KR20190127638A - Apparatus for treating clothes - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating clothes, which comprises: a tank body having an open front, and having an upper side formed in a round shape to minimize interference with a case during detachment; a tank cover coupled to a front surface of the tank body, and having a handle part inwardly concavely formed therein; a check valve installed in the tank body, and opening and closing a flow path discharged from the tank body to the outside; and a water level sensor for sensing a water level of water stored in the tank body. According to the present invention, the water level stored in the tank module is directly sensed, thereby directly sensing insufficiency of water stored in a water supply tank without delay, and preventing water from overflowing from a drain tank.

Description

Clothing processing unit {APPARATUS FOR TREATING CLOTHES}

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus.

The clothes treating apparatus refers to all devices for managing clothes such as washing, drying, or improving wrinkles of clothes in a home or a laundry.

For example, a clothing treatment device may include a washing machine for washing clothes, a dryer for drying clothes, a dry washing machine that combines washing and drying functions, a refresher for refreshing clothes, and a steamer for improving unnecessary wrinkles of clothes. (Steamer).

The refresher is a device for making the condition of clothes comfortable and fresh, and performs functions such as drying clothes, supplying fragrance to clothes, preventing static electricity from being produced, or improving wrinkles of clothes.

A steamer is a device that removes wrinkles of clothing by simply supplying steam to the clothing. Unlike a conventional iron, steamers remove wrinkles of clothing without directly heating the clothing.

The clothes treating apparatus having the functions of the refresher and the steamer may perform functions such as wrinkles and odor removal of the clothes stored therein by using steam and hot air.

Korea Patent Publication 10-2014-0016093

An object of the present invention is to provide a clothes treatment apparatus capable of directly sensing the level of water stored in the tank.

In another aspect, the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus that can be confirmed by the user without water delay in operation.

Clothing processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is the front surface is formed by the opening, the upper side is formed in a round shape tank body for minimizing interference with the case when removable; A tank cover coupled to the front surface of the tank body and having a handle portion formed to be concave inwardly; A check valve installed in the tank body to open and close a flow path discharged from the tank body to the outside; It includes; and a water level sensor for detecting the water level of the water stored in the tank body.

The water level sensor is installed in the tank body and the floater is moved in the vertical direction in accordance with the water level; A plotter case installed on the tank body and having the plotter disposed therein; And a sensor installed outside the tank body to detect the plotter.

The tank body may further include a plotter installation unit in which the plotter case is installed.

Clothing processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention comprises a case in which a processing chamber is a garment is mounted and the cycle chamber is installed the mechanical device; A door to open and close the front of the case; A steam unit disposed in the cycle chamber and supplying steam to the processing chamber; A heat pump unit disposed in the cycle chamber and configured to air-condition while circulating the air in the processing chamber; It is connected to the steam unit to supply water, located on the lower side of the front of the case, is formed detachably on the case, the upper part is formed in a round shape so as to minimize the interference with the case when detaching, the front A water supply tank formed with a handle; A drain tank connected to the heat pump unit to store condensed water; And a water level sensor disposed in each of the water supply tank and the drain tank, and configured to sense a level of stored water.

At least one of the water supply tank or the drain tank is formed by opening the front surface, the upper side is formed in a round shape tank body for minimizing interference with the case when removable; A tank cover coupled to the front surface of the tank body and having a handle portion formed to be concave inwardly; A check valve installed in the tank body to open and close a flow path discharged from the tank body to the outside; It may include; and a water level sensor for detecting the water level of the water stored in the tank body.

The tank body and the tank cover may be manufactured by injecting a DS eye, and the water level sensor may be installed by insert injection in a process of injecting the DS eye.

The water level sensor is installed in the tank body and the floater is moved in the vertical direction in accordance with the water level; A plotter case installed on the tank body and having the plotter disposed therein; And a sensor installed at the cycle chamber to sense the plotter.

The plotter case installed in the water supply tank may be disposed at the minimum water level required to operate the steam unit during one stroke.

The plotter case installed in the drain tank may be disposed at a maximum water level position capable of storing condensate generated in the heat pump unit during one stroke.

Since the clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention directly detects the water level of the water stored in the tank module, it is possible to directly detect the lack of water stored in the water supply tank without delay, and has an effect of preventing the water from overflowing the drain tank.

In addition, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present invention has the effect of preventing the lack of steam while driving at least one stroke because the water level sensor is installed to ensure the minimum level required to generate steam during operation.

The clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention has an effect of preventing the condensate from overflowing while driving at least one stroke because the water level sensor is installed to secure the maximum level of condensate generated during operation.

1 is a perspective view of a clothes treating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
2 is an exploded perspective view of a cycle assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a perspective view of a cycle assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
4 is an exploded perspective view of the water supply tank shown in FIG.
5 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the water supply tank shown in FIG.
6 is a side cross-sectional view of the water supply tank shown in FIG.
7 is a perspective view of the drain tank shown in FIG.
8 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the drain tank shown in FIG.
9 is a side cross-sectional view of the drain tank shown in FIG.

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

However, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Even if the terms are the same, if the displayed portions are different, it is to be noted that the reference numerals do not match.

The terms to be described below are terms set in consideration of functions in the present invention, and may be changed according to a user's intention or custom such as an experimenter and a measurer, and the definitions should be made based on the contents throughout the present specification.

In this specification, terms such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component. The term and / or includes a combination of a plurality of related items or any item of a plurality of related items.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Terms such as those defined in the commonly used dictionaries should be construed as having meanings consistent with the meanings in the context of the related art and shall not be construed in ideal or excessively formal meanings unless expressly defined in this application. Do not.

In addition, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, this means that it may further include other components, except to exclude other components unless otherwise stated.

1 is a perspective view of a clothes treating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a cycle assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a first embodiment of the present invention 4 is an exploded perspective view of the water supply tank shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a partially exploded perspective view of the water supply tank shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the water supply tank shown in FIG. 1. 7 is a perspective view of the drain tank shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of the drain tank shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the drain tank shown in FIG. 1.

The laundry treatment apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a case 10 and a door 20 that opens and closes the front surface of the case 10.

The case 10 is provided with a separating plate 11 for dividing the interior in a vertical direction, and a processing chamber 12 through which clothes are mounted on the upper side of the separating plate 11 is formed, and the separating plate 11 is provided. On the lower side, a cycle chamber 14 in which a mechanism is installed is formed.

Clothes are placed in the treatment chamber 12 to remove wrinkles or deodorize clothes by steam or air circulation.

The cycle chamber 14 includes a blowing unit 30 for circulating air in the processing chamber 12, a steam unit 40 for providing steam to the processing chamber 12, and a process chamber 12 of the processing chamber 12. The heat pump unit 50 for air-conditioning the air, and the control unit 60 for controlling the units 30, 40, 50 are provided.

An assembly of mechanical devices for driving each stroke of the clothes treating apparatus such as the blower unit 30, the steam unit 40, the heat pump unit 50, the control unit 60, etc. is defined as a cycle assembly in this embodiment. do.

The blowing unit 30 flows air through the rotation of the fan to suck air from the processing chamber 12 and to discharge it to the heat pump unit 50 and the blowing fan 32 It is installed on the suction side of the), and includes an inlet duct 34 for guiding the air inside the processing chamber 12 to the blowing fan (32).

The steam unit 40 is heated by the applied power, and receives water from the water supply tank 80 to be described later to convert to steam. The steam is discharged to the processing chamber 12, the flow path is configured to flow in the embodiment to the processing chamber 12 through the heat pump unit 50.

The heat pump unit 50 is composed of a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and an expansion valve, and may discharge cooled air or heated air into the processing chamber 12 according to an operation mode.

In particular, the heat pump unit 50 may dehumidify moisture in the air by generating heat exchange with the air supplied from the blower unit 30.

A tank module 70 for storing water is installed in front of the cycle chamber 14, and in this embodiment, a tank module frame 71 in which the tank module 70 is installed at the front side of the inlet duct 34. This is installed.

The tank module frame 71 is coupled to the separator plate 11 to separate the cycle chamber 14 from the outside.

The tank module 70 includes a water supply tank 80 for supplying water to the steam unit 40 and a drain tank 90 for collecting and storing condensed water generated in the processing chamber 12.

The water supply tank 80 is connected to the steam unit 40 to supply water, and the drain tank 90 is connected to the processing chamber 12, and the processing chamber 12 or the heat pump unit 50. ), The water flowing in is stored.

The water supply tank 80 has a tank body 82 formed by opening the front surface, a tank cover 84 coupled to the front surface of the tank body 82, and a decoration cover 86 coupled to the tank cover 84. ), The water supply check valve 110 installed in the tank body 82 to open and close the flow path connected to the steam unit 40, and the water level sensor 100 for detecting the water level of the water stored in the tank body 82. Include.

The tank body 82 is formed by opening the front surface, the water level sensor 100 is disposed inside.

In the present embodiment, the water level sensor 100 is installed in the tank body 82 and moves up and down in accordance with the water level, and the tank body 82 is installed in the tank body 82 and the plotter 102 is It includes a plotter case 105 disposed inside, and a sensor 104 installed on the tank module frame 71 to sense the plotter 102.

The magnetic is disposed in the plotter 102, the sensor 104 detects the magnetic force of the magnetic.

The inner surface of the tank body 82 is formed with a plotter mounting portion 83 in which the plotter 102 is installed, and the plotter case 105 is installed in the plotter mounting portion 83. The plotter 102 may be moved up and down along the plotter installation part 83 by buoyancy.

In this embodiment, since the plotter 102 is installed at the minimum level required for one stroke, the sensor 104 detects the plotter 102 and transmits a signal regarding water shortage to the control unit 60. One stroke can be driven.

In addition, the plotter case 105 in which the plotter 102 is embedded is manufactured by being inserted in the DSI process of the tank cover 84 and the tank body 82.

The die slide injection (DSI) is a molding technology developed for molding a blow molding or a thin plate product.

This DSI process does not require post-processing such as adhesion or assembly after injection molding, and it is easier to control wall thickness compared to blow molding or gas molding, and has excellent surface shape and dimensional accuracy. There is an easy advantage in blow molding.

Production of the product using the DSI process is a general technique to those skilled in the art, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Here, the tank body 82 and the tank cover 84 are manufactured by the DSI method, and the plotter case 105 is inserted into the insert during the manufacturing process.

The boundary of the tank body 82 and the tank cover 84 is combined and integrated at the time of manufacture.

The tank cover 84 has a window 85 for checking the water level is disposed, the handle portion 87 is formed to be concave so that the user can hold the hand.

The decor cover 86 is formed in a shape that covers the entire surface of the tank cover 84, and is formed in a shape corresponding to the tank cover 84.

A water supply hole 81 is formed above the tank body 82, and a water supply cover 89 for opening and closing the water supply hole 81 is disposed.

The water supply cover 89 is formed of a flexible material having elasticity, one end is fixed to the tank body 82, the other end may be bent by the user's operating force to open and close the water supply hole (81).

The water supply check valve 110 is coupled to the check valve hole 111 formed at the bottom of the tank body 82 and the check valve hole 111 to check the water to control the water inside the tank body 82 ( 112).

The check assembly 112 is coupled to the check valve hole 111, the check housing 113 is formed with a check flow passage 114 is formed so that the water flows therein, and the check passage 113 is disposed in the check flow passage A valve 115 for opening and closing the 114 and a check elastic member 116 disposed between the valve 115 and the tank body 82 and providing an elastic force to the valve 115 are included.

The valve 115 is formed to protrude to the lower side, and is pushed to move upward when coupled to the tank module frame (71).

At this time, when the check flow passage 114 is opened by the movement of the valve 115, and the water supply tank 80 is separated from the tank module frame 71, the check flow is checked by the elastic force of the check elastic member 116. The flow path 114 is closed.

The drain tank 90 is functionally identical to the water supply tank 80, and is formed symmetrically with respect to the vertical direction.

However, the check valve 120 of the drain tank 90 is installed on the rear side rather than the lower side.

The condensed water generated in the treatment chamber 12 and the condensed water generated in the heat pump unit 50 are stored in the drain tank 90.

Plotter case 105 is installed inside the drain tank 90, the plotter installation portion 93 is formed, the plotter installation portion 93 is formed so that the water level margin is enough to store the condensate generated in one stroke Is located.

That is, the plotter installation unit 93 is located at a position where the condensed water generated in the first stroke does not overflow even when all the condensed water is stored in the drain tank 90.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may be manufactured in various forms, and having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive.

10 case 12 treatment chamber
14: cycle chamber 20: door
30: blowing unit 40: steam unit
50: heat pump unit 60: control unit
70: tank module 80: water supply tank
81: water supply hole 82: tank body
83: plotter mounting portion 84: tank cover
85: Windows 86: Deco Cover
87: handle portion 89: water supply cover
90: drain tank 93: plotter mounting portion
100: water level sensor 102: plotter
104: sensor 105: plotter case
110: water supply check valve 111: check valve hole
112: check assembly 113: check housing
114: check flow path 115: valve
116: check elastic member 120: check valve

Claims (15)

A case whose front is opened;
A door rotatably coupled to the case to open and close the front surface;
A processing chamber provided inside the case to provide an accommodation space for mounting the garment;
A cycle chamber positioned separately from the process chamber below the process chamber;
A blowing unit located in the cycle chamber to circulate air in the accommodation space;
A steam unit located in the cycle chamber to supply steam to the accommodation space;
A heat pump unit located inside the cycle chamber to exchange heat with air in the accommodation space;
A water supply tank supplying water to the steam unit;
A drain tank for storing condensed water condensed in the heat pump unit or the processing chamber; And
And a tank module frame provided at the front of the cycle chamber to separate the cycle chamber from the outside and form an installation space in which the water supply tank and the drain tank are detachable, respectively.
The tank module frame
And a frame bottom surface forming a bottom surface of the tank module frame.
The water supply tank and the drain tank
And an extension part in which a rear surface and both sides of the water supply tank extend downward from the bottom surface of the water supply tank so as to be coupled to the bottom surface of the frame.
When the water supply tank and the drain tank are coupled to the tank module frame,
The frame bottom surface and the extension unit is coupled to the clothes processing apparatus, characterized in that to prevent the separation of the water supply tank and the drain tank from the tank module frame. The method of claim 1,
The upper side of the water supply tank and the drain tank is a round shape,
The rear surface of the tank module frame is also formed in a round shape corresponding thereto,
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein interference with the tank module frame can be reduced when the water supply tank and the drain tank are attached and detached. The method of claim 2,
The water supply tank and the drain tank are respectively
A tank body whose front face is opened and the rear face is rounded;
A tank cover coupled to a front surface of the tank body to form a storage space in which the tank body and water are stored; And
A handle portion formed concave on an upper surface of the water supply tank and the drain tank, respectively; Including
The handle portion
When the door is opened, the clothes treating apparatus is exposed to the outside, and the separation of the water supply tank and the drain tank is possible by pulling the handle portion. The method of claim 3,
The tank cover
Extends below the bottom of the tank body,
And pulling the handle to separate the water supply tank or the drain tank from the tank module frame, by rotating about the extended end of the tank cover. The method of claim 4, wherein
The extension portion
And at least one rib protruding from the bottom surface of the tank body to be coupled to the tank cover. The method of claim 4, wherein
The tank module frame
It is bent at the front end of the frame bottom surface further comprises a projection for supporting the water supply tank and the drain tank,
And a predetermined gap is formed between the extension part and the tank cover extending below the bottom surface of the tank body, and the protrusion is coupled to the gap. The method of claim 1,
The water supply tank and the drain tank
A water supply hole and a drainage hole are formed on the water supply tank and the drain tank, respectively, and a water treatment cover and a drainage cover for opening and closing the water supply hole and the drainage hole, respectively. The method of claim 7, wherein
And when the water supply tank and the drain tank are coupled to the tank module frame, the water supply cover and the drain cover are respectively closed. The method of claim 7, wherein
The upper side of the water supply tank and the drain tank is a round shape,
Clothing processing apparatus, characterized in that the water supply cover and the drain cover also has a round shape corresponding thereto. The method of claim 1,
The water supply tank
A water supply check valve disposed on a bottom surface of the water supply tank to open and close a flow path connected to the steam unit; Contains more
A part of the water supply check valve protrudes downward of the bottom surface. The method of claim 10,
The front surface of the water supply tank also extends below the bottom surface of the water supply tank,
The protruding length of the water supply check valve is smaller than the extended length of the front surface. The method of claim 1,
The water supply tank is coupled to one side of the tank module frame,
The clothes processing apparatus, characterized in that the steam unit is also located on the same side as the water tank is located. The method of claim 1,
The water supply tank and the drain tank each further includes a water level sensor for detecting the water level of the stored water,
The water level sensor
A floater moved vertically by buoyancy according to the water level in the water supply tank and the drain tank;
A plotter case installed in each of the water supply tank and the drain tank and having the plotter disposed therein; And
And a sensor installed at the tank module frame to detect the plotter of the water supply tank and the floater of the drain tank.
The sensor of the water supply tank and the sensor of the drain tank are clothes handling apparatus, characterized in that located on different heights on the tank module frame. The method of claim 1,
The blowing unit is
A blowing fan that sucks air in the accommodation space and discharges the air to the heat pump unit;
Includes an inlet duct located in front of the blowing fan to guide the air in the receiving space to the blowing fan;
Clothing processing apparatus, characterized in that the heat pump unit, the steam unit is installed behind the blowing fan. The method of claim 14,
Further comprising a base to form a lower surface of the case,
And a fixed frame for supporting the heat pump unit and defining a predetermined receiving area between the heat pump unit and the base.
Clothing processing apparatus, characterized in that the steam unit is installed in the predetermined receiving area.

Images