EP4606946A1

EP4606946A1 - Laundry processing device and control method of laundry processing device

Info

Publication number: EP4606946A1
Application number: EP23892082.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Youngsoo Kim; Doohyun Kim; Woocheol KANG; Eonhwa HWANG
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2022-11-18
Filing date: 2023-11-17
Publication date: 2025-08-27
Also published as: CN120476232A; EP4606946A4; WO2024107020A1; KR102834316B1; KR20240073505A

Abstract

The present application relates to a laundry processing device including: a drum providing a space in which laundry is accommodated; a circulation channel providing a passage for guiding air discharged from the drum to the drum; a heat exchanger assembly provided with a circulation fan for moving air along the circulation channel, a first heat exchanger for dehumidifying air passing through and moving along the circulation channel, and a second heat exchanger extending through the first heat exchanger; and a guide provided in the circulation channel to be capable of guiding air introduced into the circulation channel to the lower area of the first heat exchanger.

Description

Technical Field

The present application relates to a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus.

Background

A laundry treating apparatus is a generic term for apparatuses capable of washing a washable object (a washing target) represented by laundry, drying a dryable object (a drying target), and washing and drying the target.
An existing laundry treating apparatus capable of drying includes a drum that provides a space in which the laundry is accommodated, a circulation flow channel that guides air discharged from the drum to the drum, a fan that moves air along the circulation flow channel, and a heat exchanger assembly that sequentially performs dehumidification and heating of air introduced into the circulation flow channel (Publication No. 10-2021-0063873 ).
The heat exchanger assembly disposed in the above-described structure includes a first heat exchanger that cools air inside the circulation flow channel and a second heat exchanger that heats air that has passed through the first heat exchanger. Because air discharged from the drum condenses while passing through the first heat exchanger, a water collector for collecting condensed water and a drainage flow channel for guiding water to the water collector are disposed under the first heat exchanger inside or outside the circulation flow channel.
However, the above-described structure has a problem in that when the heat exchanger assembly is stopped, condensed water does not fall from the first heat exchanger to the drainage flow channel, but remains as it is in a form of accumulating on a lower portion of the first heat exchanger. In addition, the first heat exchanger may include a plurality of fins to increase an area of contact with air flowing inside the circulation flow channel, and in this case, condensed water may accumulate in a form of connecting fins to each other like a bridge in a narrow space between the fins adjacent to each other at the lower portion of the first heat exchanger because of a water bridge phenomenon. Condensed water accumulated on the first heat exchanger in the form of connecting the fins to each other does not easily evaporate and remains on the first heat exchanger.
As described above, in the above-described structure, condensed water (residual water) remaining on the first heat exchanger may contaminate entire interior of the circulation flow channel as various contaminants such as mold and bacteria accumulate over time. When the heat exchanger assembly is operated in a state in which the circulation flow channel is contaminated, there is a problem in that the contaminants remaining inside the circulation flow channel are introduced into the drum by the fan and also cause odor or contamination of the drying target.

Summary

Technical Problem

A purpose of the present application is to provide a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus that may minimize remaining condensed water on a first heat exchanger that condenses air introduced into a circulation flow channel.
A purpose of the present application is to provide a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus that may remove condensed water remaining on a lower area of a first heat exchanger by allowing air introduced into a circulation flow channel to intensively pass through the lower area of the first heat exchanger.
A purpose of the present application is to provide a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus that may discharge residual water accumulated on a lower area of a first heat exchanger to a drainage space under the first heat exchanger.
A purpose of the present application is to provide a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus that may prevent condensed water remaining on a first heat exchanger from moving to a second heat exchanger disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger by a flow of air introduced into a circulation flow channel.
A purpose of the present application is to provide a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus that may minimize splashing of washing water to other places other than a first heat exchanger when washing the first heat exchanger by spraying washing water from a washing nozzle disposed on the first heat exchanger.

Technical Solutions

The present application provides a laundry treating apparatus including a drum that provides a space where laundry is accommodated, a circulation flow channel that provides a path for guiding air discharged from the drum to the drum, a heat exchanger assembly including a circulation fan that moves air along the circulation flow channel, a first heat exchanger that dehumidifies air passing therethrough while moving along the circulation flow channel, and a second heat exchanger that heats air that has passed through the first heat exchanger, and a guide that is located inside the circulation flow channel and guides air introduced into the circulation flow channel to a lower area of the first heat exchanger.
The guide may be disposed in a plurality of modes capable of adjusting a flow channel cross-sectional area for air passing through the first heat exchanger, and the plurality of modes may include a first mode where a cross-sectional area of air introduced into the first heat exchanger is maximized, and a second mode where a cross-sectional area of air introduced into the first heat exchanger is minimized.
The first mode may be set to a mode where both an upper area of the first heat exchanger and the lower area of the first heat exchanger are opened, and the second mode may be set to a mode where at least a portion of the lower area of the first heat exchanger is opened.
The guide may include a first guide that is disposed in front of the first heat exchanger and adjusts a cross-sectional area of a front surface of the first heat exchanger.
The first guide may include a first induction body that covers at least a portion of the front surface of the first heat exchanger and is pivotable about one end thereof.
The first induction body may have an area size covering 60% to 90% of the cross-sectional area of the front surface of the first heat exchanger.
The one end of the first induction body may be disposed in parallel with an upper end of the first heat exchanger.
An opposite end of the first induction body may be disposed in parallel with a location spaced apart from the upper end of the first heat exchanger by 60% to 90% of a vertical dimension of the first heat exchanger.
The first guide may include a first auxiliary body extending at a predetermined angle from one end of the first guide and extending, and a first shaft disposed on the first auxiliary body, positioned at a higher point than the first induction body, and forming a pivoting shaft of the first induction body.
The guide may further include a second guide that is disposed at the rear of the first heat exchanger and controls a movement path of air discharged from the first heat exchanger.
The second guide may include a second induction body that covers at least a portion of a rear surface of the first heat exchanger and is pivotable about one end thereof.
The second induction body may have one end disposed in parallel with an upper end of the first heat exchanger; and have the same area size as a first induction body.
The second induction body may have one end disposed in parallel with an upper end of the first heat exchanger, and have an area size covering an entirety of the rear surface of the first heat exchanger.
The second guide may include a second auxiliary body extending at a predetermined angle from one end of the second guide, and a second shaft disposed on the second auxiliary body, positioned at a higher point than the second induction body, and forming a pivoting shaft of the second induction body.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a support that divides the circulation flow channel into a mounting space where the heat exchanger assembly is disposed and a drainage space where condensed water generated in the first heat exchanger is discharged, and the support may include a support body supporting a bottom of the first heat exchanger and a support body communication hole defined in the support body.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a stopper protruding from the support body and positioned at the rear of the first heat exchanger, wherein the stopper prevents contact between the second guide and the first heat exchanger.
The support may include an auxiliary body extending from the support body in a direction of the second heat exchanger, and an auxiliary body communication hole defined in the auxiliary body to allow air in the drainage space to be discharged to a space between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a water collector that is in communication with the drainage space and stores condensed water therein, a washing nozzle that is disposed in the mounting space and discharges condensed water to the first heat exchanger, and a drainage pump that transfers condensed water stored in the water collector to the washing nozzle.
The washing nozzle may be positioned between the first guide and the second guide.
The present application provides a method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet, a drum that is disposed inside the cabinet and accommodates laundry therein, a circulation flow channel that guides air discharged from the drum to the drum, a heat exchanger assembly including a circulation fan that moves air along the circulation flow channel, a first heat exchanger that dehumidifies air moving along the circulation low channel, and a second heat exchanger that heats air that has passed through the first heat exchanger, and a guide that is located inside the circulation flow channel and guides air introduced into the circulation flow channel to a lower area of the first heat exchanger, the method including a drying step of operating the circulation fan and disposing the guide in a first mode of opening both an upper area and the lower area of the first heat exchanger, and a residual water removal step of operating the circulation fan and disposing the guide in a second mode of opening only the lower area of the first heat exchanger to guide air introduced into the circulation flow channel to the lower area of the first heat exchanger.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a support that supports the lower area of the first heat exchanger and divides the circulation flow channel into a mounting space where the heat exchanger assembly is disposed and a drainage space where condensed water generated in the first heat exchanger is discharged, a washing nozzle that discharges condensed water to the upper area of the first heat exchanger, a washing valve that opens and closes the washing nozzle, a water collector that is in communication with the drainage space and stores condensed water therein, and a drainage pump that transfers condensed water stored in the water collector to the washing nozzle, and the method may further include a cleaning step of stopping the circulation, disposing the guide in the second mode, operating the drainage pump, and opening the cleaning valve, after the drying step is completed.

Advantageous Effects

The present application provides the laundry treating apparatus and the method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus that may minimize remaining condensed water on the first heat exchanger that condenses air introduced into the circulation flow channel.
Further, the present application provides the laundry treating apparatus and the method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus that may remove condensed water remaining on the lower area of the first heat exchanger by allowing air introduced into the circulation flow channel to intensively pass through the lower area of the first heat exchanger.
Further, the present application provides the laundry treating apparatus and the method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus that may discharge residual water accumulated on the lower area of the first heat exchanger to the drainage space under the first heat exchanger.
Further, the present application provides the laundry treating apparatus and the method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus that may prevent condensed water remaining on the first heat exchanger from moving to the second heat exchanger disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger by the flow of air introduced into the circulation flow channel.
The present application provides the laundry treating apparatus and the method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus that may minimize the splashing of washing water to other places other than the first heat exchanger when washing the first heat exchanger by spraying washing water from the washing nozzle disposed on the first heat exchanger.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIGS. 1 and 2 are an example of a laundry treating apparatus.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a laundry treating apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a view illustrating that a heat exchanger assembly, a support, and a guide are disposed inside a circulation flow channel.
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a circulation flow channel, a support, and a drainage in a state in which a duct cover is opened.
FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a washing member, a drainage, and a flow channel regulator in a state in which a duct cover is closed.
FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a washing member, a drainage, and a flow channel regulator.
FIG. 8 is an example of a flow channel regulator.
FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a support and a guide disposed in a circulation flow channel.
(a) in FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a state in which a guide is opened, and (b) in FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a state in which a guide is closed.
FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an air flow inside a circulation flow channel in a state in which a guide is opened.
FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an air flow inside a circulation flow channel in a state in which a guide is closed.
FIG. 13 is a mimetic diagram illustrating that a washing nozzle is opened in a state in which a guide is closed.
FIG. 14 is an example of a control method in which a residual water removal step is performed after a drying step.
FIG. 15 is an example of a control method in which a cleaning step and a residual water removal step are performed after a drying step.

Best Mode

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A configuration or a control method of an apparatus to be described below is only for describing embodiments of the present disclosure, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Further, reference numerals used in the same manner throughout the present document represent the same components.
A specific term used in the present document is only for convenience of description and is not used as a limitation of the illustrated embodiment.
To describe the present disclosure, the description will be made based on a spatial rectangular coordinate system by an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis orthogonal to each other. Each axial direction (an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction) means both directions in which each axis extends. Attachment of a '+' sign before each axial direction (a +X-axis direction, a +Y-axis direction, and a +Z-axis direction) means a positive direction that is one of both directions in which each axis extends. Attachment of a "-" sign before each axial direction (a -X-axis direction, a -Y-axis direction, and a -Z-axis direction) means a negative direction that is the other one of both directions in which each axis extends.
Expressions referring to directions such as "front (+X)/rear (-X)/left (+Y)/right (-Y)/up (+Z)/down (-Z)" to be described below are defined along the XYZ coordinate axes, but are intended to describe the present disclosure such that the present disclosure may be clearly understood, and each direction may be defined differently depending on a reference.
Use of terms in which expressions such as 'first, second, and third' are attached before components to be mentioned below is only to avoid confusion of the components referred to, and is irrelevant to an order, an importance, or a master-slave relationship between the components. For example, an invention including only the second component without the first component may be implemented.
A singular expression used in the present document includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1, a laundry treating apparatus 100 may include a cabinet 1. Inside the cabinet 1, a drum (an accommodation portion) 17 that is disposed inside the cabinet 1 and accommodates a drying target (hereinafter, laundry) therein, and a circulation flow channel 2 and a heat exchanger assembly 3 that remove moisture from the laundry in the accommodation portion 17 may be disposed.
The cabinet 1 may include a front surface 11 positioned at a front side of the laundry treating apparatus 100, a rear surface 12 positioned at a rear side of the laundry treating apparatus 100, and a base 13 forming a bottom surface of the laundry treating apparatus 100.
A control panel (not shown) may be disposed on the front surface 11. The control panel may include a display 114 that displays a control command selectable by a user and an input part 113 that allows the user to select the control command displayed on the display 114.
Referring to FIG. 2, the front surface 11 is equipped with a cabinet inlet 111 for introduction and withdrawal of the laundry. The cabinet inlet 111 may be closed by a door 115 rotatably fixed to the front surface 11.
Referring to FIG. 3, the accommodating portion may be equipped as the drum (the accommodating portion) 17 rotatably disposed inside the cabinet 1. The drum 17 may be equipped as a cylindrical drum body 171 having open front and rear surfaces.
To rotatably support the drum body 171, the cabinet 1 may include a front panel 14 rotatably supporting the front surface of the drum body 171 and a rear panel 15 rotatably supporting the rear surface of the drum body 171.
The front panel 14 may include a front panel body 141 fixed to the front surface 11 or to the cabinet 1, a drum inlet 142 defined to extend through the front panel body, and a drum exhaust hole 143 that discharges air inside the drum body 171 to the circulation flow channel 2.
The drum inlet 142 may be connected to the cabinet inlet 111. Accordingly, when the door 115 opens the cabinet inlet 111, the user may introduce the laundry into the drum body 171 or may withdraw the laundry from the drum body 171 via the cabinet inlet 111 and the drum inlet 142.
To filter air discharged from the drum body 171, a filter detachable from the front panel body 141 may be disposed in the drum exhaust hole 143.
The rear panel 15 may include a rear panel body 151 fixed to the rear surface 12 or the cabinet 1, and a drum supply hole 152 defined to extend through the rear panel body 151.
The drum body 171 is rotatable by a driver 18 disposed in the cabinet 1. The driver 18 may be composed of a drum motor 181 fixed to the base 13 and a belt 182 connecting a rotation shaft of the drum motor with a circumferential surface of the drum body 171.
To stir the laundry inside the drum body 171, a lifter 172 may be further disposed inside the drum body 171. The lifter 172 may be formed as a board protruding from the circumferential surface of the drum body 171 toward a center of rotation of the drum body.
Referring to FIG. 4, the circulation flow channel 2 may include a first duct (an exhaust duct) 21 connected to the drum exhaust hole 143, a second duct (a supply duct) 22 connected to the drum supply hole 152, and a third duct (a connection duct) 23 connecting the first duct 21 with the second duct 22. The connection duct 23 may be fixed to the base 13.
The first duct 21 may provide a passage for guiding air inside the drum 17 to the connection duct 23 when a circulation fan 36 to be described later is operated. That is, the first duct 11 may allow the drum 17 and the connection duct 23 to be in communication with each other, and when the circulation fan 36 is operated, air inside the drum 17 may be introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 via the first duct 21.
The second duct 22 may provide a passage through which air flowing inside the third duct (the connection duct) 23 may be supplied to the drum 17 when the circulation fan 36 is operated. The second duct 22 may allow the drum 17 and the connection duct 23 to be in communication with each other, and when the circulation fan 36 is operated, air inside the connection duct 23 may be supplied to the drum 17 via the second duct 22.
A heat exchanger assembly 3 may be disposed in the third duct (the connection duct) 23. Air introduced into the connection duct 23 via the first duct 21 from the drum 17 may pass through the heat exchanger assembly 3 disposed in the connection duct 23, and may be supplied to the drum 17 again via the third duct 23.
In addition, air introduced into the connection duct 23 may pass through the heat exchanger assembly 3 and undergo condensing and heating processes. Condensed water generated in these processes may be separately collected in a water collector via a drainage flow channel to be described later, and the air from which the condensed water is removed may be supplied to the drum 17 again.
The heat exchanger assembly 3 may include the circulation fan 36 that moves air along the circulation flow channel 2, and a heat pump 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 that sequentially dehumidifies and heats air flowing along the circulation flow channel 2.
The circulation fan 36 may include a fan impeller 361 that is positioned inside the circulation flow channel 2 and a fan motor 362 that is positioned outside the circulation flow channel 2 and rotates the fan impeller 361
The heat pump may include a refrigerant pipe 33 that forms a flow channel through which a refrigerant circulates, a compressor 34 that allows the refrigerant to move along the refrigerant pipe 33, a first heat exchanger 31 that is fixed to the refrigerant pipe 33 and transfers heat of air introduced into the connection duct 23 to the refrigerant, a second heat exchanger 32 that is fixed to the refrigerant pipe 33 and transfers heat of the refrigerant to air that has passed through the first heat exchanger 31, and an adjustment valve 35 that adjusts a pressure of the refrigerant.
The connection duct 23 may include a duct body 231 fixed to the base 13 and a duct cover 232 forming a top surface of the duct body.
The first heat exchanger 31 is disposed to be farther apart from the circulation fan 36 than the second heat exchanger 32. When the circulation fan 36 is operated, air may flow in a direction of the first duct 21, the connection duct 23, and the second duct 22, and in this case, air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 may first pass through the first heat exchanger 31. In other words, the first heat exchanger 31 may be disposed upstream of the second heat exchanger 32 based on the movement of air introduced into the circulation flow channel, so that introduced air may first pass through the first heat exchanger 31.
In addition, a support 4 supporting a bottom surface of the first heat exchanger 31 may be disposed in the circulation flow channel 2. The support 4 may divide interior of the connection duct 23 into a mounting space 233 in which the first heat exchanger 31 is located and a drainage space 235 for guiding condensed water to the outside of the circulation flow channel.
In this regard, the division may be used to mean that the first space (the mounting space) 233 and the second space (the drainage space) 235 are functionally distinguished from each other, and is not necessarily limited to a meaning of physically dividing or blocking them from each other. The reason for dividing the circulation flow channel into the mounting space and the drainage space as described above may be to functionally place the heat exchanger assembly 3 in the mounting space so that air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 passes through the heat exchanger assembly 3 and then is supplied to the drum 17 again, and to provide a passage for removing condensed water, which was discharged from air that has passed through the heat exchanger assembly 3, from the circulation flow channel 2 separately from air in the drainage flow channel.
When the heat exchanger assembly 3 is operated, air inside the drum 17 is introduced into the connection duct 23 via the first duct 21 by the circulation fan 36. Air introduced into the connection duct 23 is introduced into a front surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31. Air introduced into the front surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 is condensed in the process of exchanging heat with the first heat exchanger 31 (that is, condensed water may be generated in the first heat exchanger 31). Air from which condensed water is removed while passing through the first heat exchanger may flow to the second heat exchanger 32 via a rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31. Air from which condensed water is removed by the first heat exchanger 31 is heated while passing through the second heat exchanger 32. Heated air may be supplied to the drum 17 again via the second duct 22.
In one example, condensed water generated in the first heat exchanger 31 may move to the drainage space 235 via a support body communication hole 411 to be described later. Condensed water moved to the drainage space 235 may move along a drainage flow channel 236 forming a bottom surface of the drainage space 235 and then pass through a drainage hole 237 to be discharged to the outside of the circulation flow channel 2. Condensed water discharged to the outside of the circulation flow channel 2 may move to a storage 61 to be described later and be stored therein.
More specifically, condensed water generated in the first heat exchanger 31 and air flowing inside the circulation flow channel may be introduced into the drainage space 235. In this regard, condensed water in the drainage space may be discharged to the water collector via the drainage flow channel 236 and the drainage hole 237, and air may be introduced into the mounting space via an extension body communication hole 421, then be combined with air discharged from the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31, and then be re-supplied to the drum 17 via the second duct 22.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the mounting space 233 of the duct body 231 may include a first mounting portion 233a in which the first heat exchanger 31 is mounted, a second mounting portion 233b in which the second heat exchanger 32 is mounted, and a third mounting portion 233c in which the circulation fan 36 is accommodated. Air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 may be supplied to the drum 17 again while passing through the heat exchanger assembly 3 in the mounting space.
The drainage space 235 is positioned under the mounting space 233, and the drainage flow channel 236 is disposed in the drainage space 235. The drainage space 235 may be a space through which condensed water generated in the first heat exchanger 31 moves.
Specifically, air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 may be condensed while passing through the first heat exchanger 31 and discharge condensed water. Condensed water may pass through the support body communication hole 411 to be described later and be discharged to the drainage space 235. Condensed water drained into the drainage space 235 may be collected in the storage 61 via the drainage flow channel 236 and the drainage hole 237 to be described later and discharged to the outside of the circulation flow channel 2. The drainage hole 237 may allow the drainage flow channel 236 and the storage 61 to be in communication with each other.
That is, moisture of the drying target accommodated in the drum 17 passes through the circulation flow channel 2 together with air inside the drum 17. Moisture discharged from air may move to the storage 61 via the drainage space 235, move to the outside of the circulation flow channel 2, and then be discharged to a drainage tank 62. In this regard, air from which moisture is removed may be introduced into the drum 17 again, thereby drying the drying target accommodated in the drum 17.
As shown in FIG. 9, a guide 9 may be disposed in the mounting space 233. The guide 9 may adjust a flow direction of air passing through the first heat exchanger 31 by adjusting a cross-sectional area of the circulation flow channel 23. Specifically, the guide 9 may adjust the direction of air passing through the first heat exchanger 31 by adjusting a flow channel cross-sectional area of the mounting space 233 (preferably, the first mounting portion 233a) in which the first heat exchanger 31 is mounted. Accordingly, the guide 9 may concentrate air introduced into the circulation flow channel 23 to a lower area of the first heat exchanger 31.
The guide 9 may include a first guide 91 disposed in front of the first heat exchanger 31 and a second guide 92 disposed at rear of the first heat exchanger 31. In addition, each of the first guide 91 and the second guide 92 may be pivotable about one end thereof. To this end, the guide 9 may further include a guide driver 93 that provides power required for the pivoting of the first guide 91 and the second guide 92.
The guide 9 may be pivotable about one end thereof, and may adjust a cross-sectional area (a flow channel cross-sectional area) of the front surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 and/or the rear surface of the first heat exchanger 31, thereby adjusting a flow of air passing through the first heat exchanger 31 (air flowing into and out of the first heat exchanger 31).
In addition, the guide 9 may execute a plurality of modes of adjusting the cross-sectional area of the front surface 311 and/or the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31. The plurality of modes may include a first mode in which the front surface 311 and the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31 are completely opened, and a second mode in which at least portions of the front surface 311 and the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31 are covered to adjust the movement direction of air passing through the first heat exchanger 31. The operation of the guide 9 and the flow of air resulted therefrom will be described in detail later.
Referring to FIG. 5, the support 4 may include a support body 41 on which the bottom surface of the first heat exchanger 31 is supported, an extension body 42 extending from the support body toward the second heat exchanger 32, and fasteners 43 and 44 fixing the support body 41 and the extension body 42 to the connection duct 23.
The support body communication hole 411 is defined in the support body 41 such that condensed water discharged from air passing through the first heat exchanger 31 is able to be discharged to the drainage space. As described above, condensed water generated in the first heat exchanger 31 may fall from the lower portion of the first heat exchanger 31 and be discharged from the mounting space 233 to the drainage space 235 via the support body communication hole 411.
The extension body communication hole 421 may be defined in the extension body 42 to allow air introduced into the drainage space to flow to the mounting space. The extension body through hole 421 may be defined in the extension body 42 to be positioned between the first heat exchanger 31 and the second heat exchanger 32. This is to prevent condensed water that has not moved to the drainage space 235 via the support body through hole 411 from moving to the second heat exchanger 32 along an airflow inside the connection duct 23. The extension body through hole 421 may be a means for discharging air inside the drainage space 235 to the mounting space 233.
The base 13 may include a water collector 6 in which condensed water generated when air passing through the first heat exchanger 31 is condensed is stored.
The water collector 6 may be located outside the circulation flow channel 2. In this case, the water collector 6 may be connected to the drainage space 235 via the drainage hole 237 defined to extend through the connection duct 23, and the drainage flow channel 236 may be formed on a bottom surface of the connection duct 23 and guide condensed water to the drainage hole 237.
For natural drainage of condensed water (for condensed water to move from the drainage flow channel to the water collector by gravity), a bottom surface of the water collector 6 may be located at a point lower than the drainage hole 237, and the drainage flow channel 236 may be formed as an inclined surface inclined downward toward the drainage hole 237.
In one example, the base 13 may include the storage (a first water collector) 61 for storing condensed water generated when air passing through the first heat exchanger 31 is condensed. FIG. 5 illustrates a case in which the storage 61 is located outside the connection duct 23 as an example. In this case, the storage 61 and the connection duct 23 may be connected to each other via the drainage hole 237.
As described above, a bottom surface of the storage 61 may be located at a point lower than a bottom surface of the first mounting portion 233 such that condensed water falling from the first heat exchanger 31 to the bottom surface of the first mounting portion 233 is naturally drained to the storage (the first water collector) 61. Condensed water discharged from the first heat exchanger 31 may be drained to the drainage space, move along the drainage flow channel 236, and then be introduced into the storage 61 via the drainage hole 237. In this regard, the drainage flow channel 236 may be inclined downward toward the drainage hole 237 such that condensed water easily moves to the drainage hole 237.
That is, condensed water generated in the first heat exchanger 31 may fall into the drainage space 235, move in a direction of the drainage hole 237 along the drainage flow channel 236, and flow into the storage 61 via the drainage space 239 and be collected.
As shown in FIG. 6, condensed water collected in the storage 61 may move to the drainage tank 62 via a drainage 63 and a flow channel regulator 7 and be removed from the cabinet, or may be supplied to the first heat exchanger 31 via a washing nozzle of a washing member 5. This will be described later.
The laundry treating apparatus 100 may include the washing member 5 that washes the first heat exchanger 31. The washing member 5 may include washing nozzles 51, 52, and 53 disposed adjacent to an upper portion of the first heat exchanger 31. As will be described later, when the washing member 5 including the washing nozzles 51, 52, and 53 is operated, washing water may be discharged to the first heat exchanger 31 via the washing nozzles 51, 52, and 53 . Here, washing water may mean not only condensed water generated in the first heat exchanger 31 and introduced into the storage 61, but also all fluids separately supplied for washing the first heat exchanger 31.
The washing member 5 may further include a nozzle valve (not shown) that opens and closes the washing nozzles 51, 52, and 53. Washing water discharged to the first heat exchanger 31 may wash off various dust, lint, or various contaminants accumulated in the first heat exchanger 31. A detailed description of the washing member 5 will be made later.
The drainage 63 may include a drainage pump 631 that drains condensed water in the storage 61 and a drainage pipe 632 that connects the drainage pump 631 with a housing supply port 711.
When the drainage pump 631 is operated, condensed water inside the storage 61 is supplied to the flow channel regulator 7 via the drainage pipe 632, and the flow channel regulator 7 supplies condensed water to the washing nozzles 51, 52, and 53 at set locations via the nozzle valve. Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may hygienically manage the first heat exchanger 31.
In one example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when the flow channel regulator 7 guides condensed water to a tank water supply pipe 728 in a situation in which the drainage 63 is operated, condensed water in the storage 61 will move to the drainage tank 62.
Condensed water stored in the storage 61 may be discharged to the drainage tank (a second water collector) 62 via the drainage 63. The drainage tank 62 may be located at a higher point than the storage 61. The drainage tank 62 may include a drawer 621 that is extendable from the cabinet 1 and provides a space in which condensed water is stored, and a drawer through hole 622 defined to extend through a top surface of the drawer 621.
In this regard, an outlet 112 for extension and withdrawal of the drawer 621 may be defined in the front surface 11, and a tank housing 16 that provides a space in which the drawer 621 is accommodated may be disposed inside the cabinet 1.
Condensed water discharged from the storage (the first water collector) 61 via the drainage 63 may move to the tank housing 16 via the tank water supply pipe 728, and condensed water discharged from the tank water supply pipe 728 may move into the drawer 621 via the drawer through hole 622. A detailed description of a process in which condensed water moves from the storage (the first water collector) 61 to the drainage tank (the second water collector) 62 will be made later.
The washing member 5 may be composed of multiple nozzles that are fixed to the duct cover 232 and spray water to the first heat exchanger 31. FIG. 7 illustrates a case in which the washing member 5 is composed of a first nozzle 51, a second nozzle 52, and a third nozzle 53 as an example, and the three nozzles may be arranged along a width direction of the duct cover 232 (an X-axis direction). The washing member 5 may include a nozzle valve (not shown) capable of opening and closing the washing nozzles 51, 52, and 53. The nozzle valve may be controlled by a controller and independently open and close the washing nozzles 51, 52, and 53.
In one example, condensed water stored in the storage 61 may be supplied to the washing member 5 or may be supplied to the drainage tank 62 via the flow channel regulator 7.
The tank housing 16 is connected to the storage 61 via a recovery pipe 633. Accordingly, condensed water overflowing from the drainage tank 62 may be recovered to the storage 61 via the recovery pipe 633.
In other words, condensed water introduced into the storage 61 may be discharged to the outside of the storage 61 by the drainage pump 631 of the drainage 63. In this regard, the controller may control the flow channel regulator 7 to transfer condensed water discharged from the storage 61 to the washing nozzles 51, 52, and 53 of the washing member 5 and wash the first heat exchanger 31 or transfer condensed water to the storage tank 62.
Referring to FIG. 8, the flow channel regulator 7 includes a housing composed of a housing body 71 and a housing cover 72. One surface of the housing body 71 may be formed in an open shape, and the housing cover 72 may close the open surface of the housing body 71. One of the housing body 71 and the housing cover 72 may be fixed to a top surface (the duct cover) 232 of the connection duct 23.
The housing body 71 and the housing cover 72 are coupled to each other to define a space 75 in which water (condensed water) supplied from the drainage 63 is stored, and the housing body 71 includes the housing supply port 711 through which condensed water is introduced into the space 75.
The cover 72 includes washing member supply ports 721, 722, and 723 that discharge water inside the flow channel regulator 7 to the washing member 5. As described above, when the washing member 5 is composed of the three washing nozzles 51, 52, and 53, the washing member supply ports may include a first nozzle supply port 721, a second nozzle supply port 722, and a third nozzle supply port 723.
Condensed water discharged from the washing member supply ports 721, 722, and 723 is supplied to each nozzle of the washing member 5 via each washing member water supply pipe. FIG. 8 illustrates a case in which the washing member water supply pipes are composed of a first water supply pipe 725 connecting the first nozzle supply port 721 to the first nozzle 51, a second water supply pipe 726 connecting the second nozzle supply port 722 to the second nozzle 52, and a third water supply pipe 727 connecting the third nozzle supply port 723 to the third nozzle 53 as an example.
The cover 72 may include a tank supply port 724 that guides water inside the flow channel regulator 7 to the drainage tank 62. The aforementioned tank water supply pipe 728 connects the tank supply port 724 with the tank housing 16.
To control opening and closing of the above-described supply ports 721, 722, 723, and 724, a valve 73 and a valve motor 74 that controls operation of the valve may be disposed in the flow channel regulator 7.
The valve 73 may include a disk (a valve body) 731 that divides the internal space 75 of the flow channel regulator into a space in which the supply ports 721, 722, 723, and 724 are located and a space in which the housing supply port 911 is located, and a disk through hole 732 defined to extend through the disk.
The disk 731 may be fixed to a valve body rotation shaft 741 disposed to extend through the housing body 71. Accordingly, when the valve body rotation shaft 741 is rotated by the valve motor 74, a location of the disk through hole 732 defined in the disk 731 may vary.
The first nozzle supply port 721, the second nozzle supply port 722, the third nozzle supply port 723, and the tank supply port 724 are disposed on a rotation path of the through hole 732 by the valve motor 74. Therefore, when the location of the through hole 732 is controlled via the valve motor 74, only a desired supply port among the four supply ports may be opened.
Referring to FIG. 9, the guide 9 may be disposed adjacent to the first heat exchanger 31. As described above, when the heat exchanger 3 is operated, condensed water may be generated in the first heat exchanger 31. Condensed water generated in the first heat exchanger 31 is accumulated on the lower portion of the first heat exchanger 31 while moving downward by gravity. When an amount of condensed water accumulated on the lower portion of the first heat exchanger 31 gradually increases, condensed water drops downward of the first heat exchanger 31 by its own weight and is discharged to the drainage space 235 via the support body communication hole 411.
However, when the heat exchanger assembly 3 is stopped, condensed water is no longer generated in the first heat exchanger 31, so that condensed water that has not fallen by being accumulated on the lower portion (a lower area) of the first heat exchanger 31 may be in the state of being accumulated on the lower portion of the first heat exchanger 31. Such residual water (condensed water that has not been discharged from the first heat exchanger 31) may be subjected to contamination such as mold formation over time along with dust and contaminants. When the first heat exchanger 31 is contaminated, the entire circulation flow channel 2 is contaminated, so that the drying target of the drum 17 may also be contaminated.
The present disclosure may remove the residual water by intensively guiding air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 to the lower area of the first heat exchanger 31 using the guide 9. Here, removing the residual water means separating condensed water (residual water) from the first heat exchanger 31 by an air pressure.
Specifically, the guide 9 may adjust a flow channel cross-sectional area inside the circulation flow channel 2 through which air moves to guide air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 to lower areas 311b and 312b of the first heat exchanger 31. That is, the guide 9 may cover the front surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 and the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger such that only at least a portion of the lower areas 311b and 312b of the first heat exchanger 31 is opened.
The front surface 311 and the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31 may be divided into upper areas 311a and 312a and the lower areas 311b and 312b, respectively.
That is, the front surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 may include a front upper area 311a and a front lower area 311b, and the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31 may include a rear upper area 312a and a rear lower area 312b.
The upper areas 311a and 312a of the first heat exchanger 31 may mean areas from the uppermost end to a midpoint of the first heat exchanger 31. The lower areas 312a and 312b of the first heat exchanger 31 may mean areas from the lowermost end to the midpoint of the first heat exchanger 31.
The upper areas 311a and 312a of the first heat exchanger 31 may mean areas within a range of 0% exclusive to 50% inclusive of a vertical dimension from the uppermost end of the first heat exchanger 31. The lower areas 311b and 312b of the first heat exchanger may mean areas within a range of 50% exclusive to 100% inclusive of the vertical dimension from the uppermost end of the first heat exchanger 32.
As described above, the guide 9 may adjust the open area of the first heat exchanger 31 or the flow channel cross-sectional area of the mounting space 233 to concentrate or guide the flow of air flowing into or out of the first heat exchanger 31.
The guide 9 may cover the first heat exchanger 31 such that air introduced into the circulation flow channel passes through only at least a partial area of the first heat exchanger 31 (60% to 90%). That is, the guide 9 may cover the front surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 and the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31 such that only at least a portion of the lower areas 311b and 312b of the first heat exchanger is opened.
The guide 9 may include the first guide 91 disposed in front of the first heat exchanger 31, the second guide 92 disposed at the rear of the first heat exchanger 31, and the guide driver 93 that provides the power such that the first and second guides 92 may pivot. The first guide 91 and the second guide 92 may be pivotable by the guide driver 93 about a first shaft 91a and a second shaft 92a, respectively. The first guide 91 and the second guide 92 may pivot simultaneously by a single motor and a connection belt (not shown), or may pivot simultaneously or independently by including a first motor 931 and a second motor 932, respectively.
The first guide 91 is disposed in front of the first heat exchanger 31 and is able to adjust the flow channel cross-sectional area in front of the first heat exchanger 31. That is, the first guide 91 may adjust a flow channel cross-sectional area of a portion of the mounting space 233 in front of the first heat exchanger 31 into which air is introduced from the front (or a front cross-sectional area or a front open area of the first heat exchanger 31).
As shown in (a) in FIG. 10, the first guide 91 may include a first induction body 911 that covers at least a portion of the front surface of the first heat exchanger 31.
Here, covering only means that air introduced into the circulation flow channel is prevented from being directly introduced into the first heat exchanger 31, but does not mean that the front surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 is physically sealed or blocked. When air is introduced into the first heat exchanger 31 via the front surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31, the first guide 91 may at least partially cover the front surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 by the first induction body 911.
As shown in (b) in FIG. 10, one end of the first induction body 911 disposed at the top may be disposed in parallel with an upper end of the first heat exchanger 31, and the first induction body 911 may have an area size capable of covering at least a portion of the front surface of the first heat exchanger 31. That is, the first induction body 911 may cover the front surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 such that the front lower area 311b of the first heat exchanger 31 is at least partially exposed (opened).
In addition, the first induction body 911 may cover 65% to 95% of the front surface 311 with respect to the uppermost end of the first heat exchanger 31. That is, the first induction body 911 may have an area size capable of opening 5% to 35% of the front surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 with respect to the lowermost end.
More preferably, the first induction body 911 may cover 80% to 90% of the front surface 311 with respect to the uppermost end of the first heat exchanger. This is because condensed water (residual water) is mainly accumulated on the lower areas 311b and 312b of the first heat exchanger 31 by its own weight.
Referring to FIG. 10, the first guide 91 may include a first auxiliary body 912 extending at a predetermined angle from one end of the first induction body 911. The first auxiliary body 912 extends at a predetermined angle R1 from the one end of the first induction body 911 disposed adjacent to the upper end of the first heat exchanger 31.
In this case, the first shaft 91a may be disposed at one end of the first auxiliary body 912 disposed far from the one end of the first induction body 911, and the first shaft 91a may form a center of pivoting of the first auxiliary body 912. When the first induction body 911 is pivotable about the one end of the first auxiliary body 912 bent at the predetermined angle, interference between the first induction body 911 and the first heat exchanger 31 may be avoided when the first guide 91 pivots.
The first guide 91 may further include a plurality of first guide ribs 913 protruding from one or more of the first induction body 911 and the first auxiliary body 912. The first guide rib 913 guides air in contact with the first induction body 911 or the first auxiliary body 912 to easily move to the lower area of the first heat exchanger 31 in a state in which the first guide 91 is closed (to be described later).
That is, as the plurality of first guide ribs 913 are disposed, air in contact with the first guide 91 is guided to the lower area of the first heat exchanger 31 without interference in a width direction of the first heat exchanger 31. In addition, mechanical rigidity of the first guide 91 may be improved by the first guide ribs 913.
The second guide 92 is disposed at the rear of the first heat exchanger 31 and is able to adjust the flow channel cross-sectional area at the rear of the first heat exchanger 31. That is, the second guide 92 may adjust a cross-sectional area of a flow channel located at the rear of the first heat exchanger 31 (the flow channel cross-sectional area at the rear of the first heat exchanger 31, a cross-sectional area of the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31, or a rear open area).
Here, covering may be interpreted as the same meaning as described for the first guide 91. This means that air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 is prevented from directly flowing out to a space at the rear of the first heat exchanger 31 from the inside of the first heat exchanger 31. That is, when air is discharged to the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31, the second guide 92 may cover at least a portion of the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31. Accordingly, the fact that the second guide covers the rear surface of the first heat exchanger does not necessarily imply that the second guide physically blocks or seals the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31.
The second guide 92 may include a second induction body 921 that covers at least a partial area of the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31. The second induction body 921 is a means for adjusting the cross-sectional area of the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31.
One end of the second induction body 921 disposed at the top may be disposed in parallel with the upper end of the first heat exchanger 31, and may have an area size capable of at least partially covering the rear surface of the first heat exchanger 31. That is, the second induction body 921 may cover the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31 such that at least a portion of the rear lower area 312b of the first heat exchanger 31 is exposed (opened).
The second induction body 921 may have a shape capable of covering 80% to 100% of the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31 with respect to the uppermost end. That is, the second induction body 921 may have a shape of opening 0% to 20% of the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31 with respect to the lowermost end.
The second induction body 921 may have a shape capable of covering an entirety of the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31. This is to prevent air passing through the first heat exchanger 31 from moving to the second heat exchanger 32 together with condensed water.
The second guide 92 may include a second auxiliary body 922 extending at a predetermined angle from one end of the second induction body 921. The second auxiliary body 922 extends by a predetermined angle R2 from the one end of the second induction body 921 disposed adjacent to the upper end of the first heat exchanger 31.
In this case, the second shaft 92a may be disposed at one end of the second auxiliary body 922 disposed far from the one end of the second induction body 921, and the second shaft 92a may form a center of pivoting of the second auxiliary body 922. When the second shaft 92a is disposed in the second auxiliary body 922 extending at the predetermined angle from the second induction body 921, interference between the second induction body 921 and the first heat exchanger 31 may be avoided when the second guide 92 pivots.
In one example, the second angle R2 of the second auxiliary body 922 is greater than the first angle R1 of the first auxiliary body 912. Because the first auxiliary body 912 is disposed upstream of the second auxiliary body 922, when the first angle R1 is set to an angle close to a right angle, an effect of firmly supporting the first induction body 911 may be expected. On the other hand, because the second auxiliary body 922 is disposed downstream of the first auxiliary body 912, the second angle R2 may be set to be smaller than the first angle R1 so as to guide air discharged from the first heat exchanger 31.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, the second guide 92 may further include a plurality of second guide ribs 923 protruding from one or more of the second induction body 921 and the second auxiliary body 922. The second guide rib 923 may improve mechanical rigidity of the second induction body 921 or the second auxiliary body 922.

(a) in FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a state in which the guide 9 is opened (a first mode), and
(b) in FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a state in which the guide 9 is closed (a second mode). As described above, the guide 9 may be controlled to execute a plurality of modes capable of adjusting the flow channel cross-sectional area of the first heat exchanger 31 (an area through which air may pass).

The first mode will be described with reference to (a) in FIG. 10. The first mode is a mode in which the guide 9 opens the front surface and the rear surface of the first heat exchanger 31 (a guide opening mode). That is, in the first mode, the front surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 and the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31 are not covered. In the first mode, the first guide 91 and the second guide 92 do not cover (or minimize covering of) the first heat exchanger 31.
The second mode will be described with reference to (b) in FIG. 10. The second mode is a mode in which the guide 9 covers the front surface 311 and the rear surface 312 of the first heat exchanger 31 such that air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 is able to be guided to the lower area of the first heat exchanger 31. That is, the second mode may be referred to as a mode in which both the first guide 91 and the second guide 92 are pivoted to cover the first heat exchanger 31 (a guide closing mode). Depending on a shape or a structure of the guide, the lower areas 311b and 312b of the first heat exchanger 31 may maintain a state in which at least a portion thereof is opened in the second mode.
In other words, the open state in the present document refers to a state in which air is able to freely flow through the first heat exchanger 31 as the first guide 91 or the second guide 92 does not cover the first heat exchanger 31, and the closed state refers to a state in which the first guide 91 or the second guide 92 covers at least a portion of the first heat exchanger 31 to control a movement direction of air.
In other words, the first mode of the guide 9 may mean that the guide 9 is disposed such that both the first guide 91 and the second guide 92 are opened to open both the upper area and the lower area of the first heat exchanger 31, and the second mode may mean that the guide 9 is disposed such that both the first guide 91 and the second guide 92 are closed to open at least a portion of the lower area of the first heat exchanger 31.
In one example, most preferably, in the second mode, the first guide 91 may cover at least a portion of the front surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 (or the front flow channel cross-sectional area of the first heat exchanger 31) such that only at least a portion of the front lower area of the first heat exchanger 31 is opened or exposed, and the second guide 92 may cover an entirety (100%) of the rear surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 (the rear flow channel cross-sectional area of the first heat exchanger). The reason why the second guide 92 covers the entire rear flow channel cross-sectional area of the first heat exchanger 31 is to prevent air introduced into the first heat exchanger 31 from moving to the second heat exchanger 32 together with condensed water, as will be described later.
In addition, when the first guide 91 and the second guide 92 are independently operated, the plurality of modes may further include a third mode and a fourth mode.
The third mode is a mode in which the first guide 91 and the second guide 92 are disposed such that the front surface of the first heat exchanger 31 is covered and the rear surface thereof is opened, and the fourth mode is a mode in which the first guide 91 and the second guide 92 are disposed such that the front surface of the first heat exchanger 31 is opened and the rear surface thereof is covered. That is, the third mode refers to a state in which the first guide 91 is closed and the second guide 92 is opened, and the fourth mode refers to a state in which the first guide 91 is opened and the second guide 92 is closed.
FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a flow of air moving inside the circulation flow channel in a state in which the guide 9 is open, and FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a flow of air moving inside the circulation flow channel in a state in which the guide 9 is closed.
Referring to FIG. 11, it may be seen that, in the state in which the guide 9 is disposed to be in the first mode (the state in which the guide 9 is open), air introduced into the circulation flow channel sequentially passes through the first heat exchanger 31 and the second heat exchanger 32. The movement of air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 and the movement of condensed water generated in the first heat exchanger 31 while the heat exchanger assembly 3 is operating have been described above.
Referring to FIG. 12, in the state in which the guide 9 is disposed to be in the second mode (the state in which the guide 9 is closed), air introduced into the circulation flow channel is introduced into the first heat exchanger 31 via the front surface of the first heat exchanger 31, more preferably, the front lower area of the first heat exchanger 31. Because the rear surface of the first heat exchanger 31 is entirely covered by the second guide 92, air introduced into the first heat exchanger 31 is introduced into the drainage space via the support body through hole together with condensed water.
That is, when the circulation fan is operated in the state in which the first guide 91 and the second guide 92 are disposed to be in the second mode, air may separate condensed water (residual water) accumulated on the lower area of the first heat exchanger 31 from the first heat exchanger and move separated condensed water to the drainage space. In this regard, condensed water separated from the first heat exchanger will move to the storage 61 via the drainage flow channel.
In one example, air moved to the drainage space 235 may be reintroduced into the mounting space 233 via the extension body communication hole 421. In this process, the process in which condensed water discharged from the first heat exchanger 31 moves to the storage 61 along the drainage flow channel may be accelerated. Air introduced into the circulation flow channel may move to the mounting space between the first heat exchanger 31 and the second heat exchanger 32 via the extension body communication hole 421, and pass through the second heat exchanger 32. Therefore, FIG. 12 may be an arrangement view of inside of a circulation flow channel in a residual water removal step to be described later.
FIG. 13 is a mimetic view illustrating that a washing nozzle is opened in a state in which the guide 9 is closed.
Referring to FIG. 13, it may be seen that washing water is sprayed to the upper portion of the first heat exchanger 31 by the washing nozzle in the state in which the guide 9 is closed (or is disposed to be in the second mode). When washing water is sprayed to the first heat exchanger 31 by the washing nozzle, washing water may wash off various contaminants such as dust and lint adsorbed to the exposed portion of the first heat exchanger 31 while moving from the upper portion to the lower portion of the first heat exchanger 31.
In this regard, when washing water is scattered forward or rearward of the first heat exchanger 31, washing water may be introduced into the second heat exchanger 32 when the circulation fan 36 is operated, and thus the guide 9 may be maintained in the closed state (or in the state of being disposed to be in the second mode).
That is, when drying and residual water removal steps are performed in the state in which the guide 9 is closed (the state in which the guide 9 is disposed to be in the second mode), the guide 9 may function to guide air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 to the lower area of the first heat exchanger 31. In addition, when a cleaning step (a step of washing the first heat exchanger via the washing member) is performed in the state in which the guide 9 is closed (in the state in which the guide 9 is disposed to be in the second mode), the guide 9 may prevent washing water discharged from the washing nozzle from scattering forward or rearward of the first heat exchanger 31.
The support 4 may further include a stopper 45. The stopper may be formed to protrude from the support 4 at the rear of the first heat exchanger 31. The stopper 45 may prevent interference with the first heat exchanger 31 while the second guide 92 is disposed to be in the second mode. FIG. 13 illustrates a case in which the stopper 45 protrudes from the support 4 as an example, but the stopper 45 is able to protrude from the second guide 92. The stopper 45 may prevent the second guide 92 from pivoting counterclockwise with reference to FIG. 13.
In one example, the support 4 may further include a guide slit (not shown) recessed such that a free end of the second induction body 921 is inserted into the support 4, preferably the extension body 42, in the state in which the guide 9 is disposed to be in the second mode. The free end of the second induction body 921 may be inserted into the guide slit to prevent air from moving directly from the first heat exchanger 31 to the second heat exchanger 32.
FIG. 14 illustrates a control method in which a drying step and a residual water removal step are performed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 15 illustrates a control method in which a drying step, a cleaning step, and a residual water removal step are performed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 14, the control method of the laundry treating apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a drying step of removing moisture from the laundry stored in the drum 17, and a residual water removal step of operating the guide 9 after the drying step is completed to allow air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 to intensively pass through the lower area 313 of the first heat exchanger 31.
The drying step may be provided as a step of operating the compressor 34 and the circulation fan 36. The drying step may be provided as a step of stopping the operation of the compressor 34 and operating the circulation fan 36.
When the circulation fan 36 is operated in the drying step, air inside the drum 17 is introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 via the first duct 21, passes through the heat exchanger assembly 3, and then is supplied back to the drum 17 via the second duct 22.
In the drying step, the guide 9 is disposed to open the first heat exchanger 31 to maximally widen a surface area of air moving inside the circulation flow channel 2 in contact with the first heat exchanger 31. Here, the opening of the guide 9 may mean that the guide 9 is disposed so as not to cover the flow channel cross-sectional area of the first heat exchanger 31 and thus the flow channel cross-sectional area of air passing through the first heat exchanger 31 is maximized (the first mode).
In one example, as shown in FIG. 14, in consideration of an operating time of the guide 9 (an operating time of the motor), the first mode may be ended earlier than the residual water removal step by a first time (a first delay time) t1. However, this is merely one embodiment, and the guide 9 is able to continuously maintain the open state (maintain the first mode) until the drying step is ended (t1=0 seconds).
In the residual water removal step, the circulation fan 36 may operate, and the drainage pump 621 may be operated to discharge condensed water generated in the drying step and collected in the storage.
In the residual water removal step, the guide 9 is disposed to close the first heat exchanger 31. Here, closing the first heat exchanger 31 by the guide 9 does not mean closing the first heat exchanger 31 such that air is not introduced into or discharged from the first heat exchanger 31, but may mean that the guide 9 is disposed such that air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 passes intensively through the lower area 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 (the second mode).
As described above, the second mode may mean that the first guide 91 is disposed such that the front lower area 311b of the first heat exchanger 31 is at least partially opened (the front surface of the first heat exchanger is closed by 80% to 90% from the uppermost end thereof) and the second guide 92 is disposed to cover an entirety of the rear surface 311 of the first heat exchanger 31 (see (b) in FIG. 10).
The second mode (in which the guide is closed) may be provided as a mode in which air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 does not pass through the rear surface of the first heat exchanger 31 and moves to the drainage space 235 via the support body communication hole 411 together with condensed water.
In the residual water removal step, condensed water moved to the drainage space 235 may move to the storage along the drainage flow channel 236, and may be discharged to the washing member 5 or the drainage tank 62 via the drainage pump.
In one example, the operation of the circulation fan 36 may be ended (OFF) a second time (a preparation time) t2 before the residual water removal step is ended. In this case, the effect of removing residual water at the lower area of the first heat exchanger 31 during the second time t2 may not be expected to be great, but an effect of helping condensed water to move to the storage by reducing a negative pressure inside the drainage flow channel (discharging as much condensed water as possible via the drainage pump) may be expected.
That is, the operation of the circulation fan 36 may be ended earlier by the second time t2 than the end of the operation of the drainage pump and the closing of the guide 9. Because this is merely one embodiment, the operation of the circulation fan 36 may be ended at the same time as the end of the operation of the drainage pump (t2=0 seconds).
In addition, the control method may further include a guide initialization step in which the guide 9 is opened again (the first mode) after the residual water removal step. In this case, as the guide 9 is opened in the guide initialization step, there may be a problem in that condensed water generated in the first heat exchanger 31 moves to the second heat exchanger 32 by the flow of air inside the circulation flow channel 2. When the operation of the circulation fan 36 is ended in the residual water removal step earlier than a start of the guide initialization step by the second time t2, the above-described problem may be minimized.
In the guide initialization step, the circulation fan 36 and the drainage pump 621 may not operate, and the guide 9 may maintain the first mode.
Referring to FIG. 15, a method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a drying step of removing moisture from the laundry stored in the drum 17, a cleaning step of spraying washing water to the first heat exchanger 31 by controlling the washing nozzle to wash the first heat exchanger 31, and a residual water removal step of operating the guide 9 after the drying step is completed to allow air introduced into the circulation flow channel 2 to intensively pass through the lower area 313 of the first heat exchanger 31. Because the drying step and the residual water removal step have been described above, redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.
After the drying step, the cleaning step of washing the first heat exchanger 31 may be performed. In the drying step, the guide 9 maintains the first mode. The first mode may be ended earlier than the start of the cleaning step by the first time 11. However, because this is merely an embodiment, the first mode may be ended when the drying step is ended (t1=0 seconds).
In the cleaning step, the circulation fan 36 does not operate, and the drainage pump 362 operates. In addition, because the washing nozzle is opened in the cleaning step, the first heat exchanger 31 may be washed with washing water. The opening of the washing nozzle means a result of discharging or spraying washing water via the washing nozzle, and thus is not limited to the opening of the flow channel of the washing nozzle itself. Specifically, the opening of the washing nozzle may include both operating the flow channel regulator to guide condensed water discharged from the drainage pump to the washing nozzle such that washing water is discharged via the washing nozzle and opening the washing nozzle by the washing valve.
In one example, when washing water splashes forward of the first heat exchanger 31 or rearward of the first heat exchanger 31, washing water may be introduced into the second heat exchanger 32 when the circulation fan 36 is operated in a subsequent step, so that it is necessary to allow washing water to intensively wash only the first heat exchanger 31. Therefore, in the cleaning step, the guide 9 may be in the closed state.
Here, the closing of the guide 9 may mean that, as described above with reference to FIG. 14, the guide 9 is disposed to be in the second mode, so that the front flow channel cross-sectional area of the first heat exchanger 31 is covered by 60% to 90%, and the rear flow channel cross-sectional area (the rear surface area) of the first heat exchanger 31 is covered by 100%.
When the washing nozzle is opened and the guide 9 is closed in the cleaning step, washing water may be minimized from splashing forward or rearward of the first heat exchanger 31.
When the cleaning step is ended, the residual water removal step is performed. In the residual water removal step, as described above, the circulation fan 36 and the drainage pump 621 described above operate, and the guide 9 maintains the second mode.
As described above, the operation of the circulation fan 36 may be ended earlier than the end of the residual water removal step (the end of the operation of the drainage pump) by the second time t2. However, this is merely an embodiment, and the operation of the circulation fan 36 may be ended at the same time as the end of the drainage pump (t2=0 seconds).
When the residual water removal step is ended, the control method may execute the guide initialization step in which the guide 9 is set to be in the first mode again.
The above-described structure and control method of the laundry treating apparatus are to describe an example of the present disclosure, and are able to be modified and implemented in various forms, and thus the scope of rights thereof is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Therefore, when the modified embodiment includes the elements of the claims of the present disclosure, it should be regarded as belonging to the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

A laundry treating apparatus comprising:
a drum constructed to provide a space where laundry is accommodated;

a circulation flow channel constructed to provide a path for guiding air discharged from the drum to the drum;

a heat exchanger assembly including a circulation fan configured to move air along the circulation flow channel, a first heat exchanger configured to dehumidify air passing therethrough while moving along the circulation flow channel, and a second heat exchanger configured to heat air that has passed through the first heat exchanger; and

a guide located inside the circulation flow channel and configured to guide air introduced into the circulation flow channel to a lower area of the first heat exchanger.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide is configured to be disposed in a plurality of modes capable of adjusting a flow channel cross-sectional area for air passing through the first heat exchanger,
wherein the plurality of modes include a first mode where a cross-sectional area of air introduced into the first heat exchanger is maximized, and a second mode where a cross-sectional area of air introduced into the first heat exchanger is minimized.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first mode is set to a mode where both an upper area of the first heat exchanger and the lower area of the first heat exchanger are opened,
wherein the second mode is set to a mode where at least a portion of the lower area of the first heat exchanger is opened.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the guide includes a first guide disposed in front of the first heat exchanger and configured to adjust a cross-sectional area of a front surface of the first heat exchanger.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first guide includes a first induction body configured to cover at least a portion of the front surface of the first heat exchanger and pivotable about one end thereof.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first induction body has an area size covering 60% to 90% of the cross-sectional area of the front surface of the first heat exchanger.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one end of the first induction body is disposed in parallel with an upper end of the first heat exchanger.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 7, wherein an opposite end of the first induction body is disposed in parallel with a location spaced apart from the upper end of the first heat exchanger by 60% to 90% of a vertical dimension of the first heat exchanger.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first guide includes:
a first auxiliary body extending at a predetermined angle from one end of the first guide and extending; and

a first shaft disposed on the first auxiliary body, positioned at a higher point than the first induction body, and forming a pivoting shaft of the first induction body.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the guide further includes a second guide disposed at the rear of the first heat exchanger and configured to control a movement path of air discharged from the first heat exchanger.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second guide includes a second induction body configured to cover at least a portion of a rear surface of the first heat exchanger and pivotable about one end thereof.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second induction body has one end disposed in parallel with an upper end of the first heat exchanger; and has the same area size as a first induction body.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second induction body has one end disposed in parallel with an upper end of the first heat exchanger, and has an area size covering an entirety of the rear surface of the first heat exchanger.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second guide includes:
a second auxiliary body extending at a predetermined angle from one end of the second guide; and

a second shaft disposed on the second auxiliary body, positioned at a higher point than the second induction body, and forming a pivoting shaft of the second induction body.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a support constructed to divide the circulation flow channel into a mounting space where the heat exchanger assembly is disposed and a drainage space where condensed water generated in the first heat exchanger is discharged,
wherein the support includes a support body supporting a bottom of the first heat exchanger and a support body communication hole defined in the support body.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a stopper protruding from the support body and positioned at the rear of the first heat exchanger, wherein the stopper prevents contact between the second guide and the first heat exchanger.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 15, wherein the support includes:
an auxiliary body extending from the support body in a direction of the second heat exchanger; and

an auxiliary body communication hole defined in the auxiliary body to allow air in the drainage space to be discharged to a space between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:
a water collector in communication with the drainage space and constructed to store condensed water therein;

a washing nozzle disposed in the mounting space and configured to discharge condensed water to the first heat exchanger; and

a drainage pump configured to transfer condensed water stored in the water collector to the washing nozzle.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the washing nozzle is positioned between the first guide and the second guide.
A method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus including: a cabinet; a drum disposed inside the cabinet and constructed to accommodate laundry therein; a circulation flow channel constructed to guide air discharged from the drum to the drum; a heat exchanger assembly including a circulation fan configured to move air along the circulation flow channel, a first heat exchanger configured to dehumidify air moving along the circulation flow channel, and a second heat exchanger configured to heat air that has passed through the first heat exchanger; and a guide located inside the circulation flow channel and configured to guide air introduced into the circulation flow channel to a lower area of the first heat exchanger, the method comprising:
a drying step of operating the circulation fan and disposing the guide in a first mode of opening both an upper area and the lower area of the first heat exchanger; and

a residual water removal step of operating the circulation fan and disposing the guide in a second mode of opening only the lower area of the first heat exchanger to guide air introduced into the circulation flow channel to the lower area of the first heat exchanger.
The method of claim 20, wherein the laundry treating apparatus further includes: a support constructed to support the lower area of the first heat exchanger and divide the circulation flow channel into a mounting space where the heat exchanger assembly is disposed and a drainage space where condensed water generated in the first heat exchanger is discharged; a washing nozzle configured to discharge condensed water to the upper area of the first heat exchanger; a washing valve configured to open and close the washing nozzle; a water collector in communication with the drainage space and constructed to store condensed water therein; and a drainage pump configured to transfer condensed water stored in the water collector to the washing nozzle,
wherein the method further includes a cleaning step of stopping the circulation, disposing the guide in the second mode, operating the drainage pump, and opening the cleaning valve, after the drying step is completed.