KR20080062616A - Method for controlling clothes treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for controlling a washing machine is provided to store clothes for a long time without damage and to set a clothes storage mode easily by operating at least one of a steam generator and a dryer in order to control humidity in the space where the clothes are stored. A method for controlling a washing machine comprises the steps of: operating a steam generator and supplying steam into a case(S1); operating a dryer and supplying dry air into the case(S2); and operating at least one of the steam generator and the dryer for controlling humidity in a tub for storing clothes for a long time(S3).

Description

{Method for controlling clothes treatment apparatus}

1 is a schematic perspective view of a clothes treating apparatus to which a control method of a clothes treating apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention is applied;

2 is a side cross-sectional view of the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

3 is an exploded perspective view showing main parts of the dry air supply device and the steam supply device shown in FIG.

4 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration for controlling a clothes processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a clothes processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention;

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

8 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a clothes treating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention;

<Simple description of the code for the main part of the drawing>

100: garment processing unit 110: outer case

120: inner case 130: humidity sensor

131: timer 140: steam supply device

150: dry air supply unit 160: lower case

170: control unit

The present invention relates to a method of controlling a clothes treating apparatus, and more particularly, to a control method of a clothes treating apparatus capable of storing clothes in a clothes treating apparatus for a long time.

In general, the clothes treating apparatus is a device that reproduces clothes. That is, the clothes treating apparatus removes wrinkles and smells of clothes stored therein by using steam and hot air.

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. Therefore, the clothes treating apparatus has an advantage of not only reducing the number of washings by removing the contaminant of clothes, but also viewing the ironing effect of the clothes.

However, the clothes treating apparatus according to the related art does not provide a function of only storing clothes by steam and hot air, and does not provide a function of storing clothes for a long time.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control method of a clothes treating apparatus having a storage mode capable of storing clothes for a long time.

The present invention provides a case for defining a clothes processing space in which clothes are stored, a steam supply device for supplying steam in the clothes processing space, a dry air supply device for supplying dry air in the clothes processing space, and a user. A control method of a clothes processing apparatus including an operation unit for operating an operation of a clothes processing apparatus, the method comprising: operating a steam supply device to supply steam into the clothes processing space, and operating the dry air supply device; A drying mode for supplying dry air to the clothes processing space, and a storage mode for controlling humidity in the clothes processing space by operating at least one of the steam supply device and the dry air supply device at the end of the steam mode or the drying mode. It provides a control method of the clothing processing apparatus comprising a.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a case for defining a clothes processing space in which clothes are stored, a steam supply device for supplying steam in the clothes processing space, and drying for supplying dry air in the clothes processing space. A control method of a clothes processing apparatus including an air supply device and an operation unit for operating an operation of the clothes processing apparatus by a user, wherein at least one of the steam supply device and the dry air supply device is operated when the operation unit is operated. Provided is a control method of a clothes treating apparatus including a storage mode for controlling humidity in the clothes treating space.

The clothes processing apparatus further includes a humidity sensor disposed in the clothes processing space to sense an internal humidity of the clothes processing space, and the storage mode includes a first set value and a first set value of the detected value of the humidity sensor. Hold between smaller second setpoints. In the storage mode, when the detected value of the humidity sensor is equal to or greater than the first set value, the dry air supply device may be operated until the detected value of the humidity sensor reaches the second set value. However, in the storage mode, when the detected value of the humidity sensor is less than or equal to the second set value, the steam supply device may be operated until the detected value of the humidity sensor reaches the first set value. The first setting value and the second setting value may be set or changed through manipulation of the manipulation unit.

In addition, the clothes processing apparatus further includes a timer for measuring an operation time, and the storage mode stops the operation of the dry air supply device and the steam supply device for a first set time and then supplies the dry air supply device and the steam supply. Repeat operation of either of the devices for a second set time. The first setting time and the second setting time may be set or changed through manipulation of the manipulation unit.

The storage mode may be stopped or restarted through manipulation of the manipulation unit. Alternatively, the storage mode may stop the operation when the door is opened. The storage mode may be reactivated through manipulation of the manipulation unit when the door is closed.

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

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, FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is FIG. 1. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the principal part of the dry air supply apparatus and steam supply apparatus shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, the clothing processing apparatus 100 includes an outer case 110 and an inner case 120 disposed inside the outer case 110 to define a garment processing space 125.

The outer case 110 has a doorway 111 through which clothes are entered. One side of the outer case 110, the door 112 for opening and closing the doorway 111 is rotatably disposed. The door 112 is hinged to the upper and lower parts to the outer case 110.

The door 112 and the outer case 110, the opening and closing sensor 113 for detecting the opening and closing operation of the door 112 is provided. The opening / closing sensor 113 may include a first contact 113a formed at the rear portion of the door 112 and a second contact formed at the front portion of the outer case 110 to correspond to the first contact 113a. (113b). Positive and negative powers are supplied to the first contact 113a and the second contact 113b, respectively. Accordingly, the opening and closing of the door 112 are detected according to the presence or absence of a current passing through the first and second contacts 113a and 113b. However, the opening and closing sensor 113 is not limited to this embodiment and may be applied in various structures. For example, a contact switch disposed at a detachable part of at least one of the door 112 and the outer case 110, a position sensor for detecting a position coordinate of the door 112, and the like.

The door 112 and the outer case 110, a locking device 114 for limiting the operation of the door 112 when the door 112 is closed is disposed. The locking device 114 may include a door latch 114a formed at a rear portion of the door 112 and a door switch 114b formed at a front portion of the outer case 110 to correspond to the door latch 114a. Include. The door latch 114a is inserted into the door switch 114b when the door 112 is closed. The door switch 114b not only provides a locking force to a predetermined size when the door latch 114a is inserted, but also holds the door latch 114a so that the door latch 114a is not separated as necessary. do. However, the locking device 114 is not limited to this embodiment, various structures can be applied.

At least one of the door 112 and the outer case 110 is provided with a control panel 116 having an operation unit 115 for directly manipulating the operation of the clothes processing apparatus 100.

1 and 2, the inner case 120 is formed to be smaller than the outer case 110 by a predetermined size to be disposed in the outer case 110. The inner case 120 includes both side portions 121 forming both sides of the garment processing space 125, an upper surface portion 122 forming an upper surface of the garment processing space 125, and the garment processing space. A lower surface portion 123 forming a lower surface of the 125 and a rear surface portion 124 forming a rear surface of the garment processing space 125 are included.

Both end portions of the hangers 126 disposed in the left and right directions in the clothes processing space 125 are fixed to both side portions 121, respectively. At the rear of the upper surface portion 122, an air outlet 127 through which air or moisture in the clothes processing space 125 is discharged is formed. The back portion 124 forms a condensation chamber 129 between the outer case 110. An air inlet 128 through which air in the condensation chamber 129 flows into the clothes processing space 125 is formed under the rear portion 124.

The condensation chamber 129 is a space in which the wet air introduced through the air outlet 122a is condensed while descending. Thus, an upper portion of the condensation chamber 129 is connected in communication with the air outlet 127, and a lower portion of the condensation chamber 129 is connected in communication with the air inlet 128. The air discharged through the air outlet 127 is dry air or wet air. However, when the wet air is introduced into the condensation chamber 129 through the air outlet 127, the wet air is condensed while being heat-exchanged with relatively low temperature external air using the outer case 110 as a heat exchange medium. The outer case 110 is formed of a material having high thermal conductivity such as steel or aluminum so as to improve heat exchange performance with wet air.

On the other hand, the inner surface of the inner case 120, the humidity sensor 130 for detecting the humidity in the clothing processing space 125 may be disposed.

1 and 3, the clothes treating apparatus 100 may include a steam supply device 140 disposed at one lower side of the clothes treating space 125. The steam supply device 140 is a device for generating steam to supply steam in the clothes processing space (125). Accordingly, the clothes stored in the clothes processing space 125 may be wrinkled by the steam or particles of contaminants may be removed.

The steam supply device 140, a water tank 141 for storing a predetermined amount of water therein, a steam housing 142 for receiving and storing water up to a predetermined level from the water tank 141, and the steam It is disposed on the inner bottom of the housing 142 and includes a steam heater 143 for generating steam. A predetermined supply passage (not shown) for supplying water is formed between the water tank 141 and the steam housing 142. The steam heater 143 is disposed to penetrate the lower portion of the steam housing 142 to generate steam by applying heat to water stored in the steam housing 142.

1 and 3, the clothes treating apparatus 100 further includes a drying air supply device 150 disposed at the other lower side of the clothes treating space 125. The dry air supply device 150 is a device that inhales air or external air of the condensation chamber 129 to generate hot dry air, and then supplies the dry air into the clothes processing space 125. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the air of the condensation chamber 129 is limited to being sucked into the dry air supply device 150.

That is, the drying air supply device 150 includes a drying housing 151 which forms a flow path of air between the air inlet 128 and the clothes processing space 125, and inside the drying housing 151. A blowing fan 152 disposed to suck air in the condensation chamber 129 through the air inlet 128 and to discharge the inside of the clothes processing space 125, and to process the clothes by the blowing fan 152. And a drying heater (not shown) for heating the air discharged into the space 125.

The drying housing 151 is a duct-shaped member in which the blowing fan 152 and a drying heater are incorporated. One end of the drying housing 151 is connected in communication with the air inlet 128, and the other side of the drying housing 151 is disposed in the clothes processing space 125. The other side of the drying housing 151 is disposed with a discharge port 153 for discharging dry air into the clothes processing space 125.

Referring to FIG. 1, a lower case 160 in which the steam supply device 140, the dry air supply device 150, and the like are disposed inside one side of the clothes processing space 125 is formed. In particular, the water tank 141 is detachably coupled to the supply tank coupling portion 161 formed on the upper portion of the lower case 160. Accordingly, when the water stored in the water tank 141 is consumed, the water tank 141 is easily detached from the supply tank coupling portion 161 so that the water tank 141 is easily resupplied. However, the water tank 141 may be connected to an external water supply pipe (not shown) and may be automatically filled by an operation of a valve (not shown).

1 and 3, condensate generated in the inner case 120 and the condensation chamber 129 and water remaining in the steam supply device 140 are drained on the lower front surface of the outer case 110. The drain tank 162 is arranged detachably. The drain tank 162 is a storage unit 163, the condensed water and the residual water is recovered and stored, from the inner case 120, the condensation chamber 129 and the steam supply device 140 to the storage unit 163. It includes a drain channel that directs condensate and residual water.

The drain tank 162 is disposed on the lower front surface of the outer case 110 so as to be detachably mounted, and a grip hole 164 is formed on the front surface of the drain tank 162 to be gripped by a user. Therefore, when the amount of water collected by the storage unit 163 reaches a saturation state or when water in the storage unit 163 is left for a predetermined time, the storage unit of the drain tank 162 using the holding hole 162 ( The remaining number stored in 163 is removed.

Looking at the control method of the clothes processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

4 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration for controlling a clothes processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is a flow chart showing a control method of the clothes processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the control method of the clothing processing apparatus 100, the steam mode for supplying steam in the clothes processing space 125 by operating the steam supply device 140, and the dry air supply device 150 by operating the At least one of a drying mode for supplying dry air into the clothes processing space 125 and at least one of the steam supply device 140 and the dry air supply device 150 when the steam mode or the drying mode is terminated operates the clothes. It includes a storage mode for controlling the humidity in the space (125). It will be described in detail below.

4 and 5, in the steam mode, the steam is supplied to the interior of the clothing processing space 125 by the steam supply device 140 so that the clothes are caught in the hanger 126 of the clothing processing space 125. Are reproduced (S1).

That is, water is supplied from the water tank 141 into the steam housing 142 of the steam supply device 140, and the water in the steam housing 142 is heated by the steam heater 143 to deform into steam. The steam is supplied into the clothes processing space 125. Thus, not only the contaminants of the clothes are removed by the steam, but also the wrinkles of the clothes are unfolded.

In the drying mode, at the end of the steam mode, dry air is supplied into the clothes processing space 125 by the drying air supply device 150 to dry the clothes caught in the hanger 126 of the clothes processing space 125. (S2)

That is, the blower fan 152 of the dry air supply device 150 is operated to dry air is introduced through the air inlet 128, the dry air is heated by a drying heater to become hot dry air, It is discharged into the clothes processing space 125 through the discharge port 153 of the drying housing 151. In addition, the wet air in the clothing processing space 125 is discharged to the condensation chamber 129 through the air outlet 127 of the inner case 120, and the wet air is condensed while being heat-exchanged with the outside air in the condensing chamber 129. The condensed dry air is supplied back into the drying housing 151 through the air inlet 128. Therefore, the moisture of the clothes is removed by the dry air circulating through the dry air supply device 150 and the condensation chamber 129.

When the operation of the steam mode and the drying mode as described above is finished, the control unit 170 enters the storage mode.

In the storage mode, the humidity in the clothing processing space 125 is sensed by the humidity sensor 130, the humidity detection value of the humidity sensor 130 is transmitted to the control unit 170, the control unit 170 is The operation of the steam supply device 140 or the dry air supply device 150 is controlled to maintain the humidity detection value between the first set value and the second set value smaller than the first set value. (S4 to S12)

That is, if the detected value of the humidity sensor 130 is greater than or equal to the first set value, the controller 170 supplies the dry air supply device 150 until the detected value of the humidity sensor 130 reaches the second set value. (S5, S6, S7, S8) On the other hand, if the detected value of the humidity sensor 130 is less than or equal to the second set value, the control unit 170 is the first detected value of the humidity sensor 130 The steam supply device 140 is operated until the first set value is reached. (S9, S10, S11, S12) The first set value and the second set value are previously described in the control unit 170 at the time of product design. The stored value.

On the other hand, whether the door 112 is opened is detected by the opening and closing sensor 113. At this time, if the door 112 is closed, the control unit 170 repeats the above steps, and if the door 112 is open, the control unit 170 supplies the steam supply device 140 and dry air. The operation of the device 150 is stopped to end the storage mode. (S13, S14)

The storage mode as described above may be automatically reactivated when the door 112 is closed, or may be reactivated through an operation of the manipulation unit 115.

6 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration for controlling a clothes processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, Figure 7 is a flow chart showing a control method of the clothes processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 6, the same reference numerals as those shown in Figs. 1 to 4 denote the same members. Hereinafter will be described focusing on the points different from one embodiment of the present invention.

6 is different from the clothes processing apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and the operation time of the steam supply device 140 or the dry air supply device 150 is measured. It further comprises a timer 131 to.

Therefore, the control method of the clothes processing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 7 differs from the control method of the clothes processing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 5 in accordance with the time measurement value of the timer 131. Control the storage mode.

That is, as shown in Figure 5, when the steam mode and drying mode is finished, the control unit 170 enters the storage mode. (S51, S52, S53) At this time, the steam mode and the drying mode is the above-mentioned Since it is similar to the embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the storage mode, the operating time of the clothing processing apparatus 200 is sensed by the timer 131, the time measurement value of the timer 131 is transmitted to the controller 170, and the controller 170 is configured to dry the drying. After the operation of the air supply device 150 and the steam supply device 140 is stopped for a first set time, the one of the dry air supply device 150 and the steam supply device 140 is operated for a second set time. Control is repeated. (S54 to S60)

That is, when the time measurement value of the timer 131 is greater than or equal to the first set time, the controller 170 supplies the dry air supply device 150 until the time measurement value of the timer 131 reaches the second set time. Or the steam supply device 140. (S57, S58) The stop and operation of the dry air supply device 150 or the steam supply device 140 are the first set time and the second set time. Are repeated alternately. The first setting value and the second setting value are values stored in advance in the controller 170 at the time of product design.

On the other hand, whether the door 112 is opened is detected by the opening and closing sensor 113. At this time, if the door 112 is closed, the control unit 170 repeats the above steps, and if the door 112 is open, the control unit 170 supplies the steam supply device 140 and dry air. The operation of the device 150 is stopped to end the storage mode. (S61, S62)

The storage mode as described above may be automatically reactivated when the door 112 is closed, or may be reactivated through an operation of the manipulation unit 115.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 8, the same reference numerals as those shown in Figs. 1 to 4 denote the same members. Hereinafter will be described focusing on the points different from one embodiment of the present invention.

The control method of the clothes processing apparatus 300 shown in FIG. 8 is different from the control method of the clothes processing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 5, in which the user enters the storage mode through the operation unit 115, It operates by stopping, reactivating storage mode, and inputting set value.

That is, the setting value input is set or changed as necessary by the user through the operation unit 115, and the entry of the storage mode is an operation command input through the operation unit 115 regardless of the end of the steam mode and the drying mode. Is carried out by.

In the storage mode, the humidity in the clothing processing space 125 is sensed by the humidity sensor 130, the humidity detection value of the humidity sensor 130 is transmitted to the control unit 170, the control unit 170 is The operation of the steam supply device 140 or the dry air supply device 150 is controlled to maintain the humidity detection value between the first set value and the second set value smaller than the first set value. (S103 to S111)

That is, if the detected value of the humidity sensor 130 is greater than or equal to the first set value, the controller 170 supplies the dry air supply device 150 until the detected value of the humidity sensor 130 reaches the second set value. (S104, S105, S106, S107) On the other hand, if the detected value of the humidity sensor 130 is less than or equal to the second set value, the control unit 170 is the first detected value of the humidity sensor 130 The steam supply device 140 is operated until the first setting value is reached. (S108, S109, S110, S111) The first setting value and the second setting value are input by the user through the operation unit 115. One value.

On the other hand, when the stop mode of the storage mode is input through the operation unit 115, the control unit 170 stops the operation of the steam supply device 140 and the dry air supply device 150 by The storage mode is terminated. (S112) Of course, the storage mode can be repeatedly controlled to restart and stop through the operation of the operation unit 115.

As described above, the method for controlling the clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and drawings, and various modifications are made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Of course, variations are possible.

Since the control method of the clothes treating apparatus of the present invention has a storage mode in which at least one of a steam supply device and a dry air supply device is operated to appropriately control the humidity in the clothes processing space, clothes are stored for a long time in the clothes processing space. There is an advantage.

In addition, the control method of the clothes processing apparatus of the present invention, even if the clothes are not taken out for a long time after the use of the clothes processing apparatus, the clothes are stably stored, and the setting of the storage mode is easily adjusted by the user, thereby improving user convenience. There is this.

Claims (11)

A case defining a clothes processing space in which the clothes are stored, a steam supply device for supplying steam into the clothes processing space, a dry air supply device for supplying dry air into the clothes processing space, and a clothes processing by a user In the control method of the clothes processing apparatus including an operation unit for operating the operation of the device, A steam mode for supplying steam to the clothes processing space by operating the steam supply device; A drying mode for supplying dry air into the clothes processing space by operating the dry air supply device; And a storage mode in which at least one of the steam supply device and the dry air supply device is operated at the end of the steam mode or the drying mode to control the humidity in the clothing processing space. A case defining a clothes processing space in which the clothes are stored, a steam supply device for supplying steam into the clothes processing space, a dry air supply device for supplying dry air into the clothes processing space, and a clothes processing by a user In the control method of the clothes processing apparatus including an operation unit for operating the operation of the device, And a storage mode in which at least one of the steam supply device and the dry air supply device is operated to control the humidity in the clothing processing space when the operation unit is operated. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The clothes processing apparatus further includes a humidity sensor disposed in the clothes processing space to sense an internal humidity of the clothes processing space. The storage mode, the control method of the clothing processing apparatus to maintain the detected value of the humidity sensor between the first set value and the second set value smaller than the first set value. The method according to claim 3, In the storage mode, if the detected value of the humidity sensor is greater than or equal to the first set value, the drying air supply device is operated until the detected value of the humidity sensor reaches a second set value. The method according to claim 3, In the storage mode, if the detected value of the humidity sensor is less than the second set value, the control method of the clothing processing apparatus to operate the steam supply device until the detected value of the humidity sensor reaches the first set value. The method according to claim 3, And the first setting value and the second setting value are set or changed by manipulation of the operation unit. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The clothing processing apparatus further includes a timer for measuring an operating time, In the storage mode, the operation of the clothes to repeat the operation of any one of the dry air supply and steam supply unit for a second set time after the operation of the dry air supply and steam supply unit for a second set time. Control method of the device. The method according to claim 7, The first setting time and the second setting time, the control method of the clothes processing apparatus is set or changed by the operation of the operation unit. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The storage mode, the control method of the clothing processing apparatus is stopped or restarted by the operation of the operation unit. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The storage mode, the control method of the clothes processing apparatus to stop the operation when the door is opened. The method according to claim 10, The storage mode, the control method of the clothing processing apparatus is restarted by the operation of the operation unit when the door is closed.

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