WO2012023824A2 - Laundry machine having a drying function, and method for controlling same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry machine having a drying function. The laundry machine having a drying function comprises: a rotatably installed drum; a heater that generates hot air, and a fan; a filter that filters the hot air; a sensor that senses a hot-airflow resistance generated by a flow channel through which the hot air flows; and a controller which determines whether or not the filter is clogged on the basis of the hot-airflow resistance sensed by the sensor

Description

Clothing apparatus having a drying function and a control method thereof

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a garment apparatus having a drying function and a control method thereof, but not limited thereto, and to a garment apparatus having a drying function and a control method thereof suitable for use in a device having a function of drying clothes as a drying object.

Clothing apparatus having a drying function has a drying-only device having only a drying function, there is a drying combined drying device having a washing function of the clothing. According to the structure or the form, there exists a drum type device which dries clothes while using a rotatable drum, and a so-called cabinet type device which hangs and dries clothes.

In general, a conventional dry laundry machine includes a tub for receiving wash water. In the tub, a drum in which laundry is located is rotatably installed. The drum is connected to a rotating shaft, and a motor is used to rotate the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is rotatably supported by a bearing housing installed on the rear wall of the tub. The tub is connected to a suspension, and the suspension dampens vibrations of the drum and the tub.

For drying functions, drying ducts and condensation ducts are included. The drying duct is located at the top of the tub and the hot air heater and fan are installed inside. One end of the condensation duct is connected to the tub and the other end is connected to the drying duct. Cooling water is supplied into the condensation duct to condense the moisture contained in the wet air. The wet air is condensed in contact with the cooling water while flowing through the condensation duct and then introduced into the drying duct. The hot air returned back to the drying duct is reheated through the hot air heater and supplied to the tub again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a garment apparatus having a drying function and a control method thereof capable of detecting whether a filter installed to filter lint and the like from hot air is blocked.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a drum rotatably installed; Hot air heaters and fans to generate hot air; A filter for filtering the hot air; A sensor for sensing a hot air flow path resistance generated in the hot air flow path; It provides a clothing device having a drying function including a controller for determining the clogging of the filter using the hot air flow path resistance sensed by the sensor. The hot air flow path resistance is preferably at least one of a temperature, a flow rate, a flow rate, a rotation speed of the fan, an input power of the fan, and an on / off cycle of the hot air heater at a predetermined position affected by the hot wind flow.

Further comprising at least one of a first temperature sensor provided at a relatively close distance to the hot air heater and a second temperature sensor provided at a relatively long distance to the hot air heater, the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor It is preferable to sense the temperature. When the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined reference value, when the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is lower than a predetermined reference value, and when the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor Preferably, the controller determines that the filter is clogged using at least one of the cases where the sensed temperature difference is higher than a predetermined reference value. The first temperature sensor may be located in a drying duct provided with the hot air heater, and the second temperature sensor may be provided in a tub that accommodates the drum.

The clothes apparatus further includes a flow sensor positioned in a drying duct provided with a hot air heater, and preferably measures at least one of the flow rate and the flow rate. Preferably, the flow sensor is at least one of an orifice flow meter, a pressure sensor, and an impeller flow meter.

It is preferable that the controller determines that the filter is clogged when the rotation speed of the fan is smaller than a reference value. The controller may determine that the filter is blocked when the input voltage of the fan is greater than a reference value. The controller may determine that the filter is blocked when the on-off period of the hot air heater is less than a reference value.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the clothing device operates normally, the controller preferably determines whether the filter is clogged. At this time, for example, when the rotational speed of the fan reaches a set rotational speed, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation of the fan, and when a set time has elapsed since the start of the drying course, the hot air heater is set after operation. It is preferable that the controller determines whether the clothing device operates normally by using at least one of the time elapsed and the case where the hot air reaches the set temperature.

On the other hand, the controller, if it is determined that the filter is clogged, it is preferable to perform the necessary measures. The necessary measures are preferably at least one of a user alarm, cleaning of the filter, deactivation of the drying course, and a change of the control pattern of the hot air heater. At this time, the drying course currently in progress or the next drying course may be inactivated. In addition, the filter may be washed by the air flow generated by the rotation of the drum. Or it may further include a filter washing unit for washing the filter.

On the other hand, after the current drying course is finished, it is preferable that the filter wash is performed. For example, after a set time elapses after the end of the drying course, the door is opened and closed after the end of the drying course, and in any of the following drying course and washing course, the filter washing is preferably performed. Do. The filter cleaning may be performed at the request of the user.

On the other hand, the control pattern of the hot air heater is preferably at least one of the on-off frequency, the on-off temperature, the on-off time and the temperature rise section / temperature maintenance section of the hot air heater. For example, the number of reference values of the on / off temperature of the temperature rise section when the filter is determined to be clogged is set to be larger than the number of the reference values of the on / off temperature of the temperature rise section when the filter is not clogged. It is preferable. Further, it is preferable that the reference value of the on temperature of the temperature holding section in the case where the filter is clogged is smaller than the reference value of the on temperature of the temperature rising section in the case where the filter is not clogged. In addition, it is preferable that the number of times of off of the temperature rise section when it is determined that the filter is clogged is larger than the number of times of off of the temperature rise section when the filter is not clogged.

On the other hand, the clothing device further includes a tub for receiving the wash water, the filter is preferably located in the hot air outlet of the tub.

On the other hand, the garment apparatus, the drive unit including a rotating shaft connected to the drum, a bearing housing for supporting the rotating shaft, a motor for rotating the rotating shaft; And a suspension assembly connected to the bearing housing to reduce vibration of the drum. And, the tub for receiving the wash water; And a rear gasket provided between the tub and the driving unit to allow the driving unit to move relative to the tub. The hot air inlet and hot air outlet provided in the tub may further include a drying duct connecting the hot air inlet and the hot air outlet.

On the other hand, the garment apparatus further includes a tub for accommodating wash water and a suspension assembly for reducing vibration of the drum, the tub is preferably supported more rigid than the drum is supported.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the sensing step of sensing the hot air flow path resistance generated in the flow path for the hot air to dry the dried object; Provided is a control method of a clothing device having a drying function including a determining step of determining the clogging of the filter using the sensed hot air flow resistance. The hot air flow path resistance is preferably at least one of a temperature, a flow rate, a flow rate, a rotation speed of the fan, an input power of the fan, and an on / off cycle of the hot air heater at a predetermined position affected by the hot wind flow.

On the other hand, the control method of the clothing device further comprises the step of determining whether the clothing device is operating normally, it is preferable to determine whether the filter is clogged when it is determined that the clothing device is operating normally. For example, when the rotation speed of the fan reaches a set rotation speed, when a predetermined time has elapsed after the fan is started, and when a set time has elapsed since the start of the drying course, the set time after the operation of the hot air heater is It is preferable to use the at least one of when the elapsed time and when the hot air has reached the set temperature, to determine whether the clothing device is operating normally.

On the other hand, the control method of the clothing device, if it is determined that the filter is clogged, preferably further comprising the step of performing the necessary measures. The necessary measures are preferably at least one of a user alarm, cleaning of the filter, deactivation of the drying course, and a change of the control pattern of the hot air heater.

According to the present invention, there is an advantage that it is easy to detect that the filter is blocked by lint or the like. According to the embodiment, there is an advantage that the user or automatically correspond to the filter clogging, thereby preventing a decrease in drying performance due to the clogging of the filter.

1 is a partially assembled perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tub and drying module of Figure 1

3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the hot air inlet portion of FIG.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the inside of the tub of Figure 1

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the filter assembly of FIG. 1 installed at a hot air outlet; FIG.

FIG. 6 conceptually illustrates how the filter of FIG. 5 is projected radially onto the outer circumferential surface of the drum; FIG.

7 is a perspective view of the filter assembly of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state in which washing water is dispersed and supplied through a shower nozzle in the filter of FIG. 7; FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically showing how washing water is scattered around the impact surface of the filter of FIG. 7.

10 is a plan view showing a wire filter and a perforated filter applicable to the filter assembly of FIG.

11 is a perspective view showing a circulation path of hot air in the clothing device of FIG.

12 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment according to the present invention.

Figure 13 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment according to the present invention.

Figure 14 is a partial perspective view of Figure 13

15 is a graph showing the temperature difference with or without clogging of the filter;

Fig. 16 is a graph showing the relationship between the flow rate and the static pressure, with or without clogging of the filter.

17 is a graph showing the operation of a hot air heater, with or without a filter clogging;

18 is a schematic view showing a control configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention;

19 is a flowchart schematically showing a control method of an embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig. 20 is a graph showing the operation of the hot air heater when the filter is not clogged.

Fig. 21 is a graph showing the operation of the hot air heater when the filter is clogged.

Fig. 22 is a graph showing another operation of the hot air heater when the filter is not clogged.

1 and 2, the overall structure of a preferred embodiment of a clothing device having a drying function according to the present invention will be described.

1 is a partial exploded perspective view of an exemplary clothing device of the present invention. Figure 1 is intended to show the approximate overall structure of the embodiment, some parts may be omitted. 1 is a combined washing device having both a drying function and a washing function. In this embodiment, the condensation unit is a tub.

In the drying apparatus of this embodiment, the tub is fixedly supported by the cabinet. The tub may include a tub front 100 constituting the front part and a tubblare 120 constituting the rear part.

The tub front 100 and the tubular 120 may be assembled by screws, and form a space in which the drum is accommodated. The tubular 120 has an opening at the rear side. The tubular 120 is connected to the rear gasket 250 that is a flexible member in the portion forming the opening. In addition, the rear gasket 250 may be connected to the tub back 130 at a radially inner portion. The tub back 130 has a through hole through which the rotation shaft 351 passes through the center. The rear gasket 250 is made so that the vibration of the tub back 130 can be flexibly deformed to the extent that the vibration of the tub back 130 is not transmitted to the tubular 120.

The rear gasket 250 is connected to the tub back 130 and the tubular 120 so as to be respectively sealed so that the wash water in the tub does not leak. The tubback 130 vibrates with the drum when the drum rotates, and is spaced apart from the tubular 120 at a sufficient interval so as not to interfere with the tubular 120. Since the rear gasket 250 may be flexibly deformed, the tubback 130 allows relative movement without interfering with the tubular 120. The back gasket 250 may have a curved or pleated portion that may extend to a sufficient length to allow for such relative movement of the tubback 130.

The tub has an entrance to its laundry at its front part. The front side of the tub with such an entrance to prevent the washing water outflow through the entrance, to prevent the flow of laundry or foreign matter between the tub and the drum, or to install a front gasket 200 for other functions Can be.

The drum may include a drum front 300, a drum center 320, a drum bag 340, and the like. In addition, ball balancers 310 and 330 may be installed at the front and rear portions of the drum, respectively. The drum bag 340 is connected to the spider 350, the spider 350 is connected to the rotating shaft 351. The drum is rotated in the tub by the rotational force transmitted through the rotating shaft 351.

The rotating shaft 351 is connected to the motor through the tub back 130. In this embodiment, the motor is connected concentrically with the rotating shaft. In this embodiment, the motor is directly connected to the rotating shaft. Specifically, the rotor of the motor and the rotation shaft 351 are directly connected. The bearing housing 400 is coupled to the rear surface 128 of the tub bag 130. In addition, the bearing housing 400 rotatably supports the rotation shaft 351 between the motor and the tub back 130.

The stator is fixed to the bearing housing 400. Then, the rotor surrounds the stator. As described above, the rotor is directly connected to the rotation shaft 351. The motor is an outer rotor type motor that is directly connected to the rotating shaft 351.

The bearing housing 400 is supported from the cabinet base 600 through the suspension unit. The suspension unit may include a plurality of brackets connected to the bearing housing. The plurality of brackets may include radial brackets 430 and 431 extending in the radial direction and axial brackets 440 and 450 extending in the front-rear direction or the rotation axis direction of the drum.

The suspension unit may include a plurality of suspensions connected to the plurality of brackets. In this embodiment, the suspension may include three vertical suspensions 500, 510, and 520 and two inclined suspensions 530 and 540 that are inclined with respect to the front-rear direction. The suspension unit is not connected to the cabinet base 600 in a completely fixed manner, but is connected to allow some degree of elastic deformation to allow the drum to move forward and backward and to the left and right. That is, the suspension unit is elastically supported to allow rotation to some extent in the front and rear and left and right with respect to the support point connected to the base. For such elastic support, the suspension may be installed in the base 600 via a rubber bushing. The vertical suspension of the suspension can be configured to elastically dampen the vibration of the drum, and the inclined suspension can be configured to damp the vibration. That is, the vertical suspension may serve as a spring and the inclined suspension may serve as a damping means in a vibrometer including a spring and a damping means.

The tub is fixedly installed in the cabinet, the vibration of the drum is buffered by the suspension unit. The tub may have its front and rear parts fixed to the cabinet. The tub may be seated and supported on the base of the cabinet, and furthermore, may be fixed to the base.

The drying apparatus of this embodiment may be said to be a form in which the tub and drum support structures are separated. In addition, the tub may be referred to as a drying device of the structure does not vibrate even if the drum vibrates. The vibration amount of the drum delivered to the tub may vary depending on the rear gasket.

In the drying apparatus of this embodiment, since the vibration of the tub is remarkably small, the gap between the cabinet and the tub, which is maintained due to the vibration, is not required, unlike the related art, so that the outer surface of the tub can be located as close as possible to the cabinet. Therefore, it is possible to expand the size of the tub even if the size of the cabinet is not expanded, and to increase the capacity of the drying apparatus in the size of the same appearance.

Substantially, the distance between the cabinet light 630 or the cabinet left 640 and the tub may be about 5 mm. In a drying apparatus in which a tub vibrates in the related art, the vibration of the tub was about 30 mm at intervals so as not to interfere with the cabinet. If the diameter of the tub is considered, the diameter of the tub can be expanded by 50 mm more than in the conventional embodiment. This makes a significant difference to the extent that the capacity of the drying apparatus can be increased by one step at the same appearance size.

On the other hand, in the above embodiment, it has been described that the tub is fixedly (fixedly) installed in the cabinet, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the tub may be supported through a flexible support structure such as a suspension unit. In addition, the tub may be supported about halfway between the support by the suspension and the fixed support.

That is, the tub may be supported flexibly to the same extent as the suspension unit, or may be supported so that the movement is more rigid than such support. For example, the tub may be supported by the suspension, or may be supported by something like a rubber bushing, which is less flexible than the suspension but can be flexible to some extent, or may be completely stationary.

If you look at an example that the tub is supported more rigidly than the suspension unit as follows. First, the tub may be formed integrally with at least a part of the cabinet. For example, the tub and the cabinet may be integrally injection molded. As a specific example, a part of the front part of the tub and a part of the front part of the cabinet may be integrally injection molded. Second, it may be connected and supported by screws, rivets, rubber bushings, or the like, or may be fixed and supported by welding, adhesive sealing, or the like. In this case, such a connecting member has a rigidity greater than that of the suspension unit with respect to the vertical direction, which is the main vibration direction of the drum.

Such a tub may be expanded to the extent possible within the space in which it is installed. That is, the tub is a wall or frame (eg, left or right side plate of the cabinet) that restricts the size of the space in the horizontal direction at least in the left and right direction (the direction perpendicular to the axial direction when the axis of rotation is horizontal). Can be extended to a degree close to). Here, the tub may be made integrally with the left or right wall of the cabinet.

In the left and right directions, the tub may be formed closer to the wall or the frame than the drum. For example, the tub may be formed to be separated from the wall or the frame at an interval of 1.5 times or less than the interval with the drum. The drum can also be extended in the left-right direction while the tub is extended in the left-right direction as such. In addition, the smaller the horizontal gap between the tub and the drum, the more the drum can expand in the horizontal direction. In reducing the lateral gap between the tub and the drum, it is possible to consider the lateral vibration of the drum. The smaller the vibration in the left and right direction of the drum, the larger the diameter of the drum can be. Therefore, the suspension unit which buffers the vibration of the drum can be made so that the rigidity in the left and right directions is greater than in the other directions. For example, the suspension unit may be made so that the rigidity for the displacement in the left and right directions is maximum compared to the other directions.

In addition, as described above, in the suspension unit, unlike the prior art, it can be directly connected to the bearing housing for supporting the rotating shaft connected to the drum, without passing through the tub. In this case, the suspension unit may include a bracket extending in the axial direction of the rotating shaft. The bracket may extend toward the front of the door.

Meanwhile, the suspension unit may include at least two suspensions spaced apart in the axial direction of the rotation shaft. In addition, the suspension unit may include a plurality of suspensions which are installed at the lower portion of the rotating shaft to support the support object (for example, a drum). Alternatively, the suspension unit may include a plurality of suspensions installed on an upper portion of the rotating shaft to support the object to be suspended. Such cases have a form that can be supported with a suspension only below or above the rotation axis.

The center of gravity of the vibrating body, including the drum, the rotating shaft, the bearing housing, the motor, and the like may be located at the side with the motor at least relative to the longitudinal shape center of the drum. At least one suspension may be located at the front or the rear of the center of gravity. In addition, one suspension may be installed before and after the center of gravity.

On the other hand, as described above, the tub may have an opening in the rear portion. In addition, the driving unit including a rotating shaft, a bearing housing, a motor, and the like may be connected to the tub through a flexible member. The flexible member may be made to seal wash water from flowing through the rear opening of the tub while allowing relative movement with respect to the tub of the drive. Such a flexible member may be a sealable and flexible material, and may be made of a gasket material such as a front gasket. In this case, for convenience, the gasket may be referred to as a rear gasket. The drive side connection of the rear gasket may be connected in a rotational restrained state at least with respect to the rotational direction of the rotating shaft. In one embodiment, the rear gasket may be directly connected to the rotating shaft, or may be connected to an extension of the bearing housing.

In addition, a portion of the driving unit located in front of the connection portion with the rear gasket that can be exposed to the wash water in the tub may be made to prevent corrosion by the wash water. For example, the coating may be applied, or the front part may be wrapped with a separate part made of a plastic material (eg, a tubback to be described later). In the case of the metal part of the drive unit, it is possible to prevent corrosion by preventing direct exposure to water.

In addition, unlike the present embodiment, the cabinet may not be included. For example, in the case of the built-in drying apparatus, a space for installing the drying apparatus instead of the cabinet may be provided by a wall structure or the like. That is, it may be made in a form that does not include a cabinet to form the appearance independently. In this case, however, the front side may be necessary.

2 and 3, the parts related to the drying function are as follows. 2 shows the drying duct 40 and the like installed in the tubs 100 and 120. And, Figure 3 shows a cross section of the front upper portion of the tub 100, 120 to which the drying duct 40 is connected.

The tub (100, 120) has a front portion 101 located in front of the discharge opening of the drum (300, 320, 340) in the front portion. The front portion 101 is formed with a rim 102 protruding forward, the front gasket 200 is inserted into the front portion of the rim 102. The rim 102 is formed such that the upper side protrudes further forward than the lower side.

Then, the hot air inlet 103 for the hot air inlet 103 is formed on the upper portion of the rim (102). The hot air inlet 103 is formed to protrude upward from the upper portion of the rim 102. The protruding angle of the hot air inlet 103 is within 45 degrees with respect to the virtual plane on which the discharge openings of the drums 300, 320, 340 are placed. In this embodiment, they are approximately parallel within 10 degrees.

Both ends of the drying duct 40 is in direct communication with the tub (100, 120). The drying apparatus of this embodiment does not include a condensation duct separately from the conventional method. Therefore, the drying duct 40 is in direct communication with the tub (100, 120). That is, the circulation flow path of the hot air is conventionally formed as "dry duct-tub-drum-tub-condensation duct-dry duct", but in this embodiment, the circulation flow path is formed as "dry duct-drum-tub-dry duct". . The conventional circulation flow path is complicated and long because condensation ducts exist and hot air flows between the tubs 100 and 120 and the wall surfaces of the drums 300, 320 and 340. More specifically, in the related art, hot air is introduced between the inner wall surface of the front portion of the tub and the outer surface of the front portion of the drum toward the outer surface of the drum. In addition, since hot air is introduced between the drum and the wall of the tub, some of the hot air does not flow into the drum but remain in the tub as it is and is discharged into the condensation duct. In addition, if the circulation passage is complicated and long, heat loss may occur accordingly, and the flow path resistance may increase.

In this embodiment, the drying duct 40 is connected to the connection duct 40a inserted into the hot air inlet 103 and the hot air outlet 121 formed in the tubs 100 and 120, and the fan 41 is positioned therein. Scroll 40b. The hot air heater 44 is installed between the connection duct 40a and the scroll 40b of the drying duct 40.

On the other hand, it is preferable that a temperature sensor capable of sensing the temperature of the hot air is installed at a predetermined position on the circulation passage. (The function of the temperature sensor will be described later.) For example, the drying duct 10 has a temperature of the hot air. It is preferable that the first temperature sensor 47 capable of sensing is installed, and the second temperature sensor 48 is installed in the tub. In this embodiment, the first temperature sensor 47 or the second temperature sensor 48 is installed to sense the internal temperature of the duct 10 and the tub, respectively, but is installed to sense the surface temperature of the duct 10 and the tub. It is also possible. The temperature sensors 47 and 48 are preferably spaced apart from each other, and more preferably spaced apart from each other in a direction in which hot air flows. Of course, only the first temperature sensor 47 or the second temperature sensor 48 may be installed. Since the first temperature sensor 47 and the second temperature sensor 48 may receive radiant heat from the hot air heater 44 and the tub heater 144, a barrier wall may be required to block radiant heat. The barrier wall serves to protect the first temperature sensor 47 and the second temperature sensor 48, and may reduce the influence of radiant heat on temperature sensing.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, one of the temperature sensors 47 and 48 is illustrated and described that the other temperature sensor is installed in the duct. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the temperature sensors 47 and 48 may be installed at a position capable of directly or indirectly measuring the ambient temperature in the path through which the hot air flows. For example, a position to measure the temperature of the surface of the duct guiding the hot air or the outside surroundings may be used. In addition, both of the first temperature sensors 47 and 48 may be installed in the duct or the tub.

On the other hand, it is preferable that a sensor (for convenience, a "flow sensor") for sensing the flow rate or the flow rate of hot air is provided at a predetermined position on the circulation flow path. (The function of the flow sensor will be described later.) In the drying duct 10 is provided with a flow sensor 46 that can sense the flow rate or flow rate of hot air. The installation position of the sensor 46 is not limited to the drying duct 10 and may be installed in another path of hot air. For example, the sensor 46 may be installed inside the tub. In the present embodiment, there is no condensation duct because condensation takes place inside the tub. However, when there is a condensation duct, the sensor 46 may be installed in the condensation duct. The hot air discharged from the tub is condensed while flowing through the condensation duct, and the flow rate or flow rate of the hot air may be sensed by the sensor 46.

The sensor 46 may be any kind as long as the sensor can sense the flow rate or flow rate of the hot air. For example, it may be an orifice flow meter or a pressure sensor. When the flow rate or flow rate changes, the pressure of the hot air changes, so the change in flow rate can be detected by detecting the pressure change. The sensor may also be an impeller flow meter. The impeller flowmeter may be sensed by using a change in the number of revolutions of the impeller according to the flow rate or flow rate of the hot air.

2 and 3, the connection structure of the drying duct 10 will be described.

The front gasket 200 is coupled to the front portion of the rim 102 of the tub 100 and 120. The front gasket 200 includes a duct connecting portion 201 inserted into the hot air inlet 103 and seals between the connection duct 40a and the hot air inlet 103. The connection duct 40a is inserted into the duct connection 201 of the front gasket 200. The connection duct 40a is assembled with a portion of the drying duct 40 on which the hot air heater 44 is installed, and downwards therebetween the duct connection 201 of the front gasket 200 in the hot air inlet 103. Assembled in a snug fit.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hot air inlet 103 is located in front of the discharge opening of the drums 300, 320, and 340. The outlet of the connection duct 40a inserted into the hot air inlet 103 is also positioned in front of the outlet of the drums 300, 320, and 340.

As shown in FIG. 3, the outlets of the tubs 100 and 120 are positioned in front of the hot air inlet 103. In addition, at least an upper portion of the door glass 91 of the door 90 that opens and closes the discharge opening is inclined downward toward the drums 300, 320, and 340. The door glass 91 is located below the hot air inlet 103. Then, the hot air discharged from the connecting duct 40a is directed downward to the door glass 91 to be turned toward the drum 300, 320, 340. That is, the upper portion of the door glass 91 helps to direct the hot air discharged from the connection duct 40a into the drums 300, 320, and 340.

In this embodiment, almost all the hot air may flow into the drums 300, 320, and 340. Conventionally, hot air is introduced between the front parts 101 of the tubs 100 and 120 and the front parts of the drums 300, 320 and 340, and the inflow direction of the hot air is also the front parts of the drums 300, 320 and 340. This is the direction in which it hits perpendicular to. In the related art, only about 30% of the hot air flowing from the drying duct 40 may be introduced into the drums 300, 320, and 340. The remaining 70% of the hot air flows between the drums 300, 320 and 340 and the tubs 100 and 120, and is discharged into the condensation ducts, thereby inefficiency that cannot be utilized to dry the clothes located inside the drums 300, 320 and 340. There was this.

In this embodiment, the tub 100, 120 is installed is tilted so that the front portion is higher than the rear portion. Thus, the front portion 101 of the tub (100, 120) is also tilted at such an angle with respect to the vertical line. The drums 300, 320, and 340 are also tilted at similar angles.

However, the discharge openings of the tubs 100 and 120 are formed parallel to the vertical line without being tilted. This is achieved by further protruding forward the top of the rim 102 of the tub 100, 120. That is, the upper portion of the rim 102 further protrudes forward from the front portion 101 of the tub 100, 120 inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical line to form a discharge opening parallel to the vertical line.

As the tubs 100 and 120 are tilted as described above, a predetermined space is secured between an upper portion of the front portion 101 of the tubs 100 and 120 and an inner surface of the front side of the cabinet. Then, the connection duct 40a is installed in the secured space. Of course, the tub 100, 120 may not be tilted unlike the above.

Also, in the present embodiment, the tubs 100 and 120 are fixedly connected to the cabinet. That is, the tubs 100 and 120 are fixed to the cabinet. In this embodiment, since the tubs 100 and 120 hardly vibrate compared to the drums 300, 320 and 340, the tubs 100 and 120 may stably support the drying duct 40. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the front portion 101 of the tubs 100 and 120 is fastened to a cabinet front plate (not shown), and the rear portions of the tubs 100 and 120 are screwed or bolted to the cabinet back plate 620. do. In addition, the tubs 100 and 120 are installed to be self-standing on the bottom plate 600 of the cabinet.

Drying duct 40 is installed in the upper center of the tub (100, 120), one end is inserted into the hot air inlet 103 by a connecting duct 40a, the other end is bent to the side and the fan 41 is installed It is connected to the hot air outlet 121 of the tub (100, 120) through the scroll (40b).

The hot air heater 44 for generating hot air is installed in the front portion of the drying duct 40 in the upper portion of the tub (100, 120). The air blown by the rotation of the fan 41 is heated by the hot air heater 44. The portion of the drying duct 40 in which the hot air heater 44 is located may be high temperature due to the heat of the hot air heater 44. Thus, the heat insulating plate 45 is positioned between the hot air heater 44 portion of the drying duct 40 and the tubs 100 and 120. The drying duct 40 is fixedly installed on the tubs 100 and 120. In this embodiment, it is fastened with a screw.

On the other hand, the hot air outlet 121 is formed in the upper side portion (right side portion in this embodiment) of the outer peripheral surface of the tub (100, 120) (see Fig. 2), and the scroll of the drying duct 40 (top) 40b) is installed. The fan 41 located in the scroll 40b sucks hot air from the hot air outlet 121 and blows hot air into the drying duct 40. The fan 41 is a fan 41 having a structure in which hot air is blown in the direction of the rotation axis based on the rotation axis and blows the hot air in the radial direction. That is, in this embodiment, a centrifugal fan is used.

The direction of the hot air discharged from the hot air outlet 121 and the direction in which the fan 41 sucks the hot air are made to coincide. This structure contributes to smoother circulation of the hot air. The hot air discharged from the tubs 100 and 120 through the hot air outlet 121 is introduced into the fan 41 in the discharge direction and blown into the drying duct 40.

The hot air inlet 103 and the hot air outlet 121 are both located on the tubs 100 and 120. The hot air inlet 103 is located at the front part, and the hot air outlet 121 is located at the rear part. In addition, the direction lines of the hot air inlet 103 and the hot air outlet 121 in the hot air advancing direction both form an angle within 10 degrees with respect to the vertical line. In addition, the direction line between the hot air inlet 103 and the hot air outlet 121 also forms an angle within 10 degrees. In this embodiment, the direction lines themselves of the hot air inlet 103 and the hot air outlet 121 are in parallel, and the directions thereof are opposite to each other.

The hot air inlet 103 and the hot air outlet 121 are communicated by the drying duct 40 located on the top of the tub (100, 120). Therefore, the hot air flows in a simple circulation path called "dry duct-tub-dry duct". Since tubs 100 and 120 have relatively large spaces, flow resistances may be relatively small. The flow path resistance in this embodiment can mainly occur in the drying duct 40. Looking at the conventional drying apparatus from this point of view, even if the flow path due to the condensation duct aside, since the condensation duct is added, the length of the duct flow path is so long that the flow resistance is large.

Referring to Figure 4, when describing the internal structure of the tub associated with the drying function as follows. Condensation plates 42 are provided on the inner circumferential surfaces of the tubs 100 and 120. The condensation plate 42 may be a metal material. Tubs 100 and 120 may also be made of metal, but may be made by injection molding of plastic. As such, when the tubs 100 and 120 are made of plastic, it may be advantageous for the condensation to install the condensation plate 42 of a metal material having stronger cold properties than the tubs 100 and 120.

Three fastening bosses 129a and 129b are formed at the top and the bottom of the tub 100 and 120 to install the condensation plate 42. (See FIG. ) It is made so that the screw can be tightened from the inside. If the fixing of the condensation plate 42 located on the inner surface of the tub (100, 120) by tightening the screw on the outer surface of the tub (100, 120), it may be necessary to seal the fastening hole formed for screwing. However, if the fastening boss is formed so as to fasten the screw on the inner surface of the tub (100, 120) as in the embodiment here, there is no need to seal. That is, the fastening bosses 129a and 129b are formed to protrude from the outer peripheries of the tubs 100 and 120 on the inner surfaces of the tubs 100 and 120, but are not communicated with the outer surfaces of the tubs 100 and 120.

Condensation plate 42 is installed in the center of the side of the inner peripheral surface of the tub (100, 120). The screws are fastened to the fastening bosses 129a and 129b described above using screws 42a and 42b. The condensation plate 42 is installed at the center of the right inner circumferential surface where the hot air outlet 121 is located when the inner circumferential surfaces of the tubs 100 and 120 are divided into “up, down, left and right”. In view of the hot air outlet 121, the condensation plate 42 is located on the inner circumferential surface under the hot air outlet 121 among the inner circumferential surfaces of the tubs 100 and 120. Hot air that contains moisture while passing through the drums 300, 320, and 340 is transferred to the condensation plate 42 installed on the inner circumferential surface of the tubs 100 and 120 before being discharged out of the tubs 100 and 120 through the hot air outlet 121. Condensation occurs. In this case, the condensation may occur at other inner circumferential surfaces of the tubs 100 and 120, and the condensation plate 42 may be made of metal, so that the condensation plate 42 may be more effective. The condensation plate 42 may be made of stainless steel.

On the other hand, for drying, the hot air passing through the wet clothing, etc. in the drum (300, 320, 340) may contain foreign substances such as lint. A filter may be installed to filter out these foreign matters. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 10.

4 and 5, the installation structure of the filter 52 will be described as follows. The filter 52 is installed where it is exposed to the inside of the tub (100, 120). In particular, the filter 52 is located on the circumferential surface of the tub (100,120). Hot air outlets 121 are formed on the circumferential surfaces of the tubs 100 and 120, and the filter 52 is installed in the hot air outlets 121.

When the drums 300, 320, 340 rotate, a rotational air stream of air is formed around the drums 300, 320, 340 by the rotation. The rotary air strikes the filter 52 and removes foreign substances such as lint from the filter 52. In this case, when there is wet laundry inside the drums 300, 320 and 340, water from the laundry may be radiated to the inner walls of the tubs 100 and 120 through the through holes 321 of the drums 300, 320 and 340. As the water radiated hits the filter 52, the washing effect of the filter 52 may be enhanced. Foreign matters such as lint may dry and adhere to the surface of the filter 52. At this time, when wetted by water, the washing may be easier.

The filter 52 is installed inside the hot air outlet 121. When the hot air outlet 121 is formed to protrude out of the tubs 100 and 120, as illustrated, the filter 52 may be installed near the inner surfaces of the tubs 100 and 120, particularly in the hot air outlet 121. Water from the rotating wind or the laundry by the above-described drums (300, 320, 340) (even in the case of non-dehydration stroke on the washing course, such water can be discharged from the laundry through the drum through the drum depending on the rotation speed of the drum) And, for convenience, referred to as "dehydration") can be easily accessed. In this embodiment, the hot air outlet 121 is formed to protrude upward from the rear upper portion of the tub (100, 120), the filter 52 is installed on the lower portion of the inside of the hot air outlet (121).

Unlike the present embodiment, the filter 52 may be installed to protrude into the tub 100 and 120 from the hot air outlet 121. If there is no interference with the drums 300, 320, and 340, the filter 52 may be installed by protruding further into the tub 100 and 120 outside the hot air outlet 121.

On the other hand, the filter 52 may be formed in a curved surface to have a radius of curvature equal to the radius of curvature of the inner surface of the tub (100,120). Although the filter 52 may vary somewhat depending on where the hot air outlet 121 is installed, the radius of curvature of the inner surfaces of the tubs 100 and 120 and the radius of curvature of the filter 52 may be less than 10%. Can be. Part of the rotational wind of the drum (300, 320, 340) can approach the filter 52 while flowing through the inner peripheral surface of the tub (100, 120), so that the difference in the radius of curvature may be effective for cleaning the filter.

Referring to FIG. 6, the filter 52 may be positioned around the circumferential surface of the drums 300, 320, 340 in relation to the drums 300, 320, 340. The filter 52 is, of course, spaced apart so as not to interfere with the drum rotation, but at least half of the filter 52 overlaps the circumferential surfaces of the drums 300, 320, 340 with respect to the arrangement relationship in the front-rear direction. Can be. In other words, when the filter 52 is radially projected onto the circumferential surfaces of the drums 300, 320, 340, the projected portion PA is formed on the circumferential surfaces of the drums 300, 320, 340. It can be installed to overlap more than half. This is to facilitate the access of the rotating wind or dehydration of the drum (300, 320, 340), so that the rotating wind or dehydrated to hit the filter 52 relatively strongly.

In this embodiment, the filter 52 is preferably provided by a filter assembly. 5 and 7, the filter assembly 50 will be described. The filter assembly 50 includes a filter housing 51 on which the filter 52 is mounted. The filter housing 51 includes a portion 51c extending a predetermined length as a hollow body. The filter 52 is mounted at one end of the filter housing 51. The filter housing 51 may be inserted into an inner surface of the hot air outlet 121 as shown in FIG. 5. The outer surface of the filter housing 51 may be fastened to be fixed to the inner surface of the hot air outlet 121. To this end, in the present embodiment, a fastening hole 51a is formed in the filter housing 51 and fixed by screwing. Alternatively, the outer surface of the filter housing 51 may be assembled and fixed by snug-fit to the inner surface of the hot air outlet 121. The filter housing 51 may be made to have the same length as the protruding extended length of the hot air outlet 121.

Although not shown, unlike the filter assembly as described above, the filter housing may be shaped in the form of a hollow disc. The filter may be mounted on one surface of the disk-shaped filter housing. The filter assembly of this type may be fixed to the hot air outlet 121 by hook coupling. Such a disk-shaped filter assembly may have a shape in which a portion extending upwardly to a hollow body is removed in addition to the lower end of the filter housing 51 in which the filter 52 is mounted in the filter assembly 50 of FIG. 7.

On the other hand, in order to further increase the cleaning effect of the filter 52, a filter washing unit for supplying air or water to the filter 52 may be added. In the case of injecting air, hot air may be made to inject air in a direction opposite to a traveling direction passing through the filter 52 during drying.

In this embodiment, the filter washing unit supplies cleaning water (w), which is water. To this end, as shown in FIG. 2, a branch hose 11 branched from a water supply hose 10 provided to supply water into the tub 100 and 120 and connected to a water supply outlet 121a of the hot air outlet 121. It may include.

Water supplied from the branch hose 11 is supplied to an outer surface that is opposite to an inner surface of the filter 52 toward the inside of the tub 100, 120. The water to be supplied flows into the tubs 100 and 120 while washing the filter 52.

The washing water w for washing the filter 52 may be watered together when the washing water is supplied to the tubs 100 and 120. A valve may be installed in the branch hose 11 or the branch hose 11 inside the branch hose 11 from the water supply hose 10. Thus, the timing at which the washing water w is supplied to the filter 52 can be adjusted. If there is no valve as described above, the washing water (w) will always be supplied to the filter 52 when water is supplied to the tubs 100 and 120.

The washing water w supplied as above is wetted with lint fixed to the filter 52 while primarily washing the filter 52. In such a state, when the drums 300, 320, and 340 rotate, the rotatable wind or dehydrated water hits the filter 52 and the filter 52 is washed.

On the other hand, the washing water (w) may be dispersed to be evenly supplied to the outer surface of the filter 52. To this end, as shown in FIG. 8, an injection body 121b such as a shower nozzle may be installed in the washing water (w) water supply port. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the collision surface 51b is provided. The washing water w falls and hits the collision surface 51b and is dispersed around the filter 52. The impingement surface 51b may be integrally formed with the filter housing 51 at one end of the filter housing 51 as described above.

On the other hand, the filter 52 may be a metal filter. It may be a metal wire filter (see Fig. 10 (a) (see Fig. 10 top)) made by weaving a metal wire. Alternatively, it may be a perforated filter (Fig. 10 (b) (lower view of Fig. 10) made by making a plurality of holes in the metal plate). Since the perforated filter can make the surface of the filter 52 smooth, lint or the like can be easily removed. In the case of the metal wire filter, it may be desirable to have a mesh size of 30 mesh or less. Wire filter having a mesh size of more than 30 mesh is too small a hole and the mesh is too large may not be easy to remove lint. Here, the mesh size is determined by the number of meshes for the length of 1 inch. That is, the mesh 30 means a wire filter having a mesh size of about 30 meshes for a length of 1 inch.

The type of the filter 52 may be determined in consideration of the cleaning effect of the filter 52 according to the rotation speed of the drum (300, 320, 340). For example, it may be determined to the extent that the filter 52 can be cleaned at 400 rpm or more of the drum 300, 320, 340.

However, in spite of the type of the filter 52, it has been confirmed that the washing of the filter 52 is achieved at a satisfactory level when the rotation speed of the drums 300, 320, 340 exceeds 1000 rpm. In particular, it was confirmed that the washing effect of the filter 52 was excellent when the wet laundry was put in the drums 300, 320, 340 in the state in which the lint and the like accumulated in the filter 52 and dehydration was performed at 1000 rpm or more. Here, the washing water w as described above for cleaning the filter 52 was not supplied.

In one embodiment of the drying apparatus according to the present invention the filter 52 is exposed to the tub (100, 120) can be automatically washed by the rotary wind or dehydration of the drum (300, 320, 340). At this time, it may be made to be supplied separately to the washing water (w) through the filter washing unit as described above.

On the other hand, unlike the above-described embodiment, the filter 52 may be installed in a position that can be washed by the wash water stored in the tub (100,120). For example, unlike the above-described embodiment, the hot air outlet 121 may be formed under the tubs 100 and 120, and a filter 52 may be installed therein. Thus, the washing water may be washed by the rinsing water in the washing stroke or rinsing stroke of the washing course. As the drums 300, 320, and 340 are rotated, water stored in the tubs 100 and 120 forms a stream of water and rises to approach the filter 52 and may be cleaned. Alternatively, the filter 52 may be located at a place where the filter 52 may be immersed in the water stored in the tubs 100 and 120 during the washing stroke or the rinsing stroke.

In the above embodiments, washing and drying may be combined. Therefore, the water supply hose 10 described above may be connected to the tub (100, 120) via a detergent box (not shown). Thus, when washing or rinsing, water is supplied to the tubs 100 and 120 through the water supply hose 10 so that washing or rinsing may be performed.

Depending on the use, the dehydration stroke may be performed after the washing stroke and the rinsing stroke are completed, and the drying stroke may be performed after the dehydration stroke is completed. Foreign matter such as lint accumulated in the filter 52 during the drying stroke may be automatically cleaned as the washing stroke, rinsing stroke, or dehydration stroke occurs in the next use of the garment apparatus. In the case of the dehydration stroke, water droplets are ejected from the wet laundry through the through hole of the drum, and such water droplets may contact the filter to wet the lint. In the case of performing the dehydration stroke, the rotational speed of the drum is high and the droplets as described above can approach the filter, so that the washing effect can be better.

Referring to Figure 11, the flow path of the hot air will be described as follows. Figure 11 shows the flow path of hot air during drying in the combined drying machine as described above. The hot air may be generated by the hot air heater 44 inside the drying duct 40 and the fan 41 installed inside the scroll 40b. Air blown by the fan 41 is heated and flowed to the high temperature by the hot air heater (44). Then, it flows in front of the drums 300, 320, and 340 through the connection duct 40a inserted into the hot air inlet 103 of the tub front, and flows into the drum through the discharge port of the drum.

The hot air introduced into the drums 300, 320, and 340 is discharged out of the drums 300, 320, and 340 through the through holes 321 formed on the walls of the drums 300, 320, and 340 while being in contact with wet clothes. do. The humid air exiting the space between the drums 300, 320, 340 and the tubs 100, 120 through the through hole 321 flows through the space between the tubs 100, 120 and the drums 300, 320, 340. The tub 100 is discharged from the tubs 100 and 120 through the hot air outlet 121 located at the rear of the tub 120. Then, the air discharged through the hot air outlet 121 is sucked by the fan 41 and blown back into the drying duct 40 to circulate.

Here, before the air is discharged through the hot air outlet 121, the moisture contained in the air is condensed while the humid air flows through the space between the tubs 100 and 120 and the drums 300, 320 and 340. For effective condensation, heat must be taken from the humid air, and the outer surfaces of the tubs 100 and 120 come into contact with the surrounding air and are released by the natural convection to the outside of the tubs 100 and 120. As such, through the natural convection through the outer surface of the tub (100, 120), the humid air between the tub (100, 120) and the drum (300, 320, 340) is deprived of heat, the moisture contained therein is condensed Will be.

At this time, water droplets due to condensation will be formed on the condensation plate 42 surface and the inner surfaces of the tubs 100 and 120. The condensation plate 42 may not be essential for natural cooling as described above. Although it may contribute to increasing the condensation rate, even without the condensation plate 42, the condensation inside the tub (100, 120) and the required condensation rate may be achieved. As such, the absence of the condensation plate 42 will be described again in another embodiment below.

The drying apparatus of this embodiment constitutes a circulating drying system in which hot air is circulated. There is no separate condensation duct, and the space between the drums 300, 320, 340 and the tubs 100, 120 is utilized as the condensation space.

The space between the drum (300, 320, 340) and the tub (100, 120) may be lower than the temperature inside the drum (300, 320, 340), the tub (100, 120) is in contact with the cold outside air Therefore, condensation may occur on the walls of the tubs 100 and 120 or the condensation plate 42.

12 illustrates a case in which the condensation plate 42 is not installed in the tubs 100 and 120. The outer surfaces of the tubs 100 and 120 exchange heat with the outside through natural convection. The humid air discharged from the drums 300, 320, and 340 comes into contact with the inner surfaces of the tubs 100 and 120 at low temperatures of the tubs 100 and 120, and the moisture contained therein is condensed. The embodiment of Fig. 12 is the same as the embodiment described above except that the condensation plate 42 is not used. Therefore, further description is omitted.

On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment, the inner space of the tub is a condensation space. That is, the above embodiments are cases where the tub becomes the condensation unit. However, there may be a separate condenser. For example, a condensation duct may be used as in the prior art. In this case, the condensation unit condenses the moisture of the humid air flowing through the inner surface of the condensation through heat exchange with the outside. That is, the condensation unit may be added separately from the tub, there may be an embodiment in which the condensation occurs by natural cooling by natural convection in the condensation unit.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, although the case is condensed through natural cooling, cooling water or cold air may be used for forced cooling. For example, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the coolant injection unit 122 may be formed in the tubs 100 and 120 so that the coolant (c.w.) may be injected into the tubs 100 and 120. 13 and 14 show a coolant injection part 122 formed in a tub and a flow channel through which a coolant (c.w.) flows in the condensation plate 42a in the embodiment in which the condensation plate 42 is used. In the drying apparatus herein, the coolant injection unit 122 is formed in the tubular 120. The cooling water injection unit 122 is formed under the hot air outlet.

The cooling water injection unit 122 may have a structure for spraying the cooling water (c.w.) to the space between the tub and the drum. Alternatively, the cooling water may be configured to supply cooling water to flow along the inner wall of the tub. In this embodiment, the cooling water (c.w.) is supplied between the condensation plate 42 and the tub wall and flows through the condensation plate 42. The cooling water (c.w.) may be discharged to the drain hole formed in the tub lower.

The condensation plate 42 may be provided with a cooling water flow path such that the cooling water (c.w.) may flow in a zigzag form. The cooling water flow path may be made by forming a groove 42a in the condensation plate.

14 shows a cross section of the condensation plate 42 mounted on the tub inner surface. In order to form the cooling water flow path, the condensation plate 42 is formed with a groove 42a in the direction toward the tub wall surface. That is, the groove 42a is formed in a zigzag such that the surface of the condensation plate 42 facing the tub wall surface protrudes toward the inner surface of the tub, thereby forming a flow path between the tub wall surface and the condensation plate 42. Corners at the top and bottom of the condensation plate 42 are bent toward the tub wall to block the top and bottom of the space through which the coolant (c.w.) flows. This is to prevent hot air from entering the space where the coolant (c.w.) flows. This is because when the cooling water (c.w.) is exposed to the hot air as it is, the cooling water particles may flow into the drying duct 40 by the hot air.

Unlike the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a condensation plate may not be used. That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the coolant may be made to be injected into the tub through the coolant injection unit 122. In this case, the coolant injection unit 122 may be formed so that the coolant flows along the tub wall.

On the other hand, the filter 52 may be clogged by lint or the like contained in the hot air, and when the filter 52 is clogged, circulation of the hot air may be undesirable, which may cause a decrease in drying performance. Therefore, it is desirable to detect clogging of the filter 52 and to take appropriate measures, for example, filter cleaning.

Referring to FIG. 2, a method of detecting the blockage of the filter 52 will be described below. Although clogging of the filter 52 may be directly detected, clogging of the filter 52 may be detected using a flow path or a circulation path of the hot wind including the filter 52. If the filter 52 is clogged, the filter 52 becomes a kind of flow path resistance. Therefore, when the filter 52 is clogged, the flow of hot air becomes less favorable than when the filter 52 is not blocked. Therefore, the flow state of the hot wind when the filter 52 is clogged differs from the flow state of the hot wind when the filter 52 is clogged. By using this, clogging of the filter can be indirectly detected. The flow state of the hot wind may be the temperature, flow rate, flow rate and the like of the hot wind.

An example of determining the blockage of the filter 52 using the flow state of hot air will be described in detail as follows.

It will be described to determine the clogging of the filter using the hot air temperature. The filter clogging may be determined using a temperature sensor installed in close proximity to the hot air heater 44, for example, the first temperature sensor 47. The hot air is produced by the hot air heater 44 and the fan 41. The heated air around the hot air heater 44 is blown by the fan 41. When the filter 52 is blocked, the amount of wind blown or speed decreases, so that the air around the hot air heater gradually increases in temperature. That is, when the filter 52 is blocked, the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor 47 also increases. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the filter 52 is blocked by the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor 47. That is, when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor 47 is higher than a predetermined reference value, it may be determined that the filter is clogged.

On the other hand, the sensed temperature is different depending on the degree of clogging of the filter 52, so that the temperature corresponding to the degree of clogging of the filter 52 to be detected may be set as a reference value. The detection temperature or reference value according to the degree of filter clogging can be determined by experiments or the like. For example, when using the temperature of the surface of the drying duct 10, the temperature reference value for detecting 50% or more filter clogging may be more than 180 ℃.

The reference value may be changed depending on how much the filter 52 is blocked based on the design. For example, when 50% blocked, the reference value may be set, or 75% blocked when the reference value may be set. According to the experiment, when the 75% blocked, it was confirmed that the drying time increased only within 10% compared to when it was hardly blocked. A plurality of the reference values may be set so that the above degree of blockage can be considered. In such a case, necessary measures such as filter cleaning may be performed by considering not only the clogging of the filter but also the degree of clogging of the filter.

On the other hand, it is possible to determine the clogging of the filter by using a temperature sensor, for example, the second temperature sensor 47 installed far away from the hot air heater 44. If the filter 52 is blocked, the amount of air blown or speed decreases, so that the air around the hot air heater 44 gradually increases in temperature. However, since a portion away from the hot air heater 44, for example, the inside of the tub, especially the lower portion of the tub, is a space in which heat is transmitted by the hot air, the temperature may decrease if the hot air is not smooth. Therefore, when the filter 52 is blocked, the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 48 may be lower than when the filter 52 is not blocked. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the filter 52 is blocked by using the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 48. The detection temperature or reference value according to the degree of filter clogging can be determined by experiments or the like.

Meanwhile, clogging of the filter may be determined using both the first temperature sensor 47 and the first temperature sensor 47. A description with reference to FIG. 15 is as follows. Fig. 15A (left graph) shows the case where the filter is almost clogged, and Fig. 15B (right graph) shows the case where the filter is clogged. In the above graphs, the sensing temperature of the first temperature sensor 47 is T1, the sensing temperature of the second temperature sensor 48 is T2, and the temperature difference is ΔT.

As described above, since the hot air does not flow smoothly when the filter 52 is blocked, the temperature difference ΔT between the first temperature sensor 47 and the second temperature sensor 48 is changed. Since the first temperature sensor 47 is located closer to the hot air heater than the second temperature sensor 48, the temperature increases, but the second temperature sensor 48 reduces the hot air to transfer heat of the hot air heater. Can go down.

The temperature difference ΔT between the first temperature sensor 47 and the second temperature sensor 48 may vary depending on the degree of clogging of the filter. When the temperature difference ΔT is equal to or greater than a set value, it may be determined that the filter is clogged. Taking into account that the hot air heater is controlled to be turned off at the first set temperature and turned on at the second set temperature, it may be determined by filter clogging when the temperature difference is sensed above the set value for the set time. In addition, when the temperature difference is sensed more than the set value during the set time or more than the set number of times it may be determined by filter clogging. Such conditions for determining filter clogging are intended to exclude cases where the filter is temporarily blocked by other causes, such as being blocked by water film with water.

The first temperature sensor 47 and the second temperature sensor 48 may be installed at different positions from the present embodiment. The temperature sensors 47 and 48 may be positioned differently from the present embodiment if the temperature varies depending on the degree of clogging of the filter.

On the other hand, the method of determining the clogging of the filter by the flow rate, flow rate, etc. of the hot air is as follows. If the filter 52 is blocked, the flow rate or flow rate of the hot air may decrease. Therefore, it is possible to detect the blockage of the filter 52 by sensing the flow rate or flow rate of the hot air. The flow rate or flow rate of the hot air can be detected by the above-described flow sensor 46. That is, if the value detected by the flow sensor 46 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined reference value, it may be determined that the filter 52 is blocked. Here, depending on the type of the flow sensor 46 or the data processing (data processing), it may be determined that the filter 52 is clogged when the sensing signal is greater than or equal to the reference value. That is, it is determined whether the filter 52 is blocked by comparing the sensing signal with a reference value, but the comparison method may be different in some cases. The reference value can be determined by appropriately performing an experiment or the like on the type of sensor.

On the other hand, unlike the embodiment described above, the clogging of the filter may be determined using the operating state of the means for generating hot air, for example, the fan 41 and / or the hot air heater 44. First, referring to FIG. 16, it will be described to determine the filter clogging using the operating state of the fan 41.

When the fan 41 is controlled by the PWM control method, it may be advantageous to use the rotation speed of the fan 41 as the operation state information of the fan. When the fan 41 is controlled at the set rotation speed, the fan ( It may be advantageous to use the power applied to that motor to rotate 41).

16 shows the relationship between the static pressure and the flow rate and the circulation flow path. Here, the flow rate is the volume of air per unit time. And, the larger the static pressure of the circulation flow passage, the larger the flow resistance.

The line labeled C in FIG. 16 shows the flow rate-static pressure characteristics of the fan 41 and the scroll 40b. This can be obtained through wind tunnel experiments. Here, the data obtained by positioning the fan 41 together with the scroll 40b in the wind tunnel and changing the static pressure in the wind tunnel while applying a constant input power to the fan 41.

The diagrams labeled A and B represent the static pressure according to the flow rate obtained by experimenting with the circulation passage except for the portion of the fan 41 and the scroll 40b. B is when the filter is nearly 0% clogged and A is when the filter is partially clogged. In order to obtain the A and B diagrams, the fan 41 and the scroll 40b are removed from the circulation passage of the washing machine described above, and the removed one end of the circulation passage is exposed to the atmosphere to be kept at atmospheric pressure, and the other end is below atmospheric pressure. Pressure was dropped. Therefore, the flow rate data regarding the pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure side and the atmospheric pressure side is obtained and shown.

The point where the C diagram and the A or B diagram meet is the maximum flow rate in each case. Of course, at this time, it is assumed that the power applied to the fan 41 is the power applied when obtaining C. When PWM control is used for the rotation of the fan 41, the curve moves from B to C because the flow path resistance of the circulation flow path increases as the filter is blocked. The flow rate decreases from FR2 to FR1, which means that the rotation speed of the fan 41 decreases. Therefore, when the rotation speed of the fan 41 is sensed, the degree of clogging of the filter can be detected.

If the fan 41 is controlled at the same speed irrespective of the blockage of the filter, as the degree of blockage of the filter increases, the energy for overcoming the flow resistance, which is gradually increased, will increase. Will increase the input power. Thus, in this case, the filter clogging can be detected using the above input power.

Next, referring to FIG. 17, it will be described that the filter clogging is determined using the operating state of the hot air heater 44. In order to maintain a desired drying temperature, the hot air heater 44 may be controlled to be turned off at the set upper limit temperature Tu and back on at the lower limit temperature TL. In order to control the hot air heater 44, a temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor 47 located in the drying duct 40 may be used.

However, when the filter 52 is blocked, the flow of hot air is not smooth, so the temperature around the hot air heater 44 may increase. When the filter 52 is blocked, the flow of hot air is not smooth, and the temperature around the hot air heater 44 increases, so that the time for reaching the upper limit temperature Tu may be shortened. Thus, when the filter 52 is clogged, the on / off cycle of the hot air heater 44 may be shortened or the number of times of repeatedly turning on / off for a predetermined time (Δt) may increase. Therefore, the clogging of the filter can be determined using the on / off cycle and the on / off frequency of the hot air heater 44 as reference values.

Therefore, the clogging of the filter 52 may be determined in consideration of the operation state of the hot air heater 44 as described above. In addition, since the cycle or the number of times will vary depending on the degree of blockage of the filter 52, the degree of blockage of the filter 52 may also be determined. For example, when 50% blocked, 75% blocked, 90% blocked, and so on, the frequency or number of times may vary depending on the degree of blockage.

Fig. 17 (a) (top graph) shows the operation of the hot air heater when the filter is clogged 90%, and Fig. 17 (b) (bottom graph) shows the operation of the hot air heater when almost no clogging (bottom graph). As shown in the graph, the phenomenon in which the hot air heater 44 is turned off at the upper limit temperature Tu is lowered and the temperature is raised again by turning on the hot air heater 44 at the lower limit temperature TL. It can be seen that the number of times that the hot air heater 44 is turned on / off during the set time DELTA t is more than that when it is not blocked when 90% is blocked.

18 and 19, an example of a method of controlling a clothing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, with reference to FIG. 18, a control block diagram of a garment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described schematically. The first temperature sensor 47, the second temperature sensor 48, and the flow sensor 46 are electrically connected to the controller 900, respectively. The controller 900 is electrically connected to a motor 930, a hot air heater 44, a fan 41, and a filter cleaner 940 for driving the drum. In addition, the controller 900 is connected to an input unit 910 through which the user can operate the clothing device, and an output unit 920 for notifying the user of an operation state of the clothing device.

Referring to FIG. 19, an example of a control method of a clothing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

When it is determined that the filter is clogged (S5), if it is determined that the filter is clogged, necessary measures such as filter cleaning are performed (S7). Determination of filter clogging (S5) is preferably made by using a value that is changed by the flow path resistance generated as the filter is clogged, that is, a value of sensing the hot air flow path resistance, such as the temperature and flow rate of the hot air (S3). Determination of the filter clogging is preferably performed when it is determined that the clothing apparatus operates normally (S1). Because, when the filter clogging is determined in the abnormal operating state of the clothing device, even if the filter is not clogged it may be determined that the filter clogging.

Each step will be described in detail as follows. First, the step (S1) of determining whether the clothing device is operating normally will be described. In order to determine whether the filter 52 is clogged relatively accurately, it is preferable to determine whether the filter is clogged when it is determined that the clothing device operates normally except for the clogging of the filter 52. This is because, when the clothing apparatus is abnormally operated, it may be determined that the filter is clogged even though the filter is not clogged.

The normal operation of the garment apparatus may be determined by various methods. For example, the garment apparatus may be determined to operate normally in the following cases. When the rotation speed of the first fan 41 reaches the set rotation speed, when the set time has elapsed after the operation of the second fan 41, when the set time has elapsed after the start of the third drying course, after the fourth hot air heater 44 is operated When the set time has elapsed. Fifth, when the hot air reaches the set temperature. The above-described determination conditions of the sensing point or the filter clogging determination point may be used alone or in combination, of course.

Since one of the components having a large influence on the flow rate or the flow rate is the fan 41, it is possible to determine whether or not the fan 41 is broken and sense the hot air flow path resistance when it is determined that the fan is not broken. For example, when the rotation speed of the fan 41 is equal to or greater than the set rotation speed or the set time has elapsed after the fan 41 is operated, in this case, the fan 41 can be considered to operate normally. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to determine the filter clogging by detecting the hot air flow path resistance.

It can be considered that the drying course starts normally when the drying course starts and the set time has elapsed. Because the clothing device may be provided with a self-diagnosis device and / or a program for diagnosing the failure of each part, so if any part failure occurs, the drying course does not reach the set time and stop Because it can be. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to determine the filter clogging by detecting the hot air flow path resistance.

In addition, when an error occurs in any part of the clothing apparatus, since the operation of the hot air heater 44 may be programmed so as not to be normally performed, the sensing time may be determined using the operating time of the hot air heater 44. For example, the sensing may be performed after the set time has elapsed since the control temperature of the hot air heater reaches the set temperature. The hot air heater may be controlled to be turned off at a first set temperature (eg, 106 ° C.) and to be turned on at a second, lower set temperature (eg, 100 ° C.), and the hot air heater may be initially operated to operate at the first set temperature. After the set time has elapsed since reaching, the above sensing can be performed.

Next, the step (S3) for sensing the hot air flow path resistance. If the filter is clogged, the resistance to the hot air flow passage increases. The resistance of the hot air flow path can be indirectly sensed using the state of the hot air flow path such as the temperature, flow rate, and flow rate of the hot air flow path. In addition, it may be indirectly sensed by using a state of a hot wind generating unit such as a fan and a hot wind heater, for example, a rotation speed of a fan, an input power, or an on / off cycle of a hot wind heater. The various types of hot air flow path resistances described above can be used alone or in combination. Meanwhile, the sensed hot air flow path resistance is transmitted to the controller 900, and the controller 900 determines whether the filter is clogged using the sensed hot air flow path resistance. The filter clogging determination method has been described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiment, it is illustrated and described that the hot air flow path resistance is sensed by determining the normal operation of the clothing device and determining that the clothing device operates normally. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the hot air flow path resistance is always sensed, and only when the clothing apparatus is determined to operate normally, the phase controller or the like may determine whether the filter is clogged using the hot air flow path resistance.

Next, when it is determined that the filter 52 is clogged, step S7 of performing the necessary measures will be described in detail. There may be a number of necessary actions for filter clogging, and it is desirable to include user notifications, filter cleaning functions, and the like.

If it is necessary to inform the user that the filter 52 is blocked, a user notification signal is output. The alarm signal may be a visual or audio output. The visual output may include outputting a message indicating that the filter 52 is blocked to the output unit 920 such as an LCD screen. Alternatively, the light may be visually informed by emitting light. For example, the filter clogging may be notified to the user by light emission of the LED lamp mounted on the output unit 920 of the clothing apparatus. The audio output can alert the user by making a sound, such as a buzzer. The user notification signal as described above may vary depending on the degree of blockage of the filter 52. The degree of filter clogging may be determined according to the degree of the sensed signal, and accordingly, the output size of the user notification signal may be different.

On the other hand, through the output unit 920, a user may receive a predetermined command as a process for the filter clogging. For example, the output unit 920 may have a means for inputting a command of 'filter cleaning', and when the command is input, the controller 900 may perform filter cleaning according to a predetermined program. Of course, such a user command input means for filter cleaning may not exist, in which case the filter may be automatically cleaned.

There may be several methods for washing the filter, for example, the filter washing may be performed as follows. First, by rotating the drum by driving the motor 920 to wash the filter 52 with the drum rotation wind. At this time, when water is supplied to the tub, the water may be buried on the surface of the drum and sprayed by centrifugal force to effect water supply to the filter 52. Second, it is possible to clean the filter 52 by operating the filter cleaning unit 940 described above. The two methods described above can be used alone or in combination.

On the other hand, as a necessary measure to be performed when it is determined that the filter is clogged, it is preferable that the filter cleaning is performed at an appropriate time. For example, the filter cleaning may be performed in a drying course currently in progress, but may be performed at an appropriate time after the current drying course is finished. This is because, in particular, when water is used for washing the filter, it is preferably performed after the end of the current drying course.

For example, when the filter washing is performed at a suitable time after the current drying course is completed as follows. Filter washing may be performed after a predetermined set time has elapsed after the current drying course is finished. Because the drying course is finished and the user needs time to take out the laundry, the filter is washed after the set time after the drying course. Alternatively, when the door is opened and closed after the completion of the drying course, the laundry may be considered to be taken out, and thus, the filter may be cleaned by detecting it. The filter wash may also be performed before the next drying course is carried out.

On the other hand, if the drying course is performed in a state in which the filter 52 is blocked, a problem of overheating of the hot air heater 44 may occur. Therefore, if it is determined that the filter 52 is blocked, if it is determined that the filter 52 is blocked, it can be programmed to stop the drying course currently in progress. Alternatively, the ongoing drying course may continue as it is, and the next drying course may not be performed. When the drying course is inactivated so as not to proceed, the operation of the user input means or the like related to the drying course of the input unit 910 may be made inactive. That is, even if the user selects the user input means, the controller 900 may allow the user to ignore it.

Meanwhile, the filter cleaning may be performed when the washing course is in progress. When washing, the tub is supplied with water, and even if there is water used to clean the filter, the tub will be discharged together with the washing water through the tub, so there is little concern about contaminating the laundry.

Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, the control of the hot air heater 44 will be described in detail. If it is determined that the filter is clogged, it is preferable to control the hot air heater 44 as well. 20 is a heater control pattern for the case where the filter is not blocked, and FIG. 21 is a heater control pattern for the case where the heater is determined to be blocked.

When the drying stroke starts, the controller 900 turns on the hot air heater 44. As the hot air heater 44 is turned on, the temperature inside the garment apparatus rises rapidly at an initial stage. Initially, since the thermal energy of the hot air heater 44 is not used much to dry wet clothes, the rate of temperature rise is large. When the drying of the wet clothing starts to proceed in earnest, the heat rising rate of the hot air heater 44 is consumed for the drying, so that the rate of temperature rise decreases.

At this time, it is preferable to control the hot air heater 44 in consideration of the hourly amount of energy consumed for drying. Too much heat can cause overheating. For this reason, the hot air heater 44 may be controlled to repeat on and off. For example, it may be controlled to repeat on and off as in FIGS. 20 and 21. In FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the on and off cycles are repeated in DT1, which is an initial temperature increase period, but may not be the same. However, it may be necessary to control the hot air heater 44 to reduce the degree of overshooting initially when the period DT1 reaches the period DT2. Since the temperature is rising while the hot air heater 44 is on, turning off the hot air heater 44 does not immediately start to lower the temperature. Even if the temperature is turned off, the temperature rises a little more and then starts to fall.

In the section DT2 in which drying proceeds in earnest, the heater is turned off at the set upper limit temperature (off-temperature), and is turned on again at the lower limit temperature (on-temperature). That is, it is repeatedly controlled to turn off at the time when the off-temperature is reached (off-time) and then turn on again at the time when the on-temperature is reached (on-time).

In the DT1, which is an initial temperature increase period, the hot air heater 44 may be kept on if there is no problem due to overshooting when the DT2 is reached. In order to reduce the overshooting of the temperature generated while reaching the section DT2 as described above, the heater may be turned off at least once in the section DT1. For example, the hot air heater 44 may be turned off at a predetermined time before reaching the section DT2. The turn off of such a heater in the interval DT1 may be three times. In order to reduce overshooting, it may be advantageous to increase the number of offs as described above, but as the number of times increases, the time to reach the interval DT2 may be longer. Therefore, the number of offs may be determined in consideration of the time for reaching the section DT2.

It may be advantageous to control the hot air heater 44 to increase the temperature step by step in the period DT1 to reduce the overshooting problem. This can be achieved by controlling the hot air heater 44 by setting a plurality of off-temperatures which rise in stages in the section DT1 as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. As described above, the first temperature sensor 47 may be used as a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature to control the hot air heater 44 according to the off-temperature and the on-temperature.

On the other hand, the control of the hot air heater 44 as described above may vary depending on whether the filter is clogged. That is, when it is determined that the filter is clogged, the controller may change the control pattern of the heater by changing and controlling the control factor of the hot air heater 44. The control pattern of the heater may be the on / off temperature of the heater, the number of on / off times, the on / off time, the time of the temperature rising section / temperature holding section, and the like. These control patterns described below may be used alone or in combination.

As shown in Fig. 20, when the filter is not clogged, the temperature is controlled to increase in three stages in the section DT1. As shown in Fig. 21, when it is determined that the filter is clogged, it is controlled in eight steps. If the filter is clogged, hot air may not flow smoothly, which may cause overheating problems. Therefore, the temperature increase stage of the temperature rise section is changed to 8 stages, more than three stages. The number of steps can be designed differently depending on how much is actually used. For example, when programmed to determine 50% clogging as filter clogging, the degree of clogging is more severe than when programmed to determine 75% clogging as filter clogging, which may further increase the stage of temperature rise.

In addition, the on / off control pattern of the hot air heater 44 may be programmed to be changed according to the filter clogging in the section after the temperature increase section, that is, the section DT2. As a simple example, it may be programmed to change the T _UL or T _LL in each case in FIGS. 20 and 21. For example, T _UL of FIG. 21 can be programmed to be smaller than the T _UL 20.

T _UL and T _LL in the interval DT2 in Figs. 20 and 21 are constant in each case but need not be so. In the section DT2, a plurality of off-temperatures may be set to have a plurality of stages as in the section DT1.

On the other hand, the section DT1 may be programmed to be performed until the set temperature is reached. That is, the interval DT1 is performed until reaching T _UL in FIGS. 20 and 21.

22 shows yet another embodiment of the case where the filter is clogged. In the case of Fig. 22, the number of temperature rising steps in the section DT1 is the same as in the case of Fig. 20 in which the filter is not blocked. However, the number of times of turning off the heater is different at each stage. In the case of FIG. 20, the heater is turned off only two times in each temperature step of the section DT1, but in the case of FIG. 22, the heater is turned off three times.

21 and 22 described above, the duration of the section DT1 is longer than that of FIG. 20 where the filter is not blocked.

In the above-described embodiment has been described a dry-use washing machine as a drying device that combines laundry, the present invention can be applied to any device having a drying function. Drying apparatus in the present specification includes all if the device having a drying function.

Claims (35)

1. A drum rotatably installed;

   Hot air heaters and fans to generate hot air;

   A filter for filtering the hot air;

   A sensor for sensing a hot air flow path resistance generated in the hot air flow path;

   Apparatus having a drying function comprising a controller for determining the clogging of the filter using the hot air flow path resistance sensed by the sensor.
2. The hot air flow path resistance of claim 1, wherein the hot air flow path resistance is at least one of a temperature, a flow rate, a flow rate, a rotation speed of the fan, an input power of the fan, and an on / off cycle of the hot air heater at a predetermined position affected by the hot wind flow. Clothing device having a drying function, characterized in that the individual.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the clothing apparatus further comprises at least one of a first temperature sensor provided at a relatively close distance to the hot air heater and a second temperature sensor provided at a relatively long distance from the hot air heater. Apparatus having a drying function, characterized in that for sensing the temperature by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined reference value, the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is lower than a predetermined reference value, and the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor and Apparatus having a drying function, characterized in that the controller determines that the filter is clogged using at least one of the cases where the difference in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined reference value.
5. The clothing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first temperature sensor is located in a drying duct provided with the hot air heater, and the second temperature sensor is provided in a tub for accommodating the drum.
6. The garment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the garment apparatus further includes a flow sensor positioned in a drying duct provided with a hot air heater to measure at least one of the flow rate and the flow rate.
7. 7. The garment apparatus of claim 6, wherein the flow sensor is at least one of an orifice flow meter, a pressure sensor, and an impeller flow meter.
8. The garment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller determines that the filter is clogged when the rotation speed of the fan is less than a reference value.
9. The clothing device of claim 2, wherein the controller determines that the filter is clogged when the input voltage of the fan is greater than a reference value.
10. The garment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller determines that the filter is clogged when the on-off period of the hot air heater is less than a reference value.
11. The clothing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller determines whether the filter is clogged when it is determined that the clothing apparatus operates normally.
12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein when the rotational speed of the fan reaches a set rotational speed, when a predetermined time has elapsed after the fan is started, and when a set time has elapsed after the start of a drying course, the hot air heater is set after operation. And at least one of when the time elapses and when the hot air reaches a set temperature, the controller determines whether the clothing device operates normally.
13. The clothing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller performs a necessary action when it is determined that the filter is blocked.
14. The clothing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the necessary action is at least one of a user alarm, cleaning of the filter, deactivation of a drying course, and changing a control pattern of the hot air heater.
15. 15. The garment apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a drying course currently in progress or a next drying course is inactivated.
16. 15. The method of claim 14, The controller, Clothing device having a drying function, characterized in that for washing the filter by the air flow generated by the rotation of the drum.
17. 15. The method of claim 14, Garment apparatus having a drying function, characterized in that it further comprises a filter washing unit for washing the filter.
18. 15. The garment apparatus according to claim 14, wherein after the current drying course is finished, the filter washing is performed.
19. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein after the set time has elapsed after the completion of the drying course, after the door is opened and closed after the completion of the drying course, the filter washing is performed in any one of the next drying course and the washing course. Clothing device having a drying function, characterized in that.
20. 15. The method of claim 14, The filter cleaning clothes device having a drying function, characterized in that proceeding at the request of the user.
21. 15. The drying function according to claim 14, wherein the control pattern of the hot air heater comprises at least one of an on-off frequency, an on-off temperature, an on-off time, and a time between a temperature rising section and a temperature holding section of the hot air heater. Having a clothing device.
22. The number of reference values of the on-off temperature of the temperature rise section when the filter is determined to be clogged is larger than the number of the reference values of the on-off temperature of the temperature rise section when the filter is not blocked. Clothing device having a drying function, characterized in that set.
23. The drying function according to claim 21, wherein a reference value of the on temperature of the temperature holding section when the filter is determined to be clogged is smaller than a reference value of the on temperature of the temperature rising section when the filter is not blocked. Apparatus having a.
24. 22. The garment apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the number of times of turning off the temperature rise section when it is determined that the filter is clogged is greater than the number of times of turning off the temperature rise section when the filter is not clogged. .
25. The clothing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tub for receiving wash water, wherein the filter is located at the hot air outlet of the tub.
26. According to claim 1, A rotating shaft connected to the drum, a bearing housing for supporting the rotating shaft, a drive unit including a motor for rotating the rotating shaft; And

    And a suspension assembly connected to the bearing housing to reduce vibration of the drum.
27. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising: a tub containing wash water; And

    And a rear gasket provided between the tub and the driving unit to allow the driving unit to move relative to the tub.
28. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a hot air inlet and a hot air outlet provided in the tub, and a drying duct connecting the hot air inlet and the hot air outlet.
29. The drying function of claim 1, further comprising a suspension housing for reducing vibration of the drum and a tub containing wash water, wherein the tub is supported more rigidly than the drum is supported. Having a clothing device.
30. A sensing step of sensing a hot air flow path resistance generated in a flow path through which hot air flows for drying the dried object;

    And determining a blockage of the filter by using the sensed hot air flow resistance.
31. The hot air flow path resistance of claim 30, wherein the hot air flow path resistance is at least a temperature, a flow rate, a flow rate, a rotation speed of the fan, an input power of the fan, and an on / off cycle of the hot air heater at a predetermined position affected by the hot wind flow. Control method of a clothing device having a drying function, characterized in that the individual.
32. 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of determining whether the clothing device operates normally, and if the filter device is determined to operate normally, it is determined whether the filter is clogged. Control method of clothing device.
33. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein when the rotational speed of the fan reaches a set rotational speed, a predetermined time has elapsed after the fan is started, and when a set time has elapsed after the start of the drying course, the hot air heater is set after operation. And determining whether or not the clothing device operates normally by using at least one of a time elapsed and a case in which the hot air reaches a set temperature.
34. 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of performing the necessary action if it is determined that the filter is clogged.
35. The control of a clothing apparatus with a drying function according to claim 34, wherein said necessary action is at least one of a user alarm, cleaning of said filter, deactivation of a drying course, and changing a control pattern of said hot air heater. Way.

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