KR20210149458A - Clothes care apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clothes management apparatus. More specifically, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the clothes management apparatus comprises: a body unit including a clothes storage chamber storing clothes; an air conditioning unit including a thermal pump which changes the temperature by making flowing air exchange heat with a refrigerant; a flow path unit including a plurality of flow paths communicating for a fluid with the body unit and the air conditioning unit; a flow path opening/closing unit opening/closing the flow path unit; a detection unit detecting the temperature of the air conditioning unit; and a control unit controlling the air conditioning unit. On at least one of the body unit and the flow path unit, a first outlet and a second outlet are formed to discharge the air to the clothes storage chamber. The second outlet is formed at a position farther from the thermal pump than the first outlet. The flow path unit includes: a first flow route; and a second flow route which is longer than the first flow route. The first flow route makes the first outlet communicate for a fluid with the air conditioning unit. The second flow route makes the second outlet communicate with the air conditioning unit. The control unit controls the flow path opening/closing unit for opening/closing the first flow route and the second flow route based on the temperature of the air conditioning unit detected by the detection unit.

Description

Clothing care machine {CLOTHES CARE APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a clothes care device.

In general, the clothes manager may physically shake clothes stored in a space inside the clothes manager or spray a fluid to remove dust, etc. attached to the clothes. In addition, the clothes manager not only simply removes dust from clothes, but also performs clothes care such as drying wet clothes, removing odors from clothes by using moisture, and reducing wrinkles on clothes. It is a device that performs

Specifically, the clothes manager may control the internal temperature by heating the internal air, and may dry the clothes by supplying the heated air to the space in which the clothes are arranged. The air inside the clothing manager may be heated by a heat pump. For example, a heat pump uses a refrigerant to heat ambient air, and the heated air circulates inside the clothing manager. Thereafter, the air circulating in the clothes manager returns to the heat pump and is heated again, and by repeating this process, the air inside the clothes manager is heated to a predetermined temperature.

In order to reduce the overall time required for clothing management, it is necessary to rapidly increase the air temperature inside the clothing management machine in the initial stage of operation. As a method of rapidly increasing the temperature, there may be a method of circulating air in a space in which clothes are accommodated in the shortest possible way so that the air can stay in the space where the heat pump is located for as long as possible. However, after the air temperature is raised, the air needs to be circulated in a relatively long path in the space in which the clothes are stored so that the clothes can be sufficiently managed.

Accordingly, there is a need for a clothing manager capable of changing the position of an outlet through which air is discharged from a space in which a heat pump is located to a space in which clothes are accommodated so that the length of the air circulation path can be adjusted according to the temperature.

Korean Patent Laid-Open Patent No. 10-2018-0124349 (published application on November 21, 2018)

Embodiments of the present invention were invented with the above background in mind, and an object of the present invention is to provide a clothing management device capable of rapidly heating the air inside the clothing management device to a predetermined temperature.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a body part including a clothes storage chamber in which clothes are accommodated; an air conditioning unit including a heat pump for changing the temperature of flowing air through heat exchange with a refrigerant; a flow path including a plurality of flow paths in fluid communication with the body and the air conditioning unit; a flow path opening and closing unit for opening and closing the flow path; a sensing unit for sensing the temperature of the air conditioner; and a controller for controlling the air conditioning unit, wherein at least one of the body unit and the flow path is formed with first and second outlets for discharging air to the clothes storage chamber, and the second outlet includes: It is formed at a position spaced apart from the heat pump than the first outlet, and the flow path includes a first flow path and a second flow path that is longer than the first flow path, wherein the first flow path includes: A first outlet is in fluid communication with the air conditioner, the second flow path is in communication with the second outlet and the air conditioner, and the control unit includes: based on the temperature of the air conditioner sensed by the sensing unit, the first A clothes management device may be provided that controls the flow path opening/closing unit to open and close the flow path and the second flow path.

In addition, the heat pump may include an evaporator for dehumidifying the flowing air; a condenser for heating the air passing through the evaporator; and a compressor driving to apply pressure to the refrigerant passing through the evaporator so that the refrigerant circulates in the evaporator and the condenser, wherein the sensing unit senses the temperature of the evaporator or the condenser, and the control unit comprises: When the temperature of the evaporator or the condenser sensed through the sensing unit is lower than the reference temperature input in advance, the first flow path is opened, and the temperature of the evaporator or the condenser sensed through the sensing unit is higher than the reference temperature A clothes management device may be provided that controls the flow path opening/closing unit to open when the second flow path is opened.

In addition, the flow path opening and closing unit includes a first opening and closing member for opening and closing the first outlet, the first opening and closing member is formed to be rotatable about an upper portion of the first outlet, the first opening and closing member is the first The clothes management device may be provided, wherein the second flow path is closed by the first opening/closing member when the discharge port is opened.

Also, the clothes management device may be provided in which the flow path opening/closing unit includes a first opening/closing member for opening and closing the first discharge port and a second opening/closing member for opening/closing the second discharge port.

In addition, the clothes management device may be provided, wherein the heat pump is disposed below the clothes storage chamber, and the second outlet is disposed above the first outlet.

In addition, the clothing storage chamber may include: a chamber body providing a storage space; and a hanger disposed in the storage space to support the clothes hanger, wherein the second outlet is configured such that at least a portion of the discharged air is directed toward the hanger.

In addition, the clothing storage chamber may include: a chamber body providing a storage space; and a shelf disposed in a horizontal direction in the storage space to divide the storage space into an upper space and a lower space, wherein the first outlet is disposed below the shelf, and the second outlet is higher than the shelf. The clothes management device may be provided.

In addition, the air conditioner may further include a fan configured to change a speed of air flowing from the heat pump to at least one of the first outlet and the second outlet, and the controller may include a fan for changing the speed of the air flowing from the heat pump to at least one of the first outlet and the second outlet. A clothes care device may be provided that controls the fan so that air flows at a higher speed when the second outlet is opened.

In addition, when the temperature of the air conditioning unit sensed by the sensing unit exceeds a threshold temperature input in advance, the control unit controls the air conditioning unit to lower the load of the heat pump or to stop the operation of the heat pump, The temperature may be higher than the reference temperature, and the clothes care device may be provided.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the air inside the clothing management machine is effectively heated, thereby reducing the time required for overall clothing management.

In addition, there is an effect that can reduce the cost and energy used to heat the air inside the clothing manager.

1 is a perspective view showing a clothes management device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view when the chamber body of FIG. 1 is opened.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of FIG. 1 .
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' when the second flow path of FIG. 1 is opened.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of the clothes management device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments for implementing the technical idea of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In addition, in the description of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, when it is mentioned that a component is 'supported', 'flowed', 'supplied', or 'flowed' to another component, it may be directly supported, introduced, supplied, or flowed to the other component, but other components in the middle It should be understood that elements may exist.

The terminology used herein is only used to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Also, terms including an ordinal number such as 1st, 2nd, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

The meaning of "comprising," as used herein, specifies a particular characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element and/or component, and other specific characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element, component, and/or group. It does not exclude the existence or addition of

In addition, in the present specification, the expression for the direction of the upper side, the lower side, etc. is described with reference to the drawings in the drawings, and it is clarified in advance that it may be expressed differently if the direction of the corresponding object is changed. Meanwhile, in the present specification, the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction may be the coordinate axis directions shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 .

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the clothes management device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 1 , the clothes manager 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may provide various functions for managing the user's clothes. For example, the clothes manager 1 may remove contaminants such as soil and dust from the clothes by physically shaking the clothes or spraying a fluid. As another example, the clothes manager 1 may dry wet clothes by supplying air heated to a predetermined temperature, and may dry clothes by supplying air dehumidified to a predetermined humidity. In this way, the clothes manager 1 can manage the clothes by controlling the temperature and humidity of the inner space of the clothes manager 1 in which the clothes are accommodated. The clothing manager 1 may include a body unit 100 , an air conditioning unit 200 , a flow path unit 300 , a flow path opening/closing unit 400 , a sensing unit 500 , and a control unit 600 .

The body part 100 may provide a space in which clothes are accommodated. The body part 100 may have a fluid introduced from the outside, and the fluid circulating inside the body part 100 may be discharged to the outside of the body part 100 . In addition, the body part 100 may be provided with a door capable of opening and closing a space in which clothes are accommodated. The body part 100 may include a clothing storage chamber 110 and a machine room 120 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , the clothes storage chamber 110 may provide a space in which clothes are accommodated. The clothing storage chamber 110 may include a chamber body 111 , a hanger 112 , and a shelf 113 .

The chamber body 111 may provide an accommodation space (S). The storage space S may be formed inside the chamber body 111 , and clothes may be disposed in the storage space S. For example, when the door of the body part 100 is opened, the storage space S may be exposed to the outside. In addition, the chamber body 111 may have, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the vertical direction. The chamber body 111 may be located above the machine room 120 . In addition, the chamber body 111 may have a first outlet 111a and a second outlet 111b through which air flowing along the flow path 300 is discharged to the accommodation space S may be formed.

The first discharge port 111a may be provided to discharge air inside the duct member 310 to be described later into the accommodation space S of the chamber body 111 . For example, the first discharge port 111a may be a hole through which air passes, and may be formed on the rear side of the chamber body 111 . In addition, it may be disposed below the shelf 113 , and may be disposed above the machine room 120 . Accordingly, the air discharged from the first discharge port 111a to the chamber body 111 may flow toward between the shelf 113 and the bottom surface of the chamber body 111 . The first discharge port 111a may be selectively opened and closed by a first opening/closing member 410 to be described later.

The second discharge port 111b may be provided to discharge the air inside the duct member 310 to the accommodation space S of the chamber body 111 . For example, the second discharge port 111b may be a hole through which air passes, and may be formed on the rear side of the chamber body 111 . The second outlet 111b may be disposed above the first outlet 111a , and in more detail, may be adjacent to the shelf 113 , but may be disposed above the shelf 113 . The second discharge port 111b may be selectively opened and closed by a second opening/closing member 420 to be described later.

Meanwhile, in the present specification, the first outlet 111a and the second outlet 111b have been described as being formed in the chamber body 111 , but this is only an example and may be formed in the duct member 310 .

The hanger 112 may be provided inside the chamber body 111 to support clothes or a hanger. The hanger 112 is disposed above the storage space S, and may be spaced apart from the shelf 113 by a predetermined distance. For example, the distance between the hanger 112 and the shelf 113 may be longer than the length of the clothes.

The shelf 113 may divide the storage space S of the chamber body 111 into an upper space and a lower space. The shelf 113 may be supported by the chamber body 111 and may support an object that is not caught on a hanger. In addition, the shelf 113 may be disposed at a position spaced apart from the bottom surface of the chamber body 111 by a predetermined distance. Accordingly, an object, for example, a shoe, a pillow, or the like, may be positioned between the shelf 113 and the bottom surface of the chamber body 111 .

The machine room 120 may provide a space in which air circulates, and may heat or dehumidify the air circulating in the machine room 120 . The machine room 120 may be configured to communicate with the clothing storage chamber 110 and the duct member 310 . For example, the air inside the machine room 120 may flow into the machine room 120 from the clothes storage chamber 110 , and may flow from the inside of the machine room 120 to the duct member 310 . Meanwhile, the machine room 120 may provide a space for accommodating the air conditioning unit 200 and the control unit 600 . The machine room 120 may be disposed below the clothes storage chamber 110 to support the clothes storage chamber 110 .

3 and 4 , the air conditioner 200 may supply air having a predetermined temperature and humidity to the chamber body 111 in order to control the temperature and humidity inside the chamber body 111 . For example, the air conditioner 200 may control the temperature of the chamber body 111 by supplying air heated to a predetermined temperature to the chamber body 111 . As another example, the air conditioner 200 may lower the humidity of the chamber body 111 by supplying dehumidified air to the chamber body 111 . The air conditioner 200 may include a heat pump 210 and a fan 220 .

The heat pump 210 may change the temperature and humidity of the air circulating inside the machine room 120 . For example, the heat pump 210 may change the temperature and humidity of the ambient air through heat exchange with the ambient air of the heat pump 210 . As a more detailed example, the heat pump 210 may be configured to circulate a refrigerant therein, and the refrigerant may exchange heat with the air surrounding the heat pump 210 to control the temperature and humidity of the surrounding air. Also, the heat pump 210 may be disposed below the clothes storage chamber 110 . The heat pump 210 may include an evaporator 211 , a condenser 212 , a compressor 213 , and an expansion valve 214 .

The evaporator 211 may dehumidify the air flowing around the evaporator 211 through heat exchange. For example, the evaporator 211 may cool the air around the evaporator 211 by evaporating the refrigerant passing through the evaporator 211 . As such, since some of the moisture contained in the air cooled by the evaporator 211 is condensed and removed, the humidity may be lowered. For example, the evaporator 211 may be disposed on the front side of the condenser 212 , and the air flowing along the first flow path F1 and the second flow path F2 to be described later is greater than the condenser 212 . It passes through the evaporator 211 first. In the present specification, the evaporator 211 has been described as being disposed on the front side of the condenser 212 on the air flow path, but this is only an example and it is also possible that the evaporator 211 is disposed on the rear side of the condenser 212 . .

The condenser 212 may increase the temperature of the air passing through the evaporator 211 through heat exchange. For example, the condenser 212 may liquefy the refrigerant passing through the condenser 212 to increase the temperature of the air around the condenser 212 .

In addition, the sensing unit 500 may be attached to the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 , and at least one of the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 and the temperature of the refrigerant passing through them is the sensing unit 500 . can be detected in

The compressor 213 may circulate the refrigerant so that the refrigerant flows along a predetermined path in the evaporator 211 and the condenser 212 . The compressor 213 may be driven to apply pressure to the refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator 211 . Also, the compressor 213 may have an operating speed fixed to a constant value, but may be controlled by the controller 400 .

The expansion valve 214 may be in the form of a capillary tube through which a predetermined amount of refrigerant passes, or may be a variable valve capable of adjusting the refrigerant flow rate in order to adjust the heat capacity for heat exchange.

The fan 220 may change the speed of the air flowing toward the first outlet 111a and the second outlet 111b. In addition, the fan 220 may be driven so that air circulates through the chamber body 111 , the machine room 120 , and the duct member 310 . For example, the fan 220 may be disposed on the rear side of the machine room 120 . The operation of the fan 220 may be controlled by the controller 600 , and the operation of the fan 220 may be changed according to the open state of the first outlet 111a and the second outlet 111b. For example, the fan 220 may be driven so that air flows at a higher speed when the second outlet 111b, which will be described later, is opened than when the first outlet 111a, which will be described later, is opened.

The flow path unit 300 may provide a passage for air circulating between the body unit 100 and the air conditioning unit 200 to flow. In other words, the flow path unit 300 may communicate between the body unit 100 and the air conditioning unit 200 . The flow path 300 may include a duct member 310 , a first flow path F1 , and a second flow path F2 .

The duct member 310 may provide a passage for air to flow. Any part of the duct member 310 may communicate with the chamber body 111 , and another part of the duct member 310 may communicate with the air conditioning unit 200 . For example, the gas introduced into the duct member 310 from the air conditioning unit 200 may flow from the duct member 310 to the chamber body 111 . In this case, air may flow into the accommodation space S through one or more of the first outlet 111a and the second outlet 111b of the chamber body 111 . In addition, the duct member 310 may be supported by, for example, the chamber body 111 and the machine room 120 from the rear side.

Referring back to FIG. 3 , the first flow path F1 may provide a passage through which air flows when the first outlet 111a is opened and the second outlet 111b is closed. The first flow path F1 may communicate between the first outlet 111a and the air conditioner 200 . For example, the air flowing along the first flow path F1 may pass through the air conditioning unit 200 and then may be introduced into the accommodation space S through the first outlet 111a. In addition, while the air flowing along the first flow path F1 sequentially passes through the evaporator 211 and the condenser 212 , temperature and humidity may be adjusted. Such temperature and humidity-controlled air may be introduced into the chamber body 111 to change the temperature and humidity of the accommodation space (S). In addition, the air having the temperature and humidity changed in the storage space S may flow to the air conditioning unit 200 , and the temperature and humidity may be adjusted again by the air conditioning unit 200 .

Meanwhile, the first flow path F1 may be selectively opened and closed by the flow path opening and closing unit 400 . For example, when the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 is lower than the reference temperature, the first flow path F1 is opened and the second flow path F2 is closed. In this case, the first opening and closing member 410 is positioned so that the first outlet 111a is opened, and the second opening and closing member 420 is positioned so that the second outlet 111b is closed. Accordingly, the air flowing along the first flow path F1 may be discharged from the duct member 310 to the first outlet 111a without being discharged to the second outlet 111b.

The air flowing along the first flow path F1 has a shorter circulation path than the air flowing along the second flow path F2. Accordingly, the air flowing along the first flow path F1 may be heated or dehumidified more than the air flowing along the second flow path F2 for the same time period. In other words, the air flowing along the first flow path F1 may reach a predetermined temperature and humidity within a shorter time than the air flowing along the second flow path F2 .

Referring back to FIG. 4 , the second flow path F2 may provide a path through which air flows when the first outlet 111a is closed and the second outlet 111b is opened. The second flow path F2 may communicate between the second outlet 111b and the air conditioner 200 . For example, the air flowing along the second flow path F2 may pass through the air conditioning unit 200 and then may be introduced into the accommodation space S through the second outlet 111b. In addition, while the air flowing along the second flow path F2 sequentially passes through the evaporator 211 and the condenser 212 , temperature and humidity may be adjusted. Such temperature and humidity-controlled air may be introduced into the chamber body 111 to change the temperature and humidity of the accommodation space (S). In addition, the air having the temperature and humidity changed in the storage space S may flow to the air conditioning unit 200 , and the temperature and humidity may be adjusted again by the air conditioning unit 200 .

Meanwhile, the second flow path F2 may be selectively opened and closed by the flow path opening/closing unit 400 . For example, when the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 is higher than the reference temperature, the first flow path F1 is closed and the second flow path F2 is opened. In this case, the first opening and closing member 410 is positioned to close the first outlet 111a, and the second opening and closing member 420 is positioned to open the second outlet 111b. Accordingly, the air flowing along the second flow path F2 may be discharged from the duct member 310 to the second outlet 111b without being discharged to the first outlet 111a. In addition, the air flowing along the second flow path F2 may dry the clothes disposed above the shelf 113 .

The flow path opening and closing unit 400 may selectively open and close the first flow path F1 and the second flow path F2 based on the temperature of the air conditioning unit 200 . For example, the flow path opening/closing unit 400 may open the first flow path F1 and close the second flow path F2 in order to rapidly increase the air in the accommodation space S to a predetermined temperature. In addition, the flow path opening and closing unit 400 closes the first flow path F1 and opens the second flow path F2 when the air is heated several times and the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 reaches a predetermined temperature. can The flow path opening and closing unit 400 may include a first opening/closing member 410 for opening and closing the first outlet 111a and a second opening/closing member 420 for opening and closing the second outlet 111b.

The first opening/closing member 410 may selectively communicate the storage space S and the inside of the duct member 310 . In addition, the first opening and closing member 410 may selectively open and close the first flow path F1 by selectively opening and closing the first outlet 111a. For example, when the first opening/closing member 410 opens the first discharge port 111a, the air inside the duct member 310 may flow into the accommodation space S. Also, when the first opening/closing member 410 opens the first outlet 111a, the first opening/closing member 410 blocks air flowing toward the second outlet 111b. In other words, the first opening/closing member 410 may close the second flow path F2 by blocking the inner space of the duct member 310 . For example, the first opening/closing member 410 may be rotatably formed around an upper portion of the first discharge port 111a. In addition, the first opening and closing member 410 may include, for example, a louver that can rotate in one direction.

The second opening/closing member 420 may selectively communicate the storage space S and the inside of the duct member 310 . In addition, the second opening and closing member 420 may selectively open and close the second flow path F2 by selectively opening and closing the second outlet 111b. For example, the second opening/closing member 420 closes the first outlet 111a and opens the second outlet 111b, so that the air inside the duct member 310 may flow into the accommodation space S. . Also, the second opening/closing member 420 may be rotatably formed around the upper portion of the second discharge port 111b. The second opening/closing member 420 may include, for example, a louver that can rotate in one direction.

The sensing unit 500 may sense the temperature and humidity of the air passing through the heat pump 210 . For example, the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 may be sensed.

The sensing unit 500 may sense the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 , and may sense the temperature of the refrigerant flowing therein. The temperature and humidity measured by the sensing unit 500 may be transmitted to the control unit 600 .

The sensing unit 500 may sense the temperature and humidity of the storage space (S).

Meanwhile, the sensing unit 500 may include a first sensing unit 510 and a second sensing unit 520 .

The first sensing unit 510 may measure the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 , and may measure the temperature and humidity of the surrounding air. Here, the first sensing unit 510 measuring the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 may include measuring the temperature of the refrigerant flowing therein as well as measuring the surface temperature thereof. . For example, the first sensing unit 510 may be attached to the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 .

The second sensing unit 520 may measure the temperature and humidity inside the storage space (S). For example, the second guide member 822e may be attached to the inside of the chamber body 111 .

The controller 600 may control the air conditioning unit 200 and the flow path opening/closing unit 400 to adjust the temperature and humidity of the air inside the clothing manager 1 . The control unit 600 may receive the temperature and humidity of the air inside the accommodation space S and the air surrounding the heat pump 210 from the sensing unit 500 . In addition, the control unit 600 is configured to open and close the flow path opening and closing unit such that the first flow path F1 and the second flow path F2 are opened and closed based on the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 sensed by the sensing unit 500 . (400) can be controlled.

For example, when the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 sensed by the first detection unit 510 is lower than the preset reference temperature, the controller 600 may open the first flow path F1, The second flow path F2 may control the flow path opening/closing unit 400 to be closed. In this case, the first opening/closing member 410 opens the first outlet 111a to open the first flow path F1 , and air may circulate along the first flow path F1 . In addition, the second opening/closing member 420 closes the second outlet 111b, and the first opening/closing member 410 blocks the air flowing toward the second outlet 111b, so that the second flow path F2 is is closed

As another example, when the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 sensed by the first detection unit 510 is higher than a preset reference temperature, the control unit 600 closes the first flow path F1, The second flow path F2 may control the flow path opening/closing unit 400 to be opened. In this case, the first opening/closing member 410 may close the first outlet 111a, and the second opening/closing member 420 may open the second outlet 111b, so that the second flow path F2 may be opened.

On the other hand, when the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 sensed by the first detection unit 510 exceeds a threshold temperature input in advance, the control unit 600 controls the heat pump so that the load of the heat pump 210 is lowered. 210 can be controlled. For example, when the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 exceeds the critical temperature, the controller 600 may determine that the heat pump 210 is overheated and stop the operation of the heat pump 210 . . Here, the critical temperature is a temperature higher than the reference temperature. Also, the controller 600 may restart the heat pump 210 when the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 is lowered to a critical temperature or less again. The control unit 600 may be implemented by an arithmetic device including a microprocessor, a measurement device such as a sensor, and a memory, and the implementation method is obvious to those skilled in the art, so a further detailed description will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the clothes management device 1 having the above-described configuration will be described.

A user may use the clothes manager 1 to dry clothes. First, clothes may be arranged in the storage space S so that the clothes are supported by the hanger 112 . Thereafter, when the user inputs a drying mode, the controller 600 drives the heat pump 210 to start drying the clothes.

When the heat pump 210 starts to operate, the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 may be lower than a preset reference temperature. At this time, the controller 600 opens the first flow path F1 and closes the second flow path F2 for rapid heating of the air. Also, the first opening/closing member 410 opens the first outlet 111a, and the second opening/closing member 420 closes the second outlet 111b. The air flowing along the first flow path F1 is heated to a predetermined temperature while sequentially passing through the evaporator 211 and the condenser 212 . In addition, the heated air sequentially passes through the duct member 310 , the first outlet 111a and the storage space S to change the temperature of the air inside the storage space S, and then returns to the heat pump 210 again. come. The controller 600 heats the air flowing along the first flow path F1 by opening the first flow path F1 until the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 reaches the reference temperature.

Thereafter, after the temperature of the air circulating along the first flow path F1 is heated to a predetermined temperature, when the temperature of the evaporator 211 or the condenser 212 is higher than the preset reference temperature, the first flow path F1 ) and open the second flow path F2. At this time, the first opening/closing member 410 closes the first discharge port 111a, and the second opening/closing member 232 opens the second discharge port 111b. The air flowing along the second flow path F2 may dry the clothes disposed inside the storage space S.

As such, since the first flow path F1 has a shorter circulation path than the second flow path F2, the air flowing along the first flow path F1 is the air flowing along the second flow path F2. It is possible to circulate the inside of the clothes management machine 1 within a shorter time. In addition, there is an effect that the air flowing along the first flow path F1 can be heated to a predetermined temperature within a faster time than the air flowing along the second flow path F2.

Accordingly, by opening the first flow path F1 before the second flow path F2, the air can be heated to a predetermined temperature within a short period of time, and the power and cost of the clothes care machine 1 can be reduced. have.

Meanwhile, in addition to this configuration, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the second outlet 111b may be disposed adjacent to the hanger 112 . Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with further reference to FIG. 5 . In the description of the second embodiment, the differences in comparison with the above-described embodiment will be mainly described, and the same description and reference numerals refer to the above-described embodiment.

The second outlet 111b may be disposed at a position adjacent to the hanger 112 in the horizontal direction, and may be configured such that at least a portion of the air discharged may be directed toward the hanger 112 . Accordingly, the air discharged from the second discharge port 111b to the accommodation space S may flow toward the hanger 112 . As a more detailed example, the air passing through the second outlet 111b may dry the collar part of the clothes supported by the hanger 112 .

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described as specific embodiments, these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and should be construed as having the widest scope according to the technical idea disclosed in the present specification. A person skilled in the art may implement a pattern of a shape not specified by combining/substituting the disclosed embodiments, but this also does not depart from the scope of the present invention. In addition, those skilled in the art can easily change or modify the disclosed embodiments based on the present specification, and it is clear that such changes or modifications also fall within the scope of the present invention.

1: Garment manager
100: body part 110: clothing storage chamber
111: chamber body 111a: first outlet
111b: second outlet 112: hanger
113: lathe 120: machine room
200: air conditioning unit 210: heat pump
211: evaporator 212: condenser
213: compressor 214: expansion valve
220: fan 300: euro unit
310: duct member 400: flow path opening and closing part
410: first opening and closing member 420: second opening and closing member
500: detection unit 510: first detection unit
520: second sensing unit 600: control unit
F1: first flow path F2: second flow path
S: storage space

Claims (9)

a body part including a clothes storage chamber in which clothes are accommodated;
an air conditioning unit including a heat pump for changing the temperature of flowing air through heat exchange with a refrigerant;
a flow path including a plurality of flow paths in fluid communication with the body and the air conditioning unit;
a flow path opening and closing unit for opening and closing the flow path;
a sensing unit for sensing the temperature of the air conditioner; and
It is a clothing management device including a control unit for controlling the air conditioning unit,
A first outlet and a second outlet for discharging air to the clothes storage chamber are formed in at least one of the body part and the flow path part,
The second outlet is formed at a position spaced apart from the heat pump than the first outlet,
The flow path includes a first flow path and a second flow path that is longer than the first flow path,
The first flow path is in fluid communication with the first outlet and the air conditioner,
The second flow path communicates with the second outlet and the air conditioner,
The control unit controls the flow path opening and closing unit to open and close the first flow path and the second flow path based on the temperature of the air conditioner sensed by the sensing unit,
clothing manager. The method of claim 1,
The heat pump is
an evaporator for dehumidifying the flowing air;
a condenser for heating the air passing through the evaporator; and
and a compressor driven to apply pressure to the refrigerant passing through the evaporator so that the refrigerant circulates in the evaporator and the condenser,
The sensing unit senses the temperature of the evaporator or the condenser,
The control unit is
When the temperature of the evaporator or the condenser sensed through the sensing unit is lower than the reference temperature input in advance, the first flow path is opened, and the temperature of the evaporator or the condenser sensed through the sensing unit is higher than the reference temperature controlling the flow path opening and closing unit so that the second flow path is opened when
clothing manager. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The flow path opening and closing unit includes a first opening and closing member for opening and closing the first discharge port,
The first opening/closing member is rotatably formed around an upper portion of the first outlet,
When the first opening/closing member opens the first outlet, the second flow path is closed by the first opening/closing member,
clothing manager. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2,
The flow path opening and closing unit includes a first opening and closing member for opening and closing the first outlet, and a second opening and closing member for opening and closing the second outlet,
clothing manager. The method of claim 1,
the heat pump is disposed below the clothing storage chamber;
The second outlet is disposed above the first outlet,
clothing manager. The method of claim 1,
The clothing storage chamber,
a chamber body providing a storage space; and
It includes a hanger disposed in the storage space to support the hanger,
The second outlet is configured such that at least a portion of the discharged air is directed toward the hanger,
clothing manager. The method of claim 1,
The clothing storage chamber,
a chamber body providing a storage space; and
and a shelf arranged in a horizontal direction in the storage space to divide the storage space into an upper space and a lower space,
The first outlet is disposed below the shelf, and the second outlet is disposed above the shelf,
clothing manager. The method of claim 1,
The air conditioning unit,
Further comprising a fan for changing the speed of the air flowing from the heat pump to at least one of the first outlet and the second outlet,
The control unit is
controlling the fan so that air flows at a higher speed when the second outlet is opened than when the first outlet is opened,
clothing manager. 3. The method of claim 2,
The control unit is
When the temperature of the air conditioning unit sensed by the sensing unit exceeds a threshold temperature input in advance, the air conditioning unit is controlled such that the load of the heat pump is lowered or the operation of the heat pump is stopped,
the critical temperature is higher than the reference temperature;
clothing manager.

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