CN118159700A

CN118159700A - Clothes treating apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN118159700A
Application number: CN202280071544.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金玟志; 李钟敏; 崔云济; 李娫珠; 金泰熊
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2021-04-19
Filing date: 2022-08-22
Publication date: 2024-06-07
Also published as: EP4382660A1; KR20220144285A; WO2023027452A1; AU2022332769A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus, and more particularly, to a laundry treatment apparatus capable of providing a plurality of optimized drum movement combinations capable of preventing damage to laundry or shrinkage of laundry in a preheating zone, a constant-speed drying zone, a deceleration drying zone, and a cooling zone, respectively.

Description

Clothes treating apparatus

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a laundry treating apparatus capable of drying laundry.

Background

The laundry treatment apparatus is an apparatus for washing, drying, or both washing and drying laundry (laundry or drying object), and the concept thereof covers a washing machine, a dryer, and a drying-combined washing machine.

In recent years, a laundry treatment apparatus capable of intensively performing drying of laundry using a heat pump has appeared. In this conventional laundry treatment apparatus, the hot air generated by the heat pump is supplied to the laundry accommodated in the drum, and the laundry is uniformly exposed to the hot air while the drum is rotated, thereby drying the laundry.

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a structure of a conventional laundry treating apparatus capable of performing a drying program.

Referring to korean patent laid-open publication No. 10-2019-012656, a conventional dryer is provided in which the driving part 3 is fixed to the bottom surface of the cabinet 1.

Specifically, the dryer includes a cabinet 1 and a drum 2, and may include: a circulation flow path 5 for circulating air of the drum 2 to the outside; and a heat pump 6 accommodated in the circulation flow path 5, and condensing and reheating the air. The water condensed in the heat pump 6 can be collected in a water storage tank 9 by means of a pump 8. On the other hand, even if the driving unit 3 vibrates or temporarily receives an external force by the driving unit 3, the bottom surface 12 of the case 1 can be prevented from being deformed or inclined.

Accordingly, the conventional dryer is configured such that the driving unit 3 is fixed to the bottom surface 12 of the cabinet 1, or a base or the like is fixed to the bottom surface of the cabinet 1 at the lower portion of the drum 2. In this dryer, the driving unit 3 is not disposed flush with the rotation axis of the drum 2, and thus the drum 2 is rotated by additionally using an additional configuration.

Specifically, the driving section 3 may include: a motor part 34 fixed to the bottom of the case 1; a rotation shaft 37 rotated by the motor 34; a pulley 35 rotated by the rotation shaft 37; and a belt 36 provided to connect the outer circumferential surface of the drum 2 and the outer circumferential surface of the pulley 35.

Thus, when the motor 34 rotates the rotation shaft 37, the pulley 35 can rotate the belt 36, and the belt 36 rotates the drum 2. At this time, since the diameter of the pulley 35 is much smaller than the diameter of the drum 2, the dryer may omit a decelerator. However, in this dryer, since the diameter of the pulley 35 is much smaller than the diameter of the drum 2, a slip phenomenon occurs in which the belt 36 slides from the drum 2 or the pulley 35 when the motor 34 is rotated rapidly. Thus, this dryer has a problem that the rotational acceleration of the motor 34 is limited to a predetermined level or less, and a fundamental limitation that the motor 34 needs to be slowly accelerated or decelerated to prevent the belt 36 from slipping when the drum 2 rotates.

Therefore, the existing dryer cannot rapidly switch the rotation direction of the drum 2, so that the rotation of the drum 2 may not be controlled or the rotation direction of the drum 2 may not be changed.

In this way, in the conventional laundry treatment apparatus, since it is difficult to change the speed of the drum during the drying process when the drum is rotated by the belt and the pulley, in order to prevent the laundry from being excessively dried and damaged by hot air, a method of controlling the driving of the heat pump according to the dryness of the laundry is adopted.

For example, referring to korean laid-open patent publication No. 10-2006-0023715, a conventional laundry treatment apparatus divides a section of a drying process into a preheating section, a constant-speed drying section, and a deceleration drying section, a cooling section according to a state of a heat pump and dryness of laundry, and protects laundry by controlling a temperature or an amount of air supplied to the drum in each section.

Fig. 2 is a graph showing a rotation speed of a drum when drying laundry is performed in the conventional laundry treating apparatus.

In the conventional laundry treatment apparatus, only the tumbling motion capable of exposing the laundry to the supplied hot air when falling after rising while performing the drying process in the preheating zone, the constant-speed drying zone, or the deceleration drying zone is performed.

The tumbling motion is a motion for rotating the drum such that the laundry is lifted to a position above a central region of the drum and falls down from a region lower than a high point of the drum toward a lower portion of the drum. For this reason, the drum is rotated at a speed of 1G or less in a predetermined direction during the tumbling motion, and the laundry is repeatedly exposed to hot air in the widest area when separated and dropped after being attached to the inner wall of the drum, thus corresponding to the motion of the highest drying efficiency.

However, if only the tumbling motion is applied in the drying process, there are problems in that laundry damage such as abrasion and fuzzing, and laundry shrinkage such as a change in the fiber diameter of the laundry, a change in the interval of the fibers, and the like occur.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a problem occurring when the tumbling motion is performed in the conventional laundry treating apparatus.

Referring to fig. 3 (a), in the tumbling motion, laundry received in the drum 2 may be disposed in: a first region I which rotates in a state of being attached to the inner wall of the drum 2; a second region II in which surfaces of laundry rub against each other although not in contact with the inner wall of the drum 2; and a third region III separated from the inner wall of the drum 2 and falling down inside the drum 2; any one of the regions in the above.

Referring to fig. 3 (b), the laundry located in the third region III of the drum is exposed to hot air in a state of being completely separated from the inner wall of the drum 2, for example, in a state of No. 1. Thereafter, in the state of No. 2, the laundry may be in contact with the inner wall of the drum 2.

But the laundry collides with the inner wall of the drum 200 like the state No. 3 due to the self-load and the falling acceleration force, so that it may be pressurized against the inner wall of the drum 200.

Accordingly, the laundry disposed in the third region III is separated from the inner wall of the drum 200 and then collides again to generate a falling impact. As a result, the fibers themselves may be temporarily pressurized, and the clothing may shrink or deform.

Referring to fig. 3 (c), although laundry located in the second region II of the drum is separated from the inner wall of the drum 2, it is in contact with other laundry or different portions of the same laundry from each other. At this time, if the drum 2 rotates at the second speed L1, laundry relatively close to the inner wall of the drum 2 and laundry relatively far from the inner wall of the drum 2 may rub against each other due to a difference in inertial force. Accordingly, the laundry located in the second region II may rub or wear against each other.

Referring to fig. 3 (d), laundry located in the first region I of the drum may be adhered to the inner wall of the drum 2 at a lower portion than the center O of the drum 2. If the drum 2 rotates at the second speed L1, the laundry located in the first area I cannot perfectly move simultaneously with the inner wall of the drum 2 due to the inertial force, and thus the laundry located in the first area I and the inner wall of the drum 2 may rub against each other.

In the tumbling motion, friction may be generated between the laundry and the drum 200, or between regions of the laundry even if the laundry is one laundry, and friction may be generated between the laundry and the drum 200. As a result, the laundry may be damaged or worn, and the laundry may be fluffed.

In addition, the tumbling motion may apply a falling impact to the laundry. Therefore, there is a possibility that the laundry may be deformed or damaged by the impact, and the internal space of the laundry is contracted to shrink the laundry itself.

As a result, although the existing laundry treating apparatus dries laundry using a tumbling motion, which is a motion most advantageous for drying laundry, the state of the laundry is not considered, and the tumbling motion is performed throughout the drying process, there is a fundamental limitation in that there is a risk of damage or shrinkage of the laundry.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a conventional laundry treating apparatus capable of arbitrarily changing a rotation speed and a rotation direction of a drum. With reference to korean laid-open patent publication No. 10-2020-0065932, in recent years, among laundry treatment apparatuses that intensively perform a drying process, there has been a laundry treatment apparatus in which a driving part 3 is coupled to a drum 2 and is capable of changing a rotation direction and a rotation speed of the drum.

However, such a laundry treating apparatus does not have a specific teaching about how to change the rotation motion of the drum according to the state of laundry during the drying process and how to apply, and thus there is a problem in that damage or shrinkage of the laundry cannot be prevented.

In addition, the conventional laundry treating apparatus has no specific embodiment about how to fix the driving part 3 to the cabinet to rotate the drum 2, so that there is a limitation in that it cannot be realized as an actual product.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved

The object to be solved by the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of preventing friction or abrasion of laundry during a drying process.

The object to be solved by the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of preventing friction between laundry and a drum during a drying process.

The object to be solved by the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus which prevents the laundry from being fluffed during a drying process.

The present invention provides a laundry treatment apparatus capable of protecting the surface of laundry by providing a section in which laundry and a drum integrally rotate according to the dryness of the laundry or the surface state of the laundry.

The object to be solved by the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of preventing shrinkage of laundry during a drying process.

The object to be solved by the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of preventing a specific laundry or a specific portion from being excessively dried during a drying process.

The object to be solved by the clothing processing device of the invention is to provide a clothing processing device which can additionally have a clothing protection course capable of preventing the deformation and damage of clothing or preventing the shrinkage of clothing.

The object to be solved by the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus that can perform a drum rotation motion of drying laundry while protecting the surface of the laundry.

Means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a laundry treatment apparatus in which a section capable of integrally rotating laundry and a drum by accelerating the drum is arranged during a drying process.

In the clothes treatment device of the invention, a section for rotating the drum by more than 1G in the drying process is arranged, thereby preventing clothes from separating or falling from the inner wall of the drum.

In the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, a low-speed section for rotating the drum at 1G or less may be arranged between sections for rotating the drum at 1G or more. Thus, even between the sections for protecting the laundry, the surface of the laundry can be guided to be dried uniformly.

In the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention, a section for accelerating the drum by 1G or more is provided in a deceleration drying section in which most of the surface of laundry is dried, so that the time for the laundry to rub against the drum and other laundry can be minimized.

In the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the section in which the laundry and the drum integrally rotate may be arranged in a deceleration drying section in which the surface of the laundry is easily rubbed. In the deceleration drying section, the rotation speed of the drum at the final stage may be faster than that at the initial stage. In addition, although the drum may be disposed in the deceleration drying section to rotate at a speed at which the laundry can be agitated, a section in which the laundry and the drum are integrally rotated by accelerating the drum is always disposed at the end of the deceleration drying section.

In the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention, a section for rotating the drum 1G or more may be provided in the constant-speed drying section.

In the constant-speed drying section, a section in which the drum rotates by 1G or more may be arranged closer to the end than the initial stage.

The laundry machine according to the present invention can provide a drum rotation motion (also called a hanging motion) in which a drum is periodically and repeatedly rotated in a high-speed region of 1G or more and in a low-speed region of 1G or less.

In the suspension movement, the duration of the high speed section and the low speed section may be set to be longer than the time during which the drum can rotate more than one turn.

In the suspension movement, the duration of the high-speed section may be set to be greater than the duration of the low-speed section.

Effects of the invention

The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention has an effect of preventing friction or abrasion of laundry during a drying process.

The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention has an effect of being able to prevent friction between laundry and a drum during a drying process.

The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention has an effect of preventing the laundry from being fluffed during the drying process.

According to the present invention, the section where the laundry integrally rotates with the drum is provided according to the dryness of the laundry or the surface state of the laundry, thereby having an effect of protecting the surface of the laundry.

The invention can protect the surface of the clothes and simultaneously dry the clothes, thereby realizing both the drying of the clothes and the protection of the clothes.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a structure of a related art laundry treating apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a drying program mode of a conventional laundry treatment apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a problem point of the conventional laundry treating apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a view showing another structure of the related art laundry treating apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a view showing an external appearance of the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a view schematically showing the inside of the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal components constituting the laundry treating apparatus, separated from each other.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a decelerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the driving section in an enlarged and detailed manner.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a base and a rear plate of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a coupling structure of a rear plate, a decelerator, and a motor part according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a view showing a coupling structure of a decelerator and a stator according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a combination of a decelerator and a motor part according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a view showing a state in which the laundry may be damaged or contracted during a drying process.

Fig. 15 is a view showing that the volume of the laundry varies with the diameter of the fiber L.

Fig. 16 is a view illustrating an embodiment in which the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention performs a drying process.

Fig. 17 is a view showing the states of the heat exchanging part 900 and the inside of the drum 200 when the air supplying step S1 is performed.

Fig. 18 is a view illustrating that the rotating step of the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention includes a tumbling motion.

Fig. 19 is a view showing a state of laundry in the tumbling motion.

Fig. 20 is a diagram showing that the rotation step includes a pulling motion.

Fig. 21 is a view showing a state of laundry when the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention performs a pulling motion.

Fig. 22 is a diagram showing that the rotating step includes a flipping motion.

Fig. 23 is a view showing a state of the laundry when the rotating step performs the flipping motion.

Fig. 24 is a diagram showing that the rotating step includes a suspension movement.

Fig. 25 is a view showing a state of the laundry when the rotating step performs the hanging movement.

Fig. 26 is a diagram showing that the rotation step includes a shaking motion.

Fig. 27 is a view showing a state of laundry when the rotating step performs a shaking motion.

Fig. 28 is a diagram showing that the rotation step includes a rolling motion.

Fig. 29 is a view showing a state of the laundry when the rotating step performs a rolling motion.

Fig. 30 is a diagram showing that the rotating step includes stopping the movement.

Fig. 31 is a diagram showing a rotating step S2 that can be used in the warm-up section in the air supply step S1.

Fig. 32 is a diagram showing a rotating step S2 that can be used in the constant-speed drying section A2 in the air supply step S1.

Fig. 33 is a diagram showing a rotating step S2 that can be used in the deceleration drying section in the air supply step S1.

Fig. 34 is a diagram showing a rotating step S2 that can be used in the cooling section in the air supply step S1.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the same.

However, the present invention may be embodied in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In order to clearly explain the present invention, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted in the drawings. Like reference numerals are given to like parts throughout the specification.

In this specification, the same components will not be described repeatedly.

In the present specification, if a certain component is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another component, it is to be understood that the component may be directly connected or coupled to the other component, but other components may be interposed therebetween. In contrast, in this specification, if a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components therebetween.

In addition, the terminology used in the description of the particular embodiments disclosed herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

In addition, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, singular expressions include plural expressions.

In addition, in the present specification, the terms "comprising" or "having" are only for specifying the presence of the features, numerals, steps, actions, structural elements, components, or a combination thereof described in the specification, and are not intended to exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features or numerals, steps, actions, structural elements, components, or a combination thereof.

In the present specification, the term "and/or" means a combination including a plurality of items described or any item among a plurality of items described. In the present specification, "a or B" may include "a", "B" or "a and B".

The laundry treating apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention may include a cabinet 100 forming an external appearance.

The cabinet 100 may include a front panel 110 forming a front aspect of the laundry treating apparatus, an upper panel 150 forming a top surface, and a side panel 140 forming a side surface. The side panel 140 may include a left side panel 141 forming a left side. The front panel 110 may be provided with: an opening 111 provided to communicate with the inside of the case 100; and a door 130 rotatably coupled to the case 100 to open and close the opening 111.

An operation panel 117 may be provided on the front panel 110. The operation panel 117 may be provided with: an input unit 118 for receiving a control instruction from a user; and a display unit 119 for outputting information such as a control command selectable by a user. The control instructions may include a drying course or a drying option capable of executing a series of drying programs. A control panel may be provided inside the case 100, and the control panel controls the inside to execute the control command inputted through the input unit 118. The control panel may be connected to the components inside the laundry treating apparatus and control the corresponding components to execute the inputted instructions.

The input portion 118 may be configured to include: a power supply requesting part requesting power supply of the laundry treating apparatus; a process input unit which enables a user to select a desired process from a plurality of processes; and an operation requesting section requesting to start a process selected by the user.

The display part 119 may be provided to include at least one of a display panel capable of outputting text (text) and graphics and a speaker capable of outputting a voice signal and sound.

On the other hand, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may include a water storage tank 120, the water storage tank 120 being configured to separately store moisture generated during drying of the laundry. The water storage tank 120 may include a handle provided at one side of the front panel 110 to be able to be drawn out to the outside. The water storage tank 120 may be configured to collect condensed water generated in the drying process. Thereby, the user can draw out the water storage tank 120 from the tank 100 and remove the condensed water, and then install it again to the tank 100. Thus, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may be disposed in a place where the drain port or the like is not provided.

On the other hand, the water storage tank 120 may be disposed at an upper portion of the door 130. Thus, when the user draws out the water storage tank 120 from the front panel 110, the user can bend down relatively less, thereby having an effect of improving the user's convenience.

Fig. 6 is a view schematically showing the inside of the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention. The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may include: a drum 200 accommodated inside the cabinet 100 to accommodate laundry; a driving unit for rotating the drum 200; a heat exchanging part 900 configured to supply hot air to the drum 200; and a base 800 provided with a circulation flow path portion 820. The circulation flow path portion 820 is provided to communicate with the drum 200. The air discharged from the drum 200 may be supplied to the circulation flow path part 820. In addition, the air discharged from the circulation flow path part 820 may be supplied again to the drum 200.

The driving part may include a motor part 500 that provides power to rotate the drum 200. The driving part may be directly connected to the drum 200 to rotate the drum 200. For example, the driving part may be provided in a DD (DIRECT DRIVE unit), direct drive unit) type. Thus, the driving part directly rotates the drum 200 without a belt, a pulley, or the like, thereby controlling the rotation direction of the drum 200 or the rotation speed of the drum 200.

The motor part 500 may rotate at a high speed RPM. For example, it may be rotated at an RPM much greater than an RPM at which laundry inside the drum 200 can be rotated in a state of being attached to the inner wall of the drum 200.

However, when the laundry inside the drum 200 is rotated in a state of being continuously adhered to the inner wall of the drum 200, the portion adhered to the inner wall of the drum cannot be exposed to hot wind, and thus there is a problem in that drying efficiency is deteriorated.

If the rotor 520 is rotated at a low RPM in order that laundry is not adhered to the inner wall of the drum 200 inside the drum 200 and is rolled or agitated, there may occur a problem in that an output or torque that can be generated by the driving part is not normally used.

Accordingly, the driving part of the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may further include a decelerator 600, the decelerator 600 using the maximum output of the motor part 500 by decreasing the RPM and being capable of increasing the torque.

In addition, the driving part may include a drum rotation shaft 6341, and the drum rotation shaft 6341 rotates the drum 200 by being connected to the drum 200.

The drum 200 may be provided in a cylindrical shape to be able to accommodate laundry. In addition, unlike the drum for washing, the drum 200 for drying only does not need to input water into the inside, and the liquid water condensed inside the drum 200 does not need to be discharged to the outside of the drum 200. Thereby, the drum 200 may omit the through holes provided along the circumferential surface. That is, the drum 200 for drying only may be formed differently from the drum 200 for washing.

The drum 200 may be provided in an integral cylindrical shape, but may be manufactured in a form in which a drum main body 210 including a circumferential surface and a drum rear surface 220 in a rear surface of the drum are coupled.

An input port 211 for laundry to enter and exit may be provided in front of the drum body 210. A driving part for rotating the drum may be connected to the rear of the drum rear surface 220. The drum main body 210 and the drum rear 220 may be coupled by fastening members such as bolts, but are not limited thereto, and may be coupled by various methods as long as the drum main body 210 and the drum rear 220 are coupled to be rotatable together.

A lifter 213 to pull the laundry received inside to an upper portion may be provided at the drum body 210 to enable the laundry received inside to be mixed as it rotates. As the drum 200 rotates, the laundry received inside may repeatedly ascend and descend through the lifter 213. The laundry received in the inside of the drum 200 may be uniformly contacted with the hot wind as the rising and falling are repeated. Therefore, the drying efficiency is improved and the drying time is shortened.

Reinforcing beads 212 may be formed on the circumferential surface of the drum body 210. The reinforcing beads 212 may be disposed along the circumferential surface of the drum 200 to be concave or convex from the inside/outside. Such reinforcing beads may be provided in plural numbers and disposed to be spaced apart from each other. The reinforcing beads may be provided in a predetermined pattern and inside/outside the circumferential surface.

By reinforcing the beads 212, the rigidity of the drum body 210 can be increased. Therefore, even if a large amount of laundry is accommodated in the drum body 210 or a sudden rotational force is received by the driving part, the drum body 210 can be prevented from being twisted. In addition, in the case where the reinforcing beads 212 are provided, the interval between the laundry and the inner circumferential surface can be increased as compared with the case where the circumferential surface of the drum main body 210 is provided in a flat surface, and thus the hot air supplied to the drum 200 can more effectively flow between the laundry and the drum 200. The reinforcing beads have the effect of improving the durability of the drum and the drying efficiency of the laundry treatment device.

Generally, in case of the DD type washing machine, the driving part is coupled and fixed to an outer tub accommodating the drum 200, and the drum 200 may be coupled to the driving part and supported at the outer tub. However, since the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention is configured to intensively perform the drying process, the tub (tub) fixed to the cabinet 100 for accommodating the drum 200 is omitted.

Thus, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may further include a supporting part 400, the supporting part 400 being provided to fix or support the drum 200 or the driving part inside the cabinet 100.

The support 400 may include: a front plate 410 disposed in front of the drum 200; and a rear plate 420 disposed at the rear of the drum 200. The front plate 410 and the rear plate 420 may be disposed in a plate shape and configured to face the front and rear of the drum 200. The interval between the front plate 410 and the rear plate 420 may be set to be the same as the length of the drum 200 or longer than the length of the drum 200. The front plate 410 and the rear plate 420 may be fixed to and supported on the bottom surface or the base 800 of the case 100.

The front plate 410 may be disposed between a front panel forming a front aspect of the cabinet and the drum 200. The front plate 410 may be provided with a charging communication hole 412 communicating with the charging port 211. Since the front plate 410 is provided with the input communication hole 412, laundry can be input or extracted to the drum 200 while the front surface of the drum 200 is supported.

The front plate 410 may include a pipe connection portion 416 provided at a lower side of the input communication hole 412. The pipe connection portion 416 may form an underside of the front plate 410.

The front plate 410 may include a pipe communication hole 417 penetrating the pipe connection portion 416. The duct communication hole 417 may be provided in a hollow shape and guide the air discharged through the inlet 211 of the drum to the lower side of the drum 200. In addition, the air discharged through the drum 211 may be guided to the circulation flow path part 820 located at the lower portion of the drum 200.

The duct communication hole 417 may be provided with a filtering portion (not shown) so as to be able to filter fluff generated in the laundry or foreign matter having large particles. The filter unit can prevent foreign matter from accumulating in the laundry treating apparatus by filtering the air discharged from the drum 200, and has an effect of preventing accumulation of foreign matter from interfering with circulation of air.

Since the inlet 211 is disposed in front, it is more preferable that the driving part is disposed on the rear plate 420 than the driving part is disposed on the front plate 410. The driving part may be provided to be mounted and supported at the rear plate 420. Thus, the driving part can rotate the drum 200 in a state where the position thereof is stably fixed by the rear plate 420.

At least one of the front plate 410 and the rear plate 420 may support the drum 200 such that the drum 200 can rotate. At least one of the front plate 410 and the rear plate 420 may accommodate a front end or a rear end of the drum 200 such that the drum 200 can rotate.

For example, the front of the drum 200 may be rotatably supported at the front plate 410, and the rear of the drum 200 may be spaced apart from the rear plate 420 and indirectly supported at the rear plate 420 by being connected to the motor part 500 mounted to the rear plate 420. Thereby, it is possible to minimize a region where the drum 200 contacts or rubs with the support 400 and to block occurrence of unnecessary noise or vibration.

Of course, the drum 200 may be rotatably supported at the front plate 410 and the rear plate 420.

More than one support wheel 415 supporting the front of the drum 200 may be provided at the lower portion of the front plate 410. The support wheel 415 may be rotatably provided at the rear surface of the front plate 410. The supporting wheel 415 may be rotated in a state of being in contact with the lower portion of the drum 200.

In the case where the drum 200 is rotated by the driving part, the drum 200 may be supported by the drum rotation shaft 6341 connected at the rear. When the drum 200 accommodates laundry therein, a load applied to the drum rotation shaft 6341 may be increased by the laundry. Therefore, the drum rotation shaft 6341 may bend due to the load.

In the case where the support wheel 415 supports the front lower portion of the drum 200, the load applied to the drum rotation shaft 6341 can be reduced. This prevents the drum rotation shaft 6341 from bending, and prevents noise from being generated due to vibration.

The supporting wheels 415 may be provided at positions symmetrical to each other with respect to the rotation center of the drum 200 and support the load of the drum 200. Preferably, the supporting wheels 415 are provided at left and right lower portions of the drum 200, respectively, to support the drum 200. But is not limited thereto, a greater number of support wheels 415 may be provided according to the operating environment of the drum 200.

The circulation flow path portion 820 provided in the base 800 may form a flow path for circulating air existing in the drum 200 and flowing the air into the drum 200 again.

The circulation flow path part 820 may include: an inflow duct 821 into which air discharged from the drum 200 flows; a discharge duct 823 supplying air to the drum 200; and a moving pipe 822 connecting the inflow pipe 821 and the discharge pipe 823.

In case of exhausting air from the front of the drum 200, the moving duct 822 may be located at the front side of the circulation flow path part 820. The discharge duct 823 may be located at the rear side of the circulation flow path portion 820.

The discharge duct 823 may further include a blower 8231 for discharging air to the outside of the circulation path portion 820. The air blowing portion 8231 may be provided at a rear side of the discharge duct 823. The air discharged through the air supply part 8231 may move toward the drum 200.

A duct cover 830 may be coupled to the upper side of the circulation flow path portion 820, thereby shielding a portion of the open top surface of the circulation flow path portion 820. The duct cover 830 can prevent the air from flowing out of the circulation flow path 820. In other words, the duct cover 830 may form one surface of a flow path through which air circulates.

The heat exchanging portion 900 provided in the base 800 may include: a first heat exchanger 910 provided inside the circulation flow path portion 820 for cooling air; and a second heat exchanger 920 provided inside the circulation flow path portion 820 and configured to heat the air cooled by the first heat exchanger 910.

The first heat exchanger 910 may dehumidify the air discharged from the drum 200, and the second heat exchanger 920 may heat the dehumidified air. The heated air may be supplied to the drum 200 again and dry the laundry received in the drum 200.

The first heat exchanger 910 and the second heat exchanger 920 may be provided as heat exchangers in which refrigerant flows. In the case of a heat exchanger in which refrigerant flows, the first heat exchanger 910 may be provided as an evaporator and the second heat exchanger 920 may be provided as a condenser. It may be arranged that the refrigerant moving along the first and second heat exchangers 910 and 920 exchanges heat with the air discharged from the drum 200.

The heat exchange part 900 may include a circulation flow path fan 950, and the circulation flow path fan 950 is provided to the circulation flow path part 820 and generates an air flow inside the circulation flow path part 820. The heat exchanger 900 may further include a circulation fan motor 951 for rotating the circulation fan 950. The circulation flow path fan 950 may be rotated by receiving rotational power by a circulation flow path fan motor 951. When the circulation flow path fan 950 is operated, the air dehumidified by the first heat exchanger 910 and then heated by the second heat exchanger 920 may move to the rear of the drum 200.

The circulation flow path fan 950 may be provided in any one of the inflow duct 821, the moving duct 822, and the discharge duct 823. Since the circulation flow path fan 950 is provided to rotate, noise is generated when the circulation flow path fan 950 is operated. Therefore, the circulation flow path fan 950 is preferably disposed behind the circulation flow path portion 820.

The circulation flow path fan 950 may be provided to the air blowing portion 8231. The circulation path fan motor 951 may be located behind the blower 8231. When the circulation flow path fan 950 is rotated by the circulation flow path fan motor 951, air inside the circulation flow path portion 820 may be discharged to the outside of the circulation flow path portion 820 via the air supply portion 8231.

In order to facilitate the user to draw out the laundry located inside the drum 200, it is preferable that the inlet 211 of the drum 200 is disposed at a relatively high position, and therefore, the circulation flow path portion 820 and the heat exchange portion 900 are preferably disposed at a lower portion of the drum 200.

A rear plate 420 for guiding the air discharged from the circulation flow path part 820 to the drum 200 may be provided at the rear of the drum 200. The rear plate 420 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the drum back 220. The circulation flow path part 820 may receive air inside the drum 200 through the front plate 410 and supply air to the drum 200 through the rear plate 420. The air discharged from the circulation flow path part 820 may be guided to the drum 200 after passing through the rear plate 420.

The base 800 may further include a connector 850 to guide the air discharged from the circulation flow path part 820 to the rear plate 420. The connector 850 may direct the exhaust air to spread evenly throughout the area of the back plate 420.

The connector 850 may be provided to the blower 8231. That is, the connector 850 may guide the air discharged from the blower 8231 toward the rear plate 420. The hot air supplied to the rear plate 420 may flow into the inside of the drum 200 through the drum back 220.

The drum 200 of the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may be rotated by being directly connected to a driving part located at the rear of the drum 200, not indirectly rotated by being combined with a driving belt or the like. Therefore, unlike the case where the drum of the conventional dryer is provided in a drum shape with front and rear opened, the rear of the drum of the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may be shielded and directly coupled with the driving part.

As previously described, the drum 200 may include: a drum main body 210 provided in a cylindrical shape to accommodate laundry; and a drum back 220 coupled to the rear of the drum body 210 to form a back of the drum.

The drum back 220 may be provided to shield the rear of the drum body 210 and provide a coupling surface directly coupled with the driving part. That is, the drum back 220 may be configured to receive a rotational force by being connected to the driving part and rotate the entire drum 200. As a result, a laundry inlet 211 may be formed in front of the drum body 210, and the rear of the drum body 210 may be shielded by the drum rear surface 220.

A bushing part 300 connecting the driving part and the drum back 220 may be provided at the drum back 220. The bushing part 300 may be disposed at the drum back 220 and form a rotation center of the drum 200. The bush 300 may be integrally provided with the drum back 220, but may be provided with a material having higher rigidity or durability than the drum back 220 in order to be firmly coupled with a rotation shaft for transmitting power. The bushing part 300 may be disposed at the drum back 220 to be coaxial with and coupled to the rotation center of the drum back 220.

The drum backside 220 may include: a peripheral edge 221 coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the drum body 210; and an attachment plate 222 provided inside the peripheral edge 221 and capable of being coupled to the driving unit. The bushing portion 300 may be positioned and coupled to the mounting plate 222. The rotation shaft for rotating the drum can be coupled to the mounting plate 222 by the bushing 300, and thus has an effect of being more firmly coupled. In addition, deformation of the drum back 220 can be prevented.

The drum back 220 may include a suction hole 224, and the suction hole 224 is penetratingly formed between the peripheral portion 221 and the mounting plate 222, and communicates with the front and rear of the drum back 220. The hot wind supplied through the circulation flow path part 820 may flow into the drum main body 210 through the suction hole 224. The suction holes 224 may be provided or formed in a MESH (MESH) form as a plurality of holes provided through the drum back 220.

The rotation driving part for rotating the drum 200 may be located at the rear of the rear plate 420. The driving part may include: a motor unit 500 for generating rotational power; and a decelerator 600 for reducing the rotation force of the motor part 500 and transmitting the same to the drum 200.

A motor part 500 may be disposed behind the rear plate 420. The motor unit 500 may be coupled to the rear of the rear plate 420 via the decelerator 600.

The decelerator 600 may be fixed to the rear surface of the rear plate 420, and the motor part 500 may be coupled to the rear surface of the decelerator 600. That is, the rear plate 420 may provide a supporting surface for supporting the decelerator 600 or the motor part 500. However, the motor 500 is not limited thereto, and may be coupled to the rear plate 420.

The laundry treating apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention may include: a drum 200 accommodating laundry; a front plate 410 supporting a front aspect of the drum; a rear plate 420 located at the rear of the drum; a base 800 disposed at a lower portion of the drum to provide a space in which air inside the drum circulates or moisture contained in the air is condensed; motor parts 510, 520, 540 located at the rear of the drum to provide rotational power to the drum; a decelerator 600 for reducing the rotation of the motor part and transmitting the rotation to the drum; and a rear cover 430 coupled to the rear plate 420 to prevent the motor from being exposed to the outside.

The chassis 800 may include a circulation flow path part 820, the circulation flow path part 820 communicating with the drum 200, and air flowing into the circulation flow path part 820 from the drum or discharging air from the circulation flow path part 820 to the drum.

The front plate 410 may include: a front panel 411 forming a front face; and a feed communication hole 412 formed to penetrate the front plate 411 and communicate with the drum 200. The front plate 410 may be provided with a front gasket 413, the front gasket 413 being provided at a rear surface of the front plate 411, being provided to surround a radial outer side of the input communication hole 412, and accommodating a portion of the drum main body 210.

The front gasket 413 may rotatably support the drum body 210 and be provided to be in contact with an outer circumferential surface or an inner circumferential surface of the input port 211. The front gasket 413 can prevent hot air inside the drum 200 from leaking between the drum body 210 and the front plate 410. The front gasket 413 may be formed of a plastic resin or an elastomer, and may be additionally coupled to the front gasket 413 by an additional sealing member to prevent laundry or hot air from being separated from the drum main body 210 to the front plate 410.

On the other hand, the front plate 410 may include a pipe communication hole 417, and the pipe communication hole 417 penetrates an inner circumferential surface of the input communication hole 412. In addition, the front plate 410 may include a pipe connection portion 416, and the pipe connection portion 416 extends to a lower side of the pipe communication hole 417 and forms a flow path communicating the drum body 210 and the circulation flow path portion 820.

The duct connection part 416 may communicate with the drum body 210 through a duct communication hole 417, and air discharged from the drum body 210 may flow into the duct connection part 416 through the duct communication hole 417 and be guided to the circulation flow path part 820. Since the air discharged from the drum main body 210 is guided to the circulation flow path part 820 by the duct connection part 416, there is an effect that the air inside the drum can be prevented from flowing out.

The duct connection portion 416 may be provided with a filter member (not shown) that prevents foreign matter or fluff in the air discharged from the drum 200 from flowing into the circulation flow path portion 820 by filtering the foreign matter.

The front plate 410 may be provided with a supporting wheel 415, and the supporting wheel 415 is rotatably provided at the rear surface of the front plate 411 and supports the lower portion of the drum 200. The supporting wheel 415 supports the front of the drum 200, and thus has an effect of preventing the rotation shaft connected to the drum from being bent.

The front plate 410 may be provided with a water storage tank supporting hole 414, the water storage tank supporting hole 414 being provided to penetrate the front plate 411, and the water storage tank 120 (refer to fig. 1) storing condensed water generated during drying may be drawn out through the water storage tank supporting hole 414 or supported. In the case where the water tank supporting hole 414 is provided at the upper side, the user does not need to bend down when drawing out the water tank, and thus has an effect of improving the user's convenience.

The drum 200 accommodating laundry may include: a drum main body 210, wherein an input port 211 for laundry to enter and exit is provided in front of the drum main body 210; and a drum backside 220, forming the latter aspect.

The drum backside 220 may include: a peripheral edge 221 connected to the drum main body 210; a suction hole 224 formed to penetrate the drum back 220 inside the peripheral edge 221; and a mounting plate 222 provided at the rotation center of the drum back 220 and coupled to the rotation shaft. The air may flow in from the rear of the drum through the suction hole 224.

The drum back 220 may further include a reinforcing rib 225 extending from the peripheral edge 221 toward the rotation center. The reinforcing rib 225 may extend to avoid the suction hole 224. The reinforcing ribs 225 have an effect of preventing the rigidity of the drum back 220 from being reduced by the suction holes 224. The reinforcing ribs 225 may be provided to extend radially from the outer periphery of the mounting plate 222 toward the inner periphery of the peripheral portion 221.

In addition, the drum back 220 may further include a circumferential rib 227, and the circumferential rib 227 is disposed to extend along a circumferential direction of the drum back 220 to connect the reinforcing ribs 225 to each other. The suction holes 224 may be disposed between each of the reinforcing ribs 225, the circumferential ribs 227, and the peripheral edge 221. The reinforcing ribs 225 and the circumferential ribs 227 have an effect of preventing deformation even if the drum back 220 receives a rotational force from the motor part 500.

The inflow duct 821 may be provided to communicate with a duct communication hole 417 of the front plate 410 and to communicate with a flow path provided inside the front plate 410. The moving duct 822 may extend from the end of the inflow duct 821 to the rear of the drum 200, and the discharge duct 823 may be provided at the end of the moving duct 822 and guide the air toward the drum 200.

The air blowing part 8231 may be positioned at a downstream side of the discharge duct 823, and the air blowing part 8231 may provide a space for installing a circulation flow path fan. When the circulation flow path fan is operated, air flowing in from the inflow duct 821 can be discharged to the upper portion of the air blowing portion 8231.

On the other hand, a heat exchanging part 900 may be provided at the base 800, and the heat exchanging part 900 may cool and heat air circulating inside the drum 200. The heat exchanging part 900 may include a compressor 930, and the compressor 930 is connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger and supplies the compressed refrigerant. The compressor 930 may be provided not to directly exchange heat with the circulated air, and thus may be located outside the circulation flow path part 820.

The heat exchanging unit may include a circulation path fan motor 951, and the circulation path fan motor 951 may be supported behind the blower 8231 and may rotate the circulation path fan. The circulation path fan motor 951 may be coupled to the rear of the blower 8231.

On the other hand, the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a connector 850 coupled to the circulation flow path part 820 and guiding the hot wind discharged from the circulation flow path part 820 to the rear of the drum 200 or the rear plate 420.

The connector 850 may be disposed at an upper portion of the discharge duct 823 and may be provided to guide the heated hot air passing through the second heat exchanger 920 to an upper portion of the discharge duct 823. The connector 850 may be coupled to an opening provided on the upper side of the blower 8231.

The connector 850 may be configured to form a flow path therein. The connector 850 may be configured to uniformly direct the flow of air generated by the circulation flow path fan toward the rear plate 420. That is, the connector 850 may be provided such that the area of the flow path increases as it moves away from the blower 8231.

The rear plate 420 may be coupled with the base 800 or supported at the base 800 to be located at the rear of the drum 200. The rear plate 420 may include: a rear panel 421 positioned to face the front panel 410; and a duct portion 423 provided to be recessed in the rear panel 421 to form a flow path through which air flows, and provided to guide the air discharged from the circulation flow path portion 820 toward the drum.

The rear plate 420 may include a mounting portion 425, and the mounting portion 425 is coupled with the driving portion or supports the driving portion. The mounting portion 425 may be provided to penetrate the rear panel 421 and be disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the duct portion 423. The mounting portion 425 may be provided to be spaced radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the pipe portion 423.

Here, as described above, the driving unit may be a combination of the decelerator 600 and the motor unit 500. Further, the driving part may refer to only the motor part 500. That is, the configuration of generating power and transmitting the rotational power to the drum may be referred to as a driving section.

The driving part may be mounted to the mounting part 425. The mounting portion 425 may support the load of the driving portion. The driving part may be connected to the drum 200 in a state of being supported at the mounting part 425.

The duct portion 423 may be configured to receive a portion of the drum backside 220. The duct portion 423 may form a flow path for air movement together with the drum back 220.

The driving part may be installed at the installation part 425 to prevent interference with the pipe part 423. That is, the driving part may be disposed to be spaced apart from the inner circumferential surface of the pipe part 423 toward the radial inside. The driving part may be provided at the mounting part 425 and exposed to the outside in the rear direction so as to be cooled by the outside air.

The driving part may include a motor part 500 that provides power to rotate the drum 200. The motor part 500 may include a stator 510 generating a rotating magnetic field and a rotor 520 provided to be rotated by the stator 510.

The rotor 520 may be provided in an outer rotor type, which is a type that accommodates the stator 510 and rotates along the outer circumference of the stator 510. In this case, a driving shaft may be coupled to the rotor 520, and the driving shaft may penetrate the stator 510 and the mounting portion 425 and be directly connected to the drum 200. In this case, the rotor 520 may directly transmit power to rotate the drum 200.

The rotor 520 may be coupled to a drive shaft through a washer portion 540. The washer portion 540 may perform a function of connecting the driving shaft and the rotor 520. Since the contact area between the rotor 520 and the driving shaft can be increased by the washer part 540, there is an effect that the rotation of the rotor 520 can be more effectively transmitted.

The decelerator 600 may be provided to connect the motor part 500 and the drum 200. The decelerator 600 may rotate the drum 200 by converting the power of the motor part 500. The decelerator 600 may be disposed between the motor part 500 and the drum 200, and receives and converts the power of the motor part 500 to transmit it to the drum 200. The decelerator 600 may be configured to convert the RPM of the rotor into a smaller RPM and increase a torque value, and then to be transferred to the drum 200.

Specifically, the decelerator 600 may be coupled to the rotor 520 and coupled to a driving shaft that rotates together with the rotor 520. The decelerator 600 includes a gear assembly that changes RPM of the driving shaft and increases torque by engaging and rotating the driving shaft inside the decelerator 600, and may be connected with a drum rotation shaft that is coupled with the drum 200 and rotates the drum. Thus, when the driving shaft 530 rotates, the drum rotation shaft may rotate with a larger torque although rotating at a slower RPM than the driving shaft.

The performance of such a decelerator 600 depends on whether the drive shaft and the drum rotation shaft can be kept coaxial. That is, if the drive shaft and the drum rotation shaft are offset from each other, there is a risk that the coupling between the member constituting the gear coupling body inside the decelerator 600 and at least one of the drive shaft and the drum rotation shaft becomes loose or the coupling is released. Therefore, a phenomenon in which the power of the driving shaft cannot be normally transmitted to the drum rotation shaft or the driving shaft idles may occur.

In addition, even if the drive shaft and the drum rotation shaft are temporarily misaligned, gears inside the decelerator 600 may be misaligned and collide with each other, and thus unnecessary vibration or noise may occur.

In addition, even when the angle of temporary misalignment between the drive shaft and the drum rotation shaft is serious, the reduction gear 600 may be completely separated from a predetermined position and damaged.

For this reason, in the laundry machine having the decelerator, it is preferable that the decelerator 600 and the motor unit 500 are fixed to a support body, and the support body is not deformed and maintained in an original state even if an external force is frequently generated.

For example, in the case of a washing machine, the outer tub accommodating the drum may be fixed to the casing at a time, and then the motor and the decelerator may be fixed to a bearing housing made of a rigid body, which is built in the outer tub by injection molding, at a time. Thus, even if considerable vibration is generated in the outer tub, the decelerator and the driving part may tilt or vibrate together with the bearing housing or the fixed steel plate. As a result, the effect of maintaining the coupling state of the speed reducer and the driving unit itself can be obtained, and the coaxial state of the drive shaft and the rotation shaft can be maintained.

However, since the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention is a dryer, the structure of the tub fixed to the inside of the cabinet is omitted. In addition, the rear panel of the case is formed of a relatively thin plate, so that the rear panel is easily vibrated or bent by repulsive force when the rotor 520 rotates even though the stator 510 is fixed. If the rear panel vibrates or is temporarily bent, a problem occurs in that rotation centers of the decelerator 600 and the motor part 500, which are configured to be coupled with the drum 200, are offset from each other.

In addition, since the rear panel is provided in a thin steel plate, it may be difficult to support the decelerator 600 and the motor part 500. For example, in the case where the decelerator 600 and the motor part 500 are coupled to the rear panel in parallel, a problem may occur in that the decelerator 600 sags downward due to the torque generated by the entire length and the weight of the decelerator 600 and the motor part 500. As a result, the drum rotation shaft itself coupled to the drum may be misaligned with the decelerator 600, and thus cannot be coaxial with the driving shaft.

On the other hand, it is conceivable that the motor part 500 is supported by being coupled to the rear plate 420 through the stator 510. In the case where a large amount of laundry is received inside the drum 200 or eccentricity occurs, the drum rotation shaft may be misaligned according to the arrangement of the laundry every time the drum 200 rotates. At this time, since the stator 510 is separated from the drum 200 and fixed to the rear plate 420, the drum rotation shaft may vibrate at a different amplitude or tilt at a different angle from the stator 510. Therefore, the coaxiality of the drum rotation shaft and the drive shaft may not be maintained.

From a different point of view, the positions of the drum 200 where the front and rear plates 410 and 420 are supported may be fixed at a prescribed level. Therefore, the position of the drum rotation shaft coupled to the drum 200 is also fixed at a predetermined level. Accordingly, even if vibration occurs in the drum 200, the vibration can be buffered in at least one of the front plate 410 and the rear plate 420.

However, in the case where the vibration generated from the drum 200 is transmitted to the motor part 500, even if the decelerator 600 and the motor part 500 are fixed to the rear plate 420, the vibration amplitude of the motor part 500 and the rear plate 420 may be greater than that of the drum rotation shaft. In this case, there may be a problem that the drive shaft and the drum rotation shaft cannot be kept coaxial.

In order to solve such a problem, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may couple and fix the motor part 500 to the decelerator 600. In other words, the decelerator 600 itself may serve as a reference point for the entire driving part. That is, the decelerator 600 may serve as a reference for vibration and an angle amount of inclination of the entire driving part.

Since the motor part 500 is fixed only to the decelerator 600 and not to other structures of the laundry treating apparatus, the motor part 500 may always be tilted or vibrated simultaneously with the decelerator 600 when the decelerator 600 is tilted or vibrated in a case where vibration or external force is transmitted to the driving part.

As a result, the decelerator 600 and the motor part 500 can form a single vibration system, and the decelerator 600 and the motor part 500 can be maintained in a fixed state without relative movement with respect to each other.

The stator 510 in the motor part 500 may be directly coupled to the decelerator 600 to be fixed. Thereby, the position of the drive shaft 530 with respect to the decelerator 600 can be kept unchanged. The center of the driving shaft 530 and the center of the decelerator 600 may be configured to be in a state of being identical to each other, and the driving shaft 530 may be rotated in a state of being kept coaxial with the center of the decelerator 600.

The first axis M1 may refer to an imaginary line extending in the front-rear direction along the rotation center of the drum 200. That is, the first axis M1 may be disposed parallel to the X axis.

The second and third axes M2 and M3 may refer to imaginary lines extending from the front-to-rear upper side of the laundry treating device. That is, the second and third axes M2 and M3 may be disposed parallel to the XZ plane or orthogonal to the Y axis.

The first and second axes M1 and M2 may intersect each other at the decelerator 600. In addition, the first axis M1 and the third axis M3 may intersect at the mounting portion 425.

The decelerator 600 and the motor part 500 may be configured to be disposed along a first axis M1 parallel to the ground when the drum 200 is not loaded or the motor part 500 is not operated.

However, when vibration is generated in the drum 200 or the motor unit 500, the vibration is transmitted to the decelerator 600 to tilt the decelerator 600, so that the decelerator 600 may be temporarily tilted along the second axis M2.

At this time, the motor part 500 is in a state of being coupled with the decelerator 600, and thus may vibrate or tilt together with the decelerator 600. Thus, the motor unit 500 may be disposed parallel to the decelerator 600 on the second shaft M2. Accordingly, the driving shaft and the drum rotation shaft may also be configured to be parallel along the second axis M2.

As a result, even if the decelerator 600 is tilted, the motor part 500 can be integrally moved with the decelerator 600, and the driving shaft and the drum rotation shaft can be kept coaxial.

The decelerator 600 may be coupled and fixed to the rear plate 420. In this case, the decelerator 600 is inclined or vibrated in a state of being coupled with the rear plate 420, and thus it can be considered that the rear plate 420 functions as a center of a vibration system including the decelerator 600, the motor part 500, and the drum 200. In this case, the motor part 500 may be coupled and fixed to only the decelerator 600, not directly coupled to the rear plate 420.

In the middle of the arrangement of the decelerator 600, the motor unit 500, and the drum 200 in parallel along the first axis M1, the decelerator 600 may be inclined in parallel with the third axis M3 due to vibration of the drum 200 or the motor unit 500. The third shaft M3 may pass through a decelerator 600 coupled with the rear plate 420. At this time, since the decelerator 600 and the motor unit 500 are coupled, the motor unit 500 may be inclined in parallel with the third axis M3 as in the decelerator 600.

Finally, the motor part 500 and the drum 200 may be combined with the decelerator 600, and the motor part 500 and the drum 200 may be inclined parallel to each other or simultaneously vibrated with reference to the decelerator 600.

The foregoing coaxiality and consistency do not refer to perfect physical coaxiality and consistency, but rather allow the concept of an acceptable error range in mechanical engineering or a range that a person skilled in the art can recognize as a level of coaxiality or consistency. For example, the drive shaft 530 and the drum rotation shaft 6341 may be defined as being coaxial or aligned within a range of 5 degrees of each other. However, this angle value is only an example, and the allowable error in design may vary.

Although the driving shaft 530 rotates with reference to the decelerator 600, it is fixed to prevent tilting, and the stator 510 is also fixed to the decelerator 600, so that the interval between the stator 510 and the rotor 520 can be maintained constant all the time. As a result, the stator 510 and the rotor 520 can be prevented from colliding with each other, and noise and vibration due to a change in the rotation center caused by the rotation of the rotor 520 around the stator 510 can be completely blocked.

The drum rotation shaft 6341 may be provided to extend toward the drum 200 inside the decelerator 600 and vibrate together with the decelerator 600 to tilt together with the decelerator 600. That is, the drum rotation shaft 6341 may be provided only to be fixed at the installation position where the decelerator 600 rotates. As a result, the drum rotation shaft 6341 and the driving shaft 530 may be arranged to be always parallel and coaxial. In other words, the center of the drum rotation shaft 6341 and the center of the driving shaft 530 may be maintained in a state of being identical to each other.

On the other hand, a sealing part 450 may be provided between the drum back 220 and the rear plate 420. The sealing part 450 may seal between the drum back 220 and the rear plate 420 so that the air flowing into the duct part 423 of the rear plate 420 does not flow out to the outside but flows in from the suction hole 224.

The sealing part 450 may be disposed at each of the outer and inner sides of the pipe part 423. A first seal 451 may be provided radially outside the pipe portion 423, and a second seal 452 may be provided radially inside. The first seal 451 may prevent hot air from flowing out radially outward from between the drum back 220 and the duct portion 423, and the second seal 452 may prevent hot air from flowing out radially inward from between the drum back 220 and the duct portion 423.

In other words, the sealing parts 450 may be disposed at the radial outside and the radial inside of the suction hole 224, respectively. The first seal 451 may be disposed radially outward of the suction hole 224, and the second seal 452 may be disposed radially inward of the suction hole 224.

In order to prevent the sealing part 450 from flowing out of the hot air, it is preferable that the sealing part 450 is disposed to contact with both the drum back 220 and the rear plate 420. Since the drum 200 rotates during the operation of the laundry treating apparatus, the sealing part 450 is continuously rubbed by the drum back 220. Therefore, the sealing portion 450 is preferably made of a material that can seal between the drum back surface 220 and the duct portion 423 without deteriorating the performance even when the friction force or friction heat is generated due to the rotation.

On the other hand, the motor part 500 or the decelerator 600 may be coupled to the rear of the rear plate 420, and thus there is a possibility that the rear plate 420 may be bent or deformed due to the decelerator 600 and the load transferred to the decelerator 600 through the drum 200 since the rear plate 420 may be formed of a thin iron plate material. That is, in order to provide the decelerator 600, the motor unit 500, and the like, it is necessary to secure the rigidity of the rear plate 420.

To this end, the rear plate 420 may further include a bracket 700 for reinforcing the coupling rigidity. A bracket 700 may be additionally coupled to the rear plate 420, and the decelerator 600 and the motor unit 500 may be coupled to the rear plate 420 by the bracket 700.

The decelerator 600 may be coupled with the bracket 700 and the rear plate 420 at the same time. The decelerator 600, the rear plate 420, and the bracket 700 may be coupled by fastening members penetrating the decelerator 600, the rear plate 420, and the bracket 700 at the same time. The rear plate 420 may secure rigidity by being combined with the bracket 700. The rear plate 420 with ensured rigidity may be coupled with the decelerator 600, the motor part 500, and the like.

The fastening may be performed in such a manner that the decelerator 600 is coupled to the bracket 700 before the bracket 700 is coupled to the rear plate 420. That is, the decelerator may be fixed to the rear plate 420 through the bracket 700 without being directly coupled with the rear plate 420.

On the other hand, in the case where the motor part 500 or the decelerator 600 is coupled to the rear of the rear plate 420, the motor part 500 and the decelerator 600 may be exposed to the outside. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the motor part 500 from being exposed by being coupled to the rear of the rear plate 420. In addition, the duct portion 423 may be heated by hot air. Therefore, it is necessary to insulate the rear surface of the duct portion 423.

The rear cover 430 may prevent the duct portion 423, the motor portion 500, or the decelerator 600 from being exposed to the outside by being coupled to the rear of the rear plate 420. The rear cover 430 may be disposed apart from the duct portion 423 and the driving portion.

The rear cover 430 has an effect of preventing the motor part 50 from being damaged by external interference or preventing the drying efficiency from being lowered by heat loss generated through the duct part 423.

The decelerator 600 may include decelerator casings 610, 620 forming an external appearance. The decelerator cover may include: a first cover 610 disposed to face the drum; and a second cover 620 facing the motor part.

The decelerator 600 may include a gear box. The gear box may be configured to receive power from the motor part, convert the RPM of the motor part into a smaller RPM and increase a torque value, and then transmit the torque value to the drum. The majority of the gear box is housed inside the second housing 620, and the first housing 610 may be configured to conceal the interior of the reducer 600. Thereby, the entire thickness of the decelerator 600 can be reduced. The detailed construction of the gear case will be described later.

The first cover 610 may include: a first cover blocking body 611 provided to shield the second cover 620; and a first cover shaft receiving portion 612 extending from the first cover blocking body 611 in a direction away from the second cover 620. The first cover shaft receiving part 612 may accommodate the drum rotation shaft 6341, and may support the drum rotation shaft 6341 to be rotatable.

The first cover 610 may include a stator coupling portion 613 configured to support the motor portion. The stator coupling portion 613 may be provided to extend from the circumferential surface of the first cover blocking body 611 in a direction away from the first cover shaft receiving portion 612.

The stator coupling portion 613 may include a stator fastening hole 615 capable of fastening a motor portion. The stator fastening hole 615 may be formed to be recessed at the stator coupling portion 613. A separate fastening member may be inserted into the stator fastening hole 615. The stator coupling part 613 and the motor part may be coupled using the fastening member.

The first cover 610 may further include a coupling guide 614 guiding coupling of the motor parts. The coupling guide 614 may be provided to extend from the circumferential surface of the first cover blocking body 611 in a direction away from the first cover shaft receiving portion 612. The coupling guide 614 may extend from the first cover blocking body 611 to be coupled with the stator coupling part 613. The coupling guide 614 may guide the position of the stator 510 when the stator 510 is coupled to the stator coupling part 613. This can improve the assembling property.

Referring to fig. 8, a gear assembly may be accommodated inside the second cover 620. In general, a gear box combined with the decelerator 600 may include a sun gear, a planetary gear revolving the sun gear, and a ring gear accommodating the planetary gear and guiding the planetary gear to rotate. The second cover 620 may include: a second cover combining body 621 combined with the first cover 610; a second cover blocking body 622 extending from the second cover coupling body 621 in a direction away from the first cover 610 to form a space for accommodating a gear case; and a second cover shaft receiving portion extending from an inner circumferential surface of the second cover blocking body 622 in a direction away from the first cover 610, supporting the driving shaft 530.

The center of the first cover 610 and the center of the second cover 620 may be designed to be disposed on a coaxial line. The driving shaft 540 and the drum rotation shaft 6341 are coaxially positioned to facilitate power transmission. Therefore, it is preferable that the first casing shaft receiving part 612 supporting and enabling rotation of the drum rotation shaft 6341 and the second casing shaft receiving part supporting and enabling rotation of the driving shaft 540 are combined to form a coaxial shaft.

The driving shaft 530 may be inserted into the second housing 620 and supported to be rotatable inside the second housing 620. A washer 540 for rotatably supporting the rotor 520 may be coupled to the driving shaft 530. The gasket part 540 may include: a receiving body 542 having a shaft supporting hole 543 formed at the center of the receiving body 542 to receive the driving shaft 530; and a gasket coupling body 541 extending radially from an outer circumferential surface of the accommodation body and forming a surface to be coupled with the rotor. The shaft supporting hole 543 may be provided in a groove shape capable of corresponding to a protrusion formed at the outer circumferential surface of the driving shaft 530 so as to be coupled with the protrusion.

The gasket part 540 may include one or more gasket coupling protrusions 5411, and the gasket coupling protrusions 5411 are provided to protrude from the gasket coupling body 541 in a direction away from the decelerator. In addition, the gasket part 540 may include one or more gasket coupling holes 5412 penetrating the gasket coupling body 541.

The gasket coupling protrusion 5411 may be coupled with a receiving groove formed at the rotor. A fastening member penetrating the rotor may be inserted into the gasket coupling hole 5412 for coupling the rotor and the gasket part 540.

The gasket coupling protrusions 5411 and the gasket coupling holes 5412 may be alternately positioned with each other in the circumferential direction at the surface of the gasket coupling body 541 and provided in plurality.

The driving part may include: a motor unit 500 for generating rotational power; and a decelerator for reducing the rotation speed of the motor part 500 and transmitting the same to the drum. The decelerator 600 may include a drum rotation shaft 6341 that rotates the drum.

The motor part 500 may include: a stator 510 for generating a rotating magnetic field by receiving an external power; and a rotor 520 provided to surround an outer circumferential surface of the stator 510. Permanent magnets may be disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the rotor 520.

The permanent magnets located at the inner circumferential surface of the rotor 520 may be moved in a specific direction by the rotating magnetic field generated at the stator 510, and the permanent magnets may be fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the rotor 520. Accordingly, the rotor 520 may be rotated by the rotating magnetic field of the stator 510.

A driving shaft 530 may be coupled to the rotation center of the rotor 520, and the driving shaft 530 rotates together with the rotor 520 and transmits the rotational power of the rotor 520. The drive shaft 530 may be configured to rotate with the rotor 540. The driving shaft 530 may be coupled to the rotor 540 through a washer portion 540.

The driving shaft 530 may be directly connected to the rotor 520, but in case of being connected by the washer part 540, may be more firmly coupled to the rotor 520, thus enabling more efficient transmission of the rotational force of the rotor 520. In addition, there is an effect that durability of the driving shaft 530 can be improved by preventing the load from concentrating on the driving shaft 530.

The driving shaft 530 may be directly connected to the drum, but since the driving shaft 530 rotates at the same speed as the rotation speed of the rotor 520, a case where deceleration is required may occur. Thus, the driving shaft 530 may be connected to a decelerator, which is connected to the drum. That is, the decelerator may rotate the drum by decreasing the rotational speed of the driving shaft 530.

The decelerator 600 may include a first casing 610, a second casing 620 forming an external appearance, and a gear case 630 decelerating the power of the driving shaft 530. The second cover 620 may provide a space for accommodating the gear case 630, and the first cover 610 may shield the accommodating space provided by the second cover 620.

The second cover 620 may be formed of: a second cover combining body 621 combined with the first cover 610; a second cover blocking body 622 extending rearward from the inner circumferential surface of the second cover coupling body 621 to form an accommodating space for accommodating the gear case 630; and a second cover shaft receiving portion 623 extending rearward from the second cover blocking body 622 and configured to accommodate the drive shaft 530: the composition is formed.

The gear case 630 may include a ring gear 633 provided along an inner circumferential surface of the second cover blocking body 622. More than one planetary gear 632 coupled to the ring gear 633 may be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the ring gear 633, and a sun gear 631 may be provided on the inner side of the ring gear 633, and the sun gear 631 is coupled to the planetary gear 632 and rotates together with the driving shaft 530.

The sun gear 631 may be provided to be coupled to and rotate with the drive shaft 530. The sun gear 631 may be provided by a member independent of the driving shaft 530, but is not limited thereto, and the sun gear 631 may be integrally formed with the driving shaft 530.

The sun gear 631, the planetary gear 632, and the ring gear 633 may be provided as helical gears. In the case where the respective gears are provided in helical gears, noise can be reduced and power transmission efficiency can be improved. But is not limited thereto, the sun gear 631, the planetary gears 632, and the ring gear 633 may be provided as spur gears.

As an example of the operation of the gear case 630, when the drive shaft 530 and the sun gear 631 connected to the drive shaft 530 rotate with the rotation of the rotor, the planetary gear 632 gear-coupled to the outer peripheral surface of the sun gear 631 may rotate gear-coupled between the ring gear 633 and the sun gear 631.

The planetary gear 632 may include a planetary gear shaft 6323 inserted into the center of rotation. The planetary gear shaft 6323 may support the planetary gear 632 to be rotatable.

The decelerator may further include a first bracket 6342 and a second bracket 6343 supporting the planetary gear shaft 6323. The planetary gear shaft 6323 may be supported by the second bracket 6343 at the front and the first bracket 6342 at the rear.

The drum rotation shaft 6341 may be provided to extend from the rotation center of the second bracket 6343 in a direction away from the motor portion. The drum rotation shaft 6341 may be provided as a construction independent of the second bracket 6343 and combined to rotate together. Conversely, the drum rotation shaft 6341 may also extend from the second bracket 6343 and be integrally formed with the second bracket 6343.

The drum rotation shaft 6341 may be coupled to the drum and rotate the drum. As described above, the drum rotation shaft 6341 may be coupled to the drum via a coupling member such as a bush portion, or may be directly coupled to the drum without an additional coupling member.

The drum rotation shaft 6341 may be supported by the first cover 610. The first cover 610 may include: the first cover blocking body 611 shields the receiving space of the second cover 620; and a first cover shaft receiving part 612 extending from the first cover blocking body 611 in a direction away from the second cover 620, accommodating the drum rotation shaft 6341. The first bearing 660 and the second bearing 670 are press-fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the first cover shaft receiving part 612, whereby the drum rotation shaft 6341 can be rotatably supported.

The first cover 610 and the second cover 620 may be coupled to each other by a decelerator fastening member 681. In addition, the decelerator fastening member 681 may penetrate through the first cover 610 and the second cover 620 at the same time and combine both members. In addition, the decelerator fastening member 681 may fix the decelerator 600 to the rear plate 420 while combining the first and second casings 610 and 620 by penetrating the first and second casings 610 and 620 and the rear plate 420 at the same time.

The rear plate 420 may be formed of an iron plate having a relatively thin thickness. Therefore, it may be difficult to ensure rigidity for supporting all of the decelerator 600, the motor part 500 coupled with the decelerator 600, and the drum 200 connected to the decelerator 600. Therefore, when the decelerator 600 is coupled to the rear plate 420, the bracket 700 may be used to secure rigidity of the rear plate 420. The bracket 700 may be formed of a material having higher rigidity than the rear plate 420 and coupled to the front or rear surface of the rear plate 420.

The bracket 700 may ensure rigidity that enables the coupling of the decelerator 600 by coupling with the front surface of the rear plate 420, and the decelerator 600 may be coupled with both the rear plate 420 and the bracket 700. In order to combine the rear plate 420, the bracket 700, and the decelerator, fastening members such as bolts may be used.

In addition, in order to fix the decelerator 600 to the rear plate 420, the decelerator fastening member 681 used when the first cover 610 and the second cover 620 are combined may be used. That is, the decelerator fastening member 681 may be integrally coupled through the second cover 620, the first cover, the rear plate 420, and the bracket 700. In the case of coupling in the above manner, the bracket 700 may support the rear plate 420 at the front and the first cover 610 may support the rear plate 420 at the rear, so that the coupling of the decelerator 600 can also secure rigidity. But is not limited thereto, first, only the first cover 610 and the second cover 620 may be coupled using the decelerator fastening member 681, and then the decelerator 600 may be coupled to the rear plate 420 using an additional fastening member.

Further, a stator coupling portion 613 that can be coupled to the motor portion 500 may be formed on the radial outside of the first cover 610. The stator coupling part 613 may include a coupling groove concavely formed at the stator coupling part 613.

The stator 510 may be directly coupled to the rear plate 420, but may also be coupled to the stator coupling part 613. The stator 510 may include fixing ribs 512, and the fixing ribs 512 are provided to an inner circumferential surface of the stator 510 and support the stator. The fixing rib 512 may be coupled with the stator coupling part 613. The fixing rib 512 and the stator coupling portion 613 may be coupled to each other by a stator coupling pin 617.

The motor part 500 is coupled with the decelerator 600 in a state of being spaced apart from the rear plate 420, whereby the motor part 500 and the decelerator 600 may form one vibrator. Therefore, even if vibration is applied from the outside, the driving shaft 530 coupled to the rotor 520 and the drum rotation shaft 6341 connected to the decelerator 600 are easily kept coaxial.

The direction of the axis of the drum rotation shaft 6341 may be misaligned due to the vibration of the drum 200. However, since the motor part 500 is coupled to the first cover 610 supporting the drum rotation shaft 6341, even if the drum rotation shaft 6341 is displaced in the axial direction, the driving shaft 530 is similarly displaced in the axial direction by the first cover 610. That is, the motor part 500 moves integrally with the decelerator 600, so that the drum rotation shaft 6341 and the driving shaft 530 can be kept coaxial even if a force is applied from the outside.

With the above-described coupling structure, the efficiency and reliability of the power transmission from the motor unit 500 to the drum 200 can be improved, and abrasion of the gear case 630, degradation of the power transmission efficiency, degradation of durability, and reliability due to misalignment of the shafts of the drum rotation shaft 6341 and the drive shaft 530 can be prevented.

Referring to fig. 10, the rear plate 420 may be located at the rear of the drum. The rear plate 420 may guide the hot air discharged from the circulation flow path part 820 to the drum. That is, the rear plate 420 may be located at the rear of the drum and form a flow path so that the hot wind is uniformly supplied to the entire drum.

The rear plate 420 may include: a rear panel 421 facing the rear surface of the drum; and a duct portion 423 forming a flow path by being recessed rearward from the rear panel 421. The duct portion 423 may be formed by pressing the rear panel 421 rearward. The duct portion 423 may be provided to accommodate a portion of the rear surface of the drum.

The duct portion 423 may include: an inflow portion 4233 located behind the circulation flow path portion; and a flow portion 4231 located behind the drum. The flow portion 4231 may be provided to accommodate a portion of the drum. The flow portion 4231 may accommodate a portion of the drum and form a flow path provided at the rear of the drum.

The flow portion 4231 may be disposed in a ring shape to face the suction hole formed at the rear surface of the drum. The flow portion 4231 may be provided to be recessed from the rear panel 421. That is, the flow portion 4231 may be provided to be opened at the front and form a flow path together with the rear surface of the drum.

When the front of the flow portion 4231 is opened, the hot air moving to the flow portion 4231 may be directly moved to the drum without additional components. This can prevent heat loss when hot air passes through the additional structure. That is, there is an effect that the drying efficiency can be improved by reducing the heat loss of the hot wind.

The back plate 420 may include a mounting portion 425 disposed radially inward of the flow portion 4231. The mounting portion 425 may provide a space for the decelerator 600 or the motor portion 500 to be coupled. That is, the rear plate 420 may include: a mounting portion 425 provided inside the rear plate 420; and a flow portion 4231 provided in an annular shape radially outward of the mounting portion 425.

Specifically, the flow portion 4231 may include a flow outer peripheral portion 4231a, and the flow outer peripheral portion 4231a surrounds an inner space in which the hot air flows. The flow portion 4231 may include a flow inner peripheral portion 4231b, and the flow inner peripheral portion 4231b may surround an inner space in which the hot air flows. That is, the flow outer peripheral portion 4231a may form an outer periphery of the flow portion 4231, and the flow inner peripheral portion 4231b may form an inner periphery of the flow portion 4231.

In addition, the flow portion 4231 may include a flow concave surface 4232, and the flow concave surface 4232 forms a rear aspect of a flow path through which the hot air moves. The flow concave surface 4232 may be provided to connect the flow outer peripheral portion 4231a and the flow inner peripheral portion 4231b. That is, a space through which the hot air discharged from the circulation flow path portion 820 flows can be formed by the flow inner peripheral portion 4231b, the flow outer peripheral portion 4231a, and the flow concave surface 4232.

In addition, the flow concave surface 4232 prevents the hot air from leaking backward and guiding the hot air to the drum. That is, the flow concave surface 4232 may refer to a concave surface of the flow portion 4231.

The inflow portion 4233 may be located at a position facing the circulation flow path portion 820. The inflow portion may be located at a position facing the air supply portion 8231. The inflow portion 4233 may be provided to be recessed rearward from the rear panel 421 to prevent interference with the air supply portion 8231. The upper side of the inflow portion 4233 may be connected to the flow portion 4231.

The laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a connector 850 connected to the air supply part 8231. The connector 850 may guide the hot air discharged from the air supply unit 8231 to the flow unit 4231. The connector 850 may have a flow path formed therein, thereby guiding the hot air discharged from the air blowing portion 4231 to the flow portion 4231. That is, the connector 850 may form a flow path connecting the blower 8231 and the flow portion 4231. The cross-sectional area of the flow path provided in the connector 850 may increase as it is away from the blower 8231.

The connector 850 may be located to face the inflow 4233. The inflow portion 4233 may be formed to be recessed rearward to prevent interference with the connector 850. In addition, an upper end of the connector 850 may be provided to divide the flow portion 4231 and the inflow portion 4233. That is, the hot air discharged from the connector 850 flows into the flow portion 4231, but does not flow into the inflow portion 4233.

The connector 850 may be configured to uniformly supply the hot air to the flow portion 4231. The connector 850 may be configured to increase in width as it moves away from the blower 8231. The upper end of the connector 850 may be positioned along a circumferentially extending line of the flow peripheral portion 4231 a.

Accordingly, the hot air discharged from the connector 850 is supplied to the flow portion 4231 in its entirety without moving to the flow portion 4233. The connector 850 may uniformly supply the hot air to the inside of the drum by preventing the hot air from concentrating on one side of the flow portion 4231. Therefore, there is an effect of improving drying efficiency of laundry.

The connector 850 is provided so as to increase in width as approaching the upstream side, whereby the velocity of the hot air moving along the connector 850 can decrease in the flow direction. That is, the connector 850 may perform a function of a diffuser (diffuser) that adjusts the speed of hot air. The connector 850 may prevent the hot wind from being intensively supplied only to a specific portion of the drum by reducing the speed of the hot wind.

By the shape of the connector 850 described above, the inflow portion 4233 provided so as to face the connector 850 and to prevent interference with the connector 850 may be provided so as to increase in width as it is separated from the air blowing portion 8231. The shape of the inflow portion 4233 allows the pipe portion 423 to have an overall shape of "9" when viewed from the front.

Since the drum is provided to rotate in the drying process, the drum may be provided to be spaced apart from the flow portion 4231 by a prescribed distance. The hot air can flow out through the partitioned space.

Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus may further include a sealing part 450 preventing the leakage of the hot wind from the partitioned space between the drum and the flow part 4231. The seal 450 may be positioned along the periphery of the flow portion 4231.

The seal 450 may include a first seal 451 disposed along an outer circumference of the flow portion 4231. The first seal 451 may be disposed between the drum and the outer circumference of the flow portion 4231. In addition, the first seal 451 may be disposed to contact both the drum back 220 and the rear plate 420, thereby more effectively preventing leakage.

On the other hand, the first seal 451 may be provided in contact with the front face of the connector 850. In addition, the first seal 451 may be disposed to contact an upper end of the connector 850. The connector 850 may form a flow path through which the hot air flows together with the flow portion 4231. Thereby, the first seal 451 may prevent the leakage of the hot wind from between the drum and the connector 850 by being disposed in contact with the connector 850.

The sealing portion 450 may include a second seal 452 disposed along an inner circumference of the flow portion 4231. The second seal 452 may be disposed between the drum and the inner circumference of the flow portion 4231. In addition, the second seal 452 may be disposed in contact with both the drum back 220 and the rear plate 420. The second seal 452 may prevent the hot air moving along the flow portion 4231 from leaking toward the mounting portion 425.

Since the drum 200 rotates during the operation of the laundry treating apparatus, the sealing part 450 is continuously rubbed by the drum rear surface 220. Therefore, the sealing portion 450 is preferably provided with a material that can seal between the drum back surface 220 and the flow portion 4231 without deteriorating due to friction force and frictional heat generated with rotation.

Referring to fig. 11, the decelerator 600 is supported on the rear plate 420, and the motor part 500 may be coupled with the decelerator 600. That is, the rear plate 420 may be provided to support the decelerator 600 and the motor part 500.

The motor part 500 for providing the rotation power and the decelerator 600 for reducing the power of the motor part and transmitting to the drum may be positioned at the rear of the rear plate 420.

The decelerator 600 may be disposed inside the duct portion 423 at the rear plate 420. The decelerator 600 may be located radially inward of the flow portion 4231 to prevent interference with the flow portion 4231.

Due to the hot air of the hot air moving along the flow portion 4231, the gear device inside the decelerator 600 may be damaged. Accordingly, the flow portion 4231 and the decelerator 600 may be disposed to be spaced apart by a prescribed distance.

The decelerator 600 may be coupled to penetrate the rear plate 420. Thus, the decelerator 600 may be connected with the drum positioned in front of the rear plate 420.

The stator 510 may be combined with the decelerator 600. The stator 510 may be coupled to the decelerator 600 and disposed to be spaced apart from the rear plate 420. At this time, the decelerator 600 may be located between the drum and the motor part and support the drum and the motor part to be spaced apart from the rear plate 420. That is, the decelerator 600 may become a center for supporting the drum and the motor part.

In another aspect, the stator 510 may include: a body 511 provided in a ring shape; a fixing rib 512 extending from an inner circumferential surface of the body 511 and coupled to the stator coupling portion 613 of the decelerator; teeth 514 extending from the outer circumferential surface along the circumference of the body 511, around which coils are wound; and a pole piece 515 provided at the free end of the teeth 514 to prevent the coil from being separated.

The rotor 520 may include a rotor body 521 provided in a hollow shape of a cylinder. The rotor 520 may include a mounting body 522 recessed forward from the rear surface of the rotor body 521. Permanent magnets may be disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the rotor body 521 of the rotor 520.

The rotor 520 may be coupled with a driving shaft 530, and transmit rotational power of the rotor 520 to the outside through the driving shaft 530. The drive shaft 530 may be coupled to the rotor 520 by a washer portion 540.

In addition, the motor part 500 may include a washer part 540 supporting the driving shaft 530. The gasket part 540 may include a gasket coupling body 541 coupled to the rotor. The gasket coupling body 541 may be provided in a disc shape.

The gasket portion 540 may include a receiving body 542 received in the rotor. The receiving body 542 may be provided to protrude rearward from the gasket coupling body 541. The gasket portion 540 may include a shaft supporting hole 543 provided to penetrate the center of the receiving body 542. The driving shaft 530 may be inserted into the shaft supporting hole 543 and supported by the washer portion 540.

In addition, the gasket part 540 may include a gasket coupling hole 5412 provided through the gasket coupling body 541. In addition, the setting body 522 may include a rotor coupling hole 526 provided at a position corresponding to the gasket coupling hole 5412. That is, the washer part 540 and the rotor 520 may be coupled to each other by a coupling member that simultaneously penetrates the washer coupling hole 5412 and the rotor coupling hole 526 and is coupled. That is, the washer part 540 and the rotor 520 may be combined to rotate together with each other.

In addition, the gasket portion 540 may include a gasket coupling protrusion 5411 protruding rearward from the gasket coupling body 541. In addition, the setting body 522 may include a gasket boss receiving hole 525 provided to correspond to the gasket coupling boss 5411. The gasket coupling protrusion 5411 may be inserted into the gasket protrusion receiving hole 525 and support the coupling of the gasket portion 540 and the rotor 520.

In addition, the rotor 520 may include a rotor setting hole 524 provided through the center of the setting body 522. The rotor setting hole 524 may receive the receiving body 542. Thereby, the washer 540 can rotate together with the driving shaft 530 by the rotor 520, and can firmly support the coupling of the driving shaft 530 and the rotor 520. Therefore, durability and reliability of the entire motor unit 500 can be ensured.

The stator 510 may include: a main body 511 fixed to the decelerator 600 and provided in a ring shape; a fixing rib 512 extending from an inner circumferential surface of the body 511 and coupled to the stator fastening hole 615 of the decelerator; teeth 514 extending from the outer circumferential surface along the circumference of the body 511, around which coils are wound; pole shoes 515 provided at the free ends of the teeth 514 to prevent the coil from being separated; and a connection terminal (not shown) controlled to supply current to the coil.

The stator 510 may include a receiving space 513 penetrating the body 511 and disposed inside the body 511. The fixing rib 512 may be provided in the body 511 at a predetermined angle with respect to the accommodation space 513, a fixing rib hole 5121 provided with a fixing member may be provided on the inner side of the fixing rib 512, and the fixing rib hole 5121 and the stator fastening hole 615 of the speed reducer may be coupled by a fixing member such as a pin.

In the case where the stator 510 is directly coupled with the decelerator 600, a portion of the decelerator 600 may be accommodated in the stator 510. In particular, when the decelerator 600 is accommodated in the stator 510, the entire thickness of the driving part including the decelerator and the motor part is reduced, so that the volume of the drum can be further expanded.

For this, the decelerator 600 may be provided to be smaller than the diameter of the body main body 511. That is, the maximum diameter of the first and second covers 610 and 620 may be smaller than the diameter of the body main body 511. Thus, at least a portion of the decelerator 600 may be accommodated in and disposed on the body 511. The stator coupling portion 613 may extend from the housing of the decelerator to be capable of overlapping with the fixing rib 512. Thus, the stator coupling portion 613 may be coupled with the fixing rib 512, and a portion of the first and second covers 620 may be located inside the body main body 511.

The stator 510 may be coupled to the decelerator 600. At least a portion of the decelerator may be accommodated inside the body 511 by being coupled with a stator coupling part 613 protruding from the housing of the decelerator 600 to the outside. Thus, the center of the body main body 511 and the center of the driving shaft 530 and the decelerator 600 can be always coaxial.

On the other hand, the rotor 520 may be configured to accommodate the stator 510 in a state of being spaced apart from the pole shoe 515 by a prescribed distance. Since the driving shaft 530 is fixed to the decelerator 600 accommodated in the body 511, the interval G1 between the rotor 520 and the stator 510 can be always maintained.

Therefore, the rotor 520 can be prevented from colliding with the stator 510 or from rotating at a temporary displacement in the stator 510, thereby blocking occurrence of noise or unnecessary vibration.

On the other hand, an imaginary first diameter line K1 passing through the center of the decelerator 600 and the center of the driving shaft 530, an imaginary second diameter line K2 passing through the center of the body main body 511, and an imaginary third diameter line K3 passing through the center of the rotor 520 may be disposed at the rotation center of the decelerator 600.

Accordingly, the speed reducer 600 itself becomes the rotation center of the driving shaft 530, and the stator 510 is directly fixed to the speed reducer 600, so that the driving shaft 530 can be prevented from being displaced with respect to the speed reducer 600. As a result, the reliability of the decelerator 600 can be ensured.

Referring to fig. 14 (a), the fibers L forming the laundry may have a prescribed thickness. For example, in the case where the fiber L is in a dry state, the diameter of the fiber L may be set to the first diameter D1.

Since the fiber L is made of a material that can expand or compress in volume, a space C that can contain air can be provided inside.

In the case where the laundry is immersed in the water W as the washing process is performed, not only the fibers L themselves may retain water, but also the water may be filled into the inside of the voids C.

Referring to fig. 14 (b), in the case of taking out the laundry from the water W, water may remain unchanged in the void C. In particular, since the fibers L themselves perform capillary action, the water W is constantly filled in the voids C even if the fibers L are disposed in the air.

On the other hand, if the laundry is drawn out in a state of being immersed in the water W, a portion may shrink due to the surface tension of the water or the like. Therefore, in the case of taking out the fibers L immersed in the water W, the diameters of the fibers may be reduced to have a second diameter D2 smaller than the first diameter D1.

Referring to fig. 14 (C), when the drying process is performed in a state where the diameter of the fiber L is reduced, water contained in the inside of the space C is evaporated, so that an empty space is formed in the inside of the space C.

The fibers L may generate a contractive force and a restoring force for filling the void C that suddenly occurs again. As a result, the fibers L can shrink inward.

Referring to fig. 14 (d), in a state in which the void C is generated again inside the fiber L, the void C may be removed when an external force F generated due to the rotation of the drum acts on the fiber L. In other words, when the fiber L is applied with a shrinkage force or a falling impact F that fills the void C, the void C may be removed.

Referring to fig. 14 (e), when the voids C are removed, the fibers L are correspondingly further contracted, and the diameters of the fibers L may be formed with a third diameter D3 smaller than the second diameter D2.

As a result, in drying the laundry using the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention, the diameter of the fibers L of the laundry may be reduced from the first diameter D1 to the third diameter D3.

Referring to fig. 15 (a), a length of a portion of the laundry combined with the fibers L may be set to a first length T1, and a thickness of the portion of the laundry may be set to a first diameter D1.

Referring to fig. 15 (b), when the internal voids (c) are removed so that the fibers L shrink, the length of a portion of the laundry may be shortened to a second length T2 shorter than the first length, and the thickness of a portion of the laundry is also thinned to a third diameter D2 smaller than the first diameter D1.

As a result, there is a possibility that the whole length and thickness of the laundry shrink during the drying process as compared with before drying.

Further, as the laundry is dried and brought close to a dry state, even a small friction may cause surface fuzzing (pilling) or the like of the laundry.

In addition, in the case where the laundry is not dried in a state close to wet so that the weight of the laundry is greater than the original weight, the surface of the laundry may be worn due to further increase in friction between the laundry or friction between the laundry and the drum.

In order to prevent the above-described problems, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may perform a drying process, which can prevent not only shrinkage of laundry but also abrasion of laundry.

Fig. 16 (a) is a diagram showing a control procedure constituting a drying program.

The control panel of the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may operate any drying course and option to perform a drying program for removing moisture from laundry received in the drum 200.

The control panel is configured to be able to receive a selection instruction to select one of an arbitrary drying course and option through the input part 118, and an operation instruction to operate the selected course and option.

Any drying course and option may be constituted by an algorithm for executing a drying program by supplying hot air to the inside of the drum 200 while rotating the drum 200 by operating the driving part and the heat exchanging part 900.

For example, any of the drying processes and options may collectively include; an air supply step S1 of supplying air to the drum 200; a rotating step S2 of rotating the drum 200 in the air supply step S1 to thereby expose the laundry to the air; and a temperature control step S3 of controlling the temperature inside the drum 200 or the temperature of the refrigerant.

The air supply step S1, the rotation step S2, and the temperature control step S3 may be simultaneously performed in a drying process.

The air supply step S1 may include supplying hot air to the drum 200 by driving the heat exchanging part 900 and the circulation flow path fan 950. In addition, the air supply step S1 may include supplying relatively low temperature air to the inside of the drum 200 by driving only the circulation flow path fan 950 without driving the heat exchanging part 900.

On the other hand, the rotating step S2 and the temperature controlling step S3 may be performed in order to protect laundry.

Specifically, the rotation step S2 and the temperature control step S3 may be performed in order to perform any drying course and option of the drying program. In addition, the rotating step S2 and the temperature controlling step S3 may be performed for protecting the laundry for the purpose of preventing damage of the laundry, preventing shrinkage of the laundry, and the like.

For example, in case that the arbitrary drying course and option has the damage prevention and shrinkage prevention functions of laundry, the rotation step S2 for protecting the laundry and the temperature control step S3 may be performed.

In addition, in the case of having a cloth protecting course for protecting the laundry, the rotation step S2 and the temperature control step S3 of protecting the laundry by the user may be performed while the cloth protecting course is performed.

Hereinafter, the air supply step S1, the rotation step S2, and the temperature control step S3 for protecting the laundry by the user will be described.

The air supply step S1, the rotation step S2, and the temperature control step S3 may be performed when any drying process and option are performed, or may be performed when the cloth protection process is performed in the case where the cloth protection process is performed.

Fig. 16 (b) is a diagram showing a control method of the air supply step S1.

The air supply step S1 may include stopping the circulation flow path fan 950 and operating the pump 861 when the first heat exchanger 910 is washed with the water collected in the water collecting portion 860. As a result, the air supply step S1 may include a section where air is not temporarily supplied to the drum 200.

On the other hand, since the driving part is directly connected to the drum 200, the rotation speed and the rotation direction of the drum 200 may be changed in the rotating step S2. That is, when the air supply step S1 is performed, the control panel may rotate the drum 200 by driving the motor part 500 and by means of the decelerator 600. The motor part 500 may change the rotation speed and the rotation direction of the drum 200 according to an algorithm set for an arbitrary drying course and option.

In general, the air supply step S1 may be divided into a preheating section (PREHEATING PERIOD) A1, a constant-speed drying section (constantRate period) A2, a decelerating drying section (FALLINGRATE PERIOD) A3, and a cooling section (cooling period) A4 according to at least one of a state of the heat exchange portion 900, an operation time of the heat exchange portion 900, a temperature of air discharged to the circulation flow path portion 820, dryness of laundry, and an operation time of the motor portion 500.

Fig. 16 (c) is a diagram showing a control method of the rotation step S2.

The rotating step S2 may include: a high speed section H for rotating the drum 200 at a first speed at which the laundry is rotatable on the inner wall of the drum 200; and a low speed section L for rotating the drum 200 at a second speed lower than the first speed so that the laundry is separated from the inner wall of the drum 200 and agitated at each rotation of the drum 200.

The first speed may correspond to a speed at which the drum 200 is rotated to generate a centrifugal force of 1G or more at the laundry, and the second speed may correspond to a speed at which the drum 200 is rotated to generate a centrifugal force of 1G or less at the laundry.

The rotating step S2 may be performed in a preheating section A1, a constant-speed drying section A2, a decelerating drying section A3, and a cooling section A4.

The rotation step S2 may be interrupted for a predetermined time in at least one of the preheating section A1, the constant-speed drying section A2, the decelerating drying section A3, and the cooling section A4, but the air supply step S1 may be uninterrupted in the entire section of any one of the preheating section A1, the constant-speed drying section A2, the decelerating drying section A3, and the cooling section A4.

The rotating step S2 may include various combinations of the high-speed section H and the low-speed section L for at least one of prevention of laundry damage, prevention of shrinkage of laundry, and drying of laundry in the preheating section A1, the constant-speed drying section A2, the decelerating drying section A3, and the cooling section A4.

Thereby, the rotating step S2 may prevent friction or abrasion of the laundry by adhering the laundry to the drum 200 through the high speed section H, may perform drying of the laundry through the low speed section L, and may prevent shrinkage of the laundry by reducing a mechanical force applied to the laundry in case of rotating at a speed lower than the second speed.

The rotation step S2 may be divided into a prevention section S21, a protection section S22, a separation section S23, and an exposure section S24, based on the function of protecting the cloth.

The preventing step S21 may include a high speed section H in which the drum rotates at a speed equal to or higher than a first speed H1, the first speed H1 being a speed at which the laundry is attached to the inner wall of the drum. That is, in the preventing step, the laundry is attached to the drum 200 to be rotated, whereby friction between the laundry or friction of the laundry with the drum 200 can be prevented.

In addition, the preventing step S21 may further include a low speed section L rotating at a speed lower than the first speed H1. Thus, in the preventing step S21, the high speed section H and the low speed section L may be periodically arranged. In this way, in the preventing step S21, the laundry can be agitated by the low speed section L, thereby preventing that only a specific area of the laundry is excessively dried in the high speed section H and guiding that the laundry is uniformly dried.

That is, in the preventing step S21, the low speed section L of the laundry is included, whereby not only protection of the laundry but also drying of the laundry can be performed.

In the preventing step S21, any one of a pulling motion and a hanging motion, which will be described later, may be performed.

The preventing step S21 may be performed in at least one of the preheating zone A1, the constant-speed drying zone A2, and the deceleration drying zone A3. The prevention step S21 may be performed at least once in each of the preheating section A1, the constant-speed drying section A2, and the deceleration drying section A3, since not only drying of laundry but also protection of laundry is required in the preheating section A1, the constant-speed drying section A2, and the deceleration drying section A3.

It is distinguished that the preheating section A1 ends when the temperature of the refrigerant reaches a specific temperature TC from a start temperature, the constant-speed drying section A2 ends when the dryness reaches a set value c, or the duration of the constant-speed drying section A2 passes a reference time, and the deceleration drying section A3 ends when the dryness reaches a completion value e.

On the other hand, the prevention step S21 performed in the warm-up section A1 may be set to have a larger ratio of the high speed section H to the low speed section L than the prevention step S22 performed in the constant speed drying section A2 or the deceleration drying section A3. This is because the preheating zone A1 is in a state where the laundry is wet and thus is in a state where the laundry is contracted relatively much, and thus it is necessary to expand the laundry to the maximum by disposing the high-speed zone H more.

In addition, the ratio of the low speed section L in the prevention step S22 performed in the constant speed drying section A2 or the deceleration drying section A3 is greater than the preheating section A1, so that the efficiency of drying laundry can be further improved.

On the other hand, the exposing step S24 of exposing the laundry to the air by rotating the drum 200 at a speed higher than the limiting speed and lower than the first speed H1 may be performed at the rotating step S2.

It can be considered that the exposing step S24 is a step for drying the laundry irrespective of the protection of the laundry. For example, it can be considered that the exposing step S24 is a step of performing the tumbling motion, the flipping motion, or the like.

On the other hand, in the constant-speed drying section A2 or the deceleration drying section A3, the preventing step S21 may be performed after the exposing step S24 is ended. Since the closer to the dry matter as the drying of the laundry proceeds is more likely to be fluffed on the surface of the laundry or damaged by friction in the exposing step S24, friction between the laundry and the laundry, and between the laundry and the drum can be minimized by performing the preventing step S21 after the exposing step S24.

The protecting step S22 may be regarded as a step including a low speed section L in which the drum is rotated at a speed equal to or lower than the second speed L1. Specifically, the protecting step S22 may include a restriction section rotating at a restriction speed L3 blocking the laundry from rising to a position higher than the drum center O.

That is, the protecting step S22 may correspond to a step of reducing a falling impact applied to the laundry, and also preventing friction with the drum and the laundry.

The protecting step S22 may maintain the interstices C of the fibers existing inside the laundry by minimizing the falling impact of the laundry, thereby enabling to prevent shrinkage of the laundry. In addition, in the protecting step S22, the drying of the laundry may be performed by causing the laundry to be agitated inside the drum 200 while preventing the shrinkage of the laundry.

The protecting step S22 may correspond to performing the scrolling motion.

In addition, since the protection step S22 is a step performed to maintain the gap C of the laundry, it may be performed in the deceleration drying section A3 where the drying is sufficiently performed.

On the other hand, the rotating step S2 may further include a separating step S23, and the separating step S23 may be a step of periodically repeating the rotation of the drum at the speed increasing and the speed decreasing in the middle of the rotation at the first speed H1 or the second speed L1.

In the separating step S23, wet and dry matters may be separated using a difference in inertial force of the laundry, which varies according to dryness. Thus, when the separation step S23 is performed in the constant-speed drying section A2, wet objects can be separated from dry objects and dried intensively, and the dry objects can be prevented from being excessively dried.

The separation step S23 may correspond to performing a shaking motion.

The deceleration drying section A3 is a section in which the laundry is dried sufficiently, and thus it is more important to uniformly dry the laundry. Accordingly, the separation step S23 is performed before entering the deceleration drying section A3, so that laundry is separated by each dryness, whereby the duration of the deceleration drying section A3 can be greatly reduced.

In the deceleration drying section A3, the preventing step S21 may be performed after the protecting step S22 is performed. This is because, if the dryness of the laundry becomes high in the protection step S22, it is necessary to prevent friction of the laundry and the drum, and agitation of the laundry and drying of the laundry may be performed in the low speed section L and drying of the laundry may be performed in the high speed section H in the prevention step S21.

In the deceleration drying section A3, when the dryness reaches a specific value d, the preventing step s21 may be performed.

As a result, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may appropriately select or combine the prevention step S21, the protection step S22, and the separation step S23 at each section of the air supply step S1, thereby achieving wear prevention of laundry, shrinkage prevention of laundry, and uniform drying of laundry.

For example, shrinkage of wet laundry may be prevented by performing the pulling motion in the preheating section A1, laundry may be dried by the tumbling motion in the constant-speed drying section A2, abrasion of the laundry may be prevented by the hanging motion, the laundry may be uniformly dried by performing a shaking motion described later, shrinkage of the laundry may be prevented and drying may be performed by performing a rolling motion described later in the deceleration drying section A3, and fuzzing of the laundry may be prevented by performing the hanging motion.

Depending on the type of course or option, the rotation step S2 may suitably select and perform a pulling motion, a hanging motion, a tumbling motion, a turning motion, a rolling motion, a stopping motion, which will be described later, at each section of the air supply step S1.

In addition, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may apply the movement entirely when the air supply section S1 performs the rotating step S2.

In addition, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may selectively perform only a specific motion among the drum motions at a specific section.

For example, in the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention, if a specific drying course and option are performed, only a few of the pulling motion, the tumbling motion and the hanging motion or the shaking motion, the decelerating drying section A3, the rolling motion and the hanging motion, and the cooling section A4 may be selected and performed in the preheating section A1, the constant-speed drying section A2, and the stopping motion while the rotating step S2 is performed. That is, in the laundry treating apparatus according to the present invention, when the rotating step S2 is performed, the pulling motion may be performed in the preheating section A1, and the tumbling motion may be performed in the remaining section.

Fig. 16 (d) is a diagram showing a control method of the temperature control step S3.

The temperature control step S3 is a step of controlling the temperature inside the drum 200 or the temperature of the hot air supplied to the drum 200 by controlling the driving of the compressor 930. In the temperature control step S3, the compressor 930 may be controlled differently in the preheating zone A1, the constant-speed drying zone A2, the decelerating drying zone A3, and the cooling zone A4.

The temperature control step S3 may be a step of controlling the temperature inside the drum 200 not to exceed a limit temperature t_limit at which laundry can be damaged. For this, the temperature control step S3 may include: a first step S31 of rotating the compressor 930 at a heating RPM (rpm_h); a second step S32 of rotating the compressor 930 at a constant speed RPM (rpm_cr) lower than the heating RPM; and a third step S33 of rotating the compressor 930 at a reduced RPM (RPM-fr) lower than the constant speed RPM. (refer to FIG. 17)

In other words, the temperature control step S3 may adjust the temperature of the refrigerant by sequentially decreasing the driving RPM of the compressor 930 in the execution of the air supply step S1, thereby controlling the temperature inside the drum 200 not to exceed the limit temperature t_limit. Accordingly, damage of the laundry due to overheating of the laundry by the hot air can be prevented.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing the states of the heat exchanging part 900 and the inside of the drum 200 when the air supplying step S1 is performed.

The preheating interval A1 may be divided based on an operation time or an operation condition of the compressor 930. Specifically, when the drying process starts, the compressor 930 may start to be driven to compress the refrigerant and discharge the refrigerant to the second heat exchanger 920. At this time, a section from the start temperature T0 to the specific temperature TC of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 930 may be set as a warm-up section A1.

The specific temperature TC may be equal to the highest temperature of the refrigerant that the compressor 930 can discharge during the drying process. For example, it may correspond to 90 degrees celsius.

Alternatively, the specific temperature TC may be equal to a temperature at which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 930 can heat the second heat exchanger 920 to a highest temperature.

Alternatively, the warm-up interval A1 may be set until the operation HZ of the compressor 930 reaches either the heating HZ or the maximum HZ.

Alternatively, the warm-up interval A1 may be set up to the initial time after the operation of the compressor 930.

On the other hand, the preheating zone A1 may be set by using a temperature at which the temperature of the air flowing through the circulation flow path portion 930 reaches a heating temperature. The heating temperature is a temperature at which the amount of moisture drying of the laundry can be more than the amount of natural drying, and may be equivalent to 40 degrees celsius. That is, the section from the operation of the heat exchange unit 900 to the time when the air discharged to the circulation flow path unit 930 reaches the heating temperature may be defined as a preheating section A1.

As a result, the preheating section A1 is a section in which the compressor 930 starts to operate to heat the second heat exchanger 920 to a specific temperature, and the temperature of the air flowing through the drum 200 or the circulation path section 930 is heated and prepared until the moisture of the laundry can be sufficiently dried, as an initial section of the drying process.

In the preheating zone A1, the heated air may continuously flow into the drum 200 due to the operation of the compressor 930 and the circulation flow path fan 950. As a result, the temperature inside the drum 200 gradually increases, and moisture may evaporate from the laundry.

In addition, since the rotating step S2 is performed in the preheating zone A1 so that the laundry is rotated in the drum 200, the air may be uniformly exposed to the surface of the laundry. As a result, the laundry can be dried in the preheating zone A1.

After the preheating interval A1, the constant-speed drying interval A2 may be started.

The preheating zone A1 and the constant-speed drying zone A2 may be divided based on the dryness of the laundry.

Specifically, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may include a dryness sensor that measures dryness of the laundry. The dryness sensor may be provided to be capable of contacting laundry inside the drum 200. The dryness sensor may be attached to the front plate 410 or may be disposed below the inner peripheral surface of the front gasket 413.

The dryness sensor may be constituted by an electrode sensor that may measure a resistance value or the like of the laundry by contact with the laundry and calculate the dryness of the laundry.

Of course, the dryness sensor may be provided in any form as long as the dryness of the laundry can be measured.

When the dryness of the laundry reaches the reference value a, the preheating section A1 ends and enters the constant-speed drying section A2. For example, the reference value a may correspond to 20%.

The constant-speed drying section A2 may be a section in which hot air sufficiently flows into the drum 200 to formally dry the moisture in the laundry.

In the constant-speed drying section A2, moisture is largely continuously evaporated from the laundry, and vaporization heat can be absorbed from the hot wind. Therefore, in the constant-speed drying section A2, the internal temperature of the drum 200 may be increased by a smaller magnitude than the preheating section A1, or maintained at a prescribed level.

In the constant-speed drying section A2, the temperature inside the drum 200 or the temperature discharged to the circulation flow path portion 930 may be maintained at a drying temperature level, and the drying temperature may correspond to a specific temperature TC that is the end temperature of the preheating section A1.

That is, in the constant-speed drying section A2, even if hot air higher than the specific temperature TC is supplied into the drum 200, the temperature inside the drum 200 may stay below the specific temperature TC.

The rotating step S2 is also performed in the constant-speed drying section A2, thereby continuously changing the positions of the laundry disposed on the drum 200, so that the laundry can be uniformly exposed to the hot air. Accordingly, a greater amount of moisture may be gasified from the laundry 200 than when the drum 200 is stopped.

The deceleration drying section A3 may be performed after the constant-speed drying section A2.

In performing the constant-speed drying section A2, the evaporation amount of the moisture of the laundry may be gradually reduced. Therefore, as the amount of vaporization of the moisture contained in the laundry becomes smaller, the temperature of the hot air flowing into the drum 200 may not be sufficiently lowered. As a result, the temperature inside the drum 200 may rise to be higher than the drying temperature due to the hot air supplied thereto, and the deceleration drying section A3 may be set to enter from a point of time when the temperature inside the drum 200 rises to be higher than the drying temperature.

The deceleration drying section A3 may be set to be entered when the dryness of the laundry reaches the set value c during the constant-speed drying section A2. It can be considered that the deceleration drying section A3 is entered when the laundry is contacted with the dryness sensor provided with the electrode sensor so that the calculated dryness reaches the set value c.

The set value c may be set to 50% or more, for example, 80%. This is because, when the dryness of the laundry is 50% or more, the amount of water discharged from the laundry is reduced, and therefore the vaporization heat is also reduced, so that the temperature of the hot air is not lowered.

The rotating step S2 may also be performed in the deceleration drying section A3, whereby the dried incomplete laundry can be guided to be exposed to the hot wind inside the drum 200. Accordingly, the dried portion of the laundry is shielded by the inner wall of the drum 200 or other laundry due to the rotation of the drum 200, so that it is possible to prevent from being overdried.

In addition, the incomplete drying portion of the laundry can be exposed to the inside of the drum 200 by the rotation of the drum 200, and thus, not dried can be prevented.

The cooling section A4 may be performed after the deceleration drying section A3. The cooling section A4 may correspond to a section in which the inside of the drum 200 is not cooled and thus there is a possibility of injury or the like of a user although the drying of the laundry is completed.

It may be set that if the dryness of the laundry reaches the completion value e in the ongoing laundry of the deceleration drying section A3, the laundry enters the cooling section A4. For example, the completion value e may be equal to 90% or more.

In the cooling section A4, the motor unit 500 and the circulation flow path fan 950 may be driven without driving the compressor 930. Thereby, cool air having a temperature lower than that of the hot air is supplied to the drum 200, and the cool air uniformly contacts with laundry rotating inside the drum 200, thereby cooling the laundry.

The cooling interval A4 may be ended when the temperature inside the drum 200 reaches a safe temperature. The safe temperature is a temperature at which hot air is not exposed to the user, which may correspond to 20 degrees.

The rotating step S2 may also be performed in the cooling zone A4 so that the entire area of the laundry may be exposed to cold air. Accordingly, not only the laundry is cooled, but also the air inside the drum 200 may be cooled by mixing with the cool air due to the flow of the laundry.

On the other hand, in the cooling section A4, a waiting step of waiting for a prescribed time as it is after the end of the rotation step S2 may be performed. That is, at the end of the cooling section A4, only the circulation flow path fan 950 may be driven without rotation of the drum 200, thereby allowing only cool air to flow into the drum 200, or the laundry may be left to cool naturally without driving the circulation flow path fan 950.

On the other hand, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may further perform the temperature control step S3 in performing the air supply step S1 and the rotation step S2.

The temperature control step S3 is a step of preventing the temperature inside the drum 200 from rising above a limit temperature Tmax, which may be a temperature at which drying and sterilization of laundry are performed and damage and deformation of laundry due to high heat are prevented.

For example, the limit temperature Tmax may be set to 60 degrees celsius or less.

The temperature control step S3 may be performed throughout the interval of the air supply step S1.

In the temperature control step S3, the driving RPM of the compressor 930 and the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 930 may be controlled such that either the air discharged from the inside of the drum 200 or the air flowing into the inside of the drum 200 does not exceed the limit temperature Tmax.

In the temperature control step S3, the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 930 may be controlled not to exceed a limit temperature set to be lower by a predetermined temperature from the maximum temperature Th of the refrigerant with time.

The limit temperature t_limit of the refrigerant is set to decrease throughout the interval from the warm-up interval A1 to the cooling interval A4. As a result, the temperature of the refrigerant becomes lower in each section, and therefore, the temperature of the drum 200 can be controlled so as not to exceed the limit temperature Tmax.

The limit temperature t_limit of the refrigerant may vary according to time, and may decrease with the lapse of time.

In the temperature control step S3, the compressor 930 may be controlled so that the temperature of the discharged refrigerant does not exceed the limit temperature set at each instant.

In the temperature control step S3, the limit temperature t_limit of the deceleration drying section may be set to be lower than the limit temperature t_limit of the constant-speed drying section, and the limit temperature t_limit of the constant-speed drying section may be set to be lower than the limit temperature t_limit of the deceleration drying section.

In the temperature control step S3, the compressor 930 may control the temperature of the refrigerant by controlling RPM, thereby controlling the temperature of the drum.

Specifically, the first step S31 may be performed when the preheating interval A1 is performed. The compressor 930 may be driven and accelerated to a heating RPM (rpm_h), which may correspond to the maximum RPM achievable by the compressor 930 in the drying process. In this way, the temperature of the refrigerant can be quickly increased in the preheating zone A1.

When the preheating zone A1 ends or enters the constant-speed drying zone A2, the second step S32 is performed. Thus, the compressor 930 may be controlled to be driven at a reduced RPM. In the constant-speed drying section A2, the compressor 930 may be controlled to be driven at a constant-speed RPM (rpm_cr) lower than the heating RPM.

This prevents the temperature of the drum 200 from rising in the constant-speed drying section A2.

The third step S33 may be performed in the deceleration drying section A3. The compressor 930 may be controlled to be driven at a lower deceleration RPM (rpm_fr) than the constant speed RPM.

Thereafter, in the cooling section A4, the compressor 930 may be stopped from driving, and the temperature of the drum 200 may be lowered.

As a result, in the temperature control step S3, since the compressor 930 is driven, the temperature of the refrigerant increases, so that the temperature of the drum may be increased or maintained.

In addition, in the temperature control step S3, since the RPM of the compressor 930 becomes low in each section, the temperature of the drum 200 does not exceed the limit temperature Tmax.

In addition, in the temperature control step S3, since the driving is continuously driven without stopping the driving even if the driving RPM of the compressor 930 becomes low, the refrigerant is compressed, and thus the air flowing into the drum 200 can be heated. Thereby, the temperature of the drum 200 can be maintained without dropping below a predetermined temperature below the limit temperature Tmax.

As a result, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention can prevent laundry damage through the temperature control step S3 in addition to the rotating step S2.

The rotating step S2 may include a tumbling motion, which is a motion of rotating the drum 200 in a direction at a second speed L1, which is a lower speed than the first speed H1 providing the acceleration force of 1G or more.

For example, in case that the diameter of the drum 200 is set to 24 inches or 27 inches, the first speed H1 may correspond to 50RPM or more, and the second speed L1 may correspond to the speed of 50RPM or less.

The first speed H1 may be defined as a speed at which laundry received in the drum 200 is adhered to the inner wall of the drum while the drum 200 is rotated. In the tumbling motion in which the drum 200 rotates at the second speed L1 lower than the first speed H1, the laundry received in the drum 200 is separated from the inner wall of the drum 200 and rotates. Accordingly, laundry received in the drum 200 may be separated and dropped from the inner wall of the drum 200 each time the drum 200 rotates and uniformly exposed to hot air.

In the tumbling motion, the drum 200 may be rotated in any one of a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction as long as it is rotated at the second speed L1. But since the tumbling motion does not change the rotation direction of the drum 200 and is maintained, the load applied to the motor part 500 can be reduced, and the laundry can be prevented from being suddenly twisted or clustered.

Fig. 19 is a view showing a state of laundry in the tumbling motion.

Referring to fig. 19 (a), laundry accommodated in the drum 200 may be disposed at a lower portion of the drum 200 due to its own weight.

Referring to fig. 19 (b), in case that a tumbling motion is performed so that the drum 200 rotates in a clockwise direction, laundry received inside the drum 200 may be attached to an inner wall of the drum 200 and ascend upward by a frictional force with the drum 200 and a centrifugal force generated when the drum 200 rotates at a second speed L1.

The laundry may rise to a position above the rotation center O or center of the drum 200 in a state of being attached to the inner wall of the drum 200.

Referring to 19 (c), since the drum 200 is rotated at the second speed L1 providing a centrifugal force smaller than 1G, the laundry may move more upward than the center of the drum 200, but separate from the inner wall of the drum 200 at a position lower than the high point of the drum 200 and drop toward the lower part of the drum 200.

That is, in the tumbling motion, the laundry received in the drum 200 may be attached to the inner wall of the drum 200 and lifted from the lower portion of the drum 200 to a position above the radius R of the drum 200, but cannot be lifted from the lower portion of the drum 200 to the diameter 2R of the drum 200, and separated from the inner wall of the drum 200.

In other words, in the tumbling motion, since the self load of the laundry is greater than the centrifugal force provided by the drum 200, the laundry is separated from the inner wall of the drum 200 between the center O of the drum 200 and the high point of the drum 200 and falls toward the low point of the drum 200.

In addition, the laundry may be dropped to a position biased to one side with respect to a low point of the drum 200 when the laundry is separated from the inner wall of the drum 200 due to an inertial force rotating together with the drum 200. For example, when the drum 200 rotates in a clockwise direction, the laundry may fall toward the right side of the low point of the drum 200, and when the drum 200 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the laundry may fall toward the left side of the low point of the drum 200.

As a result, the laundry drops from the upper portion of the drum on the side higher than the center O toward the lower portion of the drum on the other side lower than the center O of the drum, so that the distance approaching the diameter 2R of the drum 200 can be maximally moved, and the area or time in which the laundry is exposed to the hot air supplied to the drum 200 can be longer.

In addition, as the laundry is repeatedly attached to and detached from the inner wall of the drum 200, the exposed surface facing the center O of the drum 200 is changed, whereby the entire surface of the laundry can be uniformly exposed to the hot air.

As a result, laundry can be dried most effectively in the tumbling motion. However, as previously described, if only the tumbling motion is continued, shrinkage or abrasion of laundry may occur.

In order to prevent the above problems, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention provides additional drum movement in addition to tumbling movement in order to prevent the abrasion of laundry and shrinkage of laundry as described above. In addition, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may change the drum motion applied to each section or use various combinations.

In other words, in the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention, the rotating step S2 may change the rotation speed of the drum 200 and the rotation direction of the drum 200, the duration of the drum 200, etc. differently at each section of the air supplying step S1. That is, in the rotating step S2 of the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention, various motions of expanding the contracted laundry, or reducing external forces such as mechanical forces and frictional forces applied to the laundry, or minimizing friction of the laundry and the drum may be performed.

In the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention, since the motor part 500 is directly coupled with the drum 200 or directly fastened to the drum 200 through the decelerator 600, the motor part 500 can freely change the rotation direction and rotation speed of the drum 200.

Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may prevent shrinkage and abrasion, damage of laundry by changing at least one of the rotational speed of the drum 200 and the rotational direction of the drum 200, the rotational speed maintaining time of the drum 200 according to the state of laundry and the state of the inside of the drum 200 in the air supplying step S1.

Hereinafter, various movements that the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may perform in the rotating step S2 will be described.

The rotation step S2 may be constituted by the following intervals: the drum is rotated to a high-speed zone H in which the laundry is attached to the inner wall of the drum, and is rotated to a low-speed zone L in which the laundry is dropped from the inner wall of the drum and is rotated.

The high speed zone H is a zone in which the drum 200 rotates at a speed equal to or higher than a first speed H1 at which an acceleration force equal to or higher than 1G is generated, and the low speed zone L corresponds to a zone in which the drum 200 rotates at a second speed L1 lower than the first speed H1 and an acceleration force equal to or lower than 1G is generated.

For example, the second speed L1 of the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may be set to a speed of 50RPM or less, and the first speed H1 may correspond to a speed exceeding 50 RPM.

Fig. 20 is a diagram showing that the rotation step includes a pulling motion.

The rotating step S2 may perform a pulling motion during which the drum 200 is periodically repeatedly rotated at the second speed L1 for a preparation time, and then the drum 200 is rotated at the first speed H1 for an expansion time.

Thereby, the laundry may be stirred while being separated from the inner wall of the drum 200 inside the drum 200 during the preparation time, and may be adhered to the inner wall of the drum 200 during the expansion time to receive an acceleration force of 1G or more.

The swelling time may be set longer than the preparation time. Therefore, the laundry is subjected to the acceleration force of 1G or more for a longer time than the stirring time.

During the expansion time, the laundry adheres to the inner wall of the drum 200 by receiving the acceleration force of 1G or more, and thus expands along the inner circumferential surface of the drum 200. In addition, since the laundry is separated from the inner wall of the drum 200 during the preparation time after the expansion time, other areas of the laundry may be attached to the inner wall of the drum 200 at the next expansion time.

In the pulling movement, the laundry may be repeatedly pulled for the expansion time, a portion to be pulled during the preparation time is changed, and then pulled again for the expansion time. As a result, an effect of expanding the contracted laundry or pulling the laundry in advance to prevent contraction can be obtained in the pulling motion.

On the other hand, the pulling motion may be added during the rotation waiting time at the third speed L2. In the pulling movement, a rotation waiting time period at the third speed L2 may be configured between acceleration from the second speed L1 to the first speed H1. Thereby, the drum 200 may be decelerated to a third speed L2 while being rotated at a second speed L1, and then accelerated to the first speed H1. As a result, the acceleration force applied to the laundry in the drum 200 increases, and the laundry may be more expanded.

In the pulling movement, the third speed L2 may be set after the first speed H1 is decelerated to the second speed L1 during the rotation waiting time. Thereby, the drum 200 may be decelerated to the second speed L1 while rotating at the first speed H1, and then decelerated to the third speed L2. As a result, the time for which the rotation speed of the drum 200 is decelerated from the first speed H1 to the third speed L2 increases, and the falling impact applied to the laundry may be reduced. In addition, a load applied to the motor part 500 for braking the drum 200 can be reduced.

On the other hand, the waiting time may be set smaller than the swelling time. As a result, in the pulling motion, it is possible to secure a longer time for which the laundry is pulled.

In addition, the waiting time may be set to be smaller than the preparation time. As a result, it is possible to minimize abrasion of the laundry with each other or friction with the drum 200 by minimizing the time in which the laundry is agitated during the pulling motion.

On the other hand, the swelling time may be set to be the same as or greater than the sum of the preparation time and the waiting time. Thus, in the pulling motion, the time for which the laundry is pulled may be set to be greater than or equal to the time for which the laundry is stirred.

As a result, in the pulling motion, the high speed section H and the low speed section L may be periodically configured.

In addition, the low speed section L may be further divided into two speed sections. Therefore, three or more speed sections may be periodically repeated in the pulling motion.

In the pulling motion, the following process may be periodically repeated, the drum 200 rotates at the first speed H1 for an expansion time period, then decelerates to the second speed L1 and rotates for a preparation time period, then decelerates again to the third speed L2 and rotates for a waiting time period, and then accelerates again to the first speed H1 and rotates for an expansion time period.

As a result, the pulling motion may pass through an acceleration section of 1G or more twice during one cycle.

Referring to fig. 21 (a), the laundry inside the drum 200 may be configured in an initial length D1 state.

Referring to fig. 21 (b), the laundry may adhere to the inner wall of the drum 200 during the preparation time of the drum 200 being rotated at the second speed L1 or during the waiting time of the drum being rotated at the third speed L2, and be stirred at the drum 200 so as not to rise.

Referring to fig. 21 (c), the drum 200 may be accelerated to a first speed H1 rotation. Accordingly, the expansion time during which the drum 200 maintains the first speed H1 may be set to be longer than the time for one rotation of the drum. Thereby, the laundry may be rotated attached to the inner wall of the drum 200 and expand along the inner wall of the drum 200.

Referring to fig. 21 (D), the laundry may be expanded to an expanded length D2 longer than the initial length D1. In addition, the laundry is continuously subjected to the expansion force due to repetition of the above process, so that it may not shrink, and may be expanded again even if it shrinks.

Fig. 22 is a diagram showing that the rotating step includes a flipping motion.

The rotating step S2 may include a tilting motion of rotating the drum 200 in two directions at a second speed L1 which is a lower speed than the first speed H1 capable of providing an acceleration force of 1G or more.

In the flipping motion, the tumbling motion may be performed in one direction during a prescribed time and performed again in the other direction during the prescribed time.

The prescribed time may correspond to a time for one rotation of the drum. In this case, the flipping motion may correspond to rotating the drum 200 one turn in the clockwise direction at the second speed L1, and rotating the drum 200 one turn in the counterclockwise direction at the second speed L1. In this case, the drum 200 may agitate the laundry in one direction and then the other direction to generate an effect of turning over the laundry.

As a result, the surface of the laundry exposed to the inside of the drum 200 is changed, whereby it is possible to prevent a specific area of the laundry from being overdried, and to guide uniform drying.

The tumbling motion may be intermittently performed at a specific time point while the tumbling motion is performed. In addition, the rotational direction of the tumbling motion may be changed when the tumbling motion is performed.

As a result, the surface of the laundry contacting the drum 200 is changed during the tumbling motion, so that the areas of the laundry that are not dried can be intensively dried during the subsequent tumbling motion.

On the other hand, the predetermined time may correspond to a time for which the drum rotates N turns. For example, the predetermined time may be set to a time of two minutes or more. In this case, the flipping motion may correspond to periodically changing the direction of the tumbling motion.

Thus, if only a specific portion of the laundry is in contact with the inner wall of the drum 200 or exposed to the inside of the drum 200 as the drum rotates in one direction, the laundry is turned over or stirred as the drum rotates in the other direction, so that other portions of the laundry may be in contact with the inner wall of the drum 200 or exposed to the inside of the drum 200.

As a result, the laundry inside the drum 200 may be uniformly exposed to the hot wind.

Of course, the reversing movement may include a case where the drum 200 rotates in one direction at the first speed H1 for a predetermined time while rotating in the other direction at the first speed H1 for a predetermined time. In this case, it is possible to change the region of the laundry attached to the inner wall of the drum 200 and concentrate the hot wind supplied to the region of the laundry.

The reversing movement may include rotating the drum 200 in one direction for a predetermined time at the first speed H1 and in the other direction for a predetermined time at the second speed L1.

Referring to fig. 23 (a), the drum 200 may rotate in a clockwise direction. At this time, in the case where the drum 200 rotates at the second speed L1, the laundry may rise to a height higher than the center o of the drum and then drop downward like a tumbling motion.

Referring to fig. 23 (b), the clockwise rotation of the drum 200 may be decelerated and instantaneously stopped or started to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. The laundry received in the drum 200 may be distributed under the central o region of the drum.

Referring to fig. 23 (c), the drum 200 may be rotated in an accelerated manner in a counterclockwise direction. At this time, in the case where the drum 200 rotates at the second speed L1, an effect that the tumbling motion is performed in the opposite direction can be derived. The laundry may rise to a region higher than the center O of the drum and then drop downward. At this time, since the rotation direction is opposite to that in the clockwise direction, a portion of the laundry different from that in the clockwise direction may be attached to the inner wall of the drum 200 and ascend. Thereby, the laundry may be agitated inside the drum 200 in a state in which at least a portion thereof is reversed.

As a result, the region different from the region when the drum 200 rotates in the clockwise direction is more exposed to the hot wind, so that the laundry can be dried uniformly.

The flipping motion may periodically repeat the motions of fig. 21 (a) to 21 (C). In addition, as shown, the drum 200 may also rotate at a first speed H1 during the flipping motion.

The rotating step S2 may include a hanging motion which is a motion of periodically performing a high speed section H in which the laundry is rotated in a state of being attached to the drum inner wall and a low speed section L in which the laundry is dropped from the drum inner wall and rotated.

The suspension movement may be a movement in which the drum 200 is rotated at a second speed L1 lower than the first speed H1 for a second time period after the drum 200 is rotated at the first speed H1 for a first time period periodically and repeatedly. That is, in the suspension movement, the drum 200 may be periodically rotated in a high speed section H and a low speed section L.

The suspension movement may correspond to a movement in which the drum 200 is repeatedly rotated to generate an acceleration force of 1G or more during a first time period, the drum 200 is rotated to generate an acceleration force of 1G or less during a second time period, and the drum 200 is again rotated to generate an acceleration force of 1G or more during the first time period.

The hanging movement may correspond to repeatedly rotating the drum 200 at the first speed H1 during a first time, and then performing the tumbling movement during a second time.

When the hanging movement, the laundry may be attached during the first time period in which the drum 200 is rotated, then separated from the drum 200 during the second time period and stirred or dropped, and then again attached to be rotated during the first time period.

Thus, in the tumbling motion, it may be set that the laundry is adhered to the inner wall of the drum 200 for a longer time, so that friction generated at the inner wall of the drum 200 can be minimized. In addition, when the laundry is attached to the inner wall of the drum 200 to rotate, the laundry is fixed to the drum 200, and thus the laundry can be prevented from rubbing or wearing against each other.

In order to prevent the laundry from being damaged, the hanging movement may be set such that the first time is greater than the second time or at least the same as the second time.

That is, the hanging movement may prevent the laundry from unnecessarily generating friction by sufficiently securing a time for the laundry to be attached to the inner wall of the drum 200 to rotate.

As a result, in the suspension movement, the duration of the high speed section H may be set to be equal to the duration of the low speed section L, and the total time of the high speed section H may be set to be greater than the total time of the low speed section.

In the hanging movement, the hot wind may be intensively supplied to the region of the laundry 200 that is not in contact with the inner wall of the drum 200 during the first time as the drum 200 rotates at the first speed H1. In addition, as the drum 200 is rotated at the second speed L1 for the second time, the laundry 200 may be separated from the drum and agitated, and then other areas of the laundry 200 may be not brought into contact with the inner wall of the drum 200 during the next first time to change the area where hot wind is concentrated.

As a result, in the hanging movement, it is possible to prevent a specific area of the laundry from being excessively dried.

On the other hand, in the hanging movement, not only the laundry is sufficiently fixed to the inner wall of the drum 200, but also the drum may be rotated at least one turn or more in the high speed section H and at least one turn or more in the low speed section L in order to secure a time for sufficiently stirring the laundry inside the drum 200.

In other words, the first time may be set to a time for one or more rotations of the drum 200, and the second time may be set to a time for one or more rotations of the drum 200. For example, the first time may be set to two minutes or more, and the second time may be set to two minutes or more.

The suspension movement may be further configured with a preparation section during a third time rotated at a third speed L2 lower than the second speed L1 between the high speed section H and the low speed section L. In the suspension movement, the drum 200 may be decelerated to the third speed L2 while decelerating from the first speed H1 to the second speed L1.

This prevents the laundry attached to the inner wall of the drum 200 and receiving an acceleration force of 1G or more from being additionally applied with a strong external force again. In addition, in the case where the motor part 500 is decelerated due to forced braking or the like, the deceleration time of the drum 200 can be ensured longer by decelerating to the third speed L2, so that the maximum magnitude of the acceleration force or the external force applied to the laundry can be reduced. Accordingly, friction, fuzzing, etc. can be prevented from being generated during the separation of the laundry from the drum 200.

On the other hand, the third time may be set to be longer than the time for one rotation of the drum, thereby enabling to secure a time for which laundry is properly distributed before being lifted up in the drum 200 and stirred. But the third time may be set to be smaller than the second time so that drying can be prevented from being unnecessarily delayed.

The third speed L2 may be a speed that prevents the laundry from rising further upward than the central O region of the drum.

As a result, the suspension movement may include repeating a process in which the drum 200 rotates at a first speed H1 during a first time, then decelerates to a third speed L2 lower than the second speed L1, then rotates for a third time, then accelerates to the second speed L1 and rotates for the second time.

In the suspension movement, the rotation direction of the drum can be maintained without change. This can prevent excessive load from being applied to the motor unit 500 or excessive stirring and friction of the clothes.

In another aspect, the first time of the suspension movement may be set to be greater than the expansion time of the pulling movement. In addition, the second time may be set to be longer than the preparation time for the pulling motion. This is because the hanging movement is a movement that guides laundry to be sufficiently exposed to hot wind while preventing friction from being applied to the laundry, not preventing expansion of the laundry.

That is, the ratio of the high-speed section H in the suspension movement may be smaller than the ratio of the high-speed section H of the pulling movement.

In addition, the time or period for reaching the next high speed section H after passing through the high speed section H in the suspension movement may be set longer than the time or period for reaching the next high speed section H after passing through the high speed section H in the pulling movement.

On the other hand, the same point of the pulling motion and the hanging motion may be that both the high speed section H and the low speed section L are periodically performed.

But the high speed section H of the pulling motion may be larger than the low speed section L, and the high speed section H of the hanging motion may be larger than the high speed section H of the pulling motion.

This is because the pulling motion is a motion focused on expanding laundry, and the hanging motion is a motion focused more on drying and stirring of laundry.

Therefore, the low-speed section L of the suspension movement may be set to be larger than the high-speed section H of the pulling movement.

Referring to fig. 25 (a), the drum 200 may be rotated at a second speed L1 in a clockwise direction for a second period of time. At this time, the laundry may be repeatedly agitated as it repeatedly rises to a height corresponding to the central region O of the drum or to a position higher than the central region O of the drum and falls. The interval during which the second time is rotated at the second speed L1 may correspond to a tumbling motion.

Referring to fig. 25 (b), the drum 200 may be rotated in a clockwise direction at a first speed H1 for a first period of time. The laundry is attached to the inner wall of the drum 200 during the first time period.

At this time, the drum 200 may be slowly accelerated from the second speed L1 to the first speed H1. For example, the time for changing from the low speed section L to the high speed section H in the suspension movement may be set to about one minute. Thereby, it is possible to prevent damage of the laundry by preventing excessive force from being applied to the laundry.

In this process, the region of the laundry not adhered to the inner wall of the drum 200 may be intensively dried by being exposed to the hot wind. In addition, since the laundry is attached to the inner wall of the drum 200 and continuously rotated, an effect of being fixed to the drum 200 can be derived. Accordingly, the laundry and the drum 200 do not move relative to each other, so that the laundry can be prevented from rubbing against the drum 200.

In addition, since the entire laundry is rotated while being adhered to the inner wall of the drum 200, the laundry is not rubbed with each other, and a portion and the remaining portion of the laundry are not rubbed with each other. As a result, the laundry can be prevented from being fluffed or the like by preventing friction between the laundry.

Referring to fig. 25 (c), the drum 200 may be decelerated again to the first speed H1. At this time, the drum 200 may be decelerated to a third speed L2 to rotate. As a result, not only the laundry is reliably separated from the inner wall of the drum 200, but also the laundry can be continuously agitated during the rotation of the drum 200. As the laundry is agitated, a region contacting the inner wall of the drum 200 may be exposed to the inside of the drum 200 to be dried.

On the other hand, the time for decelerating from the first speed H1 to the third speed L2 may be set to about one minute.

The drum 200 may accelerate again to the second speed L1 and rotate for a second period of time. The laundry may be continuously exposed to the hot air and repeatedly agitated as it rises to a position above the central region o of the drum 200 and falls. Accordingly, the laundry may be dried with higher efficiency than when the drum rotates at the first speed H1.

Referring to fig. 25 (d), the drum 200 may be accelerated again to the first speed H1 and rotated for a first period of time.

The hanging movement may intermittently perform the tumbling movement by repeating the process, thereby drying the laundry. In addition, the hanging movement may cause the laundry to adhere to the inner wall of the drum 200 during the tumbling movement, thereby enabling the friction of the laundry during the stirring process or the time of friction with the drum to be greatly reduced.

As a result, the hanging movement can obtain drying of laundry and protection of laundry.

The hanging movement may be performed in the constant-speed drying section A2. In the case where the dryness of the laundry approaches the target value b that enters the deceleration drying section, friction or abrasion of the laundry can be prevented when the hanging movement is performed in the constant-speed drying step A2.

In addition, the suspension movement may be performed in the deceleration drying section A3. Since the deceleration drying section A3 is a section in which the dryness of laundry exceeds the target value b, the laundry is easily fluffed or worn. Therefore, the hanging movement may be performed for protecting the laundry in the deceleration drying section.

At this time, it is preferable that the suspension movement is performed at the end of the deceleration drying section. This is because the hanging movement is a movement set to a long section of fixing laundry to the inner wall of the drum 200, and thus it may not be possible to ensure drying of laundry at the initial execution of the deceleration drying section, and the deceleration drying section is finally in a state where laundry is most dried, thereby greatly necessitating protection of laundry from abrasion and damage.

Therefore, the hanging movement may be performed when the dryness of the laundry reaches a specific value d in the deceleration drying section, and performed to the end of the deceleration drying section.

Fig. 26 is a diagram showing that the rotation step includes a shaking motion.

The rotating step S2 may include a shaking motion periodically changing the rotation speed of the drum in two or more areas.

The shaking motion may include periodically rotating the drum at a first speed H1 at which the laundry adheres to the inner wall of the drum and at a second speed L1 slower than the first speed H1.

The shaking motion may provide an acceleration difference to the laundry by a rotation speed difference of the drum, thereby guiding the laundry to be separated from each other according to weight.

On the other hand, the shaking motion may include periodically varying a rotation speed of the drum 200 at least two speeds of a first speed H1 at which the laundry is attached to an inner wall of the drum, a second speed L1 lower than the first speed H1, and a third speed L2 lower than the second speed L1.

For example, the shaking motion may include sequentially changing the speed of the drum 200 at the second speed L1, the first speed H1, and the third speed L2.

In addition, the shaking motion may include repeatedly performing the speed of the drum 200 at the second speed L1, the first speed H1, and the third speed L2.

That is, the shaking motion may include repeatedly accelerating the drum 200 to the first speed H1 while rotating at the second speed L1, and then decelerating the drum 200 to the third speed L2.

In the shaking motion, the drum 200 may be accelerated from the third speed L2 to the second speed L1 while being accelerated, and then may be accelerated from the second speed L1 to the first speed H1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent excessive load from being generated at the motor part 500 by preventing the drum 200 from being rapidly accelerated, and to prevent laundry from being pressed against the inner wall of the drum 200.

In addition, in the shaking motion, the drum 200 may be decelerated from the first speed H1 to the third speed L2 at one time, thereby maximizing the difference in inertial force of the laundry attached to the inner wall of the drum 200. Thereby, in the shaking motion, a large acceleration change occurs when the drum 200 decelerates, and the laundry may be separated from each other due to the difference in inertial force.

In the shaking motion, the laundry is repeatedly separated from the drum 200, and the separated laundry is again uniformly distributed and attached to the drum 200 to rotate.

As a result, the rocking motion is a motion in which the acceleration from the low speed section L to the high speed section H is repeated, and the deceleration from the high speed section to the low speed section L is performed, and the deceleration from the high speed section H to the low speed section L can be performed more than before the acceleration.

On the other hand, since the shaking motion is aimed at providing an acceleration variation to the inside of the drum 200 so that the laundry forms an inertia force difference, it is more advantageous that the period of the speed variation is shorter.

However, if the speed is set to be periodically changed during one rotation of the drum, a sufficient time for the laundry to be separated cannot be secured, and an excessive load may be generated at the motor part 500.

Thus, in the shaking motion, the time for the speed change of the drum may be set to be greater than the time for one rotation of the drum and less than one minute. For example, the period may be set to between 10 seconds and 20 seconds.

During the shaking motion, all speed cycles of the drum 200 may be completed within one minute.

In the shaking motion, an acceleration force applied to the laundry is changed by a change in the rotational force of the drum 200, thereby generating a difference in inertial force acting on the laundry. The heavy laundry among the laundry is sensitive to the change in the rotation speed of the drum 200 due to the large inertia force, and the light laundry is insensitive to the change in the rotation speed of the drum 200 due to the small inertia force. Accordingly, the heavy laundry and the light laundry may be separated from each other with a change in the rotation speed of the drum 200 by the difference in the inertial force.

As a result, heavy laundry can rise and fall inside the drum 200 and is often exposed to hot air as the drum 200 rotates, and the rise and fall impact and the position change amount are small with respect to the rotation of the drum 200 for light laundry, so that friction between laundry and drum is small, and damage to laundry can be prevented.

Therefore, the shaking motion has an advantage in that it is possible to separate laundry according to a load difference of the laundry and perform a drying process.

On the other hand, if the laundry is dried to a low degree so as to approach a wet state or contain moisture, the weight is greater, and thus such laundry is sensitive to a change in the rotational speed of the drum 200. In addition, if the drying degree of the laundry is high so as to approach a dry state or the moisture content is low, the weight is lighter, and thus the laundry is insensitive to the variation of the rotation speed of the drum 200.

Therefore, the shaking motion also has an effect of separating more dried laundry and less dried laundry according to a difference in drying degree of the laundry.

Since laundry containing relatively much moisture is responsive to a rotational change of the drum 200, it may be frequently exposed to hot wind passing through the drum 200 as continuously rising and falling at high inside the drum 200. Thereby, in the shaking motion, laundry having low dryness or requiring further drying can be dried more.

Since laundry containing relatively little moisture is insensitive to a rotation variation reaction of the drum 200, an ascending amplitude inside the drum 200 is small, and thus an area exposed to hot wind is small. Thus, in the shaking motion, the dryness is high or the drying rate of laundry that does not need to be dried may be low.

In the shaking motion, even if the rotation speed of the drum 200 is changed in a plurality of sections, the duration of each section may be the same.

As a result, in the shaking motion, even when the air supply step S1 is further performed to perform drying of laundry requiring further drying, laundry, in which drying is sufficiently performed, can be prevented from being excessively dried.

On the other hand, the suspension movement may be performed after the tumbling movement, and the shaking movement may be performed after the suspension movement. This is to sort laundry dried through the tumbling motion and the hanging motion.

In addition, the shaking motion may be performed before the rolling motion. This is because, since the rolling motion is a motion of drying while continuously stirring laundry, an effect of the rolling motion is maximized when the rolling motion is performed after separating laundry further requiring the drying from the laundry sufficiently performing the drying.

On the other hand, since the shaking motion includes the high-speed section H, it is preferable that the constant-speed drying section in which the laundry still retains moisture is performed. Of course, it is also possible to perform the drying in the deceleration drying section for classifying the dried laundry and the laundry further requiring the drying.

Referring to fig. 27 (a), three types of laundry may be contained inside the drum 200.

Although the total of three laundry items are exposed to the hot air at the same time, the degree of drying may be different according to the material of the laundry items or the configuration inside the drum 200.

For example, the laundry 1 may be in a wet state in which drying is not sufficiently performed so as to retain a large amount of moisture. The laundry No. 2 may be in a dry state where drying is sufficiently performed so that there is little moisture. The laundry No. 3 may be in a state that a portion of drying is completed.

Referring to fig. 27 (b), when the drum rotates at the second speed L1, such as a tumbling motion, all laundry inside the drum 200 may rise along the drum 200 and fall from a lower position than a high point of the drum 200 to be exposed to hot air.

In this process, the laundry 1, 2,3 forms a similar track and is agitated inside the drum 200. The rotation at said second speed L1 may be performed for a degree of 10 seconds or 20 seconds.

Referring to fig. 27 (c), the drum 200 may be accelerated to a first speed H1 or accelerated to an overspeed. In this case, since the laundry of No. 1 has a large weight, it may be attached to the inner wall of the drum 200 to rotate together with the drum 200. At this time, the laundry 3 is lighter in weight than the laundry 1, and thus the sensitivity to the speed variation of the drum 200 may be lower than the laundry 1. Therefore, a force that is disposed close to the inner wall of the drum 200 and adheres to the inner wall of the drum 200 is less than No. 1.

On the other hand, since the laundry of No.2 has a weight smaller than that of the laundry of No. 1 and No. 3, it is less sensitive to the speed change reaction of the drum 200. Therefore, it may fall similarly to a trajectory rotated at the second speed L1, instead of being directly attached to the inner wall of the drum 200.

As a result, the trajectories of the laundry 1, 2, 3 are changed according to the change in the rotation speed of the drum, so that the laundry 1, 2, 3 can be separated.

Thereafter, the laundry 1 may be repeatedly lifted up and down in the drum 200 according to the rotation speed of the drum 200, the lifting height of the laundry 3 may be smaller than the lifting height of the laundry 1, and the lifting height of the laundry 2 may be smaller than the lifting height of the laundry 3. Accordingly, the laundry No. 3 may be more exposed to hot air than the laundry No. 2, and the laundry No. 1 may be more exposed to hot air than the laundry No. 3.

In addition, the friction of the laundry No.3 with the drum 200 may be smaller than the friction of the laundry No.1 with the drum 200, and the friction of the laundry No.2 with the drum 200 may be smaller than the friction of the laundry No.3 with the drum 200.

Therefore, as in the No. 3 laundry, as the laundry approaches a dry state, fuzzing may be generated even with small friction, but fuzzing may be prevented by a shaking motion.

In addition, as in the case of the clothing item 1, in the wet state, fuzzing is not likely to occur even if relatively large friction occurs, so that a large drop impact may occur, and instead, more exposure to hot air may be possible with movement with a large drop.

Fig. 28 is a diagram showing that the rotation step includes a rolling motion.

The rotating step S2 may include a rolling motion, which is a motion of dropping or rolling the laundry from a position lower than the center O of the drum.

The rolling motion is a motion that rotates the drum 200 at a lower speed than the second speed L1 at which the tumbling motion is generally performed.

Thereby, in the rolling motion 200, a range or a locus of movement of the laundry inside the drum 200 is minimized, and a mechanical force applied to the laundry is also minimized, whereby damage or abrasion of the laundry can be prevented.

In addition, in the rolling motion 200, as laundry is repeatedly rolled, the entire area of the laundry is uniformly exposed to the inside of the drum 200, whereby drying can be effectively performed.

On the other hand, since the rolling motion 200 is to minimize the physical force applied to the laundry, the rotation direction of the drum 200 may not be changed in the rolling motion, and the rotation speed of the drum 200 may also be maintained at a constant speed.

Since the falling impact applied to the laundry in the rolling motion is the weakest, it may be mainly performed in the deceleration drying section A3.

In the rolling motion 200, the laundry may rise by friction with the inner wall of the drum 200 as the drum 200 rotates. But the laundry cannot rise from the low point of the drum 200 to a position higher than the radius R of the drum to be separated from the inner wall of the drum 200 and roll toward the low point of the drum 200.

In the rolling motion 200, the drum may rotate at a protection speed L4 lower than the second speed L1.

The protection speed L4 may be set to a speed that prevents the laundry from moving to an upper portion than the center of the drum.

Thereby, the laundry continuously rolls and moves from the lower point of the drum 200 to only one side and repeatedly rolls, whereby the falling impact is small, and thus the laundry can be prevented from shrinking.

On the other hand, in the rolling motion 200, laundry is agitated only in a lower region and not in an upper region O of the drum 200, and thus may frequently come into contact with the dryness sensor. Accordingly, the change in dryness of laundry may be more accurately sensed through the rolling motion 200.

The time for performing the rolling motion may be set to be longer than the time for performing the shaking motion. This is because the shaking motion is a motion of classifying laundry, and the rolling motion is a motion of drying laundry.

In addition, preferably, the rolling motion is performed after the shaking motion. This is because only the laundry to be dried is separated from the laundry on which the drying is performed by the shaking motion, it is possible to more uniformly expose to the hot air in the rolling motion.

The shaking motion may be suitably performed in the constant-speed drying section A2, and the rolling motion may be suitably performed in the deceleration drying section A3.

Referring to fig. 30 (a), the rotating step S2 may include a stopping motion of intermittently rotating the drum 200.

The stopping movement may repeatedly perform the rotation of the drum 200 and the stopping of the drum, and the rotation direction of the drum 200 may be changed in the case where the drum 200 rotates. In the stopping movement, the drum 200 may wait for a stopping time and then rotate in the other direction while rotating in one turn.

In the stopping movement, it may be set that the time for which the drum 200 rotates is less than the time for which the drum 200 is stopped. For example, in the stopping movement, the time for which the drum is stopped may be set to 3 times or more the time for which the drum is rotated.

Thus, the stopping movement can minimize energy consumption. In addition, the laundry is not continuously pressurized by the self load during the stop motion, and the position of the laundry is changed, thereby preventing wrinkles from being formed.

Referring to fig. 30 (b), in the stopping movement, the drum may be in a stopped state.

Thereafter, as the drum 200 is intermittently rotated in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction, the laundry is changed in position, or the laundry is stirred, or the laundry is turned over.

In the stopping movement, the speed at which the drum 200 rotates may be set to the protection speed L4.

The following describes a section in which various motions of the rotating step S2 can be optimally performed.

As described above, in the laundry treating apparatus according to the present invention, since the driving part is directly fastened to the drum 200 to rotate the drum 200, the rotation direction, rotation time, and rotation speed of the drum 200 can be freely changed.

Accordingly, the rotating step S2 of the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention does not rotate the drum 200 at a constant speed in one direction, but may perform various motions that change the rotational speed and the rotational direction of the drum 200 according to the dryness of laundry and the state inside the drum 200.

In the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention, in order to protect laundry in all drying courses and options, various motions may be applied at each section of the air supply step. In addition, in the course of the protection of the protective clothing, various motions may be applied at each section of the air supply step.

Specifically, in the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention, the rotating step S2 may be constituted by the following sections: a high speed section H for rotating the drum such that the laundry is attached to the inner wall of the drum 200; and a low speed section L for rotating the drum such that the laundry drops from the inner wall of the drum and rotates: in the air supply step S1, the ratio of the high speed section H to the low speed section L may be set differently for each specific section, thereby protecting the cloth, preventing shrinkage of the cloth, and performing the drying process.

Fig. 31 is a diagram showing a rotating step S2 applicable to the preheating section in the air supply step S1.

The preheating zone A1 is a zone where laundry in a wet state is accommodated in the drum 200, and corresponds to a drying process start zone. Accordingly, the laundry located in the preheating zone A1 may be in a state of being contracted by water. That is, the fibers of the clothing may be in a state of being contracted from the first diameter D1 to the second diameter D2.

If the drying process is performed in this process, the laundry is brought into the form of the fiber having the second diameter D2 even if the voids C are not collapsed, and dried in a contracted state.

In order to prevent the above-mentioned problem, in the preheating section A1, the rotating step S2 may perform a pulling motion. Thereby, the laundry can be expanded in the preheating zone A1, and the fiber diameter of the laundry can be restored to be close to the first diameter D1.

On the other hand, the laundry in the wet state may be agglomerated with each other as it goes through the dehydration process. At this time, since the pulling movement repeatedly performs the first speed H1 and the second speed L1, the laundry is pulled while being stirred, so that the laundry agglomeration can be also eliminated.

The pulling movement may be performed during the preheating interval A1. The preheating section A1 is a state in which the refrigerant of the compressor is not heated to a specific temperature TC or a state in which the driving RPM of the compressor is not increased to a maximum RPM or a specific RPM, so that the energy consumed by the laundry treating apparatus does not exceed a limit range even if the speed of the drum is periodically and rapidly changed due to the pulling motion.

In the preheating zone A1, since air flows in while being heated, the laundry can be dried in the pulling motion.

On the other hand, the pulling movement and the hanging movement may be performed together. In addition, the suspension movement may be performed after the pulling movement. This makes it possible to more reliably ensure, together with the expansion of the laundry, the agitation and the change of position of a part of the laundry during the pulling movement.

As a result, since the preheating section A1 is configured with the pulling motion or the hanging motion, the high speed section H and the low speed section L can be repeatedly configured in the rotating step S2. The total time of the high-speed section H may be set to be longer than the total time of the low-speed section L. In addition, the duration of the high speed section H may be set to be longer than the duration of the low speed section L.

In the pulling movement, when a section rotating at the second speed L1 in the low speed section L is defined as a constant speed section and a section rotating at the third speed L2 is classified as a deceleration section, it can be considered that the preheating section A1 is periodically provided with the high speed section H, the constant speed section, and the deceleration section.

In the pulling movement, since the waiting time is set to be smaller than the preparation time, it can be regarded that the duration of the deceleration section is smaller than the duration of the constant-speed section.

Since the preheating zone A1 is configured such that the high speed zone H is greater than the low speed zone L, it can be regarded as a zone in which expansion of laundry is more concentrated than agitation of laundry.

Fig. 32 is a diagram showing a rotating step S2 that can be used in the constant-speed drying section A2 in the air supplying step S1.

When the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor reaches a specific temperature TC or the driving RPM of the compressor reaches a specific RPM, the preheating section A1 ends and the constant-speed drying section A2 is executed.

When the preheating zone A1 ends and enters the constant-speed drying zone A2, the pulling motion may end.

The constant-speed drying section A2 is a section in which the maximum hot air flows into the drum 200, and corresponds to a section in which drying of laundry is performed formally. Accordingly, it is preferable that the laundry inside the drum 200 is maximally exposed to the hot wind.

Accordingly, the tumbling motion may be performed first in the constant-speed drying section A2. Accordingly, by performing the tumbling motion after the end of the drawing motion, laundry may rise to a position above the center O of the drum in an expanded state and separate from the drum 200 at a position lower than the high point of the drum 0 to fall, so that it may be maximally exposed to the hot wind for a long time.

In addition, as the laundry repeatedly falls and rises, the range in which the clusters and the adhesion to the inner wall of the drum 200 can be eliminated also changes, whereby the entire laundry can be uniformly exposed to the hot air.

On the other hand, when the tumbling motion is performed for a prescribed time, the laundry received in the drum 200 may be classified into laundry sufficiently dried by hot air and laundry requiring further drying.

If only the tumbling motion is repeatedly performed in this state, the gap C of the laundry, in which the drying is sufficiently performed, may collapse and shrink to the third diameter D3 due to the falling impact, and the surface may be damaged due to friction with the inner wall of the drum 200 or other laundry.

To prevent the above-mentioned problem, the rotating step S2 preferably performs the shaking motion. By the shaking motion, laundry, which is sufficiently dried, and laundry, which is required to be further dried, can be separated.

As a result, the laundry to be further dried can be separated from the laundry to be sufficiently dried and intensively exposed to the hot wind while moving together with the movement of the drum 200.

In addition, since laundry, which sufficiently performs drying, does not fall together with laundry, which needs the drying, a falling impact is not applied together. In addition, since the load becomes small due to the evaporation of the moisture, it does not sensitively react to the movement of the drum 200, so that it is possible to prevent excessive drying and also to prevent friction or abrasion.

The tumbling motion is a motion of intensively drying the laundry, and the shaking motion may correspond to a motion of separating a portion of the laundry, which is required to be further dried, and additionally drying the laundry.

Thus, the duration of the shaking motion may be less than the duration of the tumbling motion. The shaking motion is to separate laundry sufficiently dried, and thus may be performed at the end of the constant-speed drying section A2.

The shaking motion may be performed when the dryness of the laundry reaches a target value b. That is, in the constant-speed drying section A2, the constant-speed drying section A2 may be executed from when the dryness of the laundry reaches the target value b until before the constant-speed drying section A2 ends and enters the deceleration drying section A3.

In the constant-speed drying section A2, the shaking motion may be performed after the tumbling motion is performed. In addition, the duration of the shaking motion may be set to be smaller than the duration of the tumbling motion.

This is because the shaking motion is a motion of classifying the dried laundry, and the tumbling motion is a motion for drying the laundry.

On the other hand, the suspension movement may also be performed between performing the tumbling movement and performing the shaking movement.

Accordingly, when the hanging movement is performed, the high speed section H may derive an effect of performing the tumbling movement, and the low speed section L may prevent friction between the laundry and the drum 200 or friction between the laundry since the laundry is adhered to the inner wall of the drum 200 and fixed to the drum 200.

That is, the hanging movement may be performed in order to prevent damage or friction of the laundry when the tumbling movement is performed and drying of the laundry is performed to some extent. It can be considered that the suspension movement is a pause period in the tumbling movement in which agitation of the laundry is stopped.

The hanging movement may be performed when the constant-speed drying section A2 passes a reference time. That is, if the tumbling motion is performed and the reference time passes, the hanging motion may be performed.

The reference time may be set to a time when the dryness of the laundry corresponds to the reference value a, and may be set to a time when 20 minutes elapses after entering the constant-speed drying section.

The hanging movement may be performed for a prescribed time when the dryness of the laundry reaches a reference value a lower than a target value b in the constant-speed drying section A2.

The target value b of the dryness may be 80% or more, and the reference value a may be 70%, for example.

In addition, the suspension movement may be performed after the tumbling movement is completed, but may also be intermittently performed in the tumbling movement.

In addition, the suspension movement may be performed after the end of the tumbling movement to before the shaking movement is performed.

On the other hand, since the hanging movement is also a movement that protects the laundry and dries the entire laundry, it may also be performed before the shaking movement. The duration of the suspension movement may be set to be less than the duration of the tumbling movement and greater than the duration of the shaking movement.

As a result, in the constant-speed drying section A2, eventually, the shaking motion may always end, and the tumbling motion and the hanging motion may be performed before.

Of course, the shaking movement may also be performed before the suspension movement. That is, this is because it may be more effective to intensively dry a specific area of laundry while preventing abrasion of the laundry by the hanging motion in a state in which the laundry is entirely classified by the shaking motion.

Of course, the duration of the shaking movement may also be set to be greater than the duration of the hanging movement. This is because, although the shaking motion is also a section for classifying laundry, a high speed section H and a low speed section L are included, and thus laundry may be exposed to hot air in a classified state.

Accordingly, since the shaking motion may intensively dry laundry to be dried while classifying the laundry, the duration may be longer than that of the hanging motion or the tumbling motion.

As a result, since the tumbling motion is performed in the constant-speed drying section A2, even if the hanging motion and the shaking motion are performed, the low-speed section L may be set to be larger than the high-speed section H.

That is, unlike the heating and drying section A1, a larger number of low-speed sections L are arranged and distributed in the constant-speed drying section A2, and thus can be regarded as a section centering on stirring of laundry and hot air exposure.

On the other hand, since the shaking motion is disposed in the constant-speed drying section A2, it can be considered that the rotating step S2 is performed in the constant-speed drying section A2 further including a variable section in which the rotation speed of the drum is variable, and can be considered that the variable section is performed until the deceleration drying section (FALLINGRATE PERIOD) of the laundry is entered.

In the case where the shaking motion is performed when the dryness reaches the target value b, it may be considered that the variable section starts when the dryness reaches the reference value a after the constant-speed drying section is entered.

In the case where the shaking motion is controlled with time instead of the dryness, it can be considered that the variable section starts when the reference time elapses after the constant-speed drying section is entered.

Since the shaking motion includes a section rotating at an overspeed faster than a section rotating at a speed of the first speed H1 or more, it can be considered that the variable section includes a section in which the rotation speed of the drum is faster than the high-speed section H and a section in which the rotation speed is slower than the high-speed section H. Further, it is considered that the variable section is periodically arranged with the fast section, the high-speed section H, and the slow section.

On the other hand, in the case of performing a shaking motion after the tumbling motion, it can be considered that the low-speed zone L is arranged before the start of the variable zone. Since the tumbling motion is performed longer than the shaking motion, it can be considered that the duration of the low-speed section L in the constant-speed drying section A2 is set to be greater than the duration of the variable section.

In the case where a suspension motion is additionally arranged between the rolling motion and the rolling motion, it is considered that the rotating step S2 periodically and repeatedly arranges the high speed section H and the low speed section L between the low speed section L and the variable section.

Fig. 33 is a diagram showing a rotating step S2 that can be applied in the deceleration drying section in the air supplying step S1.

When the constant-speed drying section A2 ends, the deceleration drying section A3 may be performed. It is considered that the deceleration drying section A3 is a section in which a considerable amount of moisture is removed from the laundry in the constant-speed drying section A2 and the vaporization heat is insufficient, and thus the temperature inside the drum 200 or the temperature of the air discharged to the circulation flow path portion 930 starts to rise.

That is, it can be considered that the deceleration drying section A3 starts at a time point when the temperature inside the drum 200 or the temperature of the air discharged to the circulation flow path 930 reaches the reference temperature TR in the constant-speed drying section A2.

The temperature rise in the drum 200 means that the laundry is sufficiently dried. Therefore, it can be considered that the deceleration drying section A3 starts when the dryness of the laundry reaches the set value c higher than the target value b.

The set value c may correspond to 80%.

The deceleration drying section A3 is a section in which most of the laundry is sufficiently dried, but a part of the laundry or a part of the area in the laundry is in a state of not being dried.

Therefore, if the rotating step S2 has more high-speed sections H like the tumbling motion in the deceleration drying section A3, a strong falling impact may be generated to the dried laundry, resulting in the void C collapsing and shrinking.

In order to prevent the above-mentioned problem, the rotating step S2 may perform a rolling motion when entering the deceleration drying section A3.

Since the amplitude of the lifting of the laundry inside the drum 200 in the rolling motion is much smaller than that of the tumbling motion, it is possible to minimize the falling impact on the laundry.

In addition, in the rolling motion, since laundry continuously falls from a position lower than the radius R of the drum while being moved in the rotation direction of the drum and is agitated, the surface of the laundry can be uniformly exposed to hot air.

Therefore, not only the portion of the laundry, which needs to be further dried, but also the portion, which sufficiently performs drying, is dried by the rolling motion, and the falling impact is minimized, so that shrinkage can be prevented.

The rolling movement may be performed for a set time period, and may be performed until a suspension movement described later is performed.

If the deceleration drying section A3 is performed, the laundry is further dried, so that a portion requiring further drying may become very small. Even if the rolling motion is performed in this condition, a falling impact is generated to the dried laundry, and friction is generated between the dried laundry and the drum 200 and the laundry, so fuzzing or abrasion may occur.

Therefore, the hanging movement can also be performed in the deceleration drying section A3. The hanging movement performed in the deceleration drying section A3 may be set such that the high speed section H is much larger than the low speed section L.

Thereby, the laundry 200 may be fixed to the inner wall of the drum 200 in the hanging motion so that falling from the drum 200 or friction between the drum 200 and laundry can be prevented.

In addition, even in the hanging movement, the portion exposed to the inside of the drum 200 may be continuously dried. Accordingly, in the hanging movement, the laundry can be protected while drying is performed.

The hanging movement may be performed when the dryness of the laundry reaches a specific value d slightly smaller than the finish value e and higher than the set value c.

In particular, the suspension movement may be performed after the rolling movement. I.e. the suspension movement may be performed at the end of the rolling movement.

In addition, the execution time of the scroll motion may be set to be longer than the execution time of the suspension motion. This is because the drying efficiency of the rolling motion is higher than that of the hanging motion, which may exhibit an effect of protecting the cloth when the laundry is dried above a specific value d.

The deceleration drying section A3 may perform a rolling motion at an initial stage and a hanging motion at a final stage. As a result, the deceleration drying section A3 can be set to be faster in the latter stage than in the initial stage of the rotation speed of the drum. That is, the drum may be rotated in the deceleration drying section such that the laundry is attached to the inner wall of the drum by a hanging motion at the end of the rotation.

Further, it is considered that the drum whose deceleration drying section is set to the initial section rotates slower than the final section.

In addition, the drum may be rotated in the deceleration drying section such that the laundry may be separated from the inner wall of the drum or rolled by the rolling motion in an initial stage.

On the other hand, since the constant-speed drying section A2 ends with a shaking motion, and the decelerating drying section A3 starts with a rolling motion, it can be considered that the rolling motion is performed after the shaking motion.

On the other hand, in terms of the speed of the rotating step S2, the deceleration drying section A3 is considered to have a longer duration of the low speed section L than the high speed section H because the rolling motion is performed longer than the hanging motion.

In the case where the decelerating drying interval A3 performs the rolling motion, it may be considered that the low speed interval L of the rotating step S2 is set such that the laundry falls from the lower portion of the height of the drum center.

In the case where the decelerating drying interval A3 performs the rolling motion and the hanging motion, it can be considered that if the low speed interval L ends in the rotating step S2, the high speed interval H is arranged until the completion of the decelerating drying interval A2 or the high speed interval H and the low speed interval L are periodically and repeatedly arranged.

Based on the speed of the rotating step S2, it can be considered that the suspension movement is set from after the start of the high speed section H, the duration of which is equal to or longer than the duration of the low speed section L, to the completion of the deceleration drying section A2.

Since the suspension movement is performed when the dryness fraction reaches a specific value d, it can be considered that the time point at which the high speed section H starts in the rotation step S2 is set to the time point at which the dryness fraction reaches a specific value d higher than the set value c.

Fig. 34 is a diagram showing a rotating step S2 applicable to the cooling section in the air supply step S1.

If the dryness of the laundry reaches a completion value e higher than the set value c in the deceleration drying section, the cooling section A4 may be entered. The completion value e may be set to 90% or more of dryness.

It can be considered that the cooling section A4 is a section in which the inside of the drum 200 is at a higher temperature than the outside air although the drying of the laundry is completed, and thus the user may be exposed to the hot air when the door is opened.

Therefore, in the cooling section A4, the heat exchanging part 900 is not driven, and only the circulation blower fan 950 is driven, so that the laundry can be cooled.

Since the drying of the laundry is almost completed in the cooling zone A4, it is preferable that the drum 200 is not rotated as much as possible. This is because there is a risk of laundry damage even if friction between the drum 200 and the laundry is small in the cooling zone A4.

Even if only air flows into the drum 200 in the cooling zone A4, the laundry placed at a low point of the drum 200 is pressed by a load, and wrinkles are generated at various positions of the laundry.

Therefore, the stopping movement can be performed in the cooling section A4. That is, by the stopping movement, the drum 200 intermittently rotates, whereby wrinkles can be prevented from being generated in the laundry.

As a result, in the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention, the rotating step S2 performed at the air supply section S1 selectively performs any one of a plurality of drum movements according to time, thereby preventing damage and shrinkage of laundry and completing drying of laundry.

The present invention can be modified and implemented in various forms, and thus the scope of protection is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Therefore, if the modified embodiment includes the constituent elements of the claims of the present invention, it should be regarded as belonging to the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method of a laundry treating apparatus,

The laundry treating apparatus includes:

A drum accommodating laundry;

A driving unit for rotating the drum;

a circulation flow path for providing a space for circulating air of the drum or condensing moisture contained in the air; and

A heat exchange unit configured to heat the air flowing through the circulation flow path;

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The control method of the laundry treating apparatus includes:

an air supply step of supplying the heated air to the drum through the heat exchange part; and

A rotating step of rotating the drum in the execution of the air supplying step;

The rotating step comprises a suspension movement,

In the hanging movement, a high speed section in which the laundry is rotated in a state of being attached to the drum inner wall and a low speed section in which the laundry is dropped from the drum inner wall and rotated are periodically performed.

2. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

In the high speed region, the drum rotates at least once,

In the low speed region, the drum rotates at least once.

3. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

The duration of the high-speed section is set to be equal to or greater than the duration of the low-speed section.

4. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

The air supply step is divided into a preheating section, a constant-speed drying section and a deceleration drying section,

When the temperature of the refrigerant in the heat exchange part in the preheating section reaches a reference value or the heat exchange part operates for a reference time, the constant-speed drying section is entered,

The suspension movement is performed in the constant-speed drying section.

5. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein,

And when the dryness of the clothes in the constant-speed drying section reaches a reference value, executing the hanging movement.

6. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein,

The rotating step further comprises a tumbling motion,

The tumbling motion rotates the drum such that the laundry falls from a position lower than a high point of the drum,

In the constant-speed drying section, the hanging movement is performed after the tumbling movement.

7. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein,

The suspension movement is performed when the tumbling movement has been performed for a reference time.

8. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein,

The rotating step further comprises a shaking motion that varies the rotational speed of the drum,

In the constant-speed drying section, the suspension movement is performed before the shaking movement.

9. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein,

The hanging movement is ended when the dryness of the laundry reaches a target value.

10. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein,

When the hanging movement has been performed for a certain time in the constant-speed drying section, the hanging movement is ended.

11. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

When the discharge temperature of the circulation flow path rises to above the reference temperature or the dryness of the clothes reaches the set value, the clothes enter the deceleration drying section,

The suspension movement is performed in the deceleration drying section.

12. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein,

And when the dryness of the laundry in the decelerating drying interval reaches a specific value, performing the hanging movement.

13. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein,

When the suspension movement is performed, it is continued until the end of the deceleration drying section.

14. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein,

The rotating step comprises a rolling motion,

The rolling motion rotates the drum such that the laundry falls from a position lower than the center of the drum,

In the deceleration drying section, the suspension movement is performed after the rolling movement.

15. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 14, wherein,

The execution time of the suspension movement is set to be shorter than the execution time of the scroll movement.

16. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 14, wherein,

The rolling motion is performed from a point of time when the deceleration drying section is entered until the dryness of the laundry reaches a target value.

17. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

The rotating step comprises a pulling motion,

In the pulling motion, a high-speed section in which the laundry is rotated in a state of being attached to the drum inner wall and a low-speed section in which the laundry is dropped from the drum inner wall and rotated are periodically performed, and the period of the pulling motion is shorter than that of the hanging motion,

The suspension movement is performed after the pulling movement is performed.

18. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 17, wherein,

The pulling motion is set such that the high speed interval is greater than the low speed interval,

The high-speed section of the suspension movement is set to be larger than the high-speed section of the pulling movement.

19. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 18, wherein,

The low-speed section of the suspension movement is set to be larger than the high-speed section of the pulling movement.

20. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 18, wherein,

The low speed interval of the pulling motion includes:

A constant speed section in which the drum rotates such that the laundry falls between a high point of the drum and a center of the drum; and

A deceleration section in which the rotation speed of the drum is slower than the constant speed section;

The duration of the deceleration section is shorter than the duration of the constant speed section.

21. A control method of a laundry treating apparatus,

A drum accommodating laundry;

A driving unit for rotating the drum;

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The control method of the laundry treating apparatus includes:

The rotating step comprises a suspension movement,

In the suspension movement, a high speed section for rotating the drum at a first speed for a first time period and a low speed section for rotating the drum at a second speed lower than the first speed for a second time period are repeatedly performed.

22. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 21, wherein,

The first time is set equal to or greater than the second time.

23. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 22, wherein,

The suspension movement is configured with a preparation interval during a third time period between the high speed interval and the low speed interval rotating at a third speed lower than the second speed.

24. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 23, wherein,

The third time is set to be smaller than the second time.

25. The method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus according to claim 23, wherein,

The third time is set to be longer than the time for one rotation of the drum.