KR20220146809A - Method for controlling laundry treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a laundry treatment device which includes: a laundry treatment room accommodating laundry; a steam generator for generating steam supplied to the laundry treatment room; a valve provided on a drain line connected to the steam generator; a drain vessel connected to the drain line; a water supply pump provided on a water supply line connected to the steam generator and supplying water to the steam generator; and a water supply vessel connected to the steam generator. The method comprises: a step (a) of entering a flow path flushing drive course; a step (b) of using the water supply pump to supply water to the steam generator; and a step (c) of inducing residual water within the steam generator to the drain vessel. The steam generator is provided at a position higher than the drain vessel. The present invention can flush flow paths of the water supply line and the drain line of the steam generator.

Description

Method for controlling clothes processing equipment {METHOD FOR CONTROLLING LAUNDRY TREATMENT}

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a laundry treatment apparatus, and more particularly, to a method for controlling a laundry treatment apparatus capable of performing various treatments such as washing, drying, deodorizing, and wrinkle removal on clothing.

The clothes treatment apparatus is an apparatus for washing clothes, drying wet clothes, removing odors from clothes, or improving wrinkles on clothes.

Recently, a clothes treatment apparatus has been developed such that a washing machine for washing clothes, a dryer for drying clothes, a refresher for refreshing clothes, a steamer for improving unnecessary wrinkles of clothes, etc. are implemented in one device. there is a trend

Here, the refresher is a device for making clothes comfortable and fresh, and performs functions such as drying clothes, supplying fragrance to clothes, preventing static electricity generation of clothes, or improving wrinkling of clothes. It refers to a device, and a steamer is a device for removing wrinkles from clothes by supplying steam to clothes. Unlike an iron, it may refer to a device that performs a function of improving and removing wrinkles from clothes without directly applying heat to the clothes. .

In order to spray steam toward the clothes accommodated in the laundry treatment room, the steam generator generates steam by heating and boiling the supplied water. In addition, the concentration of residual components such as calcium, bicarbonate, magnesium sulfate, etc. increases, and the lifespan of the heater, which is a heating means due to scale, is reduced, or a film is formed on the surface of the metal water level sensor, etc. There is a problem that a detection error occurs. .

In addition, the number of bubbles generated while boiling water increases as the number of operations of the steam generator increases, and thus there is a problem in that the amount of steam generated per unit time is reduced.

On the other hand, when the initial product installation of the laundry treatment apparatus, it can be checked whether steam is generated by smoothly supplying water to the steam generator, but there is no way to check whether the steam generator is smoothly drained.

When a blockage occurs in the drain of the steam generator or the drain connected thereto, there is a problem in that there is no way to detect or confirm this.

Accordingly, there is a need for a necessary technology to solve these problems.

KR 10-1291276 B1 KR 10-1467775 B1

The present invention provides a method of controlling a clothes treatment apparatus capable of flushing flow paths of a water supply channel and a drain channel of a steam generating device for spraying steam in order to perform various treatments on clothes accommodated in a clothes treatment room of the clothes treatment device. to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a laundry treatment room in which clothes are accommodated, a steam generator for generating steam supplied to the laundry treatment room, a valve provided on a drain connected to the steam generator, and a drain in the drain. A control method of a clothes treatment apparatus comprising: a drain pipe connected to the steam generator; a water pump provided on a water supply channel connected to the steam generator to supply water to the steam generator; (a) entering the course, (b) supplying water to the steam generator using the water pump, and (c) opening the valve to guide residual water in the steam generator to the drain tank , wherein the steam generating device is provided at a position higher than the drain container.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the euro flushing driving course may be entered when the laundry treatment apparatus is operated during the installation inspection course.

According to an embodiment, before the step (a), the method may further include detecting whether the water supply container is installed or the water level of the water supply container.

According to an embodiment, the step (b) includes detecting a low water level and a high water level of the steam generator, and stopping the operation of the feed water pump when both the low water level and the high water level of the steam generator are detected. may include.

According to an embodiment, the step (b) may further include continuing the operation of the feed water pump when only the low water level of the steam generator is detected.

According to an embodiment, the step (b) may further include notifying a failure of a water level sensor of the steam generator when only a high level of the steam generator is detected.

According to an embodiment, in step (c), the valve may be opened for a preset time.

According to an embodiment, the preset time may be a time taken until the water at a high level in the steam generator is discharged along the drainage channel.

According to an embodiment, the step (c) includes detecting a low water level and a high water level of the steam generator, and closing the valve when both the low water level and the high level of the steam generator are not detected. can do.

According to an embodiment, the step (c) may further include maintaining an open state of the valve when only the high level of the steam generator is not detected.

According to an embodiment, the step (c) may further include notifying a failure of a water level sensor of the steam generator when only a high level of the steam generator is detected.

According to an embodiment, the method may further include, before step (a), determining whether to enter the euro flushing operation course based on the cumulative number of operations or the cumulative operation time of the steam generator.

According to an embodiment, before the step (a), the step of detecting the low water level and the high water level of the steam generator, and both the low water level and the high level of the steam generator, or only the low water level of the steam generator when the valve is opened for a preset time.

According to an embodiment, before step (a), when only the high level of the steam generator is sensed, the method may further include notifying a failure of a water level sensor of the steam generator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in order to perform various treatments on clothes accommodated in the clothes treatment chamber of the clothes treatment apparatus, the flow paths of the water supply channel and the drain channel of the steam generator for spraying steam may be flushed.

1 is a view showing the appearance of a clothes treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a view showing the inside of a laundry treatment room according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 and 4 are views showing the external appearance of a device inside a machine room according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a configuration diagram of components provided in a water supply channel and a drain channel of the steam generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a step-by-step flowchart of a control method for discharging residual water in a steam generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a step-by-step flowchart of a control method for discharging residual water in a steam generator according to another embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a step-by-step flowchart of a control method for flushing a supply/discharge passage of a steam generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a step-by-step flowchart of a control method for flushing a supply/discharge passage of a steam generator according to another embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a step-by-step flowchart of a control method when replacing a filter unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the same or similar components are assigned the same reference numerals regardless of reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "unit" and "unit" for the components used in the following description are given or used in consideration of ease of writing the specification only, and do not have a meaning or role distinct from each other by themselves. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, if it is determined that detailed descriptions of related known technologies may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical idea disclosed herein is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and all changes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention , should be understood to include equivalents or substitutes.

Terms including ordinal numbers such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various elements, but the elements are not limited by the terms.

The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

When a component is referred to as being “connected” or “connected” to another component, it may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but it is understood that other components may exist in between. it should be On the other hand, when it is said that a certain element is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that the other element does not exist in the middle.

The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In the present specification, terms such as "comprises" or "have" are intended to designate that the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification exist, but one or more other features It is to be understood that this does not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

clothes processing equipment

1 is a view showing the exterior of a clothes treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view showing the inside of a clothes treatment room according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the laundry treatment apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a laundry treatment chamber 11 in which clothing is accommodated, and a laundry treatment chamber 11 separated from the lower portion of the laundry treatment chamber 11 . ) may include a machine room 20 provided with various devices for dehumidifying, heating, or circulating the internal air to remove dust, odor, wrinkles, or moisture remaining on clothes.

Although not particularly limited, the laundry treatment room 11 and the machine room 20 may be implemented in a form provided in one cabinet 10, and a door ( 140) may be provided.

The outer surface of the cabinet 10 or the door 40 may include a display unit for informing the outside of the operating state of each component of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 and/or an input unit for receiving various operation inputs from a user. .

The clothes treatment chamber 11 has a space for receiving or mounting clothes therein. In order to circulate the air inside the clothes treatment chamber 11, an air inlet 12a through which the air inside the clothes treatment chamber 11 is sucked; An air outlet 12b for re-supplying the air sucked from the air inlet 12a back into the laundry treatment chamber 11 may be provided in the laundry treatment chamber 11 .

In this case, the air inlet 12a and the air outlet 12b may be provided on the bottom surface of the laundry treatment room 11 adjacent to the machine room 20 . Here, the floor surface is a horizontal surface that separates the laundry treatment room 11 and the machine room 20 and does not necessarily indicate only a horizontal flat shape.

The positions of the air inlet 12a and the air outlet 12b in the laundry treatment chamber 11 are not particularly limited, but according to an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , the air inlet 12a is located in the laundry treatment room 11 . It may be located on the front door 40 side, and the air outlet 12b may be located on the rear rear side of the laundry treatment chamber 11 .

On the other hand, inside the laundry treatment chamber 11 , specifically, on the inner rear side of the laundry treatment room 11 , a steam spraying unit 13 for spraying steam generated by the steam generator 100 provided in the machine room 20 is provided. location, the steam may be sprayed toward the clothes accommodated in the clothes treatment chamber 11, for example, toward the front.

The steam generating device 100 and the steam jetting unit 13 are connected to each other by a hose or a duct, and the steam generated by the steam generating device 100 passes through the flow path formed along the hose or the duct. ) can be supplied.

Meanwhile, a water supply tank 31 accommodating water supplied to the steam generator may be provided at a lower portion of the laundry treatment room 11 and in front of the machine room 20 so that the steam generator can generate steam. At this time, the water supply container 31 is implemented to be attached to and detached from the clothes treatment apparatus 1 in the shape of a substantially rectangular box, and the water supply container 31 is detached and detached at the time of a water filling notification to replenish water and then the casing. It is desirable to be able to mount it back to the

Although not shown in the drawing, the clothes treatment apparatus 1 may include a water supply pump 51 for supplying water from the water supply tank 31 to the water supply port 170 of the steam generator, and the water supply pump 51 . can be made to supply water to the steam generator 200 through a water supply hose connected to one surface of the water supply tank 31 .

At this time, the water supply tank 31 is provided with a water level sensor for detecting the water level, and the control unit (not shown) uses the water level sensor provided in the water supply tank 31 to fill the water in the water tank 31 to a predetermined height or more. It is preferable to detect or determine whether there is a water level and output a water filling notification to the outside when the water level is low.

Meanwhile, in addition to the water supply tank 31 , a drain container 32 through which condensed water is collected may be provided at a lower portion of the laundry treatment room 11 and in front of the machine room 20 . The condensed water generated by steam supply inside the laundry treatment chamber 11 or the inside of the machine room 20 is collected in the auxiliary water tank 33, and the condensed water collected in the auxiliary water tank 33 is drained by the drain pump 52. It can be guided to the barrel (32).

Like the water supply tank 31, the drain tube 32 is implemented in a rectangular box shape so that it can be attached to and detached from the laundry treatment apparatus 1, so that the user can detach and detach the drain tube 32 when a condensate discharge notification is issued. It is desirable to be able to put it back into the casing after draining the water.

In addition, the drain tube 32 is also provided with a water level sensor for detecting the water level, and the control unit determines whether or not the water in the drain tube 32 is filled to a predetermined height or more by using the water level sensor provided in the drain tube 32 or not. It is preferable to detect or determine whether the water in the barrel 32 is at the full water level, and output a water discharge notification to the outside when the water level is high.

Meanwhile, the inside of the machine room 20 may include a heat pump device 100 (or an air supply device) for supplying air or heated air to the laundry treatment room 11 .

The heat pump device 100 includes an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and a flow control valve, similarly to a heat pump device used in an air conditioner, and dehumidifies and heats the air drawn out from the inside of the laundry treatment chamber 11 to dehumidify and heat the clothes. By re-supplying to the treatment chamber 11 , clothes in the laundry treatment chamber 11 can be dried or refreshed.

The refrigerant circulates through the evaporator, the condenser, the compressor, and the flow rate control valve, and the air drawn from the inside of the laundry treatment chamber 11 passes through the evaporator and the condenser and circulates along a circulation path that is re-supplied to the laundry treatment room 11. (11) Moisture in the air drawn out from the inside can be removed and heated. In this case, a fan may be provided at the front or rear end of the evaporator and the condenser, that is, the upstream end or the downstream end based on the air flow, so that air flows through the evaporator and the condenser, which are heat exchange devices in the heat pump device.

Specifically, the air in the laundry treatment room 11 is introduced into the air inlet through the duct in the machine room 20 through the air inlet 12a located at the upper front end of the machine room 20, and is introduced through the air inlet 101a. Air has a flow path through which the air passes through the evaporator and condenser and is discharged back to the air outlet 12b of the laundry treatment chamber 11 through the air outlet.

At least one filter (not shown) is provided on the air flow path drawn out from the laundry treatment room 11 and supplied back to the laundry treatment room 11 , in particular, on the duct flowing from the laundry treatment room 11 into the machine room 20 , It is preferable that the purified air be re-supplied to the laundry treatment room 11 by filtering the various foreign substances contained in the air in the treatment chamber 11 so that they do not flow into the machine room 20 .

In addition, in front of the air outlet (12b), a louver having a narrow width and a long plate is provided at regular intervals, and the blowing direction is set to a fixed front direction or an upper direction, or by adjusting the angle of the plate. can be switched

Meanwhile, as described above, a steam generator 200 for generating steam using water supplied from the water supply tank 31 may be provided inside the machine room 20 .

3 and 4 are views showing the external appearance of a device inside a machine room according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 and 4, the steam generator 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing having a space for accommodating water therein, and a heating device for heating the water contained in the housing. can do.

The heating device is a means for directly or indirectly heating and vaporizing the water contained in the housing according to the control command generated by the controller. For example, it is located in the lower part of the housing to heat the water, and the vaporized steam is supplied to the housing. It can rise to the upper part of the and be discharged to the outside through the steam outlet.

The steam discharged through the steam outlet is supplied to the steam spray unit 13 along a hose or duct, and the steam spray unit 13 is provided on the upper part of the housing so that the steam can be supplied to the clothes accommodated in the laundry treatment chamber 11. Correspondingly, in the housing, in addition to the steam outlet, as a hole for discharging the water accommodated in the housing to the outside, a drain hole may be provided at the lower portion of the housing, specifically the bottom surface or one side.

In addition, a water supply port through which water supplied from the outside is introduced may be provided on one side of the housing, and the water accommodated in the external water supply container 31 through the water supply port is pressurized by the water supply pump device and introduced into the housing. have.

Unexplained reference numeral 194 denotes a front grill member having a plurality of slits of a predetermined size provided at the air inlet 12a through which air flows from the clothes treatment room 11 to the heat pump device 100 of the machine room 20, and corresponding Accordingly, unexplained reference numeral 195 denotes a rear grill member having a plurality of slits of a predetermined size provided at the air outlet 12b for discharging air to the laundry treatment chamber 11, and is provided to the laundry treatment chamber 11 and the heat pump device 100. It is possible to filter out foreign substances in the incoming air, and it is preferable that the front grill member 194 and the rear grill member 195 are implemented to be detachable as needed by the operator, so that they can be replaced or cleaned.

Meanwhile, FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of components provided in a water supply channel and a drain channel of the steam generator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the laundry treatment apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a steam generator 200 , a water supply container 31 provided along a water supply channel connected thereto, a filter unit 41 , and water supply. It may include a pump 51 , and may include a valve 60 , an auxiliary water tank 33 , a drain pump 52 , and a drain tube 32 provided along a drain connected to the steam generator 200 . .

The water supply pump 51 may operate according to a control signal of the controller, and may supply the water contained in the water supply container 31 to the steam generator 200 by the operation of the water supply pump 51 .

In this case, the filter unit 41 may be provided on the water supply channel to filter the water supplied to the steam generator 200 to filter out foreign substances.

The filter unit 41 is not particularly limited as long as it is for purifying the water contained in the water supply tank 31, but the filter unit 41 according to an embodiment may include an ion exchange resin filter for removing ionic substances from water. have.

The ion exchange resin filter is to remove metallic ion substances such as hardness substances by the ion exchange method, and the ion exchange resin in the form of fine granules is contained in a large amount in the housing, and water containing the ionic substances is continuously supplied into the housing. The ionic material can be removed by passing it through and contacting it with an ion exchange resin.

In this way, the ion exchange resin filter removes metallic ions from water supplied to the steam generator 200 , thereby preventing scale from occurring in the steam generator 200 .

The filter unit 41 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be provided between the water supply tank 31 and the water pump 51 , and the filter unit 41 may be implemented to be removable so that it can be arbitrarily replaced. can

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the filter part 41 in the form of a rod may be provided with a filter handle 42 that can be gripped by a user at one end thereof, and the filter handle 42 is externally disposed. It is preferably arranged so as to be exposed to, so that the user can take out the filter unit 41 by gripping the filter handle 42 as needed, and then mount another filter unit 41 at the same position again.

A valve 60 may be provided on the drain connected to the steam generator 200 .

The valve 60 is provided on the drain connected to the drain port of the steam generator 200 to open and close the flow passage according to a control signal from the control unit, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , in one embodiment of the present invention, The valve 60 is provided at a position lower than the height of the steam generator 200 , and an auxiliary water tank 33 and/or a drain tank 32 are provided at a lower position than the valve 60 , the valve 60 . When is opened, the water stored in the steam generator 200 may be guided to the auxiliary water tank 33 and/or the drain tank 32 by gravity.

The auxiliary water tank 33 can collect various condensed water in the heat exchanger housing 115 provided with the heat exchanger 71 as well as the steam generator 200 and/or in the laundry treatment chamber 11, and the auxiliary water tank ( The condensed water collected in 33 ) may be transferred to the drain tank 32 by the operation of the drain pump 52 .

That is, the drain pump 52 is located between the auxiliary water tank 33 and the drain tank 32, and operates according to the control signal of the control unit to draw out the water contained in the auxiliary water tank 33 and supply it to the drain tank 32. can

Here, the position of the auxiliary bucket 33 may be a position lower than the height of the steam generator 200 and/or the valve 60, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and as a specific example, the machine room 20 ) may be located at the bottom of the filter unit 41 as the bottom.

Since the auxiliary water tank 33 is located at the bottom of the machine room 20, that is, at the lowest height of the laundry treatment apparatus 1, not only the laundry treatment room 11, but also the steam generator 200 and the heat exchanger housing 115, etc. It may be located at a lower height.

On the other hand, the control unit (not shown) according to an embodiment of the present invention may receive various clothes treatment courses from the user through the input unit, and select at least one component of the laundry treatment room 11 according to the input clothes treatment course. By controlling the operation, it is possible to process clothes in the clothes treatment chamber 11 . In this case, the clothes treatment course may include the type of clothes or the number of clothes, and accordingly, at least one administrative section having a predetermined operation time may be combined. The clothes treatment course is a combination of administrative sections operated by the clothes treatment apparatus to perform various treatments on clothes. In this specification, the term 'clothing treatment course' is used interchangeably with the term 'driving course'.

Here, the type of clothing may be classified into a cotton material, a wool material, a rayon material, a silk material, a polyester material, and the like.

In addition, the administrative section includes a steam stroke section for spraying steam to the laundry treatment room 11 , a drying section for supplying hot air to the laundry treatment room 11 , and a cooling cycle for cooling the laundry treatment room 11 or to the clothes accommodated in the laundry treatment room 11 . It may include a blowing stroke section for imparting vibration, a stabilization stroke section for maintaining the clothes in a static state in the laundry treatment chamber 11, and the like.

Looking at an example of the operation in each section, in the steam stroke section, the controller may drive the steam generator to heat water and spray the generated steam to the laundry treatment chamber 11 through the steam sprayer 13 , and dry it. In the stroke section, the controller can drive the heat pump device 100 and the fan to heat the air and supply the heated air to the air outlet 12b. In the blow section, the controller can control the upper part of the laundry treatment chamber 11 A fan and/or a lower fan provided under the laundry treatment chamber 11 is driven, but unheated air is supplied to the laundry treatment room 11 to lower the temperature (or the temperature of clothes) in the laundry treatment room 11 , or Vibration can be applied to the clothes accommodated in (11), and in the stabilization stroke section, the controller can maintain the clothes in a static state without generating air flow in the clothes treatment chamber 11 .

Control method of clothes processing equipment

6 is a step-by-step flowchart of a control method for discharging residual water in a steam generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6 , in the control method of the laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit opens the valve 60 before the start of the operation course of the laundry treatment apparatus ( S140 ) to thereby set the steam generator 200 . ) may include a step (S110 ~ S130) of inducing the remaining water to the drain tank (32).

Here, the drain tube 32 is not particularly limited as long as it is for accommodating the condensed water therein.

Also, the valve 60 is a means for performing an opening/closing operation according to a control signal generated by the controller, and may be, for example, a solenoid valve.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit may start the driving course continuously with a user input or other strokes, and the valve 60 is opened for a preset time before starting the driving course ( S140 ) or entering the driving course, that is, After opening (S110) for the first set time, the valve 60 may be closed to discharge and remove residual water in the steam generator 200 .

Accordingly, the controller may control each component of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 in at least one stroke section along the driving course. Since the residual water is discharged and removed, the steam generator 200 that generates steam according to the operation course can always maintain a constant amount of steam generated.

Here, the first set time is not particularly limited, but it is longer than the time it takes for the residual water remaining in the steam generator 200 or on the drain of the steam generator 200 to be discharged to the drain tube 32 , for example, 1 minute. more preferably.

Thereafter, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the controller may determine whether a steam stroke section is included in the driving course (S150).

If a steam stroke section is included in the operation course of the laundry treatment apparatus 1, the control unit opens the valve 60 before a preset time, that is, a second set time from the end of the course of the corresponding driving course (S170). ~ S190) can be done.

That is, when the laundry treatment apparatus 1 operates an operation course including a steam stroke section, the steam generator 200 may vaporize water stored therein to generate steam, and the steam generator 200 may Because residual water may remain without generating all of the stored water as steam, the control unit opens the valve 60 for a preset time before terminating the operation course to discharge and remove residual water in the steam generator 200 . can

At this time, the preset time before the end of the driving course may be a stroke section in which only residual water in the steam generator 200 is discharged and removed. In the section, the control unit may perform a removal operation by discharging residual water in the steam generator 200 in parallel or at the same time.

Here, the length of the second set time is not particularly limited, but the residual water remaining after the steam generator 200 operates in the steam stroke section and the residual water on the drain of the steam generator 200 are all stored in the drain tube 32 ) is preferably longer than the time it takes to drain.

However, according to a preferred embodiment, the first set time is within the steam generator 200 before starting a new operation course after the residual water in the steam generator 200 has already been discharged before the end of the previous operation course. Since it may be a time for discharging residual water, the first set time is preferably shorter than the second set time.

Meanwhile, according to another embodiment of the present invention, although not shown in the drawings, in order to check whether the laundry treatment apparatus 1 is installed normally, the laundry treatment apparatus 1 performs an installation inspection course according to a user input. can drive along.

At this time, the control unit may open the valve 60 during the operation of the installation inspection course of the steam generator 200 to guide the residual water in the steam generator 200 to the drain container 32 or the auxiliary water container 33 . .

When the clothes treatment apparatus 1 is manufactured, a test operation may be performed to check whether the clothes treatment apparatus 1 operates normally, and residual water in the steam generator 200 may be generated during the test operation.

Accordingly, when the laundry treatment apparatus 1 is installed, it can be operated along the installation inspection course according to a user input. At this time, the valve 60 is opened to discharge the residual water in the steam generator 200 to remove it.

Meanwhile, according to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7 , when the laundry treatment apparatus 1 starts driving according to various driving courses ( S210 ), the control unit counts from the present to the previous. The valve 60 may be opened (S230) and closed (S250) for a preset time, that is, for a third set time (S240), based on the accumulated number of times or accumulated operation time of the steam generator 200 that has been .

When the steam generating device 200 is operated, the control unit may cumulatively count the number of times of operation or the operation time and store it using a storage means.

When starting the operation according to the operation course successively with the user input or other strokes, the control unit first determines whether the cumulative number of operations or the cumulative operation time of the steam generator 200 is equal to or greater than a preset value (S220), and if the steam generator ( 200), if the cumulative number of operations or the cumulative operation time is equal to or greater than the preset value (S220), the valve 60 is opened and closed for a preset time (S230 ~ S250), and the residual water in the steam generator 200 is discharged and removed. can

That is, by opening the valve 60 for a preset time in advance before the laundry treatment apparatus 1 enters the first stroke section according to the operation course (S210), the residual water in the steam generator 200 can be discharged and removed. have.

Of course, differently from this, if the accumulated operation number or accumulated operation time of the steam generating device 200 counted in advance is less than a preset value (S220), the control unit does not open or close the valve 60, but each configuration to operate according to the operation course It is possible to control the element and end the corresponding driving course (S260).

In this way, the control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention controls the valve when the laundry treatment apparatus 1 is initially installed, immediately after various operation courses of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 , or before starting various operation courses of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 . (60) is opened for a preset time to discharge residual water in the steam generator 200 or in the drain of the steam generator 200, thereby solving various problems caused by residual water in the steam generator 200. Of course, by detecting the water level of the drain tank 32 and/or the auxiliary water tank 33 or detecting the flow rate on the drain, it can be determined whether the drain operation of the steam generator 200 is smoothly and normally operated. .

Meanwhile, although not shown in the drawings, in order to provide the water stored in the water supply tank 31 to the steam generator 200, the control unit operates the water pump 51 to supply water to the steam generator 200 (not shown). city) may be further included.

In the step of supplying water to the steam generator 200, the control unit operates the water pump 51 to supply water contained in the water supply container 31 to the steam generator 200 connected thereto along the water supply channel, generating steam. It is preferable that water is supplied through the filter unit 41 provided on the water supply channel connected to the device 200 .

Since the filter unit 41 actively removes ionic substances of water when water is supplied to the steam generator 200 , purified water is supplied to the steam generator 200 , so that the scale in the steam generator 200 is reduced. It is desirable to prevent this from occurring.

Meanwhile, FIG. 8 is a step-by-step flowchart of a control method for flushing a supply/discharge passage of a steam generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8 , according to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit can enter the euro flushing driving course according to a user input, and according to another embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 1 is installed after installation. When driving the inspection course, depending on the installation inspection course, it is possible to enter the Euroflushing driving course.

When entering the euro flushing operation course, the controller first operates the water pump 51 ( S320 ) to supply water stored in the water supply tank 31 to the steam generator 200 .

At this time, the water supplied by the water pump 51 is stored in the water supply tank 31, and when water is supplied to the steam generator 200, between the water supply tank 31 and the steam generator 200, or the water supply tank ( 31) and the water supply pump 51, the ionic material may be filtered by the filter 41.

Thereafter, the control unit opens the valve 60 for a preset time, that is, for a fourth set time (S350, S360, S370), and the residual water in the steam generator 200 goes to the drain tank 32 or the auxiliary water tank 33. can be induced. That is, as described above, since the steam generator 200 is provided at a higher position than the drain tank 32 or the auxiliary water tank 33 , the residual water in the steam generator 200 by its own weight only by opening the valve 60 . may be drained into the drain tank 32 or the auxiliary water tank 33 .

Here, the fourth set time may be a time taken until all of the water filled to the high level in the steam generator 200 is discharged to the drain tank 32 or the auxiliary water tank 33 along the drain path.

By supplying water into the steam generator 200 using the water pump 51 in this way, the water supply channel connected to the steam generator 200 may be flushed, and then the water stored in the steam generator 200 may be vented. By opening (60) and draining into the drain tank (32) or the auxiliary water tank (33), the drain passage connected to the steam generator 200 can be flushed.

However, in order to increase the flushing effect, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the controller operates the water pump 51 to supply water to the steam generator 200, water is supplied to the high level in the steam generator 200 ( S331) can be made, and conversely, when the controller opens the valve 60 to discharge residual water to the steam generator 200, drainage (S371) can be made to less than the low water level in the steam generator 200. have.

That is, the control unit enters the euro flushing operation course, operates the feed water pump 51 ( S320 ), and then determines whether the low water level and the high water level of the steam generator 200 are detected ( S331 ).

The steam generator 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include at least one water level sensor to detect the water level in the housing, and preferably, at least two or more water level sensors to sense the high water level and the low water level in the housing, respectively. It may include a water level sensor.

The control unit 200 uses signals output from each of the first water level sensor positioned at a high water level in the housing of the steam generator 200 and the second water level sensor positioned at a low water level in the housing of the steam generator 200 . ) can judge my level.

Accordingly, the control unit operates the water supply pump 51 to supply water to the steam generating device 200 (S320), but the control unit determines whether water is detected at each of the low and high water levels of the steam generating device 200 (S331) ~ S333), and if water is detected at both the low and high water level of the steam generating device 200 (S331), the control unit determines that the water supplied in the steam generating device 200 is made up to the high level, and the water supply pump ( 51) can be stopped (S340).

On the contrary, when water is detected only at the low water level among the low water level and the high water level of the steam generating device 200 ( S332 ), the control unit continues the operation of the water supply pump 51 to continuously supply water to the steam generating device 200 . can make it go away

In addition, in contrast to this, when water is detected only at a high level among the low water level and the high water level of the steam generator 200 ( S333 ), the control unit detects water at the high water level even though the water is not detected at the low water level. By judging that there is a failure in the water level sensor, a failure notification (S334) is output to the water level monitoring sensor, and the operation of the water supply pump 51 is stopped, so that the flow path flushing operation course can be ended.

After the control unit operates the water pump 51 to supply water to the steam generator 200 to a high level, the control unit may stop the operation of the water pump 51 ( S34 ), and then close the valve 60 . It can be opened (S350).

Since it is preferable that the control unit opens the valve 60 until all the water in the steam generator 200 runs out, the control unit opens the valve 60 for a preset time, that is, for a fourth set time, and then generates steam. When water is not detected (S371) at both the low water level and the high water level of the device 200, it is determined that the draining in the steam generating device 200 is made below the low water level and the flushing cycle is completed, and the valve 60 is closed and You can end the Euroflushing driving course.

Contrary to this, when water is not detected (S372) only at the high level among the low water level and the high water level of the steam generator 200, the control unit determines that the flushing stroke of the drain is continuing, and the valve 60 maintains the open state. can do.

In addition, in contrast to this, when water is not detected only at the low water level among the low water level and the high water level of the steam generating device 200, the control unit does not detect water at the low water level even though the water is detected at the high level. By determining that there is a failure, a failure notification S373 to the water level monitoring sensor may be output, the valve 60 may be closed, and the euro flushing operation course may be ended.

On the other hand, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the control unit enters the euro flushing operation course and operates the water supply pump 51 to supply water to the steam generator 200, the control unit determines whether the water supply tank 31 is installed or not. The water level of the water supply tank 31 may be detected (S311).

The water supply container 31 may include one or two water level detection sensors to detect whether the water of a predetermined water level is filled, and when the water level of the water supply container 31 is not detected above the predetermined water level, the control unit controls the user outputs a water supply notification (S312) to fill the water supply container 31 with water, and repeatedly detects whether the water supply container 31 is installed and the water level of the water supply container 31 (S311).

Meanwhile, FIG. 9 is a step-by-step flowchart of a control method for flushing a supply/discharge passage of a steam generator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9 , according to another embodiment of the present invention, when entering the euro flushing operation course, the control unit may determine whether the steam generator 200 has elapsed a preset non-use time ( S410 ). .

Since the operation frequency of the laundry treatment apparatus is remarkably low in summer, if it is not operated for a long time, condensed water may be generated in the steam generator 200 for various reasons, or water remaining after steam generation may remain. Before flushing the furnace and the drain, it is preferable to drain the contaminated water that has been stored for a long time first, and then flush the flow passage with clean, uncontaminated water.

Accordingly, the control unit can determine whether the non-use time of the steam generator 200 has elapsed based on the accumulated operation number or accumulated operation time of the steam generator 200 previously counted from the present. If 200 has elapsed a preset non-use time, the valve 60 is opened (S425) and closed (S427) for a preset time, that is, a fifth set time to discharge residual water in the steam generator 200. can

Specifically, when entering the euro flushing operation course, the control unit determines whether the cumulative number of operations or the cumulative operating time of the steam generator 200 is equal to or greater than a preset value, and if If the operating time is equal to or greater than a preset value, the controller preferably opens the valve 60 until all residual water in the steam generator 200 is drained, so the controller controls the valve 60 for a preset time, that is, the fifth It can be opened (S425) for a set time.

First, when water is not detected (S421) at both the low water level and the high water level of the steam generating device 200, the control unit 200, because the residual water in the steam generating device 200 is less than the low water level, the feed water pump 51 for flushing with feed water can be operated (S440).

On the contrary, when water is detected only at the low water level among the low water level and the high water level of the steam generating device 200 (S422), the control unit determines that there is residual water in the steam generating device 200, but the amount is not large, and the control unit controls the valve ( 60) may be opened (S425 to S427) for a preset time, that is, a fifth set time.

Also, unlike this, when water is not detected by the controller at both the low and high water level of the steam generating device 200 , but water is not detected only at the low water level of the steam generating device 200 , the low water level of the steam generating device 200 . It can be determined whether water is detected only at the high level among the and high water level (S423), and when water is detected only at the high level among the low water level and the high level of the steam generator 200, water is not detected at the low water level even though water is detected at the high level. Since it is not, it is determined that there is a failure in at least one of the two water level sensors, and a failure notification (S424) for the water level monitoring sensor is output, and the euro flushing operation course can be ended.

Also, unlike this, when water is not detected by the controller at both the low and high water level of the steam generating device 200 , but water is not detected only at the low water level of the steam generating device 200 , the low water level of the steam generating device 200 . It can be determined whether water is detected only at a high level among the and high water level (S423), and at this time, when water is not detected only at a high level among the low water level and the high level of the steam generating device 200, both the low water level and the high level of the steam generating device 200 Determining that water is detected in the valve 60 may be opened (S425 ~ S427) for the pre-seol-low-din time, that is, for the fifth set time.

Here, the fifth set time is the time it takes until all of the water filled to the high water level in the steam generator 200 is discharged to the drain tank 32 or the auxiliary water tank 33 along the drain path, or the steam generator 200 It may be the time it takes until all of the water filled to the low water level is discharged to the drain tank 32 or the auxiliary water tank 33 along the drain.

As a result, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit can effectively flush the water supply and drainage channels of the steam generator 200 , and when the steam generator 200 is not used for a long time, contamination in the steam generator 200 . By pre-treating to discharge the remaining water, it is possible to prevent the water supply and drainage channels of the steam generator 200 from being flushed with contaminated water.

The description of each step under reference numeral S431 of FIG. 9 is the same as the description of each step under reference numeral S311 of FIG. 8 corresponding thereto, so it will be replaced.

Meanwhile, FIG. 10 is a step-by-step flowchart of a control method when replacing a filter unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10 , according to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit may enter the filter unit replacement course according to a user input. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and when it is equal to or greater than a preset value based on the cumulative number of operations or the cumulative operation time of the steam generator 200, the filter unit replacement course may be entered, and at this time, the filter unit replacement notification may be output to the outside. .

The filter replacement course is an operation course for the user to replace the filter unit 41 that purifies the water supplied to the steam generator 200, and the user enters the filter unit replacement course before replacing the filter unit 41. and the laundry treatment apparatus 1 can enter the filter unit replacement course and operate.

The filter part replacement course may remove residual water remaining in the filter part 41 before the user replaces the filter part 41 . That is, if water is supplied to the steam generator 200 even once, residual water remains in the filter unit 41. In order to facilitate the user's replacement, the control unit controls the filter unit 41 in the filter unit replacement course. It is desirable to remove residual water.

Accordingly, when entering the filter unit replacement course, the control unit can first determine whether the state in which water supply from the water supply tank 31 is not made. At this time, the state of the valve 60 may be a closed state.

Specifically, the control unit may determine whether the detachable water supply tank 31 is separated (S511).

That is, the control unit detects whether the water supply container 31 is detached, and when it is determined that the water supply container 31 is sensed and mounted, it outputs a water supply container separation notification to the outside so that the user can separate the water supply container 31 . It can be done (S512).

According to another exemplary embodiment, the control unit may detect whether there is no water contained in the water supply container 31 or whether the water level in the water supply container 31 is lower than the low water level, and the control unit 31 has water accommodated in the water supply container 31. If it is determined, the water supply tank emptying notification may be output to the outside so that the user can empty the water supply tank.

Thereafter, the control unit operates the water pump 51 for a preset time, that is, for a preset sixth set time (S2550), so that water is supplied to the steam generator 200, but at this time, the valve 60 is also opened. It can be (S520).

Here, the sixth set time is the time it takes to withdraw all the water in the filter unit 41 to the steam generator 200 by the operation of the water supply pump 51 when the filter unit 41 is full of water. it could be time

Since the water pump 51 operates in a state in which the water supply tank 31 is separated, the water pump 51 located on the water supply channel between the filter unit 41 and the steam generator 200 operates, so that the water pump Residual water in the filter unit 41 is withdrawn and removed by 51 , and the remaining water in the filter unit 41 may be introduced into the steam generator 200 .

Since the valve 60 is opened along with the operation of the water supply pump 51 , the control unit opens both the water supply channel and the drain channel connected to the steam generator 200 , and the residual water in the filter unit 41 is a steam generator. (200) can be watered.

At this time, the control unit determines whether the high level of the steam generating device 200 is detected (S531), and if the water level of the steam generating device 200 reaches the high level, the operation of the water supply pump 51 can be stopped (S532). have.

Water is supplied to the steam generator 200 by the operation of the water pump 51 and the water is drained through the drain port of the steam generator 200 at the same time, but the amount of water supplied per unit time through the water supply channel of the steam generator 200 is Since it may be more than the amount of displacement per unit time through the drain of the steam generating device 200, when the water level of the steam generating device 200 reaches a high level, the operation of the water supply pump 51 is stopped (S532), and the steam generating device It is desirable to prevent the water contained in the 200 from flowing back through the water supply port.

Since water supply and drainage are performed together in the steam generator 200 , if the control unit determines that the water level of the steam generator 200 is not the high water level, the auxiliary water tank 33 may determine whether the water level is full ( S541 ).

Since the valve 60 and the auxiliary water tank 33 may be sequentially connected to the drain of the steam generating device 200 in the steam generating device 200, when the auxiliary water tank 33 is at the full water level, the steam generating device 200 ) can close the valve 60 (S542) so that the water contained therein is no longer drained to the auxiliary bucket 33, and at the same time, the water supply pump ( 51) can be stopped (S542).

In addition, at the same time, in order to drain the water accommodated in the auxiliary water tank 33 to the drain tank 32 , the controller may operate the drain pump 52 ( S542 ).

However, the water level of the drain tank 32 connected to the auxiliary water tank 33 in a chain may be the full water level, and the control unit detects the water level of the drain tank 32 (S543), and the water level of the drain tank 32 is the full water level. In the case of , because the drain tank 32 as well as the auxiliary water tank 33 are at full water level, the operation of the drain pump 52 is stopped (S544), and a drain tank emptying notification is issued to the user to empty the drain tank 32. It can be output to the outside (S545).

If the water level of the drain tank 32 is not the full water level and thus the full water level of the drain tank is not detected, the control unit maintains the operation of the water supply pump 51 while the valve 60 is open, but the auxiliary water tank By continuously detecting whether the water level at 33 is the full level, it is possible to determine whether the drain pump 52 operates.

On the other hand, the control unit operates the water pump 51 in a state in which the valve 60 is opened for a preset time in the filter unit replacement course, thereby supplying residual water in the filter unit 41 to the steam generator 200 and removing it. , it is possible to output a filter unit replacement notification to the outside so that the user replaces the filter unit 41 left to remove the residual water inside.

Of course, after operating the water supply pump 51 to remove residual water in the filter unit 41, the control unit stops the operation of the water supply pump 51 and closes the valve 60 to return to the state before the filter unit replacement course. can be restored

As above, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. The description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that it can be easily modified into other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention.

Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims described below rather than the above detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning, scope, and equivalent concept of the claims are included in the scope of the present invention. should be interpreted

1: clothes processing device 10: cabinet
11: Clothes processing room 11a: Inner case
12a: air inlet 12b: air outlet
13: rear air outlet 15a: upper air inlet
15b: upper air outlet 20: machine room
30, 30a: water tank seat 31: water tank
32: drain tank 33: auxiliary water tank
40: door 41: filter unit
42: filter handle 51: water pump
52: drain pump 60: valve
71: heat exchanger 100: heat pump device
115: heat exchanger housing 140: flow control valve
151: suction duct 194: front grill member
195: rear grill member 200: steam generating device

Claims (14)

a laundry treatment chamber in which clothes are accommodated; a steam generator for generating steam supplied to the laundry treatment chamber; a valve provided on a drain passage connected to the steam generator; a drain passage connected to the drain passage; and a steam generator connected to the steam generator A method for controlling a clothes treatment apparatus, comprising: a water pump provided on a water supply channel for supplying water to the steam generator; and a water supply tank connected to the steam generator;
(a) entering the Euroflushing driving course;
(b) supplying water to the steam generator using the water pump; and
(c) inducing residual water in the steam generator to the drain by opening the valve;
including,
and the steam generator is provided at a position higher than the drain container. The method of claim 1,
The control method of the laundry treatment apparatus, characterized in that when the installation inspection course of the laundry treatment apparatus is operated, the euro flushing operation course is entered. The method of claim 1,
Before step (a),
detecting whether the water supply tank is installed or the water level of the water supply tank;
A control method of a clothes treatment apparatus, characterized in that it further comprises a. The method of claim 1,
Step (b) is,
detecting a low water level and a high water level of the steam generator; and
stopping the operation of the feed water pump when both the low water level and the high water level of the steam generator are sensed;
A method of controlling a laundry treatment apparatus comprising a. 5. The method of claim 4,
Step (b) is,
continuing operation of the water supply pump when only the low water level of the steam generator is detected;
A control method of a clothes treatment apparatus, characterized in that it further comprises a. 5. The method of claim 4,
Step (b) is,
notifying a failure of a water level sensor of the steam generator when only the high level of the steam generator is detected;
A control method of a clothes treatment apparatus, characterized in that it further comprises a. The method of claim 1,
Step (c) is,
The control method of the laundry treatment apparatus, characterized in that the valve is opened for a preset time. 8. The method of claim 7,
The preset time is a time required for the high water level in the steam generator to be discharged along the drainage channel. The method of claim 1,
Step (c) is,
detecting a low water level and a high water level of the steam generator; and
closing the valve when both the low water level and the high water level of the steam generator are not detected;
A method of controlling a laundry treatment apparatus comprising a. 10. The method of claim 9,
Step (c) is,
maintaining an open state of the valve when only the high level of the steam generator is not detected;
A control method of a clothes treatment apparatus, characterized in that it further comprises a. 10. The method of claim 9,
Step (c) is,
notifying a failure of a water level sensor of the steam generator when only the high level of the steam generator is detected;
A control method of a clothes treatment apparatus, characterized in that it further comprises a. The method of claim 1,
Before step (a),
determining whether to enter the euro flushing operation course based on the cumulative number of operations or the cumulative operation time of the steam generator;
A control method of a clothes treatment apparatus, characterized in that it further comprises a. 13. The method of claim 12,
Before step (a),
detecting a low water level and a high water level of the steam generator; and
opening the valve for a preset time when both the low water level and the high water level of the steam generator are sensed or only the low water level of the steam generator is sensed;
A method of controlling a laundry treatment apparatus comprising a. 14. The method of claim 13,
Before step (a),
notifying a failure of a water level sensor of the steam generator when only the high level of the steam generator is detected;
A control method of a clothes treatment apparatus, characterized in that it further comprises a.

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