Interface and laundry treatment apparatus having the same

Abstract

Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus which is controlled to display the deficiency information at at least one of a start point of supplying power to a display portion, a selection point of inputting a manipulation portion, an execution point of executing a process or an option, or a completion point of completing a process or an option when the deficiency information is generated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to an interface and a garment processing device having the interface. Background Technology

[0002] In electronic devices that include garment handling equipment (a common name for the object to be washed or dried) capable of washing, drying, and washing and drying clothes, an input / output device (interface) for the user to input control commands to the electronic device is necessary.

[0003] The conventional interface is designed such that the display portion showing the control commands that the user can select, the search interface allowing the user to search for the control commands displayed on the display portion, the selection portion allowing the user to select the control commands displayed on the display portion, and the input device for requesting the execution of the control commands selected by the user are located in separate spaces (Publication No. 10-2014-0023986).

[0004] In other words, in a conventional interface, the display (LCD, LED panel, etc.) on which control commands are displayed, the knobs or buttons for searching control commands by allowing control commands that can be executed by the corresponding electronic device to be displayed on the display, the buttons for selecting control commands displayed on the display by inputting control commands, and the buttons for requesting the execution of the selected control commands by inputting control commands are located in separate spaces. This arrangement is a factor in determining the design of the interface (control panel design) located on the front of electronic devices such as clothing handling equipment.

[0005] In the conventional interface of the above structure, since the devices including the display must be distributed along the width of the electronic device or along the height of the electronic device, a large space is required to install the interface.

[0006] Conventional garment processing equipment includes a steam unit for supplying steam to a drum in which garments are contained. Steam has the effect of disinfecting garments, removing wrinkles, and preventing garments from shrinking.

[0007] However, conventional garment handling equipment does not reliably indicate this when water is not supplied to the steam components.

[0008] When water is not supplied to the steam unit, conventional garment handling equipment does not provide a reference for when this needs to be indicated.

[0009] When water is not supplied to the steam unit, conventional garment processing equipment risks interrupting the process and options of using steam, thereby delaying the cycle of garment processing.

[0010] In addition to existing processes for washing clothes with water and detergent or drying them with hot air, conventional garment handling equipment does not offer any additional special processes.

[0011] Furthermore, a problem with conventional garment processing equipment is that even if additional processes are developed due to technological advancements or the installation of additional components, users are unable to use these processes because they are unaware of or do not understand their existence.

[0012] The problem is that conventional garment processing equipment does not provide an interface for users to select existing processes and additional processes.

[0013] In particular, there is a problem that there is no solution to improve the situation when there is a conflict between existing processes and additional processes. Summary of the Invention

[0014] [Technical Issues]

[0015] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a garment handling device for identifying a user when water is not supplied to a steam supply component.

[0016] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a garment processing device that prevents delays in the cycle of garment processing even when water is not supplied to the steam component.

[0017] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a garment handling device that induces user action when problems with the water supply to the steam component are not repeatedly overcome.

[0018] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a garment processing device that immediately exposes a further developed process to a user and induces the user to understand the process.

[0019] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a garment processing apparatus for altering the methods of displaying additionally developed processes and existing processes.

[0020] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a control method in which additionally developed processes and existing processes do not conflict with each other and can be used interchangeably.

[0021] [Technical Solution]

[0022] To achieve the objectives of this disclosure, a garment processing apparatus is provided, comprising: a cabinet; a roller rotatably disposed inside the cabinet and accommodating garments; a drive connected to or coupled to the roller and providing power for rotating the roller; a steam unit disposed inside the cabinet and supplying steam to the interior of the roller; a supply unit connected to the steam unit and supplying water to the steam unit; an operating unit configured to receive a command for selecting any process or option for performing one or more of rotating the roller or supplying steam to the interior of the roller by operating the drive; a controller configured to generate insufficient steam generation information by detecting a state in which the water supply for generating steam to the steam unit is blocked or the water supply inside the steam unit is insufficient; and a display unit coupled to the cabinet and configured to display the insufficient information to the outside.

[0023] When a deficiency message is generated, the display section can be controlled to display the deficiency message at at least one of the following time points: the start time when power is supplied to the display section, the selection time of the process or option in the input control section, the execution time of the process or option, or the completion time of the process or option.

[0024] The garment processing device may also include a memory configured to store insufficiency information, and a display section may display the insufficiency information at the start time when insufficiency information exists in the memory at the start time.

[0025] The display section can remove the display of insufficient information when a reference time has elapsed since the start time.

[0026] Any process or option may also include a steam process or steam option for driving the steam components as necessary, and when the steam process is selected by the manipulation section, the display section may display insufficient information at the selected time point.

[0027] The garment processing equipment may also include an execution section configured to receive an execution command for executing a selected process or option, wherein when the execution section is input, the display section may remove the display of insufficient information and may display the execution status of the steam process or steam option.

[0028] Even when insufficient information is displayed on the screen, the steam process or steam options can be executed without any changes.

[0029] When insufficient information is displayed on the display, the steam process can be stopped, and when the insufficient information is removed from the display, the steam process can be restarted.

[0030] The control section may also include a selection section configured to receive a command from the user confirming the insufficiency information, and the display section may remove the display of the insufficiency information when input is received from the selection section.

[0031] The steam process can be stopped until input is received in the execution section or selection section.

[0032] Any process or option may also include a steam process or steam option for driving the steam components as necessary, and the display section may display the insufficiency information at the point of execution when the controller generates insufficiency information during the execution of the steam process or steam option.

[0033] The display section can show insufficient information at the execution time point and remove the display of insufficient information after the reference time has elapsed.

[0034] The garment handling equipment may also include a memory configured to store insufficiency information, and the controller may store the insufficiency information in the memory when the insufficiency information is held until the completion time.

[0035] The controller can block power to one or more of the display section and drivers after storing the insufficient information in memory.

[0036] When the steam unit can generate steam or water to supply the supply unit, the display section can remove the display of insufficient information.

[0037] [Beneficial Effects]

[0038] This disclosure can identify the user when water is not supplied to the steam supply component.

[0039] This disclosure can prevent delays in the cycle of processing clothes even when water is not supplied to the steam component.

[0040] This disclosure can have the effect of inducing user action when problems with the water supply of the steam component have not been repeatedly overcome.

[0041] This disclosure can have the effect of immediately exposing the user to the additionally developed process and inducing the user to understand the process.

[0042] This disclosure can have the effect of changing the way other developed processes and existing processes are displayed.

[0043] This disclosure can have the effect that additionally developed processes and existing processes do not conflict with each other and can be used interchangeably. Attached Figure Description

[0044] Figure 1 and Figure 2An example of an interface and a garment processing device including the interface is shown.

[0045] Figure 3 The internal structure of the garment processing device according to this disclosure is shown.

[0046] Figure 4 The washing structure of a garment processing device according to this disclosure is shown.

[0047] Figure 5 A steam supply structure for a garment processing device according to this disclosure is shown.

[0048] Figure 6 The structure of the control panel is shown.

[0049] Figure 7 The structure of the encoder is shown.

[0050] Figure 8 The structure of the control device P7 and the display interface P8 is shown.

[0051] Figure 9 An embodiment of a control panel P using a garment processing device according to the present disclosure is shown.

[0052] Figure 10 An example of a control panel P during the operation of a garment processing device is shown.

[0053] Figure 11 The use of display interface P8 is shown, and the display P84 in display interface P8 is highlighted.

[0054] Figure 12 An example of selecting a process or option is shown.

[0055] Figure 13 The notification method for the operation process of the garment handling equipment according to this disclosure is shown.

[0056] Figure 14 A control block diagram of a garment handling apparatus according to the present disclosure is shown.

[0057] Figure 15 An example of displaying insufficient information is shown.

[0058] Figure 16 Another embodiment for displaying insufficient information is shown.

[0059] Figure 17 Another embodiment for displaying insufficient information is shown.

[0060] Figure 18 An embodiment of a control method for displaying insufficient information is shown.

[0061] Figure 19 A specific process in a garment processing apparatus according to the present disclosure and a method for selecting a specific process in a garment processing apparatus according to the present disclosure are shown.

[0062] Figure 20 An additional embodiment of selecting a special process is shown.

[0063] Figure 21 This illustrates the control methods to be selected and executed when special processes and existing processes are being executed.

[0064] Figure 22 An embodiment of a control method for a garment handling apparatus according to the present disclosure, using both special processes and existing processes, is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0065] In the following, preferred embodiments of the interface and the garment processing apparatus having the interface will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0066] Figure 1 The appearance of the garment processing apparatus disclosed herein is shown.

[0067] like Figure 1 As shown, the laundry equipment 10 includes a cabinet 1 and a control panel P mounted on the cabinet 1.

[0068] The control panel P described in this application refers to a device or program that enables communication between a user and a garment handling device (which may include other electronic devices in addition to the garment handling device). Communication between the user and the garment handling device refers to the process by which the user inputs control commands to the garment handling device and the process by which the garment handling device transmits information to the user.

[0069] Users can input at least one of the following via the control panel P: a power command to supply or cut off power to the garment processing equipment, a selection command to select any process or option for processing garments, an execution command to execute the selected process or option, and a stop command to stop the currently executing process or option.

[0070] Clothing treatment may include a washing cycle that removes foreign matter from clothing using water and detergent, or a drying cycle that dries the water contained in the clothing.

[0071] The control panel P can display the status or information of the garment processing equipment to the user. For example, the control panel P can display the status of at least one of the following: power command, selection command, execution command, and stop command. Furthermore, the control panel P can display error messages or guidance information indicating the problem situation occurring in the garment processing equipment, and guidance information directing the user to take appropriate action.

[0072] The cabinet 1 may include a front panel 11 forming the front of the cabinet 1 and a top panel 13 coupled to the top surface of the front panel 11. The front panel 11 and the top panel 13 may be made of metal and may have a steel plate shape.

[0073] The control panel P of the garment handling device disclosed herein can be coupled to the front panel 11.

[0074] The control panel P can be coupled to the back of the front panel 11 and can be partially exposed on the front of the front panel 11. The front panel 11 can be manufactured as a simple metal plate, and the control panel P can be easily coupled to and fixed to the back of the front panel 11.

[0075] Therefore, the front panel 11 can form most of the front area of ​​the cabinet 1. As a result, the overall appearance of the front panel 11 can be enhanced and its aesthetics can be maximized. In addition, the manufacturing process of the front panel 11 can be simplified, as can the assembly or installation process of the front panel 11 and the control panel P. Furthermore, separate components (e.g., frames) for mounting the control panel P onto the front panel 11 can be omitted.

[0076] The control panel P of the garment processing equipment disclosed herein may include an operating part P7 and a display part P8. The operating part P7 is rotatably coupled to the cabinet, and the display part P8 is disposed inside the operating part P7 to display the status of the garment processing equipment.

[0077] The control part P7 can be shaped like a knob, and the display part P8 can be shaped like a display D including a liquid crystal or the like. It can be seen that the display part P8 and the selection part R, which will be described later, are included in the control part P7.

[0078] The display portion of P8 can be entirely formed as a touch panel, or at least partially formed as a touch panel.

[0079] The control section P7 can be configured to rotate to select any process or option that can be used to process clothing, and the display section P8 can be configured to display the corresponding process or option whenever the control section P7 is rotated.

[0080] As a result, the control panel P of the garment handling device disclosed herein can prevent any process or option that could cause the roller (described later) to rotate from being displayed as characters, instruction phrases, etc. in a specific area. Therefore, since no separate characters or instruction phrases are attached to the front panel 11, the area or area ratio occupied by the control panel P in the front panel 11 can be greatly reduced, and aesthetics can be maximized.

[0081] The display P84 of the display section P8 may include a status display area D1 and a content display area D2. The status display area D1 is used to display the status of the garment handling device, and the content display area D2 is used to display the status, error message, or guidance information indicating the actions to be taken by the user after at least one of the power command, selection command, execution command, and stop command of the garment handling device has been entered.

[0082] In addition, the control panel P may also include a selection section R, which allows the user to input a confirmation command to determine the information to be displayed on the display section P8. The selection section R may be located inside the operating section P7 to further reduce the area occupied by the control panel P.

[0083] The selection portion R can be located inside the display portion P8 and can be spaced apart from the content display area D2. The selection portion R can be formed as a physical button or touch panel for sensing the user's body contact.

[0084] The display P84 of the display section may include an input area D3, which can request input for the selection section R at a point corresponding to the selection section R.

[0085] The input area D3 can be configured to glow when the selected portion R can be activated to receive commands from the user.

[0086] In one example, the control section P7 and the display section P8 can only be operated when power is supplied.

[0087] Therefore, the control panel P of the garment processing equipment disclosed herein may also include a power switch P46, which is used to input power commands to the garment processing equipment, the operating part P7, and the display interface.

[0088] The user can activate the control section P7 by inputting the power switch P46.

[0089] The front panel 11 may include a power switch mounting portion 116, which is configured to allow the mounting of a power switch P46.

[0090] Furthermore, the control panel P may also include an execution device P47 to which execution commands for executing or stopping selected processes or options are input. The execution device P47 may be formed separately from the operating section P7 and the display section P8 to reflect the user's explicit execution or stopping intention. Additionally, it is possible to prevent the operating section P7 and the display section P8 from having excessive functionality.

[0091] The front panel 11 may include an actuator mounting portion 117, which is configured to allow the actuator P47 to be mounted.

[0092] The power switch P46, the actuator P47, the control part P7, and the display part P8 can be arranged in a control P1.

[0093] In one example, the control panel P may also include a settings section P2, which allows adding or changing options for processes on the front panel 11. Users can configure options via settings section P2 that can change the intensity, duration, etc., of a process.

[0094] The setting section P2 can be formed separately from the housing P1 and can be coupled to the front panel 11. The setting section P2 may include a separate LCD and may include a touch panel or physical buttons for inputting options.

[0095] In one example, the front panel 11 may have a door 112 for opening and closing a clothing inlet 111 through which clothing is placed into the clothing handling equipment. A control panel P may be located above the door 112 to enhance user accessibility.

[0096] In one example, the front panel 11 may also include a locking device L for securing the door 112 to the front panel 11. When the garment handling equipment is in operation, such as when the rollers of the garment handling equipment rotate, the locking device L can lock the door 112 to the front panel 11. Therefore, safety accidents can be prevented. When the operation of the garment handling equipment is complete, the locking device L can unlock the door 112.

[0097] The locking device L can be configured as any component, as long as it can secure the door 112 to the cabinet 1. The locking device L can be configured as a fastener for securing a hook protruding from the door, or it can be configured as a solenoid valve for retaining the hook.

[0098] The clothing handling device disclosed herein may include a detergent dispenser 45 containing detergent for washing clothes, and the front panel 11 may include a detergent hole 17 extending therefrom from the detergent dispenser 45.

[0099] The cabinet 1 includes a front panel 11 forming the front of the garment handling equipment. The front panel 11 may include a garment inlet 111 defined in communication with the roller 2, and a door 112 pivotally coupled to the cabinet to open and close the garment inlet 111.

[0100] The control panel P can be mounted on the front panel 11. As a result, the control panel P can include an input device P9 for receiving control commands from the user, and a display section P8 for outputting information such as user-selectable control commands. A main controller M1 can be installed to control commands used to perform the drying operation of the garment processing equipment.

[0101] The input device P9 may include a power request device P46 for requesting power to the garment processing equipment, an operation part P7 for enabling the user to select a desired process from multiple processes, and an execution device P47 for requesting the start of the user-selected process.

[0102] The display portion P8 may include at least one of the following: a display panel capable of outputting text and graphics, and a speaker capable of outputting voice signals and sounds.

[0103] In one example, the garment handling apparatus of this disclosure may include a water reservoir 7 configured to separately store moisture generated during the drying process. The water reservoir 7 may include a water tank 72 configured to extend from one side of the front panel 11 to the outside. The water tank 72 may be configured to collect condensate received from the washing pump (described later).

[0104] Users can extend the water tank 72 from the cabinet 1, then remove the condensate, and subsequently reinstall the water tank 72 in the cabinet 1. In this way, the clothing processing equipment of this disclosure can be installed anywhere where there are no sewers or similar installations.

[0105] The cabinet 1 may include a housing opening 115 through which the water tank 72 extends to the outside. The housing opening 115 may be defined in the front panel 11.

[0106] Therefore, the water tank 72 can be slidably retracted into and extended from the front panel 11 via the tank opening 115. As a result, even though the water tank 72 has a large volume to store a larger amount of condensate, the user can easily extend the water tank 72 from the front panel 11. That is, the user can extend the water tank 72 from the cabinet 1 without having to overcome the weight of the water tank 72 themselves.

[0107] The opening 115 can be positioned so that the water tank 72 will not obstruct the control panel 117 when the water tank 72 extends to the outside. For example, the opening 115 can be positioned on one side of the control panel 117.

[0108] In one example, the opening 115 can be positioned above the door 112. Therefore, when a user extends the water tank 72 from the front panel 11, the user can bend over relatively less.

[0109] As a result, water tank 430 and water storage tank 72 can be positioned above the rotation center of the drum.

[0110] Figure 2 The basic structure of the garment processing device according to this disclosure is shown.

[0111] The cabinet 1 may include a front panel 11 defining the front surface of the garment handling equipment, and the front panel 11 may include an inlet 111 and a door 112, the inlet 111 being connected to the roller 2 and the door 112 being rotatably coupled to the cabinet and configured to open and close the inlet 111.

[0112] The front panel 11 may include a control panel P, and the control panel 117 may include an input device P9, a display unit P8, and a main controller M2. The input device P9 is configured to receive control commands from the user, the display unit P8 is configured to output information such as control commands to be selected by the user, and the main controller M2 is configured to control commands for executing the drying cycle of the garment processing equipment.

[0113] The input device P9 may include a power switch P46 for requesting power to the garment processing equipment, an operation section P7 for allowing the user to select a desired process from multiple processes, and an execution section P47 for requesting the start of the user-selected process.

[0114] The display portion P8 may include at least one of the following: a display panel for outputting text and graphics or a speaker for outputting voice signals and sounds.

[0115] The garment processing apparatus according to this disclosure may include a water reservoir 7 configured to separately store moisture generated during the drying process. The water reservoir 7 may include a water tank 72 configured to be removed from one side of the front panel 11 to the outside. The water tank 72 may be configured to collect condensate received from the washing pump (described later).

[0116] Users can remove the water tank 72 from the cabinet 1 to remove condensate, and then reinstall the water tank 72 in the cabinet 1. Therefore, the garment processing equipment according to this disclosure can be installed anywhere where there are no sewers or similar facilities.

[0117] The cabinet 1 may include a mounting hole 115 through which a water tank 72 can be pulled out. The mounting hole 115 may be included in the front panel 11.

[0118] Therefore, the water tank 72 can slide in and out of the front panel 11 through the tank opening 115. As a result, even if the water tank 72 has a large volume and stores a large amount of condensate, the user can easily pull the water tank 72 out of the front panel 11. That is, the user can pull the water tank 72 out of the cabinet 1 without having to overcome the weight of the water tank 72 independently.

[0119] When the control panel 117 and the water tank 72 are inserted and removed, the opening 115 can be positioned so that the water tank 72 does not obstruct the position of the control panel 117. For example, the opening 115 can be located on one side of the control panel 117.

[0120] The tank opening 115 can be located on the upper part of the door 112. Therefore, when the user pulls out the water tank 72 from the front panel 11, the user can bend over relatively less.

[0121] As a result, water tank 430 and water storage tank 72 can be positioned above the rotation center of the drum.

[0122] The garment processing apparatus according to this disclosure may further include a steam component 200 for supplying steam to the garments or the interior of a cabinet. The steam component 200 may be configured to generate steam by receiving fresh water instead of condensate. The steam component 200 may also be configured to generate steam by heating water using ultrasonic waves or by evaporating water.

[0123] The steam unit 200 is configured to generate steam by receiving a specific amount of water, and therefore can occupy a specific volume. In this case, the front panel 11 of the cabinet can be equipped with a door and a control panel 117, and the rear panel 12 of the cabinet can be equipped with pipes and a water source for supplying air to or venting air from the rollers, so the steam unit 200 can be mounted on the side panel 14 of the cabinet.

[0124] The garment processing equipment according to this disclosure may include a steam controller 800 configured to independently control the steam component 200. Although the steam controller 800 is mounted on the control panel 117, a separate control panel can be provided to prevent overloading of the control panel 117 and to prevent an increase in production costs.

[0125] The steam controller 800 can be installed adjacent to the steam component 200. The steam controller 800 can be installed on the side panel 14 on which the steam component 200 is mounted, in order to reduce the length of the control line connected to the steam component 200.

[0126] Since the steam unit 200 supplies steam that will come into contact with the clothing, it can generate steam using fresh water. However, since the water collected in the water reservoir 7 is generated within the clothing, the collected water may contain lint or foreign matter, making it unsuitable for generating steam.

[0127] Therefore, the garment processing apparatus according to this disclosure may include a water supply unit 300, which is configured to supply water to the steam unit 200 and is disposed separately from the water storage unit 7. The water supply unit 300 may store fresh water therein and may be configured to receive fresh water from the outside and supply fresh water to the steam unit 200.

[0128] For example, the water supply unit 300 may include an external supply unit 500 and an internal supply unit 400. The external supply unit 500 is configured to receive water from an external water source and transfer the water to the steam unit 200, and the internal supply unit 400 is configured to store fresh water separately and supply fresh water to the steam unit 200.

[0129] The internal supply unit 400 may also include a water tank 420 separately disposed from the water storage unit 7 for storing fresh water, a water pump 420 configured to supply water from the water tank 420 to the steam unit 200, and a housing 410 that houses the water tank 420 and the water pump 420 inside the cabinet.

[0130] The garment processing device according to this disclosure can be configured to supply water from the water tank 420 to the steam component 200 by the weight of the water, based on the installation height difference between the water tank 420 and the steam component 200.

[0131] When the installation height difference between the water tank 420 and the steam component 200 cannot be guaranteed, a water pump 420 can also be installed. When a water pump 420 is also installed, the space inside the cabinet 1 can be used more efficiently.

[0132] The external supply unit 500 may include a direct water valve 520 connected to an external water supply source to receive water.

[0133] The garment processing apparatus according to this disclosure may also include a determiner 700 configured to determine which of the external supply unit 500 and the internal supply unit 400 will be preferably used to supply water to the steam unit 200.

[0134] The determiner 700 can be configured to determine which of the external supply unit 500 and the internal supply unit 400 will be preferably used.

[0135] Water tank 420 can be configured to store fresh water. Water tank 420 can be exposed outside rack 1 for frequent refilling with fresh water.

[0136] Water tank 420 can be removed from rack 1. Therefore, the user can remove water tank 420 from rack 1 to easily refill water.

[0137] The water tank 420 can be pulled out through the front panel 11. However, when the water tank 72 is pulled out from the front panel 11, it may be difficult to secure the area in the front panel 11 for pulling out the water tank 420 due to the area occupied by the control panel P.

[0138] Therefore, the water tank 420 can be pulled out from the top panel 13 to prevent obstruction of the control panel 117. Since both the water tank 420 and the water reservoir 7 can store water, users may confuse them. For this reason, the garment handling device according to this disclosure can be positioned with the water tank 420 and the water reservoir 7 exposed in different directions or locations within the cabinet.

[0139] Therefore, the water tank 420 can be exposed outside the top panel 13, and the water reservoir 7 can be exposed outside the front panel 11. Thus, although both the water tank 420 and the water reservoir 7 are provided, user confusion between them is prevented. The water tank 420 needs to store fresh water and maintain its freshness, therefore it can have a smaller volume than the water reservoir 7. Thus, the user can distinguish between the water tank 420 and the water reservoir 7 due to their size difference.

[0140] Because the water tank 420 has a smaller volume than the water reservoir 7, it can be easily pulled upwards. Therefore, the water tank 420 can be pulled upwards from the top panel 13. As a result, the water tank 420 and the water reservoir 7 can be pulled out in different directions, thus further reducing the possibility of user confusion.

[0141] The top panel 13 of the garment processing equipment according to this disclosure may include a tank extraction hole or extraction hole 131 through which the water tank 420 is exposed to the outside or outside the cabinet. The tank extraction hole 131 may correspond to the cross-sectional area of ​​the water tank 420, or may be set to be slightly larger than the area of ​​the water tank 420.

[0142] The top panel 13 may also include a pull-out cover 132 configured to cover the tank pull-out opening 131 and prevent the tank 420 from being arbitrarily pulled out. The pull-out cover 132 may include one or more panel couplers 1321 to couple to the outer periphery of the tank pull-out opening 131. The panel couplers 1321 may extend from one side of the pull-out cover 132 to rotatably couple the pull-out cover 132 to the top panel 13. The panel couplers 1321 and the top panel 13 may be hinged to each other.

[0143] The pull-out cover 132 may include a panel handle 1323 for a user to grip on the surface, and the panel handle 1323 may be configured as a groove recessed downward from the pull-out cover 132. The pull-out cover 132 may also include a panel retainer 1332 detachably coupled to the outer periphery of the case pull-out opening 131 or the top panel 13. The panel retainer 1332 may be coupled to the top panel 13 or the case pull-out opening 131 in a button-like manner.

[0144] The garment processing apparatus according to this disclosure may also include a filter for removing foreign matter from the recirculated air. The front panel 11 may include a filter mounting hole 113 configured to allow the filter to be pulled out or inserted.

[0145] Figure 3 The structure of the garment drying apparatus 20 of the garment processing apparatus of this disclosure is shown.

[0146] The clothes drying equipment 20 may include a drying cabinet 1A, a drying drum 2A, a circulating flow path 3A, and a heat exchanger 4. The drying drum 2A is rotatably disposed inside the drying cabinet to provide space for storing clothes. The circulating flow path 3A forms a flow path for resupplying air discharged from the drying drum 2A to the drying drum 2A. The heat exchanger 4 dehumidifies and heats the air introduced into the circulating flow path 3A and then resupplyes the dehumidified and heated air to the drying drum 2A.

[0147] When the drying drum 2A is formed as a cylindrical drum body 21A with an open front and a back, a first support member 17 that rotatably supports the front of the drying drum 2A and a second support member 19A that rotatably supports the back of the drying drum 2A can be installed inside the cabinet 1A.

[0148] The first support member 17 may include a first fixing body 171, a drum clothing inlet 173, and a first support body 175. The first fixing body 171 is fixed inside the dryer cabinet 1A. The drum clothing inlet 173 is defined to extend through the first fixing body to allow the clothing inlet 111 and the interior of the drum body 21A to communicate with each other. The first support body 175 is disposed on the first fixing body 171 and inserted into the front (first open surface) of the drum body 21A.

[0149] The first fixing body 171 can be of any shape, as long as it allows for the arrangement of the drum clothing inlet 173 and the first support body 175. The first support body 175 can be formed as a tube protruding from the first fixing body 171 toward the drying drum body 21A. The diameter of the first support body 175 can be larger than the diameter of the drum clothing inlet 173, and smaller than the diameter of the front side of the drying drum body 21A. In this case, the drum clothing inlet 173 will be located inside the space defined by the first support body 175.

[0150] The first support member 17 may further include a connector 177 that connects the garment inlet 111 and the roller garment inlet 173 to each other. The connector 177 may be formed as a tube extending from the roller garment inlet 173 toward the garment inlet 111. The connector 177 may have an air outlet 178 communicating with the circulation flow path 3A.

[0151] Air outlet 178, as a channel allowing air inside the drying drum body 21A to flow to the circulating flow path 3, can be defined as a through hole that extends through connector 177.

[0152] The second support member 19A may include a second fixing body 191 and a second support body 195. The second fixing body 191 is fixed inside the cabinet 1A, and the second support body 195 is disposed on the second fixing body 191 and inserted into the back side (second open surface) of the drum body 21A. The second support member 19A includes an air inlet 198 defined to extend through the second fixing body 191 to allow communication between the interior of the drum body 21 and the interior of the drying cabinet 1A. In this case, the duct 3A may be configured to connect the air outlet 178 and the air inlet 198 to each other.

[0153] The cylindrical drum body 21A with an empty interior can be rotated by various types of drying drives. The following is shown as an example: the drying drives 82, 83, 85 include a motor 82 fixed inside the drying cabinet 1A, a pulley 85 rotated by the motor, and a belt 83 connecting the circumferential surface of the pulley 85 and the circumferential surface of the drum body 21A to each other.

[0154] In one example, the drying drive can be positioned on the back of the drying drum 2A to directly rotate the drum 2A. The rotation shafts of the drying drives 82, 83, and 85 can be directly coupled to the drum 2A to rotate the drying drum 2A.

[0155] In this configuration, the second support 19A can support the drying drives 82, 83, and 85 on the back or at the center of the drying drum 2A.

[0156] In one example, a separate reducer can be positioned between the drying drives 82, 83, 85 and the drying drum 2A. In this case, the rotational shaft from the reducer can be directly coupled to the center of the back side of the drum 2A, and the reducer can be coupled to and supported by the second support 19.

[0157] In this respect, the drying drives 82, 83, and 85 can freely change the rotation speed and rotation direction of the drum 2A.

[0158] The first support member 17 may have a first roller 179 that rotatably supports the circumferential surface of the roller body 21A, and the second support member 19 may have a second roller 199 that rotatably supports the circumferential surface of the roller body.

[0159] The circulating flow path 3A may include a pipe connected to the drum 2. The pipe 3A may be connected to the drying drum 2A, so that the pipe 3A can be considered to form a circulating flow path in which air discharged from the drying drum passes through the heat exchanger 4 and is reintroduced into the drum 2A.

[0160] The duct 3A may include an exhaust duct 31A connected to an air outlet 178, a supply duct 33A connected to an air inlet 198, and a connecting duct 35A that connects the exhaust duct and the supply duct to each other.

[0161] The heat exchanger 4 can be configured as various devices, as long as they can sequentially perform dehumidification and heating of the air introduced into the pipe 3A. For example, the heat exchanger 4 can be configured as a heat pump system.

[0162] The heat exchanger 4 may include a fan 49 that allows air to flow along the duct 3A, a first heat exchanger (heat absorber) 41 that removes moisture from the air introduced into the duct 3A, and a second heat exchanger (heater) 43 disposed inside the duct 3A to heat the air that has passed through the first heat exchanger 41.

[0163] The heat absorber 41 can be configured as an evaporator that absorbs heat, and the heater 43 can be configured as a condenser that emits heat.

[0164] Fan 49 may include an impeller 491 disposed inside duct 3A and an impeller motor 493 for rotating the impeller 491 (see Figure 4 Impeller 491 can be installed in any one of discharge pipe 31A, connection pipe 35A, and supply pipe 33A. Impeller 491 can be installed in supply pipe 33A.

[0165] The heat absorber 41 is formed using multiple metal plates arranged along the width direction (Y-axis direction) or the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the connecting pipe 35A, and the heater 43 can also be formed using multiple metal plates arranged along the width direction or the height direction of the connecting pipe. The heat absorber 41 and the heater 43 are arranged sequentially inside the connecting pipe 35A in a direction from the discharge pipe 31A to the supply pipe 33A, and are interconnected via a refrigerant pipe 48 that forms a circulating flow path for the refrigerant.

[0166] The refrigerant moves along the refrigerant pipe 48 via the compressor 45 located outside the pipe 3A, and the refrigerant pipe 48 has a pressure regulator 47 that adjusts the pressure of the refrigerant that has passed through the heater 43.

[0167] The heat absorber 41 is a device for cooling air and evaporating refrigerant by transferring the heat of the air introduced into the discharge pipe 31A to the refrigerant. The heater 43 is a device for heating air and condensing refrigerant by transferring the heat of the refrigerant that has passed through the compressor 45 to the air. In this case, the moisture contained in the air will be collected along the surface of the heat absorber 41 on the bottom surface of the connecting pipe 35A as it passes through the heat absorber 41.

[0168] In order to collect the water removed from the air passing through the heat absorber 41, the clothes drying equipment 20 has a water collection section.

[0169] Water collected in the water collection section can be collected in the water storage tank 7 and then discharged immediately. The water storage tank 7 may include a water storage tank 72 and an inlet 722, the water storage tank 72 being detachably disposed in the cabinet 1 to provide space for storing water, and the inlet 722 being defined to extend through the water storage tank 72 to introduce water discharged from the water storage supply pipe 633 into the water storage tank 72.

[0170] The water tank 72 can be formed as a drawer-shaped box extending from the cabinet 1. In this case, the front panel 11A of the cabinet must have a water tank mounting hole or box opening into which the water tank 72 is inserted. The water tank panel 71 is fixed to the front of the water tank 72. The water tank panel 71 can be detachably coupled to the water tank mounting hole or box opening 115 to form part of the front panel 11A.

[0171] The water tank panel 71 may also include a slot 711 into which a user's hand can be inserted. In this case, the water tank panel 71 will also function as a handle for extending or retracting the water tank 72 from or into the cabinet.

[0172] Inlet 722 can be defined to receive water discharged from nozzle 722A fixed to the drying cabinet 1A. Nozzle 722a can be fixed to the top panel 13 of the cabinet so as to be positioned above inlet 722 when the water reservoir body 72 is inserted into the cabinet 1.

[0173] In the water tank 7 with the above structure, the user can discard the water inside the water tank 72 by extending the water tank 72 from the cabinet 1 and then flipping or tilting the water tank 72 in the direction pointed to by the inlet 722. The communication hole 721, which is defined to extend through the top surface of the water tank body 72, can be further defined to allow the water inside the water tank 72 to be easily discharged through the inlet 722.

[0174] In one example, the heat exchanger 4 is configured to condense moisture in the air circulating in the heat absorber 41. Therefore, even as the air circulates in the drum 2A, the moisture is removed by the heat absorber 41, so that the clothes inside the drum 2A can be continuously dried.

[0175] The moisture condensed in the heat absorber 41 can first be collected in the water collection section 37A, and then collected again in the water storage tank 7. The water collection section 37A can be located inside the connecting pipe 35, and can be set separately in a space spaced apart from the connecting pipe 35.

[0176] Figure 4 The detailed structure of the water collection section 37A, heat exchanger 4, and scrubber 6 is shown.

[0177] The water collection section 37A can be formed as a water collection body 371A fixed to the bottom surface of the connecting pipe 35A and communicating with the interior of the connecting pipe. A heat exchanger support 372A can also be disposed inside the water collection body 371A, so that the heat absorber 41 and the heater 43 do not come into contact with the water (condensate) stored in the water collection 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 maintaining a gap between the support plate 373A and the bottom surface of the water collection body 371A, and a support plate through-hole 376A defined to extend through the support plate 373A.

[0178] The through-hole 376A of the support plate can be limited only to the space supporting the heat absorber 41 within the space provided by the support plate 373A, and can be limited to each of the space supporting the heat absorber and the space supporting the heater. When the through-hole 376A of the support plate is also limited to the bottom surface of the heater 43, water flowing along the support plate 373A to the heater 43 can be discharged to the water collection section 371A (to prevent a decrease in heat transfer efficiency that occurs when the heater comes into contact with water).

[0179] In order to minimize the accumulation of foreign matter (lint, etc.) discharged from the drying drum body 21A in the heat absorber 41 and heater 43, the clothes drying equipment 20 may also include a filter device for filtering air.

[0180] The second filter device 8 can be configured to filter air introduced from the drying drum body 21A into the discharge pipe 31A, and the first filter device 5 can be located between the second filter device 8 and the heat absorber 41, and configured to filter air that has already passed through the second filter device. The diameter of the filter holes defined in the first filter device 5 can be set to be smaller than the diameter of the filter holes defined in the second filter device 8.

[0181] The second filtration device 8 may include a frame 81 that is detachably inserted into the exhaust duct 31A through an air outlet 178, and a filter (fourth filter) 83 disposed in the frame to filter air.

[0182] The first filter device 5 can be detachably installed in the connecting pipe 35. In this case, the front panel 11 of the cabinet can have a filter mounting hole from which the first filter device 5 is pulled out, and a mounting hole door for opening and closing the filter mounting hole, and the pipe 3A can have a pipe through hole 34 into which the first filter device 5 is inserted (see...). Figure 3 Therefore, users can remove foreign matter remaining in the first filter device 5 and clean the first filter device 5 after separating it from the clothing processing equipment, as needed.

[0183] The first filtration device 5 may include filtration device bodies 51, 53 and 55, and filters 531, 551 and 571. The filtration device bodies 51, 53 and 55 are inserted into the filter mounting holes and the pipe through holes 34 and positioned between the second filtration device 8 and the heat absorber 41. The filters 531, 551 and 571 are disposed in the filtration device bodies to filter the fluids (air and water) flowing to the heat absorber 41 and the water collection section 371A.

[0184] The filter body can be formed in various forms depending on the shape of the cross-section (YZ plane and XZ plane) of the connecting pipe 35A. Figure 1 An example is shown where the filter device body is formed in a hexahedral shape.

[0185] In this case, the filter device body may include a front surface 51, a back surface 53, a bottom surface 55, a first side surface 57, and a second side surface 58. The front surface 51 is formed in a shape that can close the pipe through-hole 34. The back surface 53 is positioned between the front surface and the heat absorber 41. The bottom surface 55 is configured to connect the front surface and the back surface to each other. The first side surface 57 and the second side surface 58 form the left side and right side surface of the filter device body.

[0186] The front panel 51 may have a lock 511 removably coupled to a locking portion 16 disposed in the cabinet. The lock 511 may be formed as a strip rotatably coupled to the front panel 51 of the filter unit body, and the locking portion may define a groove for receiving the free end of the strip. Preferably, the locks 511 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the front panel 51, and the locking portions 16 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the filter mounting holes.

[0187] To facilitate the insertion of the filter device body into or removal of the filter device from the connecting pipe 35A, the front side 51 may also include a handle 511.

[0188] The back surface 53 and the bottom surface 55 may respectively have a first filter 531 and a second filter 551 for filtering fluids (air and water) introduced into the filter device body. The back surface 53 has a back through-hole defined therein to allow communication between the interior of the filter device body and the interior space of the pipe 3A, and the first filter 531 is disposed in the back through-hole. The bottom surface 55 has a bottom through-hole to allow communication between the interior of the filter device body and the interior space of the pipe 3A, and the second filter 551 is disposed in the bottom through-hole. Therefore, the first filter 531 is a device for filtering fluids (air and water) supplied to the heat absorber 41, and the second filter 551 is a device for filtering fluids supplied to the water collection section 371A.

[0189] The first side 57 and the second side 58 can be configured to connect the front 51, the back 53 and the bottom 55 to each other.

[0190] The first filter device 5 with the above structure can be connected to the discharge pipe 31A through the top surface or the second side surface 58 of the filter device body. Figure 1 The following case is shown as an example: the first filter device 5 is connected to the discharge pipe 31A through a top surface through-hole defined to extend through the top surface of the filter device body and a side through-hole defined to extend through the second side 58.

[0191] The first filter 531 can be tilted at an angle of 90 to 100 degrees from the bottom surface 55 of the filter body toward the front of the heat absorber 41. This is to allow foreign matter remaining in the first filter to easily move to the bottom surface 55 when water is injected into the first filter 531 via the scrubber 6, which will be described later.

[0192] The second filter 551 can be tilted downwards at an angle of 10 to 20 degrees toward the first filter 531 from the front 51 (the second filter can also be tilted upwards at an angle of 10 to 20 degrees along the direction from the lower end of the first filter to the filter mounting hole). When the second filter 551 is tilted downwards toward the first filter 531, since the connection point of the first filter 531 and the second filter 551 will be the lowest point in the space provided by the first filter device, foreign objects in the first filter device 5 may concentrate at the connection point of the first filter 531 and the second filter 551. When foreign objects are concentrated at the connection point of the first filter 531 and the second filter 551, the user will be able to remove foreign objects from the inside of the first filter device 5 more easily.

[0193] However, when foreign matter accumulates at the connection point of the first filter 531 and the second filter 551, it may take a long time for the water sprayed by the scrubber 6 to be discharged into the water collection section 371. To solve this problem, a bypass hole can be provided to allow communication between the interior of the first filter device 5 and the water collection section 371, and a third filter 571 can be provided in the bypass hole.

[0194] The bypass orifice and the third filter 571 can be positioned higher than the uppermost point of the second filter 551 and lower than the uppermost point of the first filter 531. Therefore, the garment handling device can minimize the phenomenon that water sprayed onto the first filter 5 cannot be recovered by foreign matter remaining in the first filter 5 at the water collection section 371.

[0195] In one example, the clothes drying device 20 may also include a washer 6 that uses water stored in a water collection section 371A to clean the first filter device 5. That is, the water stored in the water collection section 371A may be collected separately into a water reservoir 7 or may be selectively directed to the washer 6.

[0196] The scrubber 6 can be configured as a means for cleaning at least one of the first filter 531, the second filter 551, the third filter 571, and the heat absorber 41 by spraying water stored in the water collection section 371A onto the first filter device 5. The scrubber 6 may include an ejector 65 disposed in the pipe 3A to supply water to the first filter device 5, and a scrubbing pump 61 that allows water stored in the water collection section 371A to flow to the ejector 65.

[0197] The washing pump 61 can be connected to the water collection section 371A via a first connecting pipe 611 and to the ejector 65 via a second connecting pipe 613. When the garment handling apparatus is configured to allow water from the water collection section 371A to flow to the ejector 65 and the water reservoir 7 using only one washing pump 61, the garment drying apparatus 20 may also include a flow path switching section 63. In this case, the flow path switching section 63 can be connected to the washing pump 61 via the second connecting pipe 613, the ejector 65 can be connected to the flow path switching section 63 via an ejector supply pipe 631, and the water reservoir 7 can be connected to the flow path switching section 63 via a water reservoir supply pipe 633.

[0198] In this case, the water supply pipe 633 should connect the nozzle 722a and the flow path switching part 63 to each other.

[0199] The flow path switching section 63 includes a valve for controlling the opening and closing of the jet supply pipe 631 and the water storage supply pipe 633. Therefore, the clothes drying equipment 20 can control the valve located in the flow path switching section 63 to supply water stored in the water collection section 371A to the jet injector 65 or to the water storage tank 7.

[0200] The following is illustrated as an example: the injector 65 includes a through-hole 651, a first guide 653, and a second guide 655. The through-hole 651 is defined to extend through the connecting pipe 35, and the injection supply pipe 631 is connected to the through-hole 651. The first guide 653 guides water supplied from the through-hole to a first filter 531, and the second guide 655 guides at least a portion of the water supplied through the first guide 653 to the front of the heat absorber 41. In this case, the second guide 655 can be configured as a means to allow water to be supplied to the front of the heat absorber 41 via the first filter 531. That is, when the first filter device 5 is fixed to the connecting pipe 35A, the first filter 531 can be disposed between the first guide 653 and the second guide 655, and the second guide 655 can be formed as an inclined surface sloping downward from the top surface of the connecting pipe 35 toward the first filter 531.

[0201] The first guide 653 may also include a guide through-hole 654. As a hole defined as extending through the first guide 653, the guide through-hole 654 allows water introduced into the pipe through-hole 651 to be supplied through the guide through-hole 654 to the front region of the heat absorber 41. The front region of the heat absorber refers to the area positioned on the side facing the first filter 531 based on a vertical line passing through the center of the heat absorber 41.

[0202] In one example, preferably, the garment processing apparatus of this disclosure includes a water level sensor 92 for the water collection section 371A, which measures the water level in the water collection section 371A and transmits the water level to a controller. When the water level sensor 92 is configured, the garment processing apparatus can determine the point in time when water stored in the water collection section 371A is allowed to flow to the water reservoir body 72. Therefore, water flow from the water collection section 371A back into the connecting pipe 35A can be prevented.

[0203] The water level sensing device 92 for the water collection section can be configured as any device capable of sensing the water level inside the water collection section 371A. Figure 3 A sensor with multiple electrodes of different lengths (based on electrical connections to the water level) is shown as an example.

[0204] The clothes drying equipment 20 may have a dryness sensing device to determine the time point for stopping the operation of the heat exchanger 4 by determining the dryness of the clothes. The dryness sensing device may be formed as at least one of an electrode sensor 95 and a humidity sensor, the electrode sensor 95 being configured to contact the clothes to measure the moisture content contained in the clothes, and the humidity sensor being used to measure the humidity of the air introduced from the drum 3 into the duct 3A.

[0205] The electrode sensor may include a first electrode 951 and a second electrode 953, which can be fixed to a first fixing body 171 and can contact the clothes inside the drum body 21A. As the dryness increases, the moisture content of the clothes will decrease (the resistance of the clothes will increase), so that the clothes drying equipment 20 can determine the dryness of the clothes by observing the resistance measured when the two electrodes 951 and 953 are interconnected via the clothes. In one example, as the dryness of the clothes increases, the moisture content of the air introduced into the duct 3A will decrease, so that the clothes drying equipment 20 can determine the dryness of the clothes by observing the humidity of the air introduced into the duct 3A via a humidity sensor.

[0206] In addition, the clothes drying equipment 20 may also include a temperature sensing device 96 for measuring the temperature of the air introduced into the duct 3A. The temperature sensing device 96 may be fixed to the top surface of the connecting duct 35A and positioned between the first filter 531 and the second filter 551.

[0207] Figure 5 An embodiment of the internal structure of the clothes drying apparatus 20 of this disclosure is shown.

[0208] The driver 28 can be directly fastened to the back of the drying drum 2A. The drying driver 28 can be mounted on the second support 19 to directly rotate the drying drum 2A.

[0209] The drying drive 28 may include a stator supported by a second support 19, a rotor rotating from the stator, and a rotating shaft.

[0210] The drying drive 28 can be independently coupled to the reducer 28A, and the reducer 28A can be coupled to the center (rotation center) of the back side of the drying drum 2A to rotate the drying drum 2A.

[0211] Therefore, reducer 28A can increase torque while reducing the RPM of the rotating shaft.

[0212] The steam unit 200 can be configured as a first support fixed to the front panel 11 or the support roller 2 for space utilization. Alternatively, the steam unit 200 can be installed near a corner of the cabinet 1.

[0213] The internal supply unit 400 may include a water tank 420 for storing water, a water pump 430 for supplying power to supply the water stored in the water tank 420 to the steam equipment 200, and a housing 410 providing space in which the water pump 430 and the water tank 420 are installed.

[0214] The enclosure 410 can be formed as a box with an open top surface and can extend along the front and rear direction of the cabinet 1, so that the water tank 420 can be installed in the front of the cabinet 1 and the water pump 430 can be installed in the rear of the cabinet 1.

[0215] The housing 410 may include a housing mounting portion 411 and a pump mounting portion 412. The water tank 420 is detachably mounted in the housing mounting portion 411, and the water pump 430 may be mounted in the pump mounting portion 412. The housing 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 into the drying drum 2A, etc.

[0216] Furthermore, the tank housing 410 may also include a partition wall 413 separating the tank mounting portion 411 and the pump mounting portion 412 from each other. Therefore, the water tank 420 can be easily installed in and removed from the tank housing 410. The partition wall 413 can also be used to collect residual water in the tank mounting portion 411 or the pump mounting portion 412, preventing residual water from flowing elsewhere.

[0217] An extension pipe 416 for allowing communication between the water tank 420 and the water pump 430 can be installed in the partition wall 413. A valve structure can be installed on the extension pipe 416 to prevent water leakage even if the water tank 420 is removed from the tank mounting portion 411.

[0218] The extension pipe 416 can extend from the partition wall 413 toward the water pump 430 or toward the water tank 420.

[0219] In one example, the tank housing 410 can be configured such that the pump mounting portion 412 is positioned closer to the steam device 200 than the tank mounting portion 411. This simplifies the flow path from the water tank 420 to the steam device 200.

[0220] The enclosure 410 can be configured such that the enclosure mounting portion 411 and the pump mounting portion 412 are arranged along the front-to-back direction of the cabinet.

[0221] The water supply unit 300 may include a coupling portion capable of securing the housing 410 to at least one of the support bar 440 and a side of the cabinet.

[0222] The rotating drying drum 2A is housed inside the drying cabinet 1. Therefore, the components arranged inside the drying cabinet 1 need to be spaced apart from the drying drum 2A. Thus, it is essential to prevent the water supply unit 300 and the steam unit 200 from contacting the drum 2A. For example, it is necessary to prevent the steam conduit 230 for supplying steam from the steam unit 200 to the drum 2, the straight water pipe 510 for supplying water to the steam unit 200, etc., from contacting the drying drum 2A.

[0223] It is necessary not only to support the water tank 420 and the water pump 430, but also to support the load of the water contained in the water tank 420.

[0224] Therefore, the garment processing equipment disclosed herein may include a support bar 440 for supporting the steam device 200 and the water supply device 300 to prevent the steam device 200 and the water supply device 300 from contacting the drum, and for supporting the steam device 200 and the water supply device 300 inside the dryer cabinet.

[0225] The support bar 440 can be configured to support at least a portion of the steam equipment 200 or at least a portion of the water supply unit 300. Furthermore, the support bar 440 can secure or support the housing 410 to the dryer cabinet.

[0226] The support bar 440 can be formed into a strip shape having two ends respectively coupled to the front drying panel 11 and the rear drying panel 12. Therefore, the support bar 440 can support the load of the housing 410 and fix the front drying panel 11 and the rear drying panel 12. The support bar 440 can be spaced apart from the drying side panel 14 by a predetermined distance and coupled to the front drying panel 11 and the rear drying panel 12. In one example, these two ends of the support bar 440 can be coupled to the cabinet 1, while the remaining portion can be positioned lower than the upper part of the side of the cabinet 1. Therefore, the support bar 440 can be spaced apart from the top panel 13 to prevent obstruction of the top panel 13. Furthermore, a space capable of supporting some components of the water supply unit 300 and the steam unit 200 can be defined between the support bar 440 and the top panel 13.

[0227] The support bar 440 can prevent the width of the housing 410 from being excessively extended.

[0228] In one example, although not shown, the housing 410 may also include a mounting sensor capable of sensing the mounting of the water tank 420 on the inner surface of the housing 410. The mounting sensor may be configured as a weight sensor and can be configured to distinguish between small and large weights.

[0229] The sensor can be connected to the drying control panel PA to transmit information about whether the water tank 420 is installed and the amount of water contained in the water tank 420.

[0230] The internal supply unit 400 may include a pump discharge pipe 433 for discharging water from the pump housing 430 to the steam equipment 200.

[0231] The external supply unit 500 may include a straight water valve 520 and a straight water pipe 510. The straight water valve 520 is mounted on the second support 19A or the drying rear panel 12, and the straight water pipe 510 is configured to supply water from the straight water valve 520 to the steam equipment 200.

[0232] A straight water pipe 510 extends from the rear drying panel 12 to the steam unit 200, and a straight water valve 520 can be configured to open and close the straight water pipe 510. The straight water pipe 510 extends from the straight water valve 520 through the support bar 440 to the steam generator 210. At this point, at least a portion of the straight water pipe 510 can be supported by the support bar 440 to prevent contact with the drying drum 2A.

[0233] The support bar 440 can be installed between the straight water valve 520 and the water tank 430.

[0234] Furthermore, the direct water valve 520 can be mounted on the drying rear panel 12 or the second support member 19A to be exposed to the outside, and the direct water pipe 510 can extend from the direct water valve 520 toward the steam equipment 200. Therefore, the external supply unit 500 can supply water to the steam equipment 200 from an external water source in a direct water supply scheme.

[0235] Steam device 200 can receive water from both external supply unit 500 and internal supply unit 400. However, when steam device 200 is configured to receive water through corresponding pipes, steam device 200 of a separate shape must be manufactured, which may complicate the flow path and control method.

[0236] Therefore, the garment processing apparatus of this disclosure may further include a combination section 600 for coupling the straight water pipe 510 to the pump discharge pipe 433. The combination section 600 may be configured such that both water stored in the internal supply section 400 and water supplied from the external supply section 500 in a direct water supply scheme are collected.

[0237] Furthermore, the assembly 600 can be configured to deliver supplied water to the steam unit 200. The assembly 600 can be formed as a three-way valve, or it can be formed as a combination pipe with three pipes coupled to each other.

[0238] When the assembly 600 is formed as a tube, a check valve can be provided in each of the external supply section 500 and the internal supply section 400 to prevent backflow. Specifically, a straight water check valve 511 for opening the straight water pipe 510 in one direction can be installed on the straight water pipe 510, and the pump discharge pipe 433 can have a discharge check valve 434 for opening the pump discharge pipe 433 in one direction.

[0239] Furthermore, check valves can be respectively installed on the pump discharge pipe 433 and the straight water pipe 510. The external supply unit 500 may include an external check valve, and the internal supply unit 400 may include an internal check valve.

[0240] Therefore, it can prevent the water supplied to the straight water pipe 510 from flowing back to the water pump 430, and it can also prevent the water supplied to the pump discharge pipe 433 from flowing back to the straight water valve 510.

[0241] In one example, when formed as a valve or a combination pipe, the combination portion 600 has a significant weight. Furthermore, a considerable weight may be applied to the combination portion 600 as water flows through it.

[0242] Therefore, the assembly part 600 can be placed on the support bar 440.

[0243] The assembly 600 and the support bar 400 can be coupled to each other using separate fixing members to prevent the assembly 600 from separating from the support bar 400. Since the assembly 600 is mounted on the support bar 400, the positions of the straight water pipe 510 and the pump discharge pipe 433 can also be stably fixed.

[0244] In one example, the steam device 200 may include a water conduit 220, a steam generator 210, and a steam conduit 230. The water conduit 220 is connected to the assembly 600 to receive water from the water supply 300, the steam generator 210 receives water from the water conduit 220 to generate steam, and the steam conduit 230 is capable of directing the steam generated by the steam generator 210 to the drying drum 2A or the pipe 3A.

[0245] The steam generator 210 can be positioned below the drying drum 2A to stably receive water from the water supply 300 by gravity, and the generated steam can stably move to the drying drum 2A by density difference.

[0246] The steam conduit 230 can be configured to communicate with a gasket disposed on the front side of the drying drum 2A or on the first support member. Therefore, the steam conduit 230 can stably supply steam to the drying drum 2A without contacting the drying drum 2A.

[0247] In one example, the housing 410 may have an installation sensor capable of sensing whether the water tank 420 is installed. For example, the installation sensor may be configured as a pressure sensor, etc.

[0248] In addition, a water level sensor capable of sensing the water level in the water tank 420 can be installed. For example, the water level sensor can be configured as a weight sensor. The installation of the sensor or water level sensor can also be controlled by the control panel 820 and can be configured to transmit signals to the control panel 820.

[0249] In one example, the control panel P can indirectly indicate the water level of the water tank 420 by temporarily driving the water pump 430 to sense the load applied to the water pump 430.

[0250] The volume of the water storage tank 72 can be significantly larger than that of the water tank 430, and it can be set to be spaced apart from the water tank 430 to prevent users from confusing the water storage tank 72 with the water tank 430.

[0251] Water tank 430 and steam equipment 200 can be arranged between support bar 440 and one side of cabinet, and water storage tank 72 can be arranged between support bar 440 and the other side of cabinet.

[0252] Since the water tank 430 is coupled to the enclosure mounting part 411, it can be seen that the enclosure mounting part 411 is also located between the support bar 440 and one side of the cabinet.

[0253] Therefore, the support bar 440 can be set between the water storage tank 72 and the steam generator 210, and can also be set between the water storage tank 72 and the water tank 430.

[0254] Figure 6 The structure of control panel P is shown.

[0255] The control panel P may include a circuit board (first circuit board) P4, an encoder P5, an operating part P7, and a display part P8. The circuit board (first circuit board) P4 is fixed to the panel support 12 and positioned inside the cabinet 1. The encoder P5 is fixed to the circuit board and located inside the cabinet 1. The operating part P7 is connected to the encoder P5 through the front panel 11. The display part P8 is fixed to the encoder P5 or the first circuit board P4 through the front panel 11.

[0256] The first circuit board P4, which is a board equipped with the required control circuitry of at least one of the control (electrical control and operational control) drives 23, 27 and 25, steam equipment 200 and water supply 300, can be fixed to the panel support 12 via the housing P41.

[0257] The housing P41 can have any shape, as long as it can secure the first circuit board 4 to the panel support 12.

[0258] The housing P41 can be formed into a hexahedron shape with one side (the side facing the panel support) open.

[0259] A boss for positioning the first circuit board P4 can be provided in the housing P41. The boss may include a first boss 411 and a second boss 412.

[0260] In this configuration, the first circuit board P4 may have a through-hole P42 and a boss insertion hole P43, with the first boss 411 passing through the through-hole P42 and the second boss 412 passing through the boss insertion hole P43. The second boss 412 may be disposed in each of the left and right spaces of the first boss 411, or it may be disposed in each of the upper and lower spaces of the first boss 411.

[0261] Wire 822 is connected to display unit P8. Wire 822 may be configured as a power line for supplying power to the display interface, or as a communication line enabling display unit P8 to communicate with devices inside the cabinet (including the first circuit board P4).

[0262] 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 123 defined therein (see Figure 4 In this case, the wire 822 can be extended into the cabinet 1 by being inserted into the first boss through hole 413 and the wire through hole 123.

[0263] The first circuit board P4 may also include a power switch P46 and an actuator P47. The garment device P46 may be configured to input a control command requesting power to the garment handling device 100, and the actuator P47 may be configured to input a command requesting execution of a control command displayed on the display portion P8 or a command to temporarily stop the control command being executed by the garment handling device 10.

[0264] The power switch P46 and the actuator P47 can be configured to generate a control signal by sensing static electricity from the user's body.

[0265] The power switch P46 may include a first button 461 exposed outside the cabinet 1, a first detection sensor 464 fixed to the first circuit board P4, and a conductor (first touch spring) 463 for connecting the first button and the first detection sensor to each other. Similarly, the actuator P47 may include a second button 471 exposed outside the cabinet 1, a second detection sensor 474 fixed to the first circuit board P4, and a conductor (second touch spring) (not shown) for connecting the second button and the second detection sensor to each other.

[0266] The front panel 11 has a first button mounting portion 136 and a second button mounting portion 117. The first button 461 can be exposed to the outside of the cabinet 1 via the first button mounting portion 116, and the second button 471 can be exposed to the outside of the cabinet 1 via the second button mounting portion 117.

[0267] The power switch P46 and the actuator P47 can be respectively located in the left and right spaces of the display part P8, or in the upper and lower spaces of the display interface, or vertically or horizontally located in one of the left and right spaces of the display interface.

[0268] The first touch spring 463 and the second touch spring can be formed in the shape of coils to provide restoring force to the first button 461 and the second button 471. Furthermore, to prevent the first button 461 and the second button 471 from deviating from the button mounting portions 116 and 117 respectively, the power switch 46 can have a first stop 462 that limits the range of motion of the first button, and the actuator 47 can have a second stop (not shown) that limits the range of motion of the second button.

[0269] The encoder P5 is a device for rotatably fixing the operating part P7 to the first circuit board P4, and is a device for generating an electrical signal (or generating an electrical signal set differently based on the rotation angle of the actuator) during the rotation of the operating part P7.

[0270] Figure 7 The structure of the encoder is shown.

[0271] The encoder P5 may include a fixed part P51, a rotating part P52, and a signal generator P54. The fixed part P51 is fixed to the first circuit board P4 and the display part P8 is fixed to the fixed part P51. The rotating part P52 is rotatably disposed on the fixed part P51 and the operating part P7 is fixed to the rotating part P52. The signal generator P54 is used to generate an electrical signal when the rotating part P52 rotates.

[0272] The fixed portion P51 may include a fixing body P512 fixed to the first circuit board P4, a support body 511 extending from the fixing 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 fixing body and the support body.

[0273] The fixing body 512 can be formed in a cylindrical shape. The plate fastening portion 513 can be provided on the circumferential surface of the fixing body 512 or on one side of the fixing body (the side facing the first circuit board). In this case, the first circuit board P4 can have an encoder mounting hole P44 defined therein, into which the plate fastening portion 513 is inserted.

[0274] The plate fastening portion 513 and the encoder mounting hole P44 may each include multiple plate fastening portions and multiple encoder mounting holes, and the encoder mounting hole P44 may be arranged to surround the plate through hole P42.

[0275] Inside the through hole 514 of the main body, a fastening fixing part 531 for fastening the display part P8 to the fixing part 51 can be provided, and a position setting groove 532 for preventing the display part P8 from rotating (fixing the position of the display interface) when the display part P8 is inserted into the through hole 514 of the main body.

[0276] The fastener 531 may be formed as a protrusion protruding from at least one of the support 511 and the fixing body 512 toward the center of the body through hole 514. The accompanying drawings illustrate, as an example, that the fastener 531 is provided on the support 511.

[0277] The positioning groove 532 can be defined as a groove in which one surface of the fixed portion P51 of the body through hole 514 is concavely curved. In this case, the positioning groove 532 can be defined along the longitudinal direction of the body through hole 514.

[0278] The rotating part P52 can be formed as a rotating body 521 rotatably coupled to the support 511. The rotating body 521 should have a rotating body through hole through which the support 511 passes.

[0279] The rotating body 521 may have a shaft fastening portion 522 to which the operating portion P7 is fastened. The shaft fastening portion 522 may be formed as a fastening hole extending through the circumferential surface of the rotating body 521, or it may be formed as a fastening groove defined by the circumferential surface of the rotating body 521 being concavely bent.

[0280] The signal generator P54 may include a magnet fixed to the rotating body 521, a sensor disposed on the fixed body 512 or the support 511 to sense magnetic force, and terminals connecting the sensor and the first circuit board 4 to each other. The magnet may be formed as a plurality of permanent magnets, which are arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the circumferential surface of the rotating body 521.

[0281] The first circuit board P4, to which the encoder P5 is assembled, may be coated with an insulating material. This is to minimize the possibility of water supply to the first circuit board P4 and short circuits. When the insulating material is coated on one side of the first circuit board P4 (the side facing the front panel), the control panel P may also include an encoder cover P6 to prevent the rotating body 521 from being fixed to the support body 511 by the insulating material.

[0282] The encoder cover P6 can be formed as a tube fixed to the first circuit board P4 and surrounding the encoder P5. That is, as shown in the figure, the encoder cover P6 can include a fixing body cover P61 and a cover through hole P62. The fixing body cover P61 is fixed to the first circuit board P4 and surrounds the fixing body 512, and the cover through hole P62 is defined to extend through the fixing body cover P61 and the encoder 5 is inserted into the cover through hole P62.

[0283] The mounting cover P61 may have a plate fastening portion 611, and the first circuit board P4 may have an encoder cover fixing hole P45 to which the plate fastening portion 611 is fixed. The plate fastening portion 611 and the encoder cover fixing hole P45 may each include multiple plate fastening portions and multiple encoder cover fixing holes, and the encoder cover fixing hole P45 may be arranged around the plate fastening portion 513.

[0284] To drain water introduced into the fixed body cover P61, the cover outlet 612 can also be provided on the circumferential surface of the fixed body cover P61. Preferably, the cover outlet 612 is located at the lowermost end of the circumferential surface of the fixed body cover P61.

[0285] In one example, after both encoder P5 and encoder cover P6 are coupled to the first circuit board P4, the aforementioned insulating material is applied to the first circuit board P4, and the insulating material sprayed on a portion of the first circuit board P4 (the outer space of the encoder cover) flows into the encoder cover P6 through the cover outlet 612. During this process, to prevent the supply of insulating material to the rotating body 521, the distance L1 from the first circuit board to the uppermost point of the stationary body 512 is preferably set to be equal to or greater than the distance L2 from the first circuit board to the uppermost point of the cover outlet 612.

[0286] The encoder cover P6 may also include a support cover P63 extending from the stationary cover P61 and surrounding the rotating body 521 (surrounding the support). The support cover P63 can restrict the movement of the operating part P7 in the radial direction along the cover through hole 62, so that the support cover 63 can prevent the operating part P7 from separating from the rotating body 521.

[0287] Figure 8 The structure of the manipulation part P7 and the display part P8 is shown.

[0288] The control unit P7 may include a shaft P71 fixed to the rotating body 521 via the front panel 11, and a handle P73 fixed to the shaft P71 and positioned outside the cabinet 1.

[0289] The cabinet 1 has a panel through-hole 134 that is defined to extend through the front panel 11. The shaft P71 can be configured to be inserted into the panel through-hole 134.

[0290] The shaft P71 can be formed as a tube having a shaft through-hole 711 defined therein. A rotating body 521 disposed in the encoder is inserted into the shaft through-hole 711, and a rotating body fastening portion 712 disposed on the circumferential surface 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. Therefore, the shaft P71 is fixed to the rotating body 521 via the rotating body fastening portion 712 and the shaft fastening portion 522.

[0291] The handle P73 can be fixed to the shaft P71 so that it is located outside the cabinet 1, and the user can apply the force required to rotate the rotating body 521 to the shaft P71 via the handle P73.

[0292] The handle P73 may include a receiving space 731 and a handle through hole 732. The receiving space 731 is defined inside the handle to communicate with the shaft through hole 711, and the handle through hole 732 extends through one side of the handle P73 to allow the receiving space 731 to communicate with the outside.

[0293] When the diameter of the handle P73 is set to be larger than the diameter of the shaft P71, the shaft P71 may also include a base 713, to which the handle P73 is fixed. The base 713 may be formed as a disc fixed to the circumferential surface of the shaft P71.

[0294] The handle P73 and the base 713 can be interconnected via a base fastening part 734 provided on the handle 73 and a handle fastening part 714 provided on the base 713.

[0295] The base fastening portion 734 can be formed as a plurality of protrusions fixed to the handle so as to be located inside the receiving space 731, and the handle fastening portion 714 can be formed as a groove defined in the base 713 and receiving the protrusions therein.

[0296] To facilitate coupling between 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 the circumferential surface of the base 713 is bent toward the through hole 711.

[0297] The display portion P8 may include a housing P81, a display P84, and a circuit board (a second circuit board and a display portion circuit board) P82. The housing P81 is fixed to the encoder's mounting body 512 and is located inside the actuator's receiving space 731. The display P84 is fixed to the housing and displays information (information related to the control, operation, etc. of the garment handling equipment). The circuit board (a second circuit board and a display portion circuit board) P82 is disposed in the housing and has circuitry for controlling the display P84.

[0298] The housing P81 may include a fastener 81b and a receptacle 81a. The fastener 81b is fixed to the fixing body 512 by extending through the shaft through hole 711 and being inserted into the body through hole 514, and the receptacle 81a is fixed to the fastener 81b and positioned inside the receptacle space 731.

[0299] The container 81a can be formed in any shape, as long as it can be inserted into the receiving space 731. The following case is shown as an example: the container 81a is formed into a cylindrical shape.

[0300] An installation space 811 is defined inside the housing 81a, and the installation space 811 communicates with the housing space 731 defined in the handle via a housing through hole 812 (the housing through hole is defined to communicate with the handle through hole). That is, the housing through hole 812 is defined in a surface of the space provided by the housing 81a oriented in the direction of the handle through hole 732.

[0301] The fastener 81b can be formed in any shape, as long as it can be inserted into the encoder's shaft through-hole 711 and body through-hole 514. The following is shown as an example: the fastener 81b is formed in a cylindrical shape. The fastener 81b has a fastener through-hole 815 that connects to the mounting space 811.

[0302] The fixing part 816 can be provided on the circumferential surface of the fixing body 81b. The fixing part 816 is a device for fixing the housing P81 to the fixing part 531 of the fixing body provided in the encoder.

[0303] In addition, multiple protrusions 817 can be set on the circumferential surface of the solid 81b.

[0304] The position setting protrusion 817 is shaped to be inserted into the position setting slot 532 defined in the encoder, and the position setting protrusion 817 is positioned at a point corresponding to the position of the position setting slot 532. The position setting protrusion 817 and the position setting slot 532 are means to minimize the risk that the fastening part 816 of the fixing body cannot be coupled to the part 531 when the fastener 81b is inserted into the through hole 514 of the body (means to ensure the coupling of the fastener fastening part and the fastener fixing part).

[0305] The second circuit board P82 can be inserted into the mounting space 811, and the wires 822 connected to the second circuit board P82 can be pulled out to the outside of the housing P81 through the fastening body through hole 815. Multiple lamps 821 can be set on the second circuit board P82.

[0306] When the handle P73 is rotated, the second circuit board P82 can control the display P84 to display preset information in response to the electrical signal generated from the signal generator 54.

[0307] In order to maintain the gap between the second circuit board P82 and the display P84 and to prevent damage to the lamp 821, the mounting portion P83, which is positioned between the display P84 and the second circuit board P82, can be provided in the mounting space 811.

[0308] The mounting portion P83 can be formed as a mounting body 831 that is fixed to the receiving body 81a and positioned inside the mounting space 811. The mounting body 831 can have any shape, as long as it can be inserted into the mounting space 811.

[0309] A mounting slot 832 for fixing the display P84 is defined in one face of the mounting body 831. The mounting slot 832 may have a connector through-hole 836. A connector 841 (flexible PCB, etc.) provided in the display P84 can be connected to the second circuit board P82 by being inserted into the connector through-hole 836.

[0310] The mounting body 831 may have lamp through holes 835 into which lamps 821 are inserted. Preferably, the number of lamp through holes 835 is the same as the number of lamps 821, and the position of the lamp through holes 835 should be set in the space above the mounting groove 832 or in the space below the mounting groove 832. This is to allow light emitted from the lamps 821 to be transmitted to the outside of the housing P81 through the lamp through holes 835.

[0311] The mounting portion P83 is fixed to the housing P81 via a mounting fastening portion 813 provided on the housing 81a and a housing fastening portion 833 provided on the mounting body 831. The mounting fastening portion 813 may be formed as a plurality of protrusions located inside the mounting space 811, and the housing fastening portion 833 may be defined as a groove or the like defined in the circumferential surface of the mounting body 831 (the surface where the mounting body contacts the housing), and the mounting fastening portion 813 is fixed to the groove.

[0312] The number of mounting fasteners 813 and the number of receiving fasteners 833 should be set to be the same, and the positions of mounting fasteners 813 and receiving fasteners 833 should be set to correspond to each other.

[0313] To increase the fastening force of the mounting body 831, the receiving body fastening portion 833 may include an upper fastening portion positioned above the mounting surface 832 and a lower fastening portion positioned below the mounting surface 832. Unlike the accompanying drawings, the receiving body fastening portion 833 may be located on each of the left and right sides of the mounting surface.

[0314] The cover P85 can also be provided on the housing 81a to prevent water and foreign matter from flowing into the display P84 and the second circuit board P82.

[0315] Preferably, the cover P85 is secured to at least one of the housing 81a and the mounting body 831 to close the housing through-hole 812. The cover P85 should be made of a transparent material that allows viewing of the information displayed on the display P84 and the light emitted from the lamp 821 from the outside.

[0316] When the cover P85 is fixed to the mounting body 831, the cover 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.

[0317] The second circuit board P82 can also be fixed to the mounting body 831. That is, the mounting portion P83 can have a protrusion 838 protruding from the mounting body 831 toward the second circuit board 82, and the second circuit board 82 can have a protrusion through hole 823 into which the protrusion 838 is inserted.

[0318] Furthermore, the cover P85 may also include a cover sheet 853 for reducing the transparency of the cover. Preferably, the transparency of the cover sheet is set to a level that makes it difficult to see the interior of the mounting space 811 from the outside (the transparency of the cover sheet is set to be lower than the transparency of the cover). The cover sheet 853 may be fixed to the surface of the cover P85, and the letter or symbol H may be displayed in the area projected onto the light through-hole 835 of the cover sheet.

[0319] In one example, the lamp through hole 835 in the mounting section P83 corresponding to the input area D3 can provide a signal instructing the user to press the input area D3.

[0320] The selection section R for receiving and selecting control commands displayed on the display 84 can also be set on the control panel P.

[0321] The selection section R can be configured to determine whether a control command displayed on the display P84 has been selected by sensing whether the user's body is in contact with the cover P85.

[0322] In other words, the selection part R may include a sensor R3 disposed on the second circuit board 82 to sense 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.

[0323] The selection part R can consist of a setting part R1 and a transmitter R2. The setting part R1 is attached to or coupled to the cover P85, and one end of the transmitter R2 is connected to the setting part R1 while the other end is 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.

[0324] The setting portion R1 is a device for facilitating the input of control commands by expanding the area accessible to the user. In the control panel P with the above structure, the display area D1 is formed in the upper space of the cover P85, and the input area D3 is formed in the lower space of the cover P85. Therefore, when the width of the setting portion R1 is set to be larger, the width of the input area D3 is expanded, making it easier for the user to input control commands. Preferably, the width of the setting portion R1 is set to be equal to or less than 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 of the width of the cover P85.

[0325] The transmitter R2 and the setting part R1 can be formed as conductors. Therefore, when the user's body comes into contact with the transmitter R2 and the receiver R1, the current of the user's body can be charged or transmitted, so that the current can be transmitted to the sensor R3.

[0326] Furthermore, the transmitter R2 and the setting part R1 can be combined into a physical button. Therefore, when the user presses the setting part R1, the pressure of the body can be transmitted to the sensor R3.

[0327] In one example, the display portion P may include an induction device 839 for inducing the user to press and select portion R.

[0328] The guiding device 839 can guide the user to the position of the selection part R to induce the user to press the selection part R.

[0329] The guiding device 839 may include a lamp through-hole 835 and a lamp 821 corresponding to the location of the setting portion R1. Specifically, the guiding device 839 may include a lamp through-hole 835 defined below the display P84 and a lamp 821 installed inside the lamp through-hole 835.

[0330] The lamp through-hole 835 and lamp 821 constituting the guiding device 839 can be positioned below the display P84 and at the center of the mounting portion 83.

[0331] Therefore, when lamp 821 emits light in induction device 839, the selected portion R or the area adjacent to the selected portion R can become brighter.

[0332] Furthermore, the light 821 of the guiding device 830 can be formed as an LED element or the like to indicate individual characters or phrases.

[0333] The control panel P with the above structure can display control commands, search for displayed control commands, and select displayed control commands, and can minimize the space required for installation. However, the control panel P with the above structure requires a device to prevent water or foreign objects from flowing into the display part P8 and the operating part P7, or to drain the inflowing water or foreign objects to the outside.

[0334] Whenever the user rotates the handle P73 (whenever the encoder generates an electrical signal) (searches for and changes the control command), the control panel P with the above structure will display the preset control command on the display P84.

[0335] When the desired control command is displayed on the display P84, the user can select the displayed control command via the selection section R, and when the user inputs an execution command via the execution device P47, the control command selected via the selection section R can be activated.

[0336] In one example, the handle P73 is coupled to the first circuit board P4 to enable rotational movement, while the housing P81 of the display portion is fixed to the first circuit board P4, thus requiring a constant gap between the handle P73 and the housing P81. This is because, without maintaining the gap between the handle P73 and the housing P81, the rotation of the handle P73 may be constrained.

[0337] Figure 9 An embodiment of a control panel P using the garment processing device of this disclosure is shown.

[0338] In the status display area D1 of the display section P8, whether the door is locked, whether the communication module is activated, whether the process or option is operated, and whether the instruction phrase is generated can be displayed in the form of icons.

[0339] Furthermore, the amount of content that may appear simultaneously with the rotation manipulation section P7 can be displayed in the status display area D1. For example, multiple dots can be arranged to be spaced apart from each other, and the amount of content displayed in the content display area D2 can be indicated by one of the multiple dots illuminating at the same time.

[0340] In the content display area D2, the content of the guidance phrases, processes, and options required by the user, as well as the execution status of the processes or options, can be displayed.

[0341] The content display area D2 can be larger than the status display area D1.

[0342] In the input area D3, light can be emitted to request input from the user, and a guide phrase indicating what the user should enter can be displayed.

[0343] The power switch P46 can be located on the left side of the display section P8, and the actuator P47 can be located on the right side of the display section P8.

[0344] The control part P7 can be rotatably disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the display part P8, and can be configured to select any process that can rotate the drum 2 or operate the steam equipment 200.

[0345] An arbitrary process can be a series of control methods used to execute a drying cycle for drying clothes.

[0346] For example, any process may include a standard process for drying general standard clothing, a wool process for drying clothing with high moisture content and high risk of shrinkage (such as wool), and a steam process for removing wrinkles from clothing or disinfecting clothing by spraying steam onto the clothing.

[0347] When rotating the control section P7, the name of the corresponding process and the simple option name can be displayed in the content display area D2 of the display section P8 according to the set order, and the description of the process or option can also be displayed.

[0348] Options can be selected by setting section P2. Setting section P2 can be configured to receive selection commands for selecting at least one of any options.

[0349] Any option can include setting additional conditions for the process.

[0350] For example, any option could be a setting algorithm or control method for adjusting at least one of the following: the number of repetitions of each cycle of the execution process, the intensity of each cycle, the rotational speed of the drum when each cycle is executed, the water temperature, the water volume, and the duration of each cycle.

[0351] The setting section P2 can be configured as a touch display for selecting any option and can have multiple lights and multiple conductor switches capable of sensing the user's body.

[0352] For example, the setting section P2 may include an option selection section B and an option display section B4. The option selection section B receives setting commands to set the conditions of the process, and the option display section B4 displays option information corresponding to the option selection section B.

[0353] For example, option selection section B may include energy-saving drying interface B1, dryness selection section B2, and time-based drying interface B3. Energy-saving drying interface B1 is used to determine the level of electrical energy applied when executing any process, dryness selection section B2 is used to determine the level of drying rate or moisture content of the clothes when the drying cycle of the clothes is terminated, and time-based drying interface B3 is used to determine the duration of the process.

[0354] The options display section B4 can be configured to display power consumption, drying rate, and the duration of the corresponding process in a digital and uniform manner, and can also be configured to display the degree of change.

[0355] In one example, the setting part P2 may have a user device C that can receive usage instructions to use the clothing processing equipment.

[0356] For example, the device C may include a steam interface C3 for injecting steam when performing any process, a renovation device C1 for performing steam renovation to remove odors and volatile substances from clothing by supplying hot air and steam to the clothing, a reservation device C2 for inputting a reservation command to perform the process at a specific time, and an additional function device C4 for utilizing additional functions such as pairing with other devices.

[0357] In addition, the setting part P2 may also include an anti-wrinkle interface E, which is used to perform an anti-wrinkle process to prevent the garment from wrinkling when the process is terminated.

[0358] The P2 settings section allows functions that are available at the current time or functions selected by the user to be enabled, and allows functions that cannot be executed or that the user has not selected to be disabled.

[0359] The settings section P2 can display all its contents via the auxiliary display P19.

[0360] Figure 10 An aspect of the control panel P is shown when operating the garment handling device of this disclosure.

[0361] Reference Figure 10 In (a), the clothing processing equipment is in a power-off state, which causes the display section P8 and the auxiliary display P19 to be turned off.

[0362] Users can supply power to the garment processing equipment, including the display section P8 and the auxiliary display P19, by inputting a power command to the power switch P46.

[0363] Reference Figure 10 In (b), power can be supplied to the control panel P, and the operating section P7 can be activated. The user can select the desired process by rotating the operating section P7, and can select the desired option by checking or pressing the auxiliary display P19.

[0364] The selected process and options can be displayed on the display section P8, and the selected additional options or functions can be displayed on the auxiliary display P19.

[0365] Users can execute processes and options by pressing the actuator P47.

[0366] Reference Figure 10 In section (c), the display section P8 can show the execution status of the process and options, and the auxiliary display P19 can show the current status of the options. For example, when using additional functions such as steam, the steam interface C3 can be opened. Furthermore, when the drying process is carried out at a moderate amount of process energy and a low degree of dryness, the fact that the moisture content is high and there is no particular limitation on the drying time can be displayed.

[0367] Reference Figure 10 (d) indicates that the execution of the process and options has been completed, and completion information can be displayed on display section P8. After this, power to control panel P can be cut off.

[0368] Users can determine the process or option from the selection based on the information displayed on the P8 display section, and can immediately identify the execution status and completion status of the process or option.

[0369] Figure 11 The use of display portion P8 is shown, highlighting a portion of the display portion P84 of display portion P8.

[0370] Reference Figure 11 In (a), when power is input to the control panel P, the name and description of the selected process or option can be described in the content display area D2 of the display P84 or the display section P8, and information about the number of processes or options that can be changed can be displayed in the status display area D1.

[0371] The content display area D2 can be positioned below the status display area D1 and can have a larger area than the status display area D1. Therefore, the content display area D2 can actively transmit the information required by the user using characters, icons, etc.

[0372] The status display section D1 can visually convey information via symbols (such as icons or markers).

[0373] The input area D3 can be positioned below the content display area D2. Therefore, when a user touches the input area D3, it prevents the user's body from covering the content display area D2.

[0374] Input area D3 can display information that allows the user to confirm in content display area D2. That is, when a command requiring user confirmation or approval is needed via selection section R, the input content corresponding to selection section R can be displayed in input area D3.

[0375] For example, instead of selecting any process or option as the default through the rotation control section P7, the input area D3 can display an indication of the process or option in the form of a MasterCard stored in the controller (e.g., recommended processes or options provided by the manufacturer, processes or options that have been used N or more times recently, processes or options preset by the user, etc.).

[0376] The master card, corresponding to a new process or option provided from the server or set by the user by changing the option value of a specific process, can correspond to a process or option that is different from any process or option that was set as the default when purchasing the garment processing equipment.

[0377] Reference Figure 11 In sections (b) to (c), the display on P84 can show confirmation messages for commands entered by the user. These confirmation messages can be the name or effect of the user-entered command, displayed in a magnified manner.

[0378] For example, when the user presses the steam interface C3 on the setting section P2, not only does the steam interface C3 open on the auxiliary display P19, but a phrase such as "steam on" appears in a large size on the display P84 to indicate to the user that the steam function has been activated.

[0379] In addition, when the user presses the steam interface C3 of the setting section P2 again, not only will the steam interface C3 be turned off on the auxiliary display P19, but a phrase such as "steam off" will also appear on the display P84 to indicate to the user that the steam function has been disabled.

[0380] Therefore, the user can visually identify what command he or she has entered and whether the command has been correctly entered via a display P84. Thus, even in the absence of a separate display device for individually showing whether a corresponding command has been received, the user can accurately determine whether the corresponding command has been entered.

[0381] Reference Figure 11 In step (d), after waiting for a specific period of time or when the selection section R is pressed, the selected process and options can be displayed on the P84 monitor. Therefore, the user can identify that their command has been responded to and can execute the selected process and options without any delay in process execution.

[0382] Figure 12 An example of selecting a process or option is shown.

[0383] In Control Panel P, you can store any of the default processes or options. However, users can add specific options to a specific process one after another and reuse those options repeatedly.

[0384] In addition, when studying the characteristics of garment processing equipment, weather, installation area, etc., there may be processes or options that producers can recommend to users.

[0385] However, repeatedly setting such processes or options can be very troublesome for users, and since users are unaware of the corresponding processes or options, they may not be able to use them.

[0386] Therefore, the control panel P of the garment handling device disclosed herein can store new processes or options separately as shortcuts, rather than setting them as default processes or options.

[0387] For example, by inputting commands into the control unit P7, newly set processes or options can be displayed sequentially on the display P84. Therefore, since the types of new processes or options are displayed sequentially on the display unit P84, this can be limited to the main card.

[0388] In other words, the primary card can be one of the newly set processes and options, rather than the default processes and options. Multiple primary cards can exist, and the order in which these multiple primary cards are displayed can be preset.

[0389] For example, the primary card corresponding to processes frequently used by the user or processes preset by the user can be displayed first, followed by recommended processes.

[0390] Reference Figure 12 In (a), the standard drying process can be displayed on the monitor P84. The standard drying process is one of the default processes or options provided.

[0391] In this regard, users can select the primary card displayed in the input area D3 via the selection section R.

[0392] Reference Figure 11 In (b), the first primary card can be displayed on the P84 monitor. The first primary card can be an option that the user has recently used frequently.

[0393] Users can execute processes corresponding to the master card by inputting commands into the execution device. However, users can select another master card by rotating the control section P7.

[0394] Reference Figure 12 In step (c), the second master card can appear when the user rotates the control section P7. For example, when the garment processing equipment has a steam function, the option to add steam can be recommended.

[0395] Reference Figure 12 In step (d), when the user rotates the control section P7 again, the third master card can appear. For example, a rapid drying process that minimizes drying time compared to a normal drying process can occur. This is to increase the temperature or flow rate of the hot air, which can be applied when the material of the clothing has high durability.

[0396] In this way, the user can sequentially identify the stored master cards by rotating the control unit P7. When each master card is identified, the first master card can reappear.

[0397] Therefore, even without an input device for inputting individual processes or options, the clothing processing device of this disclosure can quickly select the desired process and options via the operation section P7.

[0398] As described above, the garment processing apparatus of this disclosure can automatically wash the heat exchanger assembly 4 via the washer 6. However, the user may not even know that the garment processing apparatus of this disclosure has the function of automatically cleaning the heat exchanger assembly 4, may not know what is used to clean the heat exchanger assembly 4, and may mistakenly believe that there is an abnormality in the garment processing apparatus because they do not know what happens when the heat exchanger assembly 4 is being cleaned.

[0399] To prevent the aforementioned problems, the garment processing device of this disclosure can display pump operation information on the display section P8 when cleaning the condenser.

[0400] The pump operation information D2A may include one of the following: a cleaning phrase D21 indicating that the heat exchanger is being cleaned by water, an operation phrase D22 indicating that the pump itself is in operation, and a noise phrase D23 indicating that noise may be generated in the pump.

[0401] In this way, when the user identifies the operation information D2A displayed on the display P84, they can understand that the clothing handling device of this disclosure has the function of automatically cleaning the condenser during the execution of the drying process and options.

[0402] Specifically, the garment processing device disclosed herein can display the cleaning phrase D21 via the display section P8, so that the user can know that the condenser is automatically cleaned with water, and can notify the garment processing device that it is clean when foreign objects and lint are automatically removed from the garment processing device.

[0403] Furthermore, the garment processing device disclosed herein can display the operation phrase D22 via the display section P8 to notify the user that a separate pump has been installed to clean the condenser, and can also inform the user that the garment processing device has excellent cost-effectiveness.

[0404] Furthermore, the garment processing device disclosed herein can display the noise phrase D23 via the display section P8 to transmit information indicating that the pump generates noise during operation, and can assure the user that there is no problem with the garment processing device.

[0405] The display section P8 can display one of the cleaning phrase, the operation phrase, and the noise phrase.

[0406] In addition, the display section P8 can alternately display at least two of the cleaning phrase, operation phrase, and noise phrase.

[0407] Figure 13 The notification method for the operation process of the garment handling equipment according to this disclosure is shown.

[0408] The garment processing device according to this disclosure can perform processes and options through the following procedures.

[0409] According to this disclosure, the garment handling apparatus can perform a power supply step T1 that supplies power to one or more of the control panel P and the driver 28 when an input is received from the power switch P47.

[0410] When power is supplied to the control panel P, the operation section P7 and the display section P8 can be activated, and the process selection step T2 can be executed. In the process selection step T2, the user selects the desired process and options by manipulating the operation section P7 and the setting section P2.

[0411] When input is received from execution section P47, execution step T3 of the selected process or option can be executed.

[0412] When step T3 is executed, drying step T4 can be executed according to the control method determined by the process and options. In drying step T4, clothes are dried by operating the driver 28, heat exchanger 4, washer 6, steam unit 200 and water supply unit 300.

[0413] When drying step T4 is completed, cooling step T5 can be performed to reduce the temperature inside drum 2. Cooling step T5 can be a step where heat exchanger 4 is not driven and only the blower fan is driven, or a step where the garment processing equipment stands still for a predetermined time until the temperature drops below a safe temperature. The safe temperature can be set to below 30 degrees Celsius.

[0414] When the cooling step T5 is terminated, the power-off step T6 can be executed, in which the process and options are completed and the power is cut off.

[0415] When the garment handling device operates to execute processes and options, the garment handling device can provide the user with the necessary notification information A.

[0416] For example, the garment processing device according to this disclosure can provide notification information A at the start time point A1 of the power supply step T1, and can provide notification information A at the time point of process selection in the process selection step T2 or at the selection time point A2 of selecting the corresponding process and option to be executed in the execution step T3.

[0417] The garment processing apparatus according to this disclosure can provide notification information at execution time point a3 when performing the process and options in the drying step T4, and can provide notification information at completion time point a4 corresponding to the end of the cooling step T5 and just before the power-off step T6.

[0418] The garment processing apparatus according to this disclosure may also include a steam process for injecting steam while drying the garments.

[0419] During the steaming process, the steam generated in the steam unit 200 can be sprayed onto the clothes that are being dried using hot air.

[0420] The steam unit 200 can receive water from the water supply unit 300 and heat the water to a boiling point to generate steam. Since the temperature of the steam corresponds to over 60 degrees Celsius, at which temperature bacteria die, bacteria can be removed when the steam is sprayed onto clothing.

[0421] When steam is sprayed onto clothes with reduced moisture content as the drying process progresses significantly, wrinkles can be removed from the clothes, and the clothes can be prevented from shrinking due to high heat.

[0422] Because the steam evaporates as it adheres to the foreign matter attached to the clothing, the clothing can also be refurbished.

[0423] The steam process can be a concept that includes all processes for spraying steam onto clothing, and can be added and executed together at any time and in any process and option. However, in order to execute the steam process, water for generating steam needs to be supplied to the steam unit 200.

[0424] However, in the water supply unit 300, the external supply unit 500 may not be connected to an external water source, or the internal supply unit 400 may sometimes not be filled with enough water.

[0425] In this case, even if a steam process is executed, steam may not be injected. Even if steam is not injected during the selected steam process, the process and options can be executed without change in order to delay drying.

[0426] As a result, when water is not supplied to the steam unit 200, the user may not experience the effects of the steam process, regardless of whether the steam process is in progress. The user may then question the steam performance of the garment processing equipment.

[0427] To prevent this, when the water supply to the steam unit 200 is insufficient, the garment handling device according to this disclosure can be configured to display notification information A. Therefore, when the steam process is used, normal steam injection can be ensured.

[0428] The control panel P can be configured to detect insufficient water supply to the steam component 200. The control panel P can detect insufficient water supply by means of a water level sensor installed inside the steam component 200, and can also detect insufficient water supply by means of the water level in the water tank 430 or by means of whether the direct water valve 520 is open or closed.

[0429] Insufficient water supply may result in the water level in the steam unit 200 being lower than the appropriate amount of water required for the steam unit 200 to perform the steam process.

[0430] When the water supply to the steam unit 200 is insufficient, the control panel P can generate a shortage message, which can be displayed on the display section P8. The shortage message can use any text, icon, and symbol, as long as it can indicate to the user that the steam unit 200 is not producing steam.

[0431] When insufficient information is generated, the display section can be controlled to display the insufficient information at at least one of the following time points: the start time point a1 when power is supplied to the display section, the selection time point a2 when the process or option of the input control section is selected, the execution time point a3 when the process or option is executed, or the completion time point a4 when the process or option is completed.

[0432] Figure 14 A control block diagram of a garment handling apparatus according to the present disclosure is shown.

[0433] The garment processing apparatus according to this disclosure may include a main controller C, which controls a drive 28, a heat exchanger 4, a washer 6, a steam unit 200, and a water supply 300 to perform processes and options.

[0434] The main controller C can be mounted on a separate circuit board housed inside cabinet 1, and can also be mounted on circuit board P4 housed on control panel P. In this case, control panel P and main controller C can be considered as functionally identical components.

[0435] The main controller C can be configured as a control housing P1 or a first interface P1, on which an operating part P7, a display part P8, a power switch P46, and an execution part P47 are mounted.

[0436] The main controller C can be configured to control the setting section P2 or the second interface P2.

[0437] The main controller C can be configured to control a separate speaker p3 coupled to cabinet 1.

[0438] The control panel P may include a main memory H for storing programs and algorithms used to operate the main controller C. The main memory H may download and store external information from the communication module T, described later, and may provide this external information to the main controller C.

[0439] The garment processing device according to this disclosure can be configured to communicate with electronic products located outside the cabinet 1 via a communication module T.

[0440] The communication module T may include a communication modem T1, a communication controller T2, and a communication memory T3. The communication modem T1 is configured to communicate with an electronic product, the communication controller T2 is used to control the communication modem, and the communication memory T3 is configured to store programs for controlling the communication controller T2 or information received through the communication modem.

[0441] The main controller C can control the steam component 200 and the water supply unit 300 to detect insufficient water in the steam component 200 and can generate insufficient information. The insufficient information can be stored in the main memory H and can be provided to the display part P8 as a notification when power is supplied to the control panel P in the future.

[0442] Therefore, the garment processing device according to this disclosure can store the deficiency information in the memory when the deficiency information is generated, and when the main controller C detects the existence of deficiency information in the memory at startup time a1, the display part P8 can display the deficiency information at startup time a1.

[0443] Therefore, users can schedule water supply to the steam unit 200 before selecting the process and options. Furthermore, users can choose not to execute the steam process, or select the process and options if they do not expect steam effects.

[0444] Providing steam may not be necessary for drying clothes. Therefore, even without steam, there is a risk of wet clothes being damaged or excessively wrinkled when the garment handling equipment is idle for extended periods. Furthermore, drying time may be delayed.

[0445] To prevent this, when the insufficient information is displayed on display section P8 for a duration of the reference time, display section P8 can remove the display of the insufficient information and return to its original state.

[0446] For example, when the insufficient water supply information is displayed on display section P8 at startup time a1, reaching the reference time, the insufficient water supply information can be removed from the display. Therefore, the user can identify insufficient water supply in steam component 200 and select any process and option regardless of this.

[0447] The base time can be set as the start time or a time between 1 and 10 seconds.

[0448] Figure 15 An example of displaying insufficient information is shown.

[0449] Insufficient information can be displayed in pop-up form on display section P8. Therefore, even if there is insufficient water in steam component 200, delays in process and options can be prevented.

[0450] Furthermore, users can identify situations where water is not being adequately supplied to the steam component 200 by receiving a notification of insufficient water information in form I. In other words, users can check the insufficient information and simultaneously check the status of the selected or executed process and options.

[0451] For example, refer to Figure 15 In step (a), when the startup time has elapsed, selection step T2 can be performed on display section P8 to display the selected process and options.

[0452] The number of processes and options to be selected can be displayed in the status display area D1, and the names and brief descriptions of the processes and options can be displayed in the content display area D2. In the input area D3, the control method to be executed when input is received from the selection section R, such as the master card, can be displayed.

[0453] Reference Figure 15 In step (b), the user can perform the input on execution section P47 to execute execution step T3. During this process, control panel P can detect whether the water in steam component 200 is insufficient. When control panel P detects insufficient water in steam component 200 and generates insufficient information, the insufficient information can be displayed on display section P8.

[0454] Insufficient information may include instructions to fill the internal supply unit 400 with water or to open the external supply unit 500.

[0455] Reference Figure 15 In (C), when input is received from the selection section R, the insufficient information displayed in pop-up form I can disappear, or after a reference time has elapsed, the insufficient information displayed in pop-up form I can disappear.

[0456] Needless to say, when the input of the selection part R is confirmed to be received or water is supplied to the steam component 200, the pop-up form I can also be set to disappear.

[0457] Figure 16 Another embodiment for displaying insufficient information is shown.

[0458] Insufficient information can be displayed on the display section P8 as the entire area or as a single information II.

[0459] In other words, the deficiency information is displayed as a single information II on the display section P8 so that the user is aware of the deficiency and is prompted to take action.

[0460] For example, when the selected process and option use steam or execute a steam process, such as when steam component C3 is selected from setting section P2, control panel P can detect whether the water in steam component 200 is insufficient. When control panel P detects that the water in steam component 200 is insufficient to generate insufficient information, it can also display the insufficient information through display section P8.

[0461] Reference Figure 16 (a) When a shortage message is displayed while a steam process is being selected or executed, the display P84 can display the shortage message as a single message II.

[0462] Individual information II can also be removed after the reference time has elapsed.

[0463] However, when confirming the input of selection part R or the water supply of steam component 200, individual information II can be set to disappear.

[0464] Reference Figure 16 (b) When the user performs input on the selection section R, the display section P8 can return to the state before displaying insufficient information.

[0465] Therefore, users can ignore individual information II and can also execute processes and options.

[0466] Needless to say, when the user takes action to supply water to the steam unit 200, the deficiency information displayed on the display section P8 can be removed.

[0467] Figure 17Another embodiment for displaying insufficient information is shown.

[0468] The communication module T of the garment processing device 10 can communicate with the server 50 provided by the manufacturer via an AP 30 such as a router, and can be configured to communicate with an external terminal 40, which is configured to communicate with a smartphone.

[0469] Therefore, when the control panel P generates insufficient information, the insufficient information can be transmitted to the server 50 and to the external terminal 40.

[0470] As a result, server 50 can transmit the deficiency information to the user through external terminal 40, and external terminal 40 can use an LCD to display the deficiency information as a separate message III.

[0471] Even if the user is located at a distance from the clothing handling equipment 10, the user can identify a problem with the water supply to the steam unit 200 and take action to supply water to the steam unit 200.

[0472] Regardless of whether insufficient information is generated, the garment processing device can execute processes and options.

[0473] Figure 18 An embodiment of a control method for displaying insufficient information is shown.

[0474] The garment processing device according to this disclosure can perform an electrical step S1, in which the control panel P detects the input of the power switch P46.

[0475] When the power step S1 is executed, the controller C can execute the data determination step S2, which determines whether there is insufficient information stored in the memory H when executing previous processes, etc.

[0476] In the data determination step S2, the controller C can check whether the deficiency information is up-to-date. For example, if the deficiency information existed before the power supply and power failure or was generated during the process, then the deficiency information can be determined to be up-to-date.

[0477] When there is insufficient information in the memory, the controller C can execute the startup notification step S3, which displays the insufficient information on the display part P8 at startup time point a1.

[0478] The display section P8 can show the insufficient information as either pop-up type I or a single information type II.

[0479] In the notification startup step S3, the display section P8 can be configured to remove the display of insufficient information after a reference time has elapsed. Therefore, the user can select the process and options without taking any action to supply water to the steam components.

[0480] According to the clothing processing equipment disclosed herein, a steam determination step S4 can be performed to determine whether to select or execute a steam process for supplying steam.

[0481] The display section P8 can execute the pre-execution notification step S5, which displays insufficient information at the selected time point a2 when selecting the steam process.

[0482] When the steam process is executed, the controller C can detect the water supply status of the steam component 200 to generate a deficiency information. Therefore, the generated deficiency information can be transmitted to the display unit P8.

[0483] When insufficient information is pre-stored in memory H, controller C can display the insufficient information at the selected time point a2 instead of the start-up time point. Therefore, when the steam process is selected, controller C can induce the user to supply water to the steam component 200.

[0484] When the user selects a process other than the steam process, the action of inducing water supply to the steam component 200 can be omitted, thereby enhancing user convenience and preventing water from being contained in the steam component 200 for a long time.

[0485] In the pre-execution notification step S5, the display section P8 can display the insufficient information as either pop-up form I or a single message II.

[0486] When executing the pre-execution notification step S5, a confirmation step S5-1 reflecting the user's insufficient confirmation information can also be executed. In the confirmation step S5-1, the steam process may not be executed after a reference time has elapsed, but the user's mandatory intent can be confirmed.

[0487] The intent to force the steam process can be detected by inputting either the selection section R or the execution section P47. This is because it is assumed that the user intends to force the steam process when, even if insufficient information is displayed, the user executes the input to the execution section P47 to force the steam process, or inputs the command to remove insufficient information from the display section P8 via the selection section R, instead of supplying water to the steam unit 200.

[0488] When a forced intent is detected in the confirmation step S5-1, the display section P8 can remove the display of insufficient information and can display the execution status of the steam process.

[0489] In other words, since drying clothes takes precedence over the steam process, the drying cycle can be performed first even when there is no water in the steam unit 200.

[0490] Since the user has already forced the input of part P47 when he / she recognizes that there is no water in the steam unit 200, the drying cycle delay can be prevented by reflecting the user's forced intent, and the user can be allowed to supply water to the steam unit 200 at any desired point.

[0491] To reliably reflect the forced intent, the execution or progress of the steam process can be stopped until the forced intent is input.

[0492] The controller C can execute the steam not generated detection step S6, in which it is detected that no water is supplied to the steam component 200 during the execution of the steam process or steam option.

[0493] When no water is supplied to the steam component 200 in the steam non-generation detection step S6, a notification step S7 can be executed. In the notification step S7, the controller C generates insufficient information and the display part P8 displays the insufficient information at the execution time point a3.

[0494] Therefore, users can identify the state in which the water supply of the steam component 200 is interrupted while steam is being supplied.

[0495] At execution time a3, even if a shortage message is displayed, the steam process can continue without stopping. This is because when the garment handling device 10 is operating, the user may be far away from the garment handling device 10, and therefore may not be able to check the shortage message.

[0496] Therefore, the display section P8 can only show the duration of the insufficient information and then remove the display of the insufficient information again.

[0497] However, the storage step S8, which stores the insufficient information in the memory H, can be performed.

[0498] As a result, the process can be executed whether or not insufficient information is generated. Consequently, process execution step S9 can always be completed.

[0499] In the garment processing apparatus according to this disclosure, when water is not supplied to the steam unit 200 until the process is completed, the display section can display insufficient information at the completion time a4.

[0500] When the baseline time has elapsed after the insufficient information is displayed at completion time a4, the insufficient information can be removed from the display section P8. The garment processing equipment can then be powered off.

[0501] After the insufficient information is displayed, the steam component generates steam or supplies water to the steam component. The controller C can remove the insufficient information displayed on the display section P8 and delete the insufficient information stored in the memory H.

[0502] However, if the insufficiency information is retained until completion time point a4 without being deleted, the controller C can store the insufficiency information C in memory H and then power off one or more of the display section P8 and driver P28.

[0503] Figure 19 A specific process in a garment processing apparatus according to the present disclosure and a method for selecting a specific process in a garment processing apparatus according to the present disclosure are shown.

[0504] The garment processing apparatus according to this disclosure can execute any processes and options that are performed by conventional garment processing apparatus. For example, various processes and options can be executed to remove moisture from wet garments and reduce the moisture content of the garments.

[0505] The garment handling apparatus according to this disclosure may also include special processes and options by applying new components or control methods separately from existing processes and options.

[0506] For example, the garment processing apparatus according to this disclosure can supply steam to the garments housed inside the drum 2 via a steam component 200. The steam component 200 can generate steam by heating water, and therefore can have a temperature higher than the sterilization temperature (approximately 60 degrees Celsius) to eradicate bacteria. For example, the steam component 200 can have a temperature corresponding to the boiling point of water.

[0507] Therefore, when steam is supplied to clothing, it can eliminate bacteria present in the clothing and remove odors from the clothing.

[0508] Since steam corresponds to water vapor, when steam is supplied to clothing, it can remove wrinkles from the clothing, and foreign matter attached to the clothing can be evaporated or removed along with the water vapor, thereby removing various kinds of odors.

[0509] When steam is supplied to clothing along with hot air generated in heat exchanger 4, chemicals such as sweat and ammonia adhering to the clothing can evaporate and be removed along with the water vapor.

[0510] As a result, clothing can be refurbished using steam supplied from steam unit 200 and hot air from heat exchanger 4.

[0511] Users can use garment processing equipment to dry clothes (such as wet clothes) after washing, but they may also want to use garment processing equipment to refurbish dry clothes that no longer contain moisture.

[0512] However, when clothes are placed into the drum 2 and the drum 2 is in operation, most of the processes and options of the clothes handling equipment assume that the clothes are wet and hot drying air may be supplied, so there may be a risk that the clothes will be damaged by heat.

[0513] To prevent this, the garment processing equipment according to this disclosure can be set up by separately developing a special process for performing the refurbishment of dried garments (e.g., wrinkle removal, odor removal, etc.).

[0514] The following text will describe the case where the special process and options are refurbished processes, but it is possible that the special process is a newly developed process other than a refurbished process.

[0515] During the refurbishment process, hot air at a temperature lower than that of the existing process can be supplied to roller 2, and since the clothes to be refurbished are likely to be dry rather than damp, a large amount of steam can be sprayed from the beginning to expose water vapor to the entire garment.

[0516] Therefore, it can prevent clothes from being damaged by hot air from the start.

[0517] Furthermore, clothes can be quickly refreshed by rapidly evaporating water vapor with hot air after the initial steam injection. As a result, the operating time and energy input of the garment handling equipment can be significantly reduced compared to performing a typical drying process and options.

[0518] The renovation process can be selected by manipulating the P7 control panel.

[0519] Reference Figure 19 (a) The display section P8 can show basic information D2a about any process and option (such as the standard process) used for drying clothes.

[0520] Reference Figure 19 (b) By rotating the control part P7, the renovation process can appear on the display part P8 according to the set order.

[0521] Therefore, the user can rotate the control section P7 until the renovation process appears on the display section P8.

[0522] The monitor P84 can display special information D2b related to the renovation process. This special information D2b can be primarily displayed in the content display area D2 to allow the user to visually identify it.

[0523] Special information D2b may include phrases, icons, or symbols that describe the effects and functions of the process and the name of the renovation process.

[0524] Users can check the special information D2b to learn about relevant information, as well as the existence of special processes and options, and then they can execute the input in the selection section R or the execution section P47 to determine the execution of the renovation process.

[0525] The refurbishment process can be performed only in garment processing equipment that includes both steam component 200 and heat exchanger 4. Therefore, a user unfamiliar with the garment processing equipment 10 according to this disclosure may not even know about the existence and effect of the refurbishment process until special information D2b is displayed on display portion P8.

[0526] In this state, the refurbishment process can be selected by manipulating only part of P7, so it is unlikely that the user will use the refurbishment process as long as the special information D2b is exposed.

[0527] Therefore, the garment processing equipment according to this disclosure may include a separate device for displaying and selecting the refurbishment process.

[0528] Figure 20 An additional embodiment of selecting a special process is shown.

[0529] The garment handling equipment may also include a special process component C, which is spaced apart from the operating part and configured to receive commands for selecting a special process or option for rotating the drum.

[0530] Special process component C can be configured to be selected individually via auxiliary display P19 of setting section P2.

[0531] In other words, the special process component C may not correspond to the option for changing the conditions of any process, and may be a special process corresponding to any process. That is to say, the special process component C may correspond to the algorithm and control method at the beginning and end of the entire garment processing device.

[0532] Nevertheless, the special process component C can be set independently in a separate area (e.g., auxiliary display P19) separate from the operation part P7 to select the process.

[0533] Therefore, users can accurately identify the existence of special processes. When users are unaware of the function or effect of a special process, they may become curious about learning about it.

[0534] In this way, the garment processing device according to this disclosure can directly expose special processes to users, thereby maximizing the possibility and availability of using special processes.

[0535] When input is received from the special process component C, special information D2b can be displayed immediately on the display section P8, and the special process can be selected.

[0536] As a result, when a process is selected via the manipulation part P7, the display part can display basic information D2a of any process or option, and when input from a special process component is received, it can display special information D2b of that special process or option, thus allowing the selected process to be displayed intuitively to the user.

[0537] Basic information D2a can correspond to the name or condition of a process and option.

[0538] Users can execute the input on page 47 of the execution section to immediately execute a special process.

[0539] When a special process is set as a steam refurbishment process, the special process component C can also be displayed as the name of the steam refurbishment process.

[0540] Users might be willing to press a specific process component C as a test, or even if a specific process is selected, they might be willing to view another process.

[0541] In this case, when the user rotates the control section P7, special information can be removed from the display section P8, and basic information D2a about any existing processes and options can be displayed on the display section P8.

[0542] Therefore, users can easily select between special processes and existing processes, and can also easily change between special processes and existing processes.

[0543] Figure 21 This illustrates the control methods to be selected and executed when special processes and existing processes are being executed.

[0544] Reference Figure 21 (a) can currently execute any existing process and option.

[0545] Therefore, the display section P8 can display basic information D2a for executing arbitrary processes and options.

[0546] Reference Figure 21 (b) allows the user to execute input on section P47 to stop the execution of any process and options.

[0547] Even if input from setting section P2 or special process component C is received before input from execution section P47 is received, the input may not be applied to control panel P.

[0548] Therefore, even if input from the setting section P2 is received due to a child's accidental input, a special impact, or vibration, the process and options can be prevented from being arbitrarily interrupted.

[0549] Reference Figure 21The (C) section of the display can show interruption information D2c indicating that the process and options have been interrupted.

[0550] Therefore, the user can be prompted to re-enter the execution section P47, and the user can be notified that there is an opportunity to enter the settings section P2, etc.

[0551] In this situation, the user can execute input from special process component C. Special process component C can be executed immediately and continuously while executing any process and option.

[0552] When performing a drying cycle, the garment processing apparatus according to this disclosure can perform the drying cycle until the moisture content of the garment is reduced to a reference value or lower, rather than performing the drying cycle for a specific time.

[0553] Therefore, even if a special process is started while executing arbitrary processes and options, the special process can be executed until the moisture content of the clothing drops to the baseline value or lower, so the special process does not conflict with arbitrary processes and options.

[0554] For example, when the special process is a steam refurbishment process, even if the clothes are still damp during the execution of any process and option, the clothing processing device according to this disclosure can execute the special process until the moisture content of the clothes is reduced to a reference value or lower, while steam is supplied to the clothes and then hot air is supplied to the clothes.

[0555] As a result, special processes and existing processes do not conflict with each other, so special processes can continue in the middle of existing processes.

[0556] Reference Figure 21 (d) The display section P8 can display special information D2c to notify the user that a special process has been selected.

[0557] Display section P8 can show cancellation information D2D indicating the cancellation of an existing process. The cancellation information D2D can be displayed as a pop-up on display section P8, thus not obstructing the exposure of special information D2c to the user.

[0558] Figure 22 An embodiment of a control method for a garment handling apparatus according to the present disclosure, using both special processes and existing processes, is shown.

[0559] When power is received, the garment processing device according to this disclosure can perform an input detection step N1, which checks whether input from the special process component C has been received before executing a process or option. When no input from the special process component is received, a selection detection step N5, which checks whether a special process has been selected, can be performed by the manipulation part P7, etc.

[0560] When the user selects a special process during the input detection step N1 and the selection detection step N5, the display section P8 can execute the special display step N2 to display special information D2c of the special process or option.

[0561] Through the special display step N2, the user can identify that the process selected by the user is a special process. This special process or option can be provided separately from any process or option selected through the manipulation section. Therefore, in the special display step N2, the special information D2d displayed on the display section P8 can indicate that the special process or option is provided separately from any other process or option.

[0562] For example, in special information D2d, the specific descriptive phrases for a process can be described differently from the basic process and options.

[0563] An execution detection step N3 can be performed to check whether input from the execution section N47 has been received in the special display step N2. When input from the execution section N47 is received, a special process execution step N4 can be performed to execute the special process.

[0564] However, when input from the manipulation part P7 is detected during the execution of detection step N3, input detection step N1 and selection detection step N5 can be executed again.

[0565] In this situation, by manipulating the manipulation section P7, the display of special information can be removed from the display section P8. The display section P8 can execute the basic display step N6, which displays information about any existing process or option corresponding to the manipulation of the manipulation section P7. In the basic display step N6, the basic detection step N6-1, which checks whether input from the execution section N47 has been received, can be executed. When input from the execution section P47 is received in the basic detection step N6-1, the basic execution step N6-2, which executes an existing process, can be executed.

[0566] When the input of the special process component C is received in the basic detection step N6-1 or the special process is selected through the manipulation part P7, the special display step N2 can be executed again.

[0567] When any existing process or option is executed in the basic detection step N6-1, the cancellation detection step N9 can be executed to stop and cancel any process or option.

[0568] In the cancellation detection step N9, input from at least one of the execution part P47 and the special process part C can be detected.

[0569] For example, when input is received from the execution section P47 and the special process component C, the execution of existing processes and options can be stopped and canceled. During the execution of any process or option, input from the special process component C can be received only when input is first received from the execution section P47.

[0570] The display section P8 can execute cancellation notification step N10, which displays cancellation information indicating that any process or option has been cancelled.

[0571] In the cancellation notification step N10, the display section P8 can display the cancellation information for a predetermined duration, or it can display the cancellation information in a pop-up format. When input is received again from the execution section N47, the special process execution step N4 can be executed.

[0572] In other words, when any process or option is canceled, a specific process or option can be executed.

[0573] In the cancellation notification step N10, input is received again from the execution part P47, which allows the execution of a special process.

[0574] In the cancellation detection step N9, if no process or option is cancelled, the completion step N8 can be executed. The completion step N8 can continue to be executed until the existing process is completed.

[0575] Special processes or options can be executed until the clothes are completely dry.

[0576] The structure, control method, and assembly method of the interface and garment processing equipment described above are merely examples for describing the interface and garment processing equipment, and therefore the scope of this application is not limited to the above embodiments.

Claims

1. A garment processing device, comprising: Server rack; A roller, rotatably mounted inside the cabinet, holds clothing; A drive, connected to or coupled to the roller and providing power for rotating the roller; A steam unit is installed inside the cabinet and supplies steam to the interior of the drum; The supply unit is connected to the steam unit and supplies water to the steam unit; The control unit is configured to receive a command for selecting any process or option, said process or option being used to perform rotation of the drum or supply steam to one or more of the interior of the drum by operating the drive; The controller is configured to generate insufficient information about the inability to generate steam by detecting a state in which the water supply for generating steam to the steam component is blocked or the water supply inside the steam component is insufficient. as well as The display unit is coupled to the cabinet and configured to display the deficiency information to the outside. When the deficiency information is generated, the display portion is controlled to display the deficiency information at at least one of the following time points: the execution time of the process or the option, or the completion time of the process or the option. The arbitrary process or option further includes a steam process or steam option for necessary driving of the steam component, and Wherein, the controller is configured to generate the deficiency information during the execution of the steam process or the steam option, and the display portion is configured to display the deficiency information at the execution time point.

2. The garment processing equipment according to claim 1, further comprising: The memory is configured to store the shortage information. Wherein, based on the presence of the deficiency information in the memory at the startup time point when power is supplied to the display section, the display section is configured to display the deficiency information at the startup time point.

3. The garment processing equipment according to claim 2, wherein, The display section is configured to remove the display of the insufficient information when a reference time has elapsed since the start time.

4. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The arbitrary process or option also includes a steam process or steam option for necessary to drive the steam component, and When the steam process is selected through the control section, the display section is set to display the insufficiency information at the time point when the process or option is selected by inputting the control section.

5. The garment processing equipment according to claim 4, further comprising: The execution section is configured to receive execution commands for executing the selected process or options. Wherein, based on the input of the execution part, the display part is set to remove the display of the insufficient information and display the execution status of the steam process or the steam option.

6. The garment processing equipment according to claim 4, wherein, Even if the deficiency information is displayed on the display section, the steam process or the steam option is executed completely without change.

7. The garment processing equipment according to claim 4, wherein, Based on the deficiency information displayed on the display section, the steam process is stopped, and In this process, the display based on the insufficient information is removed from the display section, and the steam process is executed again.

8. The garment processing equipment according to claim 6, wherein, The operation section further includes a selection section configured to receive a command from the user confirming the insufficient information, and The display section is configured to remove the display of the insufficient information when input from the selection section is received.

9. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: The execution section is configured to receive execution commands for executing the selected process or options. The steam process is stopped until input is received from the execution section or the selection section.

10. The garment processing equipment according to claim 1, wherein, The display section is configured to show the deficiency information at the execution time point and remove the display of the deficiency information after a reference time has elapsed.

11. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 10, further comprising: The memory is configured to store the shortage information. Specifically, based on the fact that the deficiency information is retained until the completion time point, the controller stores the deficiency information in the memory.

12. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, The controller is configured to block power supply to one or more of the display section and the driver after storing the insufficiency information in the memory.

13. The garment processing equipment according to claim 1, wherein, Since the steam component can generate steam or water to supply the supply unit, the display section is configured to remove the display of the deficiency information.

14. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A special process component, spaced apart from the manipulation portion and the display portion, is configured to receive commands for selecting a special process or option for rotating the roller.

15. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, Based on the input received from the control section, the display section is configured to display basic information related to the arbitrary process or option, and Specifically, based on the input received from the special process component, the display portion is configured to display special information related to the special process or option.

16. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein, Based on receiving input from the manipulation section while the special information is being displayed, the display section is configured to display the basic information again.

17. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, The specific process or option is additionally set in the arbitrary process or option selected through the manipulation section, and Wherein, based on the input received from the special process component, the display portion is configured to display special information that the special process or option is additionally set in any existing arbitrary process or option.

18. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein, The specific information includes the name of the specific process or option, a description of the specific process or option, or instructions regarding its effects.

19. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, The special process component is configured to be input during the execution of any process or option, and Input based on the special process component is received, and the execution of the arbitrary process or option is stopped or canceled.

20. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 14-19, further comprising: A drying sensor, disposed in the drum or the cabinet and configured to detect the dryness of the garments, The arbitrary process or option is executed until the clothes are completely dried. The special process or option is also executed until the garment is completely dried.

21. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 14-19, further comprising: The execution unit, located in the rack and configured to receive commands for executing or stopping any of the processes or options, The special process component is configured to be input only when the execution part is input during the execution of any process or option.

22. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein, The execution of the arbitrary process or option is completely cancelled, and the specific process or option is executed.

23. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, When the execution section is entered again, the special process or option is executed.

24. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 14-19, wherein, The display section is configured to display interruption information indicating that the execution of any process or option has been stopped or canceled when the special process component is input to stop or cancel the execution of any process or option.

25. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein, The display section is configured to display the interruption information for a predetermined duration.

26. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 14, in, The special process or option includes supplying steam to the clothing.

27. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 14-19, further comprising: A circulation path is connected to the roller to circulate air through the roller; A heat exchanger, disposed in the circulation path and configured to condense and heat air; and A fan, located in the circulation path and configured to move air, The special process or option includes supplying both hot air and steam to the clothing.

28. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 14-19, wherein, The manipulation component includes: A knob, rotatably disposed within the cabinet and configured to house the display portion and receive commands for selecting the process or the option; and The selection section, located inside the knob, is configured to receive commands for determining the selected process or option. The special process component is located outside the knob.

29. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising: The settings section is located outside the knob and is configured to select any process or option. The special process component is located inside the setting section.

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