WO2023277509A1

WO2023277509A1 - Interface and laundry treating apparatus having the same

Info

Publication number: WO2023277509A1
Application number: PCT/KR2022/009199
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyunseung LEE; Yulgi JIN; Joongil Shin; Hansol KIM
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2021-06-28
Filing date: 2022-06-28
Publication date: 2023-01-05
Also published as: KR20230001285A; CN117716083A; US20240295063A1; AU2022302745A1; EP4363650A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus in which both a display portion for displaying a screen and input means for receiving a command for determining content displayed on the screen are arranged inside manipulation portion for selecting a control command while rotating in a cabinet.

Description

INTERFACE AND LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME

This application relates to an interface and a laundry treating apparatus having an interface.

An input/output device (an interface) for a user to input a control command to an electronic device is essential in the electronic device including a laundry treating apparatus capable of washing, drying, and washing and drying laundry (a common name of an object to be washed or an object to be dried).

The conventional interfaces were designed such that a display portion that displays a user-selectable control command, a knob that allows the control command displayed on the display portion to be searched for, a selection portion that enables a user to select the control command displayed on the display portion, and input means that requests execution of the control command selected by the user are located in spaces separated from each other (Publication No. 10-2014-0023986). Such an arrangement was a factor determining the design of the interface (design of a control panel) located on a front face or the like of an electronic device such as a laundry treating apparatus.

In the conventional interface of the above structure, because devices including a display had to be dispersedly arranged along a width direction of the electronic device or distributed along a height direction of the electronic device, a lot of space was required for installation of the interface.

In order to solve the above problem, a laundry treating apparatus that arranges both the display portion and the input means inside a rotating knob button has emerged. As a result, as both the display portion and the input means are arranged in a space occupied by the knob, the interface installation space was able to be significantly reduced.

In such laundry treating apparatus, the input means was able to be formed independently of the display portion inside the knob, and may be formed as a touch panel for receiving the command from the user or a button capable of displaying information. As a result, the user was able to intuitively identify which control command the input to the input means corresponds to by identifying the information displayed by the input means.

However, such laundry treating apparatus had a problem in that, although the display portion is disposed, because the input means is configured to display information different from that of the display portion, screen control is complicated.

In addition, in the laundry treating apparatus, the input means has to be formed as a touch panel or as a physical button having a separate display in order to receive the command while displaying the screen, so that a configuration of the input means itself became very complicated.

There was also a problem that the input means with the complex configuration is very vulnerable to vibration or impact generated in the laundry treating apparatus.

Because an internal space of the knob is limited, when the input means is disposed, the display portion is not able to secure a sufficient area, so that there was a problem that a displayed content is limited or the input means itself is not able to be disposed.

In addition, in the conventional laundry treating apparatus, functions of the input means and the display portion inside the knob are partially duplicated, so that there is a question whether there is any practical benefit to form the input means and the display portion as the separate components.

In addition, in the conventional laundry treating apparatus, when the input means and the display portion are formed as one component, the entire component has to be unnecessarily manufactured as the touch panel.

In addition, when the user repeatedly touches and presses the display portion and the input means, the conventional laundry treating apparatus had a problem that may be damaged or may be depressed in the knob.

The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of arranging both a display portion for displaying thereon a control command and input means for receiving a command to select or identify the control command inside a rotating knob.

The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of displaying a control command and receiving a user's input even without a touch panel inside a knob.

The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which the display portion and the input means inside the knob may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other without sharing a function.

The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which an area for displaying information inside a knob and an area for receiving a command may be completely distinguished from each other.

The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which input means may be disposed inside a knob without interfering with a display portion.

The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus having input means that may maintain performance even in vibration or impact inside a knob.

To solve the above-described problems, the present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus in which both a display portion for displaying a screen and input means for receiving a command for determining content displayed on the screen are arranged inside manipulation portion for selecting a control command while rotating in a cabinet.

The display portion may be formed as a simple screen that does not receive a command, and the input means may be formed as input means for sensing an input via a user's body contact.

The display portion may be configured to display which control command the input of the command to the input means corresponds to, so that the input means may omit a component for displaying content.

The input means may include a receiver facing a user's body, and a transmitter capable of transmitting a signal to a controller while compensating or attenuating an external force applied to the receiver.

The receiver may cover an outer area of the display portion, and an area of the transmitter may be smaller than that of the receiver to reduce interference with the display portion.

The present disclosure further includes a selection portion for receiving a user's selection or confirmation for a control command displayed on the display portion, and inducing means for emitting light that induces the input of the command to the selection portion or guides a position of the selection portion.

The selection portion may be spaced apart from the inducing means to prevent interference of light emitted from the inducing means, and may receive the determination command even when the user's body touches the inducing means.

The display portion may include a mounting body fixed to the cabinet inside the manipulation portion and seating the display thereon, and a circuit board supported by the mounting body to receive the determination command from the selection portion.

The mounting body may include a seating groove where the display is seated, an inducing hole spaced apart from the seating groove, wherein the inducing means is installed at the inducing hole, and a sensor hole spaced apart from the seating groove and providing a path for the selection portion to extend to the circuit board.

The sensor hole may be spaced apart from the inducing hole.

The inducing hole may be defined between the seating groove and an inner circumferential face of the mounting body. The sensor hole may be defined between the seating groove and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body. The sensor hole may be defined in an area except an area between the inducing hole and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body.

The inducing hole may be defined between a lower end of the seating groove and an inner circumferential face of the mounting body. The sensor hole may be disposed between a side face of the inducing hole and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body.

In one implementation, the sensor hole may have an area larger than an area of the inducing hole.

In one implementation, the selection portion may include a transmitter inserted into the sensor hole and connected to the circuit board, and a receiver extending from the transmitter to sense a touch of the user's body and receive the determination command.

The receiver may have an area larger than areas of the transmitter and the sensor hole.

The receiver may extend from the transmitter toward the inducing hole.

The receiver may extend from the transmitter so as to surround at least a portion of the inducing hole.

The inducing hole may be defined between a lower end of the seating groove and an inner circumferential face of the mounting body, the sensor hole may be defined between one side face of the seating groove and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body, and the receiver may extend from the sensor hole to an area between one side face of the inducing hole and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body in the sensor hole.

The receiver may extend from the sensor hole to the inner circumferential face of the mounting body and from the sensor hole to the other side face of the inducing hole and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body.

The receiver may be disposed to be spaced apart from a lower end and both side faces of the inducing hole by a reference distance.

The reference distance may correspond to a gap preventing the receiver from shielding at least a portion of the inducing hole.

The receiver may cover an area between the seating groove and the inducing hole, and an inner circumferential face of the mounting body.

The selection portion may be formed as a conductor sensing a current flowing through a user's body or charged by the current..

The display portion may further include a window disposed on a front face of the mounting body to protect the display and the selection portion, and the transmitter may be made of an elastic material so as to maintain the state of the receiver of being in contact with the window.

The transmitter may include a main body disposed between the receiver and the circuit board so as to have an elastic force, and a fixed portion extending from the main body and coupled to the circuit board.

The fixed portion may have a diameter smaller than that of the main body, so that at least a portion thereof may be inserted into the circuit board.

The main body may be supported in contact with an exposed face of the circuit board.

The main body may be disposed between the receiver and the circuit board in a more compressed state than the fixed portion.

A length of the main body separated from the display portion may be greater than a gap between the window and the circuit board. The fixing portion may be disposed to be accommodated in the circuit board in an uncompressed state.

The transmitter may further include a contact portion extending from the main body to be in contact with the receiver, and the contact portion may have a smaller diameter than the main body.

The contact portion may have a larger diameter than the fixed portion.

The receiver and the transmitter may be formed as a conductor through which a current of the user's body in contact with the window may flow or be charged.

The present disclosure has the effect of arranging both the display portion for displaying thereon the control command and the input means for receiving the command to select or identify the control command inside the rotating knob.

The present disclosure has the effect of displaying the control command and receiving the user's input even without the touch panel inside the knob.

The present disclosure has the effect that the display portion and the input means inside the knob may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other without sharing the function.

The present disclosure has the effect that the area for displaying the information inside the knob and the area for receiving the command may be completely distinguished from each other.

The present disclosure has the effect of that the input means may be disposed inside the knob without interfering with the display portion.

The present disclosure has the effect of having the input means that may maintain performance even in the vibration or the impact inside the knob.

FIG. 1 shows a home appliance system and an online system in which laundry treating apparatuses of the present disclosure are arranged.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an internal structure of a laundry washing apparatus 10 and a mini apparatus 60.

FIG. 3 shows a structure of a laundry dry apparatus among laundry treating apparatuses of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed structure of a water collecting portion 37, a heat exchanger 4, a washer 6, and the like.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an internal structure of a laundry dry apparatus 20 of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a structure in which, when the laundry treating apparatus includes the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry dry apparatus 20, and the auxiliary apparatus 60, the apparatuses may be in communication with each other.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a control panel P that may be applied to a laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows a structure in which a control panel is coupled to a front panel.

FIG. 9 shows an internal structure of a control panel.

FIG. 10 shows a structure of an encoder.

FIG. 11 shows a structure of manipulation portion and a display portion.

FIG. 12 shows detailed structures of manipulation portion and a display portion.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of utilization of a control panel.

FIG. 14 shows a structure of a display portion of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 shows structures of a mounting portion and a selection portion of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 shows an installation position of a sensor hole 837 that guides a space in which the transmitter R2 is installed.

FIG. 17 is an analysis from another viewpoint of an installation position of a sensor hole 837 that guides a space in which the transmitter R2 is installed.

FIG. 18 shows a shape of the receiver R1.

FIG. 19 shows a structure of the transmitter in detail.

FIG. 20 shows an embodiment of the transmitter R2.

FIG. 21 shows an effect of installing that the transmitter R2.

FIG. 22 shows a coupled state of the transmitter R and the circuit board 82.

FIG. 23 shows an embodiment in which coupling of the transmitter R2 and the circuit board P82 is maintained.

FIG. 24 shows another embodiment of a structure of the transmitter.

FIG. 25 shows a structure in which the transmitter R2 is installed on the circuit board P82.

FIG. 26 shows an effect of the fixing portion R21b.

Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification, even in different embodiments, the same and similar reference numerals are assigned to the same and similar components, and the description thereof is replaced with the first description. As used herein, the singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed herein, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, and it should be noted that the technical idea disclosed in the present specification is not to be construed as being limited by the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a home appliance system and an online system in which a laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure is disposed.

The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a laundry washing apparatus 10 that performs an arbitrary washing course or washing option that performs a washing cycle for removing foreign substances from laundry using water and detergent, and a mini apparatus 60 that is disposed near or beneath the laundry washing apparatus and performs the arbitrary washing course or washing option that performs the washing cycle for removing the foreign substances from the laundry using the water and the detergent.

The laundry washing apparatus 10 may be of a front load type in which the laundry is put into the laundry washing apparatus 10 from a front face thereof, and the mini apparatus 60 may be of a top load type in which the laundry is put into the mini apparatus 60 from a top face thereof.

As shown, the mini apparatus 60 may be disposed beneath the laundry washing apparatus 10 to increase a vertical level of a laundry inlet of the laundry washing apparatus 10. In this case, the mini apparatus 60 may be of a drawer type of being extended frontwards such that a laundry inlet thereof into which the laundry is put is exposed.

In addition, the mini apparatus 60 may be disposed on top of the laundry washing apparatus 10. Accordingly, a user may easily access the mini apparatus 60.

In one example, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a laundry drying apparatus 20 that performs an arbitrary drying course or drying option that dries the laundry containing moisture after the washing is completed in the laundry washing apparatus 10 or the mini apparatus 60.

The user may arrange the laundry washing apparatus 10 and the laundry drying apparatus 20 among the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure together in the room, and may include all of the components of the laundry treating apparatus by additionally including the mini apparatus 60.

Accordingly, the mini apparatus 60 may wash laundry that has a relatively small volume and is frequently washed, such as underwear and baby clothes. In addition, the laundry washing apparatus 10 may wash laundry that has a large volume and is infrequently washed, such as jeans and quilts.

In one example, at least one of the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 may access an Internet network via a router (AP) 30. At least one of the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 may have a communication module to connect to the router, and a server 50 provided by a producer who produced the laundry treating apparatus may recognize the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 via port information of the router 30 and register and control the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60.

When the user has an external terminal 40 equipped with a communication module, such as a smartphone, the user may access the server 50 via the Internet network with the external terminal 40 to control at least one of the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60.

In addition, the user may register at least one of the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 to the server 50 via the external terminal 40.

In addition, when there is notification information or there is an update of the course or the option for at least one of the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60, the server 50 may notify the user with the external terminal 40.

In one example, the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 may be configured to be in communication with each other.

One of the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 may be configured to be in communication with the other two via the router 30 and the server 50. To this end, each of the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 may include the communication module such as WIFI.

In addition, the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 may be configured to be in communication with each other without via the server 50. For example, the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 may be configured to be in communication with each other via a Bluetooth communication module.

The laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 may be configured to be in communication with each other to share the states thereof with each other and to display each other's states.

For example, the user may identify the states of the laundry drying apparatus 20 and the mini apparatus 60 via the laundry washing apparatus 10. Therefore, even when the laundry drying apparatus 20 and the mini apparatus 60 are disposed to be spaced apart from the laundry washing apparatus 10 or are disposed at positions where the laundry drying apparatus 20 and the mini apparatus 60 are not visible when the user looks at the laundry washing apparatus 10, the user may display the states of the laundry drying apparatus 20 and the mini apparatus 60 via the laundry washing apparatus 10.

The laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 may be configured to share names of a course or option thereof, a selected state of the course or option thereof, a executed state of the course or option thereof, a completion state of the course or option thereof, and an error or notification state thereof with each other or display each other's names and states of the courses or options and error or notification states.

In addition, one of the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 may be configured to manipulate the other two with a manipulation portion thereof for receiving a command.

The laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 may transmit and receive control commands to and from each other via the respective communication modules thereof or the server 50.

Accordingly, even when the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 are spaced apart from each other, the user may control another device with one device, thereby improving convenience.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of internal structures of the laundry washing apparatus 10 and the mini apparatus 60.

Unlike the drawing, the laundry washing apparatus 10 and the mini apparatus 60 may be independently constructed to be separated from each other.

The laundry washing apparatus 10 may include a cabinet 1 that forms an appearance of the laundry washing apparatus, a tub 2 that is accommodated in the cabinet 1 and stores water therein, a drum 3 that is rotatably disposed in the tub 2 and stores water therein, a driver 32 that is coupled to the tub 2 to rotate the drum 3, a water supply 23 that is constructed to supply water to the tub 2, and a drainage 25 constructed to drain water of the tub 2.

Each of the tub 2 and the drum 3 may have the laundry inlet for putting the laundry into the laundry washing apparatus in a front face thereof, and the cabinet 1 may further include a door 132 for opening and closing the laundry inlet.

The driver 32 may include a stator 321 coupled to a rear face of the tub 2, a rotor 322 rotated by the stator 321, and a rotation shaft 323 coupled to the rotor 322 to rotate the drum 3.

The water supply 23 may include a water supply pipe 231 that allows an external water supply source and the tub 2 to be in communication with each other, and a water supply valve 232 that opens and closes the water supply pipe 231.

In one example, the water supply 23 may further include a detergent box that is able to be extended forwardly of the cabinet 1 and is constructed to put detergent into the tub 2, and the water supply pipe 231 may be in communication with the detergent box.

The drainage 25 may include a drain pipe 251 disposed below the tub 2, and a drain pump 252 coupled to the drain pipe 252 to provide power for discharging water.

The laundry washing apparatus 10 may further include a support 22 that supports the tub 2 to the cabinet 1, and a heater H1 that heats water inside the tub 2.

In addition, the laundry washing apparatus 10 may further include a hot air supply Ha constructed to supply hot air to the tub 2.

In one example, the laundry washing apparatus 10 may include a control panel P or a washing controller that receives a command for displaying or controlling the state of the laundry washing apparatus 10. The control panel P may be disposed coupled to the cabinet 1.

In addition, the control panel P may operate at least one of the driver 32, the water supply valve 232, the drain pump 252, the heater H1, and the hot air supply Ha to perform the arbitrary washing course and washing option for removing the foreign substances from the laundry. The washing course and the washing option may be composed of a series of control methods capable of performing all of a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a dehydration cycle.

The mini apparatus 60 may include a mini cabinet 1C that forms an appearance of the mini cabinet, a mini tub 2C that is accommodated in the mini cabinet 1C and stores water therein, a mini drum 3C that is rotatably disposed in the mini tub 2C and stores water therein, a mini driver 32C that is coupled to the mini tub 2C to rotate the mini drum 3C, a mini water supply 23C constructed to supply water to the mini tub 2C, and a mini drainage 25C constructed to drain water of the mini tub 2C.

The mini cabinet 1C may be disposed beneath the cabinet 1 to support the cabinet 1. It is not excluded that the mini cabinet is placed on top of the cabinet 1.

The mini cabinet may be formed integrally with the cabinet 1.

Each of the mini tub 2C and the mini drum 3C may have the laundry inlet for putting the laundry into the mini apparatus in a top face thereof, and the mini laundry cabinet 1C may further include a mini door 132C for opening and closing the laundry inlet.

The mini driver 32C may include a mini stator 321C coupled to a bottom face of the mini tub 2C, a mini rotor 322C rotated by the mini stator 321C, and a mini rotation shaft 323C coupled to the mini rotor 322C to rotate the mini drum 3C.

The mini water supply 23C may include a mini water supply pipe 231C that allows the external water source and the mini tub 2C to be in communication with each other, and a mini water supply valve 232C that opens and closes the mini water supply pipe 231C.

In one example, the mini water supply 23C may further include a mini detergent box that is able to be extended forwardly of the cabinet 1 and is constructed to put the detergent into the mini tub 2C, and the mini water supply pipe 231C may be in communication with the detergent box.

The mini drainage 25C may include a mini drain pipe 251C disposed below the mini tub 2C, and a mini drain pump 252C coupled to the mini drain pipe 252C to provide power for discharging water.

The mini apparatus 60 may further include a mini support 22C that supports the mini tub 2C to the mini cabinet 1C, and a mini heater H2 that heats water inside the mini tub 2C.

In addition, the mini apparatus 60 may further include a hot air supply Hb constructed to supply hot air to the mini tub 2C.

In one example, the mini apparatus 60 may include a mini control panel PC or a mini controller that receives a command for displaying or controlling the state of the mini apparatus 60. The mini control panel PC may be disposed coupled to the mini cabinet 1C.

In addition, the mini control panel PC may operate at least one of the mini driver 32C, the mini water supply valve 232C, the mini drain pump 252C, the mini heater H2, and the mini hot air supply HaC to perform the arbitrary washing course and washing option for removing the foreign substances from the laundry. The washing course and the washing option may be composed of a series of control methods capable of performing all of the washing cycle, the rinsing cycle, and the dehydration cycle.

The mini apparatus 60 may further include a drawer D that is able to be extended forwardly of the mini cabinet 1c and accommodates the mini tub 2c therein. The drawer D may include a front cover DC at a front face thereof to open and close an entrance through which the drawer D is extended from the mini cabinet 1C.

The mini control panel PC may be disposed on the front cover DC.

FIG. 3 shows a structure of the laundry drying apparatus 20 of the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure.

The laundry drying apparatus 20 may include a drying cabinet 1A, a drying drum 2A that is rotatably disposed inside the drying cabinet to provide a space for storing the laundry, a circulation flow path 3A that forms a flow path for re-supplying air discharged from the drying drum 2 to the drying drum 2A, and a heat exchanger 4 that dehumidifies and heats air introduced into the circulation flow path 3A and then re-supplies dehumidified and heated air to the drying drum 2A.

When the drying drum 2A is formed as a cylindrical drum body 21A with open front face and rear face, a first support 17 that rotatably supports the front face of the drying drum 2A and a second support 19A that rotatably supports the rear face of drying drum 2A may be disposed inside the cabinet 1A.

The first support 17 may include a first fixed body 171 fixed inside the drying cabinet 1A, a drum laundry inlet 173 defined to extend through the first fixed body to allow the laundry inlet 111 and an interior of the drum body 21A to be in communication with each other, and a first support body 175 disposed on the first fixed body 171 and inserted into a front face (a first open face) of the drum body 21A.

The first fixed body 171 may be in any shape as long as the drum laundry inlet 173 and the first support body 175 are able to be disposed. The first support body 175 may be formed in a pipe shape protruding from the first fixed body 171 toward the drying drum body 21A. A diameter of the first support body 175 may be larger than a diameter of the drum laundry inlet 173, and may be smaller than a diameter of a front face of the drying drum body 21A. In this case, the drum laundry inlet 173 will be located inside the space defined by the first support body 175.

The first support 17 may further include a connection body 177 that connects the laundry inlet 111 and the drum laundry inlet 173 to each other. The connection body 177 may be formed in a pipe shape extending from the drum laundry inlet 173 toward the laundry inlet 111. The connection body 177 may have an air outlet 178 in communication with the circulation flow path 3A.

The air outlet 178, as a passage that allows air inside the drying drum body 21A to flow to the circulation flow path 3, may be defined as a through-hole defined to extend through the connection body 177.

The second support 19A may include a second fixed body 191 fixed inside the cabinet 1A, and a second support body 195 disposed on the second fixed body 191 and inserted into a rear face (a second open face) of the drum body 21A. The second support 19 includes an air inlet 198 defined to extend through the second fixed body 191 to allow an interior of the drum body 21 and an interior of the drying cabinet 1A to communicate with each other. In this case, a duct 3A may be constructed to connect the air outlet 178 and the air inlet 198 to each other.

The cylindrical drum body 21A with an empty interior may be rotated by various types of drying drivers . A case in which the drying

driver

82,83,85 includes a motor 82 fixed inside the drying cabinet 1A, a pulley 85 rotated by the motor, and a belt 83 that connects a circumferential face of the pulley 85 and a circumferential face of the drum body 21A to each other is shown as an example.

In one example, the drying driver may be disposed on a rear face of the drying drum 2A to directly rotate the drum 2A. A rotation shaft of the drying

driver

82,83,85 may be directly coupled to the drum 2A to rotate the drying drum 2A.

In this case, the second support 19A may support the drying

driver

82,83,85 to be located on a rear face or at a center of the drying drum 2A.

In one example, a separate reducer may be disposed between the drying

driver

82,83,85 and the drying drum 2A. In this case, a rotation shaft from the reducer may be directly coupled to a center of the rear face of the drum 2A, and the reducer may be coupled to and supported by the second support 19.

In this regard, the drying

driver

82,83,85 may freely change a rotation speed and a rotation direction of the drum 2A.

The first support 17 may have a first roller 179 that rotatably supports the circumferential face of the drum body 21A, and the second support 19 may have a second roller 199 that rotatably supports the circumferential face of the drum body.

The circulation flow path 3A may include a duct in communication with the drum 2. The duct 3A may be in communication with the drying drum 2A, so that it may be considered that the duct 3A forms a circulation flow path in which air discharged from the drying drum passes the heat exchanger 4 and is re-introduced into the drum 2A.

The duct 3A may include an exhaust duct 31A connected to the air outlet 178, a supply duct 33A connected to the air inlet 198, and a connection duct 35A that connects the exhaust duct and the supply duct to each other.

The heat exchanger 4 may be formed as various apparatuses as long as the dehumidification and the heating of air introduced into the duct 3A may be sequentially performed. For example, the heat exchanger 4 may be formed as a heat pump system.

The heat exchanger 4 may include a fan 49 that allows air to flow along the duct 3A, a first heat exchanger (a heat absorber) 41 that removes moisture from air introduced into the duct 3A, and a second heat exchanger (a heater) 43 that is disposed inside the duct 3A to heat air that has passed through the first heat exchanger 41.

The heat absorber 41 may be formed as an evaporator that absorbs heat, and the heater 43 may be formed as a condenser that emits heat.

The fan 49 may include an impeller 491 disposed inside the duct 3A, and an impeller motor 493 that rotates the impeller 491 (see FIG. 4). The impeller 491 may be disposed in any of the exhaust duct 31A, the connection duct 35A, and the supply duct 33A. The impeller 491 may be disposed in the supply duct 33A.

The heat absorber 41 is formed with multiple metal plates disposed along a width direction (a Y-axis direction) of the connection duct 35A or a height direction (a Z-axis direction) of the connection duct, and the heater 43 may be formed with multiple metal plates disposed along the width direction of the connection duct or the height direction of the connection duct. The heat absorber 41 and the heater 43 are sequentially arranged inside the connection duct 35A in a direction from the exhaust duct 31A toward the supply duct 33A, and are connected to each other via a refrigerant pipe 48 that forms a circulation flow path of a refrigerant.

The refrigerant moves along the refrigerant pipe 48 by a compressor 45 located outside the duct 3A, and the refrigerant pipe 48 has a pressure regulator 47 that adjusts a pressure of the refrigerant that has passed through the heater 43.

The heat absorber 41 is means for cooling air and evaporating the refrigerant by transferring the heat of air introduced into the exhaust duct 31A to the refrigerant. The heater 43 is means for heating air and condensing the refrigerant by transferring the heat of the refrigerant that has passed through the compressor 45 to air. In this case, the moisture contained in air will be collected on a bottom face of the connection duct 35A along a surface of the heat absorber 41 when passing through the heat absorber 41.

In order to collect water removed from air passing through the heat absorber 41, the laundry drying apparatus 20 has a water collecting portion.

The water collected in the water collecting portion may be collected in a water storage 7 and discharged all at once later. The water storage 7 may include a water storage tank 72 that is detachably disposed in the cabinet 1 to provide a space for storing water, and an inlet 722 defined to extend through the water storage tank 72 to introduce water discharged from a water storage supply pipe 633 into the water storage tank 72.

The water storage tank 72 may be formed as a tank in a form of a drawer extended from the cabinet 1. In this case, the front panel 11A of the cabinet must have a water storage mounting hole or tank hole into which the water storage tank 72 is inserted. A water storage panel 71 is fixed to a front face of the water storage tank 72. The water storage panel 71 may be detachably coupled to the water storage mounting hole or tank hole 115 to form a portion of the front panel 11A.

The water storage panel 71 may further include a groove 711 into which a user's hand is inserted. In this case, the water storage panel 71 will also perform a function of a handle for extending or retracting the water storage tank 72 from or into the cabinet.

The inlet 722 may be defined to receive water discharged from a nozzle 722a fixed to the drying cabinet 1A. The nozzle 722a may be fixed to a top panel 13 of the cabinet so as to be positioned above the inlet 722 when the storage body 72 is inserted into the cabinet 1.

In the water storage 7 having the above structure, the user may discard water inside the water storage tank 72 by extending the water storage tank 72 from the cabinet 1 and then inverting or tilting the water storage tank 72 in a direction in which the inlet 722 is directed. A communication hole 721 defined to extend through a top face of the storage body 72 may be further defined such that water inside the water storage tank 72 is easily discharged through the inlet 722.

In one example, the heat exchanger 4 is constructed to condense the moisture in air circulating in the heat absorber 41. Therefore, even when the air circulates in the drum 2A, the moisture is removed by the heat absorber 41, so that the laundry inside the drum 2A may be continuously dried.

The moisture condensed in the heat absorber 41 may be first collected in the water collecting portion 37A and then collected secondary in the water storage 7. The water collecting portion 37A may be located inside the connection duct 35, and may be separately disposed in a space spaced apart from the connection duct 35.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed structure of the water collecting portion 37A, the heat exchanger 4, and a washer 6.

The water collecting portion 37A may be formed as a water collecting body 371A fixed to a bottom face of the connection duct 35A and in communication with the interior of the connection duct. A heat exchanger support 372A may be further disposed inside the water collecting body 371A such that the heat absorber 41 and the heater 43 do not come into contact with water (condensed water) stored in the water collecting body 371A. The heat exchanger support 372A may include a support plate 373A in contact with the heat absorber 41 and the heater 43, a spacer 375A that maintains a gap between the support plate 373 and a bottom face of the water collecting body 371A, and a support plate through-hole 376A defined to extend through the support plate 373A.

The support plate through-hole 376A may be defined only in a space in which the heat absorber 41 is supported of the space provided by the support plate 373A, and may be defined in each of the space in which the heat absorber is supported and a space in which the heater is supported. When the support plate through-hole 376A is also defined in a bottom face of the heater 43, water flowed to the heater 43 along the support plate 373A may be discharged to the water collecting portion 371A (to prevent a decrease in heat transfer efficiency that occurs when the heater comes into contact water).

In order to minimize the foreign substances (lint and the like) discharged from the drying drum body 21A being stacked in the heat absorber 41 and the heater 43, the laundry drying apparatus 20 may further include filtration means for filtering air.

Second filtration means 8 may be formed as means for filtering air introduced into the exhaust duct 31A from the drying drum body 21A, and first filtration means 5 may be located between the second filtration means 8 and the heat absorber 41 and be formed as means for filtering air that has passed through the second filtration means. A diameter of a filtration hole defined in the first filtration means 5 may be set smaller than a diameter of a filtration hole defined in the second filtration means 8.

The second filtration means 8 may include a frame 81 that is detachably inserted into the exhaust duct 31A through the air outlet 178, and a filter (a fourth filter) 83 disposed in the frame to filter air.

The first filtration means 5 may be detachably disposed in the connection duct 35. In this case, the front panel 11 of the cabinet may have a filter mounting hole from which the first filtration means 5 is withdrawn and a mounting hole door that opens and closes the filter mounting hole, and the duct 3A may have a duct through-hole 34 (see FIG. 3) into which the first filtration means 5 is inserted. Accordingly, the user may remove the foreign substances remaining in the first filtration means 5 and wash the first filtration means after separating the first filtration means 5 from the laundry treating apparatus as needed.

The first filtration means 5 may include a filtration means

body

51, 53, and 55 inserted into the filter mounting hole and the duct through-hole 34 and positioned between the second filtration means 8 and the heat absorber 41, and filters 531, 551, and 571 disposed in the filtration means body to filter fluid (air and water) flowing to the heat absorber 41 and the water collecting portion 371A.

The filtration means body may be formed in various forms depending on a shape of a cross-section (a Y-Z plane and a X-Z plane) of the connection duct 35A. FIG. 1 shows an example of a case in which the filtration means body is formed in a shape similar to a hexahedron.

In this case, the filtration means body may include a front face 51 formed in a shape capable of closing the duct through-hole 34, a rear face 53 positioned between the front face and the heat absorber 41, a bottom face 55 constructed to connect the front face and the rear face with each other, and a first side face 57 and a second side face 58 that form a left side face and a right side face of the filtration means body.

The front face 51 may have a lock 511 removably coupled to a lock fastening portion 16 disposed in the cabinet. The lock 511 may be formed as a bar rotatably coupled to the front face 51 of the filtration means body, and the lock fastening portion may define a groove in which a free end of the bar is accommodated. Preferably, the locks 511 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the front face 51, and the lock fastening portions 16 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the filter mounting hole.

To facilitate insertion of the filtration means body into the connection duct 35A or removal of the filtration means from the connection duct 35A, the front face 51 may further include a handle 511.

The rear face 53 and the bottom face 55 may respectively have a first filter 531 and a second filter 551 for filtering the fluid (air and water) introduced into the filtration means body. The rear face 53 has a rear face through-hole defined therein for allowing an interior of the filtration means body and the internal space of the duct 3A to be in communication with each other, and the first filter 531 is disposed in the rear face through-hole. The bottom face 55 has a bottom face through-hole for allowing the interior of the filtration means body and the internal space of the duct 3A to be in communication with each other, and the second filter 551 is disposed in the bottom face through-hole. Therefore, the first filter 531 is means for filtering the fluid (air and water) supplied to the heat absorber 41, and the second filter 551 is means for filtering the fluid supplied to the water collecting portion 371A.

The first side face 57 and the second side face 58 may be constructed to connect the front face 51, the rear face 53, and the bottom face 55 to each other.

The first filtration means 5 having the above structure may be in communication with the exhaust duct 31A through the top face or the second side face 58 of the filtration means body. FIG. 1 shows a case in which the first filtration means 5 is connected to the exhaust duct 31A through a top face through-hole defined to extend through the top face of the filtration means body and a side face through-hole defined to extend through the second side face 58 as an example.

The first filter 531 may be inclined in an angle range from 90 degrees to 100 degrees toward a front face of the heat absorber 41 based on the bottom face 55 of the filtration means body. This is to allow the foreign substances remaining in the first filter to easily move to the bottom face 55 when water is injected into the first filter 531 via the washer 6 to be described later.

The second filter 551 may be inclined downward in an angle range from 10 to 20 degrees from the front face 51 toward the first filter 531 (The second filter may be inclined upward in an angle range from 10 to 20 degrees in a direction from a lower end of the first filter to the filter mounting hole). When the second filter 551 is inclined downward toward the first filter 531, because a connection point of the first filter 531 and the second filter 551 will be the lowest point in the space provided by the first filtration means, the foreign substances of the first filtration means 5 may be concentrated at the connection point of the first filter 531 and the second filter 551. When the foreign substances are concentrated at the connection point of the first filter 531 and the second filter 551, the user will be able to more easily remove the foreign substances inside the first filtration means 5.

However, when the foreign substances are concentrated at the connection point of the first filter 531 and the second filter 551, there may be a situation in which a long time is required for water sprayed via the washer 6 to be discharged to the water collecting portion 371. In order to solve such problem, a bypass hole for allowing the interior of the first filtration means 5 and the water collecting portion 371 to be in communication with each other, and a third filter 571 disposed in the bypass hole may be further disposed.

The bypass hole and the third filter 571 may be defined at a position higher than an uppermost end of the second filter 551 and lower than an uppermost end of the first filter 531. Therefore, the laundry treating apparatus may minimize a phenomenon in which water sprayed to the first filtration means 5 is not able to be recovered at the water collecting portion 371 by the foreign substances remaining in the first filtration means 5.

In one example, the laundry drying apparatus 20 may further include the washer 6 that washes the first filtration means 5 using water stored in the water collecting portion 371A. That is, water stored in the water collecting portion 371A may be separately collected into the water storage 7 or may be selectively flowed to the washer 6.

The washer 6 may be formed as means for washing at least one of the first filter 531, the second filter 551, the third filter 571, and the heat absorbers 41 by spraying water stored in the water collecting portion 371A to the first filtration means 5. The washer 6 may include a spray 65 disposed in the duct 3A to supply water to the first filtration means 5, and a washing pump 61 that allows water stored in the water collecting portion 371A to flow to the spray 65.

The washing pump 61 may be connected to the water collecting portion 371A via a first connection pipe 611, and may be connected to the spray 65 via a second connection pipe 613. When the laundry treating apparatus is constructed to allow water of the water collecting portion 371A to flow to the spraying portion 65 and the water storage 7 with only one washing pump 61, the laundry drying apparatus 20 may further include flow path switching portion 63. In this case, the flow path switching portion 63 may be connected to the washing pump 61 via he second connection pipe 613, the spray 65 may be connected to the flow path switching portion 63 via a spray supply pipe 631, and the water storage 7 may be connected to the flow path switching portion 63 via the water storage supply pipe 633.

In this case, the water storage supply pipe 633 should connect the nozzle 722a and the flow path switching portion 63 to each other.

The flow path switching portion 63 includes a valve for controlling opening and closing of the spray supply pipe 631 and opening and closing of the water storage supply pipe 633. Therefore, the laundry drying apparatus 20 may control the valve disposed in the flow path switching portion 63 to supply water stored in the water collecting portion 371A to the spray 65 or to the water storage 7.

A case in which the spray 65 includes a duct through-hole 651 defined to extent through the connection duct 35 and to which the spray supply pipe 631 is connected, a first guide 653 that guides water supplied from the duct through-hole to the first filter 531, and a second guide 655 that guides at least a portion of water supplied through the first guide 653 to the front face of the heat absorber 41 is shown as an example. In this case, the second guide 655 may be disposed as means for allowing water to be supplied to the front face of the heat absorber 41 via the first filter 531. That is, the first filter 531 may be disposed between the first guide 653 and the second guide 655 when the first filtration means 5 is fixed to the connection duct 35A, and the second guide 655 may be formed as an inclined face inclined downward toward the first filter 531 from a top face of the connection duct 35.

The first guide 653 may further include a guide through-hole 654. The guide through-hole 654, as a hole defined to extend through the first guide 653, may allow water introduced into the duct through-hole 651 to be supplied to a front area of the heat absorber 41 through the guide through-hole 654. The front area of the heat absorber means an area positioned at a side facing toward the first filter 531 based on a vertical line passing through a center of the heat absorber 41.

In one example, it is preferable that the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure includes water collecting portion water level sensing means 92 that measures a water level of the water collecting portion 371A and transmits the water level to the controller. When the water collecting portion water level sensing means 92 is disposed, the laundry treating apparatus may determine a time point of allowing water stored in the water collecting portion 371A to flow to the storage body 72. Therefore, water of the water collecting portion 371A may be prevented from flowing back into the connection duct 35A.

The water collecting portion water level sensing means 92 may be formed as any device capable of sensing the water level inside the water collecting portion 371A. FIG. 3 shows a sensor with multiple electrodes having different lengths (multiple electrodes electrically connected based on the water level) as an example.

The laundry drying apparatus 20 may have dryness sensing means to determine a time point to stop operation of the heat exchanger 4 by determining a dryness of the laundry. The dryness sensing means may be formed as at least one of an electrode sensor 95 constructed to be in contact with the laundry to measure an amount of moisture contained in the laundry, and a humidity sensor for measuring humidity of air introduced into the duct 3A from the drum 3.

The electrode sensor may include a first electrode 951 and a second electrode 953 that may be fixed to the first fixed body 171 and may be in contact with the laundry inside the drum body 21A. As the dryness increases, the amount of moisture contained in the laundry will decrease (an electrical resistance of the laundry will increase), so that the laundry drying apparatus 20 may determine the dryness of the laundry by observing an electrical resistance measured when the two

electrodes

951 and 953 are connected to each other via the laundry. In one example, as the dryness of the laundry increases, the amount of moisture contained in air introduced into the duct 3A will decrease, so that the laundry drying apparatus 20 may determine the dryness of the laundry by observing the humidity of air introduced into the duct 3A via the humidity sensor.

In addition, the laundry drying apparatus 20 may further include temperature sensing means 96 for measuring a temperature of air introduced into the duct 3A. The temperature sensing means 96 may be fixed to the top face of the connection duct 35A and positioned between the first filter 531 and the second filter 551.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an internal structure of the laundry dry apparatus 20 of the present disclosure.

The driver 28 may be directly fastened to a rear face of the drying drum 2A. The drying driver 28 may be disposed on the second support 19 to directly rotate the drying drum 2A.

The drying driver 28 may include a stator supported by the second support 19, a rotor rotated by the stator, and a rotation shaft.

The drying driver 28 may be separately coupled to a reducer 28A, and the reducer 28A may be coupled to a center (a rotation center) of a rear face of the drying drum 2A to rotate the drying drum 2A.

Accordingly, the reducer 28A may increase a torque while reducing an RPM of the rotation shaft.

The steam apparatus 200 may be disposed to be fixed to the front panel 11 or the first support supporting the drum 2 for space utilization. In addition, the steam apparatus 200 may be disposed adjacent to a corner of the cabinet 1.

The internal supply 400 may include a water tank 420 for storing water, a water pump 430 for supplying power for supplying the water stored in the water tank 420 to the steam apparatus 200, and a tank housing 410 that provides a space in which the water pump 430 and the water tank 420 are installed.

The tank housing 410 may be formed in a box shape with an open top face, and may extend along a front and rear direction of the cabinet 1 such that the water tank 420 may be disposed in a front portion of the cabinet 1 and the water pump 430 may be disposed in a rear portion of the cabinet 1.

The tank housing 410 may include a tank mounting portion 411 in which the water tank 420 is detachably mounted, and a pump mounting portion 412 in which the water pump 430 may be mounted. The tank mounting portion 411 and the pump mounting portion 412 may be formed in a recessed shape to prevent water leaking from the water tank 420 or the water pump 430 from leaking to the drying drum 2A or the like.

In addition, the tank housing 410 may further include a partition wall 413 partitioning the tank mounting portion 411 and the pump mounting portion 412 from each other. Accordingly, the water tank 420 may be easily mounted in and detached from the tank housing 410. The partition wall 413 may also serve to collect residual water in the tank mounting portion 411 or residual water in the pump mounting portion 412 such that the residual water does not flow to another place.

An extension pipe 416 for allowing the water tank 420 and the water pump 430 to be in communication with each other may be installed in the partition wall 413. A valve structure may be installed on the extension pipe 416 to prevent leakage of water even when the water tank 420 is removed from the tank mounting portion 411.

The extension pipe 416 may extend from the partition wall 413 toward the water pump 430 or toward the water tank 420.

In one example, the tank housing 410 may be formed such that the pump mounting portion 412 is disposed closer to the steam apparatus 200 than the tank mounting portion 411. Accordingly, a flow path from the water tank 420 to the steam apparatus 200 may become simplified.

The tank housing 410 may be formed such that the tank mounting portion 411 and the pump mounting portion 412 are arranged along a front and rear direction of the cabinet.

The water supply 300 may include a coupling portion capable of fixing the tank housing 410 to at least one of the support bar 440 and one side face of the cabinet.

A rotating drying drum 2A is disposed inside the drying cabinet 1. Accordingly, the components arranged inside the cabinet 1 need to be spaced apart from the drying drum 2A. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the water supply 300 and the steam apparatus 200 from coming into contact with the drum 2. For example, a steam guide pipe 230 for supplying steam from the steam apparatus 200 to the drum 2, the direct water pipe 510 for supplying water to the steam apparatus 200, or the like needs to be blocked from coming into contact with the drying drum 2A.

It is necessary to support not only the water tank 420 and the water pump 430 but also a load of water accommodated in the water tank 420.

Therefore, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a support bar 440 for supporting the steam apparatus 200 and the water supply 300 to prevent the steam apparatus 200 and the water supply 300 from coming into contact with the drum, and supporting the steam apparatus 200 and the water supply 300 inside the drying cabinet.

The support bar 440 may be constructed to support at least a portion of the steam apparatus 200 or at least a portion of the water supply 300. In addition, the support bar 440 may fix or support the tank housing 410 to the drying cabinet.

The support bar 440 may be formed in a shape of a bar having both ends respectively coupled to the drying front panel 11 and the drying rear panel 12. Accordingly, the support bar 440 may support a load of the tank housing 410 as well as fix the drying front panel 11 and the drying rear panel 12. The support bar 440 may be spaced apart from the drying side panel 14 by a predetermined distance and coupled to the drying front panel 11 and the drying rear panel 12. In one example, the both ends of the support bar 440 may be coupled to the cabinet 1, but remaining portion thereof may be disposed at a lower position than an upper portion of the side face of the cabinet 1. Accordingly, the support bar 440 may be spaced apart from the top panel 13 to prevent interference with the top panel 13. In addition, a space capable of supporting some components of the water supply 300 and the steam apparatus 200 may be defined between the support bar 440 and the top panel 13.

An excessive extension of a width of the tank housing 410 may be prevented by the support bar 440.

In one example, although not shown, the tank housing 410 may further include a mounting sensor capable of sensing mounting of the water tank 420 on an inner face thereof. The mounting sensor may be formed as a weight sensor, and may be configured to distinguish whether the weight is small or great.

The mounting sensor may be connected to the drying control panel PA to transmit information on whether the water tank 420 is mounted and an amount of water accommodated in the water tank 420.

The internal supply 400 may include a pump discharge pipe 433 for discharging water from the pump housing 430 to the steam apparatus 200.

The external supply 500 may include a direct water valve 520 seated on the second support 19A or the drying rear panel 12, and a direct water pipe 510 constructed to supply water from the direct water valve 520 to the steam apparatus 200.

The direct water pipe 510 may extend from the drying rear panel 12 to the steam apparatus 200, and the direct water valve 520 may be constructed to open and close the direct water pipe 510. The direct water pipe 510 may extend from the direct water valve 520 to the steam generator 210 across the support bar 440. In this regard, at least a portion of the direct water pipe 510 may be supported by the support bar 440 to prevent contact with the drying drum 2A.

The support bar 440 may be disposed between the direct water valve 520 and the water tank 430.

In addition, the direct water valve 520 may be seated on the drying rear panel 12 or the second support 19A to be exposed to the outside, and the direct water pipe 510 may extend from the direct water valve 520 toward the steam apparatus 200. Accordingly, the external supply 500 may supply water to the steam apparatus 200 in a direct water scheme from an external water supply source.

The steam apparatus 200 may receive water from each of the external supply 500 and the internal supply 400. However, when the steam apparatus 200 is constructed to receive water through respective pipes, a separate shape of the steam apparatus 200 must be manufactured, so that a flow path and a control method may become complicated.

To this end, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a combining portion 600 for coupling the direct water pipe 510 with the pump discharge pipe 433. The combining portion 600 may be constructed such that both the water stored in the internal supply 400 and the water supplied in the direct water scheme from the external supply 500 are collected.

In addition, the combining portion 600 may be constructed to deliver the supplied water to the steam apparatus 200. The combining portion 600 may be formed as a three-way valve, or may be formed in a shape of a combining pipe in which three pipes are coupled to each other.

When the combining portion 600 is formed in the pipe shape, a check valve may be disposed in each of the external supply 500 and the internal supply 400 to prevent backflow. Specifically, a direct water check valve 511 for opening the direct water pipe 510 in one direction may be installed on the direct water pipe 510, and the pump discharge pipe 433 may have a discharge check valve 434 for opening the pump discharge pipe 433 in one direction.

In addition, the check valves may be disposed on the pump discharge pipe 433 and the direct water pipe 510, respectively. The external supply 500 may include an external check valve, and the internal supply 400 may include an internal check valve.

Accordingly, the water supplied to the direct water pipe 510 may be prevented from flowing back to the water pump 430, and the water supplied to the pump discharge pipe 433 may be prevented from flowing back to the direct water valve 510.

In one example, the combining portion 600 has a significant weight when formed as the valve or the combining pipe. In addition, when water passes through the combining portion 600, a considerable weight may be applied to the combining portion 600.

Accordingly, the combining portion 600 may be seated on the support bar 440.

The combining portion 600 and the support bar 400 may be coupled with each other using a separate fixing member to prevent the combining portion 600 from being separated from the support bar 400. Because the combining portion 600 is seated on the support bar 400, positions of the direct water pipe 510 and the pump discharge pipe 433 may also be stably fixed.

In one example, the steam apparatus 200 may include a water guide pipe 220 connected to the combining portion 600 to receive water from the water supply 300, a steam generator 210 that receives water from the water guide pipe 220 to generate steam, and a steam guide pipe 230 capable of guiding the steam generated by the steam generator 210 to the drying drum 2A or the duct 3A.

The steam generator 210 may be disposed below the drying drum 2A to stably receive water from the water supply 300 by gravity, and the generated steam may be stably moved to the drying drum 2A by a difference in density.

The steam guide pipe 230 may be constructed to be in communication with a gasket disposed on a front face of the drying drum 2A, or the first support. Accordingly, the steam guide pipe 230 may stably supply steam into the drying drum 2A without being in contact with the drying drum 2A.

In one example, the tank housing 410 may have a mounting sensor capable of sensing whether the water tank 420 is mounted. For example, the mounting sensor may be formed as a pressure sensor or the like.

In addition, a water level sensor capable of sensing a water level of the water tank 420 may be further disposed. For example, the water level sensor may be formed as a weight sensor. The mounted sensor or the water level sensor may also be controlled by the control panel 820, and may be configured to transmit a signal to the control panel 820.

In one example, the control panel P may indirectly identify the water level of the water tank 420 by temporarily driving the water pump 430 to sense a load applied to the water pump 430.

The water storage tank 72 may have a significantly larger volume than the water tank 430, and may be disposed to be spaced apart from the water tank 430 in order to prevent confusion of the user between the water storage tank 72 and the water tank 430.

The water tank 430 and the steam apparatus 200 may be disposed between the support bar 440 and one side face of the cabinet, and the water storage tank 72 may be disposed between the support bar 440 and the other side face of the cabinet.

Because the water tank 430 is coupled to the tank mounting portion 411, it may be seen that the tank mounting portion 411 is also disposed between the support bar 440 and one side face of the cabinet.

Consequently, the support bar 440 may be disposed between the water storage tank 72 and the steam generator 210, and may be disposed between the water storage tank 72 and the water tank 430.

FIG. 6 shows a structure in which, when the laundry treating apparatus includes the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini or mini apparatus 60, the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the a mini apparatus 60 may be in communication with each other.

The laundry washing apparatus 10 may include a washing control panel P configured to display information and to receive a command from the user.

The washing control panel P may include a displaying portion P8 capable of displaying the state of the laundry washing apparatus 10, an input means P9 capable of inputting the command to the laundry washing apparatus 10, and a washing speaker K1 capable of externally outputting a notification generated from the laundry washing apparatus 10. The laundry washing apparatus 10 may include a controller M1 that may perform the washing course and option including the driver, the water supply, the drainage, and the like of the laundry washing apparatus 10, and may include storage S1 that transmits the information to the controller M1 or stores a program to be used by the controller M1.

The input means P9 may be a concept including all components configured to receive the command of the user for the laundry washing apparatus 10, such as a manipulation portion P47, a power switch P46, an executing portion P47, a setting portion P2, and the like to be described later.

In addition, the laundry washing apparatus 10 may include a washing communication module T1. The washing communication module T1 may include a washing communication modem T11 including means of communication such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, a washing communication controller T12 configured to control the communication modem, and washing communication storage T13 that may transmit the received information to the controller M1 or may store a program for controlling the washing communication controller T12 when power to the washing controller M1 is cut off.

The washing communication module T1 may be configured to continuously receive the power even in a state in which power supply to the control panel P of the laundry washing apparatus 10 is cut off, and may be configured to maintain a state in communication with the external terminal 40 and the server 50.

In addition, the washing communication module T1 may be configured to be directly paired with a drying communication module T2 and a mini communication module T31 to be described later to maintain the communication state.

In addition, when the washing communication module T1 receives a power command for supplying power to the control panel p, the power may be controlled to be supplied to the control panel P.

The laundry drying apparatus 20 may include a drying control panel PA configured to display information and to receive a command from the user.

The drying control panel PA may include a drying displaying portion P8A capable of displaying the state of the laundry drying apparatus 20, a drying input means P9A capable of inputting the command to the laundry drying apparatus 20, and a drying speaker K2 capable of externally outputting a notification generated from the laundry drying apparatus 20. The laundry drying apparatus 20 may include a drying controller M2 that may perform the drying course and option of operating the driver and the like, and may include drying storage S2 that transmits the information to the drying controller M1 or stores a program to be used by the drying controller M1.

The drying input means P9A may be a concept including all components configured to receive the command of the user for the laundry washing apparatus 10, such as the manipulation portion P47A, the power switch P46A, the executing portion P47A, the setting portion P2A, and the like to be described later.

In addition, the laundry drying apparatus 20 may include a drying communication module T2. The drying communication module T2 may include a drying communication modem T21 including means of communication such as the Wi-Fi or the Bluetooth, a drying communication controller T22 configured to control the communication modem, and drying communication storage T23 that may transmit the received information to the drying controller M2 or may store a program for controlling the drying communication controller T22 when power to the drying controller M2 is cut off.

The drying communication module T2 may be configured to continuously receive the power even in a state in which power supply to the drying control panel PA of the laundry drying apparatus 20 is cut off, and may be configured to maintain a state in communication with the external terminal 40 and the server 50.

In addition, the drying communication module T2 may be configured to be directly paired with the communication module T1 and the mini communication module T31 to be described later to maintain the communication state.

In addition, when the drying communication module T2 receives a power command for supplying power to the drying control panel PA, the power may be controlled to be supplied to the drying control panel PA.

The mini apparatus 60 may include a mini control panel PC configured to display information and to receive a command from the user.

The mini control panel PC may include a mini displaying portion P8C capable of displaying the state of the mini apparatus 60, a mini input means P9C capable of inputting the command to the mini apparatus 60, and a mini speaker K3 capable of externally outputting a notification generated from the mini apparatus 60. The mini apparatus 60 may include a mini controller M3 that may perform the washing course and option of operating the driver, the water supply, the drainage, and the like of the mini apparatus 60, and may include mini storage S3 that transmits the information to the mini controller M3 or stores a program to be used by the mini controller M3.

The mini input means P9C may be a concept including all components configured to receive the command of the user for the laundry washing apparatus 10, such as the manipulation portion P47C, the power switch P46C, the executing portion P4C, the setting portion P2C, and the like to be described later.

In addition, the mini apparatus 60 may include a mini communication module T3. The mini communication module T3 may include a mini communication modem T31 including means of communication such as the Wi-Fi or the Bluetooth, a mini communication controller T32 configured to control the mini communication modem, and mini communication storage T33 that may transmit the received information to the mini controller M3 or may store a program for controlling the mini communication controller T32 when power to the mini controller M3 is cut off.

The mini communication module T3 may be configured to continuously receive the power even in a state in which power supply to the mini control panel PC of the mini apparatus 60 is cut off, and may be configured to maintain a state in communication with the external terminal 40 and the server 50.

In addition, the mini communication module T3 may be configured to be directly paired with the communication module T1 and the drying communication module T2 to be described later to maintain the communication state.

In addition, when the mini communication module T3 receives a power command for supplying power to the mini control panel PC, the power may be controlled to be supplied to the mini control panel PC.

In one example, the external terminal 40 may include a short-range communication module 40b configured to be in direct communication with the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60, and a long-range communication module 40a configured to be in communication with the server 50.

In addition, the external terminal 40 may further include a terminal displaying portion 42 for displaying the information received from the communication module, a terminal input means 44 that transmits the command to a home appliance such as the laundry washing apparatus 10 or to the server 50, and a terminal controller 46 for controlling the terminal displaying portion 42, the terminal input means 44, and the communication module. The external terminal 40 may further include terminal storage 48 to store the information received from the communication module or to store a program for controlling the terminal controller 46.

The server 50 may include a communication device T5 capable of being in communication with the external terminal 40, the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60, an arithmetic processor 52 that calculates information received from or to be transmitted to the external terminal 40, the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60, and a storage device 54 in which the information received from the external terminal 40, the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 may be stored or the arbitrary course or option that may operate the laundry washing apparatus 10, the laundry drying apparatus 20, and the mini apparatus 60 may be stored.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the control panel P that may be applied to the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, a description will be made based on the control panel P being disposed in the laundry washing apparatus 10, but the control panel P may be applied to the laundry washing apparatus 10 and the laundry drying apparatus 20 with the same structure and may also be applied to the mini apparatus 60.

In other words, the control panel P, the drying control panel PA, and the mini control panel PC may have the same structure.

The laundry washing apparatus 10 includes the cabinet 1 and the control panel P disposed on the cabinet 1.

The control panel P refers to a device that enables communication between the user and the laundry treating apparatus (including other electronic devices in addition to the laundry treating apparatus). The communication between the user and the laundry treating apparatus means a process in which the user inputs the control command to the laundry treating apparatus and a process in which the laundry treating apparatus transmits the information to the user.

The user may input, via the control panel P, at least one of a power command of supplying or cutting off the power of the laundry treating apparatus, a selection command of selecting the arbitrary course or option that treats the laundry, an execution command of performing the selected course or option, and a stop command of stopping the course or option being performed.

The treatment of the laundry may include the washing cycle of removing the foreign substances of the laundry via water and the detergent, or a drying cycle of drying water contained in the laundry.

The control panel P may display an operation state of the laundry treating apparatus or information of the course or option to the user.

For example, the control panel P may display a state in which at least one of the power command, the selection command, the execution command, the performance command, and the stop command is input. In addition, the control panel P may display error information of displaying a problem situation occurring in the laundry treating apparatus, or guide information of guiding an action to be taken by the user.

The cabinet 1 may include the front panel 11 forming a front face of the cabinet 1, and the top panel 13 coupled to a top face of the front panel 11. The front panel 11 and the top panel 13 may be made of a metal material, and may have a steel plate shape.

The control panel P of the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may be coupled to the front panel 11.

The control panel P may be coupled to a rear face of the front panel 11 and may be partially exposed to a front face of the front panel 11. The front panel 11 may be manufactured as a simple metal plate, and the control panel P may be simply coupled to the rear face of the front panel 11 and be fixed.

Accordingly, the front panel 11 may form a most area of the front face of the cabinet 1. As a result, a sense of unity of the front panel 11 may be strengthened and an aesthetics sensation may be maximized. In addition, a process of manufacturing the front panel 11 may be simplified, and a process of assembling or installing the front panel 11 and the control panel P may be simplified. In addition, a separate component such as a frame for mounting the control panel P on the front panel 11 may be omitted.

The control panel P of the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a manipulation portion P7 rotatably coupled to the cabinet, and a displaying portion P8 disposed inside the manipulation portion P7 to display the state of the laundry treating apparatus.

The manipulation portion P7 may be formed in a shape of a rotary knob, and the displaying portion P8 may be formed as a display D including a liquid crystal or the like. It may be seen that the displaying portion P8 and a selection portion R to be described later are included in the manipulation portion P7.

The displaying portion P8 may be entirely formed as a touch panel, or may be at least partially formed as the touch panel.

The manipulation portion P7 may be configured to rotate to select the arbitrary course or option that may treat the laundry, and the displaying portion P8 may be configured to display a corresponding course or option each time the manipulation portion P7 rotates.

As a result, the control panel P of the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may prevent an arbitrary course or option capable of rotating the drum to be described later from being displayed as characters, guide phrases, and the like in a certain area.

Accordingly, an area or an area ratio occupied by the control panel P in the front panel 11 may be greatly reduced, and the aesthetics sensation may be maximized as no separate characters or guide phrases are attached to the front panel 11.

A display P84 of the displaying portion P8 may include a state display area D1 for displaying the state of the laundry treating apparatus, and a content display area D2 for displaying the state in which the at least one of the power command, the selection command, the execution command, the performance command, and the stop command of the laundry treating apparatus is input, the error information, or the guide information of guiding the action to be taken by the user (see FIG. 11).

The state display area D1 may display a lock state D11 illustrating whether the door 132 is locked to the cabinet, an activation state D12 of the communication module T1, a executed state D13 of the course or the option, and a notification state D14 indicating that there is the notification information for the user.

The content display area D2, as an area displayed with the largest area in the displaying portion P8, may display the selected state, the executed state, the stop state, and the completion state of the course or the option, and may also display states of other home appliances to be described later.

In addition, the control panel P may further include the selection portion R for the user to input a determination command of determining the information to be displayed on the displaying portion P8. The selection portion R may be disposed inside the manipulation portion P7 to further reduce an area occupied by the control panel P.

The selection portion R may be disposed inside the displaying portion P8 and may be disposed spaced apart from the content display area D2. The selection portion R may be formed as a physical button or a touch panel for sensing a contact of a user's body.

The display P84 of the displaying portion may include an input area D3 that may request an input of the selection portion R at a point corresponding to the selection portion R. (see FIG. 11)

The input area D3 may be configured to emit light when the selection portion R may be activated to receive the command from the user.

In one example, the manipulation portion P7 and the displaying portion P8 may be operated only when the power is supplied.

To this end, the control panel P of the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include the power switch P46 for inputting the power command to the laundry treating apparatus, as well as the manipulation portion P7 and the displaying portion.

The user may activate the manipulation portion P7 by inputting the power switch P46.

The front panel 11 may include a power switch mounting portion 116 formed such that the power switch P46 may be installed.

In addition, the control panel P may further include the executing portion P47 to which the performance command of performing or stopping the selected course or option is input.

The executing portion P47 may be formed separately from the manipulation portion P7 and the displaying portion P8 to reflect a definite performance or stop intention of the user. In addition, the functions of the manipulation portion P7 and the displaying portion P8 may be prevented from being excessive.

The front panel 11 may include an executing portion mounting portion 117 formed such that the executing portion P47 may be installed.

The control panel P may include one control box or casing P41 that may accommodate or install the power switch P46, the execution device P47, the manipulation portion P7, and the displaying portion P8 therein (see FIG. 9).

In one example, the control panel P may further include the setting portion P2 that may add an option to the course or change the option of the course on the front panel 11. The user may set an option capable of changing an intensity, a duration, and the like of the course via the setting portion P2.

The setting portion P2 may be formed separately from the casing P41 and may be coupled to the front panel 11. The setting portion P2 may include a separate liquid crystal and may include a touch panel or a physical button to input the option.

The power switch P46, the executing portion P47, the manipulation portion P7, and the setting portion P2 may be collectively referred to as the input means P9.

In one example, the front panel 11 may have the laundry inlet 111 defined to be in communication with the drum 2, and the door 132 that is pivotably coupled to the cabinet to open and close the laundry inlet 111.

The control panel P may be located above the door 132 to enhance accessibility of the user.

In one example, the front panel 11 may further include locking means L for fixing the door 132 to the front panel 11. When the laundry treating apparatus operates, such as the drum of the laundry treating apparatus rotates, the locking means L may lock the door 132 to the front panel 11. Therefore, a safety accident may be prevented. The locking means L may be unlock the door 132 when the operation of the laundry treating apparatus is completed.

The locking means L may be formed as any component as long as it is able to fix the door 132 to the cabinet 1. The locking means L may be formed as a fastener for fastening a hook protruding from the door, or may be formed as a solenoid valve for holding the hook.

The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a detergent box 243 that accommodates therein the detergent for washing the laundry, and the front panel 11 may include a detergent hole P24 from which the detergent box 243 is extended.

The control panel P may be coupled to the front panel 11. As a result, the control panel P may include the input means P9 that receives the control command from the user, and the displaying portion P8 that outputs the information such as the control command selectable by the user.

The main controller M1 for controlling a command for performing the drying operation of the laundry treating apparatus may be installed.

The input means P9 may include a power supply requesting device P46 for requesting the power supply to the laundry treating apparatus, the manipulation portion P7 that enables the user to select a desired course among multiple courses, and the executing portion P47 for requesting start of the course selected by the user.

The displaying portion P8 may include at least one of a display panel capable of outputting text and figures, and a speaker capable of outputting a voice signal and sound.

FIG. 8 shows a structure in which a control panel is coupled to a front panel.

As shown in the drawing, the laundry washing apparatus 10 may further include a detergent supply P24. The detergent supply P24 may include a detergent box housing 241 disposed inside the cabinet 1, a connecting pipe 242 for connecting the detergent box housing to the tub body 21, and a detergent box 243 that may be extended from the detergent box housing 241 through a detergent box laundry inlet 133 defined in the front panel 11.

The detergent box 243 may include a chamber 245 that provides a space in which the detergent is stored, and a discharge flow path 247 that discharges the detergent inside the chamber to the detergent box housing 241. The discharge flow path 247 may be formed as a water trap (a siphon flow path or the like) that allows liquid to flow to the detergent box housing 241 when a level of the liquid stored in the chamber 245 exceeds a preset water level.

When the detergent supply P24 is disposed in the laundry treating apparatus 10, the water supply 23 may further include a nozzle 232 for supplying water to the chamber 245. The nozzle 232 may be fixed to the cabinet 1 to form a top face of the detergent box housing 241, and the water supply pipe 231 may connect the nozzle 232 and the water supply source to each other.

A detergent box panel 248 may be disposed on a front face of the detergent box 243. The detergent box panel 248 may be formed in a shape to close the detergent box laundry inlet 133, and the detergent box panel 248 may have a detergent box handle.

The front panel 11 may be fixed to the cabinet 1 via a panel support 12. That is, the panel support 12 may be fixed to the cabinet 1, and the front panel 11 may be fixed to the panel support 12. The panel support 12 may have a detergent box through-hole 121 through which the detergent box 243 passes.

The control panel P may be fixed to the cabinet 1 via the panel support 12. The panel support 12 may have an interface mounting groove into which the control panel P is fixed.

The front panel 11 has a first button mounting portion 116 and a second button mounting portion 117. The first button 461 may be exposed to the outside of the cabinet 1 via the first button mounting portion 136, and the second button 471 may be exposed to the outside of the cabinet 1 via the second button mounting portion 117.

The first input means 46 and the second input means 47 may be separately disposed in a left space and a right space of the displaying portion P8, may be separately disposed in an upper space and a lower space of the displaying portion, or may be disposed vertically or horizontally in one of the left space and the right space of the displaying portion.

The cabinet 1 has a panel through-hole 134 defined to extend through the front panel 11. The shaft 71 may be inserted into the panel through-hole 134.

When the laundry treating apparatus is formed as the laundry drying apparatus 20, the rest may be the same except that the component related to the detergent box is changed to the water storage 7.

FIG. 9 shows an internal structure of a control panel.

The control panel P includes a circuit board (a first circuit board) P4 fixed to the panel support 12 and positioned inside the cabinet 1, an encoder P5 fixed to the circuit board and located inside the cabinet 1, the manipulation portion P7 connected to the encoder P5 through the front panel 11, and the displaying portion P8 fixed to the encoder P5 or the first circuit board P4 through the front panel 11.

The first circuit board P4, as a board equipped with a control circuit required for control (power control and operation control) of at least one of the drivers 32, a steam apparatus 200, and the water supply portion 23, the discharge portion 25 may be fixed to the panel support 12 via the casing P41. The casing P41 may have any shape as long as it is able to fix the first circuit board 4 to the panel support 12.

The casing P41 may be formed in a hexahedral shape with one face (a face facing the panel support) open.

A boss for setting a position of the first circuit board P4 may be disposed in the casing P41. The boss may include a first boss 411 and a second boss 412.

In this case, the first circuit board P4 may have a board through-hole P42 through which the first boss 411 passes, and a boss insertion hole P43 through which the second boss 412 passes. The second boss 412 may be disposed in each of left and right spaces of the first boss 411, or may be disposed in each of upper and lower spaces of the first boss 411.

A wire 822 is connected to the displaying portion P8. The wire 822 may be formed as a power line for supplying the power to the displaying portion, or may be formed as a communication line that enables the displaying portion P8 to communicate with devices inside the cabinet including the first circuit board P4.

The first boss 411 may have a first boss through-hole 413 defined therein, and the panel support 12 may have a wire through-hole P42 (see FIG. 4) defined therein. In this case, the wire 822 may be extended into the cabinet 1 by being inserted into the first boss through-hole 413 and the wire through-hole P42.

The first circuit board P4 may further include the power switch P46 and the executing portion P47. The laundry device P46 may be formed as means for inputting the control command for requesting the power supply to the laundry treating apparatus 100, and the executing portion P47 may be formed as means for inputting a command for requesting execution of the control command displayed on the displaying portion P8 or a command for temporarily stopping the control command being executed by the laundry treating apparatus 10.

The power switch P46 and the executing portion P47 may be configured to generate a control signal by sensing static electricity of the user's body.

The power switch P46 may include the first button 461 exposed to the outside of the cabinet 1, a first detection sensor 469 fixed to the first circuit board P4, and a conductor (a first touch spring) 463 for connecting the first button and the first detection sensor to each other. Similarly, the executing portion P47 may include the second button 471 exposed to the outside of the cabinet 1, a second detection sensor 474 fixed to the first circuit board P4, and a conductor (a second touch spring) (not shown) for connecting the second button and the second detection sensor to each other.

The front panel 11 has the first button mounting portion 136 and the second button mounting portion 117. The first button 461 may be exposed to the outside of the cabinet 1 via the first button mounting portion 116, and the second button 471 may be exposed to the outside of the cabinet 1 via the second button mounting portion 117.

The power switch P46 and the executing portion P47 may be separately disposed in the left space and the right space of the displaying portion P8, may be separately disposed in the upper space and the lower space of the displaying portion, or may be disposed vertically or horizontally in one of the left space and the right space of the displaying portion.

The first touch spring 463 and the second touch spring may be formed in a shape of a coil, which is to provide a restoring force to the first button 461 and the second button 471. Furthermore, in order to prevent the first button 461 and the second button 471 from being respectively deviated from the

button mounting portions

116 and 117, the power switch 46 may have a first stopper 462 that limits a range of motion of the first button, and the execution device 47 may have a second stopper (not shown) that limits a range of motion of the second button.

The encoder P5 is means for rotatably fixing the manipulation portion P7 to the first circuit board P4, and is means for generating an electrical signal (or generating an electrical signal set differently based on a rotation angle of an actuator) during the rotation of the manipulation portion P7.

The drying control panel PA may have the same structure as the control panel P.

In addition, the mini control panel PC may also have the same structure as the control panel P.

FIG. 10 shows a structure of an encoder.

The encoder P5 may include a fixed portion P51 fixed to the first circuit board P4 and to which the displaying portion P8 is fixed, a rotating portion P52 rotatably disposed on the fixed portion P51 and to which the manipulation portion P7 is fixed, and a signal generator P54 for generating an electrical signal when the rotating portion P52 is rotated.

The fixed portion P51 may include a fixed body P512 fixed to the first circuit board P4, a support body 511 extending from the fixed body 512 and rotatably fixing the rotating portion P52, and a body through-hole 514 connected to the board through-hole P42 (connected to the first boss through-hole) through the fixed body and the support body.

The fixed body 512 may be formed in a cylindrical shape. A board fastening portion 513 may be disposed on a circumferential face of the fixed body 512 or on one face (a face facing the first circuit board) of the fixed body. In this case, the first circuit board P4 may have an encoder fixing hole P44 defined therein into which the board fastening portion 513 is inserted.

The board fastening portion 513 and the encoder fixing hole P44 may respectively include multiple board fastening portions and multiple encoder fixing holes, and the encoder fixing holes P44 may be arranged to surround the board through-hole P42.

Inside the body through-hole 514, a fastening body fixing portion 531 for fastening the displaying portion P8 to the fixed portion 51, and a position setting groove 532 for preventing the displaying portion 8 from rotating (fixing the position of the displaying portion) when the displaying portion P8 is inserted into the body through-hole 514 may be disposed.

The fastening body fixed portion 531 may be formed as a protrusion protruding toward a center of the body through-hole 514 from at least one of the support body 511 and the fixed body 512. The drawing shows a case in which the fastening body fixed portion 531 is disposed on the support body 511 as an example.

The positioning groove 532 may be defined as a groove in which one face of the fixed portion P51 defining the body through-hole 514 is concavely bent. In this case, the positioning groove 532 may be defined along a longitudinal direction of the body through-hole 514.

The rotating portion P52 may be formed as a rotating body 521 rotatably coupled to the support body 511. The rotating body 521 should have a rotating body through-hole through which the support body 511 passes.

The rotating body 521 may have a shaft fastening portion 522 to which the manipulation portion P7 is fastened. The shaft fastening portion 522 may be formed as a fastening hole extending through a circumferential face of the rotating body 521, or may be formed as a fastening groove defined as the circumferential face of the rotating body 521 is concavely bent.

The signal generator P54 may include a magnet fixed to the rotating body 521, a sensor that is disposed on the fixed body 512 or the support body 511 to sense a magnetic force, and a terminal that connects the sensor and the first circuit board 4 to each other. The magnet may be formed as multiple permanent magnets are arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the circumferential face of the rotating body 521.

The first circuit board P4 to which the encoder P5 is assembled may be coated with an insulating material. This is to minimize a possibility that water is supplied to the first circuit board P4 and the circuit is short-circuited. When the insulating material is coated on one face (a face facing the front panel) of the first circuit board P4, in order to prevent the rotating body 521 from being fixed to the support body 511 by the insulating material, the control panel P may further include an encoder cover P6.

The encoder cover P6 may be formed in a pipe shape that is fixed to the first circuit board P4 and surrounds the encoder P5. That is, as shown in the drawing, the encoder cover P6 may include a fixed body cover P61 that is fixed to the first circuit board P4 and surrounds the fixed body 512, and a cover through-hole P62 defined to extend through the fixed body cover P61 and into which the encoder 5 is inserted.

The fixed body cover P61 may have a board fastening portion 611, and the first circuit board P4 may have an encoder cover fixing hole P45 to which the board fastening portion 611 is fixed. The board fastening portion 611 and the encoder cover fixing hole P45 may respectively include multiple board fastening portions and multiplpe encoder cover fixing holes, and the encoder cover fixing holes P45 may be arranged to surround the board fastening portion 513.

For discharging water introduced into the fixed body cover P61, a cover outlet 612 may be further disposed on a circumferential face of the fixed body cover P61. The cover outlet 612 is preferably located at a lowermost end of the circumferential face of the fixed body cover P61.

In one example, the above-described insulating material is applied to the first circuit board P4 after both the encoder P5 and the encoder cover P6 are coupled to the first circuit board P4, and the insulating material sprayed on a partial area of the first circuit board P4 (an outer space of the encoder cover) flows into the encoder cover P6 through the cover outlet 612. In such a process, in order to block the insulating material from being supplied to the rotating body 521, a distance L1 from the first circuit board to an uppermost end of the fixed body 512 is preferably set to be equal to or greater than a distance L2 from the first circuit board to an uppermost end of the cover outlet 612.

The encoder cover P6 may further include a support body cover P63 extending from the fixed body cover P61 and surrounding the rotating body 521 (surrounding the support body). The support body cover P63 may limit the movement of the manipulation portion P7 in a radial direction of the cover through-hole 62, so that the support body cover P63 may prevent the manipulation portion P7 from being separated from the rotating body 521.

FIG. 11 shows a structure of a manipulation portion and a displaying portion.

The manipulation portion P7 may include a shaft P71 that is fixed to the rotating body 521 through the front panel 11, and a handle P73 fixed to the shaft P71 and positioned outside the cabinet 1.

The cabinet 1 has the panel through-hole 134 defined to extend through the front panel 11. The shaft P71 may be disposed to be inserted into the panel through-hole 134.

The shaft P71 may be formed a pipe having a shaft through-hole 711 defined therein. The rotating body 521 disposed in the encoder is inserted into the shaft through-hole 711, and a rotating body fastening portion 712 disposed on a circumferential face of the shaft P71 and positioned inside the shaft through-hole 711 is coupled to a shaft fastening portion 522 disposed on the rotating body. Accordingly, the shaft P71 is fixed to the rotating body 521 via the rotating body fastening portion 712 and the shaft fastening portion 522.

The handle P73 may be fixed to the shaft P71 so as to be located outside of the cabinet 1, and the user may provide a force required for the rotation of the rotating body 521 to the shaft P71 via the handle P73.

The handle P73 may include an accommodation space 731 defined inside the handle to be in communication with the shaft through-hole 711, and a handle through-hole 732 that extends through one face of the handle P73 to allow the accommodation space 731 to be in communication with the outside.

When a diameter of the handle P73 is set to be larger than a diameter of the shaft P71, the shaft P71 may further include a base 713 to which the handle P73 is fixed. The base 713 may be formed as a disk fixed to the circumferential face of the shaft P71.

The handle P73 and the base 713 may be coupled to each other via a base fastening portion 734 disposed on the handle 73 and a handle fastening portion 714 disposed on the base 713.

The base fastening portion 734 may be formed as multiple protrusions fixed to the handle so as to be located inside the accommodation space 731, and the handle fastening portion 714 may be formed as a groove defined in the base 713 and accommodating the protrusion therein.

In order to facilitate the coupling of the handle P73 and the base 713, the handle P73 may have a fastening guide 735 positioned between one base fastening portion 734 and another base fastening portion 734, and the base 713 may have a guide groove 715 into which the fastening guide 735 is inserted. The guide groove 715 may be defined as a groove in which a circumferential face of the base 713 is bent toward the shaft through-hole 711.

The displaying portion P8 may include a housing P81 fixed to the fixed body 512 of the encoder and located inside the accommodation space 731 of the actuator, the display P84 fixed to the housing and displaying information (information related to control, operation, and the like of the laundry treating apparatus), and a circuit board (second circuit board and a displaying portion circuit board) P82 disposed in the housing and having a circuit for controlling the display P84.

The housing P81 may include a fastening body 81b fixed to the fixed body 512 by extending through the shaft through-hole 711 and being inserted into the body through-hole 514, and an accommodating body 81a fixed to the fastening body 81b and positioned inside the accommodation space 731.

The accommodating body 81a may be formed in any shape as long as it may be inserted into the accommodation space 731. A case in which the accommodating body 81a is formed in a cylindrical shape is shown as an example.

A mounting space 811 is defined inside the accommodating body 81a, and the mounting space 811 is in communication with the accommodation space 731 defined in the handle via an accommodating body through-hole 812 (the accommodating body through-hole is defined to be in communication with the handle through-hole). That is, the accommodating body through-hole 812 is defined in a face directed in a direction in which the handle through-hole 732 is located of the space provided by the accommodating body 81a.

The fastening body 81b may be formed in any shape as long as it is able to be inserted into the shaft through-hole 711 and the body through-hole 514 of the encoder. A case in which the fastening body 81b is formed in a cylindrical shape is shown as an example. The fastening body 81b has a fastening body through-hole 815 connected to the mounting space 811.

A fixed body fastening portion 816 may be disposed on a circumferential face of the fastening body 81b. The fixed body fastening portion 816 is means for fixing the housing P81 to the fastening body fixing portion 531 disposed in the encoder.

Further, multiple position setting protrusions 817 may be further disposed on the circumferential face of the fastening body 81b.

The position setting protrusion 817 is formed in a shape capable of being inserted into the position setting groove 532 defined in the encoder, and the position setting protrusion 817 is disposed at a point corresponding to a position of the position setting groove 532. The position setting protrusion 817 and the position setting groove 532 are means for minimizing a risk that the fixed body fastening portion 816 fails to be coupled to the portion 531 (means for ensuring the coupling of the fixed body fastening portion and the fastening body fixing portion) when the fastening body 81b is inserted into the body through-hole 514.

The second circuit board P82 may be inserted into the mounting space 811, and the wire 822 connected to the second circuit board P82 may be withdrawn to the outside of the housing P81 through the fastening body through-hole 815. Multiple lamps 821 may be disposed on the second circuit board P82.

The second circuit board P82 may control the display P84 to display preset information in response to an electrical signal generated from the signal generator 54 when the handle P73 is rotated.

In order to maintain a gap between the second circuit board P82 and the display P84 and to prevent damage to the lamp 821, a mounting portion P83 positioned between the display P84 and the second circuit board P82 may be disposed in the mounting space 811.

The mounting portion P83 may be formed as a mounting body 831 fixed to the accommodating body 81a and positioned inside the mounting space 811. The mounting body 831 may have any shape as long as it is able to be inserted into the mounting space 811.

A seating groove 832 to which the display P84 is fixed is defined in one face of the mounting body 831. The seating groove 832 may have a connector through-hole 836. A connector 841 (a flexible PCB or the like) disposed in the display P84 may be connected to the second circuit board P82 by being inserted into the connector through-hole 836.

The mounting body 831 may have a lamp through-hole 835 into which the lamp 821 is inserted. It is preferable that the number of lamp through-holes 835 is the same number as the number of the lamps 821, and a position of the lamp through-hole 835 should be set to a space of the mounting body located above the mounting groove 832 or a space of the mounting body located below the mounting groove 832. This is for light emitted from the lamp 821 to be transmitted to the outside of the housing P81 through the lamp through-hole 835.

The mounting portion P83 is fixed to the housing P81 via a mounting body fastening portion 813 disposed on the accommodating body 81a and an accommodating body fastening portion 833 disposed on the mounting body 831. The mounting body fastening portion 813 may be formed as multiple protrusions located inside the mounting space 811, and the accommodating body fastening portion 833 may be defined as a groove or the like defined in the circumferential face of the mounting body 831 (one face of the mounting body in contact with the accommodating body) and to which the mounting body fastening portion 813 is fixed.

The number of mounting body fastening portions 813 and the number of accommodating body fastening portions 833 should be set to be the same, and positions of the mounting body fastening portion 813 and the accommodating body fastening portion 833 should be set to correspond to each other.

In order to increase a fastening force of the mounting body 831, the accommodating body fastening portion 833 may include an upper fastening portion positioned higher than the seating surface 832 and a lower fastening portion positioned lower than the seating surface 832. Unlike the drawing, the accommodating body fastening portion 833 may be disposed on each of left and right sides of the seating face.

A window P85 may be further disposed on the accommodating body 81a to prevent water and foreign substances from flowing into the display P84 and the second circuit board P82.

Preferably, the window P85 is fixed to at least one of the accommodating body 81a and the mounting body 831 to close the accommodating body through-hole 812. The window P85 should be made of a material having a transparency that allows the information displayed on the display P84 and the light emitted from the lamp 821 to be viewed from the outside.

When the window P85 is fixed to the mounting body 831, the window P85 may have a cover fixing protrusion 851 protruding toward the mounting body 831, and the mounting body 831 may have a fixing protrusion fastening portion 834 to which the cover fixing protrusion 851 is coupled.

The second circuit board P82 may also be fixed to the mounting body 831. That is, the mounting portion P83 may have a protrusion protruding from the mounting body 831 toward the second circuit board 82, and the second circuit board 82 may have a protrusion through-hole 823 into which the protrusion is inserted.

Further, the window P85 may further include a cover sheet 853 for lowering the transparency of the cover. It is preferable that a transparency of the cover sheet is set to such a degree that it is difficult to view the interior of the mounting space 811 from the outside (the transparency of the cover sheet is set lower than the transparency of the cover). The cover sheet 853 may be fixed to a surface of the window P85, and a letter or symbol H may be displayed in an area of the cover sheet on which the lamp through-hole 835 is projected.

In one example, a lamp through-hole 835 corresponding to the input area D3 among the lamp through-holes 835 in the mounting portion P83 may provide a signal instructing the user to press the input area D3.

The selection portion R may be disposed inside the displaying portion P8. Specifically, the selection portion R may be formed as a component of the displaying portion P8 and may be disposed in the displaying portion P8 to be disposed inside the manipulation portion P7.

Accordingly, it may be seen that the displaying portion P8 includes the selection portion R that receives a determination command to determine the state information displayed on the display P84. Because the determination command determined by the selection portion R changes based on the state information, the selection portion R may correspond to a variable input means.

For example, when the selection information of the course and the option is displayed on the display P84, the selection portion R may be configured to input a determination command to select or determine the course and option. In addition, when a guide is displayed on the display P84, the selection portion R may be configured to input a determination command to identify the guide.

As a result, the selection portion R may be configured to, based on a type of the control command displayed on the display 84, receive a determination command for the user to identify or determine the corresponding control command.

The selection portion R may be configured to determine whether the control command displayed on the display P84 is selected by sensing whether the user's body is in contact with the window P85.

That is, the selection portion R may include a sensor R3 disposed on the second circuit board 82 and sensing the static electricity of the user's body, and a conductor R2 or a physical button R1 for connecting the sensor R3 and the window P85 to each other.

The selection portion R may be composed of a receiver R1 attached to or coupled to the window P85, and a transmitter R2 having one end connected to the receiver R1 and the other end connected to the sensor R3. In this case, the mounting body 831 must have a conductor through-hole 837 into which the transmitter R2 is inserted.

The receiver R1 is means for facilitating the input of the control command by expanding an area that the user may contact. In the control panel P having the above structure, the display area D1 is formed in an upper space of the window P85, and the input area D3 is formed in a lower space of the window P85. Therefore, when a width of the receiver R1 is set to be great, a width of the input area D3 is expanded, so that the user may more easily input the control command. The width of the receiver R1 is preferably set to equal to or smaller than 1/4 to 1/2 of a width of the window P85.

The transmitter R2 and the receiver R1 may be formed as a conductor. Therefore, when the user's body is in contact with the transmitter R2 and the receiver R1, a current of the user's body may be charged or transmitted, so that the current may be transmitted to the sensor R3.

In addition, the transmitter R2 and the receiver R1 may be formed physical buttons. Therefore, when the user's body presses the receiver R1, the pressure of the body may be transmitted to the sensor R3.

The receiver R1 may be formed as a film that is printed or attached to a rear face of the window P85, and may be made of a carbon-based material or the like.

In one example, the displaying portion P8 may include inducing means 839 for inducing the user to press the selection portion R.

The inducing means 839 may guide the user to the location of the selection portion R to induce the user to press the selection portion R.

The inducing means 839 may include the lamp 821 and the lamp through-hole 835 corresponding to the position of the receiver R1. Specifically, the inducing means 839 may include the lamp through-hole 835 defined below the display P84 and the lamp 821 installed inside the lamp through-hole 835.

The lamp through-hole 835 and the lamp 821 constituting the inducting means 839 may be disposed below the display P84 and at a center of the mounting portion 83.

Accordingly, when the lamp 821 emits the light in the inducting means 839, the selection portion R or an area adjacent to the selection portion R may be brightened.

In addition, the lamp 821 of the inducing means 830 may be formed as an LED element and the like to indicate a separate character or phrase.

The control panel P having the above structure enables display of the control command, search for the displayed control command, and selection of the displayed control command, and enables minimization of a space required for installation. However, the control panel P having the above structure needs means to block the inflow of water or the foreign substances to the displaying portion P8 and the manipulation portion P7 or to discharge the inflowed water or foreign substances to the outside.

The control panel P having the above structure will display a preset control command on the display P84 whenever the user rotates the handle P73 (whenever the encoder generates the electrical signal) (search and change the control command).

When the desired control command is displayed on the display P84, the user may select the displayed control command via the selection portion R, and the control command selected via the selection portion R may be initiated when the user inputs an execution command via the executing portion P47.

In one example, the handle P73 is coupled to the first circuit board P4 to enable a rotational movement, whereas the housingP81 of the displaying portion is fixed to the first circuit board P4, so that it is necessary to keep a gap between the handle P73 and the housingP81 constant. This is because, when the gap between the handle P73 and the housingP81 is not maintained, the rotation of the handle 7P3 is likely to be constrained.

FIG. 12 shows a detailed configuration of the manipulation portion P7.

The shaft P71 may be coupled to the encoder to rotate the encoder. The base P713 may extend from a distal end of the shaft to have a larger diameter than the shaft. The handle P75 may be coupled to the base to rotate the shaft and the encoder.

A diameter of the base 713 may be larger than a diameter of the panel through-hole. The base 713 may extend from the distal end of the shaft to face the panel through-hole.

The handle P73 may be coupled to an outer circumferential face of the base P713, and a diameter of the handle P75 may be greater than a width of the panel through-hole.

A diameter of the encoder P5 may be smaller than the width of the panel through-hole.

An outer circumferential face of the manipulation portion P7 may have a larger diameter than an outer circumferential face of the encoder P5.

The shaft P71 may be formed as a pipe having a shaft through-hole 711 defined therein. The rotating body 521 disposed in the encoder is inserted into the shaft through-hole 711, and the rotating body fastening portion 712 disposed on a circumferential face of the shaft P71 and located inside the shaft through-hole 711 is coupled to the shaft fastening portion 522 disposed in the rotating body. Accordingly, the shaft P71 is fixed to the rotating body 521 via the rotating body fastening portion 712 and the shaft fastening portion 522.

The handle P73 may be fixed to the shaft P71 so as to be located outside the cabinet 1, and the user may supply a force required for rotation of the rotating body 521 to the shaft P71 via the handle P73.

The handle 7P3 may include an accommodation space 731 defined inside the handle to be in communication with the shaft through-hole 711, and a handle through-hole 732 that extends through one face of the handle 73 to communicate the accommodation space 731 with the outside.

When a diameter of the handle P73 is set to be larger than a diameter of the shaft P71, the shaft 71 may further include a base 713 to which the handle P73 is fixed. The base 713 may be formed as a disk fixed to a circumferential face of the shaft P71.

The handle P73 and the base 713 may be coupled to each other via a base fastening portion 734 disposed in the handle 73 and a handle fastening portion 714 disposed in the base 713.

The interface P having the above-described structure enables the display of the control command, the search for the displayed control command, and the selection of the displayed control command, and minimizes the space required for the installation. However, the interface P of the above-described structure requires means for blocking the inflow of water or the foreign substances to the display portion P8 and the manipulation portion P7 or for discharging the introduced water or foreign substances to the outside.

The manipulation portion P7 may have means for discharging the water or the foreign substances flowed into the handle through-hole 732 to the outside of the accommodation space 731, and the display portion P8 may have means for blocking the inflow of the foreign substances (external air, liquid, dust, and the like) into the housing 81.

As described above, the manipulation portion P7 may discharge the water or the foreign substances introduced into the accommodation space 731 through the handle outlet P74 defined in the handle to the outside of the accommodation space.

FIG. 13 shows utilization of the control panel.

In the state display area D1 of the displaying portion P8, whether the door is locked, whether the communication module is activated, whether the course or the option is operated, whether the guide phrase is generated, and the like may appear in a form of an icon.

In addition, the number of displayed contents that may appear while rotating the manipulation portion P7 may be displayed in the state display area D1. For example, a plurality of dots may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other, and the number of contents displayed in the content display area D2 may be provided while one of the plurality of dots emits the light.

In the content display area D2, contents of the course and the option, the executed state of the course or the option, and the guide phrase necessary for the user may be displayed.

The content display area D2 may be larger than the state display area D1.

In the input area D3, light may be emitted to request the input of the user, and the guide phrase indicating which content the user should input may be displayed.

The power switch P46 may be disposed at a left side of the displaying portion P8, and the executing portion P47 may be disposed at a right side of the displaying portion P8.

The manipulation portion P7 may be rotatably disposed on an outer circumferential face of the displaying portion P8, and may rotate the drum 3.

The arbitrary course may be a series of control methods for performing the washing cycle (the drying cycle) of washing the laundry.

When the manipulation portion P7 is rotated, a name of the corresponding course and a simple option name may be displayed in the content display area D2 of the displaying portion P8 based on a set order, and a description of the course or the option may be displayed.

The option may be selected by the setting portion P2. The setting portion P2 may be configured to receive a selection command for selecting at least one of the arbitrary options.

The arbitrary option may include setting additional conditions of the course.

For example, the arbitrary option may be a set algorithm or a control method for adjusting at least one of the number of repetitions of each cycle to perform the course, an intensity of performing each cycle, a rotation speed of the drum when performing each cycle, a temperature of water, an amount of water, and a duration of each cycle.

The setting portion P2 may be formed as a touch display for selecting the arbitrary option, and may have a plurality of lamps and a plurality of conductor switches capable of sensing the user's body.

For example, the setting portion P2 may include option selection portion B that receives a setting command to set the conditions for the course, and option displaying portion B4 that displays option information corresponding to the option selection portion B.

For example, the option selection portion B may include rinsing means B1 for adjusting a rinsing force related to the rotation speed and duration of the drum, the amount of water, and the number of times of rinsing when the course performs the rinsing cycle, dehydration means B2 for adjusting a dehydration force related to the rotation speed and duration of the drum when the course performs the dehydration cycle, and temperature means B3 of adjusting a temperature of water when the course performs the washing cycle.

The option displaying portion B4 may be configured to indicate the rinsing force, the dehydration force, and the temperature in an objectified and unitized manner.

In one example, the setting portion P2 may have a utilizing means C that receives a utilization command to utilize a function of the laundry treating apparatus.

For example, the utilizing means C may include washing means C1 for inputting a special washing cycle such as functional laundry washing, soft laundry washing, and tub washing, reservation means C2 for inputting a reservation command to perform the washing course at a specific time, sterilizing means C for promoting sterilization by adding steam to the laundry during the course cycle, and additional function means C4 for utilizing additional functions such as pairing with other devices.

In addition, the setting portion P2 may include switching portion E for receiving a connection command to be in communication with the laundry drying apparatus 20 or the mini apparatus 60.

In one example, the setting portion P2 allows a function that may be utilized at a present time point or a function selected by the user to be turned on and allows a function that is not able to be executed or is not selected by the user to be turned off.

The setting portion P2 may display all of the contents via an auxiliary display P19.

Hereinafter, an embodiment and a control method for displaying and controlling the laundry drying apparatus 20 or the mini apparatus 60 with the control panel P of the laundry washing apparatus 10 will be described. However, this is only for omitting repetitive descriptions, and is able to be equally applied when controlling the laundry washing apparatus 10 or the mini apparatus 60 with the drying control panel PA.

In addition, the same may be applied when controlling the laundry washing apparatus 10 or the laundry drying apparatus 20 with the mini control panel PC.

FIG. 14 shows a structure of a display portion of the present disclosure.

The display portion may include a mounting portion 83 disposed inside the circular handle 71 of the manipulation portion , and a display 84 seated on a front face or an exposed face of the mounting portion 83.

Referring to (a) in FIG. 14, the mounting portion P83 includes a mounting body 831 that is accommodated in the manipulation portion P7. The mounting body 831 may have a circular cross-section so as not to interrupt the rotation of the manipulation portion P7 along an outer circumferential face thereof.

The mounting body 831 may accommodate a circuit board P82 controlling the display portion therein. Because the mounting body 831 is made of reinforced plastic or synthetic resin for easy molding, a space for mounting the circuit board P82 may be defined on a rear face of or inside the mounting body 831.

The mounting body 831 may be constructed such that light from a lamp 821 or an LED element may pass through a plurality of lamp through-holes 835 toward a state display area D1 of the display portion P8.

In addition, the lamp through-hole 835 may also be defined at a lower portion of the mounting body 831, so that the light from the lamp 821 or the LED element corresponding to the selection portion R may pass therethrough toward the input area D3 of the display portion P8. Accordingly, the lamp 821 or the LED element may be repeatedly turned on and turned off to induce the input of the command to the selection portion R.

The mounting body 831 may have a seating groove 832 defined therein at a center in which the display P84 may be seated or fixed. The seating groove 832 may be defined by being recessed to a predetermined depth from the exposed face or the front face of the mounting body 831, and may be defined in a shape corresponding to a shape of an outer peripheral face of the display 84.

The seating groove 832 may be disposed between the lamp through-hole 835 defined above and the lamp through-hole 835 defined below.

The seating groove 832 may have a width greater than a vertical dimension to secure an installation area of the display P84. The seating groove 832 may be defined so as not to extend through the mounting body 831 to support the display 84.

The mounting portion P83 may further include a connector through-hole 836 defined to extend through the mounting body 831. The connector through-hole 836 may be defined such that a control line 841 that connects the circuit board P82 and the display P84 to each other so as to transmit a control signal generated from the circuit board P82 to the display P84 may pass therethrough. The connector through-hole 836 may be defined to extend through the seating groove 832.

The connector through-hole 836 is preferably defined at one of both sides of the seating groove 832. This is to guide the control line 841 to the circuit board P82 at the shortest distance without bending or pressing the control line 841 because the control lines 841 will be disposed at both ends of the display P84. As a result, an occurrence of noise and the like may be prevented.

Referring to (b) in FIG. 14, the display P84 may be supported and fixed inside the seating groove 832.

The display P84 may include a display portion 843 that visually displays a control signal selected to be displayed on the circuit board P2, a connector 841 extending from the circuit board P82 and transmitting the signal of the circuit board P82 to the display portion 843, and a harness 842 disposed on one face of the display portion 843 and connected to the connector.

The display portion 843 may be formed in a rectangular shape, and may be configured to variably display visual information like an LED panel or an LCD panel. Because the display portion 843 visually expresses the signal generated from the circuit board P82, the display portion 843 may display boot information, selection information of the course and the option, execution information of the course and the option, and completion information of the course and the option.

In addition, the display portion 843 may display a remote control state controlled by the external terminal 40 and information received from the server 10.

The harness 842 may be coupled to a side face of the display portion 843, and may be disposed in parallel with the display portion 843. Accordingly, an expansion of a thickness of the entire display portion P8 may be prevented.

The harness 842 may be made of a plastic, and may have a surface in a rectangular parallelepiped shape to fix a free end of the control line 841 therein.

The control line 841 may be connected to the harness 842 so as to extend to the circuit board P82. The control line 841 may be formed in a shape of a thin band in parallel with the harness 842 and the surface of the display portion 843. Accordingly, the control line 841 may prevent the expansion of the thickness of the entire display portion P8.

The control line 841 may be formed in any shape as long as it may be configured to transmit the electric signal.

FIG. 15 shows structures of a mounting portion and a selection portion.

The display P84 may be seated in the mounting portion P83. The plurality of lamps 821 for emitting light to the state display area D1 to transmit information corresponding thereto may be disposed above the display P84. An icon may be printed on the window P85 at a position corresponding to the lamp 821.

The plurality of lamps 821 may be controlled by being coupled to the circuit board P82.

Icons corresponding to the state information may be arranged based on the number of lamps 821 disposed above the display P84. For example, when four lamps 821 are arranged, a lock icon, a Wi-Fi icon, an execution/stop icon, a speaker notification icon and the like may be printed on the window P85. Accordingly, when the state information corresponding thereto occurs, the circuit board P82 may turn on the corresponding lamp 821.

Because the circuit board P82 and the plurality of lamps 821 are located on the rear face or inside of the mounting body 831, the light emitted from the plurality of lamps 821 needs to reach the window P85. Accordingly, in the mounting portion P83, the lamp through-hole 835 that extends through the mounting body 831 and forms a path through which the light emitted from the lamp 821 reaches the window P85 is defined.

The display portion P8 may display a selection area D3 at a lower portion of the display P84, and the selection area D3 is configured to receive an input from the user. Accordingly, the display portion P8 may transmit an intention of the user to the control panel P by transmitting the input received from the user to the circuit board P82.

In general, the input means P9 that receives the user's input as the manipulation portion P7, the executing means P47, and the setting portion P2 is entirely located outwardly of the display portion P8, and the display portion P8 displays the information generated from the control panel P. Accordingly, it may not be necessary to receive the input from the user via the selection portion R in a general situation.

However, a notification may be displayed to the user via the display portion P8, or information requesting user's confirmation may be displayed. When the user presses the display portion P8 and transmits a command for confirming the information to the control panel P, the user may receive a feeling of being in closer communication with the control panel P.

To this end, the display portion P8 may further include a selection portion R capable of receiving the user's intention, such as the confirmation of the displayed information from the user, the selection of the displayed information, and the like.

In a process in which the control panel P controls the laundry treating apparatus, a confirmation or determination command of the user may be required, and the control panel P may display contents the determination command or a request on the display portion P via the circuit board P82.

In addition, the circuit board P82 may be configured such that the selection portion R responds to the input only when it is necessary to receive the user's intention, and the selection portion R does not respond even when the command is input thereto when it is not necessary to receive the user's intention. Accordingly, the control panel P may perform control to activate the input of the command to the selection portion R only when the user's confirmation or determination command is required.

The display portion P8 may include inducing means 839 for displaying whether the input of the command to the selection portion R is activated so as to indicate to the user that the confirmation or the request of the determination command is required.

The inducing means 839 may include a lower lamp 821a coupled to the circuit board P82 and disposed below the display P84. In addition, the inducing means 839 may include an inducing hole 835a extending through the mounting portion P83 so as to expose the lower lamp 821a.

The inducing hole 835a may be defined as a through-hole because light emitted from the lower lamp 821a passes through the mounting portion P83. The lower lamp 821a may be formed as a light emitting body that emits light, may be spaced apart from the display P82, and may irradiate light to guide a touch of the selection portion R.

For example, the circuit board P82 may be configured such that the lower lamp 821a is disposed below the display P84 and is turned on only when the input of the command to the selection portion R is activated.

The lower lamp 821a may be formed as a panel such as an LED so as to display what the determination command to be input to the selection portion R is, and the lower lamp 821a may be turned on while displaying which determination command the input to the selection portion R corresponds to in the lower area of the display P84.

The lower lamp 821 may be disposed at a center in a left and right direction of the mounting portion P83. Therefore, the inducing means 839 may be turned on at a center of the area below the display P84, so that an aesthetic sense may be maximized compared to a case in which the inducing means 839 is biased to one side.

When the inducing means 839 is turned on, the user may recognize that the determination command is required, so that the user may input the determination command to the selection portion R.

The selection portion R may be formed integrally with the inducing means 839, so that the input of the command to the inducing means 839 may be regarded as the input of the command to the selection portion R.

However, because the inducing means 839 has the lamp 821 to emit the light and the selection portion R includes the sensor R3, it may be difficult to design the inducing means 839 and the selection portion R as one component. In particular, when the lamp 821 and the sensor R3 are arranged together, the sensor R3 may block the light emitted from the lamp 821, and the lamp 821 may transmit noise or an erroneous signal to the sensor R3. Accordingly, the selection portion R may be disposed to be spaced apart from the inducing means 839.

As a result, the sensor hole 837 may be defined to be spaced apart from the inducing hole 835a. The inducing hole 835a is defined between the seating groove 832 and an inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831. The sensor hole 837 may be defined between the seating groove 832 and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831. The sensor hole 837 may be defined in an area except an area between the inducing hole 835a and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831.

The selection portion R may include a sensor R3 that is coupled to the circuit board P82 to receive the determination command, a transmitter R2 that transmits the determination command to the sensor R3, and a receiver R1 that may extend from the transmitter R2 to the window P85 so as to be in contact with the user's body.

The receiver R1 may be attached to a rear face of the window P85. Accordingly, the transmitter R2 may extend through the mounting body 831, and the mounting body 831 may include a sensor hole 837 that provides a space for the transmitter R2 to pass therethrough.

The receiver R1 and the transmitter R2 may be formed as conductors that are charged due to a current flowing through the user's body or receive the current from the body when the user's body approaches. Accordingly, the user may input the determination command in contact with the receiver R1.

The current transmitted to the receiver R1 may be transmitted to the sensor R3 via the transmitter R2, and the circuit board P2 may receive the determination command by sensing the user's contact.

In general, the user may input the determination command by touching an area where the transmitter R2 is installed.

Because the window P85 covers the inducing means 839 and the selection portion R, the user may not know the location of the selection portion R. In addition, because the inducing means 839 induces the input of command to the selection portion R by emitting the light, the user may recognize only the location of the inducing means 839 with the light emitted from the inducing means 839.

Accordingly, the user may touch the area in which the inducing means 839 is installed of the window P85, considering the inducing means 839 as the selection portion R. at this time, when the input of the command to the selection portion R is deactivated, the user may doubt a performance of the control panel P.

Accordingly, even when the transmitter R2 of the selection portion R is disposed to be spaced apart from the inducing means 839 by a certain distance, the receiver R1 may extend from the transmitter R2 to an area surrounding at least a portion of the inducing means 839 to sense the user's body pressing the inducing means 839.

The receiver R1 may be disposed to cover both side faces and a bottom face of the inducing means 839, and may be disposed to entirely cover the area below the display P84 and an area from a circumference of the inducing means 839 to the inner circumferential face of the mounting portion P83.

Accordingly, the user's body touching the area below the display P84 may be entirely sensed, so that the current generated in the user's body may be transferred to the transmitter R2.

As a result, even when the user presses the inducing means 839, an effect of pressing the transmitter R2 may be achieved by the shape of the receiver R1.

Considering that the user will touch the inducing means 839, the sensor hole 837 is preferably defined below the display P84.

Because the sensor R3 should be spaced apart from the inducing means 839, the sensor hole 837 may be defined in an area A on a side of the inducing means 839, and may be defined in an area B below the inducing means 839. In other words, in the area below the display P84, there is no space for the sensor hole 837 to be installed, except for the area A on the side of the inducing means 839 and the area B below the inducing means 839.

Because the user will press the inducing means 839 for the input of the command to the selection portion R, it may be more advantageous for the selection portion R to be installed in the area B below the inducing means 839. However, the mounting body 831 may have a circular cross-section for rotation of the manipulation portion P7. Accordingly, in the mounting body 831, a space below the inducing means 839 may be narrower than a space on the side of the inducing means P.

Furthermore, because the inducing means 839 includes the inducing hole 835a extending through the mounting body 831, the sensor hole 837 must be defined to be spaced apart by a safety distance L1 from a perimeter of the inducing hole 835a so as to maintain rigidity and shape thereof. For example, the safety distance L1 may be set to 2 mm. As a result, the space B below the inducing means 839 is inevitably narrower than the space A on the side of the inducing means 839.

Therefore, when the sensor hole 837 is installed in the space B below the inducing means 839, a diameter or a width of the sensor hole 837 is able to be secured although it's only a reduced length L2. However, when the sensor hole 837 is installed in the space B on the side of the inducing means II, the diameter or the width of the sensor hole 837 may be secured with an extended length L3 greater than the reduced length L2.

As a result, the wider sensor R3 and transmitter R2 may be installed in the area A on the side of the inducing means 839 compared to the area B below the inducing means 839, so that the current received by the receiver R1 may be more accurately sensed with a smaller resistance in the area A.

The inducing hole 835 may be defined between a lower end of the seating groove 832 and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831, and the sensor hole 837 may be defined between the side face of the inducing hole 835a and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831. Accordingly, the sensor hole 837 may have a larger area than the inducing hole 835a.

The inducing hole or the through-hole 835 may have a width greater than a vertical dimension. Accordingly, a sufficient area may be secured below the display P84.

The selection portion R may be disposed to be spaced apart from the through-hole 835, and the through-hole 835 may be disposed to overlap at least partially with a light emitting body 829a.

The receiver R1 may be formed in a shape of a plate that shields the sensor hole and the bottom face and the both side faces of the through-hole.

When the sensor hole 837 and the inducing hole I should be spaced apart from each other by the safety distance L1 to secure durability of the sensor hole 837 and the inducing hole I and exclude interference therebetween.

The mounting body 831 has the circular cross-section for the rotation of the manipulation portion P7.

The display P84 is generally formed in a rectangular shape, the inducing hole 835a constituting the inducing means 839 may also be formed in the rectangular shape, and the sensor hole 837 may also be formed in the rectangular shape or a square shape for space utilization.

In this regard, when the sensor hole 837 is installed in the area B below the inducing means 839, a distance between a bottom face of the sensor hole 837 and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831 must be the shortest distance K1. The shortest distance K1 may be smaller than the safety distance L1, and thus the durability of the sensor hole 837 and the mounting body 831 may not be guaranteed. Moreover, when the shortest distance K1 is greater, the diameter of the sensor hole 837 is reduced.

However, when the sensor hole 837 is installed in the area A on the side of the inducing means 839, the distance between the bottom area of the sensor hole 837 and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831 may be the longest distance K2 that is greater than the shortest distance K1. The longest distance K2 may be greater than the safety distance L1. In addition, a distance between the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831 and a portion of the sensor hole 837 closest to the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831 may be greater than the safety distance L1.

Therefore, the sensor hole 837 is preferably installed in the area A on the side of the inducing means 839 rather than the area B below the inducing means 839.

FIG. 18 shows a shape of the receiver R1.

Referring to (a) in FIG. 18, because the inducing means 839 and the selection portion R are the components to be in contact with the user's body, the inducing means 839 and the selection portion R may be disposed below the display P84 so as not to be covered by the display P84.

Even when an area of the user's body H is large, an area of the user's body capable of touching the inducing means 839 may correspond to an effective area S2 defined by an effective radius S. The effective area may be an area of a front portion or an upper end of an index finger of a typical adult male.

When the user touches the inducing means 839, the user may press a central area I of the inducing means 839 with the effective area S2. In addition, when the user touches the inducing means 839, the user may press areas II on the both sides of the inducing means 839.

The receiver R1 may have a shape and an area at least partially overlapping the effective area S2 when the user presses the central area I and the areas II on the both sides.

Referring to (b) in FIG. 18, a center of the effective area S2 should be disposed on the inducing means 839, and the receiver R1 should be placed in an essential area R1a that is an area obtained by moving the effective area S2 along the width in the left and right direction of the inducing means 839.

In other words, the essential area R1a may be composed of an area corresponding to an area with an effective radius S based on a left side face of the inducing means 839, an area corresponding to an area with the effective radius S based on the bottom face of the inducing means 839, and an area corresponding to an area with an effective radius S based on a right side face of the inducing means 839.

The receiver R1 should extend from the sensor hole 837 to the essential area R1a and surround the inducing means 839 so as to at least partially overlap with the body of the user touching the inducing means 839.

As a result, the receiver R1 has a larger area than the transmitter R2 and the sensor R3. In addition, the receiver R1 may extend from the transmitter R2 to the inducing hole 835a.

When the receiver R1 has a shape and an area corresponding to the essential area R1a, the intention of the user inputting the determination command may be accurately sensed. In other words, when the user touches an area other than the essential area R1a, the sensor R3 is not able to sense such touch, so that an intention of the user who is arbitrarily touching the area may be ignored.

In addition, the inducing hole 835a may be defined between the lower end of the seating groove 832 and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831, and the sensor hole 837 may be defined between one side face of the inducing hole 835a and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body. In this regard, the receiver R1 may extend from the sensor hole 8317 to one side face of the inducing hole 835a and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831.

In one example, the receiver R1 may be disposed spaced apart from the bottom face and the both side faces of the inducing hole 835a by a reference distance. The reference distance may correspond to a gap that may ensure that the receiver R1 shields at least a portion of the inducing hole 835a.

In one example, all actions of the user identifying the inducing means 839 and touching the lower end of the display P84 may be determined as the user's intention to input the determination command. This is because, when there is an action of touching the display portion P8, it may be seen that there is a special intention of the user.

In this case, the receiver R1 may extend from an area disposed outwardly of the essential area R1a to the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831. Accordingly, the intention of the user who inputs the command to the selection portion R may be accurately reflected.

Therefore, the receiver R1 may extend from the essential area R1a up to an area spaced apart from the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831 by an identification distance, so that the user's input intention may be identified more accurately.

To this end, the receiver R1 may extend from the sensor hole 837 to the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831, and from the sensor hole R2 to the other side face of the inducing hole 835a and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body.

As a result, the receiver R1 may be disposed to cover the area between the seating groove 832 and the inducing hole 835a and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body 831.

FIG. 19 shows a structure of the transmitter in detail.

The manipulation portion P7 may accommodate the display portion P8 inside the shaft P71 and the handle P73.

The housing P81 and the window P85 may form an appearance of the display portion P8.

The mounting portion P83 may be accommodated inside the accommodating body 81a of the housing P81, the circuit board P82 may be mounted inside the mounting portion P83, and the display P84 may be disposed between a surface of the mounting portion P83 and the window P85.

The selection portion R is disposed below the display P84. The selection portion R may include the sensor R3 coupled to the circuit board P82, the receiver R1 disposed to be in contact with the window P85, and the transmitter R2 that connects the receiver R1 and the sensor R3 to each other.

The user may input the determination command by touching a surface of the window P85 on which the receiver R1 or the transmitter R2 is disposed. The user may provide a force to press the window P85 to the circuit board P82 in the process of touching the window P85.

The window P85 may be seated and supported on the mounting portion P83, and may be fixed in position on the inner circumferential face of the mounting portion P83 with an adhesive such as a sealant. However, when an external force is repeatedly applied from the user, significant vibration may be generated in the window P85, so that the receiver R1 attached to the window P85 may be removed from the window P85, or the receiver R1 and the transmitter R2 may be spaced apparat from each other, thereby lowering a reception sensitivity of the user's determination command.

In addition, the display portion P8 may be deformed or damaged, such as partial depression or tilting of the window P85 toward the circuit board P82.

In order to prevent such problem, the transmitter R2 may be made of an elastic member. The transmitter R2 may be constructed to have an elastic force like a spring while being made of a metal material through which the current may pass.

The transmitter R2 may be installed inside the display portion P8 in a compressed state. The transmitter R2 may push the receiver R1 toward the window P85 in a state of being in contact with or coupled to the sensor R3.

Accordingly, the force of pressing or touching the window P85 applied by the user may be immediately buffered. In addition, the attachment of the receiver R1 to the window P85 may be maintained, and the state in which the receiver R1 and the transmitter R2 are in contact with each other may be maintained, thereby maintaining the input sensitivity of the selection portion R.

FIG. 20 shows an embodiment of the transmitter R2.

The transmitter R2 may include a main body R21 disposed between the receiver R1 and the sensor R3 and having the elastic force. The main body R21 may be formed in the shape of the spring.

A diameter D2 of the main body R21 may be greater than a length H2 of the main body R21. As a result, the receiver R1 may be pressed with a larger area. In addition, the main body R21 may be stably attached to the sensor R3 to maintain a state of being coupled to the circuit board P82, and may increase a spring constant to provide a great elastic force even with a small amount of compression.

In one example, the length H2 may be greater than the diameter D2 to increase an amount of compression.

In one example, a distance H1 between the receiver R1 and the sensor R3 may be smaller than the length H2 of the main body R21. Accordingly, the transmitter R2 may be installed inside the mounting portion P83 in a compressed state. As a result, a length of the main body R21 separated from the display portion P8 may be greater than a distance between the window P85 and the circuit board P82.

The transmitter R2 may further include a contact portion R21a extending from the main body R21 to be in contact with the receiver R1, and the contact portion R21a may have a diameter D1 smaller than that of the main body R21.

As a result, a contact area between the contact portion R21a and the receiver R1 is smaller than an area obtained with the diameter D2 of the main body R21, thereby improving a traction force with the receiver R1 and as well as concentrating a stronger elastic force on the receiver R1. As such, the receiver R1 may ensure the state of being attached to the window P85.

In addition, the contact portion R21a may more densely collect the current transmitted from the receiver R1 and transmit the current to the main body R21, and may partially remove the noise generated from the receiver R1.

FIG. 21 shows an effect of installing that the transmitter R2.

Referring to (a) in FIG. 21, the user may strongly press the window P85, so that a temporary impact may be transmitted to the transmitter R2. In addition, a temporary vibration may occur in the laundry treating apparatus, so that an impact may be applied to the window P85 and the circuit board P82.

As a result, there is a possibility that the receiver R1 may be at least partially separated from the window P85, or the window P85 may be moved to the circuit board P82.

Referring to (b) in FIG. 21, the transmitter R2 may absorb the vibration or the pressure while being compressed. Then, the window P85 and the receiver R1 may be pushed to the outside.

As a result, the window P85 may stop being pressed to the circuit board P82 and maintain the position thereof, and the receiver R1 may also maintain the state of being attached to the window P85, thereby increasing the input sensitivity of the selection portion R.

FIG. 22 shows a coupled state of the transmitter R and the circuit board 82.

Referring to (a) in FIG. 22, the main body R21 may be supported in contact with the circuit board P82. In addition, the main body R21 may be supported in contact with the sensor R3 embedded in the circuit board P82.

In this regard, a strong vibration may be generated in the main body R21, or an external force may be applied to the main body R21 in a lateral direction instead of a longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the main body R21 may be strongly compressed and reduced, and the main body R21 may receive a bending force.

Referring to (b) in FIG. 22, when the main body R21 is strongly compressed and vibrated, or when the main body R21 is pressed in the lateral direction and the vibration is applied to both side faces thereof, a coupling force or a traction force between the main body R21 and the sensor R3 or the circuit board P82 may be weakened. As a result, the main body R21 may be separated from the circuit board P82 or may be separated from the sensor R3.

In this case, the current transmitted to the main body R21 may not be transmitted to the sensor R3 and the main body R21 may not be continuously in contact with the sensor R3, so that a poor input state may be maintained.

A configuration other than the arrangement or the shapes of the circuit board P82 and the sensor R3 and the shape of the transmitter R2 may be the same as that in the above-described embodiment.

The circuit board P82 may include a recessed portion 82a capable of accommodating a portion of the transmitter R2 therein. The sensor R3 may be installed in the recessed portion 82a.

Accordingly, the transmitter R2 may be connected to the sensor R3 as a distal end thereof is accommodated in and coupled to the recessed portion 82a. Even when the transmitter R2 vibrates in an excessively compressed state or even when an external force is applied in the lateral direction of the transmitter R2 to cause the transmitter R2 to vibrate like a cantilever, the distal end of the transmitter R2 and the recessed portion 82a may always maintain a coupled state.

As such, an effect that the distal end of the transmitter R2 is formed as a fixed end in the circuit board P82 may be derived, and the installation position of the transmitter R2 may be fixed.

In addition, the arrangement of the transmitter R2 and the manipulation portion R1 and the connected state between the transmitter R2 and the sensor R3 may always be maintained.

FIG. 24 shows another embodiment of a structure of the transmitter.

The transmitter R2 may include a fixed portion R21b extending from the main body R21 and coupled to the circuit board P82.

A diameter D3 of the fixed portion R21b may be smaller than the diameter D2 of the main body R21. The diameter D3 of the fixed portion R21b may be smaller than the diameter D1 of the contact portion R21a.

The fixed portion R21b may have the smallest diameter among the portions of the transmitter R2. Accordingly, the fixed portion R21b may be easily inserted into the recessed portion 82a of the circuit board P82. In addition, the current transmitted along the contact portion R21a and the main body R21 may be concentrated in the fixed portion R21b and transmitted to the sensor R3.

As a result, the contact portion R21a and the main body R21 may be exposed to the outside of the circuit board P82, and the fixed portion R21b may be disposed inside the circuit board P82.

Referring to (a) in FIG. 25, a diameter of the recessed portion 82a of the circuit board P82 may be equal to or smaller than the diameter D2 of the fixed portion R21b.

Accordingly, the fixed portion R21b may be press-fitted into the recessed portion 82a.

In addition, the main body R21 may be disposed outside the circuit board P82 without being inserted into the depression 82a. The distal end of the main body R21 may be supported by being in contact with an exposed face of the circuit board P82.

As a result, the fixed portion R21b may be made of an elastic member, but may be accommodated in the recessed portion 82a of the circuit board P82 in an uncompressed state.

The external force or the vibration may be applied toward the window P85. Accordingly, the main body R21 and the contact portion R21a may be compressed to absorb the external force or the vibration.

In this regard, the contact portion R21a may be pressed against the window P85, and the main body R21 may be pressed against the exposed face of the circuit board P82.

Because a compressing force provided by the transmitter R2 is supported by the exposed face of the circuit board P82, the fixed portion R21b may be disposed inside the recessed portion 82a in a state in which no compressive force is applied.

Referring to (b) in FIG. 25, the contact portion R21a may push the window P85, and the main body R21 may push the circuit board P82. Accordingly, even when the positions of the window P85 and the receiver R1 are varied, the window P85 and the receiver R1 may be returned to the original positions thereof. In addition, the state in which the contact portion R21a is in contact with the receiver R1 may be continuously maintained.

In one example, the fixed portion R21b may be accommodated in the recessed portion P82a even at this time to maintain the state of being in contact with the sensor R3.

In other words, even when the main body R21 and the contact portion R21a are compressed or vibrated, the fixed portion R21b may be coupled to the sensor R3 without being affected by the depression portion P82a.

FIG. 26 shows an effect of the fixed portion R21b.

Referring to (a) in FIG. 26, the fixed portion R21b may be accommodated in the recessed portion P82a and disposed in the state of being coupled to the sensor R3, and the main body R21 may be supported on a surface of the circuit board P82.

In this regard, the strong vibration may act on the main body R21 or the temporary impact or external force may act in the lateral direction of the main body R21.

Referring to (b) in FIG. 26, the main body R21 and the contact portion R21a may be twisted or vibrated by the vibration or the external force, and the distal end of the main body R21 may be separated from the exposed face of the circuit board P82 due to the severe vibration.

However, only a portion of the fixed portion R21b connected to the main body R21 is stretched or vibrated. A portion coupled to the sensor R3 or a central area of the fixed portion R21b may maintain a state of not being compressed or vibrated.

Accordingly, the fixed portion R21b may maintain the state of being coupled to the sensor R3.

In addition, because the fixed portion R21b is press-fitted into the recessed portion P82a, the position of the fixed portion R21b is always fixed, thereby fixing the main body R21 that vibrates or shakes. Accordingly, the main body R21 may be quickly returned to the original position thereof.

As a result, the transmitter R2 may always maintain the contacted state between the window P85 and the receiver R1, and also maintain the connected state between the receiver R1 and the sensor R3.

Accordingly, the determination command input by the user via the selection portion R may be stably input to the control panel P.

The present disclosure may be modified and implemented in various forms, so that the scope of rights thereof is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Therefore, when the modified embodiment includes the components of the claims of the present disclosure, it should be viewed as belonging to the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

A laundry treating apparatus comprising:

a cabinet;

a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet so as to accommodate laundry therein;

a manipulation portion rotatably coupled to the cabinet and configured to receive a selection command for selecting an arbitrary course capable of rotating the drum;

a display portion including a display fixed to the cabinet inside the manipulation portion and configured to display a state of the selected course or display a determination command for requesting confirmation of a user; and

a selection portion disposed inside the display portion and configured to receive the determination command,

wherein the display portion further includes inducing means spaced apart from the display so as to induce a touch of the selection portion or guide a position of the selection portion,

wherein the selection portion is spaced apart from the inducing means.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display portion includes:

a mounting body fixed to the cabinet inside the manipulation portion and seating the display thereon; and

a circuit board disposed at the rear of the display and configured to receive the determination command from the selection portion,

wherein the mounting body includes:

a seating groove where the display is seated;

an inducing hole spaced apart from the seating groove, wherein the inducing means is installed at the inducing hole; and

a sensor hole extending through the mounting body to provide a path for the selection portion to extend to the circuit board,

wherein the sensor hole is spaced apart from the inducing hole.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the inducing hole is defined between a lower end of the seating groove and an inner circumferential face of the mounting body,

wherein the sensor hole is defined between the lower end of the seating groove and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body so as to be spaced apart from the inducing hole.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensor hole is defined between a side face of the inducing hole and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensor hole has an area larger than an area of the inducing hole.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the selection portion includes a receiver disposed in front of the sensor hole and configured to sense a user's body and receive the determination command,

wherein the receiver has an area larger than an area of the sensor hole.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the receiver extends from the sensor hole toward the inducing hole.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the receiver extends from the sensor hole so as to surround at least a portion of the inducing hole.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the inducing hole is defined between a lower end of the seating groove and an inner circumferential face of the mounting body,

wherein the sensor hole is defined between one side face of the seating groove and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body,

wherein the receiver extends from the sensor hole to an area between one side face of the inducing hole and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body in the sensor hole.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the receiver extends from the sensor hole to the inner circumferential face of the mounting body and from the sensor hole to the other side face of the inducing hole and the inner circumferential face of the mounting body.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the receiver is disposed to be spaced apart from a lower end and both side faces of the inducing hole by a reference distance.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reference distance corresponds to a gap preventing the receiver from shielding at least a portion of the inducing hole.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the receiver covers an area between the seating groove and the inducing hole, and an inner circumferential face of the mounting body.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selection portion is formed as a conductor sensing a current flowing through a user's body or charged by the current.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the display portion includes a window disposed on a front face of the mounting body so as to protect the display,

wherein the receiver is disposed between the window and the mounting body.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 15, wherein the receiver is attached or printed on a rear face of the window.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 15, wherein the receiver is formed as a conductor for sensing the user's body.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 17, wherein the receiver is formed as a carbon-based film.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 15, wherein the receiver is formed in a shape of a plate capable of covering the sensor hole and a lower end or a side face of the inducing hole.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 15, wherein the selection portion further includes a transmitter disposed to extend through the sensor hole and configured to connect the receiver and the circuit board to each other.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transmitter is made of an elastic material capable of being in contact with the receiver so as to transmit a current.
A laundry treating apparatus comprising:

a cabinet;

a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet so as to accommodate laundry therein;

manipulation portion rotatably coupled to the cabinet and configured to receive a selection command for selecting an arbitrary course capable of rotating the drum;

a display portion including a display fixed to the cabinet inside the manipulation portion and configured to display a state of the selected course or display a determination command for requesting confirmation of a user; and

a selection portion disposed inside the display portion and configured to receive the determination command,

wherein the display portion includes a light emitting body spaced apart from the display and irradiating light to guide a touch of the selection portion,

wherein the selection portion is disposed spaced apart from the light emitting body so as to prevent the light emitting body from being shielded.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the display portion includes:

a mounting body fixed to the cabinet inside the manipulation portion and seating the display thereon; and

a circuit board disposed at the rear of the display, wherein the light emitting body is mounted on the circuit board,

wherein the mounting body includes a through-hole for forwardly guiding the light irradiated from the light emitting body.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 23, wherein the light emitting body is formed as an LED lamp or a light bulb controlled by the circuit board.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 23, wherein the light emitting body is disposed downwardly of the display,

wherein the through-hole at least partially overlaps the light emitting body.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 25, wherein the through-hole has a width greater than a vertical dimension.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 26, wherein the selection portion is disposed spaced apart from the through-hole.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 27, wherein the selection portion includes:

a receiver disposed forwardly of the mounting body; and

a transmitter passing through a sensor hole defined to extend through the mounting body so as to connect the receiver and the circuit board to each other,

wherein the receiver is formed in a shape of a plate shielding the sensor hole and a lower end and both side faces of the through-hole.
A laundry treating apparatus comprising:

a cabinet;

a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet so as to accommodate laundry therein;

manipulation portion rotatably coupled to the cabinet and configured to receive a selection command for selecting an arbitrary course capable of rotating the drum;

a display portion including a display fixed to the cabinet inside the manipulation portion and configured to display the selected course; and

a selection portion disposed inside the display portion and configured to receive a determination command for requesting confirmation of a user,

wherein the display portion includes:

a mounting body fixed to the cabinet inside the manipulation portion and seating the display thereon;

a circuit board for receiving the determination command from the selection portion; and

a window disposed on a front face of the mounting body so as to protect the display and the selection portion,

wherein the selection portion includes:

a receiver disposed in contact with the window so as to at least partially overlap a body of the user who touches the window; and

a transmitter for connecting the receiver and the circuit board to each other so as to transmit the determination command to the circuit board,

wherein the transmitter is made of an elastic material so as to maintain a gap between the window and the circuit board or to maintain the state of the receiver of being in contact with the window.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 29, wherein the transmitter is disposed on the mounting body in a compressed state.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 29, wherein the transmitter includes:

a main body disposed between the receiver and the circuit board so as to provide an elastic force;

a contact portion extending from the main body so as to be in contact with the receiver; and

a fixed portion extending from the main body and coupled to the circuit board,

wherein the contact portion and the fixed portion have diameters smaller than a diameter of the main body.