KR101414622B1 - Dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dryer. A dryer according to the present invention includes: a drum rotatably installed in a cabinet; A steam generator for selectively supplying steam to the drum; A water storage unit for storing water supplied to the steam generator; A sensor for sensing a level of water contained in the water reservoir, a signal generator for generating a notification signal according to a level of the water reservoir, And a controller for controlling the drum, the steam generator, and the signal generator according to the detection of the sensing unit. Such a dryer enables easy use without damaging the dryer.

Drying, Drum, Steam, Water Storage

Description

Dryer {Dryer}

The present invention relates to a dryer, and more particularly, to a dryer that can be easily used without damaging the dryer.

Generally, a dryer is a household appliance in which laundry is completely dried, i.e., clothes are dried using high-temperature air.

 The dryer can be classified into an electric dryer and a gas dryer according to the heating method of heating the air. The electric dryer heats the air using electric resistance heat, and the gas dryer heats the air using the heat generated by the combustion of the gas.

Different types of dryers can be classified as condenser dryers and exhaust dryers. In the condensing dryer, the air in the drum is heat exchanged with the laundry, and the air in a highly humid condition circulates without being discharged to the outside of the dryer. In the separate condenser, heat is exchanged with the outside air to generate condensed water. In the exhaust type dryer, the air in the drum is heat-exchanged with the laundry, and the air in a highly humid condition is directly discharged to the outside of the dryer.

The dryer can be classified into top loading type and front loading type according to the method of loading the drying object into the dryer. In the top loading method, the laundry is loaded at the top of the dryer, while in the front loading method, the laundry is loaded at the front of the dryer.

In recent years, a dryer has been developed which removes wrinkles of the object to some extent, including a step of spraying steam toward the object to be dried in the dryer during the drying process of the dryer.

The dryer includes a steam generator for generating steam therein, and supplies steam to the drum to generate steam. However, if the water is not properly supplied to the steam generator, steam is not sufficiently generated, and further, the steam generator is overheated and damaged due to lack of water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a dryer that is designed to solve the above-mentioned problems and informs a user of the lack of water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dryer capable of preventing damage to the dryer by stopping the driving of the dryer in the event of water shortage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, A hot air generating device for supplying hot air to the drum; A steam generator for selectively supplying steam to the drum; A water storage unit for storing water supplied to the steam generator; A sensing unit sensing a level of water contained in the water storage unit; A signal generator for generating an external signal according to a level of the water storage; And a control unit for controlling the drum, the steam generator, and the signal generator according to the detection of the sensing unit.

Here, the sensing unit transmits a water shortage signal to the control unit when the water level of the water storage unit falls below a preset reference water level, and when the water shortage signal is received, the control unit sends a notification signal through the signal generation unit So that the user is aware of the lack of water in the dryer. The controller controls the drum, the hot air generator, and the steam generator to stop driving when the water shortage signal is received, thereby preventing the drum, the hot air generator, and the steam generator from being damaged due to insufficient water.

The water storage unit may be detachably installed in the cabinet.

Also, the signal generating unit may be provided on a control panel of the cabinet, and the control panel may be installed on a front surface of the cabinet. Preferably, the signal generator comprises an LED.

On the other hand, when the user supplies water to the water storage unit and the water level of the water storage unit rises above the reference water level, the controller resumes driving the drum, the hot air generating unit and the steam generating unit. In this case, when the water level of the water storage unit rises above the reference water level and an operation command is received by the user, the controller resumes driving the drum, the hot air generator, and the steam generator .

As described above, the dryer according to the present invention makes it possible for the user to recognize the water shortage, thereby preventing the drier from being driven in a state where the water is insufficient, thereby preventing damage to the drier.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1, an embodiment of a dryer according to the present invention will be described.

The cabinet 10 forms the appearance of the dryer according to the present invention, and various components to be described later are installed therein.

A drum 20 rotatably installed in the cabinet 10, a motor 70 for driving the drum 20, and a belt 68 are installed. A predetermined position of the cabinet 10 is provided with a hot air generating device for heating the air to generate hot air (hereinafter referred to as "hot air"). The hot air generating apparatus includes a heater 90 for heating air and a hot air supply duct 44 for supplying hot air generated by the hot air heater 90 to the drum 20 do. An exhaust duct 80 for discharging highly humid air heat-exchanged with the object to be dried in the drum 20, and a blower unit 60 for sucking humid air are also provided. Meanwhile, a steam generator 200 for generating steam at a high temperature is installed at a predetermined position of the cabinet 10.

In this embodiment, the indirect driving method for rotating the drum 20 using the motor 70 and the belt 68 is shown and described for the sake of convenience, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, it is also possible to apply the present invention to a direct drive type in which the motor is directly connected to the rear surface of the drum 20 to rotate the drum 20 directly.

Hereinafter, each of the above-described components will be described in detail.

The cabinet 10 forms the outer shape of the dryer and includes a base 12 forming a bottom surface, a pair of side covers 14 vertically installed on the base 12, A rear cover 18 and a top cover 17 located at the top of the side cover 14, respectively. The control panel 19 having various operation switches and the like can be installed also on the top cover 17 but is usually located on the front cover 16 and the door 164 is installed on the front cover 16. [ The rear cover 18 is provided with a suction portion 182 for allowing external air to flow in and an exhaust hole 184 as a final passage through which the air of the drum 20 is discharged to the outside.

The inner space of the drum 20 functions as a drying chamber in which drying is progressed, and a lift 22 is installed inside the drum 20 to increase the drying efficiency by dragging and dropping the laundry, Do.

On the other hand, a front supporter 30 and a rear supporter 40 are provided between the drum 20 and the cabinet 10, that is, between the drum 20 and the front cover 16 and the rear cover 18, respectively. A drum 20 is rotatably installed between the front supporter 30 and the rear supporter 40. Between the front supporter 30 and the rear supporter 40 and the drum 20, (Not shown). That is, the front supporter 30 and the rear supporter 40 form a drying chamber by blocking the front and rear surfaces of the drum 20, and serve to support the front and rear ends of the drum 20.

The front supporter 30 is provided with an opening for communicating the drum 20 with the outside of the dryer, and the opening is selectively opened and closed by the door 164. A lint duct 50 is connected to the front supporter 30 and a lint filter 52 is installed in the lint duct 50. The lint duct 50 is a passage through which the air of the drum 20 is discharged to the outside.

One end of the blower unit 60 is connected to the lint duct 50 and the other side of the blower unit 60 is connected to the exhaust duct 80. The exhaust duct 80 is connected to the exhaust port (184).

Thus, when the blower unit 60 is operated, the air inside the drum 20 is discharged to the outside through the lint duct 50, the exhaust duct 80, and the exhaust hole 184 in order. In this case, foreign substances such as lint are filtered by the lint filter 52. The blower unit 60 is generally composed of a blower 62 and a blower housing 64. The blower 64 is generally connected to a motor 70 that drives the drum 20 and is driven.

The rear supporter 40 is generally provided with an opening 42 formed of a plurality of through holes and the hot air supply duct 44 is connected to the opening 42. The hot air supply duct 44 communicates with the drum 20 and serves as a passage for supplying hot air to the drum 20. [ Therefore, the hot air heater 90 is installed at a predetermined position of the hot air supply duct 44.

A steam generating device 200 is installed at a predetermined position of the cabinet 10 to supply steam to the inside of the drum 20. Hereinafter, the steam generator 200 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

2 is a schematic view showing a steam generator in a dryer according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the dryer according to the present invention will be described as follows.

The steam generator 200 includes a water tank 210 in which water is received, a heater (not shown) installed in the water tank 210, and a water level sensor And a temperature sensor (not shown) for measuring the temperature of the steam generator 200. Although not shown, the water level sensor 260 is generally composed of a common electrode, a low-level electrode, and a high-level electrode, and senses high and low levels by energizing the common electrode and the high-level electrode, or by energizing the common electrode and the low-

A water supply hose 220 for supplying water is connected to one side of the steam generator 200 and a steam hose 230 for discharging steam is connected to the other side of the steam generator 200. A nozzle 250 are preferably provided. The steam hose 230 or the nozzle 25 or the steam discharging port is located at a predetermined position of the drum 20 and is connected to the inside of the drum 20 Steam is sprayed.

3, the water supply source may include a cartridge 300 installed in a drawer 600 (see FIG. 1) installed in the cabinet 10 so as to be able to be drawn out and drawn into the cabinet 10, But may be fixedly installed in the dryer or may be made of an external faucet.

However, if the water supply source is made of a faucet, installation becomes very complicated. This is because, in the case of using a faucet as a water supply source, a variety of devices and the like must be additionally provided, since water is not usually used in a dryer. Thus, as in the present embodiment, a detachable water supply source 300 is used to separate the water source 300 from the drawer 600 to fill the water, 300 may be mounted on the drawer 600 to be connected to the water supply passage of the steam generator 200, that is, the water supply hose 220, which is very convenient.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it is preferable that a pump 400 is provided between the water supply source 300 and the steam generator 200. It is more preferable that the pump 400 is rotatable in the forward and reverse directions to supply water to the steam generating device 200 or recover the residual water of the steam generating device 200 as required. The reason for recovering the residual water of the steam generator 200 is that if the steam generator 200 is not used for a long time, the heater may be damaged due to the residual water or corruption water may be used later. Also, it is preferable that a safety valve 500 is provided in the steam passage 230 for discharging steam from the steam generator 200.

Meanwhile, in the dryer having the above-described structure, it is preferable that a pump 400 is provided to supply water from the water source 300 to the steam generator 200 as described above. If the user does not replenish water to the water supply source 300 or the water supply source 300 is in a state of insufficient water due to leakage of water from the water supply source 300 or the water supply source 300 is detachably installed If the water source 300 is not correctly mounted, the pump 400 is driven in a state of low water. Accordingly, if the pump 400 is driven in a state in which water is insufficient, the pump 400 may be damaged.

In addition, when the water supply source 300 is short of water, water is not sufficiently supplied to the steam generator 200, so that the heater of the steam generator 200 may be overheated. Further, in the steam generator 200, And the steam is not supplied to the drum 20 of the dryer.

Accordingly, in the dryer having the above-described structure, it is preferable to provide means for informing the user when the water supply source 300 is short of water. FIG. 4 shows a control panel 19 having the above-described notifying means.

4, the control panel 19 of the dryer according to the present invention includes a power button 110 for selecting power on / off, a main selector 100 for selecting a drying course, A start button 120 for selecting the start of driving of the dryer, and an auxiliary selection unit 130 for selecting a drying degree, a temperature inside the drum, a drying time, etc. according to the selected course.

The user presses the power button 110 to apply power to the dryer, and then rotates the main selector 100 to select a desired drying course. Then, when the start button 120 is pressed, the dryer is driven according to the drying degree stored in the control unit (not shown), the temperature inside the drum, and the drying time according to the selected drying course.

On the other hand, when the user selects a course using the main selecting unit 100 and then desires to change values already stored in the selected course, the auxiliary selecting unit 130 is used. That is, by repeatedly pressing the auxiliary selection buttons 132, 134, 136, and 138, the values described in the auxiliary selection display units 142, 144, 146, and 148 can be selected. Auxiliary selection buttons 132, 134, 136, 138 are provided for controlling the degree of drying, the temperature inside the drum, the drying time, and the sound of the beeper, respectively. For example, in order to adjust the dry level, the auxiliary select button 132 corresponding to the dry degree is repeatedly pressed so that the value of the auxiliary select indicator 142 corresponding to the dry degree is changed to a very dry , more dry, normal, less dry, damp dry).

Meanwhile, reference numeral 150, which is not described in the drawing, represents a signal generating unit for notifying a user of a shortage of water in the cartridge 300 constituting a water supply source. The signal generating unit 150 is provided in the control panel 19 as shown in the drawing, and generates a notification signal under the control of a controller (not shown) when the cartridge 300 is short of water. Such a notification signal can be implemented visually or audibly. That is, as shown in the figure, the signal generator 150 is composed of an LED (Luminescent Diode), and when the water is insufficient, the signal generator 150 informs the user of the water shortage. In this case, the signal generating unit 150 may be continuously turned on, but is preferably repeatedly turned on so that the user can easily recognize the signal.

The signal generating unit 150 may be disposed on the control panel 19 in coordination with the other auxiliary selection display units 142, 144, 146, and 148. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the auxiliary selection indicating portions indicating the degree of drying, the temperature inside the drum, and the drying time are shown as 142, 144, and 146, respectively. Accordingly, in the dryer according to the present invention, when the signal generating unit 150 is provided on the control panel 19, the auxiliary selection display unit 148 for adjusting the beep sound can be adjusted to four levels, And the signal generating unit 150 is arranged along the row of the auxiliary selection display unit 148. Accordingly, it is possible to implement a control panel 19 which is easy for the user to operate and can easily recognize, and it is possible for the user to recognize the signal more easily when the signal generator 150 generates the notification signal It becomes. Although the signal generating unit 150 is provided along the beeper sound control assistant selection display unit 148 in the drawing, the signal generating unit 150 may include an auxiliary selection display unit 142 for indicating the degree of drying, the temperature inside the drum, , 144, and 146, respectively. In this case, it is preferable that the conventional selection step in the installed column is adjusted from step 5 to step 4.

In order to inform the user of the water shortage by the signal generator 150 as described above, it is preferable to provide a means for sensing the amount of water in the cartridge 300 forming the water supply source for receiving water. The sensing unit 310 may be provided on one side of the cartridge 300, as shown in FIG. For example, although not shown in the drawings, the sensing unit 310 may include a common electrode, a low-level electrode, and a high-level electrode. The sensing unit 310 may be provided with a common electrode and a high- To detect high and low water levels.

Accordingly, the low-level electrode may be provided so as to correspond to a preset reference level, and the water shortage signal may be generated when the water level falls below the reference water level. If the water shortage signal is generated during the drying process of the dryer, it is transmitted to the controller (not shown). If the water shortage signal is received, the controller determines that the water in the cartridge 300 is insufficient, (See FIG. 4, 150), thereby notifying the user of the lack of water.

Meanwhile, when receiving the water shortage signal, the controller not only notifies the user through the signal generator 150, but also controls the driving of the dryer. That is, it is preferable to stop driving the heater of the steam generator 200 and to control the driving of the hot air heater 90 of the hot air generating device and the rotation of the drum 20, because the water inside the cartridge 300 is insufficient . By stopping the driving of the steam generator 200, it is possible to prevent the heater from being heated in a state in which water is insufficient, thereby preventing the heater from being damaged.

When the user recognizes that the water is not enough due to the signal of the signal generating unit 150 and the cartridge 300 is filled with water, the controller drives the drum 20, the hot air generator, and the steam generator 200 again. Specifically, when the user fills the cartridge 300 with water and mounts the cartridge 300 on the drawer 600, the sensing unit 310 senses that the water level is higher than the reference level and transmits a signal to the controller. The controller receives the signal, drives the heater and the hot air generator of the steam generator 200, and selectively controls the drum 20 to rotate. Preferably, the user inputs the operation command to the control unit by pressing the start button (see FIG. 4) 120 again after filling the cartridge 300 with water, and then the drum 20, the hot air generating unit and the steam generating unit 200 are driven.

The operation of the dryer according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the user inserts the object to be dried into the drum 20, and operates the dry / dry trolley panel 19 to select a course. Subsequently, when the start button 120 is pressed, the drying process proceeds according to the selected course.

Here, the drying step includes at least one steam stroke for heating the air by the hot air heater 90 to supply the hot air into the drum 20 and spraying the steam into the drum 20. In the steam stroke, the steam generator 200 heats the water supplied from the cartridge 300 to generate steam and spray it.

Meanwhile, when the water contained in the cartridge 300 drops below the reference level as steam is generated in the steam generator 200, the sensing unit 310 generates a water shortage signal and transmits the water shortage signal to the controller.

When the water shortage signal is received, the control unit informs the user of the shortage of water by the signal generator 150 and stops the rotation of the drum 20 and the driving of the hot air generator 200 and the steam generator 200.

Then, when the user presses the starter button 120 again by filling the cartridge 300 with water, the control unit selectively rotates the drum 20, generates hot air by the hot air heater 90, The steam generator 200 is driven again to spray steam. As a result, the drying process of the drying object in the drum 20 is completed.

While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to an example of a dryer as an example of a dryer, it is obvious that the present invention can be applied not only to an exhaust dryer but also to a condenser dryer.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a dryer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing the construction of the steam generator in Fig. 1,

3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a water supply source in Fig. 1, and Fig.

4 is a front view of the control panel in Fig.

Claims (10)

A drum rotatably installed in the cabinet; A hot air generating device for supplying hot air to the drum; A steam generator for selectively supplying steam to the drum; A water storage unit for storing water supplied to the steam generator; A sensing unit sensing a level of water contained in the water storage unit; A signal generator for generating an external signal according to a level of the water storage; And And a control unit for controlling the drum, the steam generator, and the signal generator according to the detection of the sensing unit The sensing unit transmits a water shortage signal to the long-term control unit when the water level of the water storage unit falls below a predetermined reference water level, Wherein the control unit controls the signal generator to generate a notification signal when the water shortage signal is received. delete The method according to claim 1, Wherein the water storage portion is detachably installed in the cabinet. delete The method according to claim 1, Wherein the signal generator is provided on a control panel of the cabinet. 6. The method of claim 5, Wherein the control panel is installed on a front surface of the cabinet. 6. The method of claim 5, Wherein the signal generator comprises an LED. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the control unit controls the drum, the hot air generator, and the steam generator to stop driving by receiving the water shortage signal. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the control unit resumes driving the drum, the hot air generating unit, and the steam generating unit when the water level of the water storage unit rises above the reference water level. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the controller resumes driving the drum, the hot air generator, and the steam generator when the water level of the water reservoir rises above the reference water level and an operation command is received.

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