of the storage 61 may be moved to the drain tank 62 through the tank water pipe 728. As shown in FIG. 5, the tank housing 16 may be connected to the storage 61 through a return pipe 633. Accordingly, the condensate overflowing from the drain tank 62 may be recovered to the storage 61 through the return pipe 633.

The laundry treatment apparatus 100 may further include a water level detector 64 for detecting a water level of the storage 61. FIG. 4 shows an example of the water level detector 64, and the water level detector 64 may include a first electrode 641 and a second electrode 642 that are fixed to a body of the drain 63 (which is a storage cover defining an upper surface of the storage).

When the two electrodes 641 and 642 are connected by condensate introduced into the storage 61, current flows in a circuit included in the two electrodes, and thus if the lengths of the two electrodes 641 and 642 are adjusted according to a water level to be measured, the controller 9 may determine the water level inside the storage 61.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a control method of the laundry treatment apparatus.

In the control method of FIG. 9, a washing error may be prevented by controlling the position of the disk through hole 732 when the first heat exchanger 31 is washed through the washer 5, and when the washing error occurs due to abnormality of the flow path controller 7, the cause of the error may be resolved.

The control method may include a drying operation S10 of supplying air to the drum 17 by operating the heat exchanger 3.

While the drying operation S10 is performed, the control method may perform operation S20 of detecting a water level of the storage 61 through the water level detector 64. The water level detection operation S20 may be performed at a preset period, or may be provided to detect the water level of the storage 61 in real time.

While the drying operation S10 and the water level detection operation S20 are performed, the control method may include determining whether the water level measured in the water level detection operation S20 reaches a preset reference water level (first reference water level) (S11). The first reference water level may be set to a water level required to wash the first heat exchanger 31.

When the water level of the storage 61 is determined to reach the first reference water level, the control method may proceed with a disk rotation operation S12 in which the disk 731 is rotated through the valve motor 74.

In the disk rotation operation S12, the controller 9 may execute a control command for moving the disk through hole 732 to a point at which the washer supply inlets 721, 722, and 723 are opened, and a control command for moving the disk through hole 732 to a point at which the tank supply inlet 724 is opened.

While the disk rotation operation S12 is performed, the controller 9 may perform a determining operation S13 of determining whether the disk through hole 732 is positioned at a point input according to the control command in the disk rotation operation S12 based on the control signal provided by the position detector 8.

When it is determined that an operation of the disk 731 is normal through the determining operation S13 (S20), the control method may proceed with a washing operation S21 of operating the drain pump 631 after changing the position of the disk through hole 732 to open the washer supply inlets 721, 722, and 723.

In order to effectively wash the first heat exchanger 31, in the washing operation S21, the disk 731 may be rotated to allow the disk through hole 732 to sequentially open the first nozzle supply inlet 721, the second nozzle supply inlet 722, and the third nozzle supply inlet 723. The washing operation S21 may be performed for a preset washing time (S22).

When the washing operation is completed (S22), the control method may proceed with operation S24 of determining whether the drying operation S10 is completed after an operation of the drain pump 631 is terminated (S33). Whether the drying operation S10 is completed may be determined according to a time taken to perform the drying operation or whether a drying degree (humidity of air introduced into a circulation flow path, etc.) of clothes (humidity of air introduced into a circulation flow path, etc.) reaches a preset drying level.

When it is determined that an error (washing error) occurs in control of the position of the disk through hole 732 in the determining operation S13 (S20), the control method may include determining whether the number of errors is greater than or equal to a preset reference number (S25).

When the number of errors is less than the reference number, the control method may proceed with a forced rotation operation S26 in which the disk 731 is determined to be constrained to the housings 71 and 72 due to a foreign material, etc. and the disk 731 releases the constraint.

In the forced rotation operation S26, the controller 9 may supply overcurrent to the valve motor 74 to rotate the disk 731 with a large torque. In the forced rotation operation S26, the disk 731 may be provided to alternately perform clockwise rotation and counterclockwise rotation.

The number of rotations of the disk 731 may be set in various ways, and the following method may be an example.

When the flow path controller 7 includes the four supply inlets 721, 722, 723, and 724, the disk 731 may be rotated (first rotation) to allow the disk through hole 732 to sequentially open the first nozzle supply inlet 721, the second nozzle supply inlet 722, the third nozzle supply inlet 723, and the tank supply inlet 724.

After the first rotation is completed, the disk 731 may be rotated (second rotation) to allow the disk through hole 732 to sequentially open the third nozzle supply inlet 723, the second nozzle supply inlet 722, and the first nozzle supply inlet 721.

After the second rotation is completed, the disk 731 may be rotated (third rotation) to allow the disk through hole 732 to sequentially open the second nozzle supply inlet 722, the third nozzle supply inlet 723, and the tank supply inlet 724.

After the third rotation is completed, the disk 731 may be rotated (fourth rotation) to allow the disk through hole 732 to sequentially open the third nozzle supply inlet 723, the second nozzle supply inlet 722, and the first nozzle supply inlet 721.

After the forced rotation operation S26 is completed, the disk rotation operation S12 and the determining operation S13 may be performed again in the control method. In the determining operation S13 performed again, when it is determined that the disk through hole 732 is not positioned at a point input according to the control command in the determining operation S13 performed again, the control method may include determining whether the number of errors is equal to or greater than a preset reference number (S25).

When the number of errors is less than the reference number, the forced rotation operation S26 may be performed again in the control method. However, when the number of errors is equal to or greater than the reference number (S25), the control method may proceed with a notification operation S27 of notifying a user of the error (washing error) by the flow path controller 7 through the display 114.

After the notification operation S27 is completed, the control method may proceed with operation S24 of determining completion of the drying operation. When it is determined that the drying operation S10 is completed, the control method may end the drying operation (S30).

It may be possible to detect the position of the disk through hole 732 by the position detector 8 using the above-described control method, and thus condensate may be discharged through the nozzles 51, 52, and 53 of a desired washer. In addition, it may be possible to check an abnormal state of the flow path controller 7 and resolve the cause of the abnormal state using the above-described control method.

FIG. 10 shows a control method of the laundry treatment apparatus according to another embodiment.

The control method of FIG. 10 may include the drying operation S10 of supplying high-temperature dry air to the drum body 171 by operating the heat exchanger 3.

While the drying operation S10 is performed, the control method according to the present embodiment may proceed with operation S20 of detecting a water level of the storage 61 through the water level detector 64. The water level detection operation S20 according to the present embodiment may also be provided to measure a water level at preset intervals or measure a water level of the storage 61 in real time.

While the drying operation S10 and the water level detection operation S20 are performed, the control method may include determining whether the water level measured in the water level detection operation S20 reaches a preset reference water level (second reference water level) (S40). The second reference water level may be set to the same water level as the first reference water level or may also be set to the highest water level set in the storage 61.

When it is determined that the water level of the storage 61 reaches the second reference water level (S40), the control method may proceed with drainage operations S41 and S42. The drainage operation may include operation S41 in which the disk through hole 732 rotates the disk 731 to a position in which the tank supply inlet 724 is opened and operation S42 of moving condensate of the storage 61 to the flow path controller 7 by operating the drain pump 631. The drainage operations S41 and S42 may be terminated when an operating time of the drain pump 631 reaches a preset drain time (S43).

The control method may proceed with operation S51 of determining whether a time when the water level of the storage 61 reaches the reference water level is within a preset reference time after the drainage operation is completed (S43).

When the reference time elapses after the drainage operation is completed (S43), it may be seen that the drainage operations S41 and S42 proceed normally. However, if the reference time does not elapse after the drainage operation is completed (S43) and the water level of the storage 61 reaches the reference water level, it may be considered that the drainage operations S41 and S42 do not proceed normally.

When it is determined that the drainage operations S41 and S42 proceed normally, the control method may proceed with a drainage operation S54 of operating the drain pump 631 after rotation is performed to allow the disk through hole 732 to open the tank supply inlet 724. The drainage operation S54 may be performed for the drain time and terminated (S55).

When it is determined that the drainage operations S41 and S42 do not proceed normally (S51), the control method may proceed with a disk rotation operation S52 of executing a control command for moving the disk through hole 732 to a point at which the washer supply inlets 721, 722, and 723 are opened and a control command for moving the disk through hole 732 to a point at which the tank supply inlet 724 is opened.

While the disk rotation operation S52 is performed, the control method may proceed with a determining operation S53 of determining whether the disk through hole 732 is positioned at a point input according to a control command in the disk rotation operation S52 based on a control signal provided by the position detector 8.

When it is determined that an operation of the disk 731 is abnormal (draining error) through the determining operation S53 (S60), the control method may proceed with operation S66 of determining whether the number of errors is greater than or equal to a preset reference number.

When the number of errors is less than the reference number, the control method may proceed with a forced rotation operation S67 of determining whether the disk 731 is constrained to the housings 71 and 72 due to a foreign material, etc. and releasing the constraint and releasing the constraint by the disk 731. The forced rotation operation S67 may be the same as the forced rotation operation S26 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

After the forced rotation operation S67 is completed, the disk rotation operation S52 and the determining operation S53 may be performed again in the control method. When it is determined that the disk through hole 732 is not positioned at a point input according to the control command in the determining operation S53 performed again, the control method may proceed with operation S66 of determining whether the number of errors is equal to or greater than a preset reference number.

When the number of errors is less than the reference number, the forced rotation operation S67 may be performed again in the control method. However, when the number of errors is equal to or greater than the reference number (S66), the control method may proceed with a notification operation S68 of notifying a user of a draining error by the flow path controller 7. The notification operation S68 may include an operation of transferring information to the user through the display 114.

When it is determined that an operation of the disk 731 is normal through the determining operation S53 (S60), the control method may include a blowing stop operation S61 of stopping an operation of the fan 36 and a re-drainage operation S62 of operating the drain pump 631 after the operation of the fan is stopped.

When the water level of the storage 61 reaches the reference water level in a short time under a condition that the flow path controller 7 is normal, this means that the drain pump 631 does not properly drain the condensate of the storage 61.

The pressure inside the connection flow path 23 may be lowered during an operation of the fan 36, and the storage 61 may communicate with the connection flow path 23 through the duct drain hole 239. Accordingly, the pressure of the storage 61 may be lowered during an operation of the fan 36, and a drop in pressure of the storage 61 may cause outside air to flow into the drain pump 631.

The drain pump 631 may include a pump housing in which the pump impeller is accommodated, and a pump motor for rotating the pump impeller, and a drop in the pressure of the storage 61 may introduce outside air into the pump housing to reduce a water level inside the pump housing. Due to reduction in the water level inside the pump housing, it may be difficult to discharge condensate through the pump impeller, and thus the drainage of the drain pump 631 may be reduced during an operation of the fan 36.

The blowing stop operation S61 may include an operation of stopping an operation of the compressor 34 as well as an operation of stopping an operation of the fan 36. This is because, when the compressor 34 is operated in the state in which the operation of the fan 36 is stopped, since it is difficult to exchange heat between air and a refrigerant, the heat pumps 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 included in the heat exchanger are overheated.

The re-drainage operation S62 may be terminated when an operating time of the drain pump 631 reaches the drain time (S63).

After the re-drainage operation is completed (S63), the drying operation may be performed again by operating the fan and the compressor (S64) in the control method.

While the drying operation is performed again (S64), the control method may proceed with operation S65 of determining completion of the drying operation. When it is determined that the drying operation S10 is completed, the control method may be terminated. However, when it is determined that the drying operation is not completed (S65), the control method may proceed with operation S50 of determining whether the water level of the storage 61 reaches the second reference water level.

If a time when the water level of the storage 61 reaches the second reference water level is outside the reference time after the re-drainage operation S62 is completed, drainage may be performed through the above-described operations S54 and S55 in the control method.

However, if the time when the water level of the storage 61 reaches the second reference water level is within the reference time, the control method may proceed with a notification operation S70 of displaying a failure of the drain 63 or a request to empty the drain tank 62 to a user.

In the control method of FIG. 10, the position of the disk through hole 732 may be detected through the position detector 8, and thus condensate may be discharged to the drain tank 62 through the tank water pipe 728. It may be possible to check an abnormal state of the flow path controller 7, check an abnormal state of the drain 63, and resolve the cause of the abnormal state using the above-described control method.

Since the structure and control method of the above-described laundry treatment apparatus describe are an example of the present disclosure, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described structure and control method.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the disclosure. Thus, the above embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure should be determined by reasonable interpretation of the appended claims and all change which comes within the equivalent scope of the disclosure are included in the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A method for controlling a laundry treatment apparatus, the laundry treatment apparatus including: an accommodator configured to accommodate clothes; a circulation flow path configured to provide air discharged from the accommodator to the accommodator; a heat exchanger including (i) a fan configured to cause the air to move along the circulation flow path, (ii) a first heat exchanger configured to cool the air in the circulation flow path, and (iii) a second heat exchanger configured to heat the air having passed through the first heat exchanger; a storage configured to store condensate from the air passing through the first heat exchanger; a drain tank configured to store the condensate; a washer configured to wash the first heat exchanger by spraying water to the first heat exchanger; a drain configured to discharge water from the storage; a flow path controller including (i) a housing configured to receive the water from the drain, (ii) a washer water pipe that connects the housing to the washer, (iii) a tank water pipe that connects the housing to the drain tank, and (iv) a disk that is rotatably provided inside the housing and defines a disk through hole, the disk through hole being configured to sequentially open the washer water pipe and the tank water pipe based on rotation of the disk; and a position detector configured to detect a position of the disk through hole, the method comprising: supplying air to the accommodator by operating the heat exchanger;while supplying the air to the accommodator, executing a control command for moving the disk through hole to (i) a first position at which the washer water pipe is opened or (ii) a second position at which the tank water pipe is opened; anddetermining, through the position detector, whether the disk through hole is positioned at a position corresponding to the control command.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: based on determining that the disk through hole is not positioned at the position corresponding to the control command, rotating the disk by supplying an overcurrent to a motor configured to rotate the disk.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein rotating the disk by supplying the overcurrent to the motor comprises: alternately rotating the disk in a clockwise rotation and in a counterclockwise rotation.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: after rotating the disk by supplying the overcurrent to the motor, repeating execution of the control command for rotating the disk and determination of the position of the disk through hole; andbased on determining that the disk through hole is not positioned at the position corresponding to the control command after repeating the execution of the control command, rotating the disk by supplying the overcurrent to the motor again.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: determining a number of performances of rotating the disk by supplying the overcurrent to the motor; andnotifying a user of a failure of the flow path controller based on the number of performances being greater than or equal to a preset reference number.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising: determining whether a water level in the storage reaches a preset reference water level; andbased on determining that the water level reaches the preset reference water level, executing the control command and determining the position of the disk through hole.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the preset reference water level is predetermined for washing the first heat exchanger.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the position detector includes a magnet fixed to the disk, and wherein the method further comprises detecting magnetic force of the magnet while the disk rotates to thereby determine the position of the disk through hole.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the housing comprises a housing cover that defines a plurality of supply inlets that are configured to face the disk through hole based on rotation of the disk, and wherein the method further comprises: supplying the water from the housing to the washer water pipe based on the disk through hole being disposed at the first position and facing one of the plurality of supply inlets; andsupplying the water from the housing to the tank water pipe based on the disk through hole being disposed at the second position and facing another of the plurality of supply inlets.

23. A method for controlling a laundry treatment apparatus, the laundry treatment apparatus including: an accommodator configured to accommodate clothes; a circulation flow path configured to provide air discharged from the accommodator to the accommodator; a heat exchanger including (i) a fan configured to cause the air to move along the circulation flow path, (ii) a first heat exchanger configured to cool the air in the circulation flow path, and (iii) a second heat exchanger configured to heat the air having passed through the first heat exchanger; a storage configured to store condensate from the air passing through the first heat exchanger; a drain tank configured to store the condensate; a washer configured to wash the first heat exchanger by spraying water to the first heat exchanger; a drain configured to discharge water from the storage; a flow path controller including (i) a housing configured to receive the water from the drain, (ii) a washer water pipe that connects the housing to the washer, (iii) a tank water pipe that connects the housing to the drain tank, and (iv) a disk that is rotatably provided inside the housing and defines a disk through hole, the disk through hole being configured to sequentially open the washer water pipe and the tank water pipe based on rotation of the disk; and a position detector configured to detect a position of the disk through hole, the method comprising: supplying air to the accommodator by operating the heat exchanger;determining whether a water level in the storage reaches a preset reference water level while supplying the air to the accommodator;based on determining that the water level reaches the preset reference water level while supplying the air to the accommodator, performing a drainage operation for moving the condensate from the storage to the drain tank by controlling the flow path controller and the drain;measuring the water level after the drainage operation is completed;based on the water level measured after the drainage operation reaching the preset reference water level within a preset reference time, executing a control command for moving the disk through hole to (i) a first position at which the washer water pipe is opened or (ii) a second position at which the tank water pipe is opened; anddetermining, through the position detector, whether the disk through hole is positioned at a position corresponding to the control command.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: based on determining that the disk through hole is not positioned at the position corresponding to the control command, rotating the disk by supplying an overcurrent to a motor configured to rotate the disk.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising: after rotating the disk by supplying the overcurrent to the motor, repeating execution of the control command and determination of the position of the disk through hole; andbased on determining that the disk through hole is not positioned at the position corresponding to the control command after repeating the execution of the control command, rotating the disk by supplying the overcurrent to the motor again.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising: determining a number of performances of rotating the disk by supplying the overcurrent to the motor; andnotifying a user of a failure of the flow path controller based on the number of performances being greater than or equal to a preset reference number.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising: stopping an operation of the fan based on determining that the disk through hole is positioned at the position corresponding to the control command; andperforming the drainage operation after stopping the operation of the fan.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: measuring the water level based on completing the drainage operation after stopping the operation of the fan;based on the water level measured after completion of the operation of the drain reaching the preset reference water level within the preset reference time, displaying (i) a failure of the drain or (ii) a request to empty the drain tank.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the position detector includes a magnet fixed to the disk, and wherein the method further comprises detecting magnetic force of the magnet while the disk rotates to thereby determine the position of the disk through hole.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the housing comprises a housing cover that defines a plurality of supply inlets that are configured to face the disk through hole based on rotation of the disk, and wherein the method further comprises: supplying the water from the housing to the washer water pipe based on the disk through hole being disposed at the first position and facing one of the plurality of supply inlets; andsupplying the water from the housing to the tank water pipe based on the disk through hole being disposed at the second position and facing another of the plurality of supply inlets.