WO2021145560A1 - Compresseur et appareil de traitement de linge ayant le compresseur - Google Patents

Compresseur et appareil de traitement de linge ayant le compresseur Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2021145560A1
WO2021145560A1 PCT/KR2020/017813 KR2020017813W WO2021145560A1 WO 2021145560 A1 WO2021145560 A1 WO 2021145560A1 KR 2020017813 W KR2020017813 W KR 2020017813W WO 2021145560 A1 WO2021145560 A1 WO 2021145560A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
air
treating apparatus
laundry treating
water
reservoir
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2020/017813
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Yoonsung Choi
Cheolhwan Kim
Sedong Lee
Original Assignee
Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lg Electronics Inc. filed Critical Lg Electronics Inc.
Publication of WO2021145560A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021145560A1/fr

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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/24—Condensing arrangements
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F25/00—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air 
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/203—Laundry conditioning arrangements
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/26—Heating arrangements, e.g. gas heating equipment

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus having a compressor that compresses air or moisture.
  • a laundry treating apparatus includes a washing machine that may perform a washing process that removes foreign substances from laundry, a dryer that performs a drying process that removes moisture from the laundry, and a refresher that performs a refreshing process to remove dust or bacteria from the laundry (the refresher's brand name is Trom Styler from LGE).
  • the washing machine and the refresher are configured to supply at least one of hot air or steam, so that the drying process may be performed.
  • FIG. 1 shows a conventional laundry treating apparatus capable of performing the drying process (refer to Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2017-0095299).
  • the conventional laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet 100 forming an exterior appearance, a drum 200 rotatably disposed inside the cabinet 100 to accommodate laundry, a driver 300 that rotates the drum 200, a hot air supply 420 that is connected to the drum to supply hot air into the drum, and a circulator 500 that supports or mount thereon the hot air supply 420.
  • the driver 300 may include a belt 340 that is wound around an outer circumferential face of the drum 200 to transmit power of the driver.
  • the driver 300 may rotate the drum 200 by rotating the belt 340. As a result, laundry contained in the drum 200 may be evenly exposed to the hot air.
  • the circulator 500 and the drum 200 may be communicated with each other through a drying duct 410.
  • the drying duct 410 may include a discharge duct 411 communicating with one side of the drum 200 to allow moisture of the laundry and air that has passed through the laundry to be discharged from the drum 200; and an intake duct 412 that is connected to either one side or the other side of the drum and sucks air that has passed through the hot air supply 420 back to the drum 200.
  • the hot air supply 420 may include heat exchangers such as an evaporator 422 and a condenser 423 and may be configured to dry and heat air passing through the circulator 500.
  • the hot air supply 420 may further include a blow fan that delivers the air inside the drum 200 to the circulator 500.
  • the hot air supply 420 includes the evaporator 422 cooling the air that has passed through the discharge duct 411, a compressor that compresses and heats the refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator, the condenser 423 that heats air with the refrigerant passing through the compressor to generate high-temperature dry hot air, and an expansion valve that expands the refrigerant passing through the condenser 423 to lower the temperature. That is, the hot air supply 420 may be configured as a heat pump.
  • the refrigerant compressed to high temperature and high pressure in the compressor passes through the condenser 423 to dissipate heat. Then, the refrigerant flows into the expansion valve and expands to low temperature and low pressure therein. The refrigerant flows into the evaporator 422, absorbs heat, and flows back into the compressor and then is compressed therein. That is, the condenser 423 may emit heat to surroundings, and the evaporator 422 may absorb the surrounding heat.
  • the air inside the drum 200 may be discharged to the circulator 500, and then flow back into the drum 200 and thus may be circulated.
  • the air introduced into the circulator 500 may be first exposed to the evaporator 422 and cooled, and moisture contained in the air may condense. Thereafter, the air from which moisture has been removed while passing through the evaporator 422 may be exposed to the condenser 423 and may be heated to a high temperature. Via this process, the air may be converted into dry hot air. The air heated in the condenser 423 flows back into the drum 200 and comes into contact with the laundry to dry the laundry. The air that passed through the laundry passes through the evaporator 422 again and is cooled. The moisture contained in the air may be condensed and removed.
  • the conventional laundry treating apparatus has performed the drying process by circulating the refrigerant in the hot air supply 420.
  • the heat pump scheme has an advantage of being more energy efficient than a scheme of heating air directly with a heater using electric energy.
  • the conventional laundry treating apparatus having the hot air supply including the compressor that compresses the refrigerant provided separately from air has a fundamental problem that a separate device is required to store, receive and circulate the refrigerant that does not directly contact laundry.
  • the hot air supply including the compressor and a plurality of heat exchanger expansion valves is bulky and complex in configuration. Therefore, the conventional laundry treating apparatus had the disadvantage in which an additional installation space in addition to the drum accommodating the laundry is secured in order to install the hot air supply.
  • the hot air supply requires two heat exchangers to be installed in the circulator through which air flows. Thus, there is a problem that an overload occurs on the blow fan.
  • the conventional laundry treating apparatus equipped with the hot air supply using the refrigerant has the disadvantage of having to cool the hot air discharged from the drum directly through the evaporator.
  • the energy of the high-temperature and humid air as discharged from the drum cannot be utilized at all, there is a fundamental problem that energy loss is caused and thus energy is wasted.
  • a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of compressing and heating air or moisture discharged from the drum.
  • a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of heating air or moisture flowing into the drum by compressing a portion of air or moisture discharged from the drum.
  • a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may utilize the energy contained in air discharged from the drum.
  • a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of omitting a device for circulating refrigerant supplied separately from air or moisture, storing the refrigerant.
  • a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may reduce the number of times air input to the drum collides with a heat exchanger.
  • a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus which may remove lint, etc. inside a compressor that may compress and heat air or moisture.
  • a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus which removes foreign substances such as lint inside a compressor using water condensed from moisture of laundry contained in the drum.
  • the present disclosure may provide a laundry treating apparatus to which a compressor capable of compressing steam is applied.
  • the steam may be supplied from laundry.
  • lint must occur in laundry.
  • the lint may accumulate inside the compressor, thereby hindering compression and lowering reliability.
  • compression loss and reliability degradation of the steam compressor nay be caused when the lint is inserted into the compressor during a compression process.
  • the present disclosure may provide a laundry treating apparatus having a lint removal cycle. Accordingly, the apparatus may be configured to wash the compressor with water in a reservoir in which condensed water is collected after a drying process.
  • the present disclosure may provide a laundry treating apparatus configured to remove lint when the compressor stops.
  • the laundry treating apparatus is configured to inject water from the reservoir to a discharge side of the steam compressor using a water pump.
  • the lint stuck in the compressing assembly may be removed.
  • the laundry treating apparatus may be configured to keep the reservoir at a high pressure during a drying cycle. Accordingly, after the drying cycle is completed or when the lint removal cycle is performed and a valve is opened, water in the reservoir is sucked into the compressing assembly, thereby removing the lint from the compressor.
  • the laundry treating apparatus may be configured to rotate the steam compressor in a reverse direction to remove the lint using discharged water from the reservoir.
  • the reservoir may be connected to the steam compressor via an independent channel, and a filter may be installed in the channel.
  • the present disclosure may provide a laundry treating apparatus in which the steam compressor rotates in a reverse direction to circulate the discharged water from the reservoir back into the compressor to remove the lint therefrom.
  • the present disclosure may provide a laundry treating apparatus that controls the water pump to allow the water to flow to an inflow side or a discharge side of the compressor to remove lint therefrom.
  • the present disclosure may provide a laundry treating apparatus in which high pressure water of the reservoir is fed to the compressor to clean the compressor after the drying cycle.
  • the laundry treating apparatus may be configured such that the compressor rotates in a reverse direction to remove lint therefrom.
  • the water from the reservoir may flow toward the discharge side of the compressor and flow into the compressor.
  • the water in the reservoir may flow in a reverse direction to a flow direction in a conventional cycle and may be injected into the discharge side of the compressor.
  • An effect of the present disclosure may realize the laundry treating apparatus capable of compressing and heating air or moisture discharged from the drum.
  • An effect of the present disclosure may realize the laundry treating apparatus capable of heating air or moisture flowing into the drum by compressing a portion of air or moisture discharged from the drum.
  • An effect of the present disclosure may realize the laundry treating apparatus that may utilize the energy contained in air discharged from the drum.
  • An effect of the present disclosure may realize the laundry treating apparatus capable of omitting a device for circulating refrigerant supplied separately from air or moisture, storing the refrigerant.
  • An effect of the present disclosure may realize the laundry treating apparatus that may reduce the number of times air input to the drum collides with a heat exchanger.
  • An effect of the present disclosure may realize the laundry treating apparatus which may remove lint, etc. inside the compressor that may compress and heat air or moisture.
  • An effect of the present disclosure may realize the laundry treating apparatus which removes foreign substances such as lint inside the compressor using water condensed from moisture of laundry contained in the drum.
  • FIG. 1 shows a conventional laundry treating apparatus.
  • FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a hot air supply of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a structure of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a compressor according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 5 shows an internal structure of the compressor according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 6 shows a structure of storing moisture separately in the compressor according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a cleaner that removes lint from a compressor according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a cleaner according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment of a cleaner according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 10 shows still yet embodiment of a cleaner according to the present disclosure.
  • first element or layer when a first element or layer is referred to as being present "on” or “beneath” a second element or layer, the first element may be disposed directly on or beneath the second element or may be disposed indirectly on or beneath the second element with a third element or layer being disposed between the first and second elements or layers.
  • a layer, film, region, plate, or the like when a layer, film, region, plate, or the like is disposed "on” or “on a top” of another layer, film, region, plate, or the like, the former may directly contact the latter or still another layer, film, region, plate, or the like may be disposed between the former and the latter.
  • the former when a layer, film, region, plate, or the like is directly disposed “on” or “on a top” of another layer, film, region, plate, or the like, the former directly contacts the latter and still another layer, film, region, plate, or the like is not disposed between the former and the latter.
  • the former when a layer, film, region, plate, or the like is disposed “below” or “under” another layer, film, region, plate, or the like, the former may directly contact the latter or still another layer, film, region, plate, or the like may be disposed between the former and the latter.
  • the former when a layer, film, region, plate, or the like is directly disposed “below” or “under” another layer, film, region, plate, or the like, the former directly contacts the latter and still another layer, film, region, plate, or the like is not disposed between the former and the latter.
  • FIG. 2 shows a structure of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet 100 forming an exterior appearance, a laundry receiver 200 disposed inside the cabinet to accommodate laundry, and a circulator 500 connected to the laundry receiver to circulate air containing moisture as discharged from the laundry contained inside the laundry receiver.
  • the laundry treating apparatus may include a branched heating assembly 600 that extracts and compresses air of the circulator 500, and heats air flowing through the circulator 500 using the compressed air. Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be free of the hot air supply that heats air of the drum 200 while circulating refrigerant which is required in the conventional laundry treating apparatus. That is, the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may replace the conventional heat pump system with the branched heating assembly 600.
  • the laundry treating apparatus may replace the conventional heat pump system with the branched heating assembly 600, and may save a space in which the heat pump is installed.
  • the refrigerant itself is not used such that there is no need to store or accommodate the refrigerant. There is an effect of increasing the convenience of installation since there is no need to consider leakage of the refrigerant.
  • the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure does not need to consider a channel through which the refrigerant moves, and thus has an advantage of simplifying a structure of the circulator 500.
  • the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may be implemented as a dryer.
  • the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may be implemented as a washing machine or a refresher as long as the branched heating assembly 600 may be applied thereto.
  • a washing machine or a refresher as long as the branched heating assembly 600 may be applied thereto.
  • a refresher as long as the branched heating assembly 600 may be applied thereto.
  • the laundry receiver 200 of the laundry treating apparatus may be implemented as a drum 200 rotatably disposed in the cabinet 100. Further, the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a driver 300 rotating the drum 200.
  • the driver 300 may include a pulley and a belt 340 as in the conventional laundry treating apparatus. However, as long as the drum 200 may be rotated, the driver 300 may be implemented as a DD type driver and configured to directly rotate a rotatable shaft coupled to the drum 200.
  • the circulator 500 may be disposed under the drum 200 as in the conventional laundry treating apparatus. However, the circulator 500 may be disposed on a side or a top of the drum, as long as the circulator communicates with the drum 200 to supply high-temperature hot air to the drum 200. Further, the circulator 500 of the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented as a circulation type circulator in which the circulator 500 communicates with both ends of the drum 200 through a drying duct 410. However, as long as hot air may be supplied to the drum 200, the circulator 500 may be implemented as an exhaust type circulator rather than the circulation type circulator.
  • the circulator of the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is implemented as the circular type circulator will be described.
  • the circulator 500 and the drum 200 may be communicated with each other through the drying duct 410 as in the conventional laundry treating apparatus.
  • the drying duct 410 may include a discharge duct 411 that communicates with one side of the drum 200 to allow the moisture of the laundry and air that has passed through the laundry to be discharged from the drum 200, and an intake duct 412 communicating with either one side or the other side of the drum to suck air back into the drum 200.
  • the circulator 500 may further include a blow fan that moves the air of the drum 200 to the circulator 500, or injects the air of the circulator 500 to the drum 200.
  • the circulator 500 may include a first duct 510 communicating with the discharge duct 411 and receiving the air from the drum 200, an air flowing channel 520 in which the air introduced through the first duct 510 flows and is heated by the branched heating assembly 600, and a second duct 540 communicating with the intake duct 412 to guide the air that has passed through the air flowing channel 520 to the drum 200.
  • a blow fan 570 is installed in the circulator 500 so that the air inside the drum 200 may be circulated through the circulator 500. Accordingly, air of the drum 200 may flow into the first duct 510, pass through the air flowing channel 520, and then flow back into the drum 200 through the second duct 540.
  • the branched heating assembly 600 may be configured to heat the air flowing through the circulator 500 without separate refrigerant.
  • the branched heating assembly 600 may include a branched pipe 630 that extracts a portion of the air flowing through the circulator 500, a steam compressor 610 that compresses air introduced into the branched pipe, and a heat supply 620 that is disposed inside the circulator and heats air circulating through the circulator using the air compressed by the steam compressor.
  • the air flowing through the circulator 500 may evaporate moisture contained in the laundry contained in the drum 200. That is, air flowing through the circulator 500 may include moisture delivered from the laundry.
  • the steam compressor 610 may simultaneously compress not only air but also moisture discharged from the laundry. Therefore, even when air itself is incompressible, the moisture contained in the air is compressed, so that the air injected from the steam compressor 610 may be compressed to high temperature and high pressure.
  • the air compressed to high temperature and high pressure in the steam compressor 610 may contain high temperature steam.
  • high-temperature and high-pressure air or steam compressed by the steam compressor 610 may be transferred to the heat supply 620 through a heat supply pipe 650.
  • the heat supply pipe 650 may be configured to pass through the heat supply 620.
  • the heat supply 620 may be implemented as a heat exchanger and may be configured to dissipate heat of air passing through the heat supply pipe 650 to the outside.
  • the heat supply 620 may be installed inside the circulator 500.
  • the heat supply 620 may be placed on the air flowing channel 520 to heat air or moisture flowing through the circulator 500. Accordingly, the heat supply 620 may exchange heat between air discharged from the drum 200 and passing through the circulator 500 and the air passing through the heat supply pipe 650.
  • hot air or steam flowing through the heat supply pipe 650 may be heat exchanged with air or moisture passing through the circulator 500.
  • air discharged from the drum 200 and not flowing into the branched pipe 630 but introduced into the air flowing channel 520 may be heated while passing through the circulator 500.
  • the air heated while passing through the heat supply 620 flows back into the drum 200 and may dry the laundry.
  • the air containing moisture while drying the laundry may be discharged from the drum 200 again, and a portion thereof may flow into the branched pipe 630.
  • the rest thereof may flow into the air flowing channel 520 and then may be heat exchanged with the portion thereof in the heat supply 620.
  • the portion of the air of the drum 200 may be continuously circulated and heated, thereby to dry the laundry of the drum 200.
  • the air introduced into the steam compressor 610 may be heated to a higher temperature as the moisture contained therein increases. Therefore, since the drum 200 is in a low temperature state at beginning of a drying process, moisture contained in the laundry may not evaporate easily. Therefore, driving the steam compressor 610 at the beginning of the drying cycle may decrease efficiency. In some cases, the drying process itself may not be possible because the air that has passed through the steam compressor 610 is not heated.
  • the laundry treating apparatus may further include a heater H inside the circulator 500 that directly heats air flowing through the circulator 500.
  • the heater H may be implemented using any configuration as long as the heater H may receive energy and dissipate heat.
  • An example thereof may be a sheath heater.
  • the heater H may be placed inside the drum 200 or placed in the circulator 500.
  • the heater H may be placed in the circulator 500, and will become high temperature due to the air input to the drum 200. Thus the heater H may dry the laundry faster, such that the humidity of the air discharged to the drum 200 may be increased more quickly.
  • the heater H may be placed on the second duct 540 so that air passing through the circulator 500 may be injected into the drum 200 without heat loss.
  • the branched heating assembly 600 may further include an opening/closing switch 640 that controls opening and closing of the branched pipe 630.
  • the opening/closing switch 640 may be implemented as a valve that controls the opening and closing of the branched pipe 630.
  • the branched heating assembly 600 may include an opening/closing controller 651 that controls the opening/closing switch 640 to control the opening and closing of the branched pipe 630.
  • the opening/closing controller 651 When the opening/closing controller 651 detects that the humidity of the air flowing through the branched pipe 630 or the circulator 500 is higher than a reference value, or receives a signal indicating that the humidity is higher than the reference value, the opening/closing controller 651 may control the opening/closing switch 640 to open the branched pipe 630.
  • a humidity sensor may be placed in the circulator 500, or the opening/closing controller 651 itself may be configured to detect the humidity.
  • the reference value may correspond to a minimum humidity at which the steam compressor 610 may compress air to generate a heating effect.
  • the laundry treating apparatus may circulate the air of the drum 200 to the circulator 500 while activating the blow fan 570 and the heater H initially.
  • the air may be dried at a high temperature, and then humidity thereof may increase as the air comes into contact with the laundry of the drum 200.
  • the opening/closing controller 651 may control the opening/closing switch 640 to open the branched pipe.
  • a portion of air flowing through the circulator 500 flows into the branched pipe 630 and may be completely heated by the steam compressor 610. This allows the heated air to pass through the heat supply 620 and then heat a remaining portion of air flowing through the circulator 500. Air flowing passing through the heat supply 620 and flowing through the circulator 500 flows into the drum 200, thereby allowing the laundry in the drum 200 to be dried faster.
  • the heater H may be activated simultaneously with the steam compressor 610 to further heat the air passing through the second duct 540. Further, when the steam compressor 610 starts to operate, the heater H may be controlled to stop an operation thereof. Further, the steam compressor 610 and the heater H may be controlled to be activated simultaneously only for a certain period of time.
  • the air introduced through the branched pipe 630 may flow along the steam compressor 610 and the heat supply pipe 650 and then flow into the drum 200.
  • the air that has passed through the heat supply 620 may be cooled while exchanging heat with the air that has passed through the circulator 500, and thus may not make great contribution to drying the laundry of the drum 200. Further, the air passing through the heat supply 620 may be cooled while heat exchanging with the air passing through the circulator 500, so that moisture may be partially condensed. Therefore, it may not be appropriate to inject the cooled air back into the drum 200.
  • air that has passed through the heat supply 620 may not flow into the drum 200, but may be in communication with and stored in a condensed water collector 534 or a reservoir 560 disposed separately from the drum 200.
  • air introduced into the branched pipe 630 may be finally discharged to the reservoir 560, and condensed water may be collected into the reservoir 560.
  • the condensed water collector 534 and the reservoir 560 may be integral to each other.
  • the reservoir 560 may be implemented as a casing and may be mounted on the condensed water collector 534.
  • the circulator 500 may further include a filter 513 configured to remove foreign substances such as lint from the air discharged from the drum 200.
  • a filter 513 configured to remove foreign substances such as lint from the air discharged from the drum 200.
  • one embodiment of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may further include an outside air supply assembly 700 to supply outside air outside the cabinet 100 to the drum 200 or the circulator 560, or to allow the outside air to flow into the cabinet 100.
  • an outside air supply assembly 700 to supply outside air outside the cabinet 100 to the drum 200 or the circulator 560, or to allow the outside air to flow into the cabinet 100.
  • the outside air supply assembly 700 may include an outside air supply pipe 710 passing through the cabinet 100 to guide the outside air outside the cabinet to the inside of the cabinet, an outside air discharge pipe 760 to discharge the air introduced into the outside air supply pipe 710 back to the outside out of the cabinet 100, and a communicator 750 capable of introducing the air supplied to the outside air supply pipe 710 to the drum or circulator.
  • the outside air supply pipe 710 may be connected to the circulator 500 via the communicator 750. Further, the outside air supply pipe 710 may be connected to the outside air discharge pipe 760 via the communicator 750.
  • the communicator 750 may be implemented as a combination of a branched pipe and a three-way valve that controls the opening and closing of the branched pipe.
  • a controller of the laundry treating apparatus may control the communicator 750 such that the air outside the cabinet 100 may be introduced into the circulator 500.
  • the air flowing through the circulator 500 may be diluted with the outside air to recover the pressure or lower the temperature or humidity.
  • the outside air supply assembly 700 may further include a supply fan 730 that generates a negative pressure inside the outside air supply pipe 710 so that the outside air may be more effectively introduced into the outside air supply pipe 710.
  • the outside air supply assembly 700 may further include a heat collector 720 that cools the air flowing through the heat supply pipe 650 using air flowing from the outside air supply pipe 700 to condense moisture in the air.
  • the heat collector 720 may be implemented as a heat exchanger and may be configured to pass through both the outside air supply pipe 700 and the heat supply pipe 750. As a result, the air passing through the heat supply pipe 650 may be first cooled with the air passing through the circulator 500 in the heat supply 620. As the air passes through the heat collector 720, the air may be second cooled with air passing through the outside air supply pipe 700. Therefore, even when the air passing through the heat supply pipe 650 is not sufficiently cooled while passing through the circulator 500 or the moisture contained in the air is not sufficiently condensed, the air may be sufficiently cooled as the air passes through the heat collector 720, and the contained moisture therein may be condensed in a considerable amount.
  • the outside air heated while passing through the heat collector 720 may be introduced into the circulator 500 through the communicator 750 as necessary. Accordingly, it is possible to lower the humidity of the air inside the circulator 500 or further heat the air flowing through the circulator 500 to improve the drying performance of the air flowing through the circulator 500.
  • the branched heating assembly 600 may further include pressure reducing means 660 capable of reducing the pressure of air or steam that has passed through the heat collector 720.
  • the pressure reducing means 660 may be implemented using any configuration as long as it is coupled to the heat supply pipe 650 to reduce the pressure of the flowing fluid.
  • the pressure reducing means 660 may be implemented as an expansion valve.
  • the pressure reducing means 660 may reduce the pressure of the air which has been raised by the steam compressor 610 back to the pressure inside the cabinet 100.
  • the pressure inside the reservoir 560 may be maintained in an equilibrium state with the pressure inside the cabinet 100.
  • the reservoir 560 may be formed of a general plastic barrel.
  • the supply pipe 650 and the reservoir 560 may be connected to each other in an unsealed state. That is, the water in the supply pipe 650 may be collected in the reservoir 560, but the air inside the supply pipe 650 may be discharged out of the reservoir 560.
  • the outside air supply assembly 700 due to the outside air supply assembly 700, a large amount of outside air may flow into the drum 200.
  • the drum 200 is not completely sealed and as a result the outside air may enter the cabinet 100. Therefore, the inside of the cabinet 100 may maintain a low temperature and low humidity state due to the outside air supply assembly 700 even when the air inside the supply pipe 650 flows in the cabinet 100 or air of high temperature and high humidity from the drum 200 flows in the cabinet 100.
  • the laundry treating apparatus may further include a pressure maintaining pipe 800 that allows air states inside and outside the cabinet 100 to be equal to each other.
  • the pressure maintaining pipe 800 may be configured to maintain the pressure inside the cabinet 100 even when a portion of the air flowing through the circulator 500 is compressed by the steam compressor 610, and then is discharged into the cabinet 100 or even when the pressure inside the cabinet 100 increases due to the outside air supply assembly 700.
  • the interior of the cabinet 100 may be temporarily under high pressure or high temperature and high humidity. Even in this case, the pressure maintaining pipe 800 allows the air inside the cabinet 100 to be discharged to the outside, thereby preventing the inside condition of the cabinet 100 from being different from the outside condition.
  • the air inside the cabinet 100 may maintain low temperature, low pressure, and low humidity condition. Therefore, even when the pressure maintaining pipe 800 that discharges air inside the cabinet 100 to the outside is installed, changes in humidity or temperature of an indoor environment in which the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure is disposed may be minimized.
  • the controller of the laundry treating apparatus may control the supply fan 730 to discharge air from the outside air supply pipe 710 to the outside air discharge pipe 760.
  • the controller may communicate the outside air supply pipe 710 and the outside air discharge pipe 760 with each other to continuously supply cabinet the outside air to the heat collector 720. This allows the air flowing through the heat supply 650 to be cooled faster.
  • FIG. 3 shows an example of an actual structure of the laundry treating apparatus shown in FIG. 2.
  • the circulator 500 may be implemented in a form of a base disposed under the drum 200.
  • the branched heating assembly 600 and the outside air supply assembly 700 may be installed on the base.
  • the circulator 500 may be configured so that one end thereof communicates with the discharge duct 411 and the other end thereof communicates with the intake duct 412.
  • the circulator 500 includes the first duct 510 configured to communicate with the discharge duct 411, the air flowing channel 520 through which air introduced from the first duct 510 passes and is heated, the second duct 540 into which air passing through the air flowing channel 520 flows and which communicates with the intake duct 412, and a mount 530 separated from the air flowing channel 520 via a partitioning wall 550.
  • Various units such as the driver 300 and a water discharge pump 535 are installed and supported on the mount 530. Due to the partitioning wall 550, the air inside the drum 200 does not flow out to the mount 530, and collision thereof with other units may be prevented. As a result, the air resistance of the circulator 500 may be reduced.
  • a component to be in direct contact with the air discharged from the drum 200 may be installed.
  • a component that does not need to be in direct contact with the drying air may be installed.
  • the air flowing channel 520 may be implemented as a housing in which a channel through which the air discharged from the drum 200 flows is defined and the evaporator 422 and the condenser 423 are installed.
  • the housing may be separated from the mount 530 via the partitioning wall 550.
  • the first duct 510 disposed at one end of the air flowing channel 520 is configured to be combined with the outer circumferential face or the inner circumferential face of the discharge duct 411.
  • the first duct 510 has a through-hole 511 defined therein to allow air discharged from the discharge duct 411 to flow into the air flowing channel 520.
  • the first duct 510 may be configured such that an area thereof becomes larger as it extends from the through-hole 511 to the air flowing channel 520. This configuration is to slow down a speed of air introduced from the discharge duct 411 so that the heat exchange amount of air in the air flowing channel 520 increases.
  • a plurality of collecting ribs 521 may be disposed at the other end of the air flowing channel 520 to collect air passing through the air flowing channel 520 and move the air to the second duct 540.
  • the collecting ribs 521 may completely guide hot dry air or hot air from the condenser 423 to the intake duct 412 while lowering the flow resistance thereof.
  • the mount 530 includes a blow fan mount 531 on which the blow fan 570 is installed or supported or is configured to accommodate a portion of the blow fan, a driver mount 532 on which the driver 300 is supported, a compressor mount 533 on which the steam compressor is mounter, and the condensed water collector 534 into which condensed water from the heat supply 620 and the heat collector 720 may be collected.
  • a water discharge pump 430 may be coupled to a top face of the condensed water collector 534, and the aforementioned collecting container may be installed thereon. Since the blow fan 570 must provide power to flow the air to the air flowing channel 520, the blow fan mount 531 may be configured to communicate with each of the intake duct 412 and the air flowing channel 520.
  • the blow fan mount 531 may be configured such that an opening is defined in one face and faces distal ends of the plurality of collecting ribs 521, and an opening is defined in the other face facing the intake duct 412 such that the hot air may be supplied therethrough to the intake duct 412.
  • a shaft support 531A for supporting a driving rotation shaft may be disposed at a position where the blow fan mount 531 and the driver mount 532 meet each other.
  • a pulley support 532A supporting the other end of the driving rotation shaft may be disposed at a position where the driver mount 532 and the compressor mount 533 meet each other.
  • the heat supply 620 and the heat collector 700 may be embodied as a combination of a plurality of heat exchange plates made of metal and a refrigerant pipe through which refrigerant flows.
  • the heat exchange plate may extend in a parallel manner with a direction in which air flows.
  • the air flowing channel 520 may have a separation wall parallel to a ground to separate the heat supply 620 and the heat collector 700 from each other. Thus, the air discharged to the drum 200 may contact the heat supply 620 but may be prevented from contacting the heat collector 700.
  • a portion of the hot and humid air discharged from the drum 200 may be cooled while passing through the heat supply 620 and the heat collector 720.
  • the moisture contained in the air may be condensed and then travel along the heat supply pipe 650 and then collected in the condensed water collector 534.
  • a water discharge pump 535 for discharging the water collected in the condensed water collector 534 may be installed in the circulator 500.
  • the reservoir 560 for collecting the water separately may be installed (see FIG. 2).
  • the branched pipe 630 may be configured to communicate with the air flowing channel 520 at a location upstream of the heat supply 620.
  • the humid air discharged from the drum 200 may be guided to the steam compressor 610 before heating.
  • the air guided to the steam compressor 610 may be heated to high temperature while being compressed, and then may be discharged to the heat supply pipe 650.
  • the air may pass through the heat supply 620, and then may be fed into the heat collector 700 and may move toward the condensed water collector 534. Air that has not flowed into the branched pipe 620 may be heated by the heat supply 620 and then may flow into the drum 200 through the second duct 540 (II direction).
  • the outside air introduced from the outside air supply pipe 710 may cool the heat supply pipe 650 passing through the heat collector 720 and then move to the communicator 750.
  • the outside air supply assembly 700 may further include an outside air intake pipe 770 connecting the communicator 750 and the circulator 500 to each other. Depending on whether the communicator 750 is opened or closed, the outside air may be discharged to the outside of the cabinet 100, and may flow through the air flowing channel 520 along the outside air intake pipe 770 and flow into the drum 200. In this way, it is possible to compensate for lost air which has flowed into the steam compressor 610.
  • the blow fan 570 may be installed on a portion of the circulator 500 in communication with the air flowing channel 520 and may be configured to circulate the air of the drum 200.
  • the blow fan 570 may be coupled to the driver 300 and may receive power therefrom. Thus, when the driving motor 310 operates, the drum 200 rotates, and at the same time, the blow fan 570 may be configured to circulate the air of the drum 200.
  • the blow fan 570 may allow the air inside the drum 200 to pass through the discharge duct 411 in an I direction, and then to pass through the circulator 500 and the hot air supply 400 and then flow into the intake duct 412 in the II direction.
  • the heater H is installed upstream or downstream of the blow fan 570 to heat the air passing through the second duct 540.
  • the laundry treating apparatus may have a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor that senses or detects the temperature or humidity of air that has passed through the drum 200.
  • the intake duct 412 may be equipped with a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor. Based on the humidity sensor or the temperature sensor, the controller of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may control the opening/closing switch 640 and the steam compressor 610, the outside air supply assembly 700 or the heater H at an appropriate time point.
  • the laundry treating apparatus compresses and heats air or moisture discharged from the drum, separate refrigerant is not required.
  • the apparatus may compress a portion of air or moisture discharged from the drum and heat air or moisture flowing into the drum, and thus heat the air to be introduced into the drum 200 using the compressed and heated air or moisture.
  • the laundry treating apparatus may not use the separate refrigerant other than air circulating the drum 200 or air inside and air outside the cabinet 100 when drying the laundry of the drum 200.
  • the apparatus according to the present disclosure may be free of a component for circulating the refrigerant or storing the refrigerant supplied separately from air or moisture. Since there is no need of a separate refrigerant circuit component to circulate the refrigerant, a manufacturing cost of the apparatus is reduced and a structure thereof is simplified to maximize convenience of installation and repair. Further, there is no need to worry about loss of refrigerant, so that safety may be secured.
  • the apparatus may make the most of the energy applied to the heater H or the heat supply 620.
  • the apparatus according to the present disclosure does not include an evaporator, thereby to reduce the number of times the air injected into the drum collides with the heat exchanger and a colliding strength thereto. Therefore, a load of the blow fan 570 may be reduced.
  • FIG. 4 shows a steam compressor of one embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the steam compressor 610 may be applied to a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the steam compressor 610 may be configured to compress and heat air, water or moisture other than refrigerant.
  • the steam compressor 610 according to the present disclosure includes a casing 6100 forming an exterior appearance, a driver 6200 coupled to the casing 6100 to rotate a rotatable shaft 6300, and a compressing assembly 5400 coupled to the rotatable shaft 6300 and configured to compress moisture or air.
  • the casing 6100 may include a receiving body 6120 providing a space for accommodating at least one of the driver 6200 or the compressing assembly 6400, and a receiving cover 6110 coupled to one end of the receiving body 6120 to shield the space.
  • the casing 6100 may be configured to accommodate both of the driver 6200 and the compressing assembly 6400, or may be configured to accommodate only the driver 6200.
  • the driver 6200 may include a stator 6210 coupled to the receiving body 6120 to generate a rotating magnetic field, and a rotor 6220 configured to rotate under the rotating magnetic field to rotate the rotatable shaft 6300.
  • the compressing assembly 6400 may include a main frame 6410 coupled to the receiving body 6120 to allow the rotatable shaft 6300 to pass therethrough, a fixed scroll 6420 coupled to the main frame 6410 to provide a compression space in which air or moisture is compressed, and an orbiting scroll 6430 that is accommodated in the main frame 6410 and the fixed scroll 6420 and coupled to the rotatable shaft 6300 to compress at least one of the air or moisture.
  • the main frame 6410 may be accommodated in and coupled to the casing 6100, or may be coupled to a free end of the receiving body 6120 and exposed to the outside.
  • the compressing assembly 6400 pressurizes air or steam (moisture) other than the refrigerant, it may not be necessary to pressurize the air or steam to the same high pressure as that when compressing the refrigerant. Therefore, the compressing assembly 6400 may be exposed to the outside without being accommodated in the casing 6100.
  • the compressing assembly 6400 when the compressing assembly 6400 is accommodated in the casing 6100, the compressed moisture must pass through the casing 6100 and be discharged to the outside. In this connection, the moisture may be partially condensed while contacting the casing 6100 and remain in the casing 6100, or may cause the driver 6200 to be short-circuited. Therefore, the compressing assembly 6400 may be preferably exposed to the outside without being accommodated in the casing 6100. A channel passing through the compressing assembly 6400 and a space accommodated in the casing 6100 may be completely separated from each other.
  • the compressing assembly 6400 may be disposed outside the casing 6100 and thus may be separated from a space where the driver is accommodated. Accordingly, an overall volume of the casing 6100 may be reduced, and a space occupied by the steam compressor 610 may be minimized.
  • the compressing assembly 6400 may be configured to further expand a volume thereof regardless of a diameter of the casing 6100 and thus to compress a larger amount of moisture or air.
  • the casing 100 may further include a fastener 6130 that couples the main frame 6410 and the receiving body 6120 to each other.
  • the fastener 6130 may be implemented as a bolt.
  • the main frame 6410 may include a main end plate 6411 coupled to the receiving body 6120, a main side plate 6412 extending from the main end plate 6411 to accommodate the orbiting scroll 6430, and a main shaft-receiving portion 6413 that passes through the main end plate 6411 and rotatably accommodates the rotatable shaft 6300.
  • a main bearing 6470 that rotatably supports the rotatable shaft 6300 may be installed on an inner circumferential face of the main shaft-receiving portion 6413.
  • the main end plate 6411 may have a diameter larger than a diameter of the receiving body 6120, and may have a threaded groove 6411a defined therein that engages with the fastener 6130.
  • the fixed scroll 6420 may include a fixed end plate 6421 to form a compression space in which the air or moisture is compressed, and a fixed side plate 6422 that extends from the fixed end plate 6421 to accommodate the orbiting scroll 6420 and which is coupled to the main side plate 6412.
  • the fixed side plate 6422 may further include a fixed coupled portion 6422a that may further expand an area thereof contacting the main side plate 6412.
  • a diameter of the fixed coupled portion 6422a may be larger than a diameter of the fixed side plate 6422.
  • the fixed coupled portion 6422a and the main side plate 6412 may be coupled to each other via welding or the like.
  • the fixed end plate 6421 may further include a fixed wrap 6423 that protrudes toward the main frame to receive the air or moisture and compress the air or moisture.
  • the fixed wrap 6423 may extend in a spiral shape along the circumferential direction of the fixed end plate 6421.
  • the fixed end plate 6421 may have a discharge hole 6424 defined therein to extend through an inner end or a central portion of the fixed wrap 6423 to discharge the compressed moisture or air.
  • An inlet hole 6425 may be defined in an outer circumferential face of the fixed side plate 6422 so that the moisture or air may be introduced along the fixed wrap 6423.
  • the orbiting scroll 6430 may include an orbiting end plate 6431 coupled to the rotatable shaft 6300 to perform an orbiting motion, an orbiting shaft-receiving portion 6432 disposed on the orbiting end plate 6431 and coupled to the rotatable shaft 6300, and an orbiting wrap 6433 extending from the orbiting end plate 6431 and configured to engage with the fixed wrap 6423 and to compress the moisture or air.
  • the rotatable shaft 6300 may include a shaft body 6310 that is coupled to the rotor 6220 and rotates together therewith, and an eccentric portion 6320 that extends from the shaft body and is accommodated in the orbiting shaft-receiving portion 6432.
  • the eccentric portion 6320 may extend laterally and may be thicker than the shaft body 6310, or may be constructed to be eccentric. Thus, the eccentric portion 6320 may be configured to rotate based on a larger radius of rotation than that of the shaft body 6310.
  • the orbiting scroll 6430 may further include an eccentricity compensating portion 6460 configured to compensate for an eccentricity of the eccentric portion 6320.
  • the eccentricity compensating portion 6460 may support the eccentric portion 6320 to rotate separately from the orbiting shaft-receiving portion 6432 while coupling the eccentric portion 6320 and the orbiting shaft-receiving portion 6432 to each other.
  • the eccentric portion 6320 may press the orbiting scroll 6430 in a radial direction of the orbiting scroll 6430.
  • the force applied by the eccentric portion 6320 may allow the orbiting wrap 6433 to engage with the fixed wrap 6423 to compress the moisture or air.
  • the steam compressor 610 may further include a balancer 6500 capable of compensating for the eccentricity of the eccentric portion 6320 and preventing the vibration.
  • the balancer 6500 may include a main balancer 6520 coupled to the shaft body 6310 or the rotor 6220 in a direction opposite to a direction in which the eccentric portion 6320 is eccentric relative to the shaft body 6310 of the rotatable shaft 6300.
  • the balancer 6500 may further include an auxiliary balancer that may prevent vibration or eccentricity that may occur due to the main balancer 6520.
  • the auxiliary balancer may include at least one of a first auxiliary balancer 6510 coupled to the rotor 6220 and spaced apart from the main balancer 6520 and a second auxiliary balancer 6530 coupled to the eccentric portion 6320 and opposite to the first auxiliary balancer 6510.
  • the first auxiliary balancer 6510 may be eccentric in a direction opposite to a direction in which the main balancer 6520 is eccentric.
  • the second auxiliary balancer 6530 may be eccentric in a direction opposite to a direction in which the eccentric portion 6320 is eccentric.
  • a volume or weight of the first auxiliary balancer 6510 may be smaller than that of the main balancer 6520.
  • the main balancer 6520 may be disposed between the main frame 6430 and the driver 6200.
  • the first auxiliary balancer 6510 may be disposed between the driver 200 and the casing 100.
  • the second auxiliary balancer 6530 may be disposed on the outer circumferential face of the orbiting shaft-receiving portion 6432.
  • the compressing assembly 6400 may further include an Oldham's ring 6440 which prevents the orbiting scroll 6430 from spinning even when the rotatable shaft 6300 rotates.
  • the Oldham's ring 6440 may be configured to prevent the orbiting scroll 6430 from spinning together with the rotatable shaft 6300 even when the orbiting scroll 6430 is pressed by the rotatable shaft 6300.
  • the Oldham's ring 6440 may be coupled to each of the orbiting scroll 6430 and the main frame 6410 and may linearly reciprocate between the orbiting scroll 6430 and the main frame 6410.
  • the orbiting scroll 6430 spins due to the eccentric portion 6530, such that the orbiting wrap 6433 and the fixed wrap 6423 are sequentially engaged with each other.
  • Two or more compression spaces may be defined inside and outside the orbiting wrap 6433 and the fixed wrap 6423. Air or moisture from the inlet hole 6425 may flow into the spaces via the pressure change (A direction).
  • air or moisture introduced into the inlet hole may be compressed along the inner and outer surfaces of the fixed wrap 6423 and discharged to the discharge hole 6424 (B direction).
  • the compressing assembly 6400 may be implemented using any configuration other than a scroll type compressor as long as the compressing assembly may compress the steam or air.
  • FIG. 5 shows a state of the compressing assembly 6400.
  • the orbiting wrap 6433 (a black line) of the orbiting scroll 6430 may alternately contact the inner face and the outer face of the fixed wrap 6423 according to the rotation of the rotatable shaft 6300.
  • the moisture or air is divided and then flows onto the inner and outer faces of the orbiting wrap 6433 and moves toward the discharge hole 6424.
  • the moisture or air may be compressed and heated to high temperature and high pressure.
  • the air or moisture that has moved to a innermost part of the fixed wrap 6423 may be discharged to the discharge hole 6424.
  • moisture or air introduced at low temperature and low pressure state may be compressed and discharged at high temperature and high pressure state.
  • the fixed scroll 6420 and the orbiting scroll 6430 are made of metal such as steel. Tus, the heat transfer rate thereof is high. Therefore, when moisture or air comes into contact with the fixed scroll 6420 or the orbiting scroll 6430, the moisture or air may be cooled.
  • Air or moisture introduced into the inlet hole 6425 may be more greatly cooled before the steam compressor 610 is activated or has just started an operation.
  • the inlet hole 6425 may be colder than the discharge hole 6424, so that the introduced air or moisture may be more greatly cooled.
  • the air or moisture may be condensed and converted into liquid water (w), and the water (w) may not be compressed by the fixed wrap 6423 and the orbiting wrap 6433.
  • the water (w) may block channels of the fixed wrap 6423 and the orbiting wrap 6433, causing the steam compressor 610 to be inoperable.
  • the water (w) will most greatly condense in the inlet hole 6425, so that the air or moisture may be prevented from entering the compressor 610. Therefore, there is a concern that the steam compressor 610 may not work in an intended manner.
  • the steam compressor 610 may further include a collector 6426 disposed in the compressing assembly 6400 to collect condensed water from the air or moisture.
  • the collector 6426 may be formed by recessing a portion of an inner face of the compressing assembly 6400 and may be formed to collect condensed water therein. That is, the collector 6426 may be configured not to prevent condensation of air or moisture introduced into the inlet hole 6425, but may be configured to collect the condensed water separately to prevent the condensed water from blocking the channel.
  • the collector 6426 may be formed by recessing a portion of the fixed scroll 6420.
  • the collector 6426 may be formed by recessing a portion of the fixed end plate between the fixed wrap 6423 and the fixed end plate or by recessing a portion of the fixed end plate facing the inlet hole 6425.
  • the collector 6426 may be formed by recessing a portion of the fixed side plate 6422.
  • the collector 6426 may be formed by recessing a portion of the compressing assembly 6400 extending in the direction of gravity. As a result, when the air or moisture introduced from the inlet hole 6425 is condensed into water, the water may be naturally collected in the collector 6426. Accordingly, the inlet hole 6425 and the channel may be prevented from being shielded by the condensed water.
  • the collector 6426 may be disposed adjacent to the inlet hole 6425.
  • FIG. 6 shows an example of the collector 6426.
  • the collector 6426 may be formed by recessing a portion of the fixed scroll 6420.
  • the collector 6426 may be formed by recessing a portion of the fixed side plate 6422.
  • the collector 6426 may not interfere with the movement of the air or moisture along the fixed wrap 6423 at all.
  • the collector 6426 may include an extended collecting groove 6426a formed by recessing a portion of the fixed side plate 6422 around the inlet hole 6425 in a direction opposite to an extending direction of the fixed wrap 6423. Therefore, the water w condensed in the inlet hole 6425 may move along the fixed side plate 6422 or the fixed wrap 6423 and then may be collected into the extended collecting groove 6426a.
  • the fixed wrap 6423 forms a channel together with the orbiting wrap 6433 through which the air or moisture moves and which extends from a portion facing the inlet hole 6425 to the discharge hole. Therefore, it may be seen that the extended collecting groove 6426a extends from the inlet hole 6425 in a direction opposite to a direction which the channel extends.
  • the rotatable shaft 6300 may extend in a parallel manner with or in a inclined manner with the ground.
  • the extended collecting groove 6426a may extend from the fixed end plate 6421 toward the ground.
  • the foreign substances such as lint discharged from the laundry may be injected into the branched heating assembly 600.
  • Foreign substances such as the lint may close the channel of the branched heating assembly 600 or interfere with the operation of the steam compressor 610, and may negatively affect reliability of the steam compressor 610, for example, may cause compression loss thereof.
  • the laundry treating apparatus may further include a lint removal system (cleaner) capable of removing lint from the branched heating assembly 600 periodically or after completion of the drying cycle.
  • the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may further include a cleaner 900 that may clean the inside of the branched heating assembly 600 by supplying water collected in the reservoir 560 to the branched heating assembly 600.
  • the branched heating assembly 600 may inhale a portion of the air of the drum 200, and compress and heat the air and thus heat air to be fed into the drum 200 using the compressed and heated air. In this process, foreign substances such as lint from the drum may accumulate in the branched heating assembly 600. Air or moisture that has passed through the branched heating assembly 600 may be condensed using the heat collector 720 and may be introduced into the reservoir 560.
  • Air may be discharged from the reservoir 560 into the cabinet or may remain in the reservoir 560. However, the water may be collected in the reservoir 560.
  • the cleaner 900 may open a water supply pipe 910 connecting the reservoir 560 and the steam compressor 610 to each other and supply water from the reservoir 560 to the branched heating assembly 600.
  • the cleaner 900 may supply water only to the steam compressor 610.
  • the controller or the like When, during this process, the controller or the like detects that an amount of water collected in the reservoir 560 is insufficient, the controller may output a signal on the display that the cleaner 900 is not yet operational.
  • the reservoir 560 may be configured to be extendable from the cabinet or to be exposed to the outside of the cabinet so that separate water may fill the reservoir 560.
  • the water washing the steam compressor 610 may be filtered through a filter and then the filtered water may be introduced back into the reservoir 560, or may be discharged to a wastewater collecting container 930 disposed separately from the reservoir 560 through a lint discharge pipe 920.
  • the cleaner 900 may include a cleaning valve 960 configured to close either the water supply pipe 910 or the lint discharge pipe 920 to control the supply of water from the reservoir 560 to the steam compressor 610.
  • the cleaner 900 may have a separate supply pump 940 to more effectively supply the water from the reservoir 560 to the steam compressor 610.
  • the steam compressor 610 is configured to compress the air or moisture discharged from the drum 200, the compression performance thereof may be prevented from being deteriorated due to the foreign substances or lint.
  • FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a laundry treating apparatus to which the cleaner is applied.
  • following descriptions focus on differences thereof from the structure of the laundry treating apparatus in FIG. 2.
  • the cleaner 900 of the laundry treating apparatus may be configured to supply the condensed water from the reservoir 560 to the steam compressor 610 to remove the lint inside the steam compressor 610.
  • the cleaner 900 may include the water supply pipe connecting the reservoir 560 to the steam compressor 610.
  • the water supply pipe may be configured to share the heat supply pipe 650. That is, the water supply pipe may be integral with the heat supply pipe 650.
  • the water supply pipe and the heat supply pipe 650 may be identified based on a function thereof.
  • the pipe when air or moisture moves from the steam compressor 610 to the reservoir 560, the pipe may be referred to as the heat supply pipe 650.
  • the pipe When water flows from the reservoir 560 to the steam compressor 610, the pipe may be referred to as the water supply pipe.
  • the water from the reservoir 560 flows into the steam compressor 610 through the heat supply pipe 650 to sweep away the lint inside the steam compressor 610.
  • the water when the water flows into the discharge hole 6424 of the steam compressor 610, the water may move in a direction opposite to a direction in which the air or moisture is compressed. Thus, water and lint may be discharged to at least one of the discharge hole 6425 or the water discharger 6427. The water and lint may flow backwards through the branched pipe 630 to clean an entirety of the branched heating assembly 600.
  • the cleaner 900 may further include a collecting pipe 970 connecting the reservoir 560 to the opening/closing switch 640.
  • the opening/closing switch 640 may be controlled to close the collecting pipe 970 and communicate the branched pipe 630 with the air channel 520 during the drying cycle. Further, when the drying cycle has ended or the cleaning cycle for cleaning the branched heating assembly 600 is performed, the opening/closing switch 640 may be controlled to communicate the branched pipe 630 with the collecting pipe 970, and not to communicate the branched pipe 630 with the air channel 520.
  • the opening/closing switch 640 may be implemented as a 3-way valve or a 4-way valve.
  • the collecting pipe 970 may be configured such that a distal end thereof communicates with the reservoir 560. Therefore, the water washing the branched heating assembly 600 may be collected back into the reservoir 560.
  • the cleaner 900 may further include a filter 960 disposed between the collecting pipe 970 and the reservoir 560 to remove foreign substances such as lint from the water flowing through the collecting pipe 970.
  • the filter 960 may prevent foreign substances from being re-introduced to the branched heating assembly 600.
  • the filter 960 may be detachable from or attachable to the collecting pipe 970 and may be replaced.
  • the branched heating assembly 600 may be free of pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure of the heat supply pipe 650. That is, the heat supply pipe 650 may deliver air or moisture to the reservoir 560 at an increased pressure state thereof which is achieved by the steam compressor 610. Further, the heat supply pipe 650 may be connected to the reservoir 560. The reservoir 560 may be configured to be sealed except for a portion thereof in communication with the heat supply pipe 650. Accordingly, the pressure inside the reservoir 560 may be maintained at an equilibrium state with the pressure of the heat supply pipe 650.
  • the water from the reservoir may flow into the branched heating assembly 600 such that the inside of the branched heating assembly 600 may be cleaned.
  • the reservoir 560 may not be completely sealed and may be configured to discharge the air inside the reservoir 560 to the outside of the reservoir 560.
  • the steam compressor 610 may be controlled to operate in a reverse manner to generate a negative pressure.
  • the rotatable shaft 6300 may rotate in an opposite direction.
  • the water from the reservoir 560 flows into the steam compressor 610 to clean the branched heating assembly 600.
  • the steam compressor 610 may serve as a pump that discharges water from the reservoir 560.
  • the cleaner 900 may further include a separate pump for discharging the water from the reservoir 560 to the steam compressor 610, as shown in the drawing.
  • the cleaner 900 may be configured to remove foreign substances such as lint from the branched heating assembly 600 by flowing the water backwards to the steam compressor 610 when the drying cycle is finished or the operation of the steam compressor 610 is terminated.
  • the process may be performed automatically when the drying cycle is finished or when the operation of the steam compressor 610 is terminated.
  • FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the cleaner 900 according to the present disclosure.
  • the cleaner 900 may be implemented top have the water supply pipe 910 and the heat supply pipe 650 which are separately implemented. That is, the water supply pipe 910 may be separate from the heat supply pipe 650.
  • the water supply pipe 910 may extend from the reservoir 560 to the steam compressor 610 and may be spaced from the heat supply pipe 650. One end of the water supply pipe 910 may be connected to the reservoir 560, while the other end of the water supply pipe 910 may be connected to the discharge hole 6424 of the steam compressor 610.
  • the cleaner 900 may further include a cleaning valve 980 configured to open and close the water supply pipe 910.
  • the cleaning valve 980 may be controlled by the controller so that the valve 980 opens the pipe 910 only when the branched heating assembly 600 needs to be cleaned.
  • the cleaning valve 980 may be configured to open the pipe 910. As a result, a sufficient amount of water may flow into the branched heating assembly 600 to improve the performance of cleaning the branched heating assembly 600.
  • the cleaning valve 980 may be controlled to be open the water supply pipe 910 at a specific time. Accordingly, even during the cleaning cycle, the water may be introduced into the steam compressor 610 at a time when the cleaning efficiency is highest.
  • the cleaner 900 may store the water in the reservoir 560 even when the pressure in the reservoir 560 is relatively higher, or even when the reservoir 560 is installed at a higher position than a vertical level of the steam compressor 610.
  • the cleaner 900 may further include a lint discharge pipe 920 that guides the water supplied to the steam compressor 610 back to the reservoir 560.
  • the lint discharge pipe 920 may be disposed independently of the branched pipe 630.
  • the cleaner 900 prevents backflow of unnecessary water or lint to the branched heating assembly 600.
  • the opening/closing switch 640 closes the branched pipe 630 to allow the water to be discharged to the lint discharge pipe 920.
  • a filter 960 by which lint discharged from the steam compressor 610 may be filtered may be disposed between the lint discharge pipe 920 and the reservoir 560.
  • the filter 960 may be detachable from or attachable to the lint discharge pipe 920.
  • the filter 960 may be detachable or attachable to the heat supply pipe 650 and may be configured to remove the lint from air or moisture passing through the heat supply pipe.
  • the laundry treating apparatus controls the cleaning valve 980 and the opening/closing switch 640 to activate the branched heating assembly 600 or to remove foreign substances such as the lint located inside the branched heating assembly 600.
  • the reservoir 560 may be disposed above the steam compressor 610.
  • the cleaning valve 980 opens the water supply pipe 910, the water from the reservoir 560 may automatically flow into the steam compressor 610.
  • pressure reducing means may be disposed in the heat supply pipe 650.
  • the pressure reducing means on the heat supply pipe 650 may be omitted.
  • the pressure inside the reservoir 560 may be maintained at a high pressure as achieved by the steam compressor 610 and thus may be used as a power to discharge water from the reservoir 560. Therefore, a separate pump for discharging the water from the reservoir 560 may be omitted.
  • the steam compressor 610 may be configured to operate to create a negative pressure to discharge the water from the reservoir 560.
  • a separate pump may be additionally installed in the water supply pipe 910. The pump may be controlled to operate when the branched heating assembly 600 is cleaned.
  • FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the cleaner 900 according to the present disclosure.
  • the cleaner 900 may further include a wastewater collecting container 930 that is disposed separately from the reservoir 560 to collect therein the water and lint discharged from the lint discharge pipe.
  • the reservoir 560 may be configured to collect only water from the moisture or air that has passed through the branched heating assembly 600.
  • the wastewater collecting container 930 may be configured to collect only water that has washed the branched heating assembly 600. Thus, it is possible to preventing reuse of the water cleaning the branched heating assembly 600 to prevent contamination of the reservoir 560.
  • contaminated water may be prevented from being re-introduced into the branched heating assembly 600.
  • components such as filters, etc. may be removed to simply design a structure of the cabinet 100.
  • the reservoir 560 may be positioned above the steam compressor 610.
  • the steam compressor 610 may generate a negative pressure, or a pump may be used, so that water from the reservoir 560 may flow into the steam compressor 610.
  • the high pressure realized by the steam compressor 610 may act on the reservoir 560 at the high pressure state.
  • the pressure of the steam compressor 610 is released, the water in the reservoir 560 may flow backward and thus flow into the steam compressor 610.
  • the cleaner 900 may include a cleaning valve 980 disposed at one of the water supply pipe 910 and the lint discharge pipe 920 to determine whether to supply water discharged from the reservoir 560 thereto.
  • the cleaning valve 980 may be controlled to close the water supply pipe 910 or the lint discharge pipe 920.
  • the cleaning valve 980 may be controlled to open the water supply pipe 910 or the lint discharge pipe 920.
  • the cleaner 900 may further include a water level sensor that detects the water level of the reservoir 560 or the wastewater collecting container 930. Accordingly, when the water level of the reservoir 560 is higher than or equal to a certain water level, the cleaning valve 980 may open the water supply pipe 910 or the lint discharge pipe 920. Furthermore, when the water level of the wastewater collecting container 930 is equal to or higher than the reference water level, a control panel 100 may notify the user to empty the wastewater collecting container 930.
  • the wastewater collecting container 930 may be configured to be able to extend from the cabinet 100 to the outside.
  • FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the cleaner according to the present disclosure.
  • the cleaner 900 may further include a supply pump 940 that is coupled to the water supply pipe 910 to guide the water from the reservoir 560 to the steam compressor.
  • the supply pump 940 may be configured to apply power by which water collected in the reservoir 560 may flow into the steam compressor 610.
  • the supply pump 940 may be controlled to compensate for the pressure difference between the reservoir 560 and the steam compressor 610, or to supply the water at a pressure greater than the pressure realized by the steam compressor 610.
  • the cleaner 900 may apply higher water pressure to the steam compressor 610 using the supply pump 940 to effectively clean foreign substances such as lint as attached to the branched heating assembly 600.
  • the supply pump 940 may be disposed below the steam compressor 610.
  • the supply pump 940 may be disposed below the steam compressor 610 so that water may flow into the steam compressor 610 only when the cleaner 900 is activated.
  • the cleaning valve 960 that opens and closes the channel of the cleaner 900 may be omitted, so that- the structure of the cleaner 900 may be simplified.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un appareil de traitement de linge comprenant un dispositif de nettoyage permettant de fournir de l'eau collectée dans un réservoir à un compresseur de vapeur pour éliminer les peluches à l'intérieur du compresseur de vapeur permettant de comprimer de la vapeur.
PCT/KR2020/017813 2020-01-16 2020-12-08 Compresseur et appareil de traitement de linge ayant le compresseur WO2021145560A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR10-2020-0006013 2020-01-16
KR1020200006013A KR102304188B1 (ko) 2020-01-16 2020-01-16 의류처리장치

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2021145560A1 true WO2021145560A1 (fr) 2021-07-22

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KR (1) KR102304188B1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2021145560A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH09192394A (ja) * 1996-01-17 1997-07-29 Sharp Corp ドラム式衣類乾燥機
KR100997696B1 (ko) * 2009-12-22 2010-12-01 조덕규 열회수 장치를 이용한 에너지 절감형 산업용 건조기 및 건조 방법
KR20110125570A (ko) * 2010-05-13 2011-11-21 삼성전자주식회사 의류 건조기
KR20120005266A (ko) * 2010-07-08 2012-01-16 엘지전자 주식회사 건조기
KR20150124353A (ko) * 2014-04-28 2015-11-05 엘지전자 주식회사 의류건조기

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE521337C2 (sv) * 1999-08-09 2003-10-21 Electrolux Ab Textiltvättmaskin med ångtorkning
US10151060B2 (en) 2015-11-24 2018-12-11 Water-Gen Ltd Steam compression dryer

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH09192394A (ja) * 1996-01-17 1997-07-29 Sharp Corp ドラム式衣類乾燥機
KR100997696B1 (ko) * 2009-12-22 2010-12-01 조덕규 열회수 장치를 이용한 에너지 절감형 산업용 건조기 및 건조 방법
KR20110125570A (ko) * 2010-05-13 2011-11-21 삼성전자주식회사 의류 건조기
KR20120005266A (ko) * 2010-07-08 2012-01-16 엘지전자 주식회사 건조기
KR20150124353A (ko) * 2014-04-28 2015-11-05 엘지전자 주식회사 의류건조기

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KR102304188B1 (ko) 2021-09-23
KR20210092517A (ko) 2021-07-26

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