Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F34/04—Signal transfer or data transmission arrangements
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F31/00—Washing installations comprising an assembly of several washing machines or washing units, e.g. continuous flow assemblies
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F25/00—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air 
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F34/04—Signal transfer or data transmission arrangements
  • D06F34/05—Signal transfer or data transmission arrangements for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
  • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
  • D06F58/203—Laundry conditioning arrangements
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
  • D06F58/32—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers 
  • D06F58/34—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers  characterised by the purpose or target of the control
  • D06F58/36—Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
  • D06F58/44—Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry of conditioning or finishing, e.g. for smoothing or removing creases
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F75/00—Hand irons
  • D06F75/08—Hand irons internally heated by electricity
  • D06F75/10—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed
  • D06F75/12—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed the steam being produced from water supplied to the iron from an external source
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01K—STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES
  • F01K17/00—Using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plant
  • F01K17/02—Using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plant for heating purposes, e.g. industrial, domestic
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2103/60—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers related to auxiliary conditioning or finishing agents, e.g. filling level of perfume tanks
  • D06F2103/62—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers related to auxiliary conditioning or finishing agents, e.g. filling level of perfume tanks related to systems for water or steam used for conditioning or finishing
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2105/38—Conditioning or finishing, e.g. control of perfume injection
  • D06F2105/40—Conditioning or finishing, e.g. control of perfume injection using water or steam
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/40—Steam generating arrangements

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a total laundry treating system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a total laundry treating system composed of laundry treating devices as a set.
• Laundry treating apparatuses are all kinds of appliances that are used in houses,
• laundry such as washing, drying, removing wrinkles.
• laundry treating apparatuses include washers, dryers, laundry devices having washing and drying functions, refreshers, irons for removing or producing wrinkles of laundry and steamers for removing unnecessary wrinkles.
• the refreshers are appliances that performs drying, supplying aroma to laundry, prevents static electricity of laundry or removing winkles of laundry.
• the steamers are appliances that supplies steam to laundry to remove wrinkles of laundry.
• the steamer may not allow a hot plate to contact with the laundry, different from the iron.
• the steamers are consumed a lot in here in Korea via home shopping channels.
• washers having steam generators, especially, drum type washers have come into wide use.
• the products have become popular in recent years which supplies steam to laundry during washing or before/after washing, to maximize washing efficiency by using Sanctions of sterilization, laundry soaking time reduction and detergent activation.
• an object of the present invention is to provide a total laundry treating system composed of laundry treating devices as a set.
• a total laundry treating system includes a steam generator in which at a controller is provided; a laundry treating apparatus for treating laundry, in which a controller is provided; a data transmitting part for transmitting data between the controllers; a steam supply line through which steam generated by the steam generator is supplied to the laundry treating apparatus.
• the laundry treating apparatus may include a washer for washing laundry, a washer having a drying function for washing and drying laundry, or a dryer for drying laundry. Also, the laundry treating apparatus may include a refresher or iron.
• the laundry treating apparatus may be a plurality of various laundry treating apparatuses having separate laundry treating modules. That is, in one total laundry treating system, there are provided a plurality of washers, a dryer and a refresher, or a plurality of dryers, a washer and a refresher.
• laundry treating apparatuses in houses may be configured to be different kinds of laundry treating apparatuses performing separate laundry treating modules.
• the laundry treating module is modules for washing, drying and refreshing.
• the data transmitting part may be a wire cable connected between the controllers, or a wireless communication device provided at each of the controllers to transmit the data among the controllers wirelessly.
• the controller of the steam generator is connected to the controllers of the laundry treating apparatuses by using a wire or wirelessly.
• the steam generator comtmnicates with each of the laundry treating apparatuses.
• the laundry treating apparatus may further include a steam iron.
• the total laundry treating system is configured of a single steam generator and a plurality of laundry treating apparatuses.
• the capacity of the steam generator may be adjustable according to a case that steam is requested by all of the laundry treating ap- paratuses and a case that steam is requested by one of the laundry treating apparatuses. This is because user inconvenience and energy saving caused by insufficient steam supply or time delay of steam supply may be accomplished.
• the total laundry treating system may further include a hot air generator in which a controller is provided; a data transmitting part for transmitting data between the controller of the hot air generator and the controller of the laundry treating apparatus; and an hot air supply line through which the hot air generated by the hot air generator is supplied to the laundry treating apparatus.
• the total laundry treating system may fiirther include a hot air collect line through which hot air exhausted from the laundry treating apparatus is collected.
• the hot air generator may include a condenser in which the hot air collected through the hot air collect line is condensed.
• the steam generator and the hot air generator are controlled by one controller, and the steam generator and the hot air generator may be formed as one body, which are efficient as a matter of production cost.
• there is an effect of a simple structure because an auxiliary data transmitting part for sharing the hot air generator does not have to be provided other than the data transmitting part for sharing the steam generator.
• At least one of the laundry treating apparatuses has a different laundry treating module.
• Each of the laundry treating apparatuses is inter-relative and thus a convenient total laundry treating system may be provided. That is, the total laundry treating system according to the present invention is efficient and convenient in a view of space or a laundry treating time.
• the present invention there are provided the plurality of the laundry treating apparatuses that uses steam, respectively, and the steam the total laundry treating system having the steam generator for supplying steam to each of the laundry treating apparatuses.
• the present invention has an advantageous effect that a series of laundry treating processes may be performed conveniently.
• the steam generator able to adjust the amount of steam supply is provided in the total laundry treating system according to the present invention. As a result, efficient steam supply is possible and energy saving is possible.
• steam is supplied to the plurality of the laundry treating apparatuses through the single steam generator. As a result, a user may easily secure a water source for steam generation.
• the hot air generator for supply air, especially, hot air as well as the steam generator is provided in each of the laundry treating apparatuses.
• the laundry treating process may be performed convenient.
• the total laundry treating system may be embodied by using conventional washers having the steam generators or dryers having the hot air generators.
• HG. 1 is a block view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention
• HG. 2 is a block view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a steam generator provided in the present invention.
• FIG. 1 is a block view illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention. Next, the first embodiment will be explained.
• a total laundry treating system 100 according to the first embodiment may include a steam generator 10 and a plurality of laundry treating apparatuses 2Q 30 and 40.
• the laundry treating apparatuses may be appliances that have the same laundry treating module, or may be appliances that have different laundry treating modules, re- spectively.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a washer 2Q a dryer 30 and a refresher 40 as laundry treating apparatuses.
• these laundry treating apparatuses may be different kinds of laundry treating apparatuses and may include more laundry treating apparatuses.
• Steam may be supplied to the washer 2Q the dryer 30 and the refresher 40 to improve washing efficiency, remove wrinkles, prevent static electricity, perform sterilization or remove bad smell of laundry.
• Such method of supplying steam and steam supply timing may be controlled by a controller of each of the laundry treating apparatuses.
• a controller 21 is provided in the washer 20 and another controller 31 is provided in the dryer 30 and a further controller 41 is provided in the refresher 40.
• each of the laundry treating apparatuses performs a separate laundry treating module through each of the controllers 21, 31 and 41.
• the total laundry treating system further includes a steam generator 10.
• the steam generator 10 includes a controller 11 for controlling an operation of the steam generator 10.
• each of the laundry treating apparatuses is supplied steam by the steam generator 10.
• the washer 20 sends a steam request signal to the steam generator 10 and the steam generator 10 generates steam according to the steam request to supply steam to the washer 20.
• a data transmitting part 70 is further provided to transmit data between the controller 11 of the steam generator 10 and the controllers 21, 31 and 41 of the laundry treating apparatuses.
• the controller 21 of the washer 20 sends a steam request signal to the controller 11 of the steam generator 10 throtgh the data transmitting part 70.
• the controller 11 of the steam generator 10 controls an operation of the steam generator to generate steam based on the steam request and the steam is supplied to the washer 20.
• the controller 21 of the washer 20 sends a present operational data to the steam generator during the operation of the washer 20 and the controller 11 of the steam generator 10 supplies steam at an appropriate time period based on the operational data.
• Such control logic may he applicable to the dryer 31 or the refresher 40.
• the data transmitting part 70 may be a cable connected between the controllers, or the data transmitting part 50 may include a wireless comrrunication device (not shown) provided in the controller 11 of the steam generator 10 and a wireless communication device (not shown) provided in the other controllers 21, 31 and 41 of the laundry treating apparatuses. At this time, data may be sent and received wirelessly.
• the present invention includes the steam supply line (D thr ⁇ gh which the steam generated by the steam generator 10 is supplied to the laundry treating apparatuses.
• the steam supply line ® may be formed between the steam generator 10 and each of the laundry treating apparatuses.
• the steam supply line (D may include a main steam supply pipe
• the main steam supply pipe 61 is connected to an outlet (not shown) of the steam generator 10.
• the header 61 is employed for allowing a steam flow branched.
• the branched steam pipes 62, 63 and 64 are branched from the header 65 such that each branched steam pipe is branched to each of the laundry treating apparatuses.
• the branched steam pipes 62, 63 and 64 are connected to an inlet (not shown) of each laundry treating apparatus and steam is supplied to the laundry treating apparatuses through the branched steam pipes 62 and 63.
• FIG. 2 is a block view illustrating another embodiment.
• a total laundry treating system further includes a hot air generator. Specifically, according to this embodiment the laundry treating apparatuses share the hot air generator 180 as well as the steam generator IQ while according to above embodiments the laundry treating apparatuses share only the steam generator 10.
• the total laundry treating system explained in the above embodiment fiirther includes a hot air generator 18Q a data transmitting part 170 and a hot air supply line 190.
• the hot air generator 180 includes a controller.
• the data transmitting part 170 transmits data between the controller of the hot air generator 180 and the other controllers 121, 131 and 141 of the laundry treating apparatuses.
• H)t air generated at the hot air generator is supplied to the laundry treating apparatuses thr ⁇ gh the hot air supply line 190.
• the hot air generator 180 is provided in parallel to the steam generator 110 and the hot air is supplied to each of the laundry treating apparatuses from the hot air generator 180.
• the hot air may not necessarily means hot temperature air. That is, the hot air may be normal temperature air which is relatively less high temperature air, too.
• Such normal temperature air and hot air is forcibly supplied to the laundry for a drying or refreshing function.
• the hot air generator also includes a controller (not shown), separate from the steam generator 110.
• the controller of the hot air generator 180 is connected to each of the laundry treating apparatuses thr ⁇ gh the data transmitting part, separate from the controller of the steam generator explained in the above embodiment.
• the hot air supply line 190 is provided thr ⁇ gh which the hot air is supplied to each of the laundry treating apparatus 12Q 130 and 140. That is, it is preferable that the hot air supply line 190 is separately provided from the steam supply line 16D.
• the hot air supply line 190 and the steam supply line 16D may share lines except for the steam generator and an outlet (not shown) of the hot air generator, which is not preferable, considering a characteristic of fMdal material flowing within the lines. Mxeover, in this case, it is difficult to supply the steam and the hot air at the same time. Thus, the steam and the hot air should be supplied selectively.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a block view of another preferred embodiment according to the present invention.
• the steam generator 110 and the hot air generator 180 are formed as one body.
• the steam generator and the hot air generator are not provided in an independent space but formed as one body.
• the controller of the hot air generator and the controller of the steam generator may be united as one controller 111.
• the controller 111 controls the steam generator to operate as necessary and controls the hot air generator to operate separately at the same time. In this case, only the controller 111 is connected to the controllers of the laundry treating apparatuses.
• the washer includes a controller 121 and the dryer 130 includes a controller 131 and the refresher 140 includes a controller 141.
• Each of theses laundry treating apparatuses may have a separately different laundry treating module or a plurality of identical laundry treating modules if necessary.
• a hot air circulation method by the hot air generator provided in a predetermined laundry treating apparatus may be an air exhaustion type or air condensation type.
• the air supplied to each of the laundry treating apparatuses through the hot supply line 70 is not circulated into the hot air generator 8Q but exhausted outside. That is, the air is exhausted to an outside or an inside through an air outlet of each laundry treating apparatus, which is identical to an air passage of the air exhaustion type.
• the air supplied to each of the laundry treating apparatuses through the hot air supply line 70 is re-circulated to the hot air generator 80.
• an auxiliary hot air collect line (not shown) may be provided.
• the condenser may be formed as one body with the hot air generator. That is, it is preferable that the steam generator, the hot air generator and the condenser are formed as one body to define a single exterior.
• the structure of such condensation type is applicable to a case in that an air outlet is difficult to form at laundry devices in houses or dry cleaners'. That is, it is easy to install the air exhaustion type in a room near an external wall of a building and it is ea sy to install the air condensation type in a room near a center area of a building, because complicated air cutlet pipes are difficult to install in the room near the center area of the building.
• FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating the steam generator.
• the total laundry treating system according to the present invention may include one steam generator 500.
• the amount of steam supply supplied to the steam generator may be variable, because each of the laundry treating apparatuses requires steam simultaneously or one of them requires steam.
• the amount of steam generation or steam supply may be variable based on demands of steam. That is preferable for energy saving or for time reduction of steam supply.
• FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the steam generator that is sirh a capacity variable type.
• the steam generator 500 includes a controller 510 and a plurality of chambers 52Q 521 and 522 the chambers.
• the chambers may have separate volumes and the heaters 53Q 531 and 532 are mounted in the chambers 52Q 521 and 522, respectively.
• these heaters 53Q 531 and 532 may have separate capacities.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a chamber 520 having a relatively large volume and a heater 530 having a relatively large volume, and chambers 521 and 522 having relatively small volumes and heaters 531 and 532 having relatively small capacities.
• the amount of requested steam is most, all the heaters are operated to generate steam. If the amount of requested is least, one of the heaters having the small capacity is operated to generate steam. As a result, the amount of steam generation and supply may be adjustable based on the amount of requested steam.
• the operation of the heaters 53Q 531 and 532 is controlled by a controller of the laundry treating apparatus having the steam generator 500 therein.
• the controller receives data for the amount of requested steam from the controllers of the laundry treating apparatuses.
• Such method of steam amount adjustment may be embodied in a different way.
• the amount of water supplied to the steam generator may be controlled by the controller based on the amount of requested steam.
• the heating amount of the heater may be controlled or the number of the operated heaters may be controlled.
• the steam amount is most in the steam generator having one chamber and the plurality of the heaters are provided therein, the largest mount of water may be supplied to the steam generator and all of the heaters may be operated. If the steam amount is least, the least amount of water may be supplied to the steam generator and only a predetermined heater may be operated.
• the heating amount of the heater is controlled based on the amount of requested steam to adjust the steam amount to adjust the steam amount.
• Water should be supplied to the steam generator described above.
• a source of such water supply may be a common water pipe or a user may directly supply water to the steam generator.
• a water pipe as a water source is not provided in every house and is commonly, for example, only in a kitchen or bathroom.
• a user may directly supply water to the steam generator by using a water basket.
• the water may be supplied to the other laundry treating apparatuses and thus there is an effect of minimized fatigue to the user.
• each of the laundry treating apparatuses may be operated separately. That is, the water performs washing, the dryer performs drying and the refresher performs refreshing.
• each of the controllers transmits a signal for steam request to the controller of the predetermined laundry treating apparatus having the steam generator.
• the steam generator operates the heater to generate steam.
• the controller may controls the water amount for steam generation, the heating capacity of the heater or the number of the operated heaters. That is, the steam generation and steam supply amount may be adjustable based on the amount of requested steam.
• the steam generator does not have to be provided in each of the laundry treating apparatuses and the present invention is advantageous as a matter of cost.
• the efficient steam generator is mounted in each of the laundry treating apparatus.
• Such problematic limitation may be solved by the present invention in which the steam generator is provided in the predetermined laundry treating apparatuses.
• the present invention has an industrial applicability.
• Each of the laundry treating apparatuses is inter-relative and thus a convenient total laundry treating system may be provided. That is, the total laundry treating system according to the present invention is efficient and convenient in a view of space or a laundry treating time.
• the present invention there are provided the plurality of the laundry treating apparatuses that uses steam, respectively, and the steam the total laundry treating system having the steam generator for supplying steam to each of the laundry treating apparatuses.
• the present invention has an industrial applicability that a series of laundry treating processes may be performed conveniently.
• the steam generator able to adjust the amount of steam supply is provided in the total laundry treating system according to the present invention. As a result, efficient steam supply is possible and energy saving is possible.
• steam is supplied to the plurality of the laundry treating apparatuses thr ⁇ gh the single steam generator. As a result, a user may easily secure a water source for steam generation.
• the hot air generator for supply air, especially, hot air as well as the steam generator is provided in each of the laundry treating apparatuses.
• the laundry treating process may be performed convenient.
• the total laundry treating system may be embodied by using conventional washers having the steam generators or dryers having the hot air generators.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Accessory Of Washing/Drying Machine, Commercial Washing/Drying Machine, Other Washing/Drying Machine (AREA)
• Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
• Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=38833868

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (6)

Family Cites Families (21)

• 2006
  • 2006-06-23 KR KR1020060056855A patent/KR101265597B1/ko active IP Right Grant
• 2007
  • 2007-06-15 EP EP07746949A patent/EP2041349A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-06-15 WO PCT/KR2007/002915 patent/WO2007148893A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2007-06-15 US US12/308,690 patent/US20090183532A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events