KR20080057579A - Method for controlling clothes handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for controlling a steam washer is provided to keep a washer case clean and reduce condensed water remaining in the case by preheating the case before supplying steam. A method for controlling a steam washer comprises the steps of: preheating at least a part of a case by operating a dry air supply unit(S105); and supplying steam to laundry by operating a steam supply unit(S125). The steam supply unit has a water tank and a steam heater. The steam heater heats water to generate steam. The dry air supply unit has a blower fan, a drying duct, and a drying heater. The drying duct guides the air discharged from the blower fan into the case. The drying heater heats the air discharged from or introduced to the blower fan.

Description

{Method for controlling clothes handling apparatus}

1 is a schematic perspective view of a clothes treating apparatus to which a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention is applied. 1 shows a state in which one side member is deleted to show the internal structure of the clothes treating apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the air supply device and the steam supply device shown in FIG. 1.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a clothes treating apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

<Brief description of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: garment processing unit 110: outer case

120: inner case 130: clothing processing space

140: dry air supply unit 150: steam supply unit

160: lower case

190: condensing chamber

The present invention relates to a clothes treating apparatus, and more particularly, to a clothes treating apparatus capable of reducing the amount of condensed water remaining in a case.

The clothes processing apparatus is a device that can store / recycle clothes therein. The clothes treating apparatus may perform a function of removing wrinkles and / or odors of clothes stored therein by using steam and hot air. In addition, the pollutant is removed from the clothing processing apparatus, or wrinkles of the clothing are removed, so that the ironing effect can be seen.

The clothes treating apparatus first supplies steam to the case to process the garment, and then supplies dry air into the case to dry the garment. During the drying process, not only the clothes in the case are dried, but also some of the condensate formed on the case is removed. The condensate is condensed from the surface of the case, and if the condensate is not removed, the condensate falls into the clothes and the drying effect is reduced, and contaminants are generated by the remaining condensate.

An object of the present invention is to provide a clothing treatment apparatus capable of reducing the amount of condensate remaining inside the case.

The present invention provides a case, a clothes processing space formed in the case for storing clothes, a steam supply device capable of supplying steam in the clothes processing space, and a dry air supply device capable of supplying dry air in the clothes processing space. A control method of a clothes treating apparatus comprising: operating the dry air supply device to preheat at least a portion of the case, and operating the steam supply device to apply steam to the stored clothes. It provides a control method of a clothes processing apparatus.

In the present invention, the steam supply device may include a water tank and a steam heater for heating the water stored in the water tank. In this case, the step of applying the steam may include the step of generating steam from the water stored in the water tank by operating the heater for the steam.

Further, in the present invention, the drying air supply apparatus, a blowing fan, a drying duct for guiding the air discharged from the blowing fan into the clothes processing space, and the air introduced into the discharged air or the blowing fan It may include a drying heater for heating. At this time, the preheating step, by operating the drying heater and the blowing fan, supplying dry air into the clothes processing space, and if the temperature of the case is above a set temperature, the heater and the blowing fan And terminating the operation.

In addition, in the present invention, the case includes a side cover surrounding the side of the clothing processing space, and an upper cover covering the upper portion of the clothing processing space, the drying air is discharged from the lower portion of the clothing processing space And discharged through a discharge part formed in the upper cover, and when the temperature of the upper cover is higher than or equal to a set temperature, the operation of the heater and the blowing fan may be terminated.

Further, in the present invention, the preheating step, by operating the drying heater and the blowing fan, supplying dry air into the clothes processing space, and if the temperature in the clothes processing space is above the set temperature, the And terminating the operation of the heater and the blower fan.

Further, in the present invention, the preheating step, by operating the drying heater and the blowing fan, supplying dry air into the clothes processing space, the operating time of the heater and the blowing fan is first set If more than the time, it may include the step of terminating the operation of the heater and the blowing fan.

In the present invention, the steam supply device includes a water tank and a steam heater for heating water stored in the water tank, wherein the dry air supply device is discharged from a blower fan and the blower fan. A drying duct for guiding the air into the clothes processing space, and a drying heater for heating the discharged air or the air flowing into the blowing fan, wherein the steam heater and the precursor heater are not operated at the same time. Can be.

Further, in the present invention, the case includes a side cover surrounding the side of the garment processing space, and a top cover covering the upper portion of the garment processing space, wherein the preheating step is to preheat at least the top cover. Can be.

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

1 is a perspective view of a clothes processing apparatus 100 to which embodiments of the present invention are applied. In FIG. 1, a state in which one side member is deleted is illustrated to show an internal structure of the clothes treating apparatus 100. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the air supply device and the steam supply device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the clothes treating apparatus 100 includes an outer case 110 and an inner case 120 disposed inside the outer case 110. The inner case 120 is formed to be smaller than the outer case 110 by a predetermined size so as to be installed in the outer case 110. The inner case 120 includes a side cover 121 that surrounds the side surface of the garment processing space 130, and an upper cover 122 and a bottom cover 123 that cover the upper and lower portions of the garment processing space 130, respectively. Include. The condensation chamber 190 is formed between the side cover 121 and the outer case 110. Clothing is stored in the clothing processing space 130, a shelf on which the clothes can be placed, a hanger to hang the clothes, etc. may be disposed.

1 and 2, the clothes treating apparatus 100 may include a steam supplying device 150 disposed at a lower side of the clothes treating space 130. The steam supply device 150 generates steam and supplies steam to the clothes storage space 130. Accordingly, the clothes stored in the clothes storage space 130 may be wrinkled by the steam or particles of contaminants may be removed. The steam supply device 150 includes a water tank 151 for storing a predetermined amount of water therein, a heater 152 for steam receiving water from the water tank 151 and generating steam, and a steam generator ( And a drain tank 154 in which water remaining in 152 is collected. The steam generator 152 may include a steam heater 153 therein, and may convert the supplied water into steam using heat generated by the steam heater 153. In addition, the water supply from the water tank 151 to the steam generator 152 may be made by a predetermined supply flow path.

The drain tank 154 is provided with a collection space 154a in which water remaining in the steam generator 152 is collected, and a drain passage (not shown) connecting the steam generator 152 and the drain tank 154. . In addition, the drain tank 154 is provided to be attached to and detached from the outer case 110 of the clothes processing apparatus 100. The drain tank 154 may be installed in the lower portion of the outer case 110 in a drawer type, and a gripping hole 154b may be formed in the drain tank 154 so that a user can pull his or her hand. Therefore, when the amount of water collected in the collection space 154a reaches a saturation state, or when the water in the drain tank 154 is left for a predetermined time and there is a fear of bacterial propagation, the user touches the gripping hole 154b. The drain tank 154 can be easily emptied by being able to put and pull.

Referring to FIG. 1, the lower case 160 is disposed at one lower side of the clothes processing space 130. The steam generator 150 is disposed in the lower case 160. In particular, the water tank 151 is coupled to be detachable to the supply tank coupling portion 161 of the lower case 160. Therefore, when the water stored in the water tank 151 is consumed, the water tank 151 can be easily separated and resupply. However, the water tank 151 may be connected to an external water supply pipe (not shown) and filled by the operation of a valve (not shown).

1 and 2, the clothes treating apparatus 100 further includes a dry air supply device 140. The dry air supply device 140 introduces external air or internal air, changes the temperature to high temperature, and supplies the dry air to the clothes storage space 130. The dry air supply device 140 includes a blower fan 141, a drying heater 142 for heating the air introduced from the blower fan 141, and a discharge through which the air passing through the heater mounting unit 142 flows. The discharge part 143 and the discharge port 144 which are arrange | positioned at the edge part of the discharge part and discharge high temperature dry air into the clothing accommodation space 50 are included.

1 and 3, the outlet cover 122a is formed on the upper cover 122. The discharge port 122a communicates with the condensation chamber 190 so that air is discharged from the clothes processing space 130 to the condensation chamber 190. Herein, the air discharged through the outlet 122a may be dry air or wet air. In particular, when steam is supplied into the clothes treating space 130, the air in the clothes treating space 130 is in a humid air state. The condensation chamber 190 is a space in which the wet air introduced through the outlet 122a is condensed while descending. The wet air is condensed while exchanging heat with external air having a relatively low temperature using the outer case 110 as a heat exchange medium. The condensate is lowered into the lower portion of the condensation chamber 190, and is easily introduced into the drain tank 154 while flowing along the steam blocking film (not shown) at the lower portion of the condensation chamber 190. The outer case 110 may be formed of a member having high thermal conductivity, such as steel or aluminum, so that heat exchange with the wet air may be performed well.

Referring to FIG. 3, a blocking member 119 is disposed between the upper member 125 and the outer case 110. Therefore, the leakage of the wet air or the dry air introduced from the clothes processing space 130 through the discharge port 125a into the space other than the condensation chamber 150 is prevented.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be described with respect to the control method of the clothes processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The control method of the clothes treating apparatus 100 includes a preheating step, a steam supply step, and a drying step. It will be described in detail below.

First, the water is stored in the water tank 151 (step S101). If water above a certain level exists in the water tank 151, it is unnecessary to store additional water. The storage of water may be performed manually by a user, or may be automatically connected to an external water supply pipe (not shown).

Thereafter, the drying heater 142 and the blowing fan 141 are operated to supply high-temperature dry air into the clothes processing space 130 (step S105). The high temperature dry air supplied into the clothes processing space 130 exchanges heat with the inner case 120 to increase the temperature of the inner case 120. The elevated air flows into the condensation chamber 190 through the outlet 122a, and then again increases the temperature by the drying heater 142 and the blowing fan 141, and then is supplied into the clothes processing space 130 again. .

While supplying the high temperature dry air, the temperature of the inner case 120 is measured (step S110). The temperature of the inner case 120 is measured by a temperature sensor (not shown) installed on the inner case 120. In particular, the temperature sensor (not shown) is installed on the top cover 122, the temperature sensor (not shown) is to measure the temperature of the top cover 122. If comparing the temperature of the upper cover 122 and the set temperature (step S115), if the temperature of the upper cover 122 is higher than the set temperature, the operation of the drying heater 142 and the blowing fan 141 is stopped, preheating The step is terminated (step S120).

1 and 3, the air or the humid air is discharged from the lower part of the clothes processing space 130, ascended in the clothes processing space 130, and then discharged into the condensation chamber 190 through the discharge port 122a. In this case, the upper cover 122 has a relatively low temperature and relatively high humidity in the air or wet air, compared to the side cover 121 and the lower cover 123. Therefore, even if the drying step is performed after the steam supply step, there is a problem that condensate generated on the upper cover 122 is not easily removed during the steam supply step. However, in the present embodiment, as described above, since the inner case 120 is preheated by using high temperature dry air before the steam supply step, condensate generated in the inner case 120 in a subsequent steam supply process. Greatly reduces the amount of. In particular, the preheating temperature of the upper cover 122, in which the condensate is not easily removed from the inner case 120, is maintained above the set temperature, thereby further improving the condensate reduction effect.

When the preheating step is completed, the water supply valve (not shown) is opened to supply the stored water to the steam heater 152, and the steam heater 152 is operated to heat the supplied water to high temperature steam. (Step S125). The generated steam is applied to clothes stored in the clothes processing space 130 through a nozzle (not shown). While supplying steam to the clothing processing space 130, the steam supply time is integrated using a first timer (not shown) (S130). Comparing the integrated steam supply time t1 with the first set time (step S135), if the accumulated steam supply time t1 is equal to or greater than the first set time, the water supply valve (not shown) is closed and the steam heater The operation of 152 is stopped to end the steam supply step (S140 step).

Thereafter, the drying heater 142 and the blower fan 141 are operated again (step S145) to start the drying step. In the drying step, the drying air discharged from the blower fan 141 is heated by the drying heater 142 to become high temperature dry air, flows through the discharge part 143, and then discharges formed in the lower case 160. It discharges from the 161 to the lower space of the garment processing space 130. The discharged high temperature dry air dries the clothes, mixes the wet air in the clothes processing space, and then discharges the clothes to the condensation chamber 190 through the outlet 122a. The air introduced into the condensation chamber 190 is condensed while descending from the condensation chamber 190, and the condensed low temperature dry air is introduced into the blowing fan 141. Referring to FIG. 3, the flow A of wet air during the drying process is shown.

While supplying the dry air into the clothes processing space, a dry air supply time is accumulated using a second timer (not shown) (step S150). Comparing the accumulated dry air supply time t2 and the second set time (step S155), if the accumulated dry air supply time t2 is equal to or greater than the second set time, the drying heater 142 and the blowing fan 141. Stop the operation of the drying step ends (S160).

Referring to Figure 5, it will be described with respect to the control method of the clothes processing apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on differences from the control method illustrated in FIG. 4.

The control method of the clothes treating apparatus 100 includes a preheating step, a steam supply step, and a drying step.

First, the water is stored in the water tank 151 (step S201). Thereafter, the drying heater 142 and the blowing fan 141 are operated to supply high-temperature dry air into the clothes processing space 130 (step S205). The high temperature dry air supplied into the clothes processing space 130 exchanges heat with the inner case 120 to increase the temperature of the inner case 120.

While supplying the high-temperature dry air, an internal temperature of the clothing processing space 130 is measured using a temperature sensor (not shown) (step S210). By using the internal temperature of the clothing processing space 130, the temperature of the entire inner case 120 can be easily predicted, and thus, the internal temperature of the clothing processing space 130 is used as a temperature index of the inner case 120.

By comparing the internal temperature and the set temperature of the clothing processing space 130 (step S215), if the internal temperature of the clothing processing space 130 is greater than or equal to the set temperature, the operation of the drying heater 142 and the blowing fan 141 is stopped. By doing so, the preheating step is terminated (step S220).

When the preheating step is completed, the water supply valve (not shown) is opened to supply the stored water to the steam heater 152, and the steam heater 152 is operated to heat the supplied water to high temperature steam. (Step S225). The generated steam is applied to clothes stored in the clothes processing space 130 through a nozzle (not shown). While supplying steam to the clothing processing space 130, the steam supply time is integrated using a first timer (not shown) (step S230). Comparing the integrated steam supply time t1 with the first set time (step S235), if the accumulated steam supply time t1 is equal to or greater than the first set time, the water supply valve (not shown) is closed and the steam heater The operation of 152 is terminated to end the steam supply step (S240).

Thereafter, the drying heater 142 and the blowing fan 141 are operated again (step S245) to start the drying step. While supplying the dry air into the clothes processing space, a dry air supply time is accumulated using a second timer (not shown) (S250). If the accumulated dry air supply time t2 is compared with the second set time (step S255), and if the accumulated dry air supply time t2 is greater than or equal to the second set time, the drying heater 142 and the blower fan ( Operation 141 is stopped to end the drying step (step S260).

Referring to Figure 6, it will be described with respect to the control method of the clothes processing apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on differences from the control method illustrated in FIG. 4.

The control method of the clothes treating apparatus 100 includes a preheating step, a steam supply step, and a drying step.

First, the water is stored in the water tank 151 (step S301). Thereafter, the drying heater 142 and the blowing fan 141 are operated to supply high-temperature dry air into the clothes processing space 130 (step S305). The high temperature dry air supplied into the clothes processing space 130 exchanges heat with the inner case 120 to increase the temperature of the inner case 120.

While supplying the high-temperature dry air, a preheating time is integrated using a first timer (not shown) (step S310). By comparing the accumulated steam supply time t1 with the first set time (step S315), when the accumulated steam supply time t1 is equal to or greater than the first set time, the operation of the drying heater 142 and the blowing fan 141 is performed. By stopping the process, the preheating step is terminated (step S320).

When the preheating step is completed, the water supply valve (not shown) is opened to supply the stored water to the steam heater 152, and the steam heater 152 is operated to heat the supplied water to high temperature steam. (Step S325). The generated steam is applied to clothes stored in the clothes processing space 130 through a nozzle (not shown). While supplying steam to the clothing processing space 130, the steam supply time is integrated using a second timer (not shown) (S330). Comparing the accumulated steam supply time t2 with the second set time (step S335), if the accumulated steam supply time t2 is equal to or greater than the second set time, the water supply valve (not shown) is closed and the steam heater The operation of 152 is stopped to end the steam supply step (S340 step).

Thereafter, the drying heater 142 and the blower fan 141 are operated again (step S345) to start the drying step. While supplying the dry air into the clothes processing space, the dry air supply time is integrated using a third timer (not shown) (S350). If the integrated dry air supply time t3 and the third set time are compared (step S355), and if the accumulated dry air supply time t3 is equal to or greater than the third set time, the drying heater 142 and the blowing fan ( Operation 141 is stopped to end the drying step (step S360).

In the control method of the clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention, since the case is preheated before the steam supplying step, the amount of condensate formed on the case during the steam supplying step is large. Is reduced. Thus, the quality of the garment can be improved, and the internal cleanliness of the case can be improved.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims (10)

A case, a clothes processing space formed in the case and storing clothes, a steam supply device capable of supplying steam into the clothes processing space, and a dry air supply device capable of supplying dry air into the clothes processing space; In the control method of the clothes processing apparatus, Operating the dry air supply to preheat at least a portion of the case; And Operating the steam supply device to apply steam to the stored clothes. The method of claim 1, The steam supply device, a control method of the clothes processing apparatus including a water tank and a steam heater for heating the water stored in the water tank. The method of claim 2, The step of applying the steam, Operating the steam heater to generate steam from water stored in the water tank. The method of claim 1, The drying air supply apparatus includes a blowing fan, a drying duct for guiding the air discharged from the blowing fan into the clothes processing space, and a drying heater for heating the discharged air or air flowing into the blowing fan. Control method of the garment processing apparatus. The method of claim 4, wherein The preheating step, Operating the drying heater and the blowing fan to supply dry air into the clothes processing space; And And terminating the operation of the heater and the blowing fan when the temperature of the case is equal to or higher than a set temperature. The method of claim 4, wherein The case includes a side cover surrounding a side of the garment processing space, and an upper cover covering an upper portion of the garment processing space, The dry air is discharged from the lower portion of the garment processing space is discharged through the discharge portion formed in the upper cover, And controlling the heater and the blowing fan when the temperature of the upper cover is equal to or higher than a set temperature. The method of claim 4, wherein The preheating step, Operating the drying heater and the blowing fan to supply dry air into the clothes processing space; And And terminating the operation of the heater and the blowing fan when the temperature in the clothes processing space is equal to or greater than a set temperature. The method of claim 4, wherein The preheating step, Operating the drying heater and the blowing fan to supply dry air into the clothes processing space; And And terminating the operation of the heater and the blowing fan when the operating time of the heater and the blowing fan is equal to or greater than a set time. The method of claim 1, The steam supply device includes a water tank and a steam heater for heating the water stored in the water tank, The drying air supply apparatus includes a blowing fan, a drying duct for guiding the air discharged from the blowing fan into the clothes processing space, and a drying heater for heating the discharged air or air flowing into the blowing fan. and, And the steam heater and the precursor heater do not operate at the same time. The method of claim 1, The case includes a side cover surrounding a side of the garment processing space, and an upper cover covering an upper portion of the garment processing space, And said preheating step preheats at least said top cover.

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