CN116648177A - Shoe management apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A shoe management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a main body; a management chamber disposed in the body and housing a shoe; a machine chamber provided in the main body and accommodating a heat pump device including an evaporator and a condenser; and a blower fan configured to blow air circulated through the management chamber and the machine chamber. The shoe management apparatus further includes a first circulation flow path through which air discharged from the management chamber is supplied to the management chamber after traveling through the evaporator and the condenser, and a second circulation flow path through which air discharged from the management chamber is supplied to the management chamber after traveling through the evaporator and bypassing the condenser. The shoe management device includes a first valve for opening and closing the second circulation flow path.

Description

Shoe management apparatus and control method thereof

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a shoe care apparatus and a method of controlling the same, and more particularly, to a shoe care apparatus capable of controlling a temperature of air supplied to a care room and a method of controlling the same.

Background

Generally, a shoe care apparatus is an apparatus for caring for shoes, for example, by drying or cleaning the shoes and removing odors from the shoes.

The shoe care apparatus may be provided with means for forming a heat pump cycle, such as an evaporator, a condenser and a compressor. During the drying and/or cooling stroke, air in the care chamber may flow out of the care chamber and may be cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator and condenser, and then the cooled and dehumidified air may be returned to the care chamber. In other words, air circulates in a channel that runs through the care and machine rooms.

In the circulation method, since air is heated while continuously circulating inside the shoe care apparatus, continuous heat accumulation occurs, and it may be difficult to cool and dehumidify the air supplied to the nursing home. Therefore, in recent years, there is a need to improve the performance of a heat pump cycle in which air flowing into a care room is cooled and dehumidified by preventing continuous heat accumulation.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved

Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a shoe care apparatus having improved heat pump cycle efficiency and a method of controlling the same.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a shoe care apparatus capable of smoothly cooling and dehumidifying air supplied to a care room and a method of controlling the same.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a shoe care apparatus capable of improving dehumidifying performance and a method of controlling the same.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a shoe care apparatus capable of providing various routines to meet user's needs and a method of controlling the shoe care apparatus.

Technical proposal

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a shoe care apparatus including: a main body; a first compartment located in the body and configured to receive a shoe; a second compartment located in the body and configured to house a heat pump comprising an evaporator and a condenser; a fan configured to circulate air through the first compartment and the second compartment; a first circulation passage configured to guide air discharged from the first compartment back to the first compartment by guiding the air discharged from the first compartment to the evaporator and the condenser; a second circulation passage for guiding air discharged from the first compartment back to the first compartment by guiding the air discharged from the first compartment to the evaporator and bypassing the condenser; and a first valve configured to open and close the second circulation passage.

The shoe care apparatus may further include: a communication hole formed in a wall of the main body for communicating an outside of the main body with the second compartment; an inlet through which air introduced into the second compartment through the communication hole flows to the condenser; and an outlet through which the air introduced through the inlet travels through the condenser and then flows to the second compartment, and wherein the air discharged through the outlet is discharged to the outside of the main body through the communication hole.

The shoe care apparatus may further include at least one of a second valve configured to open and close the inlet and a third valve configured to open and close the outlet.

The shoe care apparatus may further include a fourth valve disposed between the evaporator and the condenser on the first circulation passage.

The shoe care apparatus may further include a controller configured to control operation of the first valve and operation of the fourth valve.

The controller may be configured to: controlling the operation of the first valve and the operation of the fourth valve such that the second circulation passage is closed when the first circulation passage is open; and controlling the operation of the first valve and the operation of the fourth valve such that the second circulation passage is opened when the first circulation passage is closed.

The controller may be configured to: the operation of the first valve and the operation of the fourth valve are controlled based on at least one of the temperature of air supplied to the first compartment at an operating frequency of a compressor of the heat pump.

The controller may be configured to control operation of the second valve and operation of the third valve based on a temperature of air supplied to the first compartment.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling a shoe care apparatus operable in a first mode in which air having traveled through a condenser of a heat pump is supplied to a first compartment and a second mode in which air having bypassed the condenser is supplied to the compartment, the method comprising: responsive to the shoe care apparatus operating in the first mode, opening a first circulation channel to direct air discharged from the compartment back to the compartment by directing air discharged from the compartment to an evaporator and the condenser of the heat pump; and responsive to the shoe care apparatus operating in the second mode, opening a second circulation channel to direct air discharged from the compartment back to the compartment by directing air discharged from the compartment to the evaporator and bypassing the condenser.

The method may further include determining an operational mode of the shoe care apparatus based on at least one of an operational frequency of a compressor and a temperature of air supplied to the compartment.

Determining an operating mode of the shoe care apparatus based on at least one of an operating frequency of the compressor and a temperature of air supplied to the compartment includes: the operation mode of the shoe care apparatus is changed to the second mode based on the operation frequency of the compressor being less than or equal to a preset frequency and the temperature of air supplied to the compartment being greater than or equal to a set temperature while the shoe care apparatus is operating in the first mode.

The method may further include causing the shoe care device to operate in one of the first mode and the second mode based on user input.

Operating the shoe care device in one of the first mode and the second mode based on the user input may include: based on receiving a first user input, the shoe care apparatus is controlled to operate in the first mode for a first preset time and then in the second mode for a second preset time.

Operating the shoe care device in one of the first mode and the second mode based on the user input to include: based on receiving a first user input, the shoe care apparatus is controlled to alternately operate in the first mode and the second mode.

Operating the shoe care device in one of the first mode and the second mode based on the user input may include: based on receiving the first user input, controlling the shoe care apparatus to operate in the second mode only for a preset time.

Advantageous effects

As apparent from the above, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, a shoe care apparatus and a method of controlling the same can smoothly cool and dehumidify air by improving efficiency of a heat pump cycle through a bypass passage.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a shoe care apparatus and a method of controlling the same can maintain dehumidifying performance even when an outdoor temperature of the shoe care apparatus is high, and can prevent malfunction of a heat pump device.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a shoe care apparatus and a method of controlling the same may provide various routines according to a user's request.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a shoe care apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a door is opened in the shoe care apparatus shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating the shoe care apparatus shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the shoe care apparatus shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a control block diagram illustrating a shoe care apparatus according to an embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a damper for each operation mode of the shoe care apparatus according to the embodiment.

Fig. 7 illustrates air flow when the shoe care apparatus according to an embodiment is operated in a first mode of operation.

Fig. 8 illustrates air flow when the shoe care apparatus according to an embodiment is operated in the second operation mode.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing an operation mode by the shoe care apparatus according to the embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a shoe care device based on user input according to an embodiment.

Detailed Description

The embodiments set forth herein and illustrated in the configurations of the present disclosure are merely preferred embodiments, and it is therefore to be understood that these embodiments may be replaced with various equivalents and modifications at the time of disclosure.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts or features throughout the drawings.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. It will be understood that the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and/or "having," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Terms including a sequence number, such as "first" and "second," may be used to explain various components, but these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used for distinguishing one element from another. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. When items are described using the conjunctions "-, and/or" -, etc., the description should be understood to include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The terms "front", "rear", "left" and "right" as used herein are defined with respect to the drawings, but these terms may not limit the shape and location of the corresponding components.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, a direction in which the door 20 of the shoe care apparatus 1 is installed is defined as a forward direction, and rear, left and right sides, and upper and lower sides may be defined based on the forward direction.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a shoe care apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a door is opened in the shoe care apparatus shown in fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating the shoe care apparatus shown in fig. 1.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, the shoe care apparatus 1 may include a body 10 forming an external appearance and a door 20 rotatably coupled to the body 10.

The body 10 may be provided in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with an open front side. The opening 10a may be formed in an open front side of the body 10. The door 20 may be rotatably coupled to the main body 10 so as to open and close the open front side of the main body 10. The door 20 may be coupled to the body 10 by a hinge 23.

The main body 10 may be formed such that the length of the front surface extending in the first direction X is different from the length of the side surface extending in the second direction Y. That is, the front surface of the body 10 may have a length L1 longer than a length L2 of the side surface of the body 10. Such a configuration enables easy installation of the shoe care apparatus 1 even in a narrow entrance hall. The length of the front surface of the body 10 may be defined as a first length L1, and the length of the side surface of the body 10 may be defined as a second length L2.

The door 20 may include a control panel 22 disposed on a front and/or upper surface of the door 20. The control panel 22 may receive various commands from a user. In addition, the control panel 22 may display pieces of information regarding the operation of the shoe care apparatus 1. For example, the user may use the control panel 22 to select the type of shoe to be cared for and set the appropriate care routine for that shoe.

The control panel 22 may include a display for displaying information regarding the operation of the shoe care device 1. Further, the control panel 22 may include at least one of buttons or a touch screen.

The door 20 may include a hanging member 21. The suspension member 21 may be provided at a side of the door 20 facing the inside of the care room 30, and at least one suspension member may be provided. The care compartment 30 may also be referred to as a compartment 30, care zone 30, treatment zone 30, or care space 30. The suspension member 21 may be used to suspend the handle 55 of the bracket 50. The suspension member 21 may facilitate storage of the bracket 50. The suspension member 21 may be used for other purposes.

The body 10 may include an outer case 11 and an inner case 12 disposed inside the outer case 11. The care room 30 may be formed inside the main body 10. For example, the inner housing 12 may form a care chamber 30. The nursing home 30 may have a bracket 50 provided therein, and shoes may be held on the bracket 50. The inner shell 12 may be referred to as a shell.

The nursing home 30 may form a space in which the shoes are accommodated. The nursing home 30 may be formed of an upper surface 12a, a lower surface 12b, a left surface 12c, a right surface 12d, and a rear surface 12e of the inner case 12. The shoe may be accommodated in the nursing home 30 and be nursed. The upper surface 12a, the lower surface 12b, the left surface 12c, the right surface 12d, and the rear surface 12e of the inner case 12 may form an upper wall 12a, a lower wall 12b, a left wall 12c, a right wall 12d, and a rear wall 12e of the inner case 12.

The bracket 50 and the mounting rail 80 may be disposed in the care room 30. The bracket 50 and the mounting rail 80 may be mounted on the left surface 12c or the right surface 12d of the inner case 12. That is, the bracket 50 may be installed such that the side of the shoe can be seen when viewed from the front of the shoe care apparatus 1. For this, the length of the side surface of the body 10 may be formed shorter than the length of the front surface of the body 10. However, the positions of the bracket 50 and the mounting rail 80 are not limited to those described above.

At least one bracket 50 may be provided. The bracket 50 may be provided in a shape to be inserted into the shoe. Further, the bracket 50 can be detached from the nursing home 30. That is, the bracket 50 may be coupled to the mounting rail 80 provided on the side surface of the care room 30, and may be separated from the mounting rail 80. For example, the bracket 50 may be inserted into the mounting rail 80 in the second direction Y. Since the bracket 50 is detachably provided, the space in the nursing chamber 30 can be effectively used according to the size of the shoe.

The shoe care apparatus 1 may comprise an air outlet 31 and an air inlet 60. The air outlet 31 may be formed in a sidewall of the inner case 12. For example, the air outlet 31 may be formed on the left surface 12c of the nursing home 30. A plurality of air outlets 31 may be provided. The air outlet 31 may allow air that has traveled through the duct 100 to flow into the care chamber 30. In other words, inside the duct 100, the air cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 42 may flow to the condenser 43, and the air may be heated by the condenser 43 and flow into the care room 30 through the air outlet 31.

The air inlet 60 may be formed on one side surface of the inner case 12. For example, the air inlet 60 may be formed on the lower surface 12b of the inner case 12. Specifically, the air inlet 60 may be disposed on a front portion of the lower surface 12 b. Air in the care compartment 30 may be introduced into the duct 100 through the air inlet 60. The air inlet 60 may include a central hole 60a and a grill 60b including a plurality of side holes.

The shoe care apparatus 1 may include a machine room 32, a condenser 43, a compressor 41, an evaporator 42, and a communication hole 33.

The machine room 32 may be provided at one side of the nursing home 30. The machine room 32 may be referred to as a compartment 32, a machine area 32, and a machine space 32. For example, the machine room 32 may be disposed below the care room 30. At least a portion of the conduit 100 may be housed in the machine room 32. A heat pump apparatus 40 including a compressor 41, an expander 44, an evaporator 42, and a condenser 43 may be disposed in the machine room 32. The machine room 32 may house a compressor 41, an expander 44, an evaporator 42, and a condenser 43. Further, the sterilizing device 49 may be provided in the nursing home 30 or in the machine room 32. In fig. 2 and 3, the sterilizing device 49 is illustrated as being disposed inside the nursing home 30.

The air inside the machine room 32 may communicate with the air outside the shoe care apparatus 1 through the communication hole 33. The communication hole 33 may be provided in the rear of the machine room 32. The communication hole 33 may be provided in the rear wall of the main body 10. For example, the communication hole 33 may be provided in the rear wall 11e of the outer cabinet 11. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the communication hole 33 may be provided at various positions as long as the communication hole 33 is capable of communicating the machine room 32 with the outside of the main body 10. For example, communication holes may be formed on the side walls 11c and 11d of the outer cabinet 11.

The conduit 100 may be disposed on one side of the care compartment 30. For example, the conduit 100 may be disposed on the left wall 12c and/or the right wall 12d below the care chamber 30. Further, the duct 100 may be provided at one side of the machine room 32. For example, the duct 100 may be disposed at an upper side of the machine room 32. In the duct 100, an evaporator 42, a condenser 43, a deodorizing device 45, the duct 100, a blower fan 47, a first temperature sensor 110, and a second temperature sensor 120 may be provided.

The compressor 41, the evaporator 42, the condenser 43, and an expander 44 (to be described later) may be defined as the heat pump apparatus 40. The refrigerant may flow through a refrigerant pipe 40a (to be described later) of the heat pump apparatus 40 through a compressor 41, an evaporator 42, a condenser 43, and an expander 44.

The heat pump device 40 may allow air circulating in the care compartment 30 to be cooled, dehumidified and heated. The heat pump device 40 may allow air flowing out of the care room 30 to be dehumidified and allow air heated by the condenser 43 to be introduced into the care room 30.

The conduit 100 may include a first conduit 101 positioned below the care chamber 30. The first pipe 101 may be referred to as a lower pipe 101. The duct 100 may form a channel that is connected to the air inlet 60 of the care chamber 30 and guides air traveling through the air inlet 60 to the blower fan 47. The conduit 100 may include a second conduit 102, the second conduit 102 being disposed on the left wall 12c and/or the right wall 12d forming the care chamber 30. The first duct 101 may be connected to a second duct 102 provided on a sidewall of the main body 10. The second conduit 102 may be referred to as a side conduit 102.

The second duct 102 may be disposed outside the sidewall of the inner case 12 in the second direction Y of the shoe care device 1. One end of the second duct 102 may be connected to the at least one air outlet 31, and the other end of the second duct 102 may be connected to the first duct 101. The second duct 102 may form an exhaust passage 104 for guiding air to the air outlet 31.

In the first pipe 101, an evaporator 42 and a condenser 43 may be arranged. The evaporator 42, the condenser 43, and the blower fan 47 may be arranged in the first direction X. The evaporator 42 may be located upstream of the condenser 43 based on the flow of air.

A blower fan 47 may be provided between the heat pump device 40 and the care room 30 to circulate air. The blower fan 47 may be rotated based on a predetermined Revolutions Per Minute (RPM). Specifically, the blower fan 47 may suck the air flowing into the first duct 101 and discharge the air toward the second duct 102. The air introduced into the first duct 101 through the air inlet 60 may be dried while traveling through the evaporator 42 of the heat pump device 40, heated while traveling through the condenser 43, and then discharged back to the care room 30 through the second duct 102 and the air outlet 31.

Further, the deodorizing means 45 may be arranged in the first duct 101. The deodorizing means 45 may include a deodorizing filter 45a and an Ultraviolet (UV) LED 45b. The deodorizing filter 45a and the uv led 45b may be disposed at a position near the air inlet 60 of the nursing home 30. The UV LED 45b may remove the smell of the air by irradiating the deodorizing filter 45a with light. For example, the deodorizing filter 45a may include at least one of a ceramic filter, a photocatalytic filter, or an activated carbon filter.

The sterilizing device 49 may also be arranged in the care room 30 or in the first conduit 101. The sterilizing device 49 can remove bacteria contained in the air. The sterilizing device 49 may include at least one of an ultraviolet lamp, an ultraviolet LED, a xenon lamp, an ozone generator, or a sterilant spray.

The drain container 48 may be disposed at the lower side of the main body 10, that is, at the lower side of the machine room 32. The drain tank 48 may store condensed water generated by the evaporator 42. That is, the air discharged from the care room 30 may be cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 42 provided in the duct 100, and condensed water generated during the cooling and dehumidification may be collected in the drain container 48. The drain tank 48 may be detachable from the main body 10. The drainage container 48 may be referred to as a water collection container 48.

At least one shelf 90 may be disposed in the care compartment 30. Shoes may be placed on the partition 90. In addition, the shelf 90 may include a duct shelf 91. The duct shelf 91 may form a duct channel 91b therein, and the duct shelf 91 may form a lower surface hole 91a at a lower surface thereof. The air blown from the blower fan 47 through the second duct 102 may be discharged into the nursing chamber 30 through the lower surface holes 91a of the duct shelf 91. Further, the duct shelf 91 may be formed at an upper surface thereof with an upper surface hole 93.

The side surface of the duct shelf 91 may be connected to a circular duct 92 disposed in the second duct 102. Air may be discharged into the care chamber 30 through the nozzle 92a of the circular duct 92. Air may be supplied to the duct shelf 91 after traveling through the circular duct 92. The circular tube 92 may have a variety of shapes.

The first temperature sensor 110 may measure a first temperature of the air heated by the condenser 43. For example, the first temperature sensor 110 may be disposed downstream of the condenser 43 so as to detect the temperature of the air flowing out of the condenser 43. Hereinafter, the temperature of the air measured by the first temperature sensor 110 is defined as a first temperature. The first temperature sensor 110 may be disposed in a passage between the condenser 43 and the blower fan 47. However, the position of the first temperature sensor 110 is not limited to the above example. The controller 200 of the shoe care apparatus 1 may adjust the operating frequency of the compressor 41 based on the first temperature measured by the first temperature sensor 110.

The second temperature sensor 120 may measure the temperature of the air at the air inlet 60 of the care chamber 30 and/or the temperature of the air prior to flowing to the evaporator 42. For example, the second temperature sensor 120 may be disposed upstream of the evaporator 42 to detect the temperature of the air prior to flowing to the evaporator 42. The second temperature sensor 120 may be disposed in a passage between the air inlet 60 and the deodorizing filter 45a or in a passage between the deodorizing filter 45a and the evaporator 42. Hereinafter, the temperature of the air measured by the second temperature sensor 120 is defined as a second temperature. The controller 200 of the shoe care apparatus 1 may determine the outside air temperature based on the second temperature measured by the second temperature sensor 120 when the shoe care apparatus 1 starts to operate.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the shoe care apparatus shown in fig. 1. In fig. 4, the circulation passage circulating through the nursing chamber 30 and the machine chamber 32 in the shoe care device 1 shown in fig. 3 and the air flow flowing through the inner passage 100a of the duct 100 will be described in detail.

Referring to fig. 4, the shoe care apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a circulation passage through which air circulates between the care compartment 30 and the machine compartment 32, and a blower fan 47 for blowing air in the circulation passage. The circulation channel may be a circulation path.

The circulation passage may include a first circulation passage and a second circulation passage. The first circulation passage may include an air supply passage 103, an air discharge passage 104, and a first passage 105. The second circulation passage may include an air supply passage 103, an air discharge passage 104, and a second passage 106.

In addition, the shoe care apparatus may include a duct 100 and an internal passage 100a provided at one side of the care chamber 30.

The conduit 100 may include a first conduit 101 and a second conduit 102. The first duct 101 may be disposed below the care room 30. The second duct 102 may be formed on the side walls 12c and 12d forming the care chamber 30. The first duct 101 and the second duct 102 may be connected to each other such that air communicates between each other. The first pipe 101 and the second pipe 102 may be integrally formed with each other. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the first pipe 101 and the second pipe 102 may be separately formed and coupled to each other.

The duct 100 may include a passage 100a formed therein. The evaporator 42, the condenser 43, and the blower fan 47 may be disposed in the passage 100a. A plurality of channels 100a may be provided. For example, the channels 100a may include a supply channel 103, an exhaust channel 104, a first channel 105, a second channel 106, and a third channel 109.

The air supply channel 103 may be arranged to allow air in the care compartment 30 to flow into the duct 100. The air supply channel 103 may receive air from the air inlet 60 and allow the air to flow to the evaporator 42. The air inlet 60 may be formed on the lower surface 12b of the inner case forming the nursing home 30. An air supply passage 103 may be formed from the air inlet 60 to the evaporator 42. For example, the first passage 105 may be formed from the air inlet 60 to the upstream side of the evaporator 42. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the evaporator 42 may be a component disposed inside the air supply passage 103.

The first passage 105 may be formed in the first pipe 101. The first passage 105 may be provided such that air that has traveled through the evaporator 42 flows to the condenser 43. The first passage 105 may be formed from the evaporator 42 to the blower fan 47. For example, the first passage 105 may be formed from the downstream side of the evaporator 42 to the upstream side of the blower fan 47. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the evaporator 42 and the blower fan 47 may be disposed in the first passage 105. The condenser 43 may be disposed inside the first passage 105. The first channel 105 may be used as a condenser channel 105 or a main channel 105. Thus, the low-temperature, low-humidity air that has traveled through the evaporator 42 may travel through the condenser 43, and become high-temperature, low-humidity air. Further, a first temperature sensor 110 may be arranged in the first channel 105. However, the position of the first temperature sensor 110 is not limited thereto.

The second passage 106 may be formed in the first duct 101. The second channel 106 may be separated from the first channel 105 by a partition wall 107. However, at least a portion of the second channel 106 may overlap the first channel 105. The second passage 106 may be provided such that air that has traveled through the evaporator 42 bypasses or bypasses the condenser 43. The second passage 106 may prevent air that has traveled through the evaporator 42 from traveling through the condenser 43 in a second mode that will be described below. The second passage 106 may serve as a bypass passage 106. Due to the presence of this bypass passage 106, air traveling through the evaporator 42 in the duct 100 may not travel through the condenser 43, and the temperature of the care chamber 30 and surrounding components in which heat accumulation has occurred may be reduced. Therefore, the dehumidification efficiency of the evaporator 42 can be improved.

The third passage 109 may be formed by the first pipe 101. For example, the third passage 109 may be formed by a third passage forming portion 108 protruding toward the machine room 32. The third passage 109 may allow air inside the machine room 32 to flow to the condenser 43. The third passage 109 may allow air in the machine room 32 to travel through the condenser 43 in a second mode, which will be described below. At least a portion of the third channel 109 may overlap the first channel 105. Due to the presence of this third passage 109, the air in the machine room 32 can be heat-exchanged with the condenser 43, and the air heated in the machine room 32 can travel through the communication hole 33 provided in the rear wall of the main body 10 so as to be in communication with or heat-exchanged with the outside air of the shoe care apparatus 1. Accordingly, heat in the shoe care apparatus 1 can be discharged to the outside of the shoe care apparatus 1.

An exhaust passage 104 may be formed in the duct 100. A portion of the exhaust passage 104 may be formed in the second duct 102. The vent passage 104 may be configured to allow air in the conduit 100 to flow to the care chamber 30 where the shoe 2 is received. The exhaust passage 104 may be connected to the air outlet 31 such that air that has traveled through the blower fan 47 flows to the care compartment 30. The air outlet 31 may be formed in the side walls 12c and 12d of the inner case forming the nursing home 30. An exhaust passage 104 may be formed from the blower fan 47 to the air outlet 31. For example, the first passage 105 may be formed from the downstream side of the blower fan 47 to the air outlet 31. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the blower fan 47 may be a component disposed inside the exhaust passage 104.

The shoe care apparatus may include dampers 105a, 105b, 106a, 109c, and 109d for opening and closing the passage 100a. The dampers may be referred to as valves 105a, 105b, 106a, 109c, and 109d. A plurality of dampers 105a, 105b, 106a, 109c, and 109d may be provided. For example, the plurality of dampers 105a, 105b, 106a, 109c, and 109d includes a first damper 106a, a second damper 109c, a third damper 109d, a fourth damper 105a, and a fifth damper 105b.

The first damper 106a may be disposed in the bypass passage 106 to adjust the flow rate of the air flowing through the bypass passage 106. The first damper 106a may open and close the bypass passage 106. However, the position of the first damper 106a is not limited to the above example, and the first damper 106a may be disposed outside the bypass passage 106 as long as the first damper 106a can open and close the bypass passage 106.

The second damper 109c and the third damper 109d may open and close the third passage 109 to adjust the flow rate of the air flowing through the third passage 109. For example, the second damper 109c may open and close the inlet 109a of the third passage 109, and the third damper 109d may open and close the outlet 109b of the third passage 109. The second damper 109c and/or the third damper 109d may close the third passage 109 such that air in the machine room 32 does not travel through the condenser 43 in the first mode and/or the normal mode; and the second damper 109c and/or the third damper 109d may open the third passage 109 such that air in the machine room 32 travels through the condenser 43 in the second mode. Due to the presence of the third passage 109, the air in the machine room 32 can be heat-exchanged with the condenser 43, and the air heated in the machine room 32 can travel through the communication hole 33 provided in the rear wall of the main body 10 so as to be in communication with or heat-exchanged with the outside air of the shoe care apparatus 1. Accordingly, heat in the shoe care apparatus 1 can be discharged to the outside of the shoe care apparatus 1.

The fourth damper 105a and the fifth damper 105b may open and close the first passage 105 to adjust the flow rate of air flowing through the first passage 105. The fourth damper 105a may be disposed upstream of the condenser 43 in the first passage 105. For example, a fourth damper 105a may be disposed downstream of the evaporator 42 and upstream of the condenser 43 to adjust the flow rate of air flowing through the evaporator 42 to the condenser 43 in the first passage 105. The fifth damper 105b may be disposed downstream of the condenser 43 in the first passage 105. For example, the fifth damper 105b may be disposed downstream of the condenser 43 and upstream of the blower fan 47 to adjust the flow rate of the air flowing through the condenser 43 to the blower fan 47 in the first passage 105.

The fourth damper 105a and/or the fifth damper 105b may open the first passage 105 in the first mode and/or the normal mode such that air introduced into the air supply passage 103 from the care chamber 30 through the air inlet 60 flows to the condenser 42. Further, the fourth damper 105a and/or the fifth damper 105b may close the first passage 105 in the second mode such that air introduced into the air supply passage 103 from the care chamber 30 through the air inlet 60 does not flow to the condenser 42 and air in the machine chamber 32 is allowed to flow from the inlet 109a of the third passage 109 to the condenser 42 and then to the outlet 109b of the third passage 109.

Due to the presence of the third passage 109, the air in the machine room 32 can be heat-exchanged with the condenser 43, and the air heated in the machine room 32 can travel through the communication hole 33 provided in the rear wall of the main body 10 so as to be in communication with or heat-exchanged with the outside air of the shoe care apparatus 1. Accordingly, heat in the shoe care apparatus 1 can be discharged to the outside of the shoe care apparatus 1.

The machine room 32 may be disposed below the care room 30. The refrigerant pipe 40a, the compressor 41, and the expander 44 constituting the heat pump apparatus 40 may be disposed in the machine room 32. Further, the shoe care apparatus 1 may include a third temperature sensor 130 and a fourth temperature sensor 140. The third temperature sensor 130 and the fourth temperature sensor 140 may be disposed adjacent to the refrigerant pipe 40a so as to detect the temperature of the refrigerant. For example, the third temperature sensor 130 may detect the temperature of the refrigerant traveling through the expander 44 and flowing into the evaporator 42. The fourth temperature sensor 140 may detect the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the condenser 43 traveling through the compressor 41.

The shoe care apparatus 1 may include a communication hole 33, the communication hole 33 for communicating the outside of the main body 10 with the inside of the main body 10. The communication hole 33 may be formed in one wall of the main body 10 such that air from outside the main body 10 flows into the machine chamber 32 or out of the machine chamber 32. For example, referring to fig. 4, a communication hole 33 may be formed in the right wall 11d and/or the rear wall 11e of the outer cabinet 11. In the drawings, the communication hole 33 is illustrated as being formed in the right wall 11d for convenience of description, but the position of the communication hole 33 is not limited to that shown in the drawings.

The shoe care apparatus 1 may also include a condenser cooling fan 34. The condenser cooling fan 34 may blow air in the third passage 109. For example, the condenser cooling fan 34 may allow air in the machine room 32 to flow to the condenser 43, and then flow again to the machine room 32. A condenser cooling fan 34 may be disposed in the machine room 32. For example, the condenser cooling fan 34 may be disposed downstream of the outlet 109b of the third flow passage 109. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the condenser cooling fan 34 may be disposed at various positions, for example, at the inlet 109a of the third flow passage 109.

Fig. 5 is a control block diagram illustrating a shoe care apparatus according to an embodiment.

Referring to fig. 5, the shoe care apparatus 1 according to the embodiment may include a control panel 22, a heat pump device 40, a sensor unit 150, a controller 200, and a damper unit 300. As described above, the control panel 22 may include at least one of buttons or a touch screen, and may receive various commands from a user.

The control panel 22 may transmit a command (hereinafter, "user input") received from a user to the controller 200.

The heat pump apparatus 40 may include a compressor 41, an evaporator 42, a condenser 43, and an expander 44. The heat pump apparatus 40 may transmit operation information (e.g., an operation frequency of the compressor 41) to the controller 200, and the controller 200 may control the heat pump apparatus 40.

According to various embodiments, the controller 200 may control the operating frequency of the compressor 41.

The sensor unit 150 may detect the temperature at each location of the shoe care device 1 (e.g., inside the pipe 100).

For example, the sensor unit 150 according to an embodiment may include at least one of the first temperature sensor 110, the second temperature sensor 120, the third temperature sensor 130, or the fourth temperature sensor 140.

The sensor unit 150 may detect the temperature at each location of the shoe care device 1 and send a signal to the controller 200.

The damper unit 300 may include a plurality of dampers (e.g., a first damper 106a, a second damper 109c, a third damper 109d, a fourth damper 105a, and a fifth damper 105 b) to adjust the flow rate of air flowing through a plurality of passages (e.g., the first passage 105, the second passage 106, and the third passage 109) provided in the duct 100.

According to various embodiments, the controller 200 may control the opening/closing of at least one damper (e.g., the first damper 106 a) of the plurality of dampers included in the damper unit 300.

The controller 200 may include at least one processor 210 and at least one memory 220, and may control at least one other component of the shoe care apparatus 1.

The processor 210 may run software (e.g., programs) to control at least one other component of the shoe care apparatus 1 (e.g., the heat pump device 40, the damper unit 300, the blower fan 47, the deodorizing device 45, the condenser cooling fan 34) connected to the processor 210, and perform various data processing or calculations. As part of data processing or computation, the processor 210 may store instructions or data received from other components (e.g., the sensor unit 150 and the control panel 22) in volatile memory, process instructions or data stored in the volatile memory, and store the resulting data in non-volatile memory. According to an embodiment, the processor 210 may include a main processor (e.g., a central processing unit) or an auxiliary processor (e.g., a processor for controlling the heat pump apparatus, and a processor for controlling the damper unit), which may operate independently of or together with the main processor. For example, when the processor 210 includes a main processor and an auxiliary processor, the auxiliary processor may be set to use less power than the main processor or to be dedicated to prescribed functions. The secondary processor may be implemented separately from the primary processor or may be implemented as part of the primary processor.

The memory 220 may store a plurality of pieces of data used by at least one component of the shoe care device 1 (e.g., the processor 210 or the sensor unit 150). The data may include, for example, software, input data or output data regarding instructions associated with the software. Memory 220 may include volatile memory or nonvolatile memory.

According to various embodiments, the memory 220 may store software (e.g., a program) that, when executed by the processor 210, performs the operations described below.

Hereinabove, the configuration and structure of the shoe care apparatus 1 according to the various embodiments have been described, and hereinafter, the method of controlling the shoe care apparatus 1 according to the various embodiments will be described in detail.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a damper for each mode of operation of the shoe care apparatus according to an embodiment; FIG. 7 illustrates air flow when the shoe care apparatus according to an embodiment is operating in a first mode of operation; and fig. 8 illustrates air flow when the shoe care apparatus according to an embodiment is operated in the second mode of operation.

Referring to fig. 6, the controller 200 may control various components of the shoe care apparatus 1 (e.g., the damper unit 300 and the heat pump device 40) based on the operation mode (1000) of the shoe care apparatus 1.

According to various embodiments, the controller 200 may control the opening and closing of the damper units 300 (e.g., the first damper 106a, the second damper 109c, and the third damper 109d, the fourth damper 105a, and the fifth damper 105 b) based on the operation mode of the shoe care device 1.

The operating modes of the shoe care apparatus 1 may include a first operating mode and a second operating mode.

The first operation mode may refer to an operation mode for drying the shoes 2 accommodated in the nursing chamber 30 using the high-temperature air having traveled through the condenser 43.

The second operation mode may refer to an operation mode for cooling the heat pump device 40 (e.g., the condenser 43) and cooling the shoes 2 accommodated in the nursing home 30 using relatively low-temperature air that has not yet traveled through the condenser 43.

Referring to fig. 7, in an embodiment, the controller 200 may close the first, second, and third dampers 106a, 109c, and 109d in the first mode (1100).

In this embodiment, the controller 200 may open the fourth damper 105a and the fifth damper 105b in the first mode (1110).

According to various embodiments, the controller 200 may operate the blower fan 47 and stop the operation of the condenser cooling fan 34 in the first mode.

Referring to the air flow F1 shown in fig. 7, when the first, second, and third dampers 106a, 109c, and 109d are closed, and the fourth and fifth dampers 105a and 105b are open, air introduced from the care chamber 30 and traveling through the evaporator 42 may travel through the condenser 43, and then flow back into the care chamber 30.

According to this embodiment, in the first mode, air heated by the condenser 43 may be provided to the shoe 2 to effectively dry the shoe 2.

According to various embodiments, the controller 200 may close only one of the first, second, and third dampers 106a, 109c, 109d (e.g., the first damper 106 a) in the first mode.

Referring to fig. 8, air outside the main body 10 and air inside the main body 10 may communicate with each other through the communication hole 33. For example, air outside the main body 10 may flow into the machine room 32 or air may flow out of the machine room 32.

In one embodiment, the controller 200 may open the first damper 106a, the second damper 109c, and the third damper 109d in the second mode (1200).

In this embodiment, the controller 200 may close the fourth damper 105a and the fifth damper 105b in the second mode (1210).

According to various embodiments, the controller 200 may operate the blower fan 47 and the condenser cooling fan 34 in the second mode. Further, the controller 200 may operate the compressor 41 at the minimum operation frequency in the second mode.

Referring to the first air flow F2 shown in fig. 8, the first, second and third dampers 106a, 109c, 109d are open, and the fourth and fifth dampers 105a, 105b are closed, air introduced from the care chamber 30 and traveling through the evaporator 42 may bypass or bypass the condenser 43, and flow back into the care chamber 30 through the second passage 106.

Referring to the second air flow F3 shown in fig. 8, when the first, second, and third dampers 106a, 109c, and 109d are opened and the fourth and fifth dampers 105a and 105b are closed, air introduced into the machine room 32 through the communication hole 33 may flow from the inlet 109a into the third passage 109, and air having traveled through the condenser 43 may flow back into the machine room 32 through the outlet 109 b. The air flowing back into the machine room 32 through the outlet 109b may flow out of the main body 10 through the communication hole 33.

According to an embodiment, in the second mode, the shoe 2 may be cooled by circulating only air that has traveled through the evaporator 42 into the care chamber 30.

Further, according to the embodiment, in the second mode, when the target temperature is not maintained and rises although the compressor 41 is operated at the minimum operating frequency, unheated air in the machine room 32 may be used to cool the condenser 43.

According to various embodiments, the controller 200 may open the fourth damper 105a and the fifth damper 105b in the second mode, and in this case, may cool the shoe 2 and the condenser 43 with low efficiency.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing an operation mode of the shoe care apparatus according to the embodiment.

Referring to fig. 9, the shoe care apparatus 1 according to the embodiment may operate in a first mode (2000).

According to various embodiments, in response to a user selecting a drying process via the control panel 22, the controller 200 may control the damper unit 300 and the heat pump apparatus 40 such that the shoe care apparatus 1 operates in the first mode.

In an embodiment, the controller 200 may adjust the operating frequency of the compressor 41 or control the on/off operation of the compressor 41 based on the temperature information collected through the sensor unit 150 to follow the target temperature corresponding to the drying routine.

For example, the controller 200 may adjust the operating frequency of the compressor 41 by a fuzzy control method to follow the target temperature corresponding to the drying routine.

Meanwhile, although the compressor 41 is operated at a preset frequency (e.g., a minimum operation frequency), when the temperature of the shoe care apparatus 1 (e.g., the temperature inside the duct 100 or the temperature inside the care chamber 30) is continuously increased due to a special condition (e.g., high-temperature outside air), the dehumidifying performance of the shoe care apparatus 1 may be deteriorated due to high-temperature, high-humidity air, and may cause malfunction of the heat pump device 40.

In an embodiment, the controller 200 may determine the operation mode of the shoe care apparatus 1 based on the operation frequency of the compressor 41 and the temperature inside the duct 100.

Specifically, when the shoe care apparatus 1 is operated in the first mode, the controller 200 may change the operation mode of the shoe care apparatus 1 to the second mode (2300) based on the operation frequency of the compressor 41 being less than or equal to a preset frequency (yes in operation 2100) and the temperature inside the pipe 100 being greater than or equal to a set temperature (yes in operation 2200).

According to an embodiment, although the compressor 41 is operated at a preset frequency (e.g., a minimum operation frequency), when the temperature of the shoe care apparatus 1 (e.g., the temperature inside the duct 100 or the temperature inside the care chamber 30) is continuously increased due to a special case (e.g., high-temperature outside air), the operation mode of the shoe care apparatus 1 may be switched to the second mode to cool the condenser 43 and the shoe 2.

Further, according to this embodiment, by changing the operation mode of the shoe care apparatus 1 from the first mode to the second mode, the high-temperature, high-humidity air circulated inside the care chamber 30 can be changed to the low-temperature, low-humidity air, and the dehumidifying performance can be improved accordingly.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a shoe care device based on user input, according to an embodiment.

Referring to fig. 10, the shoe care apparatus 1 according to the embodiment may include a control panel 22 for receiving various user inputs from a user.

The shoe care apparatus 1 according to the embodiment may provide a variety of shoe care routines to the user, and the user may select the shoe care routines using a variety of buttons and a touch pad included in the control panel 22.

In various embodiments, the shoe care apparatus 1 may provide a general drying routine for drying the shoe 2, and may provide various routines, such as a first routine for drying and then cooling the shoe 2, a second routine for dehumidifying focusing on the shoe 2, and a third routine for cooling the shoe 2.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, a user input for selecting a first routine is defined as a first user input, a user input for selecting a second routine is defined as a second user input, and a user input for selecting a third routine is defined as a third user input.

In an embodiment, the controller 200 may receive user input (3000) through the control panel 22 and cause the shoe care device 1 to operate in one of the first mode and the second mode based on the user input.

According to various embodiments, based on the received first user input, the controller 200 may control the shoe care device 1 to operate in the first mode for a first preset time and then in the second mode for a second preset time (3100).

In an embodiment, the first preset time may be set as a time for drying the shoe 2, and the second preset time may be set as a time for cooling the shoe 2. Further, the first preset time may be set longer than the second preset time in consideration of the fact that the time for drying the shoe 2 is longer than the time for cooling the shoe 2.

The shoe care apparatus 1 according to this embodiment can provide the user with the first routine so that the user can feel a cooler feeling when the user wears the shoe 2 immediately after the completion of the care, thereby improving the user's satisfaction.

For example, the first routine may be used mainly in summer red, where the user is uncomfortable wearing the high temperature shoe 2.

According to various embodiments, the controller 200 may control the shoe care device 1 to alternately operate in the first mode and the second mode a preset number of times (3200) based on receiving the second user input.

In an embodiment, the controller 200 may repeat a cycle in which the shoe care apparatus 1 operates in the first mode for a first reference time and in the second mode for a second reference time several times. In this case, the first reference time and the second reference time may be preset as times for maximally improving the dehumidifying performance.

When the shoe care apparatus 1 is alternately operated in the first mode and the second mode, air that has been heated and humidified by traveling through the care chamber 30, the evaporator 42, and the condenser 43 in the first mode may be caused to travel only through the evaporator 42 in the second mode so that the air may become to have a reduced humidity, and in the next first mode, high-temperature, low-humidity air may be supplied to the shoe 2, so that the moisture of the shoe 2 may be effectively removed.

The shoe care apparatus 1 according to the embodiment may provide the user with a second routine to thereby remove moisture from the shoe 2 at an optimal time.

According to various embodiments, the controller 200 may control the shoe care device 1 to operate only in the second mode based on receiving the third user input (3300).

In an embodiment, the controller 200 may control the shoe care apparatus 1 to operate in the second mode for a preset time. In this case, the preset time may be preset to a time suitable for cooling the shoe 2.

When the shoe care apparatus 1 operates only in the second mode, only low-temperature air may be supplied to the shoe 2, so that the shoe 2 may be effectively cooled for an optimal time.

The shoe care apparatus 1 according to the embodiment provides the third routine to the user so that the user feels cool when the user wears the shoe 2, thereby improving the user's satisfaction.

For example, the third routine may be used mainly in summer hours when it is uncomfortable for the user to wear the high-temperature shoe 2.

According to various embodiments, the shoe care apparatus 1 can provide various routines to the user by appropriately using the first mode and the second mode, thereby improving the user's satisfaction.

Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that other specific modifications may be readily made without departing from the technical spirit or essential characteristics of the present disclosure. The foregoing embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting.

Claims (15)

1. A shoe care apparatus comprising:

a main body;

a first compartment located in the body and configured to receive a shoe;

a second compartment located in the body and configured to house a heat pump comprising an evaporator and a condenser;

a fan configured to circulate air through the first compartment and the second compartment;

a first circulation passage configured to guide air discharged from the first compartment back to the first compartment by guiding the air discharged from the first compartment to the evaporator and the condenser;

A second circulation passage for guiding air discharged from the first compartment back to the first compartment by guiding the air discharged from the first compartment to the evaporator and bypassing the condenser; and

a first valve configured to open and close the second circulation passage.

2. The shoe care apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication hole formed in a wall of the main body for communicating an outside of the main body with the second compartment;

an inlet through which air introduced into the second compartment through the communication hole flows to the condenser; and

an outlet through which the air introduced through the inlet travels through the condenser and then flows to the second compartment, and wherein the air discharged through the outlet is discharged to the outside of the main body through the communication hole.

3. The shoe care apparatus of claim 2, further comprising at least one of a second valve configured to open and close the inlet and a third valve configured to open and close the outlet.

4. The shoe care apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth valve disposed between the evaporator and the condenser on the first circulation channel.

5. The shoe care apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a controller configured to control operation of the first valve and operation of the fourth valve.

6. The shoe care apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to:

controlling the operation of the first valve and the operation of the fourth valve such that the second circulation passage is closed when the first circulation passage is open; and

the operation of the first valve and the operation of the fourth valve are controlled such that the second circulation passage is opened when the first circulation passage is closed.

7. The shoe care apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to:

the operation of the first valve and the operation of the fourth valve are controlled based on at least one of an operating frequency of a compressor of the heat pump and a temperature of air supplied to the first compartment.

8. The shoe care apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the second valve and operation of the third valve based on a temperature of air supplied to the first compartment.

9. A method of controlling a shoe care apparatus, the shoe care apparatus operating in a first mode in which air travelling through a condenser of a heat pump is supplied to a compartment and a second mode in which air bypassing the condenser is supplied to the compartment, the method comprising:

responsive to the shoe care apparatus operating in the first mode, opening a first circulation channel to direct air discharged from the compartment back to the compartment by directing air discharged from the compartment to an evaporator and the condenser of the heat pump; and

in response to the shoe care apparatus operating in the second mode, a second circulation channel is opened to direct air discharged from the compartment back to the compartment by directing air discharged from the compartment to the evaporator and bypassing the condenser.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining an operational mode of the shoe care device based on at least one of an operational frequency of a compressor and a temperature of air supplied to the compartment.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the mode of operation of the shoe care apparatus based on at least one of the operating frequency of the compressor and the temperature of the air supplied to the compartment comprises:

The operation mode of the shoe care apparatus is changed to the second mode based on the operation frequency of the compressor being less than or equal to a preset frequency and the temperature of air supplied to the compartment being greater than or equal to a set temperature while the shoe care apparatus is operating in the first mode.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising causing the shoe care device to operate in one of the first mode and the second mode based on user input.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein causing the shoe care device to operate in one of the first mode and the second mode based on the user input comprises:

based on the received first user input, the shoe care apparatus is controlled to operate in the first mode for a first preset time and then in the second mode for a second preset time.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein causing the shoe care device to operate in one of the first mode and the second mode based on the user input comprises:

based on the received first user input, the shoe care apparatus is controlled to alternately operate in the first mode and the second mode.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein causing the shoe care device to operate in one of the first mode and the second mode based on the user input comprises:

based on the received first user input, the shoe care apparatus is controlled to operate in the second mode only for a preset time.