RU2582469C2 - Linen processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: instrument making.

SUBSTANCE: linen processing device including circulation channel to direct air released from tank, back into tank, fan arranged in circulation channel for air circulation from tank, heater located in circulation channel for air heating, exhaust channel to discharge some amount of air fed into tank, from tank, suction channel for air supply to tank outer side in tank, and water feed device for water supply to tank for cooling of tank.

EFFECT: described is device for linen processing.

29 cl, 9 dwg

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for processing linen.

Discussion of the prior art

Devices for processing linen are electronic devices that can perform the washing and / or drying of an erasable item (laundry). Examples of laundry treating apparatuses include a washing machine, a tumble dryer and a combination washing and drying machine.

Laundry processing devices that can perform a drying function can be divided into laundry processing devices having an exhaust drying system and laundry processing devices having a circulation drying system, depending on how the heated air (hot air) supplied is processed on linen, after heat exchange between air and linen.

A circulation drying system is a system that condenses the air leaving the receiving compartment that contains the laundry, and then heats the condensed air (i.e., heating after removing moisture) to re-supply air to the receiving compartment. The exhaust drying system is a system that continuously delivers hot air to the receiving compartment and exhausts the heat exchanged air from the laundry treating device.

In the case of laundry treating apparatuses having a circulation drying system, providing a cooling water supply device may be important since it is necessary to remove moisture from the air discharged from the receiving compartment using cooling water before re-supplying air to the receiving compartment. Therefore, laundry treating apparatuses having a circulation drying system may consume an excessive amount of cooling water at a low cooling efficiency.

On the other hand, laundry treating apparatuses having an exhaust drying system may consume an excessive amount of energy since they release air that has exchanged heat with the laundry despite the fact that the air has a higher temperature than the temperature of the outside air.

A brief description of the present invention

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus that substantially eliminates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the prior art.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for processing linen, a method for controlling it, with a drying system created on the basis of a promising concept that can reduce the consumption of energy and cooling water for drying clothes.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a device for processing linen, a method for controlling it, with a drying system, which can provide increased drying efficiency.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a device for processing laundry, a method for controlling it, with a cooling water supply device that can prevent the passage of cooling water on the laundry to be dried.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from the practice of the present invention. Objectives and other advantages can be realized and achieved due to the design specifically noted in the written description and its claims, as well as in the accompanying drawings.

To achieve these goals and other advantages, and in accordance with the objectives of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the laundry treating apparatus includes a tub providing a washing water holding area, a drum inside the tub, the drum comprising laundry, a circulation channel for directing the air discharged from the tank back to the tank, a fan located in the circulation channel for circulating air from the tank, a heater located in the circulation channel for heating air, an exhaust channel for discharging a certain amount of air supplied to the tank from the tank, a suction channel for supplying air from the outside of the tank to the tank, and a water supply device for supplying water to the tank for cooling the tank.

The laundry treating device may further include a controller for controlling the opening / closing of the water supply device, and the controller may control the water supply device for supplying water to the tank during operation of the fan and heater.

The controller can rotate the drum at the first revolutions per minute (rpm) and second revolutions per minute (rpm) during operation of the fan and heater, the first revolutions per minute can be set to the value at which the centrifugal force of the laundry caused by the rotation of the drum , becomes more than the weight of the laundry, and the second rpm can be set to a value greater than the first rpm.

The controller can control the water supply device to supply water to the tank, while the drum rotates at a second rpm.

The water supply device can supply water to the tank through the periphery of the tank in a position located at a predetermined distance from a vertical line passing through the center of rotation of the drum, in the direction of the width of the tank.

The suction duct and exhaust duct may remain open during operation of the heater and fan.

The suction channel can be located in the flow channel, through which the internal air from the tank is directed to the fan, so that the external air of the tank is supplied to the circulation channel through the suction channel.

The cross-sectional area of the exhaust channel may be less than the cross-sectional area of the circulation channel.

The amount of air discharged through the exhaust duct and the amount of air supplied through the suction duct can be set equal to each other.

The amount of air discharged through the exhaust duct can be set greater than the amount of air supplied through the suction duct.

The laundry treating device may further include a drain device configured to discharge the water contained in the tank from the tank, and the exhaust duct may be connected to the drain device.

The connection of the exhaust duct to the drain device can be located above the set maximum water level in the tank.

The laundry treating device may further include a switching valve configured to open or close the exhaust duct.

The laundry treating device may further include a flow channel valve configured to prevent air supplied to the drain device through the exhaust channel to the tank.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a laundry treating apparatus includes a drum that contains laundry, a heater for heating air, a first heat exchange flow passage including a tub for providing a region in which the drum is mounted and a region in which condenses air, and a channel through which a certain amount of internal air from the drum is directed to the heater and then re-fed into the tank, a second heat-exchange flow channel, including a channel through which The outside water of the tank is directed into the tank by means of a heater, and a channel through which a certain amount of internal air is discharged from the tank, and a water supply device for supplying water to the tank to cool the tank.

The laundry treating device may further include a controller for controlling the opening / closing of the water supply device and the rpm of the drum, and the controller may supply water to the tub while the drum rotates at the set reference rpm or greater.

The laundry treating device may further include a water supply guide configured to supply water supplied from the water supply device to the tank, and a water supply guide may be arranged to allow movement of water supplied to the tank to the lower part of the tank along the inside peripheral surface of the tank.

The water supply guide may be located on the periphery of the tank in a position located at a predetermined distance from a vertical line passing through the center of rotation of the drum, in the direction of the width of the tank.

The water supply device may be located between a vertical line tangent to the periphery of the drum and a vertical line tangent to the periphery of the tank.

The tank may further include a water supply connecting portion (fourth connecting portion) drilled in the periphery of the tank for connection to the water supply device, and the water supply guide may include a dehumidifier disposed in the water supply connecting portion to provide an area in which water, and the outer peripheral surface of the dehumidifier is located at a predetermined distance from the inner peripheral surface of the connecting section of the water supply, and the guide ubu mounted on the connecting portion of the water supply, for directing water into the housing of the separator, and the guide tube forms a flow channel for communication between the area between the outer peripheral surface of the separator body and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion of the water supply and the inner part of the separator body.

The lower part of the separator housing may be located at a predetermined distance from the outlet of the guide tube, and the area between the outer peripheral surface of the separator housing and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion of the water supply may have an open plane for communication between the inner part of the separator housing and the inside of the tank.

The open plane may take the form of a semicircle or arc located farther from a vertical line passing through the center of rotation of the drum, on the basis of a line passing through the center of the connecting section of the water supply, for passing parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tank.

The suction channel may include a suction port through which external air is supplied, the suction port being fixed to the circulation channel, and an outlet through which air supplied through the suction port is supplied to the tank, and the outlet is fixed to the tank.

The circulation channel can be fixed on the upper side of the outer peripheral surface of the tank.

The laundry treating device may further include a connecting section of the channel (first connecting section) configured to discharge internal air from the tank into the circulation channel, and an outlet may be located on the connecting section of the channel.

The circulation channel may further include a mounting portion to which a suction port is connected.

The circulation channel may further include a first filter located on the mounting portion for filtering the air supplied to the suction port.

The laundry treating device may further include a second filter located on the connecting portion of the channel (the first connecting portion) for filtering air sent from the tub to the circulation channel.

The laundry treating device may further include a filter washing device for supplying washing water to the second filter for washing the second filter.

The suction channel may include a connecting part located under the circulation channel for communication with the tank, and the connecting part contains an outlet, and a protruding part extending from the connecting part to the circulation channel, and the protruding part contains a suction hole.

It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the present invention as claimed.

A brief description of the present invention

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and form part of this application, illustrate an embodiment (s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings

FIG. 1a, 1b, and 2 depict a laundry treating apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3a and 31b depict a suction channel included in a laundry treating apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a switching unit included in a laundry treating apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5a and 5b depict a water supply device and a water supply guide included in a laundry treating apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 depicts another embodiment of a laundry treating apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 depicts a control process of a laundry treating apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 8a-c and 9a-c depict the first movement and the second movement, respectively.

Detailed description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Moreover, the configuration of the device, which will be described below, and the method of controlling the device are provided to explain the embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention. The same reference numbers throughout the description mean the same elements.

As shown by way of example in FIG. 1a, 1b and 2, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention, denoted by reference numeral 100, includes a housing 1 defining an appearance of the apparatus 100, laundry containers 2 and 3 located inside the housing 1 and configured to contain an erasable item (laundry ) and water for washing, a circulation channel 7 through which internal air circulates from the laundry containers 2 and 3, an exhaust channel 83, through which a certain amount of internal air is released from the laundry containers 2 and 3, a suction channel 81 through which the old air is supplied to laundry containers 2 and 3, and a heating device configured to supply heated air to laundry containers 2 and 3.

The casing 1 includes a front panel 11 defining a front surface of the laundry treating device 100. The front panel 11 comprises an opening 13 through which laundry is loaded into or unloaded from the laundry containers 2 and 3.

The hole 13 is opened and closed by a door (14, see Fig. 6), which is rotatably connected with the casing 1.

In addition, the control panel 17 may be mounted on the front panel 11. The control panel 17 serves as a user interface for facilitating the exchange of information between a user and a controller (not shown) of the laundry processing apparatus 100.

More specifically, the control panel 17 includes a power input part 179 that helps the user enter a power supply command to the laundry processing apparatus 100, and a data input part 175 that helps the user to select a laundry processing method that the apparatus can implement 100 for processing linen.

The “laundry processing method” selected through the data input part 175 is to set time-varying control commands or time-varying control commands necessary to control the controller (not shown) by the respective devices included in the laundry processing device 100, to supply moisture or air to the laundry.

A “laundry processing method”, as described above, is commonly referred to as a laundry processing mode, a method for controlling a laundry processing device, or the like. Many laundry processing methods may be programmed in the laundry processing apparatus 100.

In addition, the control panel 17 may further include a display portion 177 that displays information related to the laundry processing method selected by the user or the operation order of the laundry processing apparatus 100.

“Information relating to the operating order of the laundry treating apparatus” displayed on the display portion 177 includes the name of the laundry treating method selected by the user through the data input portion 175, the set time for the selected laundry treating method, the set completion time or the remaining time the laundry processing method that is being implemented, the requirements that the laundry processing device 100 asks the user to perform the laundry processing method selected by the user and the like, (e.g. information related to the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus 100).

Laundry containers housed in the casing 1 may include a tub 2, which contains washing water, and a drum 3, which contains the laundry, and the drum 3 is rotatably disposed in the tub 2.

The tank 2 has a cylindrical shape and is fixed in the casing 1 using the supporting elements 21 of the tank. The tank 2 has an opening 22 formed on its front surface for communication with the opening 13. A gasket 23 is inserted between the tank opening 22 and the opening 13. The gasket 23 can serve not only to prevent the vibration generated by the tank 2 from being transmitted to the casing 1, but also to prevent leakage of water for washing contained in the tank 2. For this purpose, the pad 23 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber.

The drum 3 is rotatably supported in the tank 2 by the drive unit M (see FIG. 6), which is mounted on the rear surface of the tank 2. The drum 3 has an opening 31 in communication with the opening of the tank 22, and through holes 33 formed at the periphery drum 3.

The circulation channel 7 serves as a flow channel through which internal air is discharged from the tank 2 and then again directed to the tank 2. The circulation channel 7 can be installed on the upper side of the outer peripheral surface of the tank 2.

To connect to the circulation channel 7, the tank 2 may have a first connecting section 26 and a second connecting section 27.

As shown by way of example in FIG. 2, the first connecting portion 26 (i.e., the connecting portion of the channel) serves as a flow channel through which internal air from the tank 2 is directed to the circulation channel 7, and the second connecting portion 27 serves as a flow channel through which the internal air filed in the circulation channel 7, is sent to the tank 2.

The second connecting portion 27 may be formed in the gasket 23. That is, the second connecting portion 27 is in the form of an opening formed in the gasket 23, and the air outlet of the circulation channel 7 can be inserted into the hole formed in the gasket 23.

Although both the first connecting portion 26 and the second connecting portion 27 can be formed on the periphery of the tank 2, the location of the second connecting portion 27 in the gasket 23 can direct the air discharged from the circulation channel 7 to the center of the drum through the hole 31 of the drum, which advantageously can increase the efficiency of heat transfer between linen and air.

The heating device installed for supplying heated air to the tank 2 may include a fan 71 and a heater 73, which are located in the circulation channel 7. The fan 71 is not only used to move the internal air from the tank 2 to the circulation channel 7 through the first connecting section 26 but also for moving the air supplied to the circulation channel 7 to the second connecting portion 27. The heater 73 is used to heat the air transferred to the second connecting portion 27 by the fan 71.

In this case, the first connecting portion 26 and the second connecting portion 27 may be located in a diagonal direction based on the cross section of the tank 2 parallel to the base on which the casing 1 is supported. The heater 73 may be positioned so that the portion of the heater 73 extends in the longitudinal the direction of the circulation channel 7. The increase in the length of the flow channel formed by the circulation channel 7 serves to provide sufficient time necessary for heating the air moving h Res circulation passage 7.

In the laundry treating apparatus 100 of the present invention, some of the air that is supplied to the heater 73 passes through the suction channel 81, and some of the hot air supplied to the tank 2 is discharged from the tank 2 through the exhaust channel 83.

The suction channel 81 can be located in the flow channel, through which the internal air from the tank 2 is directed to the fan 71. This serves to ensure the supply of internal air from the tank 2, as well as the external air of the tank 2 to the circulation channel 7 and circulation through the circulation channel 7 account of the fan 71 installed in the circulation channel 7, without equipping the suction channel 81 with an additional air supply device.

In FIG. 2 shows a case in which, as an example, the suction channel 81 supplies external air from the tank 2 to the circulation channel 7 through the first connecting portion 26. In this case, negative pressure is applied to the first connecting portion 26 as a result of rotation of the fan 71, forcing the internal air from the tank 2, as well as the outside air of the tank 2, is supplied to the circulation channel 7.

In this case, as shown for example in FIG. 3a and 3b, the suction channel 81 in accordance with the present invention does not require a control device (for example, a valve) to control the opening / closing of the suction channel 81. That is, the suction channel 81 in accordance with the present invention can remain open continuously.

The suction channel 81 may consist of a connecting part 811 communicating with the first connecting portion 26 and a protruding part 813 extending from the connecting part 811 to the circulation channel 7. In this case, the protruding part 813 may include a suction hole 815 for supplying external air, and a connecting part 811 may include an outlet 817 for connecting the suction channel 81 to the first connecting portion 26.

The protruding portion 813 may extend from the connecting portion 811 in the vertical direction of the tank 2 by a predetermined length. This serves to prevent the release of bubbles formed by the detergent during the washing of the laundry from the tub 2 through the suction channel 81.

The suction channel 81 in accordance with the present invention has one end fixed to the tank 2 and the other end fixed to the circulation channel 7. This configuration is achieved by fixing the circulation channel 7 in accordance with the present invention on the upper side of the outer peripheral surface of the tank 2.

Considering the laundry treatment apparatus 100 of the present invention from the point of view of the vibration system, the circulation channel 7 and the tank 2 will have almost the same vibration, and therefore, the vibrations do not affect the life of the suction channel 81 set to connect the tank 2 and the circulation channel 7.

Accepting a configuration in which the circulation channel 7 is fixed to the casing 1, and not on the upper part of the outer peripheral surface of the tank 2, the circulation channel 7 will vibrate regardless of the vibration of the tank, which makes it difficult to maintain the life of the suction channel 81 without an additional vibration-absorbing device.

To secure the free end of the suction channel 81 (i.e., the end of the suction channel 81 containing the suction hole 815), the circulation channel 7 may further include a mounting portion 75 to which the suction hole 815 is connected.

The mounting portion 75 may take any of various forms if the free end of the suction channel 81 can be fixed thereto. In FIG. 3, a case is shown in which, for example, the fixing portion 75 is in the form of a plate connecting the circulation channel 7 to the suction port 815.

In addition, the suction channel 81 may further include a first filter F1, which filters the air supplied to the protruding portion 813. Given that the external air of the tank 2 is supplied to the tank 2 through the suction channel 81, providing a filter F1, as described above , serves to prevent contamination of the laundry placed in the tank 2, contaminating particles contained in the outside air, and to prevent malfunction of the heating device 71/73 due to contaminating particles.

In this case, the first filter F1 can be installed in the hole drilled in the mounting portion 75, and the suction hole 815 can be fixed on the mounting portion 75 to surround the first filter F1.

In this case, the second filter F2 can be installed on the first connecting section 26 for filtering the internal air from the tank 2 supplied to the circulation channel 7.

The first filter F1 remains open on the outside of the circulation channel 7, thus being easily washable. On the other hand, the second filter F2 is not open on the outside of the circulation channel 7, and thus washing the second filter F2 is difficult. For this reason, in accordance with the present invention, a filter washer F3 may further be installed to flush the second filter F2.

The filter washer F3 can be installed in any position in the first connecting portion 26, provided that the washer water can pass to the second filter F2 to remove contaminants remaining on the second filter F2. In FIG. 3 (b) shows a case in which, for example, a filter washer F3 is located between the second filter F2 and the fan 71.

To prevent interference from the filter washer F3, the connecting part 811 can extend in the width direction of the tank 2 by a predetermined length and then connect to the protruding part 813.

The exhaust channel 83 can be installed in any position of the tank 2, provided that it can release a certain amount of air supplied to the tank 2 through the circulation channel 7, on the outside of the tank 2.

In FIG. 1 shows a case in which an exhaust duct 83 is mounted on a third connecting portion 28 formed in an upper position of the periphery of the tank 2.

When air is sucked into the tank 2 by means of a fan 71, a positive pressure occurs in the inside of the tank 2, causing a certain amount of internal air from the tank 2 to be released to the outside of the tank 2 having atmospheric pressure (i.e., the pressure is lower than the pressure of the inside of the tank 2 ) through the exhaust channel 83, and the remaining internal air from the tank 2 to move into the circulation channel 7 through the first connecting portion 26 having a negative pressure.

To ensure the release of only a certain amount of air supplied to the tank 2 through the circulation channel 7, through the exhaust channel 83, the cross-sectional area of the exhaust channel 83 may be less than the cross-sectional area of the first connecting portion 26 (or the cross-sectional area of the circulation channel 7).

Moreover, to maintain a constant flow rate of air into the tank 2, the flow rate of air that can be discharged from the exhaust channel 83 (discharge capacity) can be equal to or similar to the speed of air flow that can be sucked into the suction channel 81 (throughput at suction).

Although the exhaust channel 83 can be configured to connect the inside of the tank 2 with the outer side of the casing 1 to direct the air supplied through the exhaust channel 83 to the outer side of the casing 1, the exhaust channel 83 can be connected to a drain device 6, which serves to drain the water for washing from the tank 2.

When the exhaust duct 83 is in direct communication with the outside of the casing 1, moisture from the air discharged from the exhaust duct 83 can condense onto the inner wall, since the air discharged through the exhaust duct 83 is moist air.

The laundry treating apparatus 100 of the present invention can solve the problem described above by connecting the exhaust duct 83 to a drain 6, which is included to discharge washing water from the tub 2 to the outside of the casing 1.

In this case, the flow channel switching unit 9 can be mounted on the connection of the exhaust channel 83 with the drain device 6 for controlling the opening / closing of the exhaust channel 83 and the drain device 6. This serves to prevent the passage of air discharged through the exhaust channel 83 into the tank 2 and to prevent the passage of water discharged through the drain device 6, into the tank 2.

A drain device 6 in accordance with the present invention may include a first drain flow channel 61 and a pump 63, which serve to drain the washing water from the tank 2, a second drain flow channel 65, through which the washing water passing through the pump 63 is directed into a flow channel switching unit 9, and a third discharge flow channel 67, through which water directed to the flow channel switching unit 9 is directed to an external location (not shown), such as a sewer pipe.

The flow channel switching unit 9 mounted on the connection of the exhaust channel 83 and the drain device 6 can be located above the set maximum water level H (see FIG. 6) in the tank 2.

Known laundry treating devices typically include a structure (hereinafter referred to as a moisture separator) for preventing complete drainage of water from a flow channel connected to an external location (i.e., the aforementioned third drain flow channel) to prevent bad smell from entering the processing device linen through the third drainage flow channel.

In the case in which the exhaust duct 83 in accordance with the present invention is connected to a drain device comprising a dehumidifier, the internal air in the tub 2 cannot be discharged from the tub 2 through the exhaust duct 83 during drying of the laundry. Therefore, when connecting the exhaust channel 83 to a drain device of known laundry treating devices, the controller must control the fan revolutions per minute to supply air at a pressure sufficient to remove the dehumidifier.

However, in the case in which the flow channel switching unit 9 is located above the set maximum water level in the tank 2 in accordance with the present invention, the exhaust channel 83 serves as an anti-siphon element for forming a dehumidifier between the flow channel switching unit 9 and the pump 63 (in the second drain flow channel 65), thereby preventing bad odor from entering the tank 2.

The air supplied to the exhaust duct 83 can be discharged from the tank 2 through the flow channel switching unit 9 and the third drain flow channel 67, and therefore, it is not necessary to control the fan revolutions per minute to remove the moisture separator.

In addition, due to the configuration as described above, even if the washing water is supplied to the set maximum water level in the tank 2, unintentional drainage of the washing water from the tank 2 through the drain device 6 can be prevented.

The flow channel switching unit 9 in accordance with the present invention may take the form as shown by way of example in FIG. four.

The flow channel switching unit 9 may include a housing 91 located at the connection of the exhaust channel 83 and the second drain flow channel 65, a channel connecting pipe 93 connecting the exhaust channel 83 to the switching unit body 91, a flow channel connecting pipe 95 connecting the second flow discharge channel 65 with the housing 91 of the switching unit, and a drain pipe 97 connecting the third drain flow channel 67 with the housing 91 of the switching unit.

The connecting pipe 93 of the channel and the connecting pipe 95 of the flow channel can be arranged to address each other. The connecting pipe 93 of the channel can be located in the upper part of the housing 91 of the switching unit, and the connecting pipe 95 of the flow channel can be located in the lower part of the housing 91 of the switching unit.

In this case, the switching valve 99 for opening or closing the connecting pipe 93 of the channel is installed in the housing 91 of the switching unit. The switching valve 99 includes a housing 991 configured to open or close the connecting pipe 93 of the channel, and a rotary valve shaft 993 configured to rotate the valve body 991 with the body 91 of the switching unit.

The valve body 991 keeps the connecting pipe 93 of the channel open under the influence of its weight, but the connecting pipe 93 of the channel is closed by the pressure of the water when washing water is supplied to the housing 91 of the switching unit through the second drain flow channel 65.

In this case, the flow channel switching unit 9 having the configuration as described above can prevent the passage of washing water discharged from the tank 2 into the tank 2 through the connecting pipe 93 of the channel, but cannot exclude the possibility of re-supplying air discharged from the tank 2, into the tank through the connecting pipe 95 of the flow channel.

As described above, due to the dehumidifier formed in the second drain flow channel 65, the present invention can prevent the passage of air discharged through the exhaust channel 83 to the tank 2. However, the dehumidifier cannot be formed in the second drain flow channel 65 when it does not draining water for washing before drying the laundry.

Accordingly, the flow channel switching unit 9 in accordance with the present invention may further include a flow channel valve 951 for opening or closing a flow channel connecting pipe 95. The flow channel valve 951 may include a check valve that opens the connecting pipe 95 of the flow channel only when washing water is supplied to the housing 91 of the switching unit through the second drain flow channel 65.

As shown by way of example in FIG. 1 and 2, the laundry treating apparatus 100 of the present invention may further include a water supply apparatus 4 that supplies washing water to the tub 2, and a detergent supply apparatus 5 that supplies the detergent to the tub 2.

The water supply device 4 may include a water supply passage 43 that connects the tub 2 to a water supply source (not shown) on the outside of the laundry treating device 100, and a water supply valve 41 that opens or closes the water supply passage 43 controller management (not shown).

In this case, the detergent supply device 5 may include a detergent container 53, which contains the detergent, and a tank supply pipe 55 that connects the detergent container 53 to the tank 2. The flow channel 43 of the water supply may be of any shape provided that it can supply water to the detergent container 53. In this case, the detergent contained in the detergent container 53 and the water necessary for washing the laundry may be supplied to the tub 2 as soon as the controller (not shown) opens the water supply valve 41.

Meanwhile, the detergent container 53 can be pulled out from the front panel 11. For this purpose, the detergent dispenser 5 can include a housing 51 configured to support the detergent container 53, so that the detergent container 53 can be pulled out of the front panels 11. The front panel 11 has an opening 15 for the container through which the detergent container 53 extends.

In this case, the inner part of the detergent container 53 should communicate with the housing 51, and the supply pipe 55 of the tank should be configured to provide communication between the housing 51 and the inner part of the tank 2.

A controller (not shown) can control the water supply device 4 to provide water supply to the water supply device 4, which is necessary for cooling the tank 2 (necessary to condense the internal air in the tank 2), to the tank 2 (to increase the drying efficiency).

Given that the moist internal air from the tub 2 may condense in the detergent supply device 5, and the supply of water to the tub 2 during drying of the laundry may inadvertently moisten the laundry contained in the drum 3, the laundry processing apparatus 100 of the present invention may further include a water supply guide 25 for communication between the tank inlet pipe 55 and the tank 2.

The water supply guide 25 in accordance with the present invention has a sign of the formation of a water separator (with a constant content of a constant amount of water to prevent communication between the tank 2 and the detergent supply device 5) to prevent the passage of internal air from the tank 2 to the detergent supply device 5 and forced movement water supplied to the tank 2 through the device 4 for supplying water to the lower part of the tank 2 along the inner peripheral surface of the tank 2 so as not to reach the laundry containing Gosia drum 3.

As shown by way of example in FIG. 5, a water supply guide 25 may be formed in a fourth connecting portion 29 (i.e., a connecting water supply portion) located in an upper position of the periphery of the tank 2.

The fourth connecting portion 29, as shown by way of example in the drawing, may be in the form of a pipe protruding from the periphery of the tank 2, or may be in the form of a hole drilled in the periphery of the tank 2.

The water supply guide 25 includes a separator body 251 that is housed in the fourth connecting portion 29 to provide a water holding area, gaskets 253 that serve to maintain a constant gap between the outer peripheral surface of the separator body 251 and the inner peripheral surface of the fourth connecting portion 29, and a guide pipe 255, which is secured to the fourth connecting portion 29 for guiding the water supplied through the tank supply pipe 55 to the separator body 251.

The guide tube 255 may include a housing 255a configured to direct water to the separator housing 251, and a flange 255b formed on the periphery of the guide tube body 255a to secure the guide tube body 255a to the fourth connecting portion 29.

The diameter of the guide tube body 255a is determined so that the outer peripheral surface of the guide tube body 255a is located at a predetermined distance from the inner peripheral surface of the separator body 251. The length of the guide tube body 255a is determined so that the lower part of the guide tube body 255a from which water is drained is located at a predetermined distance from the lower part of the separator body 251.

Flange 255b must be configured to fill the area between the outer peripheral surface of the guide tube body 255a and the inner peripheral surface of the fourth connecting portion 29. As shown by way of example in FIG. 5, the flange 255b may be supported by the upper surface of the fourth connecting portion 29.

Accordingly, the water supplied through the detergent container 53 through the flow passage channel 43 of the water supply is supplied to the separator body 251 through the tank inlet pipe 55 and the guide tube body 255a, and, in turn, the water supplied to the separator body 251 the tank 2 through the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the separator body 251 and the outer peripheral surface of the guide tube 255 and the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the separator body 251 and the inner peripheral surface of the fourth soy extension section 29.

A constant amount of water is always contained in the separator body 251, and the lower part of the guide tube body 255a (not containing the flange 255b) is constantly immersed in the water contained in the separator body 251, which prevents the supply of moist air from the tank 2 to the detergent supply device 5.

In addition, the water supply guide 25, as described above, is located in the fourth connecting portion 29 in a position located at a predetermined distance from the vertical line X passing through the center of rotation C1 of the drum 3 in the width direction Y of the tank 2. In essence, the supply guide 25 water can perform the function of preventing the water supplied to the tank 2 during drying, the laundry contained in the drum 3.

In addition, the results, as described above, can be maximized by arranging the fourth connecting portion 29 so that the water supply guide 25 is located between the vertical line X1 tangent to the periphery of the drum 3 and the vertical line X2 tangent to the periphery of the tank 2 in the height direction tank 2.

Moreover, in the case in which the location of the water supply guide 25 in the above-described position is difficult, the flow channel formed in the water supply guide 25 may be located in the aforementioned position to achieve results as described above.

As shown by way of example in FIG. 5 (b), a plurality of gaskets 253 may be located on the outer peripheral surface of the separator body 251 to secure the separator body 251 in the fourth connecting portion 29. The area between the respective two adjacent gaskets 235 serves as flow channels through which water is supplied from the separator body 251 into the tank 2.

Accordingly, when some of the areas between the respective adjacent gaskets 253 have closed planes 259, and other areas have open planes 257, and each open plane 257 is located between the vertical line X1 and the vertical line X2, it is possible to prevent the laundry from reaching the water supplied to the tank 2 in drying time.

That is, the open plane 257 may be in the form of a semicircle or arc located further from the vertical line X passing through the center of rotation C1 of the drum 3, based on the line Z, which passes through the center C2 of the fourth connecting portion 29 and is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tank 2.

When the open plane 257 has an arc shape, the length of the open plane 257 may be one fourth of the perimeter of the separator body 251 or more, and less than the perimeter of the separator body 251. When viewed from the angle, the center of the arcuate open plane 257 can be 45 degrees or more, and less than 180 degrees based on the center C2 of the fourth connecting portion 29.

The shape and positional parameters of the open plane 257 as described above are set to prevent the laundry from reaching the water supplied during drying and to minimize the increase in the water supply time during washing.

Below, a drying system (a process of drying laundry by supplying heated air to the laundry) carried out by the laundry treating apparatus 100 of the present invention as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

When the fan 71 is driven, the internal air from the tank 2 is supplied to the circulation channel 7 through the first connecting portion 26, and, in turn, the air supplied to the circulation channel 7 is heated by the heater 73 and then supplied to the tank 2 through the second connecting section 27 The air supplied to the tank 2, exchanges heat with the laundry contained in the drum 3, and then moves to the first connecting portion 26.

The surface of the tank 2 is maintained at a temperature that is lower than the temperature in the center of the tank 2 due to heat exchange between the tank 2 and the internal air from the casing 1 (or, for example, the air supplied to the casing 1 through the opening 19 of the casing). Accordingly, since the air discharged from the drum 3 is cooled as it moves to the first connecting portion 26, some of the moisture contained in the air condenses onto the inner peripheral surface of the tank 2.

That is, the tank 2, the circulation channel 7, the fan 71 and the heater 73 in accordance with the present invention form a circulation drying system (including a first heat-exchange flow channel and a heating device) that removes moisture from the air discharged from the tank 2, heating the dried air and re-supply of heated air to the tank 2.

In this case, a certain amount of air that has exchanged heat with the laundry is discharged from the tank 2 through the exhaust channel 83, and the remaining air is collected in the circulation channel 7 through the first connecting portion 26. In this process, the air is mixed with the external air supplied to the tank 2 through the suction channel 81.

Although the air discharged from the drum 3 is dried by heat exchange with the tank 2 when moving to the first connecting portion 26, the air collected in the circulation channel 7 cannot remain in a sufficiently drained state according to the amount of linen (i.e., the amount of linen contained in the drum 3). The exhaust duct 83 and the suction duct 81 serve to eliminate this problem.

That is, in accordance with the present invention, a certain amount of air supplied to the first connecting portion 26 is discharged from the casing 1 through the exhaust channel 83, which can reduce the amount of moist air to be supplied to the circulation channel 7. In addition, dry air (outside air tank 2), supplied through the suction channel 81, is mixed with air transported from the tank 2 to the circulation channel 7, which can reduce the humidity of the air, which should be directed to the heater 73, to the desired level.

The suction channel 81, the fan 71, the heater 73 and the exhaust channel 83 in accordance with the present invention form an exhaust drying system (including a second heat exchange flow channel and a heating device), which serves not only to heat the outside air of the tank 2 to supply heated air to the tank 2 , but also to release a certain amount of air that has exchanged heat with the linen from the tank 2.

Accordingly, thanks to the combined drying system consisting of a circulation drying system and an exhaust drying system, the present invention can prevent the drying efficiency from decreasing regardless of the amount of linen or type of linen (regardless of the humidity of the air discharged from the tank 2).

To achieve the results, as described above, the exhaust duct 83 and the suction duct 81 can always remain open during drying, and the amount of air supplied to the circulation duct 7 through the suction duct 81 (suction capacity) and the amount of air discharged from the tank 2 through the exhaust channel 83 (discharge throughput), may be the same.

Moreover, the discharge throughput can be set higher than the suction throughput, when the coincidence of the suction throughput and the discharge throughput is difficult, although the coincidence of the suction throughput and the discharge throughput ensures maximum drying efficiency.

When the suction capacity is greater than the discharge capacity, the amount of hot air supplied to the tank 2 increases, and, in turn, an increase in the amount of hot air supplied to the tank 2 means an increase in the amount of air to be drained in the tank 2. Thus Thus, when the suction channel 81 and the exhaust channel 83 are configured such that the suction capacity is greater than the discharge capacity, drying without using cooling water may cause a decrease in the effect drying drying. Accordingly, the discharge throughput can be set higher than the suction throughput.

Although the drying system, as described above, has the risk of increasing the drying time in accordance with the amount of laundry, the present invention has eliminated this problem by controlling the water supply device 4. That is, the drying system in accordance with the present invention can eliminate the above-described risk, since a controller (not shown) controls the water supply device 4 for supplying water to the inner peripheral surface of the tub 2 during drying of the laundry.

The water supply using the device 4 for supplying water to the inner peripheral surface of the tank 2 during drying causes rapid cooling of the inner peripheral surface of the tank 2, which can provide low humidity of the air supplied to the circulation channel 7 (in other words, can provide a high degree of dryness of the air supplied into the circulation channel 7).

Water supplied to the tank 2 using the water supply device 4 passes into the drain device 6 along the inner peripheral surface of the tank 2 in the direction of the water supply guide 25, and therefore there is a substantially lower risk that the water will reach the laundry contained in the drum 3, thereby causing an increase in drying time.

In this case, to save water, the water is supplied to the tank using the water supply device 4 in accordance with the user's choice. For this purpose, the control panel 17 may further include a part 171 for selecting a first mode for drying laundry by supplying water to the tank 2, and a part 173 for selecting a second mode for drying laundry without supplying water to the tank 2 (see Fig. 1 ( b)).

Meanwhile, the laundry treating apparatus 100 of the present invention, as described above, may be configured as shown by way of example in FIG. 6.

The laundry treating apparatus 100, as shown by way of example in FIG. 6 has substantially the same configuration as the laundry treating device, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1-5 except for the connection between the circulation channel 7, the suction channel 81 and the exhaust channel 83.

More specifically, in accordance with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, the tank 2 receives external air (the internal air of the casing 1 or the external air of the casing 1) through the suction channel 81, the internal air of the tank 2 is discharged from the exhaust channel 83, and a certain amount of internal air from the tank 2 is directed to the suction channel 81 through the circulation channel 7 (connecting channel).

A fan 71 and a heater 73 are located in the suction channel 81, and the circulation channel 7 is connected to a flow channel of the suction channel 81, through which air is directed to the fan 71 (i.e., the circulation channel is connected between the fan 71 and the inlet of the suction channel 81).

In the present embodiment, in a similar manner, the circulation drying system is formed by a first heat-exchange flow channel and a heating device 71/73. The first heat-exchange flow channel is formed by the tank 2, the circulation channel 7 (connecting channel) and a partial flow channel of the suction channel 81, through which air passing through the fan 71 is directed to the tank 2.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the exhaust drying system is formed by the second heat-exchange flow channel and the heating device 71/73, and the second heat-exchange flow channel is formed by the suction channel 81, the tank 2 and the exhaust channel 83.

Accordingly, the present embodiment may also have the same results as the results of the above embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1-5.

FIG. 7 depicts a method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus 100 as described above. The control method of the laundry processing apparatus 100 in accordance with the present invention may include a drying operation S30 for supplying heated air to the tub 2 and a motion performing operation S50 for rotating the drum 3 based on a predetermined movement during the drying operation S30.

The drying operation S30 includes a circulation process S31 for discharging internal air from the tank 2 and then re-supplying air to the tank 2, an exhaust process S33 for discharging a certain amount of air supplied to the tank 2 from the tank 2, a suction process S35 for mixing circulating air using the process S31 circulating with the outside air of the tank 2 and the heating process S37 to heat the air supplied to the tank 2.

The circulation process S31 is a process in which the internal air from the tank 2 passes through the circulation channel 7 by the operation of the fan 71. The circulation process S31 starts at the same time as the fan 71. During the circulation process S31, only a certain amount of internal air from the tank 2 is supplied to the circulation channel 7. That is, a certain amount of internal air from the tank 2 is re-fed into the tank 2 using the circulation process S31, and a certain amount of internal air is discharged from the tank 2 using Using the S33 release process.

The exhaust process S33 is carried out using an exhaust duct 83, and therefore, the air discharged from the tank 2 using the exhaust process S33 passes to the outside of the laundry treating apparatus 100 through the flow channel switching unit 9 and the third drain flow channel 67.

The suction process S35 is carried out using the suction channel 81, and the suction channel 81 is installed in the first connecting portion 26, which connects the circulation channel 7 to the tank 2. Therefore, it should be understood that the suction process S35 starts when the circulation process S31 starts in accordance with the operation fan 71.

The heating process S37 is the process of heating the mixed air in the circulation channel 7 using the heater 73, the mixed air being obtained using the circulation process S31 and the suction process S35.

Due to the drying operation S30, as described above, the present invention can supply heated air, remove moisture from the heat exchanged air with the laundry, reheat a certain amount of air discharged from the tank, discharge a certain amount of air discharged from the tank, and re-supply heated air on the laundry.

The motion execution operation S50 is carried out during the drying operation S30. The motion execution operation S50 may be performed to perform any of the first movement and the second motion, or the first motion execution process S53 and the second motion execution process S51 may be performed in a predetermined sequence.

The second motion execution process S53 is a rotation process of the drum 3 based on the first motion. The first movement is the movement in which the drum 3 rotates in any one direction from the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction to force the multiple entering into tight contact of the laundry with the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3 and separating it from the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3 (without turning over) thus achieving an increased heat exchange efficiency between the laundry and the hot air supplied to the tank 2.

The process S53 of performing the first movement may include the process of rotation of the drum 3 at the first revolutions per minute (rpm) (calculated rpm) (S531), the first rpm being rpm at which the centrifugal force of the laundry caused by by rotating the drum 3, it becomes more than the weight of the laundry, the rotation process of the drum 3 at the second rpm (S533), the second rpm being set more than the first rpm, and the process of repeating the two processes S531 and S533 a predetermined number of times or within a given period time.

During the rotation of the drum 3 at the first rpm (S531) and during the rotation of the drum 3 at the second rpm (S533), the drum 3 rotates in the same direction at the first rpm and second rpm, which force the laundry rotate with the drum 3. Therefore, during the first motion S53, the laundry will have a movement, as shown by way of example in FIG. 8.

That is, when the drum 3 rotates at the first rpm, the laundry L is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3 for a predetermined time (see FIG. 8 (b)). When the drum 3 rotates at the second rpm, the laundry L is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3 for a predetermined time, but is in more tight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3 than when the drum 3 rotates at the first rpm (see Fig. 8 (a)).

The reason is that the second rpm is greater than the first rpm, and therefore the induced centrifugal force of the laundry L when the drum 3 rotates at the second rpm, is greater than the induced centrifugal force of the laundry L when the drum 3 rotates at the first rpm / min

The reason for setting the first rpm and second rpm to values that cause the laundry L to come into tight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3 for rotation together with the drum 3 is to obtain an area for moving hot air inside the drum 3. Due to this first movement, the surface area of the laundry L, which may come into contact with the hot air supplied to the tank 2, is maximized, which can increase the heat transfer efficiency between the laundry L and the hot air supplied to the tank 2.

At the same time, the reason for setting the first rpm and second rpm to different values is to ensure that the through holes 33 of the drum 3 are opened and closed with linen L. That is, this serves to hold hot air in the drum, while the drum 3 rotates at the second rpm, and the release of internal air from the drum 3 into the tank 2, while the drum 3 rotates at the first rpm.

In the case of the known laundry treating devices, some of the hot air supplied to the drum 3 is discharged into the tank 2 after heat exchange with the laundry, but a certain amount of air supplied to the drum 3 is directly discharged into the tank 2 through the through holes 33 of the drum 3 without heat exchange with linen. Therefore, the known devices for processing linen have the disadvantage of increased energy consumption due to the low heat transfer efficiency between air and linen.

The present invention can eliminate the aforementioned problem of known laundry treating devices by adjusting the rpm of the drum 3.

More laundry will be distributed to cover the entire inner peripheral surface of the drum 3 and to come into tight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3 under the action of a large centrifugal force during rotation of the drum 3 at second rpm. Therefore, the rotation of the drum 3 at the second rpm can minimize the release of hot air from the drum 3 into the tank 2 through the through holes 33.

In addition, when the drum 3 rotates at the first rpm, the laundry will be in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3 under the action of a relatively small centrifugal force, and therefore, hot air can be discharged from the drum 3 into the tub 2 through the through holes 33 .

The time set for the drum rotation process at second rpm (S533) to further increase the heat transfer efficiency between the laundry and the hot air may be longer than the time set for the drum rotation process 3 at the first rpm (S531).

Since the condensation efficiency of the air moving to the circulation channel can vary in accordance with the time of the release of hot air from the drum 3 into the tank 2 (i.e., the amount of hot air discharged into the tank 2), the rotation time of the drum 3 at the first rpm and the rotation time of the drum 3 at the second rpm is set to a predetermined ratio. In FIG. 8 shows a case in which, as an example, the ratio of the rotation time of the drum 3 at the first rpm to the rotation time of the drum 3 at the second rpm is 1: 3.

In this case, the process S51 of performing the second movement is the process of rotating the drum 3 based on the second movement. The second movement is a movement in which the rotation and the cessation of rotation of the drum 3 are repeated to cause the laundry L to fall on top of a horizontal line Y passing through the center of rotation C1 of the drum 3 (i.e., a movement to allow the laundry to mix and increase heat transfer efficiency).

As shown by way of example in FIG. 7, the second motion execution process S51 may include a rotation process of the drum 3 at third rpm (S511), a process of stopping the rotation of the drum 3 until the drum 3 completes 1 revolution (S513), and a process of repeating the two processes S511 and S513 a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined time (S515).

The third rpm is rpm, at which the centrifugal force of the laundry caused by the rotation of the drum 3 becomes more than the weight of the laundry. The third rpm may be equal to any of the first rpm or second rpm.

The process of stopping rotation of the drum 3 (S513) starts when the laundry is raised above half the height h of the drum 3. Thus, during the execution of the second motion S51, the laundry will have a movement, as shown by way of example in FIG. 9.

That is, when the drum 3 rotates at third rpm (S511), the laundry L rotates together with the drum 3 when it comes into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3 ((I) see FIG. 9 (a)). After stopping the rotation of the drum 3, when the laundry is raised above half the height h of the drum 3, the laundry L falls from above the horizontal line Y onto the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3 below the horizontal line Y (see Fig. 9 (b)).

By this second movement, the surface area of the laundry L exposed to the hot air supplied to the drum 3 is increased, and the moisture contained in the laundry L is easily removed when the laundry L collides with the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3. Thus, the present invention can achieve increased heat exchange efficiency between hot air and linen (increased drying efficiency).

In addition, the second movement prevents tangling of the laundry L in the drum 3, since the laundry L repeatedly rises and falls in the drum 3.

To maximize the results, as described above, the process of stopping the rotation of the drum 3 (S513) can be carried out by applying torque to the drum 3 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the drum 3 (i.e., the direction of rotation of the drum 3 at the time when the process starts stop rotation of the drum 3 (S513)). This serves to create a greater shock force L.

The process of stopping the rotation of the drum 3 (S513) can be carried out when the laundry L is rotated by an angle of 90 degrees or more, and less than 180 degrees relative to the lowest point B of the rotation path of the drum 3.

A second movement, as described above, can be set to allow the drum 3 to rotate in any one direction from the clockwise direction and counterclockwise direction, as shown by way of example in FIG. 9 (c), and can be set to alternate clockwise rotation and counterclockwise rotation, as shown by way of example in FIG. 9 (b).

The process of rotating the drum 3 at third rpm (S511) and the process of stopping the rotation of the drum 3 (S513) are repeated a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined time. The third rpm may gradually increase whenever the second movement is repeated.

That is, assuming that the second movement is performed many times, the rpm for the initial execution of the second movement may be less than rpm for the subsequent execution of the second movement (see Fig. 9 (d)).

In addition, the third rpm set for the rotation process of the drum 3 (S511) may increase whenever the second movement is repeated, and then decrease after the second movement is repeated a predetermined number of times.

A gradual increase in third rpm whenever a second movement is repeatedly performed can easily remove the moisture contained in the laundry.

In this case, the process S51 of performing the second movement, as described above, may be performed before the process S53 of performing the first movement. This serves to prevent tangles in the drum by the second movement, thereby ensuring uniform distribution of the laundry on the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3 during the first movement.

In addition, the time set for the first movement executing process S53 may be longer than the time set for the second movement executing process S51. This serves to increase the time during which the hot air supplied to the drum 3 remains in the drum 3, thereby increasing the heat exchange efficiency between the laundry and the hot air.

Although the control method of the present invention may include only a drying operation S30 and a motion execution operation S50, as described above, the control method may further include a cooling water supply operation S70, as shown by way of example in FIG. 7. The cooling water supply operation S70 is carried out to supply water to the inner peripheral surface of the tank 2 during the motion execution operation S50, thereby cooling the inner peripheral surface of the tank 2, which has exchanged heat with air discharged from the drum 3.

The cooling water supply operation S70 in accordance with the present invention can be carried out according to the choice of the user. For this purpose, the control method of the present invention may further include a mode selection operation S10 for setting whether or not to carry out the cooling water supply operation S70 before starting the drying operation S30.

In the mode selection operation S10, the user can enter a control command using part 171 to select the first mode and part 173 to select the second mode located on the control panel 17.

Part 171 for selecting the first mode is used to select a control method (the so-called "turbo-drying mode") for performing cooling water supply operation S70 during the motion performing operation S50, and part 173 for selecting the second mode is used to select a control method (so-called "mode blow drying ") for performing the operation S50 to perform the movement without the operation S70 for supplying cooling water.

Meanwhile, in the mode selection operation S10, the controller (not shown) selects the first mode including the cooling water supply operation S70 in accordance with the amount of the laundry contained in the drum 3 without entering a user command.

In any case, the control method of the present invention includes determining whether or not the first mode is selected after the start of the drying operation S30 (S40).

When the first mode is not selected (when the second mode is selected), the control method of the present invention sequentially executes only the second motion execution process S51 and the first motion execution process S53. However, when the first mode is selected, the control method of the present invention performs the cooling water supply operation S70 during the first movement process S53.

The heat transfer efficiency between the laundry and the hot air is low in the initial stage of the drying operation S30. The degree of dryness of the laundry essentially does not change until the laundry reaches a predetermined temperature, and increases rapidly from the point in time when the laundry reaches a predetermined temperature.

The reason is that the moisture contained in the laundry does not evaporate until the laundry reaches a predetermined temperature. Such a rapid increase in the dryness of the laundry means that the humidity of the air discharged from the drum 3 increases during the drying operation S30.

Accordingly, from the point of view of drying the laundry, cooling the tub 2 during the first movement process S53, which starts after a predetermined time after the start of the drying operation S30 (i.e., starts when the second movement process S51 is completed), is most advantageous, than cooling the tank 2 during the second motion process S51, which starts after the start of the drying operation S30.

In addition, the cooling water supply operation S70 may be performed during the rotation of the drum 3 at the second rpm (S533), which is included in the first movement execution process S51.

Thus, even if the water supplied to the tank 2 by the water supply device 4 inadvertently passes into the drum 3, it is possible to prevent the water from reaching the laundry in the drum 3 (the reason is that the high rpm of the drum causes water to collide with the outside peripheral surface of the drum 3, removed from the drum 3).

Then, the control method of the present invention includes determining whether or not the time taken for the drying operation S30 and the motion execution operation S50 exceeds, the drying time set in the drying time setting operation S20 (S80), and ends the drying operation S30 and the operation S50 execute the movement based on the estimated result.

The drying time setting operation S20 may be performed before the drying operation S30 is started. In the drying time setting operation S20, a controller (not shown) can set the drying time based on the amount of the laundry, or the user can enter the drying time using the control panel 17.

As is clear from the above description, the present invention has the result of creating a laundry treating apparatus having a drying system based on a perspective concept that can reduce the energy and cooling water consumption necessary for drying the laundry and a method for controlling it.

In addition, the present invention has the result of creating a device for processing sheets having a drying system that can achieve increased drying efficiency, and a method for controlling it.

 In addition, the present invention has the result of providing a laundry treating apparatus having a water supply device that can prevent cooling water from reaching the laundry to be dried and a method for controlling it.

Specialists in the art should understand that various modifications and changes are possible in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention include modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (29)

1. A device for processing linen, containing:
a tank providing an area for containing water for washing;
a drum inside the tank;
a circulation channel for directing the air discharged from the tank back into the tank;
a fan located in the circulation channel for circulating air from the tank;
a heater located in the circulation channel for heating air;
an exhaust duct for discharging a certain amount of air supplied to the tank from the tank;
a suction channel for supplying air from the outside of the tank to the tank; and
a water supply device for supplying water to the tank for cooling the tank,
while the suction channel and the exhaust channel are configured to remain open during operation of the heater and fan. 2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling the opening / closing of the water supply device, the controller controlling the water supply device for supplying water to the tank during operation of the fan and heater. 3. The device according to p. 2, in which the controller rotates the drum at the first revolutions per minute (rpm) and second rpm during operation of the fan and heater, the first rpm set to a value at which the centrifugal force of the linen, caused by the rotation of the drum, becomes more than the weight of the laundry, and the second rpm set to an amount exceeding the first rpm. 4. The device according to claim 3, in which the controller controls the water supply device for supplying water to the tank, while the drum rotates at a second rpm. 5. The device according to claim 1, in which the water supply device supplies water to the tank through the periphery of the tank in a position located at a predetermined distance from a vertical line passing through the center of rotation of the drum, in the direction of the width of the tank. 6. The device according to claim 1, in which the suction channel is located in the flow channel through which the internal air from the tank is directed to the fan, so that the external air of the tank is supplied to the circulation channel through the suction channel. 7. The device according to claim 1, in which the cross-sectional area of the exhaust channel is less than the cross-sectional area of the circulation channel. 8. The device according to claim 1, in which the amount of air discharged through the exhaust channel and the amount of air supplied through the suction channel are set equal to each other. 9. The device according to claim 1, in which the amount of air discharged through the exhaust duct is set to be greater than the amount of air supplied through the suction duct. 10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a drain device for draining the water contained in the tank from the tank, the exhaust duct being connected to the drain device. 11. The device according to p. 10, in which the connection of the exhaust channel with the drain device is located above the set maximum water level in the tank. 12. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a switching valve configured to open or close the exhaust duct. 13. The device according to p. 12, further containing a flow valve, configured to prevent the supply of air supplied to the drain device through an exhaust channel. 14. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a water supply guide for supplying water supplied from the water supply device to the tank, wherein the water supply guide is arranged to allow movement of water supplied to the tank to the lower part of the tank along the inner peripheral surface of the tank. 15. The device according to p. 14, in which the guide water supply is located on the periphery of the tank in a position located at a predetermined distance from a vertical line passing through the center of rotation of the drum, in the direction of the width of the tank. 16. The device according to p. 14, in which the guide water supply is located between the vertical line tangent to the periphery of the drum, and the vertical line tangent to the periphery of the tank. 17. The device according to p. 14, in which the tank further includes a connecting section of the water supply (fourth connecting section), drilled in the periphery of the tank for communication with the water supply device,
moreover, the water supply guide includes:
a separator housing located in the connecting portion of the water supply to provide an area in which water is contained, the outer peripheral surface of the separator housing being located at a predetermined distance from the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion of the water supply; and
a guide pipe fixed to the connecting portion of the water supply for directing water into the separator body, the guide tube forming a flow channel for communication between the area between the outer peripheral surface of the separator body and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion of the water supply and the inner part of the separator body. 18. The device according to p. 17, in which the lower part of the separator housing is located at a predetermined distance from the outlet of the guide tube, and the area between the outer peripheral surface of the separator housing and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting section of the water supply has an open plane for communication between the inner part of the separator housing and the inside of the tank. 19. The device according to claim 18, in which the open plane has the shape of a semicircle or arc located farther from the vertical line passing through the center of rotation of the drum on the basis of the line passing through the center of the connecting section of the water supply, for passing parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tank. 20. The device according to p. 1, in which the suction channel includes a suction hole through which external air is supplied, and the suction hole is fixed to the circulation channel; and an outlet through which air supplied through the suction port is supplied to the tank, the outlet being fixed to the tank. 21. The device according to p. 20, in which the circulation channel is fixed in the upper part of the outer peripheral surface of the tank. 22. The device according to p. 21, further containing a connecting section of the channel (the first connecting section) for the release of internal air from the tank into the circulation channel, and the outlet is located in the connecting section of the channel. 23. The device according to p. 22, in which the circulation channel further includes a mounting section, which is connected to the suction hole. 24. The device according to p. 23, in which the circulation channel further includes a first filter, located in the mounting section, for filtering the air to be supplied to the suction port. 25. The device according to p. 24, further containing a second filter located on the connecting section of the channel (the first connecting section), for filtering the air to be directed from the tank into the circulation channel. 26. The device according to p. 25, additionally containing a filter washing device for supplying washing water to the second filter for washing the second filter. 27. The device according to p. 20, in which the suction channel includes a connecting part located under the circulation channel for communication with the tank, and the connecting part contains an outlet; and a protruding portion extending from the connecting portion to the circulation channel, the protruding portion comprising a suction port. 28. A device for processing linen, comprising:
a drum containing laundry;
a heater for heating air;
a first heat exchange flow channel including a tank for providing an area in which the drum is mounted, and an area in which air condenses, and a channel through which a certain amount of air from the inside of the tank is directed to the heater and then re-supplied to the tank;
a second heat-exchange flow channel including a channel through which air from outside the tank is directed to the tank by means of a heater, and a channel through which some internal air of the tank is discharged from the tank; and
a water supply device for supplying water to the tank for cooling the tank,
wherein the channel through which air outside the tank is directed to the tank by means of a heater, and the channel through which a certain amount of air inside the tank is directed from the tank, are configured to remain open during operation of the heater and fan. 29. The device according to p. 28, further comprising a controller for controlling the opening / closing of the water supply device and rpm of the drum, the controller supplying water to the tank, while the drum rotates at predetermined design rpm or higher than the specified reference rpm min

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