CN115298386A

CN115298386A - Clothes treating apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN115298386A
Application number: CN202180021945.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金佑例; 韩仁宰; 洪尚郁
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2020-03-18
Filing date: 2021-03-18
Publication date: 2022-11-04
Also published as: EP4123084A1; EP4123084A4; KR20210117214A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry treating apparatus. The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may include: a box body; a container disposed within the box and including a front side having an opening, a rear side having an exhaust opening, and a body extending between the front side and the rear side; a drum rotatably disposed within the container; an induction heater disposed on an outer surface of the container body to heat the drum; a supply duct which is disposed outside the container, extends along the main body of the container, and includes an outflow portion connected to a front surface of the container; an exhaust duct connected to the supply duct and communicating with the exhaust port; and a blowing section that generates an air flow from the exhaust duct to the supply duct; the front surface of the container may include an inlet port located outside the opening portion, and the outlet portion of the supply duct may communicate with the inlet port of the container.

Description

Clothes treating apparatus

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a laundry treating apparatus.

Background

Generally, a laundry treating apparatus may include a washing machine, a dryer, an apparatus for caring for laundry, and the like. The washing machine may be a drying and washing machine having a drying function.

The washing machine removes contaminants of laundry inside the drum by rotating the drum within an outer tub in which water is present. The washing machine may further have a heating unit for heating water or drying laundry.

The dryer rotates a drum in a cabinet, and dries laundry by heating the laundry inside the drum.

The laundry treating apparatus may include a heating unit for heating or drying laundry. The laundry treating apparatus may have an electric heater or a heat pump as a heating unit.

On the other hand, in recent years, as a new heating means, an induction module has been developed.

Further, in the case where the laundry treating apparatus is used as a dryer by using the induction heating module, an exhaust type drying method of exhausting humid air to the outside and sucking dry air, or a circulation type drying method of removing humid air by circulating air inside the tub may be employed.

In the case of the exhaust type drying method, it is not necessary to consider the problem caused by the generation of condensed water, but since it is necessary to communicate with the outside, there is a limitation in the installation place or the addition.

In the case of the conventional circulation type drying method, condensed water is inevitably generated when humid air is converted into dry air. In the laundry treating apparatus using the induction module, since the drum is directly heated instead of the washing water, in the case where the condensed water is scattered toward the drum, the drum may be unnecessarily cooled by the condensed water. That is, when the condensed water is scattered to the drum, the heat exchange efficiency is not favorable.

Korean laid-open patent publication No. 10-2018-0023276 discloses a structure in which a coil or the like is wound, but does not disclose contents about condensed water condensed due to drying performed based on the structure.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The present invention aims to solve the above problems and other problems.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a laundry treatment apparatus such as a dryer, a washing machine and dryer, or a laundry care apparatus, which can circulate air inside a drum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that improves drying efficiency.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a laundry treating apparatus having an induction heating unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which condensed water in a duct through which air in a tub circulates does not scatter toward a drum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which air from a duct toward a tub flows into a heated drum after exchanging heat with the drum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus in which air from a duct toward a tub flows in a dispersed manner toward a drum.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a laundry treating apparatus which allows air from a duct toward a tub to flow between a drum and the tub.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which air between a tub and a drum can flow into an inside of the drum through a through hole of the drum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that discharges water condensed in a duct to the outside.

Technical scheme for solving problems

According to an aspect of the present invention to achieve the above object, a laundry treating apparatus includes a drum, an induction heater heating the drum, and a duct providing a flow path circulating air of a container.

The laundry treating apparatus includes a container in which a drum is disposed.

The container may include a front aspect having an open portion. The opening portion may be located at a central portion of the front face. The front aspect may be ring shaped.

The container may include a rear aspect having a vent. The vent may be located at a lower side of the rear aspect of the container.

The container may include a body extending between the front and rear aspects. The body may be in the shape of an extended cylinder.

The laundry treating apparatus may include a cabinet.

The container may be disposed inside the case.

The laundry treating apparatus may be a washing machine or a drying and drying machine, in which case the receptacle may be a tub. The outer tub may provide a space to contain water. The tub may accommodate the drum.

The drum may be disposed inside the container. The drum may be rotatably disposed inside the container. The drum may provide a space to receive laundry. The drum may contain laundry. The drum may be constructed of metal.

The drum may include a body in the shape of an extended cylinder. The drum may include a through hole formed at the body. The drum may include a drum front part connected with a front end of the drum main body. The drum front part may have a drum opening part.

The induction heater may be disposed on an outer surface of the container. The induction heater may be spaced apart from the drum and fixed to the container. The induction heater may be located at an upper side of the container body.

The induction heater may comprise a coil. The induction heater may heat the drum by a magnetic field generated by applying a current to the coil. The induction heater may heat the drum body opposite to the coil. The drum may be rotated, and the induction heater may be fixed to the container and heat the entire drum body. The induction heater heats not only the drum main body but also the front and rear portions of the drum by heat conduction.

The conduit may be arranged outside the vessel.

The laundry treating apparatus may include a supply duct disposed at an outer side of the container. The supply conduit may extend along the body of the container. The supply duct may include an outflow portion connected to a front face of the container.

The laundry treating apparatus may include an exhaust duct connected to the supply duct. The exhaust duct may be connected directly to the supply duct or by other means to the supply duct. The vent conduit may be in communication with a vent port of the container.

The laundry treating apparatus may include a blowing part generating a flow of air from the exhaust duct toward the supply duct. The air blowing part may be located between the exhaust duct and the supply duct. The air blowing part may connect the exhaust duct and the supply duct.

The front face of the container may include an inflow port. The inflow port may communicate with an outflow portion of the supply duct.

The outflow portion of the supply duct may communicate with the inflow port of the container. The outflow portion may include an outlet extending rearward and connected to the inflow port of the container.

The inlet of the container may be located outside the opening. The inflow port may be located above the opening.

The inflow port of the container may face the front portion of the drum.

The drum front portion may include an inclined surface that is inclined outward and rearward at a position corresponding to the inlet of the container in the drum front portion.

The drum front portion may include an extension portion that extends forward and provides the drum opening portion.

The inflow port of the container may be positioned behind the drum opening.

The vent opening of the container may be located at a lower side of the rear aspect of the container.

The exhaust duct may extend in an upward direction from the exhaust port.

The laundry treating apparatus may further include a heat exchanging part disposed inside the exhaust duct. The heat exchange portion may absorb heat from air discharged from the container.

The laundry treating apparatus may further include a condensed water drain portion disposed at a lower side of the exhaust duct.

The laundry treating apparatus may further include a temperature sensor located at an upper portion of the container. The temperature sensor may be located between the container and the drum. The temperature sensor may be located further rearward than a center of the container in a longitudinal direction.

According to the present embodiment, there is provided a laundry treating apparatus, comprising: a box body; the outer barrel is arranged in the box body; a drum rotatably disposed in the tub, accommodating laundry, at least a portion of which is formed of a metal material; an induction module disposed on an outer surface of the tub, heating an outer surface of the drum by a magnetic field generated by applying a current to the coil; a supply duct communicating with a front surface of the tub and extending to a rear side of the tub; the exhaust pipeline is communicated with the rear part of the outer barrel and extends along the rear surface of the outer barrel; and a blowing part for making air flow into the outer barrel through the supply pipeline; the supply duct is configured to form an air flow flowing between an inner circumferential surface of the tub and an outer circumferential surface of the drum when drying, the air flowing between the inner circumferential surface of the tub and the outer circumferential surface of the drum is heated by the induction module, and the heated air is discharged to the exhaust duct after heat exchange with the laundry.

In addition, a laundry treating apparatus including a heat exchanging part for condensing air heat-exchanged in the exhaust duct is provided.

In addition, a laundry treating apparatus is provided in which the exhaust duct communicates with the tub at a rear lower side of the tub.

In addition, a laundry treating apparatus having a condensed water drain formed in the exhaust duct, the condensed water drain preventing condensed water from scattering by guiding the condensed water to a lower side of the tub or a drain pipe is provided.

In addition, the clothes treatment device comprises an air supply part communicated with the supply duct and the exhaust duct, wherein the air supply part is arranged to guide the air passing through the exhaust duct to the supply duct.

In addition, there is provided a laundry treating apparatus including an induction cooling flow path communicating with the air supply part and the induction module, the air supply part including: a first fan arranged to cause air to flow from the exhaust duct to the supply duct; and a second fan disposed in the induction cooling flow path and blowing air to the induction module.

In addition, a clothes treatment device is provided, wherein the first fan and the second fan are rotated by a blower motor.

In addition, a laundry treating apparatus in which the first fan and the second fan are provided to rotate with reference to the same rotation axis is provided.

Effects of the invention

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, water is not directly heated but an induction heating principle is used, so that energy efficiency is excellent.

Further, the blowing section generates an air flow from the exhaust duct to the supply duct, thereby preventing condensed water in the duct from scattering.

In addition, the temperature of the drum can be prevented from being lowered by preventing the condensed water from scattering. In addition, drying efficiency can be improved by preventing a drop in drum temperature caused by scattering of condensed water.

In addition, since the supply duct is connected to the front surface of the container or the tub, the amount of low temperature air flowing into the drum can be reduced.

In addition, the supply pipeline is connected with the front surface of the container or the outer barrel, and can guide the low-temperature air between the roller and the container (the rear outer barrel). In addition, the drying efficiency can be improved by reducing the amount of low-temperature air flowing into the inside of the drum and flowing high-temperature air into the inside of the drum.

The inlet of the container faces the front part of the drum, and the air flowing in from the inlet can surround the drum and be dispersed. Further, the dispersion of the inflowing air can increase the heat exchange area. Also, the increase in heat exchange area can improve energy efficiency.

In addition, the inclined surface is arranged at the position corresponding to the inlet in the front part of the drum, thereby leading the inflowing air to the space between the main body of the container and the drum main body. In addition, the air flowing in from the inlet can be guided to the space between the main body of the container and the main body of the roller, thereby improving the air supply efficiency. The heat transfer efficiency by convection can be improved by improving the air blowing efficiency.

Further, since the inlet port is located at the upper portion of the front side, a relatively large amount of air can flow into the upper portion of the drum body and the upper portion of the container body, and since the through hole at the upper portion of the drum body is not closed by laundry, heated air easily flows into the drum.

The heat exchange portion is located inside the exhaust duct, the exhaust duct extends upward, and the condensed water discharge portion is located below the exhaust duct, so that condensed water is discharged to the outside without flowing into the container again.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the laundry treating apparatus of the present embodiment.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sensing module of the laundry treating apparatus of the present embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the inside of the case of the present embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the outer tub of the present embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the flow in the exhaust pipe of the present embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a diagram of an air circulation structure relating to the present embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the same or similar structural elements will be given the same reference numerals regardless of the figure number, and overlapping descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The suffixes "module" and "portion" for the structural elements used in the following description are given or mixed only in consideration of the writing of the specification, and do not have meanings or actions distinguished from each other by themselves.

Moreover, in the description of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, if it is determined that the detailed description of the related known art would obscure the technical idea of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. The drawings attached hereto are only for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, and the technical ideas disclosed herein are not limited to the drawings attached hereto, but rather, the drawings are intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives included within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

The terms "first", "second", and the like, including ordinal numbers, may be used to describe various structural elements, but the structural elements are not limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one structural element from other structural elements.

If a component is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another component, it is understood that the component may be directly connected or coupled to the other component, but other components may be present therebetween. Conversely, if a structural element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another structural element, it is understood that no other structural element is present therebetween.

The singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In addition, although the respective drawings are illustrated for convenience of explanation, another embodiment implemented by combining at least two or more drawings by a person skilled in the art also belongs to the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a washing machine, a dryer, a drying and washing machine, or a laundry nursing apparatus.

The laundry treating apparatus includes a drum 3 and an induction heater 8 (or induction module) heating the drum 3.

In addition, the laundry treating apparatus may include a container 2, and the drum 3 is disposed inside the container 2. The container 2 may include an outer tub providing a space to contain water and the drum. In case that the laundry treating apparatus is a washing machine or a drying and washing machine, the container 2 may be the tub.

Hereinafter, a drying and washing machine will be described as a representative example of the laundry treatment apparatus. However, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the drying and washing machine. Hereinafter, the container 2 is also referred to as the tub 2.

A laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: a case 1 forming an appearance; an outer tub 2 disposed inside the cabinet; and a drum 3 rotatably provided inside the tub 2 and accommodating an object (for example, a washing object, a drying object, or a nursing object). For example, in the case of washing laundry with washing water, the object to be accommodated may be referred to as a washing object, in the case of drying wet laundry with hot air, the object to be accommodated may be referred to as a drying object, and in the case of caring for laundry with hot air, cold air, steam, or the like, the object to be accommodated may be referred to as a care object. Accordingly, washing, drying, or caring for the laundry may be performed by the drum 3 of the laundry treatment device.

The housing 1 may include a housing opening which is provided in front of the housing 1 and through which an object is put in and out, and the housing 1 may include a door 12, and the door 12 may be rotatably provided in the housing and may open and close the inlet.

The door 12 may be composed of a ring-shaped door frame 121 and a see-through window 122 provided in a central portion of the door frame.

Here, the direction is defined to help understanding the detailed structure of the laundry treating apparatus described later. A direction toward the door 12 may be defined as a Front (Front) with reference to the center of the case 1.

In addition, a direction opposite to the direction toward the door 12 may be defined as a Rear (real), and Right (Right) and Left (Left) directions may be naturally defined according to the front and Rear direction defined above.

The tub 2 may have a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis parallel to the bottom surface of the casing or maintaining an angle of 0 to 30 degrees, and may have a space for storing water, and a tub opening 21 may be provided in a front thereof to communicate with the inlet.

The tub 2 may be fixed to the bottom surface of the cabinet 1 by a lower support 13, and the lower support 13 may include a support rod 13a and a damper 13b connected to the support rod 13a, so that vibration generated in the tub 2 by rotation of the drum 3 may be attenuated.

In addition, an elastic support 14 fixed to the top surface of the casing 1 may be connected to the top surface of the tub 2, and the elastic support also serves to attenuate vibration generated in the tub 2 and transmitted to the casing 1.

The drum 3 may have a cylindrical shape with its longitudinal axis parallel to the bottom surface of the cabinet or maintained at an angle of 0 to 30 degrees, and may receive an object, and a drum opening 31 communicating with the tub opening 21 may be provided in a front portion thereof. An angle formed by the bottom surface and a central axis of the tub 2 and an angle formed by the bottom surface and a central axis of the drum 3 may be identical to each other.

In addition, the drum 3 may include a plurality of through holes 33 penetrating the outer circumferential surface. Air and wash water can enter and exit between the inside of the drum 3 and the inside of the tub 4 through the through hole 33.

A lifter 35 for stirring the object when the drum is rotated may be further provided on the inner circumferential surface of the drum 3, and the drum 3 may be rotated by a driving part 6 provided at the rear of the tub 2.

The driving part 6 may include: a stator 61 fixed on the back of the outer tub 2; a rotor 63 that rotates by electromagnetic action with the stator; and a rotation shaft 65 penetrating the rear surface of the tub 2 and connecting the drum 3 and the rotor 63.

The stator 61 may be fixed to a rear surface of a bearing housing 66 provided at a rear surface of the tub 2, and the rotor 63 may be formed of a rotor magnet 632 provided at a radially outer side of the stator and a rotor housing 631 connecting the rotor magnet 632 and the rotation shaft 65.

A plurality of bearings 68 supporting the rotating shaft 65 may be provided inside the bearing housing 66.

A star wheel 67 for easily transmitting the rotational force of the rotor 63 to the drum 3 may be provided on the rear surface of the drum 3, and the rotary shaft 65 for transmitting the rotational force of the rotor 63 may be fixed to the star wheel 67.

On the other hand, the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a water supply hose 51 receiving water from the outside, the water supply hose 51 forming a flow path supplying water to the tub 2.

A gasket 4 may be disposed between the inlet of the casing 1 and the tub opening 21, and the gasket 4 may prevent the water inside the tub 2 from leaking to the casing 1 and prevent the vibration of the tub 2 from being transmitted to the casing 1.

On the other hand, the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a drain part 52 for draining water inside the outer tub 2 to the outside of the cabinet 1.

The drain part 52 may include: a drain pipe 522 forming a drain flow path for water inside the tub 2 to move; and a drain pump 521 generating a pressure difference inside the drain pipe 522 to drain water through the drain pipe 522.

In more detail, the drain pipe 522 may include: a first drain pipe 522a connecting the bottom surface of the outer tub 2 and the drain pump 521; and a second drain pipe 522b having one end connected to the drain pump 521, and forming a flow path for moving water to the outside of the housing 1.

In addition, the laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include an induction module 8 for induction-heating the drum 3.

The induction module 8 is installed at a circumferential surface of the outer tub 2, and inductively heats the circumferential surface of the drum 3 by a magnetic field generated by applying a current to a coil around which an electric wire is wound. Therefore, the heating part may be referred to as an induction heater. In the case where the induction heater is driven, the outer circumferential surface of the drum opposite to the induction module 8 is heated to a very high temperature in a very fast time.

The sensing module 8 may be arranged outside or inside the

ducts

71, 72.

The sensing module 8 may be controlled by a control part 9 fixed to the cabinet 1, and the control part 9 may control the temperature inside the tub by controlling the driving of the sensing module 8. The control part 9 may include a processor controlling the driving of the laundry treatment apparatus, and may include an inverter processor controlling the induction module. That is, the driving of the laundry treating apparatus and the driving of the sensing module 8 may be controlled by one processor.

However, for the purpose of controlling efficiency and preventing overload of the processor, a processor controlling the driving of the general laundry treating apparatus and a processor controlling the sensing module 8 may be separately provided and communicably connected to each other.

A temperature sensor 95 may be disposed inside the tub 2, and the temperature sensor 95 may be connected to the control part 9 and transmit the temperature information inside the tub 2 to the control part 9. In particular, it may be provided to sense the temperature of the washing water or the humid air. Therefore, it may be referred to as a washing water temperature sensor.

The temperature sensor 95 may be disposed at a position adjacent to the bottom of the tub interior. Therefore, the temperature sensor 95 may be located at a lower position than the lowermost end of the drum. Fig. 1 shows a state where the temperature sensor 95 is disposed to interface with the bottom surface of the tub. However, it is preferably provided at a predetermined distance from the bottom surface. This is to surround the temperature sensor with the washing water or air so that the temperature of the washing water or air can be accurately sensed. The temperature sensor 95 may be installed to penetrate from the lower portion of the tub to the upper portion, or may be installed to penetrate from the front of the tub to the rear. That is, the outer tub may be mounted so as to penetrate the front surface (surface forming the outer tub opening) of the outer tub, instead of the circumferential surface of the outer tub.

Therefore, in case that the laundry treating apparatus heats the washing water through the sensing module 8, whether the washing water is heated to the target temperature may be sensed through the temperature sensor. Based on the sensing result of such a temperature sensor, the driving of the induction heater can be controlled.

In addition, the temperature sensor 95 may sense the temperature of the air in case that the washing water is completely discharged. Since the washing water or the cooling water remains at the bottom of the outer tub, the temperature sensor 95 senses the temperature of the humid air.

On the other hand, the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a drying temperature sensor 96. The installation position and temperature sensing object of the drying temperature sensor 96 may be different from those of the temperature sensor 95. The drying temperature sensor 96 may sense a temperature of air heated by the sensing module 8, i.e., a drying temperature. Accordingly, whether the air is heated to the target temperature may be sensed by the temperature sensor. Based on the sensing result of such a drying temperature sensor, the driving of the induction heater can be controlled.

The drying temperature sensor 96 may be located at an upper portion of the tub 2 and disposed adjacent to the sensing module 8. That is, the sensing module 8 may be disposed on the inner side of the tub 2 to be separated from the shadow range of the sensing module and sense the temperature of the outer circumferential surface of the drum 3. The aforementioned temperature sensor 95 may be configured to sense a temperature of water and air around the drum, and the drying temperature sensor 96 may be configured to sense a temperature of the drum or a temperature of the drying air around the drum.

Since the drum 3 is configured to rotate, the temperature of the outer circumferential surface of the drum can be indirectly sensed by sensing the temperature of the air in the vicinity of the outer circumferential surface of the drum 30.

The temperature sensor 95 may be provided for determining whether to continue the driving of the induction heater to the target temperature or to change the output of the induction heater. The drying temperature sensor 96 may be provided to judge whether the drum is overheated. If it is determined that the drum is overheated, the driving of the induction heater may be forcibly stopped.

In addition, the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may have a drying function. In this case, the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may be referred to as a drying and washing machine.

Drying may be performed using the induction module 8. That is, the heating of the washing water at the time of washing, the heating of the object at the time of dehydration, the heating of the object at the time of drying, and the like may be performed by one induction heater.

In case the drum 3 is driven and the sensing module 8 is driven, substantially the entire drum 3 may be heated. The heated drum may heat the laundry by heat exchange with the wet laundry. Of course, the air inside the drum may also be heated. Therefore, if air is supplied to the inside of the drum 3, air in which moisture in the air is evaporated by heat exchange can be discharged to the outside of the drum 3.

The air supply position and the air discharge position may be determined such that the heated air is uniformly supplied to the drying object and the humid air is smoothly discharged.

The detailed description thereof will be made later.

Therefore, since the air is not directly heated, the temperature of the heated air may be lower than that of the heated air in the general heater heating dryer. This can prevent damage or deformation of the clothes due to high temperature.

However, as described above, since the induction heater is driven together with the driving of the drum and the laundry repeatedly rises and falls as the drum is driven, the heating position of the drum is the upper portion of the drum rather than the lower portion, and thus overheating of the laundry can be effectively prevented.

A control panel 92 may be provided at the front or top surface of the laundry treating apparatus. The control panel may be provided for a user interface. Various inputs by the user may be performed to display various information. That is, the control panel 92 may be provided with an operation portion for operation by the user and a display portion for displaying information to the user.

Next, the sensing module of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to fig. 2.

The laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may be provided with an induction module 8 for induction-heating the drum 3. The induction module 8 may heat the drum 3 for heating washing water or drying laundry. The principle of heating the drum 3 based on the induction module 8 is as follows.

The induction module 8 is installed at an outer circumferential surface of the tub 2, and inductively heats the drum 3 by a magnetic field generated by applying a current to the coil 81 wound with the electric wire. The wire may be formed of a core wire and a coating layer surrounding the core wire. The core may be a single core. A plurality of cords may be interlaced together to form a cord. Therefore, the thickness or the wire diameter of the electric wire can be determined according to the core wire and the coating thickness.

If an alternating current whose phase of current changes flows through the coil 81 around which the electric wire is wound, the coil 81 can form a radial alternating current magnetic field according to the ampere rule.

The alternating magnetic field is concentrated on the roller (metal material) side formed by a conductor having a large magnetic permeability. The Magnetic permeability (Magnetic permeability) refers to the degree to which a medium is magnetized with respect to a given Magnetic field. At this time, eddy current (eddy current) is formed in the drum 3 according to the law of electromagnetic induction, and the eddy current is converted into Joule heat (Joule heat) by the impedance of the drum 3 itself while flowing along the drum 3 made of a conductor, so that the inner wall of the drum 3 is directly heated.

If the inner wall of the drum 3 is directly heated, the temperature of the air inside the drum 3 rises together with the temperature of the laundry contacting the inner wall of the drum 3. Therefore, the laundry can be directly heated, and the laundry can be dried more quickly than a drying apparatus using only a hot air drying method or a low-temperature dehumidification drying method, which is an indirect heating method.

In the case of a laundry treating apparatus having a washing function, it is possible to heat wash water without an additional heat line and flow path. Since the washing water is continuously in contact with the left and right walls of the drum 3 heated to a high temperature, an additional flow path and hot wires do not need to be formed at the lower portion of the tub. Further, according to the above aspect, the washing water can be heated more quickly than a method of forming an additional flow path and a heat line at a lower portion of the tub and heating the washing water based on the additional flow path and the heat line.

The induction module 8 of the present embodiment may include a coil 81, a base housing 82, and a module cover 83.

The induction module 8 is disposed on an outer surface of the tub 2, and heats an outer surface of the drum 3 by a magnetic field generated by applying a current to the coil 81.

Specifically, the sensing module 8 may include a base cover 82, and the base cover 82 is disposed to be spaced apart from the outer surface of the tub 2 by a predetermined interval.

The base housing 82 may be configured to receive and support the coil 81 in a wound configuration. The base cover 82 may be formed to correspond to an outer circumferential surface (circumferential surface) of the tub 2 and to have a predetermined interval from the tub 2.

Accordingly, the amount of the magnetic field transmitted through the base cover 82 does not change depending on the position of the circumferential surface of the outer tub 2, and uniform heating is possible.

The outer tub 2 may be provided with an outer tub connecting part 22. The outer tub connecting part 22 may be provided to fix the sensing module 8 to the circumferential surface of the outer tub 2. The base cover 82 and the outer tub 2 may be spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the length of the outer tub connecting part 22.

The base cover 82 may be provided with a cover connection part 821 corresponding to the position of the outer tub connection part 22. The sensing module 8 may be fixed on the outer circumferential surface of the outer tub 2 by a combination of the outer tub connecting part 22 and the cover connecting part 821.

A wound coil 81 may be provided in the base housing 82. The coil 81 is wound along the top surface of the base cover 82 and may be slightly smaller than the length of the outer tub 2.

This prevents other components in the laundry treatment apparatus from being heated.

However, if excessively smaller than the length of the tub 2, it is difficult to effectively transfer heat, and thus may be wound close to the front face of the tub 2 and the rear face of the tub 2.

The module cover 83 may be provided on the top surface of the coil 81 to correspond to the size of the base housing 82. The module cover 83 may be combined with the base cover 82 and mounted to the outer circumferential surface of the tub 2.

An opening 21 (see fig. 1) may be formed in a front surface of the tub 2, and a gasket 4 may be connected to the opening 21.

The laundry treating apparatus of the present embodiment may include a supply duct 71 and an exhaust duct 72.

The supply duct 71 may be provided to communicate with the front surface 23 (refer to fig. 4) of the tub 2 and extend toward the rear side of the tub 2.

The supply duct 71 may be provided to communicate with the front surface 23 of the outer tub 2, extend a prescribed distance in a radial direction of the outer tub 2, and extend to the rear side of the outer tub 2 at an upper side of the outer tub 2.

That is, the outflow portion 711 of the supply duct 71 is provided to extend in the radial direction of the outer tub 2, and the supply duct 71 extends toward the rear side of the outer tub 2.

The supply duct 71 may be provided to maximally flow air between the tub 2 and the drum 3, rather than directly flowing air into the drum 3.

In addition, in case that the air flowing toward the outer tub 2 is heated by the induction module 8, the drying may be more facilitated.

The air flowing into the tub 2 may pass through the exhaust duct 72 and become dried air. Although the dried air has a greater water content than the wet air, the air having a higher temperature has a greater water content than the air having a relatively lower temperature in the case of air having the same dryness.

The supply duct 71 may be connected to an upper side of the front surface 23 of the tub 2. The outflow portion 711 of the supply duct 71 may be connected with the tub front 23 upper side. The air flowing into the tub 2 moves to a space between the tub 2 and the drum 3 and exchanges heat with the drum 3 heated by the induction module 8.

The supply duct 71 may be provided to form an air flow flowing between the inner circumferential surface of the tub 2 and the outer circumferential surface of the drum 3 at the time of drying. The air flowing between the inner circumferential surface of the tub 2 and the outer circumferential surface of the drum 3 through the supply duct 71 may be heated by the induction module 8. The heated air may be discharged through the exhaust duct 72 after removing moisture from the laundry by heat exchange with the laundry (drying load).

The air flowing into the space between the drum 3 and the tub 2 may flow in through-holes 33 (refer to fig. 4) formed in the drum 3 and dry the laundry received in the drum 3.

The blowing part 75 may be provided to enable air to flow into the tub 2 through the supply duct 71.

The air supply part 75 may include an air supply part cover 750 and a fan.

The blower cover 750 may include a first fan receiving part 751 and a second fan receiving part 752. The first fan may be accommodated in the first fan accommodation portion 751. The second fan may be accommodated in the second fan accommodating part 752.

The blower cover 750 is provided to be connected to the supply duct 71 and an exhaust duct 72 described later and to provide a flow path for moving air.

The fan may generate an air flow from the exhaust duct 72 in the direction of the supply duct 71. The fan may include a first fan and a second fan.

The first fan (accommodated inside the 751) may be provided to flow the air discharged from the tub 2 into the wind blowing part 75 through the exhaust duct 72. At this time, the first fan may be operated to blow the air flowing in from the exhaust duct 72 toward the supply duct 71.

That is, air may be provided to circulate in the order of the tub 2, the exhaust duct 72, the blowing part 75, and the supply duct.

A second fan (housed inside 752) may be provided to blow air towards the induction module 8.

The laundry treating apparatus of the present embodiment may include an induction cooling flow path 753, which is provided to connect the induction module 8 and the blowing part 75. Specifically, the induction cooling passage 753 may be connected to an induction cooling passage connecting portion 832 and a blower cover 750 formed on the upper side of the module cover 83.

The second fan may be provided to the blower housing 750 and communicate with the induction cooling flow path 753. The air flown through the exhaust duct 72 may be separately blown toward the sensing module 8 and the front surface of the tub 2 according to the operation of the first and second fans.

The first fan and the second fan may be operated by one blower motor (not shown).

Specifically, in order to rotate the first fan and the second fan by one blower motor, the first fan and the second fan may be rotated about the same rotation axis.

Thereby, the induction module 8 can be cooled even without an additional motor.

The air passing through the induction module 8 can be discharged to a space between the base cover 82 and the module cover 83 of the induction module 8. Although the cabinet 1 and the tub 2 are provided to block the movement of moisture, they are not a hermetic structure capable of blocking the flow of air.

Therefore, the air discharged to the outside of the sensing module 8 may flow into the tub 2 again.

An exhaust port may be formed at the rear of the outer tub 2. The exhaust port may be located at a lower side of the rear aspect.

The exhaust duct 72 may communicate with the rear of the tub 2 and extend along the rear surface of the tub 2.

In detail, the exhaust duct 72 may be connected with a rear lower side of the tub 2 and extend along a rear surface of the tub 2.

A heat exchange portion 721 may be provided in the exhaust duct 72. Therefore, when the exhaust duct is connected to the lower rear side of the tub 2, a sufficient time for heat exchange of the humid air passing through the exhaust duct 72 can be secured.

The heat exchange portion 721 may have an additional configuration such as a heater, and when a separate flow path for cooling is formed in the exhaust duct 72, it may be provided in a partition wall form.

That is, the form of the heat exchange portion 721 is not limited.

The exhaust duct 72 may include a condensed water drain 722.

The humid air passing through the exhaust duct 72 exchanges heat with the heat exchange portion 721, whereby condensed water can be removed. The condensed water formed at the exhaust duct 72 may descend toward the lower side of the exhaust duct 72. If the condensed water drain 722 is not present, the falling condensed water accumulates at the inlet of the exhaust duct 72. Therefore, a condensed water drain 722 capable of draining condensed water may be provided at an inlet of the exhaust duct 72, i.e., a lower side of the exhaust duct 72.

The condensed water may pass through the condensed water drain portion 722 and pass through the lower side of the tub 2 and then be guided to the drain pipe 522 to be drained, or may be drained by being directly connected to the drain pipe 522.

Fig. 3 shows that the supply pipe 71 has a prescribed slope, but is not limited thereto. That is, the supply duct 71 may extend toward the rear side of the tub 2, and the specific shape of the supply duct 71 is not limited.

Fig. 2 illustrates a case where the induction cooling flow path connection portion 832 is formed near the center of the module cover 83, and fig. 3 illustrates a case where the induction cooling flow path connection portion 832 is provided at one side of the induction module 8 instead of near the center of the upper side of the induction module 8.

That is, the induction cooling flow path connection portion 832 may be provided in the module cover 83 to provide a space through which air can pass so that the induction module 8 can be cooled. However, it is preferable that the air flowing in through the induction cooling flow path connection portion 832 can effectively exchange heat with the entire induction module 8.

That is, as shown in fig. 2, even if the induction cooling flow path connection portion 832 is provided at the center of the module cover 83, it is sufficient if the air can be uniformly dispersed on the front side and the rear side of the induction module 8 and heat exchange can be performed.

Referring to fig. 4, the tub 2 may include a front face 23, a rear face, and a body 20 extending between the front face 23 and the rear face. The body may be in the shape of an extended cylinder.

The front surface 23 may be formed with an opening 21 (see fig. 1). The opening 21 may be located at a central portion of the front face 23. The front face 23 may be ring shaped.

The front face 23 may be formed with an inflow port 24. The inflow port 24 may be located outside the opening 21. The inlet 24 may be located above the opening 21. The inlet 24 may face the front portion 30 of the drum 2.

The inflow port 24 may communicate with the outflow portion 711 of the supply duct 71.

The outflow part 711 of the supply duct 71 may include an outlet connected with the inflow port 24 of the outer tub 2. The outlet of the outflow portion 711 may extend rearward. The outflow portion 711 may include a portion extending upward from an outlet extending rearward.

The drum 2 may include a body 32 extending in a cylindrical shape. The drum 2 may include a through hole 33 forming the body 32. Air and wash water may flow between the inside and outside of the drum 2 through the through holes 33.

The drum 2 may include a drum front 30 connected to a front end of a drum main body 32. The drum front 30 may extend from the drum main body 32 in the direction of the drum center and the front.

The drum front 30 may provide a drum opening 31. The user can put laundry into the drum 2 or take out the laundry of the drum 2 through the drum opening 31.

The drum front 30 may be opposite to the inflow port 24.

An inclined surface 301 may be provided at a position corresponding to the inlet 24 in the drum front portion 30. The inclined surface 301 may be inclined gradually rearward from the inside toward the outside. The inner end of the inclined surface 301 may overlap the inflow port 24 in the radial direction of the drum 3.

The drum front 30 may further include a portion extending from an inner end of the inclined surface 301 toward a radially inner side of the drum 3. The boundary between the extended portion and the inner end of the inclined surface 301 may be located at a position corresponding to the inlet 24.

Thereby, the air flowing in from the inflow port 24 may be dispersed and flow toward between the drum body 32 and the tub body 20.

Thereby, the air flowing in from the inflow port 24 may be introduced between the drum body 32 and the tub body 20.

The drum front 30 may include an extension that extends forward and provides a drum opening 31.

The inflow port 24 may be located behind the drum opening 31.

The gasket 4 may include a tubular main body 40, a tub combining part 41 located at the rear of the main body 40, and a cabinet combining part 42 located at the front of the main body 40.

The tub front 23 may include a coupling portion 26 extending forward. The combining portion 26 provides the tub opening portion 21.

The coupling portion 26 of the tub 2 may be inserted into the tub coupling portion 41 of the gasket 4. Accordingly, the gasket 4 and the tub 2 may be combined.

Similarly, a coupling portion providing an opening portion may be provided at the front surface of the case 1, and the coupling portion may be inserted into the case coupling portion 42 of the gasket 4. Thus, the gasket 4 and the case can be combined.

As described above, the exhaust duct 72 may be provided to extend from the rear side of the outer tub 2 toward the upper side of the outer tub 2.

The exhaust duct 72 may be provided to guide the humid air exhausted from the tub 2. A heat exchange portion 721 may be provided in the exhaust duct 72 to enable heat exchange with the humid air.

Accordingly, humid air discharged from the tub 2 may flow along the exhaust duct 72 and generate condensed water. The condensed water receives gravity in a direction opposite to the flow direction of the humid air. Thus, the condensed water may descend along the exhaust duct 72.

The condensed water falling through the exhaust duct 72 may be less affected by gravity. Specifically, although the condensed water falls in the direction of gravity, the influence of gravity may be reduced by the flow of the humid air. Therefore, the scattering of the condensed water to the tub 2 side can be minimized.

If the condensed water is scattered and flowed into the tub 2, the temperature of the drum 3 heated by the induction module 8 is lowered, resulting in a decrease in efficiency.

Therefore, the air circulates in a direction opposite to the gravity acting on the condensed water, thereby minimizing the condensed water from flowing into the tub 2 and scattering into the drum 3.

Fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are results showing the simulation of the inside of the exhaust duct 72 according to the circulation direction of air.

As shown in fig. 5 (a), when the air circulation direction is the same as the gravity direction, the condensed water is likely to flow into the tub 2 when reaching the inlet side of the exhaust duct 72.

In contrast, in the case where the circulation direction of the air and the gravity direction are not identical but opposite, as shown in fig. 5 (b), it is possible to minimize the dispersion of water from the inlet side of the exhaust duct 72 to the inside of the outer tub 2.

Fig. 6 is a diagram of an air circulation structure of the present embodiment.

Fig. 6 (a) is a view showing a state where air flows into the inside of the tub 2 through the exhaust duct 72 in a direction opposite to the above direction, fig. 6 (b) is a view showing a state where air flowing into the tub 2 through the inflow port 24 flows toward the inside of the drum 2 in the same direction as the above direction, and fig. 6 (c) is a view showing a state where the upper front side of the tub 2 and the supply duct 71 are connected such that air flows into the inside of the tub 2 through the supply duct 71 and air flows into the space between the drum 3 and the tub 2.

Before the description, terms to be mentioned below are defined.

In the present specification, the effective air volume (%) may be defined as a drum passing flow rate/circulating air volume.

In the present specification, the effective work (%) may be defined as the energy transferred within the drum/the heating energy of the induction module.

In this specification, the temperature deviation may be defined as a standard deviation of the temperature from the drum inlet to the back surface.

TABLE 1

	FIG. 6 (a)	FIG. 6 (b)	FIG. 6 (c)
				Effective air volume (%)	23％	48％	24％
Effective work (%)	38.7％	37.3％	39.4％
				Deviation of temperature	2.4	5.6	0.85

Next, an example will be described with reference to table 1 and fig. 6 (a) to 6 (c).

Fig. 6 (b) illustrates the maximum flow rate through the drum 3 for accommodating laundry or drying objects. This is because the gasket 4 and the supply pipe 71 are connected in fig. 6 (b). Since the supply duct 71 is connected to the opening portion side of the gasket 4, the air flowing into the inside of the drum 3 is the most as compared with other cases.

However, in the case of the inflow through the gasket 4, since the air is not heated by the induction module 8, it cannot be regarded that the drying effect is better than that of fig. 6 (c).

Referring to the effective work and the temperature deviation, in the case of fig. 6 (c), the heat energy transferred to the drum 3 is the most, and the temperature deviation in the front and rear directions of the drum 3 is small, so that the drying can be uniformly performed throughout the drum 3.

The numerical values shown in table 1 and fig. 6 may be changed according to the measurement method or the measurement standard, instead of always deriving the same result as the above result.

The foregoing description of any one embodiment or another embodiment of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to be separate from each other. The individual constituents or functions of any one of the embodiments or another of the foregoing invention may be used in combination or united.

For example, a configuration a illustrated in a specific embodiment and/or drawing and a configuration B illustrated in another embodiment and/or drawing may be combined. That is, unless the non-combinability is explicitly stated, the combinability is indicated even if the combination between the components is not directly stated.

The above detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, but rather is to be construed in an illustrative sense. The scope of the invention should be determined by reasonable interpretation of the appended claims and all changes which come within the equivalent scope of the invention should be construed as falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising:

a box body;

a container disposed within the box, including a front side having an opening, a rear side having a vent, and a body extending between the front side and the rear side;

a drum rotatably disposed within the container;

an induction heater disposed on an outer surface of the container body to heat the drum;

a supply duct which is disposed outside the container, extends along the main body of the container, and includes an outflow portion connected to a front surface of the container;

an exhaust duct connected to the supply duct and communicating with the exhaust port; and

a blowing unit that generates an air flow from the exhaust duct to the supply duct;

the front surface of the container comprises an inflow port positioned at the outer side of the opening part,

the outflow portion of the supply conduit communicates with the inflow port of the container.

2. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1,

the outflow portion includes an outlet extending rearward and connected to the inflow port of the container.

3. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1,

the inlet of the container is positioned above the opening.

4. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 3,

the induction heater is located at an upper side of a body of the container.

5. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1,

the drum includes:

a drum body in an extended cylindrical shape;

a through hole formed in the drum body; and

a roller front part connected with the front end of the roller main body and provided with a roller opening part.

6. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 5,

the inflow port of the container faces the front part of the drum.

7. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 6,

the drum front portion includes an inclined surface that is inclined outward and rearward at a position corresponding to the inflow port of the container in the drum front portion.

8. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 5,

the drum front portion includes an extension portion that extends forward and provides the drum opening portion,

the inlet of the container is positioned behind the drum opening.

9. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1,

the air outlet of the container is located at a lower side of the rear aspect of the container,

the exhaust duct extends upward from the exhaust port.

10. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 9,

the air conditioner further includes a heat exchange portion disposed inside the exhaust duct and absorbing heat of air discharged from the container.